Mokena Meteor Music

April 26 - May 2, 2019

Important Information from the Music Department!

Please be sure to read it in its entirety as it is updated regularly.

Please note that our Spring Fine Arts Concert will take place on MONDAY, May 13. We will NOT be holding our Concert on Tuesday as there is a conflict with the high school that evening.

The Band Recruitment Concert will take place on Wednesday, May 8 during the school day. Choir and Symphonic Band students will be traveling to MIS to play for the 3-5 graders!

Mixed Bag Fundraiser order forms and money are due Thursday, May 2.

Important Change to Choir at MJHS for 2019-2020 School Year

Junior High Band Audition Information

All 6th - 8th grade band students will be auditioning at the beginning of next year for placement in either Concert Band or Symphonic Band for the next school year. These bands will no longer be separated by grade, but instead, will be separated by skill level. This will benefit all students as they will be placed in an ensemble that is appropriate for their level to promote student growth. Hopefully this will alleviate students feeling overwhelmed by music that is too difficult. Also this will provide the challenge that some students need to continue progressing on their instrument.

Students have already received the scale excerpt that they will be performing for the audition. An etude excerpt was passed out this past week. If your child did not receive either of these items, please have them contact their director. These auditions will take place at the beginning of the school year and students will submit their best video to a Google form. We will have outside judges ranking the students and they will be placed in the appropriate ensemble. This is not something that the students should stress about, but they should take it seriously. If a student chooses not to submit a video, they will be placed in Concert band.

In December, students will have the opportunity to submit another video for the possibility to move to Symphonic band if their ability level determines that that is an appropriate placement for them.

If you have any questions, please contact your child's director.

Band/Choir Registration for 2019-2020 School Year

Registration for Band/Choir for the 2019-2020 school year will begin in May. Please watch your email for more information. All registration will be done online. Students who have money owing on their account will be prohibited from registering for next year until their account is paid in full. All students registering will need to make their fee payments at the time of registration unless prior arrangements have been made with the directors. Students who are not up to date on payments will not be registered for the ensembles until payment is made (this includes summer band/choir payments, books, school-owned instrument rental fees, etc.).

If you have any questions, please contact your director.

Do I Still Owe Money to the Boosters?

Please check your Charms account to determine if your child has an outstanding amount due to the Music Boosters. Students will balances owing on their account will be unable to register for any music activities next year until their account is current.

If you have any questions, please contact your director for help.

8th Grade Music Parents Only

On Monday, May 20 we will be having our 8th Grade Music Recognition Night at 7pm in the MJH Band Room. This is a chance for the music department to recognize the 8th grade music students and everything they’ve accomplished in their time in the Mokena music groups. 8th Grade families will be receiving an email closer to May 20th asking for an RSVP.

Help Support the Music Boosters by Shopping Online!

The AmazonSmile fundraiser is available year round - not just at Christmas time. This is a great way to support our music programs without any cost to you! Any time you are shopping via Amazon, please consider using Amazon Smile for your purchases. Go to www.amazonsmile.com. You can select the Mokena Music Boosters to receive a donation on your behalf just by making your regular Amazon purchase through them. It doesn't cost you anything and helps the Music Boosters fund our programs. This is available year round. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Bussean.

Private Music Lessons

It is not required that Mokena music students take private lessons. It is true, however, that the vast majority of students who do not take private lessons tend to have improper playing habits, and never reach their full potential as musicians. SECTIONALS ARE NOT A REPLACEMENT FOR PRIVATE LESSONS. There are still many benefits of private instruction over full band rehearsal and small group sectionals. If you are interested in getting your child private lessons on their instrument, please visit the following link: https://www.mokenameteormusic159.org/uploads/2/3/4/4/23449316/private_lessons.pdf

If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Bussean or Ms. Beekman

MUSIC BOOSTER MEETING - MAY 28, 2019

Come out on Tuesday, May 28, 2019 at 7:00 PM to the monthly Music Booster Meeting held at Mokena Junior High School in the Library. Music Booster meetings are open meetings that anyone can attend. Come see what our Boosters are all about and how you can help support your child's music education. I look forward to seeing you there!

