Cumberland Bands Newsletter – 5/4/17

Hello Awesome Band Folks (and May the 4th be with you)!

For students currently in 6th grade and above, I have handed out marching band commitment forms.  This is for planning purposes, as I need to design a show that’s in the best interests of our students’ development.

While marching band is an optional supplement to the band program, I highly recommend every student who is going to be in 7th grade or higher next year to be involved with this performance.  We’ve changed our plans a little and are going to have a fun show that the kids have helped design.  I’ll keep the details a secret for now, but maybe you can pry some information from your child. 🙂

Parents, here’s also my advice for children who are on the fence about participating in marching band.  If they are truly involved in something else that prevents them from participating, then we understand.  If they don’t want to do it because it’ll take away from computer time, watching television, etc, then kick them out the door and into marching band. Band is fun, band is great for kids, and marching band will give them an awesome, unique experience they can’t get elsewhere.

Let me know if we need to work out anything in regard to schedules, rides, etc.  Also, while I handed out forms, you can just email/text me back to confirm your child’s participation in what is shaping up to be an awesome and fun performance.  Don’t miss out!

Two additional items:

Tues-Thurs, May 16 – May 18th – 2017 Marching Band Begins!!! (3pm-6pm)

It’s that time of year again!  We’ll be having the marching band spring mini-camp on these three days from 3pm to 6pm.  All band members who will be in 7th grade or higher next year are eligible to march.

There will also be marching band color guard (flags, rifles, etc) auditions during this time.  Any student in CMS/CHS who will be in 7th grade or higher in the fall is eligible to audition.  You do not have to be in band to join the marching band color guard.  You do have to be in band class to march a musical instrument in the marching band.

This year’s show has been partly designed by the kids, and is going to be a lot of fun.  We’re going to do a full show this time, and we’re planning to attend two competitions this fall.

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

The 7th – 9th graders will be playing for graduation, and this is a required performance.  On graduation day, I’ll keep the kids from the end of school through the performance, and I’ll feed them supper.  Concert dress 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 one additional concert tune within the ceremony.

Interested 6th grade band members who can successfully play all of the music to the director’s standards may also be invited to participate.  Participation by 6th graders is on a per-pupil volunteer basis and all decisions are made solely by the director.

Graduation is a required performance for 7th – 9th grade band members.
Graduation is not a required performance for 6th grade band members (but they will need to commit whether they are doing it or not).

Keep in touch, everyone!

Scott