Mokena Meteor Music
September 28 - October 4, 2018
What is happening in the music department?
Check out our new logo! We are hoping to have some spirit wear available soon for our students. Keep checking the Newsletter for information.
Bands and Choir are rehearsing and Sectionals are underway. Students should keep watching the schedule for their time. If a student misses their sectional, it is their responsibility to see Mrs. Bussean or Ms. Beekman to schedule a make up or get a make up assignment.
Thank you to those who supported September's Dine and Earn at Buona Beef!
Important Information
Perfect Pastry IBA Fundraiser - Delivery October 1
Students who participated in the Perfect Pastry IBA Fundraiser should be prepared to pick up their items on Monday, October 1 between 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. at MJHS. Please be aware that we do not have freezer space to store your items. Please make sure you are there to pick them up or we may need to dispose of them.
If you have any questions, please contact Andrea Dion at adion@sbcglobal.net.
Hamilton!

The Mokena Music Department is excited to share that we're planning a trip to take MJHS Music Department students to see Hamilton!!!
Here are the trip details:
- When? Tuesday, January 8th
- Time? We will depart from MJH after 3pm, head downtown for dinner, and then see the 7:30 performance of Hamilton. We should arrive back at MJH around 11pm
- Who? All MJH Choir and Band students are invited to register - up to 105 students may attend
- Apparel? Students are expected to dress nicely to attend this performance
- Cost? The cost of the trip will be approximately $150 - it may go up or down slightly depending on bus and gas prices, but it should stay near $150. This includes transportation, dinner, and the ticket price for the show. Students can use fundraised IBA money to pay for this trip!
As mentioned above, we are limited to taking 105 students due to ticket availability. As a result, the first 105 students to sign up will be able to attend. A google form will be made available on the home page of the Mokena Music Department website next Wednesday, October 3rd at 4pm to sign students up for the trip. The home page of the website can be found here: https://www.mokenameteormusic159.org/
Please be aware before signing your student up for this trip that Hamilton does contain some adult language and adult/mature situations. My guess is that if it were a movie, it would be rated PG-13. If you are not sure if this is suitable for your student, please take some time over the next week to look at the lyrics and read some reviews - you can Google "Hamilton parental guide" and find some articles. If you feel that you would rather not have your student see this show, please do not sign them up for the trip. It is not required.
If you have any questions, please ask them before the sign-up next Wednesday. Once the sign-up form is emailed out, we will only be able to take the first 105 students who sign up.
Tonal Energy App - Highly Recommended

TonalEnergy Tuner is an all-inclusive, easy to use application designed for individual practice and/or large ensemble rehearsals that aides musicians to improve sound quality and intonation.
Tuning, volume, articulation, release, duration, and steadiness are the key elements of developing a beautiful tone quality. TonalEnergy Tuner is the first multi-purpose application that allows users of all ages to understand and improve every aspect of their sound.
This app is especially useful to young brass players who struggle to find the correct partial. Oftentimes they think they are playing the correct pitch, when in fact, they are not. This can be very frustrating. This app can help students learn where the correct partial is and to hear when they are not matching the correct pitch.
In addition to its tuner capabilities, it has a built in metronome to keep students rehearsing with a steady beat!
We highly recommend that all students in our band program invest in this application if they have access to a device. It is well worth the $3.99 it costs. This is much more inexpensive than a separate metronome and tuner device.
Facebook Page
October Dine and Earn!

Check Your Charms Account Balances
I will be sending out monthly Charms statements to everyone involved in our music programs. Please check your balances in Charms at any time by logging into your child's account. If money is due, please pay one of three ways:
- Cash (in an envelope clearly marked)
- Check made payable to the Mokena Music Boosters - write who and what it is for in the memo line
- Paypal via the Paypal button on your Charms account
If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Bussean
Lincoln-Way Marching Invitational Marching Band Competition
We encourage all other band students and families to come out to Lincoln-Way West to support our students and see some excellent marching bands.

Fall Concert Itinerary

Issue with Charms and Gmail Accounts
As always, if you have any questions or feel like you may have missed something, please contact any of the directors via email.
How to Log Into Charms for the First Time!
How to Enter Practice Logs Into Charms
What is an IBA Account?
IBA Fundraisers usually occur once per quarter. We will be offering one very soon. Keep watching for information.

