Standley Lake Instrumental Music

This was a phrase repeated probably too many times at the February Booster Meeting. This newsletter should help keep you informed about what is going on with the Instrumental Music Department at Standley Lake High School. The last newsletter was read by people as far away as Romania, France, and Ireland!

As we wait patiently for spring break, a few things have crossed our minds in the past weeks:

1. We love our jobs, and the fact that our community is so ready and willing to support our students to success is amazing!

2. When the world seems so full of negativity, and it seems like there isn't much we can do about it, there is a wonderful network of support ranging from parents to principals that we are lucky to have.

3. Where did I put my keys?(mostly Duran)

4. I think I'm hangry... (mostly Williams)

Your students have been showing up in the best ways possible in this cold space in the year between winter break and spring break. Their progress is really showing up and great work is being done!

Standley Lake Performing Arts is proud to present our spring musical "Very Good Eddie". Performances are March 10th, 11th, and 12th at 7 pm in the auditorium. Tickets are $10 for students and $12 for adults.

The farcical plot concerns three couples and a nutty voice teacher who board a Hudson River Day Line boat in Poughkeepsie, New York. Chaos ensues when two of the couples cross paths and accidentally trade partners. The vaudeville-style adventure continues at a hotel, where guests pop in and out of rooms while a confused desk clerk tries to sort through the madness.

Shout out to our instrumental music students performing in the pit, on stage, or as tech crew members:

Hayleigh Wawra, Avi Bender, Fin Bush, Natalie Clark, Meghan Early, Owen Gieg, Kenny Hutchings, Em Jackson, Payton Kilcoyne, Shannon Lujin, Kenzie Rowlette, Lana Taylor, Maiya Trujillo, Brian Vanzin, and Geronimo Williams

Band: Tuesday, March 15th, Concert Band and Wind Ensemble only

Orchestra: Thursday, March 17th, Concert Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra

This concert is so exciting because students and parents get the opportunity to hear the entire range of Standley Lake students, from elementary school through high school in one concert. High school parents get to "remember when" while elementary and middle school parents get a look ahead!

Concert Attire: SLAM t-shirts (provided) on top and solid colors on the bottom

We will be providing a pizza dinner for all 7th, 8th, and high school students at 6:00. Parents are needed to help coordinate and serve. If you are willing and able, please let Duran or Williams know!

Schedule:

• Letter Point opportunity at 3:30! Help set up chairs, stands, and equipment
• 4:30 Official report time for all members
• 5:00 Rehearsal with middle schoolers
• 6:00 Pizza dinner
• 7:00 Concert in the gym!

The Standley Lake Orchestra's presented their "Spring Concert" on February 25th in the SLHS auditorium. Both Concert Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra had strong performances that night. One of the highlights of the concert was when Mr. Williams had the Chamber Orchestra sightread on stage.

Sightreading is when an orchestra (or band) has to read a song they have never seen or heard before. Mr. Williams talked through the piece of music with the students on stage for 2 minutes before they had to play it for the audience. This is something they will have to do for a judge when they go to a festival on April 6th. The judge will give them a rating on their ability to sight-read. Thus rating may be the most important rating at the festival because it really shows the level of musical abilities the students have.

On Friday, March 4th the SLHS Wind Ensemble performed at the Colorado Bandmasters Regional Festival at Dakota Ridge High School. The students were able to listen to other groups and perform for judges for a rating.

The rating for concert bands is backward from marching band/ indoor percussion competitions. In marching band competitions getting a "box five" level score is the highest possible score range that you can have. In a concert band festival, a five is the lowest score range. The five levels of ratings for festivals are;

I. Superior

II. Excellent

III. Good

IV. Fair

V. Poor

The groups are judged on; Tone Quality, Balance, Blend, Intonation, Note Accuracy, Rhythm, Tempo, Technique, Articulation, Dynamics, Interpretation, and Expression. Between the three judges, the wind ensemble had 24 marks at the excellent level and 12 at the good level.

The wind ensemble received an "Excellent" rating overall for their performance. This is a great achievement for a group that has not played at a festival for a couple of years!

The time for marching band is fast approaching once again. The 2022 Gator Pride Marching Band will start on Friday, May 20th. Work has been underway since the state championships last October to plan for the 2022 season. The program coordinator for Gator Pride has found a show and will be working with staff to finalize plans for the 2022 production. Students who are interested in helping the Gator Pride Marching Band return to the state competition next fall should fill out the marching band interest survey.

The staff is looking for orchestra members who might be interested in learning mallets for the fall. They are also looking for two people who might be interested in playing synth in the front ensemble (stationary percussion) as well. No piano experience necessary!

Indoor Percussion is an indoor, high-energy, performance-based musical activity. It is similar to marching band, however in indoor percussion, the percussionists are the focal point – many indoor percussion groups consist of only a drum line and front ensemble. Also, instead of performing on a football field, indoor percussion groups perform on a giant tarp in a basketball gym or arena. This activity is also typically more theatrical than marching band as the performers are much closer to the audience. Indoor percussion seasons typically run from November to April each year.

SLIP (Standley Lake Indoor Percussion) has been to two competitions so far this year. We have a young group this year with many students who are participating for the first time. They rehearse on Monday and Thursday nights and compete or rehearse on Saturdays.

They have three performances left for this season;

Saturday, March 19th at Longmont High School

Saturday, April 2nd at Mountain Range is the State prelims

Saturday, April 16th the State Championships will be at Metro

More information about the performances along with admission costs can be found at RMPA.org (Rocky Mountain Percussion Association).

3/10,11,12 - SLHS Musical "Very Good Eddie", 7:00 pm, SLHS auditorium

3/15 - SLAM band festival, 7 pm, SLHS gym

3/17 - SLAM orchestra festival, 7 pm, SLHS gym

3/19 - Indoor Percussion at RMPA Longmont competition

3/30 - March Booster Dine Out Night

4/2 - Indoor Percussion at RMPA State Prelims at Mountain Range High School

4/6 - Chamber Orchestra at Festival

4/14 - Instrumental Boosters Board Meeting 7 pm

4/16 - Indoor Percussion at RMPA State Championships at Metro

4/20 - April Booster Dine Out Night

4/21 - General Booster Meeting 7 pm (All parents, including 8th-grade parents)

4/27 - Spring Concert for Concert Band and Wind Ensemble, 7 pm

4/28 - Spring Concert for Gator Blues and Signature Jazz at 7 pm

The Front Range Youth Symphony Orchestras bring together talented young musicians from across the Front Range for a unique study and training in Orchestral repertoire. Developed from a merger of the former Golden Youth and Arvada Center Youth Symphonies in 1990, the program offers four levels of participation: Academy Strings, Concert Strings, Chamber Strings, and Youth Symphony. There are currently several SLHS orchestra students who participate in this independent youth orchestra.

Auditions for the next season will be held on Zoom Friday, May 6th, 4:00 PM-8:00 PM, and Saturday, May 7th, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM, by appointment only. Attached is a season brochure that outlines audition requirements for each group. Also attached is a document with the important dates for next season including summer camp dates.

Audition appointments can be made by contacting the box office at 720-898-7200 to pay the $20 audition fee and schedule a time. If you are currently in FRYs there is no need to audition if you plan to stay in the same orchestra you are currently enrolled in.