Butter Braids Arrived Tues. March 18 –
The butter braids arrived at 1:00 pm on Tuesday, March 18. We are now in the process of delivering the butter braids and collecting payments. We would like to wrap up the project and have the money turned in by Friday, March 28.
I can’t begin to express how appreciative I am for all that participated. The support was tremendous and the kids will benefit from all the hard work. Thank you for all your help and dedication.
Washington DC trip Update –
The rehearsals have come to and end and final packing is underway. The band will meet at 6:00 am instead of 5:30 am on Monday to begin loading the charter buses for the trip. I plan to arrive around 5:30 am and we hope to pull away from BMS around 6:30 am. We’ll need to be careful about how we park when we arrive that morning so the buses can enter from N street and pull along the sidewalk by the auditorium. This will allow us to load the coaches safely.
Here is a note from our travel company.
Dear Bedford Trip Participants:
In reviewing the trip itinerary with the motor coach company and to better accommodate all of our travel needs we will be meeting at the school at 6am now. Therefore, everyone will get an extra ½ hour to sleep on Monday morning! The new departure schedule is below.
6:00am Load the Coaches
6:30am Depart for Washington D.C.
Thank you so much for your flexibility. Have a great day.
We will try to stream the Tuesday morning concert around 10:30 am using Ustream. Our band site is: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bedford-ms-band. Use can also use the Ustream app to watch the performance. Just search for Bedford MS Band.
Be sure to get a copy of the Times Mail and read about the band’s trip. A big thank you goes out to the staff at the Times Mail for the help and coverage. It is greatly appreciated and very nice of the paper to cover this exciting trip for the kids.
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 information were passed out in class. Here is a link to the information and form: https://bedfordmsband.com/6th-grade-fine-arts-festival-information/. These forms and fee were due on March 12.
Congratulations to the Varsity BNL Winter Guard –
We would like to congratulate the BNL Varsity Winter Guard on finishing 5th at the IHSCGA Class AA State Championships last weekend. Auditions begin for next year’s Color Guard begin after spring break. Current 8th graders will be eligible. All rehearsals are at BNL. If you have any questions feel free to contact our Color Guard Director, Lori Elkins, at 583-2984
Dates to learn basic skills – April 1, April 3 and April 8 from 5:30 – 8:00 pm
Learn Audition Routine – April 10 5:30 – 8:00 pm
Audition Night – April 14 5:30 – 8:00 pm
BNL Wind Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble Auditions Are Underway –
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!
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.
Weather has really disrupted our usual flow and has caused delays and cancellations over the past few weeks. Schedules should become more consistent with the arrival of Spring.
Percussion Lessons –
Mr. Jones has 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 is 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. 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.
Have a great spring break!
Bedford MS Bands 