Help Support the Music Boosters by Shopping Online!
Private Music Lessons It is not required that Mokena music students take private lessons. It is true, however, that the vast majority of students who do not take private lessons tend to have improper playing habits, and never reach their full potential as musicians. SECTIONALS ARE NOT A REPLACEMENT FOR PRIVATE LESSONS. There are still many benefits of private instruction over full band rehearsal and small group sectionals. If you are interested in getting your child private lessons on their instrument, please visit the following link: https://www.mokenameteormusic159.org/uploads/2/3/4/4/23449316/private_lessons.pdf If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Bussean or Ms. Beekman | Marching Meteors Field Show Marching Band The Marching Meteors is an extra-curricular field show marching band that meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays after school until 4:00 beginning Tuesday, August 28 culminating with a performance at the Lincoln-Way Marching Invitational on Saturday, October 13 at Lincoln-Way West High School. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR CHILD IS AT REHEARSALS! We have had quite a few students "forget" and it is causing issues for the entire group. We will be going outside every rehearsal unless it is raining. Please make sure your child has closed toe shoes for rehearsal and has their lyre and flip folder if they need one. Also, students should bring a water bottle to hydrate during rehearsal. I have received the schedule for our performance on October 13 and it is available in this newsletter. | Sectionals Band sectionals will be held weekly on a rotating basis during the school day at both MJH and MIS. This means that students should not have sectionals at the same time more than once or twice per quarter. As band is an academic elective course, sectional attendance is mandatory and will be graded. The basic Sectional Schedule at MJH is as follows: Monday - 8th Grade Wednesday - 7th Grade Friday - 6th Grade All MJHS sectionals will be taught by Mrs. Bussean The basic Sectional Schedule at MIS is as follows: Tuesday - 5th Grade Wednesday - 5th Grade Thursday - 4th Grade Friday - 4th Grade Tuesday and Thursday sectionals will mostly be taught by Mrs. Bussean with Ms. Beekman taking on a few Wednesday, Thursday and Friday sectionals as well. If you have any questions regarding Sectionals, please contact either Mrs. Bussean or Ms. Beekman. Please see the next section for your Sectional schedule for next week. |
Private Music Lessons
If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Bussean or Ms. Beekman
Marching Meteors Field Show Marching Band
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR CHILD IS AT REHEARSALS! We have had quite a few students "forget" and it is causing issues for the entire group.
We will be going outside every rehearsal unless it is raining. Please make sure your child has closed toe shoes for rehearsal and has their lyre and flip folder if they need one. Also, students should bring a water bottle to hydrate during rehearsal.
I have received the schedule for our performance on October 13 and it is available in this newsletter.
Sectionals
As band is an academic elective course, sectional attendance is mandatory and will be graded.
The basic Sectional Schedule at MJH is as follows:
Monday - 8th Grade
Wednesday - 7th Grade
Friday - 6th Grade
All MJHS sectionals will be taught by Mrs. Bussean
The basic Sectional Schedule at MIS is as follows:
Tuesday - 5th Grade
Wednesday - 5th Grade
Thursday - 4th Grade
Friday - 4th Grade
Tuesday and Thursday sectionals will mostly be taught by Mrs. Bussean with Ms. Beekman taking on a few
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday sectionals as well.
If you have any questions regarding Sectionals, please contact either Mrs. Bussean or Ms. Beekman.
Please see the next section for your Sectional schedule for next week.
8th Grade Sectional Schedule MONDAY - OCTOBER 1 8:48 - 9:16 - GROUP G 9:16 - 9:44 - GROUP A 9:49 - 10:19 - GROUP B 10:33 - 11:03 - GROUP C 11:17 - 11:45 - GROUP D 12:48 - 1:16 - GROUP E 1:16 - 1:44 - GROUP F Students are responsible for getting to Sectionals on time and for notifying their classroom teachers IN ADVANCE. Students are also responsible for getting any missed work. | 7th Grade Sectional Schedule WEDNESDAY - OCTOBER 3 9:19 - 9:47 - GROUP I 9:47 - 10:15 - GROUP A 10:17 - 10:46 - GROUP B 10:46 - 11:15 - GROUP C 11:48 - 12:18 - GROUP D 12:18 - 12:46 - GROUP E 12:48 - 1:16 - GROUP G 1:16 - 1:46 - GROUP H Students are responsible for getting to Sectionals on time and for notifying their classroom teachers IN ADVANCE. Students are also responsible for getting any missed work. | 6th Grade Sectional Schedule FRIDAY - OCTOBER 5 8:48 - 9:16 - GROUP G 9:16 - 9:44 - GROUP H 9:46 - 10:14 - GROUP I 10:14 - 10:42 - GROUP A 11:47 - 12:15 - GROUP C 12:17 - 12:47 - GROUP D 1:02 - 1:32 - GROUP E Students are responsible for getting to Sectionals on time and for notifying their classroom teachers IN ADVANCE. Students are also responsible for getting any missed work. |
