Band Update – 2-12-2023

After almost a month off…. the RETURN of the Band Update!!  Thanks for understanding a brief “Band Update Hiatus” – rest assured we kept very busy during the past few weeks, but with a lighter schedule for the band over these few weeks, I gave the update a rest and focused on lots of details, planning and teaching.

This week we begin a fun dash to spring break!  Please keep your eyes on the Band Update for all the details as they happen:

  • This week (week of 2/13 – full details in the band Update below):  February Band Concert (TUESDAY)!  1st Drum Major Audition Clinic.  Friday Night Bball Pep Band.  Saturday State Piano.  And don’t forget – Parent/Teacher Conferences!!
  • Next week (Week of 2/20):  Bball Pep Bands Tuesday and Friday.  2nd Drum Major Audition Clinic.  All-Staters to Wichita Thurs-Saturday!
  • Week of 2/27:  Sub State Basketball (volunteer pep bands).  3rd Drum Major Audition Clinic.  During Class Portion of DM Auditions.
  • Week of 3/6:  BVN Area 6-12 Band Concert (ALL Band Students perform!).  State Basketball Tournament (volunteer pep bands).  After School Portion of Drum Major Auditions.  Wind Ensemble to Perform at the UMKC-Music For All Concert Festival!  Start of Spring Break.

PHEW.  It’s going to be busy, but really, really fun.  I will send out details week-by-week.

Before I get to those details – HUUUGE Congrats to our BVN Pianists!!  BVN Musicians Ethan Chan, Emerson Harse, Karmen Hayslett, Anjali Kambhampati, Quinten Schafer, and Zengtao Xing performed in the KSHSAA Regional Piano festival, and all received top ratings for Superior or Outstanding Performances!  Ethan, Emerson, Karmen, Anjali, and Zengtao also qualified for performance at the State Festival, which is this coming Saturday 2/18.  Amazing results for these fantastic musicians… Congrats to each for their phenomenal performances!

Also – HUUGE Congrats to our BVN STATE CHAMPION SCHOLARS BOWL TEAM (defending their title…!!), which is anchored by three of our BVN Band Students:  Devereaux Knight (Drum Major, Trumpet) and Eddie Mu (Euphonium), and Paritosh Patel (Piano – Jazz)!!

One final logistical note to pass along:  From now through Spring Break, I will continue to send out Band Updates via TWO systems – CHARMS and BoosterHub.   After spring break, the switchover period will be done, and all Band Updates will ONLY be sent via BoosterHub.  Make sure you have accepted your BoosterHub Invite!!

Musically yours,
Mr. Freeman

Contents of the Band Update:

  • From the Director:
    • Now to spring break, an overview
    • Congrats Pianists and State Champ Scholars Bowl!
    • Make sure you have accepted your BoosterHub Invite!!
  • DETAILS – The Week Ahead 2/13-2/18/2023
    • February Concert WEDNESDAY (or Tuesday).
    • PARENTS – Donations Needed for the Post-Concert Reception
      • BoosterHub Sign up – our first use of this.  It’s SUPER easy.
      • The link above takes you to our Calendar on BoosterHub.  Click on the February Concert Event, and follow the very easy steps to sign up to donate.
    • Bball Pep Band is back on Friday evening!
  • Basketball Pep Bands – Details.
  • Band Spring Calendar
  • Cliffs Note Version of what’s ahead in the Spring Semester.  A month-by-month glance.
  • Important communications note for EVERYONE – The shift to Booster Hub!

The Week Ahead: 2/13-2/18/2023

Monday 2/13:  Odd Block Day.

Tuesday 2/14:  Even Block Day.

