Band Update 11/14/2021

Contents:

  • From the Directors:
  • The weeks ahead in the Bands:  Details for 11/15-11/20, and 11/22-11/23
  • Honor Band Opportunities:  FOUNTAIN CITY YOUTH BRASS BAND!  Prairie Wind Festival at KU, Midwest Honor Band Clinic at UMKC, Wichita State Honor Band.
  • SENIORS! – The Kerry Layton Scholarship from the BV Ed Foundation!
  • BVN Band Calendar – Please read carefully and update your personal calendars!
  • Expanding your Musical Horizons – Private Lessons, FCYBA, Honor Bands, lettering in band, and more

From the Directors:

Congratulations on all of your concert band auditions for next semester’s bands! We loved watching all of your videos, and are so excited for our three fantastic bands for the spring! You all should be very proud of your efforts, we are!

Please CLICK HERE for the full results from those auditions.

Also, as you saw in an email yesterday, this week’s Wind Ensemble rehearsal is canceled, and in it’s place we are having our Winter Park trip kick-off meeting. It will be in person, and also live-streamed Wednesday night at 6:3opm. More information coming soon!

Another congrats to those students who earned placement in the ECKMEA district band:  The Gold Band (Top placement) or the Red and Blue Bands (even split bands.). The students in these three bands will make up a large percentage of the Kansas All-State Band.  Every one of them is a potential all-stater!

BVN All-District Musicians, Fall 2021 (alphabetical by last name)

  • Logan  Amato – Tuba – Gold Band
  • Audrey Beckman – Clarinet – Red Band
  • Nolan  Call – Trombone – Blue Band
  • Michael Chong – Percussion – Gold Band
  • Hannah Chong – Piccolo Alternate
  • Louis Cierpiot – Percussion – Red Band
  • Lauren Jenkins – Alto Sax – Red Band
  • Miles Kim – Clarinet – Red Band
  • Devereaux Knight – Trumpet – Gold Band
  • Junie Ko – Alto Sax Alternate
  • Quinn Koffman – Clarinet – Red Band
  • Hannah Kwak – Flute – Blue Band
  • Evan Lynam – Euphonium Alternate
  • Megan Meyer – Clarinet – Blue Band
  • Edward Mu – Euphonium – Blue Band
  • John Muldoon – Clarinet – Gold Band
  • Emily Nelson – Flute – Blue Band
  • Brent Pitts – Clarinet – Blue Band
  • Dakota Raper – Clarinet – Red Band
  • Hyesoo Song – Percussion – Gold Band
  • David Stutz – Euphonium – Blue Band
  • Harry Wang – Alto Sax – Gold Band
  • Matthew Warner – Trumpet – Red Band
  • Zengtao Xing – Trumpet – Blue Band
  • Max Zhang – Clarinet – Gold Band
  • Oliver Zhang – Trumpet – Gold Band
  • For full results, go to www.eckmea.org.  The honor band rosters aren’t posted, yet, but directors have received them.  Rosters should be posted online later today or sometime Monday 11/8.

Special Shout out to John Muldoon and Harry Wang, who are both 4-Year Members of our District Honor Ensembles – a HUGE accomplishment to have made it all 4 years (and also the first in our BVN History, as their Freshman year was the first year Freshman were allowed to audition for the group.  Congrats John and Harry – you made history!!)

Final note to each of these students:  you are now eligible to audition for all-state.  Keep practicing!  The all-state audition will be live/in-person in early January.

  • For WW/Brass: All-State Audition materials are the same + Sight Reading.  (Major Scale to be chosen on the day of auditions, Chromatic Scale, Audition Excerpts:  Practice the full all-state audition – “cuts” will be announced on the morning of auditions, and Sight reading!  We’ll talk about practicing sight-reading in class.  Sight reading is often a decider in the All-State Auditions!)
  • For Percussion: your all-state audition will be pick and choose:  audition on Snare, Mallets, and/or timpani.  You can audition on all three but can also pick and choose any combination:  one instrument, two instruments, or all three.

Hen House Grocery Bagging Fundraiser!

We have the return of a favorite fundraiser – Holiday Grocery Bagging at the Leawood Hen House!! (119th and Roe).  CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP!!  We need both Parent and Student volunteers.  Make sure to read all of the dress code and other details.

  • For several years, pre-pandemic, we had a wonderful fundraiser at Hen House – Band Students Serve as Grocery Baggers during the week before Thanksgiving and the week before Christmas!  It’s a HUGE help to Hen House during their busiest time of the year, and it’s a wonderful event for us.  We are out in the community, helping and smiling.  Several students have gotten jobs at Hen House, too, following the grocery bagging.  A win – win – win!
  • Hen House makes a donation to the band program based on hours volunteered, and we also collect tips (which are usually quite good!).  Added together, it is usually a very lucrative fundraiser.
  • Our Pre-Thanksgiving shifts are coming up fast:  Saturday and Sunday 11/20 and 11/21 (shifts throughout the day).  Monday and Tuesday 11/22 and 11/23 (after school/early evening shifts), and Wednesday 11/24 (shifts throughout the day).
  • Students who are going on the Winter Park Trip will earn towards their trip!  Wind Ensemble Students are going to have a little bit of expense for our trip to Wichita/KMEA at the end of February, and can use the fundraising to pay for that if they choose!
  • Hen House has rules we must follow.  If you do not follow these, you will be sent home to change and come back
    • Close toed shoes
    • Long pants:  either dark or khaki pants
    • This year’s blue band t-shirt or the BVN Band 1/4 Zip.  (freshman/new student families: we will be ordering these in the next week… wear the blue band shirt for thanksgiving shifts, and we should have the 1/4 zips in time for the christmas shifts)

Mark your Calendars:  This Wednesday 11/17, 6:30 – 7:30 PM will be our Winter Park Trip Kickoff Meeting! 

  • The meeting will be dual format:  attend in-person at BVN or via a youtube livestream!  THIS LINK will take you to the livestream and will also be a working link to a recording of the meeting, after the meeting finishes.
  • If you have a conflict, the livestream will remain up on youtube (unlisted) at the same link, so you can watch it at a later time.
  • During this meeting, we will give an overview of the trip, financial details including cost and payment dates, and how to enroll.  (if you attend in person you can enroll right then).
  • We will also distribute a packet of materials to get started on the trip.  If you watch the livestream, students can pick up those materials on Thursday morning, or you will have access to a link to download and print them on your own.
  • On Tuesday, I will send a reminder email, which will include the exact location at BVN (either the band room or the PAC, TBD), as well as the youtube link will be sent on Tuesday.  I will also post that link on the Band Update page when it is ready to share.
  • Wind Ensemble Students/Families:  the rehearsal that was scheduled for this Wednesday evening (11/17) is cancelled – go to the trip meeting instead!

Calendar Reminder – Winter Park Trip and Wind Ensemble Schedule!

SAVE THE DATES:  The BVN Bands will travel to and Perform in the Winter Park Ski-Music Festival from Wednesday, March 30th – Sunday, April 3rd.  We will depart late in the evening on 3/30 (well after school is out) and overnight to Colorado, and we’ll return on Sunday the 3rd (arrival at BVN in the evening).  Festival performance will be Friday, with lots of fun activities throughout the time there.  A trip kick-off/info meeting will happen during the week on November 17th at 6:30pm.  The trip will be voluntary, and cost a little over $700 with ALL expenses included.  All of the details will be shared at the kick-off meeting.

CLICK HERE for the BVN Wind Ensemble Extra Rehearsal Schedule.  Performance in Wind Ensemble comes with higher expectations and much more challenging music.  In addition, our performances at the KMEA Convention and at the Lied Center come very early in the spring semester.  Translation:  we have to work quickly and effectively for a very high-level musical performance, hence the extra rehearsals.  It will be worth it!  NOTE – our Wind Ensemble Camp day will be Saturday, 11/20!  This is a change from the previously announced date for this event.  

These updates are now noted on our BVN Band Google Calendar and Master BVN Band Calendar.

Blue and Silver Bands have now begun!  For the remainder of this semester, all band students in 1st, 2nd, and 7th hour classes are equally split into two bands:  Blue and Silver Concert Bands.  Students will perform in these bands for our December Concert.  They are WONDERFUL groups, with experienced students mentoring younger ones, and LOTS of fun.

Band Forms and Dues:  CLICK HERE for the complete forms packet, which includes all necessary information.  If you have not yet submitted forms and dues, they are now do ASAP.  Hard copies of the forms are available in the band room, if needed.  Forms/dues can be turned into the blue box just outside Mr. Freeman/Mr. Wagoner’s office.

WATER and TISSUES!  Thanks to everyone who has donated!  We’re doing very well.  However, if you have not yet donated, please send it in any time.  Have your band student bring them to the front of the band room any time.  You can also drop them in the main office, labeled for the band.

REMINDER:  as we complete performances, we load all performance videos in a folder that is linked on the login page of our band website.  The folder now includes ALL marching season recordings!  Band students should know the password.  Login and enjoy our recordings!

Band in the era of Covid. CLICK HERE to read about our current covid-mitigation-in-band-rehearsals

Musically yours,
Mr. Freeman and Mr. Wagoner

The Weeks Ahead in the Band, now through Thanksgiving!

CLICK HERE for BVN’s Block/Traditional Schedule Rotation for October – November – December
CLICK HERE for the BVN Bell Schedule

Week of 11/15

Monday, 11/15:

  • Odd Block Classes.
  • 1st Hour:  Silver Band in the Band Room, Blue on Stage
  • (Happy 6th Birthday Lilianna Freeman!!)