8th Grade Sectional Schedule
8:48 - 9:16 - GROUP G
9:16 - 9:44 - GROUP A
9:49 - 10:19 - GROUP B
10:33 - 11:03 - GROUP C
11:17 - 11:45 - GROUP D
12:48 - 1:16 - GROUP E
1:16 - 1:44 - GROUP F
Students are responsible for getting to Sectionals on time and for notifying their classroom teachers IN ADVANCE. Students are also responsible for getting any missed work.
7th Grade Sectional Schedule
9:19 - 9:47 - GROUP I
9:47 - 10:15 - GROUP A
10:17 - 10:46 - GROUP B
10:46 - 11:15 - GROUP C
11:48 - 12:18 - GROUP D
12:18 - 12:46 - GROUP E
12:48 - 1:16 - GROUP G
1:16 - 1:46 - GROUP H
Students are responsible for getting to Sectionals on time and for notifying their classroom teachers IN ADVANCE. Students are also responsible for getting any missed work.
6th Grade Sectional Schedule
8:48 - 9:16 - GROUP G
9:16 - 9:44 - GROUP H
9:46 - 10:14 - GROUP I
10:14 - 10:42 - GROUP A
11:47 - 12:15 - GROUP C
12:17 - 12:47 - GROUP D
1:02 - 1:32 - GROUP E
Students are responsible for getting to Sectionals on time and for notifying their classroom teachers IN ADVANCE. Students are also responsible for getting any missed work.
5th Grade Cadet Band Sectional ScheduleTUESDAY, OCTOBER 2 8:35 - 9:05 - GROUP F 9:20 - 9:50 - GROUP G 9:50 - 10:20 - GROUP H 10:35 - 11:05 - GROUP A 11:20 - 11:50 - GROUP B WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3 8:35 - 9:05 - GROUP C 9:20 - 9:50 - GROUP D 9:50 - 10:20 - GROUP E If your child needs to do a make up Sectional, please have them talk to Ms. Beekman or Mrs. Bussean and schedule it during the 8:35 - 9:05 time slot on Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. They need to get prior approval from their classroom teacher. | 4th Grade Beginning Band Sectional ScheduleTHURSDAY, OCTOBER 4 8:35 - 9:05 - GROUP B 9:05 -- 9:35 - GROUP C1 9:35 - 10:05 - GROUP C2 10:05 - 10:35 - GROUP D 10:35 - 11:05 - GROUP E 12:00 - 12:30 - GROUP F 12:30 - 1:00 - GROUP G FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5 8:35 - 9:05 - GROUP J 9:05 - 9:35 - GROUP I 9:35 - 10:05 - GROUP J If your child needs to do a make up Sectional, please have them talk to Ms. Beekman or Mrs. Bussean and schedule it during the 8:35 - 9:05 time slot on Thursday of next week. They need to get prior approval from their classroom teacher. Students are responsible for getting to Sectionals on time and for notifying their classroom teachers IN ADVANCE. Students are also responsible for getting any missed work. | What Group is My Student in for Sectionals? All students will receive a page with their group on it. If a student can't remember which group they are in, it is their responsibility to contact their band director to find out. |
5th Grade Cadet Band Sectional Schedule
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2
8:35 - 9:05 - GROUP F
9:20 - 9:50 - GROUP G
9:50 - 10:20 - GROUP H
10:35 - 11:05 - GROUP A
11:20 - 11:50 - GROUP B
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3
8:35 - 9:05 - GROUP C
9:20 - 9:50 - GROUP D
9:50 - 10:20 - GROUP E
If your child needs to do a make up Sectional, please have them talk to Ms. Beekman or Mrs. Bussean and schedule it during the 8:35 - 9:05 time slot on Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. They need to get prior approval from their classroom teacher.
4th Grade Beginning Band Sectional Schedule
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4
8:35 - 9:05 - GROUP B
9:05 -- 9:35 - GROUP C1
9:35 - 10:05 - GROUP C2
10:05 - 10:35 - GROUP D
10:35 - 11:05 - GROUP E
12:00 - 12:30 - GROUP F
12:30 - 1:00 - GROUP G
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5
8:35 - 9:05 - GROUP J
9:05 - 9:35 - GROUP I
9:35 - 10:05 - GROUP J
If your child needs to do a make up Sectional, please have them talk to Ms. Beekman or Mrs. Bussean and schedule it during the 8:35 - 9:05 time slot on Thursday of next week. They need to get prior approval from their classroom teacher.
Students are responsible for getting to Sectionals on time and for notifying their classroom teachers IN ADVANCE. Students are also responsible for getting any missed work.
