Band Update:  2-6-2022

Contents:

  • From the Directors – Congrats Musical Performers, Congrats Pianists!
  • IMPORTANT Band Calendar Updates!
    • BVN February Concert Moved to March 2nd.
    • Wind Ensemble to Perform at the Kaufman Center!
    • Wind Ensemble Schedule for the next 3 weeks.
  • The Next Two Weeks Ahead:  Week of 2/7 and Week of 2/14
  • Thinking Ahead to Solo and Ensemble Festival
  • Winter Park – Reminders/What’s next
    • Final Payment now DUE.
    • What’s Next?
  • Basketball Pep Bands
  • Second Semester at-a-glance
  • Expanding your Musical Horizons!  Lettering, Lessons, Honor Bands!

From the Directors

My absolute FAVORITE way to start Band Updates… with congrats to our amazing students!

HUGE SHOUT OUT to ALL of our Students who were involved with the Musical, “Grease”!  A WONDERFUL show – fun and funny, outstanding performances on stage and from the pit orchestra, GREAT tech work (lights/sound/sets).  The musical is that unique event which combines students from across multiple performing disciplines, and it is SO rewarding to see it all come together.  Kudos to Mrs. Cain (theatre teacher/director) for putting together such a great show, and to the A-Team of musical staffs:  Mr. Wagoner (pit director), Mr. Sickel (Vocal Director), and Dr. Hale (tech director)!!

And… BIG CONGRATS to our BVN Pianists!!!  5 BVN students performed at the Regional Piano Festival on Saturday 2/5, and ALL 5 received top “I” Ratings to advance to the State Festival, which will be in Wichita on 2/19. WOW!!!!  Congrats to:

  • Edward Mu
  • Quinten Shafer
  • Michelle Shin
  • Adam Wang
  • Zengtao Xing

February at-a-Glance… it’s a busy month so I’m keeping these reminders in the “from the directors” section through the month:

  • This Week (week of 2/7): is our calmest week of performances (no performances), but perhaps the most important for our rehearsals.  Winter Guard Practices M/W.  Wind Ensemble Rehearsals Tuesday Academic Support and Weds PM.  Senior “Kerry Layton Scholarship” deadline on 2/11.
  • Week of 2/14:  Happy Valentines Day! Bball on Tuesday evening.  Parent-Teacher Conferences!  (Band concert moved to March 2nd).  Winter Guard Practices M/W.  Wind Ensemble Rehearsals Thursday Academic Support and Friday morning (no school Friday).  Wind Ensemble Performance at Kaufman Center Saturday 2/19.
  • Week of 2/21:  No School Monday, All-Staters to Wichita Thursday – Saturday, Wind Ensemble Performing at the KMEA State Convention(!!) Friday 2/25 and with the KU Wind Ensemble in Lawrence (!!) on Sunday 2/27.

This will be a fun ride!  STUDENTS – the next couple of weeks of rehearsals should be really enjoyable and productive.  Remember that YOU make a HUGE difference to our groups – any practice and prep you do makes all of us better.  THANK YOU!!!

As we continue to live through the covid era:  please Click Here to read our current Covid Mitigation Procedures for Band.

Musically yours,
Mr. Freeman and Mr. Wagoner

IMPORTANT BAND CALENDAR UPDATES!

Please mark your personal calendars with this new info!

FEBRUARY BAND CONCERT moved to MARCH 2nd!  Our BVN Band Concert scheduled for Wednesday 2/16 has been moved to Wednesday March 2nd!!  Please note this on your calendars.

WIND ENSEMBLE TO PERFORM AT KAUFMAN CENTER!  We received an out-of-the blue invitation to join the BVSW Wind Ensemble and the William Mason HS (Ohio) Wind Ensemble in Concert at the Kaufman Center.  WOW!!  The William Mason Band is a phenomenal band program, whose director (Ed Protzman) used to be at BVSW.  He is bringing them to KC on a small tour to perform in the Kaufman center.  The original concert was supposed to involve BVSW, William Mason, and a UMKC group, but the UMKC group had to cancel.  We have been invited to join in…  So… mark your calendars!

