Grapevine Middle School
Pony Band
December 8th, 2017
We had a GREAT TIME at the Grapevine Parade of Lights last night and our Elementary Tour today! THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR VOLUNTEERS FOR YOUR SUPPORT! We cannot do them without you! Our students are THE ABSOLUTE BEST and we are so fortunate to be with them each day. Thank you!
All-Region Band is tomorrow, Saturday, December 9th, and our students who made it will be performing beginning at 6:30 pm with the last performance at 8:00 pm at CHHS. You are more than welcome to attend the concert to see some of our All-Region students.
This Wednesday, December 13th will be our Winter Concert at Grapevine High School. Students need to report at 6:15 pm. Beginners will meet on the GHS stage (nice clothes, no jeans, t-shirts, mini-skirts). Honors Band will meet in the GHS band hall and Symphonic Band will meet in the GHS choir room. Please look below for concert dress guidelines. The concert will begin at 7:00 p.m. PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR HONORS & SYMPHONIC BAND DETAILS. PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR BEGINNER BAND DETAILS.
Prior to the concert, beginning at 6:15 p.m.-6:40 p.m., Pony Pride members and Art students will have Pre-Concert activities for your enjoyment along with Holiday music presented by the GMS Choir in the Auditorium foyer. Pony Pride will have a photo booth and Art will have a table for your children to make an ornament. We hope to see you there!
Reminder, all students need to take their instrument home EVERY FRIDAY. Please read below for the Take Horn Home Grading Policy.
As always, it is an honor to be your student's teacher!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Gish and Mr. Holmes
BEGINNER BAND CONCERT INFORMATION
The first formal concert is Wednesday, December 13th at Grapevine High School in the Auditorium. Students need to be on stage at 6:15 p.m. with their instrument (no case) and music. Please leave the case at home or in the car. The concert will begin at 7:00 p.m. Students need to plan on wearing nice clothes, no jeans, t-shirts or mini skirts (knee-length or longer) please. This is their Semester Exam grade and a required performance. Students will sit with their parents after their performance to hear the Symphonic and Honors Band performance. Symphonic Band will play roughly around 7:20 p.m. and Honors Band around 7:40 p.m. Our expectations are for the student audience members to be on their best behavior and display proper concert etiquette during the other groups' performances. The concert will conclude approximately 8:00 p.m. (Please note that these performance times are our best estimate! We may get slightly ahead or behind these times.)
We will have one after school rehearsal for this concert. The rehearsal will be on Monday, December 11th from 3:30-4:20 p.m. This is an important rehearsal and will be the first time that the students are putting the music together. We count on every student for these rehearsals and performances! Rehearsals and concerts are a test grade for the class.
Students need to be focusing their attention on Up on the Housetop, Holiday Sampler and their Class Song (Beginner Holiday Music). Please help them practice 20-25 minutes per day and help them with correct posture. This practice time can be broken into pieces at a time. Please encourage your student to have weekly mini-concerts. This is a great way to help increase their confidence and stay on track with their weekly goals!
HONORS & SYMPHONIC BAND CONCERT ATTIRE GUIDELINES
PLEASE SEE OUR "DRESS FOR SUCCESS" PICTURE BELOW AS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT HONORS & SYMPHONIC BAND STUDENTS NEED TO WEAR FOR ALL FUTURE CONCERTS AND UIL CONTESTS.
Formal Attire – Boys:
· Black, long-sleeved button-down dress shirt, with a collar suitable for a tie.
· Black dress slacks. NO BLACK JEANS.
· Black socks and shoes. NO SNEAKERS.
Formal Attire – Girls:
· Black blouse with black dress slacks, black skirt OR a black dress.
· Dresses and skirts must be past knee length or longer. Girls must wear leggings, tights or hose with dresses that are not floor length.
· Black dress shoes. NO SNEAKERS or OPEN-TOED SHOES.
· Tasteful jewelry is optional.
