WPS Middle School Band Newsletter
Week of 9/10
WPS Middle School Band Newsletter
Week of 9/24
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لترجمة هذه الرسالة من المدرسة ، اضغط عليها ثم استخدم الرابط الموجود على اليمين.
Այս տեղեկագիրը թարգմանելու համար կտտացրեք այն, ապա օգտագործեք աջ կողմում գտնվող հղումը:
Чтобы перевести этот бюллетень, нажмите на него, затем воспользуйтесь ссылкой справа.
Bu bülteni çevirmek için üzerine tıklayın ve ardından sağdaki bağlantıyı kullanın.
Google Classroom is up and Running!
Email me at maxwell.thew@watertown.k12.ma.us
I will always add links to specific events and lessons to the newsletters; however, in order to add these to your personal calendar, you must subscribe to the FAPA calendar (linked above). You can hide the FAPA calendar so your personal cal is not clogged by superfluous events, while only adding the band events to your cal when the links are shared in the newsletters. Let me know if you have any questions about this!
Hyperdoc for Q1
Below is our Hyperdoc for Q1, outlining all our assignments for the term. It also has all of our music on it for printing, recordings, etc
Jazz Band-Starting THIS TUESDAY!
Jazz Band is open to anyone who is in a performing arts group (band, choir, or orchestra). We learn the art of improvising and learning how to solo. We meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays after school. This does not cost to participate in. We hope to see you in Jazz Band!
Fall Clubs-Starting Next Week
SECTIONALS
Welcome to Sectionals! In Sectionals we give small group lessons on material that you are working on, whether it is Audition Material for districts, Solos, Doubling, or anything of that matter. Sectionals run on Fridays. We are excited for you to be in Sectionals.
PEP BAND
Welcome to Pep Band! In Pep Band we learn all the tunes that we use in the HS for Pep band. Learn the classics as well as fun new songs. We are excited for you to be in Pep Band!
Join us on Remind!
We are going to be using Remind this year to communicate as well. I would recommend at least one parent and student (if they have a cell phone) to join their respective class.
6th Grade text w6band to 81010
7th/8th Grade text w78band to 81010
Planning on using a school instrument? Please fill out this form ASAP
Performances
Thursday, 12/14 Winter Concert 7pm
Tuesday, 3/12 Bandarama 7pm
Saturday 4/6 MICCA
Tuesday 4/9 Jazz @ WPS Art Show
Thursday 5/9 Band Concert 7pm
Friday 5/17 Music in the Parks (7/8 + Jazz Band)
Monday 5/27 Memorial Parade (7/8)
Junior Districts Material
For anyone wanting to participate in the Junior Districts auditions (Grade 9), here are the materials!
Scales that need to be practiced (and memorized)
Material for all audition information
General information for auditioning
If you are planning on participating, the recommendation would be to practice about 20-30 minutes a day to help keep you on track!
Happy practicing :)
Other Stuff
Friends of Watertown Music
The Friends of Watertown Music is a parent organization that has been a major supporter of the fine arts program in Watertown for over ten years. FoWM is beginning to plan for our first MusicFest since 2019 and invites all parents who would like to help in any way. Email HelloWatertownMusic@gmail.com or call Chris Lowry at 617-923-0502 to learn more.
Practicing
We recommend students play their instrument 3+ times a week for at least 100 minutes in total time throughout the week to build muscle memory and reinforce habits taught in class.
Private Lessons
Want to be get better, quicker? PRIVATE LESSONS are the way to go!
Here is a great resource for private lesson instructors in the area. Private lessons are the quickest way for your budding musician to grow!
You can also check out Powers Music School in Belmont (on Concord Street near Belmont Center).
Clarinet and Saxophone Players-Reed Talk!
As we all are getting settled into school, one of the quickest ways for clarinets and saxophones to instantly sound better is to have a set of quality reeds.
Being a saxophone/clarinetist myself, it's important for how good each person sounds so they can work on other things. Having a set of quality reeds makes that easier!
Here are the only type of reeds that I recommend:
Elementary strength 2.5, 6th Grade strength 3, 7th-12th strength 3.5
Strength 3
Elementary/6th strength 2.5, 7th-12th strength 3
Elementary/6th strength 2.5, 7th-12th strength 3
Gift Items for the Band Student
Here are some ideas if you are thinking of getting your band student some quality goods.