Band Notes - Week of April 9
2023-2024 School Year - Belton MS Band
🌓 HAPPY ECLIPSE DAY! 🌗
Welcome!
General information that applies to all students and parents can be found towards the top of every newsletter, while information specific to your child's ensemble can be found in that particular section by scrolling down. Feel free to contact a director if you have any questions and our contact information is at the bottom of this newsletter.
TURN-IN DAY THIS FRIDAY - all fees, payments, & trip forms due no later than 4pm
Spring Trip Eligibility
Each student have received an individualized eligibility statement for our upcoming Spring Trip to Typhoon Texas (Austin) on Saturday, May 11 (weather permitting). It will also include how much your student owes to attend the trip after applying credit from our SnapRaise Fundraiser in the Fall.
In order to be eligible for the Spring Trip, students must meet the following criteria as outlined in our Band Handbook:
- Be academically eligible during the grading period of the trip. This is an extracurricular trip, therefore students must pass all classes with a 70 or above on their grade report.
- Return a completed, signed permission slip.
- Be present and perform at all performances, which are graded and participation is mandatory. A list of these performances are outlined in our Band Handbook, Calendar, and List of Band Events.
- Have settled all financial obligations to the school district (including campus and its programs) no later than Friday, April 12, 2024 at 4:00pm.
- Have met all behavior standards:
- Cannot have 10 or more Lunch Detentions (D-Halls) in the current spring semester.
- Cannot have 4 or more days of ISS/OSS (In-School/Out-of-School Suspensions) in the current school year
- Cannot be assigned to DAEP at any time during the school year
If a student loses trip privileges for any Belton MS organization on campus, he or she also loses trip privileges for the Belton MS Fine Arts Spring Trip. Ultimately, directors will determine who is eligible to attend the Spring Trip, and any students exhibiting disruptive and/or undisciplined behavior may be subject to exclusion from the trip.
Are YOU Interested in Joining Jazz Band Next Year?
Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, Percussion Players (including Piano, Bass, & Guitar)
Are you interested in trying out for Jazz Band for next school year? There is no additional music necessary to prepare! Your End-of-Year Audition counts as your Jazz Band audition, unless you are playing a secondary instrument or you are wanting to become a member of the rhythm section (drums, vibes, piano, or bass).
You must be concurrently enrolled in Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, or Intermediate/Advanced Orchestra to qualify. You cannot just take Jazz Band in place of concert band, and you must use 2 of your electives in order to be in Jazz Band. Click here to read some Frequently Asked Questions about joining Jazz Band.
Click on this link to read more about this group and sign up to audition: https://forms.gle/F4AMTY372PVEeD5BA. Ask Mr. Pulley any questions you may have about Jazz Band.
All 6th & 7th Graders: End-of-Year Audition Information
As we look forward to next school year, click here for information about our annual end-of-year placement auditions. Auditions will be held during your child's band class from April 22 to May 3. All current 6th & 7th grade band students are required to participate for a twice-weighted major grade. This audition serves as the individual assessment of each student's musical skills mastered from this school year. Think of this as the individual STAAR test assessment for Band.
Detailed information will be given directly to students this Monday, March 25 so they have time to adequately prepare for the auditions, which consists of two parts: Scales and Sightreading. Current Beginners (regardless of grade level) will use the Level 1 scales & sightreading, while current Symphonic Band & Wind Ensemble students will use Level 2. Click here to find the scale sheet found under your particular level and instrument.
Audition results are final and will be posted on Friday, May 10 at 8:00am. These results will be sent to the school counselors for next year's scheduling. Those students choosing to not remain in Band next year will not have their results posted. Email Mr. Pulley with any audition questions you may have.
Band Calendar
Practice Records Due Tuesday
Remaining Band Dates - Beginner's Ensemble
Here are all the dates for the remained of the school year for Beginner's Ensemble:
- Friday, April 12 - Turn-In Day: All Fees, Payments, & Spring Trip Forms Due by 4pm
- Starting Monday, April 22 - End-of-Year Placement Auditions start during school (required for all 6th & 7th graders)
- Monday & Tuesday, May 6 & 7 - Beginner Group Rehearsal in Band Hall @ 4:00-5:00pm
- Monday, May 6 - Spring Trip Parents Meeting in Band Hall @ 5:30-6:00pm (for any parents attending the trip)
- Saturday, May 11 - Spring Trip to Typhoon Texas (Austin) for eligible students (weather permitting)
- Monday, May 13 - Deadline to return in all home school-owned instruments to school
- Tuesday, May 14 - Temple College Contest for eligible students - *we need parent chaperones*
- Thursday, May 16 - Spring Concert & Awards Ceremony at BHS PAC @ 6:30pm (required for all students)
Practice Records Due Every Monday
Practice Records are due every Monday and follow this grading rubric: 5 days=100, 4 days=90, 3 days=80, 2 days=70, and less than 2 days=50. A new updated practice record will be given to students and this cycle will continue for the rest of this school year.