  • 7:45-8:25:  Wind Ensemble Woodwind Sectional
  • After School:  Drum Major Audition Clinic #1
  • BVN Band FEBRUARY CONCERT – We have moved the concert to this evening!
    • 7 PM Concert Start – BVN Jazz Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Wind Ensemble!
    • 6:30 Call time for all Jazz/Symphonic/Wind Ensemble Members.
    • Concert Black Attire.  See the Band Handbook for details.
    • Stick around for the cookie reception!
    • Note:  we will also take full ensemble pictures during this concert (for the yearbook)
    • PARENTS – Donations Needed for the Post-Concert Reception
      • BoosterHub Sign up – our first use of this.  It’s SUPER easy.
      • The link above takes you to our Calendar on BoosterHub.  Click on the concert, and follow the very easy steps to sign up to donate.

Wednesday 2/15:  NO SCHOOL – Chiefs Parade Day.  No Band Activities this day.

Thursday 2/16:  Adjusted Schedule:  All 7 Periods will meet, but hours 1-3-5-7 will be 30 minutes each and hours 2-4-6 will be block classes.

  • MBB Board Meeting, 7 PM.

Friday 2/17:  No School (p/t conferences)  

  • BBALL Pep Band – BLUE SHIRTS!  BVN vs BVNW.   BLUE then SILVER Pep Bands
    • Blue Band:  5:00 Call time, quick warm-up in the band room then move to gym
    • Silver Band:  6:30 Call time:  warm-up on your own in the band room, move to gym by 6:40.
    • NOTE:  The rivalry game against BVNW is usually our best attended game of the year.  This is a GREAT night to have a BIG Band for BOTH Games…. LOTS of extras!!  If you need to make up missed games – plan to come and stay for the full night and make it up!  If you like to play extra games – this is a night we definitely want you!!
Saturday 2/18:  State Piano Festival at Wichita State University.  Schedules/details will be sent directly to performers.

Basketball Pep Bands, January – February

  • CLICK HERE for the complete Basketball Pep Band Info
  • Standard doubleheader schedule (when both Boys and Girls play on the same evening):
    • Early band:  call time of 5 PM.  Quick warm-up in the band room, then move to the Gym
    • Later Band:  Call time of 6:30 PM:  in the band room – get ready and do a quick warm-up on your personal instrument.  by 6:40 – be in the bleachers and join in the other band that is already performing.

BVN Band Calendar

Spring Semester in the Bands, Cliffs Notes Version:

  • February:  Pep Bands, BVN Musical!, February Band Concert on 2/15, and KMEA State Convention for all-state performers.  Drum Major Audition Clinics.  Regional and State Piano
  • March: BVN Area 6th-12th band festival concert, Wind Ensemble at the UMKC/MFA Festival, Post-Season Pep Bands.
  • April – BIG month
    • Festival Month!  Solo and Ensemble Festivals, State Large Group Festival, and pre-festival concert (4/10) and clinics.  Potential Jazz Festivals
    • EVERYONE MARK YOUR CALENDARS for the Pancake Dinner and Night of Jazz and Percussion on 4/26!!
  • May – the culmination month – a truly special time.  BVN Bands Concert on the Lawn/Recognition Dinner on 5/17.  Graduation performance on 5/20.
  • Spain Trip:  Follow the payment schedule!  Likely a rules/details meeting at some point.  Fundraisers!!  This spring is the work time towards this wonderful trip!
  • TBA:  Preparation for 23-24.  Drum Major Auditions and Leadership Application Process.   Summer rehearsals and Band Camp Schedule.  All info coming early in the Spring Semester!

The Shift to Booster Hub! 

  • We are switching to using Booster hub as our primary organizational platform for our Band Program.
  • What does this mean to you?
    • In the immediate future: you will receive band communications through both Charms and Boosterhub.  After Spring Break, we will discontinue using Charms for communications.
    • Spain Travelers:  we are fully moved to BoosterHub for communications.
    • Keep your eyes open as we shift a lot of our functionality to BoosterHub.  It’s VERY user friendly!
  • The immediate TO-DO:  Please make sure you accept the Booster Hub Invite, and make sure that emails from Booster Hub are getting through to your email/on your safe senders list/etc.