Mokena Meteor Music

November 15 - 21, 2019

Important Information from the Music Department!

Please read the Newsletter in its entirety as I often make changes to information.


For the MIS Band Students, please be aware that much of the information contained in the Newsletters applies to MJH Music events. However, oftentimes I will include important information for MIS Music groups as well.


Students in Symphonic Band, Concert Band and Cadet Band should continue keeping track of their practice logs in Charms every week. Students in Symphonic and Concert band are responsible for practicing 100 minutes per week. And Cadet Band students are responsible for 75 minutes per week. Students should view practice time like daily homework. If you spend 15-20 minutes per day practicing, the ensemble as a whole will sound amazing, and your student will improve at a faster rate. Beginning Band students are not responsible for practice logs at this time.


Our next Music Booster meeting is Tuesday, November 19 in the Learning Center at MJHS. Please come out and see what the Music Boosters are all about!

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Help Support the Music Boosters by Shopping Online!

It's the Holiday Season and many of us are doing our holiday shopping online. Did you know that you can support the Mokena Music Boosters with every Amazon purchase you make at no cost to you? Any time you are shopping via Amazon, please consider using Amazon Smile for your purchases. Go to www.amazonsmile.com. 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. The AmazonSmile fundraiser is available year round - not just at Christmas time. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Bussean.
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CHOIR TRIP - PHANTOM OF THE OPERA

We are very excited to share that the Mokena Music Department will be taking a Choir Trip to see Phantom of the Opera in Chicago. This is a very excited opportunity for our choir students to see an iconic musical!


When: Thursday, December 19th

Time: 7:30 pm show time - bus will leave after school

Where: Dinner and show in Chicago (Cadillac Palace Theater)

Cost: Approximately $160 per student (includes bus transportation, dinner and show)


Due to the limited time to secure the exact number of tickets, we are asking students to commit to this trip no later than Monday, November 18! Students will need to turn in a $50 deposit by Thursday, November 21, to secure their spot. The remaining balance for the trip will be collected by Thursday, December 12 (once the final trip amount has been determined).


Invoices will be available in Charms for both the deposit and the final payment. Deposit invoices are already available. You can choose to pay with a check (made payable to the Mokena Music Boosters), by credit card through Charms (there is a $2 convenience fee added to your total for this option), or using IFA funds (please determine if you have enough money in your account through Charms).


If your student will be attending the Phantom trip, please fill out this Google form no later than Monday, November 18th!


https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc346K7Ew5o5TpnOrF4d1C3J-91IWdWKyPG1ywvy2Bzhfatwg/viewform?usp=sf_link


If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Cheney at cheneyr@mokena159.org.

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MOKENA MUSIC BOOSTERS NEED YOU!

Do you miss volunteering at the grade school?

Do you want to be more involved but don’t know how to because maybe your student is getting older and there’s not as many volunteer opportunities.

Come to the Music Boosters!

It’s a great way to stay involved behind the scenes

If you have a student in band or choir you are already a member!

We are in need of volunteers for the following areas:

Treasurer

(2 year term beginning June 2020)

Hospitality

Uniforms

Dine & Earns (beginning June 2020)

Dipping Dots’

Afraid you don’t have the time to commit to a position? Grab a friend and do it as a team! If you are interested, please contact one of the Music Directors

Please join us for our next meeting on Tuesday, November 19 at the MJHS Library





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Pie Sale has been EXTENDED!

THANK YOU to everyone who sold the Sweet Rewards cards and made donations to support Mokena Music!! You are awesome and this will be a great boost to the music program. We'd like to keep the sale open in hopes of selling 200 more cards before winter break. Can you help?? Attached are the forms. Please remember these cards cost the same as the pies, so it's the same as if you paid Baker's Square, but boosters make the profit! Cards do not expire.


Cards already purchased will be available on Thursday, November 21 4:30 to 6:30 at MJHS. If you can't make that time, we will just send them home with your student on Friday. Or we can make other arrangements if needed.


NEW deadline December 13.


Please contact Sarah or Andrea with any questions. We can be flexible and get you the cards you need for your friends and family!


Thanks!


