Band Notes for February 2008 Newsletter

Band Parent Meeting

All Band parents of students grades 6-12 are encouraged to come to the next Band-Aides Band Parent Meeting, Tuesday, February 12.  The meeting will take place in the Bandroom at 8:00p.

Solo & Ensemble Festival

Mardela has a few students working to perform in the District Solo & Ensemble Festival to be held at Wicomico Middle School on Wednesday, February 27, 2008.  Structured on the lines of the Band Festival counterpart in which our school bands participate annually, student soloists and small groups prepare music published on a graded state list affront a panel of judges who evaluate them on their accuracy, blend and balance, portrayal and interpretation of the written music, and the beauty of their performance.  In the end, individuals and groups receive a score of 1 (Superior) to 5; those receiving a 1 are eligible to take their shows on the road and perform in the MD State Solo & Ensemble Festival affront a very rigorous panel of judges designed to ferret out the highest quality performances.

In 2005,  2006, and 2007,  we had students go all the way to the State S&E Festival and receive Superior ratings.  It is our hope that more will earn that honor in 2008.  Goode luck!

Saturday Night Bingo

Regular Saturday Night Band Bingo will not be held on February 16 (PTA Prom Fashion Show), March 8 (MMHS Musical:  Wizard of Oz) and March 22 (Spring Break).

Upcoming Band Festivals

Both the High School Band (March 12, 2008) and Middle School Festival Band (March 13, 2008) are beginning the preparations for upcoming band competitions.

In this interim winter stretch before spring sports and other festivities that come with warmer weather, please make sure that your band students grades 6-12 are practicing both their sheet music AND their supplementary books (yes, High School should have these, too.).  No one has “arrived”; we all have critical development to do in tone, control, rhythmic accuracy, and finger accuracy.

Please help me in making sure your students spring performances reflect their continued growth from our holiday shows.

2008 Apple Blossom Festival

The Warrior Marching Band and Bandfront will be traveling to Winchester, Virginia, May 2-3 (Friday to Saturday), 2008 to participate in the Apple Blossom Festival.  The HS Symphonic Band will compete in a Concert Band Competition (May 2); the Warrior Marching Band and Bandfront will compete in the Firemen’s Parade (May 2) and the Grand Feature Parade (May 3). 

In order to do an overnight stay with the maximum of security, the Band-Aides, Inc. have decided to set up accommodations with a male chaperone and 3 boys or female chaperone and 3 ladies for each room (preference given to start each room with a father-son or mother-daughter team).  Room costs and several meals for performers and chaperones will be assumed by the Band-Aides, Inc.  Look for a permission-information-response form to be sent home by mid-January and make sure they are all returned by February 13; this will allow organization and preparation to occur early.

Upcoming Band Events:

February 2008                                   Oliver! Pit Orchestra will hold practices

February 6, 2008                               MS Advanced Band begins after-school practices on

                      Wednesdays 3-4:15p

February 27, 2008                             District Solo and Ensemble Festival, WiMiddle School

March 7-9, 2008                                Oliver! presented by MMHS Music Department

March12, 2008                                  HS Symphonic Band travels to WiHi for District Band

                      Festival

March 13, 2008                                 MS Festival Band (select) travels to St. Decatur HS for

                      District Band Festival

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