Spofford Pond Bands
an exciting year of music ahead
WELCOME BACK!
Dear Parents of Returning Band Students,
Welcome back to band! It was a wonderful summer and I cannot wait to hear all about it from your children.
Last year we had a great year of concerts and I am looking forward to many more performances this year. In this newsletter there are some reminders about registration and news about new musical opportunities for this year.
HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE YEAR
- Senior Center Performance
- Tritown Bandarama Event
- Recital Night
- Jazz Night
- Band Fieldtrip to a performance
- NH Fishercats Game
- Cole School Performance (Jazz Band)
- Memorial Day Assembly and Parade
If you have any questions or concerns about the information below, please reach out to me.
Sharon Phipps
Registration and Fees
All Enrollment needs to be completed online ONLINE ENROLLMENT FORM by Sept. 11th.
All families need to complete a Memorandum of Understanding Form and send in the $450 Band Fee (payable to “Town of Boxford”) by Sept. 11th.
Students will need a working instrument and a “Tradition of Excellence Book by Bruce Pearson and Ryan Nowlin” for their lessons. 6th Grade Students will start in Book 2 and 5th Grade Students will get Book 1 (we will start halfway through the book). These books can be ordered online through www.davidfrenchmusic.com.
Lessons and Band
Lessons, small groups by instrument, are 30 minutes once a week. The students come to lessons on the same day each week, but the time rotates so they do not miss the same class each week.
- I will send out a completed lesson schedule to all families. Lessons begin the week of Sept. 18th.
6th Grade Band will begin on September 11th (meets on Mondays and Thursdays at 7:30am)
5th Grades Band will begin in September 12th (meets on Tuesdays and Fridays at 7:30am)
MENTORS
Students in 5th and 6th grades will have the opportunity to serve as mentors to the younger bands throughout the year. This requires them to come to the Tuesday and Friday morning rehearsals, or at least one of those rehearsals week. They will also be expected to attend the concerts for that group.
Student mentors help to setup and cleanup rehearsals, setup technology, hand out music, and help students find stands and chairs. They also play along with the ensemble, providing a good musical example for the younger students.
Last year we had 13 mentors that volunteered and had a wonderfully rewarding experience. I hope to find a new crop of student mentors for this year.
6th Grade
- Sept.-Dec. - can serve as mentors to the 5th Grade Band
- Jan.-June - can serve as mentors to the Beginning Band
5th Grade
- Jan.-June - can serve as mentors to the Beginning Band
JAZZ BAND
Jazz Band is open to students in grades 5-6 that play any band instrument or piano (advanced), drum set, bass or guitar. This group learns more advanced music and rehearses once a week on Wednesday mornings from 7:30-8:30. This group is a lot of fun and we play great music, but it is very important that students commit to come every Wednesday morning for rehearsals and practice their music outside of rehearsal. We have several performances each year, including the two concerts at Masconomet, the Cole School performance and other special events. If you are interested in joining the group please fill out the form below. If you have any questions, please stop by to see Ms. Phipps.
- NO auditions required
- See Ms. Phipps with questions
TRI-TOWN HONORS BAND
This ensemble is comprised of students in grades 5 and 6 from the Topsfield, Boxford and Middleton schools that have played for at least one year in each school. This is an exceptional opportunity for the students from all three towns to work together musically.
The Tri-Town Honors Band rehearses on Tuesday evenings from 6:00-7:30pm at the Masconomet High School. Rehearsals run from the beginning of October until the week before April vacation. The group will have at least two performances this year, both held at the Masconomet High School Auditorium.
- NO auditions required
- all instruments encouraged
- come meet some new friends
- Masconomet High School mentors
Questions??? Stop by and ask Ms. Phipps
COMMUNICATION AND WEBSITE
If you should have any questions about Jazz Band anything on this newletter, please feel free to email Ms. Phipps or stop by her office in the cafeteria. sphipps@boxfordschools.org.
Yes, I would like to help the band!
The Spofford Pond Bands have a wonderful tradition of fun and excellence. The students will make many wonderful memories along the road to becoming a successful young musician. Over the course of the year we have several concerts and events. To make these events run, we will need the help of parent volunteers throughout the year. We can’t do it without great parents like you so, please come and help!! Our current band President and Treasurer, Tara Donnell and Tina Van Geen Hoven have moved on to Masconomet with their children.
We need two people to be able to take over the checking account as we run it as a non-profit group. Ideally, this would be someone who might have children in the band for two years to make it easier. If you are so inclined to help with that or are just willing to help out in the future for smaller events, please let me know at sphipps@boxfordschools.org. Below you will find a list of events for the upcoming school year that I will need help organizing. Thanks for your consideration.
Fieldtrip to Masconomet for our Winter and Spring Concert dress rehearsals
Senior Citizens Brunch - if it is happening
Fisher Cats Game
Memorial Day Parade
Bandarama
Jazz Night
T-shirt order
Fundraiser - was fudge last year
Cole School Performance