SIMB Membership
Membership: For those who already became SIMB Members, please pick up the SIMB Incentive Merchandise from Vicki today, Tuesday (10/25). Vicki will be at the high school from 4:45-5:30 pm after band rehearsal today in the front lot w/her trunk open. If this time does not work for you, please reach out to SIMBmembership@gmail.com.
As a reminder, membership at the following levels gives you swag:
Half Note - tumbler
Whole Note - tumbler & golf umbrella
Concertmaster - tumbler, golf umbrella & stadium blanket
Director's Circle - tumbler, golf umbrella, stadium blanket & stadium chair
It's not too late to join SIMB! If you would like to join or renew your SIMB membership, please use this link here: SIMB Membership Form
Please email SIMBmembership@gmail.com with any questions.
Band Notes from Mr. King!
October Newsletter 2022
It is hard to believe that we are coming to the last part of the marching band season. We have had many memorable performances with our Billy Joel Show and we are enjoying learning our new show. The 8th grade band night was a big success with many students saying they are looking forward to band camp this summer. Looking ahead, encourage your students to take part in jazz band, pep band, and solo/ensemble contest. I would like to say a big thank you to all of our parent volunteers that help to make our game nights go smoothly.
Upcoming Dates:
10/28 First Tournament Game (Guaranteed)
11/3 Postseason Concert/Banquet – 6 p.m.
11/5 Play-off game t.b.d. if we win on 10/28
Postseason Concert/Banquet
The Postseason Concert takes place in the SHS Main Gym. The Marching Mustangs perform a variety of music from the season. After the performance, students change out of uniform and we move into the cafeteria for a pot-luck dinner together. It’s a great way to wrap up the marching season. Students are required to attend the banquet.
Online Calendar:
The online music calendar is up to date. Please print and/or sync to your phone. Plan ahead so that there are no conflicts or surprises. Please check weekly for the most up to date information.
Senior Night This Friday!
Parents need to meet at the pass gate at 5:30 p.m. Your student will meet you there after they dress in their uniform and pre-set their instrument in the band stands. After the first pic with family, the seniors take a group shot together and then head back to sit with the band until we perform pregame after the rest of the athletic seniors are called.
Absences:
I need a note or email from a parent if a student is going to miss rehearsal as soon as possible. Please include the reason for the absence. Please refer to the handbook for our band attendance policy and what is an excused or unexcused absence. Please make every effort to have students practice a little earlier than the time listed so they have time to get their instrument and walk to the field. Also plan to pick them up about 15 minutes after we finish so they have time to walk back and put their instrument away.
Solo/Ensemble Contest
Solo/Ensemble Contest is February 11th this year and will be in-person as of now. This date seems far away but it will be here before we know it. Wind Ensemble is required to participate for their honors credit but I highly recommend all students to participate. Last year we had a large number of students participate and I hope to have even more this year. Students can play solos with piano accompaniment or in small ensembles like a trumpet trio or percussion ensemble. If you have any questions about this contest please contact me.
Private Lessons:
With marching band ending at the end of the month most likely, students will have a lot of extra time. I would like to see everyone take advantage of private lessons. Email me and I would be happy to assist you with finding a great teacher. Private lessons allow your student to have a deeper experience in band as they progress on their instrument.
Pep Band/Jazz Band
Pep Band and Jazz Band begin shortly after marching band ends. They are a great way to continue to play different kinds of music in addition to our concert music. Jazz band has an audition that will be done towards the end of this month. Pep band is a signup during class towards the end of the month. Pep Band plays at the home varsity boys basketball games. Jazz meets after school 3-4:30 p.m. once or twice a week.
Practicing:
It is a requirement (homework) that students practice at home for this class. The instrument should come home several nights a week, and the weekend. Help them to find a quiet place with few distractions at home that has a wire music stand and chair so they can sit with good posture. The exception should be when they don’t practice, not when they do. We will have playing exams coming up so it’s best they stay on top of their music early.
New Instrument/Mouthpieces
As we transition into concert season soon, it is important to a student’s musical development that they are playing on a quality instrument and mouthpiece. Students start on beginner level instruments/mouthpieces. As they progress and begin playing challenging music, it becomes necessary to step up into an intermediate level instrument/mouthpiece. A new instrument/mouthpiece is made of different materials and can add extra keys and triggers that help the sound/pitch/alternate fingerings and ease of play. I am happy to help in the search for a new instrument/mouthpiece. If the purchase of a new instrument is out of reach right now, replacing the mouthpiece is much more affordable and can make a huge difference. Feel free to reach out to me via email and I will be happy to help.
Mr. King
Orchestra Notes from Mr. Hire!
The school year is off to a terrific start as our orchestras are busily preparing for
our first performance.
Concert Uniform Reminders
As the concert season begins students and parents are reminded to review the
uniform policy found in the orchestra handbook. Students, who are not compliant, will
not be permitted to perform.
Please note the following:
Students are reminded to regularly wash their dresses and tuxedo shirts (both are
machine washable). The tuxedos, vests, and bow ties are dry-clean only.
Ladies may wear a black dress cardigan if they are cold (sweatshirts, hoodies,
pullovers, etc. are not permitted) before or after, but not during their performance.
Ladies are not permitted to wear long pants under their dresses.
Ladies must wear closed-toed, black dress flats.
All dresses are to be hemmed one inch off the floor.
Gentlemen are to wear black socks with black dress-shoes (not black tennis shoes,
boots, etc).
Gentlemen should wear a print-free, plain white undershirt beneath their tuxedo
shirts. Colored tee-shirts or shirts with prints bleed through and can be seen.
Gentlemen are to wear their tuxedos, green bow ties, and green vests.
All students are required to be in their full uniform throughout the entire event
(from arrival to departure).
