Band Update: 5-8-2022

Contents:

  • From the Directors
    • Concert on the Lawn Week has arrived!
    • May in the Band: Graduation, Drumline Auditions, Marching Mustangs Mini-Camp
    • 4th quarter in the BVN Band
  • Concert on the Lawn and Recognition Dinner – May 11th!
  • The Next Two Weeks Ahead:  5/9-5/13/22 and 5/16-5/22/2022
  • Summer Camps
  • BVN Band Calendar
  • Expanding your Musical Horizons!  Lettering, Lessons, Honor Bands!

From the Directors

I am SO SO SO SO, SOOOO Excited for the Return of Concert on the Lawn, this week!  Everyone make sure to bring your lawn chairs or picnic blankets and come to BVN on Wednesday.   Current forecast is GREAT (if a little hot), so keep doing your no rain dances and knocking on wood, and we’ll hopefully be outside.  PARENTS – we can use your help setting up and serving dinner.  CLICK HERE to sign up.

May will FLY by.  Concert on the Lawn and Graduation are two of our biggest performances of the year.  We also look ahead to next year with Drumline Auditions and our Marching Mustangs Mini Camp at the end of the month.  Please read, print and hang on your fridge (if you haven’t already), this updated summary of the Fourth Quarter in the BVN Band.  Details for all events will come out in the Band Update a couple of weeks in front.

We’re right in the thick of the “push” to the end of the year.  The students are handling this with poise and fantastic performances.  With each event that passes, I have more fun and am more proud of the students.  Thanks, as always, for your careful reading of the update and support of all things BAND!

Musically yours,
Mr. Freeman and Mr. Wagoner


BVN Band Annual Concert on the Lawn and Recognition Dinner!

Wednesday, May 11th is our annual Concert on the Lawn and Recognition Dinner.  We are SO excited for this event to fully return this year.  It is one of our nicest and most enjoyable evenings of the year.  Here is the flow of the evening:

  • Wednesday, May 11th, 2022
  • PARENTS.  Dinner SET-UP and SERVING HELP NEEDED
  • STUDENTS:  We need a set-up crew right after school to move all equipment outside/set-up chairs and stands/etc.  VOLUNTEER HOURS!!!
  • 5:00 – 6:00 PM:  Dinner in the BVN Commons.
    • Meal orders: at this point, the pre-order window has finished.  If you are planning to join us for dinner, please email Mr. Freeman or Mr. Wagoner, so we can add you to our RSVP count, and bring $20 per meal to the door (cash or check).
  • 6:00-6:30:  Band Awards Ceremony in the Commons
  • 6:30 – 8:00 PM:  Concert on the Lawn.  
    • Weather permitting, it is an outdoor concert, on the green space just outside of the band room.
    • Bring your camping/lawn chairs or picnic blankets, and claim a spot in our nice green space, to enjoy performances by Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Wind Ensemble, as well as our traditional senior send-off at the end of the concert.  If it rains, we’ll move inside to the PAC.
    • If you won a parking spot or VIP seating at the silent auction, please email Mr. Freeman and Mr. Wagoner by Tuesday to let us know how much seating/parking to block off for you.

We hope that all band families will join us for this special evening.  The evening begins with our Recognition Dinner and Band Awards.  This is an important moment, as we recognize a wonderful year and our amazing senior class.  All Band Students and Band Families are invited, and all Senior Band Members eat free.  This year’s dinner is catered by one of our very own – Mrs. Mieczkowski (mother of Ben Mieczkowski, Freshman Saxophone) is a professional caterer and will be catering our dinner.  It will be WONDERFUL!  Desserts are her specialty… I can’t wait for those… yum!   Meals cost $15 for everyone who is not a band senior.  This is not a fundraising event – the cost of the meal covers our expenses for the evening and the seniors’ dinners.

The meal/awards ceremony are not required, but highly encouraged.  The concert is required for all concert band, symphonic band, and wind ensemble students.  If you are not attending the meal/awards, then you need to be at BVN ready to go by or before 6:30.

PERFORMANCE ATTIRE for Students is a little bit different for Concert on the Lawn.  Take the formality level of your Concert Black look… and make it all colors!

  • All Non Seniors:  Attire is Concert “All-Colors” Attire:  No Jeans/Tennis shoes/holy pants/etc. Collared dress shirts/ties level of formality, with an emphasis on modesty – make it colorful if you can!   This will also be your attire for the Graduation Peroformance.
  • SENIORS:  This is your night – Dress to the Nines!  Prom Dresses/Tuxes/Etc.   Go for it!!

The Next Two Weeks Ahead in the Band: 5/9 – 5/13/22 and 5/16 – 5/20/22

CLICK HERE for the BVN Bell Schedule and Block Day Rotation – please refer to announcements and north notes for finals schedules and bell schedules over the final couple of weeks of the school year.  They are funky!