  • Saturday, February 19th, 7 PM.  BVN Wind Ensemble Performance at the Kaufman Center, Helzberg Hall!
  • It is a ticketed event (Kaufman requires it and charges $$ no matter what we request).  $15 per ticket.  All proceeds go to offset the costs of hosting the event.  CLICK HERE for tickets!  Because of the last minute change, we are not listed on the Kaufman event info, but we are playing the concert!  We’ll work on getting our name added to the info.

This performance kicks off a concert tour for Wind Ensemble:  Kaufman Center, then KMEA in Wichita, then performance at the Lied Center at KU.  WOW!!  Wind Ensemble Students/Families:  CLICK HERE for all of the schedule details for these events.  A couple of details for the Kaufman day are still being finalized, and I will update the document as soon as I have those details.

ALL of these details/events have now been added/updated on our Band Calendars.  Thanks for updating your personal calendars, too!!

The Next Two Weeks Ahead in the Band: 2/7-2/12 and 2/14 – 2/19/2022

CLICK HERE for the BVN Bell Schedule and Block Day Rotation

Week of 2/7/2022

Monday, 2/7:

  • Odd Block Classes.
  • WIND ENSEMBLE:  Formal Group Picture during 1st hour.  Wear your concert black attire to school!!! (and bring a change of clothes)
  • Winter Guard Practice 7 – 9 PM

Tuesday, 2/8

  • Even Block Day with Late Start
  • Wind Ensemble Rehearsal during Academic Support

Wednesday, 2/9

  • Odd Block Day
  • Winter Guard Practice 7 – 9 PM
  • Wind Ensemble Evening Rehearsal, 6:30 – 8 PM

Thursday 2/10

  • Even Block Day with Late Start

Friday 2/11

  • Traditional Schedule, all 7 classes meet.
  • SENIORS:  Kerry Layton Scholarship Application Deadline
    • 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.

Week of 2/14/2022 – Parent/Teacher Conferences this week

Monday, 2/14:

  • Odd Block Classes.
  • Winter Guard Practice 7 – 9 PM

Tuesday, 2/15:

  • Even Block Day with Late Start
  • BLUE Basketball Pep Band
    • 6:15 Call time for a boys game against Metro Academy.  Game tips-off at 7 PM.
    • BLUE Shirts

Wednesday, 2/16:

  • Odd Block Day
  • Winter Guard Practice 7 – 9 PM
  • Note: The BVN Band concert previously scheduled for this day has been moved to Weds 3/2

Thursday 2/17

  • Even Block Day with Late Start
  • Wind Ensemble Rehearsal during Academic Support

Friday 2/18

  • No School (Parent Teacher Conferences)
  • Wind Ensemble Rehearsal: 8:30 AM Donuts, 9-11 AM Rehearsal

Saturday 2/19

  • Wind Ensemble Performance at Kaufman Center!
    • Mid/Late Afternoon Sound Check.  Arrive Kaufman 2:45.
    • 3:15 Sound Check on Stage
    • Following sound check:  Dinner.
    • Concert – 7 PM.  BVSW will open, we will perform 2nd, and William Mason will close the concert.
    • It is a ticketed event (Kaufman requires it).  
      • $15 per ticket, plus Kaufman ticketing fees.
      • All proceeds go to offset the costs of holding the event. 
      •  CLICK HERE for tickets!  Because of the last minute change (UMKC not performing, BVN taking their place), we are not listed on the Kaufman event info, but we are playing the concert!  We’ll work on getting our name added to the info.
    • Transportation and Dinner Details are still TBD – coming very soon!  For the time being:  Plan your own transportation to/from Kaufman.  Please let Mr. Freeman know by Friday 2/11 if you need to ride in a school van

Thinking Ahead – Solo and Ensemble Festival in April!