Tuesday, 11/16:

  • Even Block Class Schedule with Late Start.

Wednesday, 11/17 

  • Odd Block Classes.
  • 1st Hour:  Silver Band in the Band Room, Blue on Stage
  • Kick0ff meeting for Winter Park trip! 6:30-7:30pm

Thursday, 11/18:

  • Even Block Classes with Late Start

Friday, 11/19:

  • Traditional Schedule.
  • 1st Hour:  Silver Band in the Band Room, Blue on Stage
  • Baker Jazz Festival: 6th hour Jazz Ensemble

Week of 11/22

Monday, 11/22:

  • Odd Block Classes.
  • 1st Hour:  Blue Band in the Band Room, Silver on Stage

Tuesday, 11/23:

  • Even Block Class Schedule with Late Start.

Wednesday, 11/24 – Sunday 11/28

  • Thanksgiving Break!  Enjoy Delicious food and wonderful family time!

Honor Band Opportunities!

Now that our auditions for EC and John Philip Sousa honor bands have wrapped up, we get to turn our attention to a different type of honor band experiences… The Fountain City Youth Brass Band, and a few different awesome weekend events hosted by colleges!  These are like short, 2 or 3 day version os a summer music camp at a college, and they are PHENOMENAL experiences.  They are open to anyone and everyone – a couple require director recommendations, others are just a sign up.

The Fountain City Youth Brass Band is the BEST experience you can imagine for Brass and Percussion students!  World-class staff build youth brass bands that are amongst the best in the country, right here in our area.  HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.  Click here for their website and info.

KU’s Prairie Wind Festival is an INCREDIBLE experience for students looking to advance their musical abilities and have a wonderful time working with college professors and students, and world class guest artists.  HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.  Seniors can also audition for the KU school of Music at the event. It is, unfortunately, on the same weekend as our Pancake Dinner and Musical, but if you are not participating in those, you should do this!  Just sign-up and go!

UMKC’s MIDWEST HONOR BAND CLINIC, March 11-13, is a phenomenal experience. We have had many students participate in this in the past, and every one comes back with rave reviews!  This one requires director recommendation.  We’ll recommend anyone who is interested!  Look it over now, and let us know if you are interested.  Our recommendations are due by 11/22, so look at it/think it through NOW.

The KSU Concert Band Clinic is January 21-23.  We have never had students attend this, but have heard it is very enjoyable!  It is a director recommended group, and recommendations are happening now.  If you are interested, read the info on their website and let us know!

Seniors – Scholarship Opportunity!

Each year, the Blue Valley Ed Foundation gives one “Kerry Layton Memorial Scholarship”, awarded to one outstanding senior in Band from across the BV School District.  It’s a straightforward application… all seniors should go for it!  CLICK HERE for the application and info.

BVN Band Calendar – Make sure everything is up-to-date!

BVN Band Calendar Webpage.
BVN Bands 2021-2022 Calendar of Events (the “Fridge Calendar”)

Expanding your Musical Horizons!

During the School year, there will be many AMAZING opportunities to make music outside the walls of BVN. Honor Bands, Private Lessons, and much more can and will be highlights of your year, and memories that will last forever.

PRIVATE LESSONS are HIGHLY recommended!  Private lessons help students unlock skills and work on specific techniques that will greatly enhance their playing!  Students who wish to be in the BVN Wind Ensemble, or who want to go for honor bands, take solos to festivals, etc should seriously consider private lessons.  We are lucky to have many AMAZING private instructors in the area – just email Mr. Freeman or Mr. Wagoner for suggestions.

Fountain City Youth Brass Band – an incomparably awesome opportunity!!

The Fountain City Youth Brass Bands are INCREDIBLE.  A premiere organization – one of the best anywhere – and a phenomenal experience for brass and percussion students.  HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!! Click here for more info.

Honor Bands

The First honor band experience will be auditions for the ECKMEA District Honor Bands (all band students are eligible), and the Kansas Sousa Honor Band (for 9th Graders).  These are FANTASTIC experiences and well worth the effort to audition.  HIGHLY recommended for all students.

Please find all details of these and much more on our Extra Musical Experiences Webpage.
Audition Materials can be found on the Student Resources Login Page of the website.  Students should know the password.

LETTERING IN BAND

Students can earn a varsity letter in band, just like in any sport.  Letters are awarded to students who go above and beyond what it takes to earn the band grade.  Volunteering for pep bands, serving as a member of leadership, taking private lessons, participating in FCYBB and/or the KC Youth Symphony, performing at church, and on and on… all of these and much more can qualify for lettering points.  CLICK HERE for lettering details. 

First year letter winners receive the Chenille Letter Award, and 2nd/3rd/4th year winners get pins to add to the letter.