This is a busy time of year. We just finished the first quarter, the mid-term of the fall semester. In this newsletter are some review items and new events.
First, to review.
Practice charts are the student's homework and due every Friday. There are boxes along the top of the form where the time practiced each day of that week is recorded. The remainder of the form is the charting and reflecting of ONE session that week. Writing about only one session helps me see how the student distributes and uses the time, plus helps each student plan attainable goals. Students are met at the door Fridays and the chart is collected at that point. If a student is absent, the chart is due the day s/he returns. The practice charts are worth 30% of the overall grade, a significant percentage. Students who have neglected to turn in practice charts are currently failing the class.
There is
good news. As we continue through the semester each chart is a smaller part of the 30%. The additional good news is that students can choose to practice over Thanksgiving break and make-up a missed chart. Students may pick up a chart on Friday, Nov. 21st, label it chart #9A and return it Dec. 1st. For those students who are caught up on their charts, this chart 9A counts as extra credit. Either way, it's a win-win. The same procedure happens during Winter break.
Many of our
AP Theory students are also in marching band, which is a time sponge in the fall. This quarter they may turn in late work with a 5% penalty.
Our
Fall concert is slated for Thursday, Nov. 20th. The call time for performers is 6:30 pm with the concert beginning at 7 pm in our beautiful Performing Arts Theater. All four musical groups are set to perform: the string orchestra, the concert, symphonic bands and the marching band & color guard. Plus, our wonderful Booster board members for this year will be introduced. We anticipate the concert to last no more than 90 minutes.
Family and friends are encouraged to attend. Students receive extra credit for each person who signs in on their behalf at one of the lobby tables. You are welcome to sign for more than one student; the more, the merrier! Also available at the tables will be the Booster budget review for ratification and our Butter Braid fundraising forms. This concert is casual, performers should wear their black RHS music shirt, or if they don't have one yet, their Big Blue shirt, along with dark pants/skirts and comfortable shoes. Our formal concert attire will be issued in December.
We have six students participating in the
Causeway Youth Band Festival. It occurs every other year with a composer as primary conductor; this year Timothy Mahr. The performance is at 7 pm, Sunday Nov. 23rd in the fantastic Mondavi Center. Also on the concert are the CSUS Symphonic Wind Ensemble and the UCD Concert Band. Performing in a world-class performance venue is a special treat!
Saturday, Nov. 15th is the marching band’s Tournament of Champions at Lincoln HS of Stockton. Food and equipment bills went out again this week for anyone still owing. Please get those bills paid as soon as possible! As we move out of marching season, we move into
winter percussion and winter guard season. Guard clinics are scheduled Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 3 - 5 pm in the music room or Little Theater. Percussion clinics are Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays from 3:30 – 5:30. Audition schedule to be announced. We are hosting the Tournament of Champions this year March 28th, so keep that date open. Our show hosting last year was a huge success, due largely to the help of our parents, students, and community!
Like all other classes, our classes depend on attendance and participation for individual success. Unlike other classes, however, if students are absent in a music class the entire class suffers. To bring our classes into line with other music classes in the district, students who are absent, excused or not, will not receive that day’s participation / professionalism credit beginning after Thanksgiving break.
Lastly, about our
Disney trip. We submitted our new audition material Nov. 1st and await the results. Our second payment of $57.00 was due Nov. 7th with the next payment due Dec. 5th . Thank you to those who have made one or more payments. It is vital that accounts stay paid up so that when bills from our vendors are due we can pay promptly. If you have made payments, your current account, along with fudraising earnings is attached to this newsletter.
As stated in the initial information letter, students in the orchestra and concert band must be able to play the music to the level Disney expects of our group as demonstrated in our audition. At this point, we have several students who we need to place on a waiting list for the trip. The reasons range from attendance concerns to playing experience. I will mail a letter home to these students explaining their specific situation. Additions to the waiting list can occur for those students who do not stay up with the payment schedule. Mrs. Wilmer must be informed of extenuating circumstances.
Thank you for your continuing support of the Rosemont HS Music Program. We look forward to seeing you Nov. 20th!
Mrs. Robin Wilmer