PRESIDENT'S LETTER
I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce myself. My name is AJ Scott and I have been a member of SIMB since 2016. I have been the Chaperone Co-chair since 2017.
I got involved with SIMB when my oldest daughter was in Middle school. She has since graduated SHS and is pursuing a degree in music education at Ohio University. My youngest daughter is an incoming Freshman at SHS and is super excited to be in the Marching Band and Wind Ensemble.
I come from a family of musicians and music educators. I saw first hand what support means to the Arts program in my family’s school districts and have witnessed what the support of SIMB means to the Strongsville City Schools.
I am a believer that leaders are but trusted servants not dictators. My objectives are to support our award winning music program by supporting our directors, students and this organization.
I can be reached at this simbpresident@gmail.com
I look forward to meeting and working with you and having a wonderful 2022-2023 school year.
Warmest regards,
AJ Scott
President
Strongsville Instrumental Music Boosters
Band Notes from Mr. King
September Newsletter 2022
We are having a great start to the year! The students began the season with a successful Meet the Mustangs. The students are having one great performance after another as we continue to perfect our show. This will be our busiest month so far with 4 football games, the North Royalton and Lakewood Band Festivals and A Day at the Chalet performance.
Thanks to everyone that helped make our mattress sale such a huge success this year!
If you have any questions don’t hesitate to shoot me an email (bking@scsmustangs.org ).
REMIND Codes (sign up for your students class today if you haven’t done so already):
Concert Band - @98gda2a
Symphonic Band - @ad2f643
Wind Ensemble - @6fg69ek
Upcoming Dates:
Check the online calendar for the time students need to arrive.
All performances and rehearsals are mandatory for a grade.
* Rehearsals are Tuesdays 3-5 p.m. and Thursdays 6-9 p.m. unless stated
otherwise.
* 8/26 Midview Away Game 4:45 p.m.
* 9/2 Brecksville Away Game 4:45 p.m.
* 9/9 Solon Home Game 5:15 p.m.
* 9/10 North Royalton Band Festival 4:45 p.m. 7 p.m. start
* 9/16 Medina Away Game 5 p.m.
* 9/17 Lakewood Band Festival 3:30 p.m. 6 p.m. start
* 9/18 A Day at the Chalet 11:15 a.m. 12 p.m. start (students provide
their own transportation to this and we wear our summer
uniform) This is required for leadership, volunteer for everyone
else.
* 9/23 Cleveland Heights Home Game 5:30 p.m. (Homecoming)
* 9/29 Austintown-Fitch Home Game 5:30 p.m. (8th Grade Night)
Online Calendar:
Go to the SHS web page, click on student life, click on music. Plan ahead so that there are no conflicts or surprises. Check the difference between the start times and call time. Call time is the time students need to be at the high school, start time is when the event actually begins. Although I try to avoid alterations to the calendar/call times, sometimes it is inevitable. Please double check weekly for the most up to date information.
Private Lessons:
I would like to see everyone take advantage of private lessons. Email me and I would be happy to assist you with finding a great teacher. Private lessons allow your student to have a deeper experience in band as they progress further on their instrument.
Practicing:
It is required (homework) that students practice at home for this class. The instrument should come home several nights a week, and the weekend. Please help them to find a quiet place with few distractions at home that has a wire music stand and chair so they can sit with good posture. The exception should be when they don’t practice, not when they do. We will have playing exams coming up so it’s best that they stay on top of their music early.
A few words on attendance..
Our band learns and plays best when all members are present. When students are absent, it not only affects them, it affects those they march by in our choreography and it changes our sound. It’s very similar to a missing spark plug in a motor, it doesn’t work the same without it. Students who fall behind often face a lot of stress trying to catch up and can become discouraged. Check the band handbook for our attendance policy. Band is a co-curricular class which means rehearsals after school and during the summer count towards their grade in band throughout the school year. If your student will be having an absence, I need an email from the parent or guardian stating the reason (excused or unexcused per our attendance policy in the band handbook).
Mr. King
SIMB Membership
Membership Updates:
++Membership Drive— Join or renew your SIMB membership today! SIMB membership supports our instrumental music programs—marching band, orchestras, concert bands, jazz bands and pep band. Click this link to learn more!!! If you have questions about SIMB membership, please email SIMBmembership@gmail.com
https://simb.membershiptoolkit.com/login-form?r=%2Fform%2Fm%2F157602
I hope everyone had a wonderful summer. I am looking forward to another exciting school year. Thanks for making music education a priority for your student and your support of our program. Please read through the following information which is also included in the SHS Orchestras Handbook.
School Owned Instrument Fees
Our school-owned instrument fees are $30 and affects students who play cello, bass, oboe, bassoon, French horn, bass clarinet, tuba, and percussion in the orchestra. If a student is using the same instrument in band, they only pay ONE $30 fee. The fees are used to off-set the costs of basic annual maintenance. Considering the annual maintenance costs, $30 for the school year is a great value. Instrument contracts will be sent home the first week of school. Sign and return the contract with a check made payable to Strongsville City Schools. Students who play in both band and Symphony Orchestra only pay this fee once. Paper copies of the school-owned instrument agreement will given to students the first day of school.
