Band Notes – January 22, 2024

 Guess what time it is? It’s time for all band families to prepare for the Wildcat Marching Band’s trip to Orlando in November 2025! Details will be available after the February 21, pre-Festival concert.

Pre-Festival Band Concert and 2025 Trip Meeting
On Wednesday, February 21, the Music Department will present their pre-Festival performance.  This concert is a requirement for the 7th/8th Grade Band, Jazz Ensemble and High School Concert Band; 6th Grade Beginning Band does NOT perform that evening. The concert will take place in the Varsity Gymnasium at 7pm.

   Immediately following the concert, representatives from Thornapple Travel will be giving us important information regarding the 2025 Band Trip to Orlando, Florida.  It is very important that participants and their parents/guardians attend this meeting as you will be given the trip packet, trip price per student, as well as an updated amount of what is currently in each band student’s trip account.  This is for participants eligible for the 2025 trip.  6th Graders are eligible for 2029.  If you have any questions, please contact Miss Essex at the high school.  

6th Grade Band Practice Cards
Practice cards are a homework assignment and are 25% of each marking period grade and will continue into the third marking period.  Students are assigned 70 minutes of practice time each week and it is a time management tool for young learners.  Practice cards will be handed out every Monday and are due the following Monday.  After the practice session and cards are completed they are to be signed by an adult who supervised the practice session and then returned to Miss Essex.  

HS Solo and Ensemble Participants
Students participating in the February 10 Solo and Ensemble event need to plan on rehearsing with Miss Essex a minimum of three times before the performance date.  Available practice times are posted on the band room office window.  

Coming Up:
Feb. 10 – HS Solo and Ensemble at SMC
Feb. 21 – Pre-Festival Band Concert at 7pm; Band Grades 7-12
Feb. 22 – ½ Day for Parent Teacher Conferences. Session 1: Noon-3; Session 2: 4:30-7:30.
Feb. 23 – No school for students. Professional Development for Teachers
Feb. 26 – No school for the district.