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!

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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

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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

Did you know that we have Facebook page? We do! Please search Mokena Meteor Music Department and request access. All posts must be approved first. We post information about what is happening in the department, Dine and Earn information, fundraising information, etc.

October Dine and Earn!

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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:

  1. Cash (in an envelope clearly marked)
  2. Check made payable to the Mokena Music Boosters - write who and what it is for in the memo line
  3. 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

The schedule for the Lincoln-Way Marching Invitational Marching Band Competition on October 13, 2018 is below. This event is mandatory for all students in the extracurricular Mokena Meteor Field Show Marching Band.


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.

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Fall Concert Itinerary

Below is the tentative itinerary for our Fall Concerts that will take place on Tuesday, October 23, 2018 at Mokena Junior High School.
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Issue with Charms and Gmail Accounts

Charms is having issues sending emails to gmail accounts. If you feel like you haven't been receiving all of the information from us that you should and you have a gmail account, this may be why. Charms has informed us that the issue should be resolved on December 1. Until that time, if you have a gmail account, please check our website frequently for information. Any pertinent information will be posted there along with these Newsletters.


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!

Below is a short video walking you through how to sign into your child's Charms account for the first time.

How to Enter Practice Logs Into Charms

Below is a short video on how to enter practice logs into Charms.

What is an IBA Account?

You may hear the term IBA account and wonder "what is that?" An IBA account is an Individual Bank Account. Every student registered in Charms automatically has an account. Funds raised through IBA Fundraisers will be credited to your child's account and can be used to purchase any music related items such as booster fees, reeds, valve oil, and even music department trips, just to name a few!


IBA Fundraisers usually occur once per quarter. We will be offering one very soon. Keep watching for information.

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Help Support the Music Boosters by Shopping Online!

Any time you are shopping via Amazon, please consider using Amazon Smile for your purchases. You can select the Mokena Music Boosters to receive a donation on your behalf just by making your regular Amazon purchase through them. It doesn't cost you anything and helps the Music Boosters fund our programs. This is available year round. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Bussean.
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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