Orchestra Uniforms
BOYS: All boys will be fitted and issued a school-owned tuxedo this year on Sept. 20. Please note that Freshman Orchestra boys (not Symphony Orchestra Freshman boys) will be given a black bow and cummerbund, and will not wear the green vest/bow tie as the boys in the String and Symphony Orchestras wear. Information including the tuxedo rental agreement can be found in our Google classroom. Tuxedo forms and fees are not due until the sizing on Sept. 20th.
GIRLS: All NEW orchestra girls (except for those who already have a dress in the band), will need to complete and return their dress sizing form and payment (also posted in Google Classroom). Girls will take their own measurements (instructions found on the sheet) and choose their uniform size. Return the completed form and payment to school by the deadline (August 25). It is very important that ALL forms and dress payments are returned by the deadline to insure we have the dresses by the first concert in mid-October. The dresses are placed as one collective order, and will arrive from the manufacturer, just before our first concert. You are responsible for your daughter’s selected dress size! We will order the exact size you mark on the sheet. Orders cannot be returned, refunded, or exchanged. It is imperative that you follow the instructions on the sizing form. Keep in mind, these are uniform dresses, and do not fit like a dress you would find on the rack at your favorite clothing store. You will want to be accurate.
Students who do not return their sizing form and payment by the deadline will not have a dress ordered. If there are any concerns or questions email the SIMB concert uniform chairs as the placement of these orders is time sensitive.
Returning girls should make sure your dress still fits and is one inch from the floor. If you need to order a new dress, it will have to be ordered along with the others, and you will follow the same procedure as those for the new girls.
All dresses will need to be altered upon arrival. Since they arrive about 7-10 days prior to the first concert, you will need to have it done as soon as possible. You are responsible for the costs of the alterations.
Direct all questions to simbconcertuniforms@gmail.com
Orchestra Handbook and Required Forms
During the first week we will go over the 2022/2023 Orchestra handbook which includes a copy of the concert schedule, instructions for joining SHS Orchestras Remind, and other required forms including an orchestra contract, emergency medical form, privacy use form. All forms must be completed, signed, and returned to orchestra by Friday, August 26. All of this information is also available in our Google Classroom.
Please take the time to read and go over the orchestra handbook since it explains many important items about the course including grading policies, uniform requirements, attendance policy, and much more. Keep it in a safe location for reference throughout the school year. If you lose it, a copy may be found on the SHS Orchestras website.
Orchestra Remind
Please subscribe to our orchestra Remind to receive important updates, reminders, and other information. This is the primary method I use to communicate to parents and students. If you are a subscriber from past years, you do not need to re-subscribe unless you changed phone number. Instructions and join codes can be found in our Google classroom.
School Music Lockers
In order to maintain organization and security, all students have been assigned a school-owned instrument storage locker. Locks are optional, however if students choose to utilize one it must be a traditional, numerical combination lock. They must provide the staff and their locker partner the combination.
Instrument Repair/Maintenance
Students are expected to keep their instruments in full operating order. Failure to do so could result in a lowered participation grade. Please check that all instruments have fresh strings, good bow hair, and all necessary supplies including rosin and shoulder rests prior to the first day of school.
SHS Music Department Calendar
Please note that all SHS band, orchestra, and choir concerts, contests, rehearsals, and other important dates have been posted on the calendar found on the SHS Music Department website. You may find all important dates in one convenient location. You can rely on the SHS Music Department calendar.
2022/2023 SHS Chamber Strings
The SHS Chamber Strings is a select ensemble comprised of string players in the Symphony Orchestra. Students are selected via their symphony seating audition. The SHS Chamber Strings typically rehearses on Thursdays from 2:45-4:45. Students must be available for weekly rehearsals all school year, in order to participate in this select ensemble.
SHS Orchestras Google Classrooms
As you know the Strongsville City Schools have changed our school website last summer and we no longer have a traditional SHS Orchestras webpage. To make up for this all information, flyers, brochures, fundraising information, documents, forms, etc can be found in our Orchestra Google Classrooms. I recommend you have your child’s log-in credentials so that you may access this information as needed.
Thanks for everything you do to support our orchestra program! If you need to reach me, please email ahire@scsmustangs.org.
Musically,
Andrew Hire
Director of Orchestras
Fundraising
Here is an excellent opportunity to have fun at a Guardians game & earn some $ for the SIMB program. The fundraising details are listed below:
Here is the signup genius for volunteering at the Guardians games. In order to fulfill our obligation we need 5 people to sign up for at least five games. We will get 65 dollars per person and 100% of tips collected during each game we sign up for.
We encourage Orchestra parents to volunteer for some of the Friday games since most of the band parents that volunteer are already volunteering for the Marching Band positions.
Regards,
SIMB: Guardians Concessions
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0e45a4aa2ba4ff2-guardians
Please join SIMB in raising money for our music programs in an environmentally friendly way. The best part is this fundraiser will cost you nothing! SIMB will be collecting old sneakers to keep them out of landfills, while raising money for our programs. Please contact SIMBfundraising@gmail.com for pick up or delivery options