SPAMalot! Auditions for this year's musical will take place in OCTOBER 15 and 16! Audition information posters are hanging in the school! Information is also available on our website. Students MUST complete an audition application prior to receiving their audition materials. Audition information is paperless this year. Posters are hung throughout MJHS with a QR code to scan for the Audition Application. After you fill out the application, please go to our website for Audition information. https://www.mokenameteormusic159.org/spamalot-audition-information.html Sign ups for audition times will be posted in the band hallway beginning October 1. Crew will not meet until approximately March. I will be looking for an Assistant Director and a Dance Captain. Those applications will be available in October/November. I am very excited to get started on this year's production! | Charms WebsiteCharms is software that will keep track of all our events on a live, interactive on-line calendar - available to all students, members and adults by group. Teachers are able to send mass e-mails, record and blast phone messages and send free text messages. We are able to upload handouts, sound files, short videos, assignments, audition materials, maps, pictures and more for students, members and parents to access 24/7, either on their computers or on their mobile devices. Parents and students can log into their Charms website by following the link: www.charmsoffice.com Our school code is MokenaMusic and your password is your child's Student ID number (available on Skyward). If you have previously signed into Charms, your password is the one you set up. If you need your password reset, please contact Mrs. Bussean at busseank@mokena159.org and she can help you. | Practice Logs PRACTICE LOGS ARE DUE EVERY SUNDAY! For now, 4th graders do not need to worry about this. We will let them know when they should begin documenting their practice time. Once again, practice logs will be required weekly through the Charms system. Practice logs are due EVERY Sunday before midnight. Students should enter their time in the Charms Website. We will be implementing a new grading scale this year, but the minimum practice requirements will stay the same. Symphonic/Concert Bands 100 minutes Beginning/Cadet Bands 75 minutes |
SPAMalot!
Students MUST complete an audition application prior to receiving their audition materials. Audition information is paperless this year. Posters are hung throughout MJHS with a QR code to scan for the Audition Application. After you fill out the application, please go to our website for Audition information. https://www.mokenameteormusic159.org/spamalot-audition-information.html
Sign ups for audition times will be posted in the band hallway beginning October 1.
Crew will not meet until approximately March. I will be looking for an Assistant Director and a Dance Captain. Those applications will be available in October/November.
I am very excited to get started on this year's production!
Charms Website
Charms is software that will keep track of all our events on a live, interactive on-line calendar - available to all students, members and adults by group. Teachers are able to send mass e-mails, record and blast phone messages and send free text messages. We are able to upload handouts, sound files, short videos, assignments, audition materials, maps, pictures and more for students, members and parents to access 24/7, either on their computers or on their mobile devices.
Parents and students can log into their Charms website by following the link: www.charmsoffice.com
Our school code is MokenaMusic and your password is your child's Student ID number (available on Skyward). If you have previously signed into Charms, your password is the one you set up.
If you need your password reset, please contact Mrs. Bussean at busseank@mokena159.org and she can help you.
Practice Logs
Once again, practice logs will be required weekly through the Charms system.
Practice logs are due EVERY Sunday before midnight. Students should enter their time in the Charms Website.
We will be implementing a new grading scale this year, but the minimum practice requirements will stay the same.
Symphonic/Concert Bands
100 minutes
Beginning/Cadet Bands
75 minutes

September/October, 2018
10/1/18 - Fundraiser Distribution at MJHS
10/8/18 - NO SCHOOL - Columbus Day
10/13/18 - Marching Meteors Performance at the LW Invitational Marching Band Competition
10/16/18 - Music Booster Meeting 7:00 at MJHS
10/19/18 - First Quarter Ends
10/23/18 - Fall Concert at MJHS
...................Beginning Band and Cadet Band - 6:00
...................Concert and Symphonic Band and Choir - 7:30
10/26/18 - Report Card Day