This coming week will be a very busy one. Here is what we have going on:
Monday
Marching Band Rehearsal after school.
Tuesday
Concert Dress Rehearsal during 4th Period. Concert/Symphonic Band members should report to the band room for set up at 12:25 (beginning of D Lunch). If you eat on D Lunch you need to eat on C Lunch.
Jazz Band Rehearsal after school only until 3:30.
Wednesday
Winter Concert – Students should report at 6:30PM. Everyone will bring the necessary items (guys = white shirt, black socks, and black shoes, ladies = black shoes) for their Tuxes and Gowns. The Jazz Band will need to set up their chairs and be ready for warm-up at 6:50PM. Everyone else will need to be totally ready by 7:00PM. We will warm up after the Jazz Band’s Performance.
Jazz Band Performance in the Lobby at 7:00PM
Formal Concert in Performing Arts Center at 7:30PM.
DON’T FORGET TO BRING YOUR BAKED GOOD ITEMS FOR THE RECEPTION IN THE LOBBY!
Thursday
Marching Band Rehearsal after school.
Friday
Marching Band Rehearsal after school.
Dinner Break: 4:45PM – 6:00PM
Report: 6:00PM
Dress: 6:00PM – 6:30PM
Warm-up: 6:30PM – 6:45PM
Parade Step Off from QACHS: 6:45PM
The parade will travel through town to the Board of Education.
I want to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving.
I just want to take a brief moment to share some of the things that I am thankful for within and around the band program at QACHS.
1. The Members of the Band Program. It is each member that works very hard and dedicates many tireless hours to the program that allows it to be successful.
2. The Parents. If it were not for the work, dedication, and support that is given to the program by the parents, we would not be able to accomplish the things that we do.
3. The Alumni. You are the ones that keep coming back and volunteering your time to help train the new members and keep the current members encouraged. I could not do the job I do alone, so you are a real help in many different capacities.
4. School and Community Support. The QACHS Band Program has been a very important part of Queen Anne’s County High School and the Community. It is through the school and community support we receive that allows us to provide such wonderful and wide range of opportunities for our students.
Thank You to all of you!!!
It is a short week this week and there aren’t any rehearsals after school. However next week will be a different story. So check back later this week for all of next week’s details for Dress Rehearsal, Winter Concert, and the Centreville Christmas Parade.
We are now beginning our fourth week of school already. I can’t believe how quickly these first few weeks have flown by. Each of the current ensembles are off to a great start. Both band classes began their year by setting their top 5 goals for the year, creating a list of expectations for themselves as well as a list of the norms that they must follow in order to be successful. It was so exciting to see the kids work together in laying all of this out for themselves for the year. The Marching Band did this during their first day of Band Camp and has worked out great. There was a nice turn out at the Band Open House night held at the beginning of this month. I want to thank all of those parents and students that came out that night to learn more about the program and what we need to do together this year to have a successful year. For those that have taken advantage of the Band Concession Stand Wiki, Thank You! Also thank you for not only signing up to work, but helping out by working. It really is going to take everyone in the program working together and volunteering some time in various capacities to help us do all that we do. For those that haven’t checked it out and signed up, here is the link www.qachsbandconcession.wikispaces.com. The band website is finally updated with all the current performance schedules. We didn’t get a band camp edition podcast done this summer and I really didn’t have a regular director’s report for the meeting this month due to the presentation that I did. So, the 4th episode of “From the Director’s Desk” will include my October director’s report as well as an update of all that has taken place since the last episode that was done in June. Be sure to stay tuned and stay in touch! The All-State Audition requirement packets have been put together and are available for students to pick up in the band room. Also available in the band room are the first fund raising packets for Gianni’s Pizza and Sensationally Sweet Desserts. These are due back Wednesday, September 24th and delivery will be Tuesday, October 7th. Remember that all profit that each student makes goes into their account to go towards the cost of their spring trip. Also available are packets for program ads to go in the TOB Competition program book. We need everyone to sell as many ads as possible so we can pay for the show before we have it. That way all sales the day of the show will be profit for the band. Lastly, all students received a flyer asking for help with donations of candy for the candy grams that are sold at the TOB Competition as well as help that day. We need as many Concert/Symphonic Band students to volunteer time to help be a host for the guest bands as they arrive, warm-up, and head to the field. Parental help is greatly needed that day too.
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.
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.
QACHS Night of Jazz – Tomorrow night. (Saxes – Baked Goods, Brass – 2 2Liter bottles of soda, Percussion – designated paper products.)
Senior Exam – Written: May 20, Playing: May 21
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.
Marching Band Mini-Camp – May 27 – 29, 6 – 8 PM.
Graduation – May 30 (Report time is 6:00 PM, must be dressed and ready for warm-up at 6:30.)
Final Exams – Playing: June 2 – 6, Written: June 9 (Symphonic) and June 11 (Concert).
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.
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.
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
For those that have been a part of the QACHS Band program over the past several years with me, know that one of the key elements that I feel is most important to making this program successful is communication. I like to keep everyone as informed as possible and make future plans and schedules available as soon as possible so that we can all plan our very busy lives accordingly. I hope that through this new communication medium, that I will be able to keep everyone up to date with the latest information from the band program. Stay tuned and stay up to date.
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