Sixth Grade Band Bulletin
Welcome to the RMS Band Program
Welcome to the Rotolo Middle School Band Program
Welcome to the RMS band program. My name is Rob Buckley and I am extremely excited to start the year and make music with your child. Joining me are band teachers Sherry Reiss (7th Grade Band Director) and Keith Ozsvath (8th Grade Band Director). As you can see from our photos below and our primary instruments, we have all the bases covered here!
This is going to be a fantastic year. I have some very challenging and fun music planned for the band this year. In addition to having band each day, your child will have additional opportunities to perform their instruments! I will detail these opportunities along with some other band basics in this band bulletin.
I like to communicate with you a lot. I will be emailing you often concerning "Breaking News" or reminders. About one time per month, you will receive a more formal Newsletter like this one. These bulletins will be archived on our band website.
Speaking of the band website, this is a great resource for both parents and students. Please visit our website often, it is continuously updated. To make it easier, please bookmark our site. Also, if you are on Facebook, you can like our band Facebook site.
It is called Rotolo MS Band.
As always, please feel free to contact me any time you have a question or concern. My contact info will always appear at the end of my emails along with the bottom of this newsletter. I do check voicemail regularly, but the quickest way to reach me is via email.
I am enjoying learning about the parents and students from those of you who have already filled out the student surveys and parent surveys. Please try to fill those out by the start of school tomorrow if you have not done so already.
I can't wait to meet you and work with you to make your child's music experience a special one.
More information about important items follows below
Sincerely
Rob Buckley
Mr. Rob Buckley
(7th/8th Grade Lesson Teacher)
Main Instrument: Percussion
Miss Sherry Reiss
(Seventh Grade Band Teacher)
Main Instruments: Clarinet
Mr. Keith Ozsvath
(Eighth Grade Band Teacher)
Main Instrument: Trombone
IMPORTANT AUGUST DATES
August 17: If possible, please complete Student and Parent Surveys by this date
August 19: First Day with Instruments (F. Horn, Trombone, Baritone, Tuba players bring mouthpiece) (Tenor Sax players bring mouthpiece, ligature, neck
strap), (Percussionists bring full stickbag)
August 20: Meet the Teacher Night: BHS Cafeteria--6:00-7:30pm (all RMS/BHS music teachers will be there to meet you and your students. It's Free!! The
Music Buffs will be providing refreshments.
August 29: Handbook Forms/Contracts Due (Students turn into blue box)
REMINDER: FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL--LEAVE INSTRUMENTS AT HOME!!
Required Supplies for ALL Sixth Grade Band Members
- 1" or 1.5" 3-ring binder (please get one with that is wrapped in clear piece of plastic.
- Pencil (have at least 2 at all times)
- Hi-Lighter (can be any color)
- Box of tissues
Instrument-Specific Supplies Needed at the Start of the School Year
Flute: Cleaning Rod and Handkerchief
Oboe: Silk cleaning swab, cork grease, 3 working medium reeds
Clarinet: Silk cleaning swab, cork grease, woodwind mouthpiece brush, box of Vandoreen Strength 2.5 reeds
Alto Sax/Tenor Sax: Same as Clarinet
Trumpet: Bottle of valve oil, slide grease, brass mouthpiece brush, trumpet cleaning snake
French Horn: Bottle of rotary valve oil, slide grease, brass mouthpiece brush, horn cleaning snake
Trombone: Slide Cream or Slide Oil, slide grease (different), brass mouthpiece brush, trombone cleaning snake
Baritone: Bottle of valve oil, slide grease, brass mouthpiece brush, trombone/baritone cleaning snake
Tuba: Bottle of valve oil, slide grease, brass mouthpiece brush, tuba cleaning snake
Percussion: Innovative Percussion FP-2 Intermediate Stickbag with all mallets that come with it. If sticks/mallets were broke or lost since last year, replacements need to be ordered. PM stocks all sticks/mallets included in bag.
SUPPLIES WILL BE DELIVERED TO RMS EACH WEEK!
LOST EE BOOK? STUDENTS CAN ORDER NEW BOOK FROM MR. BUCKLEY. SEE FIRST DAY PACKET CHECKLIST FOR DETAILS!
MEET THE TEACHERS!! ON AUGUST 20th FROM 6:00-7:30PM, PARENTS AND STUDENTS ARE WELCOME TO MEET THE BHS/RMS MUSIC TEACHERS. BATAVIA MUSIC BUFFS WILL PROVIDE REFRESHMENTS! AT BATAVIA HIGH SCHOOL CAFETERIA!
Lesson Information
The first format is called Technique Classes. These technique classes will take place about one time every six weeks. These technique classes will focus on more advanced techniques for each instrument. There will often be short embedded assessments within the technique class. Some of those assessments will be graded while other assessments will be simply for teacher/student feedback.
The second format is called Sectionals. These sectionals will take place about two times per concert cycle. During sectional week, the full section (i.e. flutes) will have a special "rehearsal" to work on band music. There will be a focus on the parts of the music that are the most challenging or are giving the students the most difficulty.
The third and most common format is called GLE Pass-offs. These GLE pass-offs will be very similar to the lessons in fifth grade. Each GLE unit contains eight songs. Students will have about three lessons to complete the unit. Like last year, students can work at a quicker pace if that is possible. GLE Units will be given a point total. Students who complete the unit on time will receive full credit. If students do not complete all assigned songs by the due date, points will be taken off for each song the student does not pass.
I will offer help sessions each week to help students keep up with GLE songs (students can also come in to get ahead!). Help sessions days/times will be posted in room 016.
There are a total of six units due by the end of the year. Even if a student is already passing off sixth grade units, each student will be required to pass off six units by the end of the school year. Students can always pass off more the six units.
Performance Opportunities at RMS
- Jazz Band/Jazz Ensemble There are now two jazz bands at RMS. Jazz Ensemble is and audition-only band that is made up of traditional jazz ensemble instrumentation (Saxophones, Trumpets, Trombones, Piano, Bass, Drumset). Jazz Band is a non-audition band that is open to all instruments. Because of the popularity of piano, students who would like to play piano should also plan on bringing band instruments to jazz as piano parts will rotate. In order to play drumset, students must audition for Mr. Buckley.
- Solo/Ensemble Contest: In sixth grade, students can sign up to play a solo for the solo contest. This is optional, but highly recommended for students who take private lessons. In seventh/eighth grade, students can also do ensembles like duets, trios, etc. The Solo/Ensemble contest takes place in early February.
- RMS Symphonic Band: This brand new ensemble will be an honor ensemble for RMS band students. It will be an audition-only band open to students in grades 6-8. The Symphonic band will be directed by Mr. Ozsvath. The band will meet outside the school day. The group will perform at concerts as well as the Illinois State University Invitational Band Festival. Audition materials are available from Mr. Buckley. Auditions will take place in October. More information will be available shortly.
- IlMEA District IX Honor Band Festival: Students already at advanced Seventh Grade Level/Eighth Grade Level (GLE's) are eligible to audition for the District IX Honor Band. This very elite honor band will be made up of the top students from over 30 middle schools in this region of Illinois. Audition materials for eligible students are available from Mr. Buckley (this is usually something students try-out for as seventh and/or eighth graders.
Mr. Buckley's Contact Information
Email: robert.buckley@bps101.net
Website: http://rotoloband.com
Phone: (630)937-8727
Facebook: facebook.com/RotoloMSBand