QACHS’s Band Blog

Well, all of the summer Marching Rehearsals have been complete. There were Wednesday evening music rehearsals from 6-8PM throughout the summer beginning with the first Wednesday after school finished. Then they had two very successful weeks of Band Camp the last week of July in to the first full week of August. They concluded camp with a performance at the Queen Anne’s County 4-H Fair opening ceremony. I want to thank David Durham, Stephen Elburn, Brittany Lynn, Carley Simons, and Janelle Thomas for coming back and helping us throughout the summer and camp. Also a big thank you to Mrs. Fullerton for giving up two weeks of her summer to help us with band camp as well.

We will begin our weekly after school rehearsals on Monday. As we have done in the past, Woodwinds and Brass will have rehearsal on Mondays, Percussion and Color Guard on Tuesdays, and everyone has rehearsal on Thursdays and Fridays. After school rehearsals will run from 2:40PM to 4:45PM. The after school activity buses will depart at 5:00PM.

This Monday, the freshmen start with their own special day and Tuesday the rest of the upperclassmen will return. There will be a bit of a change in the daily band schedule. The Hybrid Period is being moved from 3rd period to 4th period this year. So, it will be a nice way for students to end their day.

We will be having a band orientation meeting for all band members and parents on Thursday, September 4th at 7:00PM in the Band Room. Everyone is strongly encouraged to attend so that we can all be informed about what will be going on in the band program this year and meet each other. Time is always short on Open House night, so this will give us plenty of time to talk together. So, mark your calendars and plan to attend.

Check out our wiki for signing up to help in the concession stand at the stadium. Click on the link, follow the directions, and help us out: http://qachsbandconcession.wikispaces.com. We have already had some folks to sign up. Thank you so much!

Stay tuned to the this blog all year and stay informed. This will be our first full year to have the blog and I am so very excited to be able to share information with all of you.

All exams are in and the end of the year is here.  I hope that everyone will have a safe and enjoyable summer.  Don’t forget to practice a little bit throughout the summer to keep your chops up to speed so that you will be ready when school starts back.

For those that are in Marching Band, don’t forget that we will begin our Wednesday evening music rehearsals next week on June 18th from 6 - 8 PM.

Everyone has received their Cow Patty Bingo tickets to sell.  Please make sure that if you can’t sell all three, that you return any unsold tickets with your money to the Band Booster Post Office Box by August 1st.

Postcast #3 will be posted really soon, so stay tuned for that!

Again, have a great summer!!!

We had a wonderful evening of awards and recognitions at our Music Awards Ceremony last night.  As we look towards the end of the year, we still have several things left to accomplish.

1. QACHS Night of Jazz - Tomorrow night.  (Saxes - Baked Goods, Brass - 2 2Liter bottles of soda, Percussion - designated paper products.)
2. Senior Exam - Written: May 20, Playing: May 21
    
3. Chestertown Tea Party and Centreville Memorial Day Parade - Sat. May 24th.  (Report time is 8:00 AM, must be dressed and loaded to leave at 8:30.)  Chestertown parade is at 10AM and Centreville parade is at 12 Noon.
4. Marching Band Mini-Camp - May 27 - 29, 6 - 8 PM.
5. Graduation - May 30 (Report time is 6:00 PM, must be dressed and ready for warm-up at 6:30.)
6. Final Exams - Playing: June 2 - 6, Written: June 9 (Symphonic) and June 11 (Concert).
7. Wednesday evening Marching Music Rehearsals begin on Wednesday, June 18th from 6 to 8 PM.

Next week will bring the Music Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, May 13th at 7:00 PM.  We are trying a new format by just doing an awards ceremony in place of the former banquet.

The 5th Annual QACHS Night of Jazz will be held in the Cafeteria on Thursday, May 15th at 7:00 PM.  The concert is held in combination with the Centreville Middle School Jazz Ensemble.  It is presented as a cafe style concert with refreshments available throughout.  The members of the Jazz Ensemble are responsible for the various items.  The Saxophones need to bring a baked good, the Brass need to bring two 2 Liter bottles of soda, and the rhythm section will take care of the paper products.

Our Spring Concert will be held at 7:30 PM next Tuesday, May 6th.  The band is to report to get dressed at 6:45 PM and are to be ready for warm-up at 7:00 PM.  The concert will include performances by the combined Concert Band, Marching Band, and the Choir.

