Cumberland Bands Newsletter – 2/22/17

Hello amazing band folks!

Lots of events coming up in the spring, so do read everything here!

The next big event is for 6th-9th grade on Friday, March 3rd.  Check out the District Assessment update below!

==IN THIS NEWSLETTER==
NEW! Wed, 2/22 – Quick trip to CES to play for 4th grade
UPDATED! Fri, March 3 – District Concert Band Assessment (6th – 9th grade band members)
UPDATED! After-school band programs report
Thurs, April 13 – Spring Concert @ 7pm (all band members 5th – 9th grade)
Fri, May 19 – Graduation Performance @ 7pm (7th, 8th, and 9th grade band members)

NEW! Wed, 2/22 – Quick trip to CES to play for 4th grade

The 7th-9th grade band will be running to CES during first block on Wed 2/22 to play for 4th graders.  This will be a very short trip.  8th graders are in band class during that time, and the others, while excused, will need to catch up on missed work.  You should have seen a note about this on paper from your child.

UPDATED! Fri, March 3 – District Concert Band Assessment (6th – 9th grade band members)

The Cumberland bands will be taking our 6th Grade Beginning Band and our 7th-9th Grade Intermediate Band to District Assessment this year!  This is the SOL test for Band

Here is the schedule:

12:noon – load busses and depart for Goochland HS
2:26 – CMS 6th grade beginning band performs
3:46 – CMS 7th-9th grade intermediate band performs
4:30 – load busses and return to Cumberland
5:45 – return to Cumberland Band Room

While there, each band will have a turn to perform selections for judges.  These judges will rate our performances with one of five grades.  We want to get a I – Superior rating for each band.  The other ratings are II – Excellent, III – Good, IV – Fair, and V – Poor.

This is a required performance for all 6th-9th grade students.  Because it is a field trip, I will need permission slips for everyone.  Slips and paper itineraries will be coming home soon!

My plan is to return to CMS before 6pm so that anyone who would like to ride the athletic busses home would be able to.

I’ll need chaperones!!!  At least four adults in addition to myself.

UPDATED! After-school band programs report

After School Private Lessons
I am in the office after school on Mondays and Wednesdays. For students who would like to have private lessons, I am offering times from 3pm-4pm in the band room. I can take as many as three students per hour, and each child can receive the necessary 1–on-1 attention they may need. Parents will need to provide transportation home at 4pm. Please feel free to contact me for more information.  Students must sign up ahead of time to use this service.

The Winter Guard is meeting every Monday and Wednesday, and CES has graciously allowed us to work in their gym.  As well, the awesome transportation dept is making sure they are getting to CES after school and are also being brought up to the CHS bus loop at 6:pm.

We are going to need to have one Saturday rehearsal for the Winter Guard, and I’m looking at one of the first Saturdays in March.  This would probably be a 9am-2pm type of schedule with a lunch break and a performance for friends and family at the end.  Additionally, the Winter Guard has one competition on Saturday, March 25th, at EC Glass HS in Lynchburg.  Details will follow.

The Percussion Masterclass continues to have growth with their Wednesday practices.  Learning new techniques that are difficult to teach in full band class and creating the single section from all the various grades continues to be a focus of this group.

Thurs, April 13 – Spring Concert @ 7pm (all band members 5th – 9th grade)

As usual, I’ll keep the kids from the end of school to the concert, and I’ll feed them supper.  Concert dress (black and white) is expected, and the concert should last about an hour.  I will need parental assistance for this event!

Fri, May 19 – CHS Graduation Performance @ 7pm (7th, 8th, and 9th grade band members)

The 7th – 9th graders will be playing for graduation.  On graduation day, I’ll keep the kids from the end of school to the performance, and I’ll feed them supper.  Concert dress (black and white) is expected, and the graduation ceremony will last a couple of hours.  We will be playing the CHS graduates into and out of the ceremony, as well as the national anthem.

Keep in touch, everyone!

Scott