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The Weekly Update
End of October into November
Welcome Mr. L to the band room
I'd like to take a moment to welcome Mr. Lievre to our Sunset Ridge band room. Mr. L comes to us from Ottowa University and GCC. A DVUSD high school graduate, Mr. L returns to DVUSD to experience all student teaching has to offer at Sunset Ridge. This is his last requirement before graduating with his teaching degree! He is also on staff at BCHS working with their marching band as a brass instructor and visual tech. I must say, I am impressed with Mr. L! He has a wonderful demeanor and has not hesitated to jump in to teach our band students. We have hosted student teachers in the past, and I'm telling you, this one is superb! He will be stepping up to conduct our middle school ensemble at our November 2 concert as well as our 6th grade (maybe 5th grade) ensemble at their November 30 concert. Please help me welcome him to our school!
It's Concert Time!
The SRMS (Sunset Ridge Middle School) Percussion Ensemble and Wind Ensemble will come together to present their first concert of this year on Thursday, November 2. They have some really cool pieces to perform for you, as well as showing you how hard they have worked to learn some tricky etudes for Honor Band mock auditions!
Students should arrive around 5pm-5:15pm. I will take attendance at 5:15pm and we will start the concert at 5:30pm. Programs will be available via QR code, which will be emailed out later this week, or accessible at the concert.
Concert attire includes the Sunset Ridge band polo (not for sale at the concert, so please send money this week!), black pants or jeans (no shorts), and any shoes (although I did ask they match their crocs for this one). Hats are not permitted, but there is no hairstyle guideline. Leggings are also not permitted.
Again, polos need to be purchased prior to the end of school on 11/2. No money will be accepted nor shirts passed out at the nighttime event. You may pay cash or check made out to Sunset Ridge. You also may pay online directly into the band account selected.
6th-8th Grade Mock Auditions
6th, 7th, and 8th grade students have been working on learning some etudes and scales for potentially participating in our annual DVUSD Honor Band group (to be held at BCHS in February).This honor group is a privilege to be accepted into, and our Sunset Ridge students are all amazing musicians that are more than capable, with some preparation, of making it.
Not every student will want to do this honor group, but we are using this opportunity to learn a valuable musician skill: how to prepare and execute an audition. This takes practice to get comfortable with the process. We've rehearsed the music required; we've discussed adjustments if needed; we've learned how to push through nerves to do our best. The student need to record in a specific order (in Canvas as well as on a paper provided) and submit into their Canvas. Some recordings will be submitted to our DVUSD Honor Band adjudication team. No student is visible in their recordings... wind players should have the camera off or covered. Percussionists have been recording with me and Mr. L during the school day. They are only visible from the neck down, hiding their true identity. All submissions are due no later than Tuesday, October 31. I will begin grading them, with submissions to the DVUSD Honor Band committee due on November 6.
I just want to remind everyone that, as musicians, we can be our own worst critics. It is very easy to dwell on mistakes, but we are trying to learn how to push through and be proud of all the things we have done right. It is ok to go slower than a given tempo... it is ok if a wrong note happens... it is ok if there is a small pause to regroup... do your best and be proud of your work! I have listened to so many percussion auditions and I have truly been blown away with how solid the students have performed. Congratulations to those who are done, and wishing those who have not recorded yet great skill in their upcoming recording.
Grade information
As we continue 2nd quarter, there are a few reminders to pass along. Students should have their instrument, music, and pencil for every scheduled rehearsal. 5th and 6th grade will begin seeing tracking for these items in their PowerSchool. It does not count toward or against their grade, but serves as a way for parents to know if your student has their materials for each class. I record it as Q2, W4, D1... This stands for Quarter 2, Week 4, Day 1 (of their 2-3 rehearsals per week).
5th and 6th grade missing assignments and retakes -- there are several 5th grade students that have retakes to make for their rhythm quiz from a few weeks back. This should take about 3 minutes. I have offered for them to come in any day around lunch time or during afternoon recess to do the retake. There is not time within class to do this, at this point, so finding another time is extremely important. Students have until Friday, Dec 8 for any missing/late work to be turned in or it will remain a missing score.
Middle school students really need to work towards Canvas assignments being turned in on time. I gave them a few weeks off of weekly assignments so they could fully prepare for their Honor Band Mock Audition. This will be a large portion of their grade, as it is a culmination of practice since late August/early September. This assignment will not be accepted after the October 31 deadline!