Musical Offerings in the Program of Studies

Last week, students attended grade level assemblies to discuss the scheduling process and course offerings for the 2015/2016 school year.  I wanted to take a moment to share some information about an exciting new course option for our students, Enriched Band.

Enriched Band is being offered as an option for students interested in pursuing additional music activities outside of the daily class time.  It will be offered as an option at all levels of band;  therefore, there will be Freshmen Concert Band, Enriched Freshmen Concert Band, Gold Concert Band, Enriched Gold Concert Band, Black Concert Band, Enriched Black Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Enriched Symphonic Band.  All students will perform an audition in the spring (as we have always done) and meet in the same way we have always rehearsed.

Students who opt to take the enriched version of their concert band assignment will be required to complete a worksheet each quarter documenting their plan for earning the enriched grades.   Students will have a "menu" of activities to choose from and various point values associated with those activities.  Students will be expected to complete their activities during the quarter, obtaining the necessary evidence to document completion (i.e. private lesson teacher's signature, programs from concert attendance, etc).  Materials will be submitted at the end of the quarter and students will receive a weighted grade for their work.

This is a great opportunity for students who are independent learners and are motivated to learn more about music.  When deciding whether or not Enriched Band is for you, please keep in mind that all activities will take place outside of the regular school day with limited direction by the band directors.  While students are encouraged to explore this option, the directors realize this is not for everyone. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact Mrs. Culver.

Have a great week! :-)

A Successful Saturday

Congratulations to all the members of the Freshmen Concert Band that participated in the Ohio Music Education Association Solo & Ensemble event this past Saturday.  I am excited to share with you that all the events the ninth graders participated in earned a superior rating, the highest achievement possible!  Our brass choir, woodwind choir, percussion ensemble and three soloists achieved this through hard work and a dedication to success.  I am very proud of the students and their accomplishments!

For those students who were not able to be with us on Saturday, a make-up assignment was distributed in class on Monday, 1/26/15.  (I have also posted the assignment at the top of this page.)  Students need to complete the assignment and return it to me no later than Friday, February 6 in order to earn credit.

For the next several weeks, the students and I will continue our preparations for our next concert on Wednesday, March 4, 2015.  I am excited to see how far we can go as we continue to pursue excellence!

Have a great week!

Solo & Ensemble Information

I have just uploaded the information for Solo & Ensemble Contest.  All performances are this Saturday, January 24, 2015 at Firestone High School.  I apologize for the delay in getting ths information out to you, as we were trying to accommodate swim meets and basketball games.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.  We are looking forward to a very positive experience for all the students at this important event!