Band Notes Band Notes 12-10-09
BELLEVUE EAST BAND NOTES
“Eyes with pride”
#13
December 10, 2009
Jingle All The Way
. . .to the Bellevue East auditorium for this year’s East/West Holiday Concert. It will begin at 3 p.m. and this year we have a new twist. All students are asked to bring in a canned good for the Bellevue Food Pantry. We have set up a little challenge to see who can bring in the most food, and will have one area designated for each school, so be sure to bring some canned goods and drop them in the Bellevue East box.
Semester Two, Coming Right Up
Parents, please note that at the beginning of the second semester the freshmen students who were in Advanced/Marching band first hour will be transferred into the third hour Concert Band class and join their fellow freshman band members.
Stocking Stuffers & Equipment Tune Ups
Attached is a list of preferred equipment and gift ideas as we head into the holidays. Ask yourself, “are you seeing a return on your investment (instrument)?” Much like a car, a musical instrument requires regular check-ups and fine tuning. Please do not wait until something major goes wrong to get it in the shop. Even with careful use, instruments will work themselves out of line, and require a professional “check and adjust”, available at any of our local repair shops. The holiday break would be a perfect time to send in your instrument.
Lessons On the Side
Per Mr. Hardin, it’s advisable for ALL students to consider private lessons. Lessons can help students of ALL levels improve their skills, prepare solos and auditions, and prepare for college. A list of recommended instructors has been posted on the web site. If you know of other names to add to this list, please inform Mr. Hardin.
Pep Talk
The Pep Band plays for both boys’ and girls’ games when they both play on the same night. For the girls’ games the band plays for quarters 2, 3 and 4, and for the boys’ games the band plays for quarters 1, 2 and 4. (They have a well-deserved break for the third quarter of the boy’s games.)
Students are expected to play 5 of the 6 home games as part of their 2nd semester participation grade.
Our first Pep Band event is scheduled for December 17. Pep Band members should report at 5:30 to be ready to begin playing for the second quarter of game one. Pep Band is always a fun night for members of the band. The complete schedule of Pep Band performances can be found on the web site.
Band Council is working on theme nights for each game, and band students are encouraged to dress up and support the teams! More information on this will be distributed later.
Parents should, of course, wear Band Booster shirts, and be sure to cheer as loudly for the band as the fans cheer for the teams. Go Chieftains!
Gifts And Re-gifting, Auction Style
The holiday season is drawing near and we all know what that means. Gifts! If this is the year you receive that perfect gift, but it’s not really perfect for you, consider donating it to this year’s Band Booster Silent Auction. Items can be sent in with your child. Please put your name and the estimated value of the item on the donation, so that we know where to start the bid amount and how to complete your receipt. Also, it is never too early to ask your employer, friends or family members to make a donation to this year’s auction.
Springing Into The Fundraisers
We have three major fundraisers this spring for the band program. First up is our annual donation letter. Members of the band send out letters to family and friends simply asking for a cash donation. We don’t ask them to buy magazines or overpriced wrapping paper. We simply ask them to make a donation to the band. When you see friends and family members over the holidays, have your child mention their band experiences and let them know that they will be receiving a letter in February seeking a donation for our wonderful program.
Our second fundraiser is the Jazz Fest which will be held at Bellevue East on March 12 and 13. This is the largest jazz festival in the metro area, and lots of parent (yep, this means you!) help is needed to make the weekend a success.
Our third fundraiser will be our annual Dinner and Silent Auction. The key to the success of that fundraiser is soliciting donations and having lots of band supporters at the event to bid on those donations. We have not yet set a firm date for this event, but as soon as we do we will let you know. We are seeking a chair for this event, and if you volunteer to chair the event, you already have a great team of volunteers to assist you. Please contact Bruce or Vicki Orman at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you are interested.
Band Beats:
Jazz & Stage Bands
Rehearsals have begun for these two groups, during the afternoon GPS period. Students will have Wednesdays off, to visit teachers and make up any tests.
Winter Guard
Auditions are over, and practices have begun! East is very excited to have two guards this season, Varsity and JV. The complete schedule can be found online in the calendar section. JV rehearses Monday and Thursday from 4:30-6:00 p.m. Varsity rehearses Monday and Thursday and Sunday from 5:00-9:00 p.m. Sundays are necessary, as this is the only time we can secure gym space.
Drum Line
East will be fielding a competitive, indoor concert percussion ensemble this year. This group will meet once a week during school, and one evening a week. Performances will include local HWAA events, the district music contest and a tentative trip to WGI finals in Dayton, OH.
Wind Ensemble
Wind Ensemble practices are at 7:00, every day of the week. We have tweaked the schedule as follows:
Monday, Wednesday, Friday – All Members
Tuesday – Brass Sectionals
Thursday – Woodwind & Guard sectionals
An Elephant Never Forgets . . .
. . . but sometimes we do!
December 13 East/West Holiday Concert @ East 3 p.m.
December 16 Culver’s Care and Share Night 5-9 p.m.
December 17 Pep Band-Boys & Girls
January 8 Pep Band-Boys & Girls
January 15 Pep Band-Boys & Girls
January 20 Culver’s Care and Share Night 5-9 p.m.
January 23 Pep Band-Boys & Girls
February 6 Pep Band-Boys & Girls
February 9 Concert – All Bands 7 p.m.
February 10 Donation Letter Fundraiser In Class
February 13 Boys & Girls Basketball – NO PEP BAND
February 17 Culver’s Care and Share Night 5-9 p.m.
February 19 UNO Jazz Festival
February 19 Pep Band-Boys & Girls
February 23 District Jazz Night @ East Auditorium 7 p.m.
February 25 Pep Band-Girls District Final*
March 1 Pep Band-Boys District Final*
March 4-6 Pep Band – Girls State*
March 11-13 Pep Band – Boys State*
March 12-13 Jazz Festival
March 17 Culver’s Care and Share Night 5-9 p.m.
March 24-27 School Musical
March 30 Bellevue West Band Festival – Concert & Advanced Bands
April 17 NSBA Concert Band Festival
April 23-24 District Music Contest
April 21 Culver’s Care and Share Night 5-9 p.m.
April 27 Tri-M Music Honor Society Inductions
May 2 Advanced Band Worlds of Fun Trip
May 10 Concert all Bands – 7 p.m.
May 19 Culver’s Care and Share Night 5-9 p.m.
***When referring to the web site calendar for these events, please be sure to “click” on the event for details. The start time of the event may not be correct on the main page of the web site because it may show the time the students are to report.***