Central Heights Band Newsletter
January 6, 2023
WHAT'S NEW?
- 7th Grade Field Trip (NEW), Thursday 1/26
- Band Solo Night, Thursday 2/9
- Volunteers Needed - WSMA Solo & Ensemble, 2/11
- Jazz Updates
- Concert - Tuesday 2/28 @ Central Heights
- Course Schedules next Year
Course Scheduling, 2023 - 2024
We sincerely encourage and hope for all students to continue their music studies next year. Year #1 of Central Heights Bands has been great, AND...we're excited to keep growing in both enrollment and opportunities.
If you/your student is having trouble fitting Band into their schedule, please reach out and we can problem-solve together.
7th Grade Field Trip - Thursday 1/26
Schedule for Thursday 1/26:
8:15am - students depart for SP West
8:45am - clinics w/ Guest Clinician & SP West Wind Ensemble
11:30 - Performances (PV, PM, & CH)
12:15pm - Lunch @ Central Heights (students can buy school lunch or bring their own. Melrose will provide ice cream sundaes!)
Cost
- Still TBD, around $5 - 10 to cover bus and guest clinician
- I hope to have details by nest week and will post fees in IC (look for 7th grade-only email)
Chaperones
Join us! For a relaxing morning and a chance to get "behind the scenes" of what makes band possible. You can join us for some dessert too...!
STAY TUNED....
Solo Night - Thursday February 9th (Graded Performance)
All Central Heights Band students are working on a short solo as part of their 3rd Band Assessment. Students will perform their solo and receive a mini lesson/critique from guest clinicians that we bring in. This is a required and important event and moment for all band students.
Schedule:
- Sign up for a 10 minute performance slot sometime between 3:35 - 6:30pm
- Parents/Caregivers are welcome to attend, but not required
- This is a casual event and students can wear normal school clothes
- If you have scheduling conflicts, please let me know ASAP and we'll reserve a time that works for you and/or come up with alternate performance plans
SIGN-UP link coming soon, no later than Jan. 20
*NOTE - students signed up for Saturday 2/11 Solo & Ensemble will not sign up for this event.
Volunteers Needed - WSMA Solo & Ensemble @ Central Heights
On Saturday February 11th Central Heights will welcome hundreds of Sun Prairie music students and families as they participate in the annual WSMA Solo & Ensemble.
Please consider how you could help through donating food for judges & concession or donating your time as a door monitor, concessions worker, or office helper.
Go here to sign-up and get more info:
Jazz Updates
Upcoming Performances:
Wednesday February 1st, Central Heights Family Night (time TBD, between 5 - 7pm)
Friday March 3rd, SP Middle School Jazz Festival
- Clinic w/ guest artist, 3:35 - 5pm
- 5pm - Pizza Dinner
- 6:30pm - Concert w/ Patrick Marsh, Prairie View, & Guest Artists
Friday April 14, Swing Into Spring Jazz Extravaganza @ Prairie View
Next Concert - Tuesday February 28th & Central Heights
CHMS February Concert – Tuesday February 28th
For this concert, we will be combining with Central Heights Orchestra and showcasing some student small ensembles as well.
Times:
- 6:30pm, 6th Grade Band & Orchestra
- 7:30pm, 7th & 8th Grade Band & Orchestra
Location:
- Central Heights Middle School Auditorium
Band Calendar & Upcoming Dates
Cardinal Heights Band Calendar 2022 - 2023
Linked above is our calendar for the year. Please communicate in as much advance as possible with any conflicts and reach out if you have any questions.
Upcoming Dates:
Thursday February 9, Central Heights Solo Night, 3:45 - 6:30pm
Saturday February 11, WSMA Solo & Ensemble @ Central Heights
Tuesday February 14, Piano Solo Night @ SP East
Tuesday February 28, Central Heights Band & Orchestra Combined Concert
Friday March 3, SP Middle School Jazz Festival (after school, 6:30pm Concert)
Band Lesson & Practice Tips
Every band student will receive a weekly private lesson for about 10 minutes with Mr. Melrose or Mr. Metcalf (part-time music teacher).
Want to know if how students are doing in their lesson?
- get connected to Google Classroom (if not already, send me an email & I'll get you connected)
SOLO Practice Tips:
- Do 50/50 practice - 50% of practicing just the really tough parts, 50% doing run throughs and focusing on big picture
- Find professional recordings, listen, and try to imitate what makes them sound good
- Practice playing for people, pets, and stuffed animals (who knows, maybe Toy Story is real?!?!!!!)
Instrument Supplies
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QAn5BYLCYV_bSBznG-2GQU6USRGVGmaC89C_Jj8BzfM/edit?usp=sharing
Percussion:
- 7th & 8th grade have new mallets & sticks to order. Check pg. 2 of the above document
- NEED HELP? Just ask.
How to order:
- Click button below "Ward-Brodt - Supplies"
- Select "Central Heights - Band"
- Select Instrument
Questions?
If you have ANY questions, please do not hesitate to contact me:
Ian Melrose
CHMS Music Educator
(608) 318-8064 (Office)
608-618-2843 (Google Voice)
Central Heights Bands
Email: ipmelro@sunpairieschools.org
Website: https://www.spbb.org/central-heights-bands.html
Location: 220 Kroncke Drive, Sun Prairie, WI, USA
Phone: (608)318-8064
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sunprairiebands/