Practice Records are each student's responsibility, and must be stored in their binder at all times. The penalty for late practice records is a 5-point reduction per day. Late practice records will not be accepted after Friday since it rolls over to the next week's practice record. Please note that not turning in practice records is the #1 reason students fail Band.
Help your student create a daily practice routine that is scheduled at the same time each day to build consistency. Have them use a timer in stopwatch mode instead of timer countdown mode to ensure they are getting the full 25 minutes of practice time.
Students are welcome to practice before school starting at 7:30am if they show their band sticker on their student ID to the teacher on duty when entering the hallway. Please remind your student to have a director sign their practice record in order to count this time as practicing, as long as they have practiced the full 25 minutes.
Sign Up for Remind Texts for Beginners
If you haven't already, make sure you sign up for our Remind texts for the Beginner's Ensemble here. Students may do this as well with parent permission. This is important piece of communication to receive reminders throughout the year.
DEADLINE TO SIGN UP FOR SOLO TIME THIS FRIDAY - see post below for more details
Advanced Solo Contest Sign Up
The schedule is now open for parents to sign up for a time for our Advanced Solo & Ensemble Contest on Saturday, April 20 here at BMS. Wind players (woodwinds & brass) will go from 9:00am-1:00pm and can sign up at this link: https://bit.ly/advancedsolo. Percussion will go from 9:00am-11:00am and can sign up at this link: https://bit.ly/percussionsolocontest.
Remaining Band Dates - Symphonic Band
Here are all the dates for the remained of the school year for Symphonic Band:
- Friday, April 12 - Deadline to Sign-Up for Solo Contest Times by 4pm
- Friday, April 12 - Turn-In Day: All Fees, Payments, & Spring Trip Forms Due by 4pm
- Saturday, April 20 - Advanced Solo Contest at BMS (required for all eligible students)
- Starting Monday, April 22 - End-of-Year Placement Auditions start during school (required for all 7th graders)
- Friday, May 3 - M100 Percussion Auditions at BHS Band Hall @ 5:00-7:00pm (required for 8th grade percussionists)
- Monday, May 6 - Spring Trip Parents Meeting in Band Hall @ 5:30-6:00pm (for any parents attending the trip)
- Wednesday-Friday, May 8-10 - Future M100 Fundamentals Camp at Belton HS @ 5:00-7:30pm (required for 8th graders joining HS Band)
- Saturday, May 11 - Spring Trip to Typhoon Texas (Austin) for eligible students (weather permitting)
- Monday, May 13 - Deadline to return all home school-owned instruments to school
- Thursday, May 16 - Spring Concert & Awards Ceremony at BHS PAC @ 6:30pm (required for all students)
M100 Audition for 8th Graders
The audition for Fall 2024 will take place in the Belton HS Band Hall during the week of April 29 - May 3. This serves as an ensemble placement audition for the Marching 100, and Band is a full-year course with a focus on marching in the Fall and Concert in the Winter and Spring. Marching Band is not a separate class period, and all students who complete the audition will participate in the M100!
There will be 4 components to the audition, and click on the picture to the side to access the music:
- Technical Excerpt
- Lyrical Excerpt
- Two Full-Range Major Scales:
- Two of the 12 major scales will be selected on the day of the audition. Students will need to prepare all 12 major scales for the audition.
- Refer to pages 44-45 of the "Foundations for Superior Performance" blue book for your full-range major scales.
- Scales do not need to be memorized.
- Full-Range Chromatic Scale
- Minimum tempo, quarter note = 60 bpm
- All notes should be articulated in an 8th note rhythm.
- Start on the lowest note you can play with your best sound, go all the way up to the highest note you can play with your best sound, then back down to the note you started on.
- Refer to pg. 45 of the "Foundations for Superior Performance" blue book for your full-range chromatic scale.
- The Chromatic Scale does not need to be memorized.
Tips for Success:
- Practice with a metronome right away! Do not wait until you have "learned the notes".
- Start practicing with your metronome at a slow tempo, then work your way up to your desired performance tempo.
- Focus on learning a few measures at a time.
- Do not try to play too fast or too high on your etudes or chromatic scale. Your goal should be to sound and perform your best!
We look forward to hearing you perform!
Sign Up for Remind Texts for Symphonic Band
If you haven't already, make sure you sign up for our Remind texts for Symphonic Band here. Students may do this as well with parent permission. This is important piece of communication to receive reminders throughout the year.