What an adventure Boston was. We made is there and back safely. It was not without troubles with a bus, sickness, and moving about town. The band gave great performances and placed well. The Concert Band and Jazz Ensemble were the only groups to have another group to compete against. The Concert Band took 1st place and a rating of Excellent, and the Jazz Ensemble placed 4th with a rating of Excellent as well. Thank you to all the adult chaperons for your help in making this trip possible!

Check this video out. You never know what will happen on a Band Trip Bus.

We are down to only THREE DAYS before we leave for Boston, MA.  All Emergency Medical Forms were due today.  So, if you have not turned yours in, please get them in to the Band Office by first thing Wednesday morning at the very latest.  We must get them organized in the medical binders for each bus.  There won’t be time to do this Thursday morning before we leave.

Remember as you are packing, that you can only have one suitcase that will go under the bus and one carry-on bag that will either fit in the overhead compartment or under your seat.  Your pillow will not count as a carry-on item if you choose to bring it.  Make sure that you have everything that you need for your uniforms.  Concert/Jazz - Ladies: black closed toed shoes, Gentlemen: Black Dress Shoes, Black Socks, and White Tux/Dress Shirt.  Marching - Black Marching Shoes (make sure they have been cleaned), Black Socks, and Black Gloves.

If you want to bring movies for everyone to watch on the bus, you must have those submitted by Wednesday as well for approval.  No submissions will be accepted Thursday.

You will need money for the following meals while we are gone:

- Lunch on Thursday
- Lunch and Dinner on Friday
- Lunch and Dinner on Saturday
- Lunch on Sunday

Your dinner on Thursday and all breakfasts are covered in the trip cost.

Three Days and Counting!

You can now goto the Band’s Website and listen to the first episode of “From the Director’s Desk.” Each month I will be posting a new podcast about the latest happenings and upcoming events. I will plan to post it the day after the monthly Band Booster Meetings which are usually held the first Thursday of every month in the Band Room at 7:00 PM. If you can’t make it to the meeting to hear my Director’s Report, the podcasts will give it all to you.  Click to go there now, http://boe.qacps.k12.md.us/qhs/qaband/podcasts.html

The Symphonic and Concert Bands performed as one unified group at Wicomico High School on Wednesday, March 12th at the Maryland District V Band Festival.  They received an “Excellent” rating for their prepared stage performance and a “Superior” in sight reading.

Click here to listen to each selection that was played. 

King Cotton (March)
Click here to play music


Shenandoah
Click here to play music


Sea Songs
Click here to play music

Extra Credit Opportunity!

30 Points Possible

You are cordially invited to attend a free concert given by the United States Army Ceremonial Band. On Thursday, March 27^th, the U.S. Army Ceremonial Band will present a concert entitled “Music Meets Hi-Tech.” This event will take place at Brucker Hall in Fort Myer, Virginia at 7:30 PM. 

However, thanks to modern technology, you don’t actually HAVE to go there person! The concert will be also available via live Webcast at the following URL:

http://rastaban.ite.gmu.edu/usarmyband  

(The URL will be active 30 minutes prior to the concert).

 In the meantime, visit www.soundtree.com/usarmy for a podcast about the concert.

Immediately following the concert, audience members will be encouraged to blog about their reactions to the concert at: http://soundtree.musiced.net.

For your assignment, please answer the following questions, either typed or on a lined piece of notebook paper, answering ALL questions with complete sentences:

1. State the name of the concert along with the date, time and place the concert happened.

2. Was the performance instrumental, vocal or both?

3.  Were any instruments or voice parts featured in the performance?  If so, how were they featured?  (Were there solos or sections that played?) 

4. Write a paragraph or two telling me about your favorite piece of music from this concert.  Explain why you liked it, how it made you feel, what was the title of the song and who wrote it.  Be as specific as you can. 

5. Write a paragraph or two about the entire concert.  Explain the concert as if you were writing a review for the local newspaper.  Be very detailed and specific about all aspects of the concert.

6. Post a blog about your reaction to the concert at http://soundtree.musiced.net. Print a copy of your blog entry and attach it to your paper.

7. Post a blog about your reaction to the concert on our blog about this assignment at http://qachsband.edublogs.org.

Due: Monday, March 31, 2008
This assignment will not be accepted after this date!