Northern Ohio String Festival, November 4
The SHS String Orchestra will perform in the first ever, Northern Ohio String
Festival in Gamble Auditorium at Baldwin Wallace University on Friday, Nov. 4th. The
students will perform three selections before three clinicians at this festival consisting of
twelve high school string orchestras. After our performance, one of the three clinicians
will work with the orchestra, and provide valuable feedback and instruction to help us
improve. Our performance is free and open to the public. We encourage parents to
attend. More information including an itinerary will be forthcoming. We will need a few
parent volunteers to chaperone as we depart and return to SHS.
2022 Northeast Regional Orchestra Members from SHS Symphony
Congratulations are in order for our fantastic musicians who were selected via
audition amongst students from all over Northeast Ohio to perform in the 2022 Northeast
Regional Orchestra or NERO: Audrey Greer, Violin; Natalie Hantz, Violin; Jamil
Halabi, Oboe; Jade Lum, Violin; Adrianna Kostyack, Percussion; Avaneesh Polaconda,
Violin; Sofia Ruff, Cello; Lilly Vassel, Viola; Marissa Ventresca, Violin; and Olivia
Wingler, Viola. NERO is an honors symphony orchestra sponsored by the Ohio Music
Education Association comprised of students from Northeast Ohio. Auditions are held
each year online, and are due May 31. All of our students are highly encouraged to
audition for this select ensemble representing the best student musicians in NE Ohio.
The top seated string players from each of the five Regional Orchestras, qualify for AllState Orchestra. We are proud of your musical accomplishments.
2023 All-State Orchestra
Once again the SHS Orchestras have placed at least one student in All-State
Orchestra. Selected students represent the best high school musicians in the State and
will perform at the Ohio Music Education Association’s professional conference in
Columbus this February. Congratulations to Audrey Greer, Violin; Adrianna Kostyak,
Percussion; Avaneesh Polaconda, Violin; and Marissa Ventresca, Violin. This makes
the 21st straight year the SHS Symphony has had a student in the All-State Orchestra!
We are very proud of your musical accomplishment.
2023 All-State Band and All-State Jazz Band
Two members of the Symphony Orchestra earned spots in the All-State Groups.
Congratulations to Abby Maher, Clarinet on being selected for the 2023 All-State Band
and to Andrew Maloney, Percussion on being selected as an alternate for the 2023 AllState Jazz Band. Both of these ensemble will at the Ohio Music Education Association’s
professional conference in Columbus this February. We are proud of your musical
accomplishment!
Instrument Maintenance reminders
It is very important that students keep their instruments in good operating order to
ensure playability, and tonal production. String players should have their bow re-haired
once a year. A sign that a bow needs re-haired includes thinning hair, dirty hair, or a
bow that will not tighten/loosen. Such problems will prohibit a good tone quality. Bow
re-hairs cost approximately $40-$60.
Strings should be replaced regularly to avoid breakage at those critical moments
(concerts, contest, etc.). In general, strings should be replaced once a year. High school
string players should not replace their strings with steel strings; instead, strings use
strings with synthetic cores such as Dominant, or D’Addario brands. I have a list of
recommended string technicians who specialize in stringed instrument repair on the
orchestra board and in Google classroom.
On occasion an instrument in poor condition may be unplayable. In which case,
the student will not earn their daily participation points until the necessary repairs have
been made.
Solo and Ensemble Contest
Just a reminder that SHS OMEA District 4, Solo and Ensemble Contest is
Saturday, February 11, 2023 at North Ridgeville HS. Repertoire must be selected from
the official solo and ensemble contest list. Soloists need to be familiar with all scale
requirements for their respective instrument. Application forms and fees will be due to
sometime (TBD) in December. Information and links to the lists can be found in our
Google Classroom. At this point, all students should be preparing their selected
repertoire, and should procure their piano accompanist.
Participation at Solo & Ensemble Contest is required for all symphony members and is
one of the requirements for earning an honors credit in the class.
Upcoming Events:
String Orchestra Performance at the Northern Ohio String Festival. Friday,
November 4th, 3:00 pm, Gamble Auditorium, Baldwin Wallace University.
Symphony Rehearsal, Monday, November 14, 6:00 PM. Orchestra Room
Holiday Choir Concert, Wednesday, November 30, 7:00 pm, Auditorium,
Symphony Orchestra will perform on this Concert.
Holiday Orchestra Concert, Thursday, December 1, 7:00 pm, Auditorium.
Featuring all orchestras.
I can be reached at ahire@scsmustangs.org
Musically,
Andrew Hire
Director of Orchestras
SMS!
The Strongsville Middle School Band Holiday Concert is on Tuesday, December 6th in the SMS auditorium. The sixth grade concert will begin at 6:00pm and seventh and eighth grade concert begins at 7:30pm. Seventh and eighth grade students should wear their Strongsville Middle School polo shirt, black dress pants/long black skirt, and dark shoes/socks. Sixth grade students wear a white dress top, black dress pants/long black skirt, and dark shoes/socks. More details on student arrival times are coming soon. We have completed the auditions for middle school jazz band and are looking forward to another great year! Honors band auditions are also wrapping up and rehearsals will begin in November. Solo & Ensemble groups will be forming soon. Please help to encourage your students to participate in one of these extra ensembles as these are great learning and performance opportunities for our music students. Mr. Chidsey, Mr. King, Mrs. Roblee, & Mr. Tyson
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Rene Roblee
Fundraising!
Parent/Student volunteers are needed for the pancake breakfast.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0E45A4AA2BA4FF2-breakfast
Also we will be having a Dine “In” to Donate event on November 10th at TGIFridays. Please show this flyer to participate in the SIMB fundraiser.