It’s time to begin thinking ahead to Solo and Ensemble Festival in April!  Solo and Ensemble Festival is a WONDERFUL experience for students.  Prepping/Performing a solo and performing in a chamber ensemble (small group, usually one on a part) are FUN and challenging processes.  Students who do this will build performance skills, creativity, and confidence in a unique and powerful manner…. something we can’t replicate in other settings.  While not required, this is HIGHLY encouraged.

  • If you wish to perform a solo:
    • NOW is the time to pick a solo.  HIGHLY HIGHLY encouraged that you work with a private teacher in solo preparation.  If you don’t have a solo picked in the next couple of weeks, it will be too late.
    • Solos must be accompanied, if the solo is written with an accompaniment.  CLICK HERE for a list of wonderful accompanists.  Find Accompanists NOW – don’t wait!  These wonderful musicians are in demand and will fill up quickly.  Student Pianists can also be accompanists – talk with Mr. Freeman if you are thinking of having a student accompanise.
  • If you wish to perform as part of a small ensemble:
    • Small ensembles are groups of 3 up to about 15 (duets not accepted).  Examples:  Brass Quintets, Woodwind Quintets, instrument “choirs” (i.e. clarinet choir, trombone choir).  Some small ensembles will be built by the directors and/or our Adjunct staff in classes (percussion ensembles are one example)
    • If you wish to perform in a small ensemble, make sure to talk with Mr. Freeman or Mr. Wagoner and we’ll help get it going.  There are some instrumentation restrictions, so make sure to talk to us first to make sure your chamber group is allowable.

Winter Park Trip Info

Final payments were due Friday 2/4.  If you missed, please turn in your check on Monday 2/7.  After Monday 2/7, late fees will apply and potential removal from the trip for unpaid travelers.

Looking ahead:  the next few weeks are a lot of behind the scenes work, as we will complete rooming assignments, followed by chaperone group assignments, bus lists, etc.  We’ll also be finalizing the itinerary.  After a flurry of activity for travelers, it’s now a bit of calm-time while we work behind the scenes.  A HUUUUGE Thanks to our Trip Coordinator, Mrs. Ellis, who has done phenomenal work over the last few weeks, and will continue to do so.

If you have not Registered online or turned in your rules form, you are now overdue – please complete this ASAP!!!

  • Register online!!! If you have not yet done this, please do it ASAP!! This registration sets up important things such as ski equipment rentals and helps us confirm lodging details.  The deadline has passed to get this done… if you haven’t, get it done NOW!
    • Hard copy instructions distributed in classes 1/18 and 1/19.
    • These contain individual login instructions/passwords for each traveler.

Trip Forms:

Basketball Pep Bands!

  • Basketball Pep Bands are ongoing – Click here for the schedule!
  • We are now winding the season down – just a couple of final games over the rest of February.
  • Students are doing a wonderful job.  Thank you and keep it up!

Second Semester At-A-Glance

  • February:  BVN Musical  Pep Bands. Wind Ensemble to Kaufman, KMEA and Lied Center
  • March:  BVN Band Concert March 2nd.  BVN Area Bands 6-8 Festival Concert March 7th.  Pitt State Jazz Festival. Winter Park Trip!  Potential postseason BBall pep bands (voluntary)
  • April:  Return from Winter Park.  Band Concert 4/11.  Then…. Contest Month!    Solo/Ensemble Festivals (voluntary) and State Large Group Festival (Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble).  BVW Band Festival (Concert Band). Cap it off with the Pancake Dinner and our first ever Night of Percussion and Jazz on Wednesday 4/27.  April…. WOW!
  • May:  Celebration Month!  Band Recognition Dinner (Band Banquet) and Concert on the Lawn 5/11.  Class Day and Graduation Performances.

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.