DEADLINE TO SIGN UP FOR SOLO TIME THIS FRIDAY - see post below for more details
Advanced Solo Contest Sign Up
The schedule is now open for parents to sign up for a time for our Advanced Solo & Ensemble Contest on Saturday, April 20 here at BMS. Wind players (woodwinds & brass) will go from 9:00am-1:00pm and can sign up at this link: https://bit.ly/advancedsolo. Percussion will go from 9:00am-11:00am and can sign up at this link: https://bit.ly/percussionsolocontest.
Remaining Band Dates - Wind Ensemble
Here are all the dates for the remained of the school year for Wind Ensemble:
- Friday, April 12 - Deadline to Sign-Up for Solo Contest Times by 4pm
- Friday, April 12 - Turn-In Day: All Fees, Payments, & Spring Trip Forms Due by 4pm
- Saturday, April 20 - Advanced Solo Contest at BMS (required for all eligible students)
- Starting Monday, April 22 - End-of-Year Placement Auditions start during school (required for all 7th graders)
- Friday, May 3 - M100 Percussion Auditions at BHS Band Hall @ 5:00-7:00pm (required for 8th grade percussionists)
- Monday, May 6 - Spring Trip Parents Meeting in Band Hall @ 5:30-6:00pm (for any parents attending the trip)
- Wednesday-Friday, May 8-10 - Future M100 Fundamentals Camp at Belton HS @ 5:00-7:30pm (required for 8th graders joining HS Band)
- Saturday, May 11 - Spring Trip to Typhoon Texas (Austin) for eligible students (weather permitting)
- Monday, May 13 - Deadline to return all home school-owned instruments to school
- Thursday, May 16 - Spring Concert & Awards Ceremony at BHS PAC @ 6:30pm (required for all students)
M100 Auditions for 8th Graders
The audition for Fall 2024 will take place in the Belton HS Band Hall during the week of April 29 - May 3. This serves as an ensemble placement audition for the Marching 100, and Band is a full-year course with a focus on marching in the Fall and Concert in the Winter and Spring. Marching Band is not a separate class period, and all students who complete the audition will participate in the M100!
There will be 4 components to the audition, and click on the picture to the side to access the music:
- Technical Excerpt
- Lyrical Excerpt
- Two Full-Range Major Scales:
- Two of the 12 major scales will be selected on the day of the audition. Students will need to prepare all 12 major scales for the audition.
- Refer to pages 44-45 of the "Foundations for Superior Performance" blue book for your full-range major scales.
- Scales do not need to be memorized.
- Full-Range Chromatic Scale
- Minimum tempo, quarter note = 60 bpm
- All notes should be articulated in an 8th note rhythm.
- Start on the lowest note you can play with your best sound, go all the way up to the highest note you can play with your best sound, then back down to the note you started on.
- Refer to pg. 45 of the "Foundations for Superior Performance" blue book for your full-range chromatic scale.
- The Chromatic Scale does not need to be memorized.
Tips for Success:
- Practice with a metronome right away! Do not wait until you have "learned the notes".
- Start practicing with your metronome at a slow tempo, then work your way up to your desired performance tempo.
- Focus on learning a few measures at a time.
- Do not try to play too fast or too high on your etudes or chromatic scale. Your goal should be to sound and perform your best!
We look forward to hearing you perform!
Sign Up for Remind Texts for Wind Ensemble
If you haven't already, make sure you sign up for our Remind texts for Wind Ensemble here. Students may do this as well with parent permission. This is important piece of communication to receive reminders throughout the year.
Remaining Band Dates - Jazz Band
- Thursday, May 2 - Spring Jazz Concert at BHS PAC @ 6:30pm
- Monday, May 13 - Jazz Band Performance at School Board Meeting at Pittenger PAC (next to the district office)
Sign Up for Remind Texts for Jazz Band
If you haven't already, make sure you sign up for our Remind texts for Jazz Band here. Students may do this as well with parent permission. This is important piece of communication to receive reminders throughout the year.
Mr. Pulley
- Wind Ensemble
- Jazz Band
- Brass Specialist (trumpet, horn, trombone, euphonium, & tuba)
- chris.pulley@bisd.net
Mr. Trahan
- Symphonic Band
- Woodwind Specialist (flute, oboe, bassoon, clarinet, & saxophone)
Mr. Smith
- Percussion Specialist (keyboards, drums, & accessories)
Email: beltonmsband@gmail.com
Website: beltonmsband.org
Call/Text: 254-262-3050
Address: 1704 Sparta Road, Belton, TX, USA
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