Band Update: 5-20-2022

Contents:

From the Directors

I simply don’t have the words…. I am so very proud of our band students and this past year.  The students worked hard, rehearsed well, and had a PHENOMENAL year of music making in anything-but-normal circumstances.  It was a year filled with highlights, challenges overcome, a lot of covid-shutdown wounds healed, and amazing music.  CONGRATULATIONS and THANK YOU to ALL of our Band Students!

To our Graduating Seniors – my most heartfelt thanks.  You weathered a heck of a couple of years, and came back this year to lead us through an AMAZING year for the band.  Be proud of your work and grateful for the experiences.  I know I am.  THANK YOU!!

A quick glance ahead at the next few days in the Band:

  • Tomorrow (Sunday 5/22):  Graduation Performance
  • Monday 5/23:
    • EVERY BAND MEMBER who has a SCHOOL OWNED INSTRUMENT:  Please bring it to the Band Room BEFORE your 3rd hour final!!
    • Finals in Hours 3-4-5
  • Tuesday 5/24:  Finals in Hours 1 and 7.  Last day of School!
  • Wednesday 5/25:  Marching Mustangs 22-23 Mini Camp, 4 – 7 PM.  Forms fest and Parent Meet and Greet 6-7 PM. 7-7:15 Parents Meet Mr. McCarty!
  • Thursday 5/26:  Marching Mustangs 22-23 Mini Camp, 4-7 PM.  Picnic Dinner provided at the end.  🙂

For our Summer Rehearsals:  Please use this form to report absences.

All of the details  for these and a look ahead to an exciting 22-23 school year below – Thanks to everyone for your careful reading!

Musically yours,
Mr. Freeman and Mr. Wagoner

Graduation Performance – Sunday 5/22

GRADUATION PERFORMANCE – ALL 9th-11th 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.
  • 5:45:  All Band members should be parking at the DAC or getting dropped off by this time.  This will give you time to get down to the field, find our set-up, get out your instrument and set-up, and be ready to go by 6:00.
  • 6:00 PM:  Call time for all Band students to be seated and ready to go on the field.
  • 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.
  • WEATHER HEADS UP:  It might be a little chilly.  The Band 1/4 zip would be a perfectly acceptable part of your non-concert-black uniform!

SCHOOL OWNED INSTRUMENTS:  ALL School owned instruments need to be brought to the band room Monday Morning, before you take your 3rd hour final!!!

Marching Mustangs 22-23 Mini Camp Wednesday-Thursday 5/25-5/26

ALL 22-23 Marching Mustangs should attend!

  • 4:00-7:00 PM both W & Th. BVN Gym/Turf Field.  Picnic Dinner provided on Thursday at 7 PM.
    • On Wednesday, please report directly to the Band Room by/before 4:00, and we’ll immediately move to either the Gym or the Turf Field.
    • You do NOT Need instruments either night.  Since 1/3 or more of our instruments are going to be in the shop, we’ll focus on visual performance and team building these two nights.
  • Who:  All Marching Mustangs  
  • Parents:   On Wednesday 5/25, please join us for a band parent meet and greet and band forms fest!
    • 6-7 PM:  forms fest (turn in forms)/Parent meet and greet in the BVN Commons.  Light snacks provided
    • 6:30 PM:  intro from the  Band Boosters.  7-7:15: meet Mr. McCarty – our new assistant director

FLIPGRID for Mr. McCarty

  • ALL Band Members for 22-23:  Please complete this quick Flipgrid to introduce yourself to Mr. McCarty, so he can start putting together names and faces.
  • Also – while you’re at it, please watch his intro video to learn a bit more about your new assistant band director!  Spoiler alert… pictures with Mr. Freeman from our college days together included….

Marching Mustangs 22-23 present “Here Comes the Sun”

  • We are SO Excited to announce our Fall 2022 Marching Show:  “Here Comes the Sun”.  CLICK HERE to see the reveal video that was shown to students this last week.
  • The show will combine the music of the great American Composers Samuel Barber and John Adams with “Here Comes the Sun”, by the Beatles.  The music is INCREDIBLE.  Visually, the show will focus on hope brought by the dawn of a new day, a sunrise, etc.

BVN Band Calendars and Forms for 22-23

Hard copies were distributed to most band students this past week.  More hard copies to be distributed M/T this coming week!

STUDENTS – PLEASE COMPLETE THIS ASAP:  Calendar Agreement form.

  • This agreement form simply states that you have received the 22-23 Band Calendars and will put them on your personal calendars.
  • We ask that these be prioritized and handled responsibly.  We do not ask for nor expect no conflicts…. we simply ask that you plan ahead and communicate conflicts responsibly and respectfully.

22-23 Rosters

Congrats to all of the students on the rosters above!  Lots of applications/clinics/auditions/etc. went into the creation of these groups, and they are going to be OUTSTANDING!!! We are VERY excited for next year!!!

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/

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.

When available, 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.