December Edition!

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لترجمة هذه الرسالة من المدرسة ، اضغط عليها ثم استخدم الرابط الموجود على اليمين.

Այս տեղեկագիրը թարգմանելու համար կտտացրեք այն, ապա օգտագործեք աջ կողմում գտնվող հղումը:

Чтобы перевести этот бюллетень, нажмите на него, затем воспользуйтесь ссылкой справа.

Bu bülteni çevirmek için üzerine tıklayın ve ardından sağdaki bağlantıyı kullanın.

I will always add links to specific events and lessons to the newsletters; however, in order to add these to your personal calendar, you must subscribe to the FAPA calendar (linked above). You can hide the FAPA calendar so your personal cal is not clogged by superfluous events, while only adding the band events to your cal when the links are shared in the newsletters. Let me know if you have any questions about this!

Dear WMS Performing Ensemble Families,

Each spring, the Watertown Middle School 7th and 8th Grade Performing Ensembles participate in a music festival in western Massachusetts. This year, the WMS 7th/8th Grade Choir, Band, Jazz Band, and Festival Orchestra will be performing at the for our Music in the Parks adjudication in May.

The date of the festival is Friday, May 16, 2025. We will leave Watertown around 6:30 am and return approximately 8:00 pm that evening. The general schedule of the day includes observing performances of other ensembles from around the New England area, as well as performing in the late morning/early afternoon. Each group will receive a rating based on performance criteria, and after the clinics, we will spend a few hours at Six Flags amusement park to celebrate our achievements.

The cost of the trip (including transportation and admission to the park) is $150 for students. This can be paid by check or by money order, with payment made out to the City of Watertown. If your family can donate any extra funds to help a student in need, please add it to your check and make a note on the bottom of this permission slip.

Extra costs should run approximately $20 so your child can purchase dinner and/or souvenirs. Students should wear comfortable shoes, jeans, and the trip t-shirt (order forms to come after the first payment). Students should bring a packed lunch and a small bag to carry personal items (park money, water bottle, cell phone, etc). Instrumental students should make sure their cases are labeled with their names and taken home for the weekend after the festival.

Please fill out the second page of this form and return with payment by December 16th, 2024.

The 7th/8th Grade Band will be having their 4th Annual MICCA Retreat on Thursday, January 9th.

We will be rehearsing from our class during WIN (1:30pm) until 5:30pm, when we will be having dinner. 7th/8th grade caregivers, could you could please fill out the form below ASAP?

12/12 7pm MS/HS Band Concert @WMS Auditorium

1/9 2:15pm-6pm MICCA Retreat (7/8th Grade Band)

1/15 4pm-5pm All-City Band Starts (4-12)

3/11 7pm Band-a-rama Concert (4-12)

4/5 All Day MICCA Festival (7/8th Grade Band)

5/16 Music in the Parks Field Trip (for 7/8 Band + Jazz Band)

5/26 11:30am Memorial Day Parade

This year we are streamlining a few things to make everything more efficient. These are the materials that each student needs to bring to class:

-Pencil

-Instrument/Sticks

-3 Ring Binder (to put music in)

-Music (which is provided)

-Valve oil/slide oil (for brass players)

-3 good reeds for clarinet/saxophone (bassoon/oboe only need two)

6th Grade:

First Holiday Concert

A Prehistoric Suite

7th/8th Grade:

Flash!

Song for the Winter Moon

In Middle School, our concert attire changes. The recommended concert attire is:

Tops- Black dress shirt or blouse

Bottoms-black dress pants, or black skirt that goes below knees

Friends of Watertown Music

The Friends of Watertown Music is a parent organization that has been a major supporter of the fine arts program in Watertown for over ten years. FoWM is beginning to plan for our first MusicFest since 2019 and invites all parents who would like to help in any way. Email HelloWatertownMusic@gmail.com or call Chris Lowry at 617-923-0502 to learn more.

Practicing

We recommend students play their instrument 3+ times a week for at least 100 minutes in total time throughout the week to build muscle memory and reinforce habits taught in class.

Private Lessons

Want to be get better, quicker? PRIVATE LESSONS are the way to go!

Here is a great resource for private lesson instructors in the area. Private lessons are the quickest way for your budding musician to grow!

You can also check out Powers Music School in Belmont (on Concord Street near Belmont Center).

Clarinet and Saxophone Players-Reed Talk!

As we all are getting settled into school, one of the quickest ways for clarinets and saxophones to instantly sound better is to have a set of quality reeds.

Being a saxophone/clarinetist myself, it's important for how good each person sounds so they can work on other things. Having a set of quality reeds makes that easier!

Here are the only type of reeds that I recommend:

Clarinet Reeds

Elementary strength 2.5, 6th Grade strength 3, 7th-12th strength 3.5

Bass Clarinet Reeds

Strength 3

Alto Saxophone Reeds

Elementary/6th strength 2.5, 7th-12th strength 3

Tenor Saxophone Reeds

Elementary/6th strength 2.5, 7th-12th strength 3

Gift Items for the Band Student

Here are some ideas if you are thinking of getting your band student some quality goods.

September

October

November

Maxwell Thew, a Band Director, holds a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from the University of Idaho and a Master's Degree in Music Education from the American Band College at Central Washington University. He has taught in Oregon for 4 years and in Massachusetts for 5 years. During his time in Oregon, he successfully led his groups to the OSAA state band for 2 years and jazz band for 2 years. He is recognized for his ability to facilitate rapid growth in the programs he oversees. His primary focus is on instructing musicians of all levels to succeed and nurturing the development of well-rounded individuals.

Mr. Spano teaches general and instrumental music at Lowell as well as MS Jazz Band, where he's worked for over 17 years. He studied saxophone at Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore and has a Master's in Music Education from Boston University.

Lauren Girouard is a passionate music educator and performer in the Boston area. As an educator, she has served as the Percussion Teaching Assistant for music education at Boston University, where she is pursuing her Master’s degree in Percussion Performance and earned her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education and Percussion Performance in 2023. Lauren has performed with a variety of ensembles around the area, including the Boston University Symphony Orchestra and Wind Ensemble, Kendall Square Orchestra, and the Quincy Symphony. When she’s not playing music, Lauren enjoys taking scenic walks and going to Red Sox games. She is excited to begin her time in Watertown teaching percussion to all ages!