There are many events taking place the next few months and I thought I'd wrapped it up in a nice blog.  As always, if there are any questions, please email me:  csullivan@bsd124.org

PARENT MEETING


Our second meeting discussing Band O Rama and its events will be held next Monday, February 23 at 7pm.  We have  acquired a few sponsorships and are continuing to pursue more.  

PEP BAND

We are wrapping up our pep band performances as the basketball season comes to a close.  Tonight (Friday) and next Tuesday (Feb. 24) starting at 5:30 in the band room.

JAZZ BAND

The jazz band will participate in Pitt State’s Jazz Festival on March 6.  The bus will leave at 1:30 and will return at 8:30. Our performance is at 5pm in Bicknell Hall and is open to the public.   A permission slip will be coming your way next week.   

DISTRICT SOLO AND ENSEMBLE FESTIVAL


Solo and small ensemble festival is held at Grain Valley on March 20-21.  This only pertains to those individuals and groups that have been working and have registered for a solo/ensemble.  Times will be given a week before the event.  Solos with piano accompaniment will meet several times between now and the time of the festival.  The accompaniment fee is $50. Checks are made out to Anita Weinzierl.

LARGE ENSEMBLE FESTIVAL


Those that have elected to participate in Contest Band will perform at Paseo High School on March 26th.  We will showcase the pieces performed at contest on March 24 in the Forum theater starting at 7pm.  Come and listen as these kids have been working hard with a limited amount of time.  

 Making hard decisions.  That is something a leader must do.  As someone that makes these difficult decisions, let me express how impressed I am with EVERY single submission this year.  I am truly humbled by the dedication, creativity and desire to be a leader in this program.  These decisions were not taken lightly.  Without further delay, here are the leaders of the Pirate Pride Marching Band.

Drum Majors                         President                      Vice President             Secretary
Dylan Byard                            Trevor Silber                  Madisan Wilson            Jessica Terry
Grant Goffoy
Tori Wright
Amanda Harris

Section Leaders
Flute-  Jessica Terry
Clarinet- Shannon Coupland
Saxophone- Trevor Silber
Trumpet- Madisan Wilson
Low Brass and WW- Titus Weinzierl and Andrew Eckes
Percussion- Bailey Martinez

It is time for camp!  For some, this may be the first time while others may feel this is a continuous routine that occurs when a new year begins.  Whether veteran or newbie, there will be several changes in the two weeks of band camp.  

The biggest change that the "Pirate Pride" will go through is a change in priority and focus.  Since the construction of the Freshmen Center, this band has been focused on marching in parade competitions.  The reason for this was the separation of our 9th graders from the rest of the band.  It is easier to combine the sections of the band in a parade format rather than field marching.  

Change will occur this year.  Due to the lower numbers enrolled in high school band, it is crucial for the freshmen to join the high school for drill on the football field.  The one problem still stands:  Two different rehearsal times.  

That means that band camp is critical to the success of the fall.  Each student (minus pit percussion) will be assigned a number.  There are no alternate players.  Each number MUST be covered and learned during our two weeks of camp.  The whole drill must be learned during camp because, again, we will not meet as a full group during school time.   

During the school year, thursday night rehearsals will be used for the whole group to meet- to refresh memory, and to clean the drill.  

Lastly, I love that we have band students that are so involved in other school events.  I will never punish nor discourage them from those activities.  However, I don't want band to be placed as a lower priority.  To put it in sports terms- every participant in band are ALL starters.  Practice is a waste of time if we can't have nearly 99% participation.  

This blog has gone on long enough.  I will try to post again before the camp begins.  In the meantime, please visit the high school portion of this website for dates and times of camp.  Thanks for reading!

-CS