SMS Band Weekly News

We had a wonderful showing this Saturday. Everyone played and looked amazing! We had over 100 1st division ratings from our judges.

Beginners should be looking at the 3 pieces we have in our binders for Pinstack. Lexington March, Snow, and Beginners Rock!

If you have not looked into private lessons, now is the time! Our staff will be working out their Spring semester schedules. Don't miss out.

We have a field trip scheduled for April 3rd - that is a half day. Our plan is to leave at 8am - go have some fun at PINSTACK in Plano - Play a concert there, then be back by 12:45 for busses. If you would like to stay with your child at PINSTACK after their performance, please start making travel arrangements now. More details to come!

Beginner parents Your students should now be able to read and perform lines from their book and full pieces of music! Just a few months ago, we were making "noises," now we have transitioned to fundamental scales and REAL music. Practice time should be anywhere from 15 minutes to 1 hour at home, daily. Please make your student's musical success a priority in your family's daily routine. Just like homework, or brushing your teeth, daily routine practice is the best way to ensure success and keep their skills moving forward. These first sounds are the foundation for many years of beautiful music making to come! We are still having a blast with our beginners!

The UIL Concert and Sight Reading Contest is a cornerstone of the Texas music education system, offering band programs a structured and standardized way to demonstrate musical excellence. Bands perform prepared pieces in a concert setting and then are challenged with sight-reading unfamiliar music, testing their musicianship, ensemble skills, and real-time responsiveness. This contest is vital for evaluating program quality, guiding instructional goals, and providing students with a professional performance experience. It also fosters accountability and growth, helping schools maintain high artistic standards and contributing significantly to the overall development of young musicians in Texas. In essence, it is like our version of the STAAR test for 2nd and 3rd year band students. Beginners do not participate in UIL their first year. Parents are encouraged to attend our performances in Canton! Playing for a crowd is MUCH nicer than an empty auditorium. Our students have worked so hard to prepare this program.

Region 3 MS UIL Concert and Sightreading Contest is March 27th and 28th for SMS at Canton HS.

Please, DO NOT schedule anything on these days.

**Avoid non-emergency medical, oral, or dental work before UIL!

We need each and and every student in the Concert and Honors Bands in attendance.

Students should be thinking about their "Concert Black" attire now. Examples are shown in the handbook link above.

Sectionals for UIL are a GRADE!

Our success at UIL and other contests rests on our sectional time. This is our last week. UIL is the week we return from Spring Break! Let's make them count.

Sectional Schedule

Monday - Flutes

Tuesday - Low Brass/Bassoon

Wednesday - Trumpets/Clarinets

Thursday - Saxophone/Horn

UIL Concert/Sight Reading Contest - March 27th

March

3/10 - Beginner Solo Celebrations/Awards, during class.

3/12 - Concert/Honors Band Ensemble Celebration Pizza and Movie Night (5-7pm) *Ratatouille

3/27 - UIL Concert/Sightreading Contest CONCERT BAND

3/28 - UIL Concert/Sightreading Contest HONORS BAND

April

4/3 - PINSTACK Beginning Band Festival, Plano, TX

4/10 - Region 3 Jazz Festival (hosted at SHS)

4/26 - SMS Advanced Solo Festival

May

5/6 - SMS Bands @ SMS FEST

5/12 - Concert/Honors Band SoundPost Music Festival Canton (Splash Kingdom Field Trip)

5/13 -

TBA - EOY Band BBQ! Olympic Celebration!

TBA - HS Band Incoming Marcher Camp