7th and 8th Grade Band Sectionals
Symphonic Band Sectionals (Required)
MONDAYS: 4:15-5 FLUTES
TUESDAYS: 3:30-4:15 SAXOPHONES
WEDNESDAYS: 3:30-4:15 TROMBONES/EUPHONIUMS/LOW WOODWINDS, 4:15-5 CLARINETS (NO WEDNESDAY SECTIONALS ON 12/13)
THURSDAYS: 3:30-4:15 TUBAS, 4:15-5 HORNS
FRIDAYS: 3:30-4:15 TRUMPETS
Music tutorials, pass-offs and make-up playing tests are in the band hall during the following times:
Tuesdays: 7:30-8:00 am and 3:30-5 pm
Thursdays: 7:30-8:00 am and 3:30-4:15 pm
Honors Band Sectionals (Required)
Mondays: 3:30-4:15 HORNS (NO MONDAY SECTIONAL ON 12/11)
Tuesdays: 4:15-5:00 FLUTES
Wednesdays: 3:30-4:15 CLARINETS, BASS CLARINET 4:15-5:00 LOW BRASS/BASSOONS (NO WEDNESDAY SECTIONALS ON 12/13)
Thursdays: 3:30-4:15 OBOES
Fridays: 3:30-4:15 TRUMPETS, 4:15-5:00 SAXOPHONES
Class Objectives
Honors Band: Region 31 Scales. Intermediate Holiday Music, I Want A Hippopotamus for Christmas, Dance of the Slippery Slide Trombones, Feliz Navidad, Ukrainian Bell Carol. Bb, Eb paper.
Symphonic Band: Bb, Eb paper, Intermediate Holiday Music, Ukrainian Bell Carol, Holiday Festival, Angels We Have Heard on High, Region 31 Scales.
Beginner Band: Holiday Sampler, Beginner Holiday Songs, Up on the Housetop. Accent on Achievement, Book 1: pages 6-11.
TAKE HORN HOME GRADING POLICY
1 night per week: 70
2 nights per week: 80
3 nights per week: 90
4 nights per week: 100
Volunteer
We are looking for Honors and Symphonic Band volunteers for the Elementary Tour (Honors Band & 8th Grade Symphonic Band Students) on Friday, December 15th (Dove Elementary) from 12:30-2:15 p.m.. If interested, please email Mr. Holmes at thomas.holmes@gcisd.net.
We are looking for someone to help with the following items:
1) Display classroom projects in our band hall.
2) Build something to hang our percussion harnesses in our percussion closet.
3) Categorize, organize and enter data for our music library.
4) Organize and distribute Practice-a-thon prizes.
If you are interested, please email Mrs. Gish at jennifer.gish@gcisd.net.
Upcoming Events
Please click here to access the GMS Band Calendar.
Saturday, December 9th: Region 31 Band Clinic and Concert, Selected participants based on All-Region auditions. 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Colleyville-Heritage High School. Schedule in your student's All-Region folder. We will take care of their lunch time and will pay for their lunch! ELIGIBILITY/NO PASS-NO PLAY RULES APPLY.
Monday, December 11th: Beginner Band After School Rehearsal in the GMS BAND HALL, 3:30-4:20 p.m.
Wednesday, December 13th: Grapevine Middle School Winter Concert, ALL STUDENTS. 7:00 p.m. Grapevine High School. All students will meet at 6:15 p.m. Beginners meet in the GHS Auditorium, Advanced Band Members meet in GHS Band Hall. BEGINNERS: WEAR NICE CLOTHES, NO JEANS, T-SHIRTS, MINI-SKIRTS. ADVANCED BAND MEMBERS: BLACK PANTS, BLACK DRESS SHOES, BLACK DRESS SOCKS, BLACK TUXEDO SHIRT. PLEASE SEE HONORS & SYMPHONIC CONCERT DRESS FOR SUCCESS PICTURE ABOVE. PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR HONORS & SYMPHONIC BAND DETAILS. PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR BEGINNER BAND DETAILS.
Friday, December 15th: Elementary Tour, Honors Band students, 8th Grade Symphonic students. 12:30. - 2:15 p.m. Dove Elementary. Wear BLACK GMS BAND SHIRT. ELIGIBILITY/NO PASS-NO PLAY RULES APPLY. PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS.