December/Early January Band Notes

It’s ALWAYS the season for music ….

We now accept PayPal (or credit card) donations on our website! All music parents are members of the RHS Music Boosters! As you speak with family, friends and co-workers, please share our Booster Donation Letter (click on the link to open a new window with the letter in it) that explains our situation. Encourage them to consider a donation to our program! Please put your thinking cap on and help us raise funds for our program! Plus, we're always looking for parents to join in the fun of working with the students. There's nothing more satisfying than seeing how hard our students work!

The orchestra is playing our annual performance for the school on the 20th. Classes are invited each period to attend our performance of holiday-themed music that culminates in a performance with Christmas Eve Sarajevo with either guitars or our class. The morning and afternoon performances will feature different songs for students who might see the performance more than once.

Students can get credit for two practice charts during winter break. Students were issued two charts before break. Concert, Symphonic bands and orchestra number them 13A & B. The beginners’ charts are 11A and 11B. They can choose to turn in one or both depending on time available to practice. They should spend time preparing for our concert January 15th.

The Winter Concert is slated for Wednesday, January 15th at 7pm for all music groups and lasts about 90 minutes. Call time for performers is 6:30pm, which is when we also open the hall. The orchestra, Concert and Symphonic band members wear their concert attire. Make sure the dress or pants are hemmed. The Cadet (Beginning) Band wears their “Event best” semi-formal wear.

Our boosters are sponsoring an electronic “e-waste” collection on Saturday, January 11th from 8am to 1pm. Hold onto those old electronics and support the music program by bringing them to the front parking lot that day. Sorry, we cannot take appliances.

An important aspect of every student’s practice session is work in their etude book. After our winter concert each student will perform a self-selected etude, song or exercise from their book to play for the class as part of their semester’s final practice grade. Performance order is randomly determined by computer. It’s a great opportunity to get students accustomed to performing independently in front of an understanding and supportive audience.

Thank you again for your support of music and recognizing, like university admissions officers, its importance in a well-rounded student’s education.

Early January Music Notes - a new year and upcoming events ….

Our Winter Concert is Wednesday, January 16th at 7PM in the large Theater. The groups performing are the string orchestra, concert, symphonic, and marching bands. Call time is 6:30PM. We anticipate the concert lasting about 90 minutes. Students wear their black RHS Music t-shirt and dark bottoms; concert attire is issued next semester. Please note the Theater Etiquette on the reverse side adopted by the RHS Arts Dept. and approved by administration. Everyone is welcome. Students receive extra concert credit for each adult that attends on their behalf! Sign in at the lobby table before the concert.

It is a required concert, as stated in the syllabus/handbook, including staying for the entire concert. Since the concert is a culmination of the semester’s work, it comprises 30% of each student’s final semester grade. Plus, each student completes a written evaluation of every group, which is a national standard for music and one reason my classes are designated college prep.

In addition to the concert, students will perform in-class an etude or exercise out of their home etude book beginning January 17th as part of their semester final. Students may not use any music given by me. Students should have purchased their etude book as per the syllabus; the cost is under $10.00.

Students are asking about their next Disneyland trip payment. Thank you to those who made or raised money for their first payment. Additional fundraisers are scheduled in March and April. Currently, we have enough students to almost fill 2 buses, so I anticipate the total cost to be slightly higher than the estimate, between $395.00 and $400.00 for the 4-day, 3-night event. This amount will be confirmed in early February after the 2nd payment is in.

To reserve a space on the trip (on the bus and in the hotel), the student’s balance due must be no higher than $290.00 by the end of January. A copy of your child’s account is stapled to the copy of this sent home with your student with the current amount due highlighted in yellow. Otherwise, your student would be placed on a waiting list, which does not guarantee participation.

The RHS boosters or student music club will be sponsoring an electronic waste collection (e-waste) as a fundraiser. It will be on Saturday, January 12th from 8 am to 1 pm in the RHS front parking lot. Please support us by donating old electronics and get them out of your way at the same time! Items with a screen, like televisions, laptops, and computer monitors, are the things that earn money, but all electronics are accepted. We cannot take appliances. The list of approved items is on our website: www.rhsmusic.net

January Music Notes

A new year and upcoming events …..

Our Winter Concert is Wednesday, January 19th at 7PM in the large Theater. The groups performing are the string orchestra, concert and symphonic bands, and marching band. The general meeting for the RHS music boosters will be interspersed between groups. Sign in, warm-ups and tuning start by 6:30PM. We anticipate the concert lasting about 90 minutes. Please note the Theater Etiquette on the reverse side adopted by the RHS Arts Dept. and approved by administration. Everyone is welcome.

It is a required concert, as stated in the syllabus/handbook, including staying for the entire concert. Since the concert is a culmination of the semester’s work, it comprises 30% of each student’s final semester grade. Students do not get full credit unless they follow the sign out procedure at the concert’s conclusion. This policy allows each group to have a full audience. Plus, each student completes a written evaluation of every group, which is a national standard for music and one reason my classes are designated college prep.

In addition to the concert, students will perform in-class an etude or exercise out of their book. The order of performance is selected at random and begins January 20th. A written assignment centered around a given article focusing on their instrument will be due at the end of their final. Typed papers are appreciated! Students will also have a written reflection assignment done the day of their final.

Concert attire is ready for pick up and hemming. Students have instructions concerning future cleaning and tack hemming the pants and dresses. Please remember that both the ladies’ dress and men’s pant hem is at the ankle bone and that the men’s pants should be at least tacked down at the seams and pleats (the four corners). Men must make sure their pants are at the waist. NO SAGGING!!! Do NOT use tape or machine to hem because both are impossible to take out for the next person’s use. The concert attire will be used for several spring activities and returned in June on the hanger used for distribution.

All students need to return their Disney form ASAP; there are additional copies available. I need to know from each class how many students are going to set the instrumentation, plus plan the motel rooms, chaperones, and bus costs. The group deposit on the first night motel stay is due at the end of this month. I cannot reserve rooms for students I don’t know are going! Plus, I must get out chaperon information. The January deposit of $45.00 is due. If you need to return your form with a positive answer but without the deposit, please send the form in right away with additional information about your payment schedule plans. Checks are made payable to Rosemont High School, given to me and a receipt written.

The RHS student Music Club will be sponsoring an electronic waste collection (e-waste) as a fundraiser. It will be on a Saturday in the RHS front parking lot. Date is still to be determined. Please support us by donating old electronics and get them out of your way at the same time! Items with a screen, like televisions, laptops, and computer monitors, are the things that earn money, but all electronics are accepted.

Thank you for your support of the RHS music department. Keeping music alive!

Winter 08 Concert Photos

Click on the "Recent Video/Pics" link on the right to see photos from the Winter Concert. The performances were great, and everyone had a great time!