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8th Grade Sectional Schedule

MONDAY - APRIL 29

8:48 - 9:16 - GROUP G

9:16 - 9:44 - GROUP H

9:49 - 10:19 - GROUP I

10:33 - 11:03 - GROUP J

11:17 - 11:45 - GROUP J

12:48 - 1:16 - GROUP A

1:16 - 1:44 - GROUP B

Students are responsible for getting to Sectionals on time and for notifying their classroom teachers IN ADVANCE. Students are also responsible for getting any missed work.

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7th Grade Sectional Schedule

WEDNESDAY - MAY 1

9:19 - 9:47 - GROUP J

9:47 - 10;15 - GROUP A

10:17 - 10:46 - GROUP B

10:46 - 11:15 - GROUP C

11:48 - 12:18 - GROUP D

12:18 - 12:46 - GROUP E

12:48 - 1:16 - GROUP F

1:16 - 1:46 - GROUP G

Students are responsible for getting to Sectionals on time and for notifying their classroom teachers IN ADVANCE. Students are also responsible for getting any missed work.

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6th Grade Sectional Schedule

FRIDAY - MAY 3

8:48 - 9:19 - GROUP F

9:16 - 9:44 - GROUP G

9:46 - 10:14 - GROUP H

10:14 - 10:42 - GROUP I

11:47 - 12:15 - GROUP J

12:17 - 12:47 - GROUP A

1:02 - 1:32 - GROUP B

Students are responsible for getting to Sectionals on time and for notifying their classroom teachers IN ADVANCE. Students are also responsible for getting any missed work.

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5th Grade Cadet Band Sectional Schedule

TUESDAY, APRIL 30

9:20 - 9:50 - GROUP B

11:20 - 11:50 - GROUP A

WEDNESDAY, MAY 1

9:20 - 9:50 - GROUP E/F

10:20 - 10:50 - GROUP J

THURSDAY, MAY 2

9:05 - 9:35 - GROUP D

10:05 - 10:35 - GROUP I

12:30 - 1:00 - GROUP J

FRIDAY, MAY 3

9:05 - 9:35 - GROUP C

9:35 - 10:05 - GROUP H

10:05 - 10:35 - GROUP J

Students are responsible for getting to Sectionals on time and for notifying their classroom teachers IN ADVANCE. Students are also responsible for getting any missed work.

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4th Grade Beginning Band Sectional Schedule

TUESDAY, MAY 30

8:35 - 9:05 - GROUP B

9:50 - 10:20 - GROUP J

10:35 - 11:05 - GROUP A

WEDNESDAY, MAY 1

8:35 - 9:05 - GROUP E/F

9:50 - 10:20 - GROUP H

THURSDAY, MAY 2

8:35 - 9:05 - GROUP D

9:35 - 10:05 - GROUP I

10:35 - 11:05 - GROUP J

12:00 - 12:30 - GROUP G

NO SECTIONALS AS DIRECTORS WILL BE OUT OF TOWN

FRIDAY, MAY 3

8:35 - 9:05 - GROUP C

Students are responsible for getting to Sectionals on time and for notifying their classroom teachers IN ADVANCE. Students are also responsible for getting any missed work.

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Charms Website

PRACTICE LOGS ARE DUE EVERY SUNDAY! For now, 4th graders do not need to worry about this. We will let them know when they should begin documenting their practice time.

Once again, practice logs will be required weekly through the Charms system.

Practice logs are due EVERY Sunday before midnight. Students should enter their time in the Charms Website.

We have been implementing a new grading scale this year, but the minimum practice requirements are the same as they have been in years past.

Symphonic/Concert Bands

100 minutes

Beginning/Cadet Bands

75 minutes

May, 2019

5/8 - Recruitment Assembly at MIS during the school day (MJH Band/Choir Students)

5/13 - Spring Fine Arts Concert (MIS 6:00, MJH 7:30) at MJH in the West Gym

5/15 - MIS Band Students to attend IPO Concert during school day

5/20 - 8th Grade Recognition Night (8th Graders and their families only)

5/24 - Last day of Beginning Band and Cadet Band

5/27 - Memorial Day Parade (all 6/7/8 band students and color guard - MANDATORY)

5/28 - Last Day of Concert Band and Symphonic Band

5/28 - Music Booster Meeting 7:00 pm

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