Sarah Ziesmer 815-703-3984

Andrea Dion 773-612-7317 adion@sbcglobal.net

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PARADE OF LIGHTS ITINERARY - 6/7/8 Grade Band and Color Guard

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Private Music Lessons - Highly Encouraged

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

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THIS WEEK'S REHEARSAL SCHEDULE

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Musical Tech Crew Members

Currently we have 40 students enrolled in Crew. This is a very large number. Please note that because we have such a large number of students involved, we will be assigning students certain sets from the show to build. Students will only need to attend Crew when we are working on their set pieces. This will alleviate students just standing around. We want everyone to have a positive experience.


Here is the tentative schedule of when we will meet. We will assign which set pieces we will be building later.


Saturday, November 23 9:00 am - 3:00 pm - ALL CREW MEMBERS MUST ATTEND

Thursday, December 5 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Saturday, December 7 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Thursday, December 12 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Saturday, December 14 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Saturday, December 21 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Thursday, January 9 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Saturday, January 11 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Thursday, January 16 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Saturday, January 18 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Thursday, January 23 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Thursday, January 30 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Saturday, February 1 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Thursday, February 6 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Thursday, February 13 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Thursday, February 20 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Thursday, February 27 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Saturday, February 29 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Thursday, March 5 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Thursday, March 19 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Saturday, March 21 9:00 am - 3:00 pm


Students should bring a sack lunch and drink to Saturday Crew meetings.


Please make sure to wear clothing that you don't mind ruining (we will be painting) and students must always have on closed toe shoes - no flip flops or slides. Students should bring screw guns if they have them and should ALWAYS wear eye protection (goggles).



Tech Week Mandatory Schedule









6:00 - 9:00 pm

Monday, March 23
Tuesday, March 24
Wednesday, March 25
Thursday, March 26


Students will be bused from MJH to LWC for these rehearsals. Students who have purchased dinners in advance will be fed. Students who did not pre-pay for dinners will need to provide their own dinners/drinks.


PERFORMANCES


Friday, March 27 and Saturday, March 28

These performances will take place at LWC. Times to be determined


Sunday, March 29

Time to be determined

MANDATORY SET STRIKE


Mandatory set strike and storage of equipment
We will start at LWC and then move things to MJH.

This is MANDATORY for all Cast and Crew members.

SECTIONAL SCHEDULES

TONAL ENERGY APP - MUST HAVE FOR ALL INSTRUMENTALISTS!

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.

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What is an IFA Account? (Formerly known as IBA)

You may hear the term IFA account and wonder "what is that?" An IFA account is an Individual Fund Account. Every student registered in Charms automatically has an account. Funds raised through IFA 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! The current 6th and 7th Grade Band students are eligible to go on the 2021 Trip to Disney World! If your child is in 4th and 5th Grade, they will be eligible for the Disney trip in 2023. Start saving now!


IFA Fundraisers usually occur once per quarter and are not mandatory. We are currently running the Popcorn Fundraiser. 50% of the proceeds will go into your child's IFA account.

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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.
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Music Booster Meeting - November 19, 2019

Come out on Tuesday, November 19, 2019 at 7:00 PM to the monthly Music Booster Meeting. The meeting will take place at Mokena Junior High School. Music Booster meetings are open meetings that anyone can attend. Come see what our Boosters are all about and how you can help support your child's music education. I look forward to seeing you there!

Did you know we have a Facebook page?

The Mokena Meteor Music Department has a Facebook page! It is a closed group, so please request to join! We post photos and information about what is happening in the Music Department. There is a link at the bottom of this Newsletter.
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November 2019

NOVEMBER


11/15 - Fall Fling

11/16 - ILMEA Jazz Festival (only for students who previously auditioned)

11/19 - Music Booster Meeting

11/23 - Mokena Parade of Lights (MANDATORY for all 6/7/8 Grade Band Students)

11/27 - NO SCHOOL

11/28 - NO SCHOOL THANKSGIVING

11/29 - NO SCHOOL

Mokena Meteor Music Department

Mokena Meteor Music Department

19815 Kirkstone Way, Mokena, IL, USA busseank@mokena159.org (708) 342-4870 mokenameteormusic159.org