5/9-5/13/22

Monday, 5/9

  • Odd Block Day
  • AP Testing.
  • Drumline Auditions Clinic #2:  6 – 7:30 in the Band Room

Tuesday, 5/10

  • Even Block Day with Late Start
  • AP Testing

Wednesday, 5/11:

  • Odd Block Day
  • AP Testing
  • BVN Bands Annual Concert on the Lawn and Recognition Dinner!
    • 5:00 – 6:00 PM:  Dinner in the BVN Commons.
    • 6:00-6:30:  Band Awards Ceremony in the Commons
    • 6:30 – 8:00 PM:  Concert on the Lawn.  Weather permitting, it is an outdoor concert, on the green space just outside of the band room.  Bring your camping/lawn chairs or picnic blankets, and claim a spot in our nice green space, to enjoy performances by Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Wind Ensemble, as well as our traditional senior send-off at the end of the concert.  If it rains, we’ll move inside to the PAC.
    • Students:  Read info above for Concert Attire!

Thursday 5/12:

  • Even Block Day with Late Start
  • AP Testing

Friday 5/13:

  • Funky Schedule Day!  Adjusted EVEN BLOCK Schedule, NO Late Start, YES North Time.  Senior Celebration and Yearbook Distro.
    • 2nd Hour: 7:4 0 – 9:23
    • 4th Hour:  9:28-11:11
    • North Time: 11:16 – 12:06
    • 6th Hour: 12:11-1:54
    • Yearkbook Distribution:  1:59-2:55
  • 22-23 Drumline Audition Videos DUE.
  • AP Testing

5/16-5/20/22

Monday, 5/16

  • Odd Block Day
  • Senior Finals during 5th and 7th hours.

Tuesday, 5/17

  • Even Block Day with Late Start
  • Senior Finals During 4th and 6th
  • Tues-Thurs, May 17-18-19:  BVN 22-23 Drumline Auditions (required), 6 – 7:30 PM.

Wednesday, 5/18:

  • Odd Block Day
  • Senior Finals During 1st and 3rd hours
  • Tues-Thurs, May 17-18-19:  BVN 22-23 Drumline Auditions (required), 6 – 7:30 PM.

Thursday 5/19:

  • Even Block Day with Late Start
  • Senior Finals during 2nd hour.
  • 9th-11th Grade Finals during 2nd and 6th hours.
  • AST REHEARSAL for GRADUATION BAND – REQUIRED for ALL 9th-12th grade band members.
    • NOTE:  ALL 9th-12th woodwinds and brass in Concert, Symphonic, and Wind Ensemble are required to perform.
    • Percussionists:  MOST 9th-12th percussionists are required.  ALL from Wind Ensemble/Concert Band.  A few from concert band are excused/not required.  This is because we have more percussionists than we can keep busy in this performance.  Concert Band Percussion parents: your student should know if they are assigned or not, but if you want to double-check , please email Mr. Freeman.
    • This is the ONLY chance we have to combine the full Graduation Band. It is a very important rehearsal and should be prioritized over other conflicts.  See Mr. Freeman if you have questions.
  • Tues-Thurs, May 17-18-19:  BVN 22-23 Drumline Auditions (required), 6 – 7:30 PM.

Friday 5/20:

  • Odd Block Schedule.  (no finals)
  • Class Day Celebration in the morning (for seniors)

SUNDAY 5/22:

  • GRADUATION PERFORMANCE – ALL 9th-12th grade band members except some percussionists.
    • At the SWI-DAC (the Football Stadium at 135th and Switzer/BVNW).  Students/families provide their own transportation.
    • 5:30:  Set-up Crew Call time. (we will determine the set-up crew in classes)
    • 6:00 PM:  ALL Band students seated and ready to go on the field.  This means you need to be parking at the DAC NO LATER than 5:45 so you can get down into the stadium, on the field, instruments out, and find your seats.
    • 6:00 – 6:20:  Warm-up and sound check rehearsal
    • 6:20 – Break
    • 6:30-7:00:  Pre-ceremony performance
    • 7:00:  Graduation Ceremony.  We perform the processional, alma mater, fight song, and recessional music.   Estimated finish of 8:30 PM.  Students are dismissed after we finish performing and all equipment is put away.
    • ATTIRE is the same as Concert on the Lawn:  “Concert Black” level of formality, but you can wear colors other than concert black.

SUMMER CAMPS!!

Summer music camps are AMAZING Experiences, and highly recommended for any student who wants to expand their musical horizons.  At these camps, you’ll join students with similar interests and passion for music from across the country!  You will make lifelong friendships and see marked improvements in your musical skills… and the camps are FUN!

A non-exhaustive, but fairly thorough list of camps to consider:

NATIONAL CAMPS

  • HIGHLY Recommended:  the MFA Summer Symposium at Ball State University.  This one is INCREDIBLE.
    • It includes Marching Band, Color Guard, Percussion, Drum Major, and Music production tracks, as well as a weekend leadership academy.
    • https://camp.musicforall.org/
  • Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp
  • Interlochen Summer Arts Camp
  • Note:  Blue Lake and Interlochen are a couple of the best in the world, but are full summer commitments with pretty strict admission requirements.

KANSAS & MISSOURI CAMPS

MIDWESTERN U.S. CAMPS
UARK Music Camp https://cms.uark.edu/


BVN BAND 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.