Bison Bands October 2023 Newsletter
September 28, 2023
Band Updates
Dear Parents, Guardians, Friends, and Families:
I hope this newsletter finds you enjoying the first days of fall!
As we enjoy the late summer and early fall, we want to make sure we share with you what has been happening and what will be happening with Fenton Bands. Please be sure that both parents and students read this newsletter in it's entirety as it contains information regarding all upcoming performances, events and opportunities!
Before we go on, w would like to take a moment to thank all the parents. Thank you for dropping off and picking up your child at rehearsals and events. Thank you for purchasing reeds and supporting your band student here at Fenton. Thank you for volunteering your time to help with band camp, uniforms, or football games! Our band students are successful because of you, so thank you for doing that each and every day.
Secondly, we would like to thank all of our band students. They are rehearsing in different spaces, traveling to different performance venues regularly, and getting accustomed to a number of new things (people, experiences, instruments, etc). We are grateful for their flexibility and understanding as we face some different things together.
If you or your family have any questions about anything, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Sincerely,
Garett George
Fenton High School Bands: Great People Making Great Music!
Banda NIU visit Fenton
Bandarama Concert
Our Bandarama Concert is Monday, October 16th, at 7:00 PM in the Field House. Call times are 5:45 PM for all band students.
Both the Bison Chamber Band and Marching Band will be performing at this concert. You will hear the music of Jorge Vargas, Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Sergei Prokofiev, Smashmouth, and more!
At this concert, the Marching Band will be wearing their Marching Band uniforms without hats. The Bison Chamber Band will be wearing our concert dress uniform. There are parts of this uniform that the students are responsible for having and are not provided by Fenton Bands. Please click here for our Concert Attire information.
All family members and friends are invited to attend this event. There will be plenty of room in the bleachers for everyone! Refreshments will be served!
Fenton Jazz Auditions
The Jazz season starts on October 24th with our first rehearsal. Jazz rehearsals will be on Tuesday nights with Jazz Lab Band from 4:00-5:00 and Jazz Ensemble 5:30-8:00.
The Jazz Bands will also be hosting our Jazz Boot Camp on Saturday, October 28th from 9-noon. Our guest clinicians are TBD!
Thank you goes out to the Bensenville Arts Council for supporting our guest artists for the Boot Camp!
Music Booster Mattress Sale
Additionally, the Music Boosters will make a profit from each mattress and accessory sold that day, which can be huge with a great turnout.
Bison Chamber Band
The BCB will have a dress rehearsal on Monday, October 16th after school from 3:30-4:30 PM. This is so the BCB can have enough time to feel comfortable in our performance space and figure out transitions before our concert.
The Bison Chamber Band will be wearing our concert dress uniform. There are parts of this uniform that the students are responsible for having and are not provided by Fenton Bands. Please click here for our Concert Attire information.
The Bison Chamber Band will be performing at the Bandarama Concert on Monday, October 16th at 7:00 PM in the field house.
Marching Bison Band
This season, the Marching Band has performed at Northwestern University, Fenton Band Night, home football games, the Homecoming Bonfire, the first day of school, The Maine West Marching Festival, and Gameday Marches! They have two more football games to perform at on October 5th (Fenton Band Night with Middle Schools) and 20th (SENIOR NIGHT).
The Marching Bison Band will also be performing at the Bandarama Concert on Monday, October 16th at 7:00 PM in the field house.
Please note that our rehearsal on Tuesday, October 10th from 9:30AM-NOON. Note the different time!
Band Classes & Practicing
Parents and guardians: we need your help! Keeping our musical athletes in shape is an important part of the music learning process. Please help in supporting your student by encouraging the following behavior.
All band students should be practicing their music four to five times a week outside of class. The practice needs of each individual as it pertains to the challenges the music presents to them varies from person to person; therefore, setting an amount of time is very difficult. Our recommendation is that those sessions be at least 10 minutes in length without a break. Every family should be noticing some music playing in the home.
Students can use Bison Time, after school, or during their lunch time to meet these goals at school too. The weekends also present a little more time to make this happen!
Thank you for your support!
Concert Band & Symphonic Wind Ensemble
Please be sure your student has submitted their playing assessment so that they can be placed in the correct band. Again, you should be hearing this music at home!
First Day of School welcome with the Drumline!
NU Band Day 2023 on the field
Homecoming Pep Rally Drum Majors!
Fenton Band Handbook & Calendars
Click here for our Fenton Band Calendar
In Closing...
Be on the lookout in November for information regarding our Holiday events.
Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns.
Musically yours,
Garett George
630-860-4944