Annual Butter Braid Sale Has Ended –
The Annual Butter Braid Sale has come to an end and the forms were due Tuesday, Feb. 25. The delivery is set for Tuesday March 18. There is also a chance for sellers to earn a $1000 scholarship.
BNL Wind Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble Auditions –
The BNL Wind Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble audition materials are available. 8th grade students can take advantage of many opportunities to receive help with the audition material. Students can stay after school or come to the band building during advisor time when I am available to get some help. There are also great private lesson opportunities available through our program here at BMS. We’ve got some very strong candidates and the process is upon us. There is more information and a form that needs signed available at the band office. Students do not need to audition for the White Band (freshman band), the Red Band or the Marching Band. Good luck!
Washington DC trip Update –
The final trip preparation is building as the month March arrives. Students have been preparing music for our upcoming full ensemble rehearsals, parents have been making payments, and final trip plans are lining up. Trip lists and times are being finalized and printed. Final billing notices with remaining balances based on the number of participants and roommates should be sent out soon.
The upcoming full ensemble rehearsals are crucial to the success of our trip performance. We have students from four different bands coming together to perform 12 pieces of music. These rehearsals will be needed to prepare the kids to perform together as a cohesive ensemble and not just a bunch of band kids playing some music together. We have been discussing these upcoming rehearsals in class and how important it is for the kids to be prepared and in attendance.
The rehearsals will begin in March and lead up to our trip. The band will rehearse after school on Mondays and Fridays until 5:00 pm and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm. There will not be any rehearsals on Wednesdays.
We will have a trip meeting for parents to attend on March 13th to receive final itineraries and luggage tags. We will also present a concert on March 20 at 7:00 pm in Schafer Auditorium to perform the music being played in Washington D.C. for family and friends to hear.
I’m really excited about this trip and the band couldn’t be more balanced. The instrumentation is ideal and the kids seem to have a pretty good grasp of the parts. Now is when we will begin making music of all those notes and rhythms. We may even be able to cut a few rehearsals if things fall into place quickly.
6th Grade Band Fine Arts Festival April 8 –
I am excited to announce the 6th Grade Band will be combined with the bands from Shawswick and Oolitic to perform at this year’s NLCS Fine Arts Festival. The festival will be at the BNL Performing Arts Center from April 7th to 10th .
The 6th grade band will perform on Tuesday, April 8. The students will ride buses to BNL the morning of the performance to rehearse together for the concert that night. That night the students will report to BNL at 6:30 pm to prepare for the concert at 7 pm. Permission forms and more information will be passed out this week in class. Here is a link to the information and form: https://bedfordmsband.com/6th-grade-fine-arts-festival-information/
Private Lessons Becoming Popular and Expanding –
I have offered free help after school for years. Some afternoons I’ll have just a few students and some afternoons I’ll have several. The amount of time I spend with the students varies on how many are at the band building and what they are working on. These free help sessions are great, but they don’t replace a true weekly lesson. I know I was fortunate to take lessons in middle school when I was much younger and I am sure many of our band parents benefited from private lessons too. Private lessons help struggling students catch up, advanced students find challenges, and the average student continue to improve. All our students would benefit from private lessons. I will continue to offer free help sessions, but I would encourage students to develop the habit of practicing regularly and taking lessons.
These lessons will be offered from trained music teachers with years of experience. If you would be interested in having a child participate in lessons just drop me an email or leave a voice message on our BMS voice mail. (extension 11506). The cost will range from $5 to $15 a half hour.
Percussion Lessons –
Mr. Jones will have percussion lessons available after school on Thursdays. Percussion students are starting to take advantage of this great opportunity. Contact the band office if you are interested in advancing your percussion skills and performance opportunities.
Flute Lessons –
Mrs. Jones will be offering flute lessons at BMS after school on Thursdays. She also offers flute lessons at BNL (Mondays and Tuesdays) and at Oolitic MS (Fridays). The cost is $5 for 30 minutes. Mrs. Jones has been teaching flute for 20 years and has a music education degree form Ball State University. She is a wonderful flute teacher and is also thinking about starting a NLCS Flute Choir. Lots of exciting things for our flute players to take advantage of.
Please contact the band office if you are interested in taking lessons or participating in a flute choir. A letter to our flute students from Mrs. Jones was sent home with our flute students detailing more information and a sign up form.
Alto Sax Lessons –
We have a BNL high school student interested in offering 30 minute alto sax lessons to students for $5. If interested please contact the band building at 279-9781 ext 11506.
Oboe Lessons –
We have a BNL high school student interested in offering 30 minute oboe lessons to students for $5. If interested please contact the band building at 279-9781 ext 11506.
After School Help and Open Band Practice Time –
I will be directing several band rehearsals the next few weeks after school and in the evenings to prepare for the Washington D.C. trip. Times can be scheduled with me around these rehearsals to receive extra help by calling me at 279-9781 (ext. 11506), emailing me at school, or just simply having your child ask me for available times.
Have a great week!
Bedford MS Bands 