Belton MS Band - Week of August 22
2022-2023 School Year
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 towards the bottom.
After you've read through everything, feel free to contact a director if you have any questions.
September 15 Deadline
This date is the deadline for many things that are due, which includes the following:
- Uniform Shirt Order - Click on the link to order a shirt for your student (if you haven't already), and one for you as well! We encourage all our parent chaperones to wear these when they are helping at our events. Put the word "Parent" next to the name so we know it's not for the student.
- Parent Chaperone Sign-Up - Make sure to sign up to become a chaperone at BOTH the link and the district volunteer background check. Instructions for this process can be found here.
- Payments for shirts, auto decals, and instrument usage fees are also due by September 15, either by cash or check made out to BMS with a valid phone number. You can also pay for them online, at this link: tinyurl.com/beltonmsbandstore
Band Calendar
Alternatively, you may prefer the List of Band Events format that can be found clicking on the link.
Last Week
This Week
This week, we will start our RC Theory program and have videos and worksheets everyday this week. Our goal is 100% mastery on all of our theory worksheets, for which we will take a grade on each one. Students will complete these during class after each video lesson.
Parents: Please help your student memorize the "Staff Chant", which we will use all throughout this school year. Listen and learn from the recording here!
Parts of the Instrument Quiz
Students will also learn the parts of their instrument this week by opening their case the proper way and getting familiar with them. We will have our first quiz on the parts this Friday!
Fall Sectional Survey - ACTION REQUIRED
Please click on and fill out this form ASAP to tell us your student's availability after school Monday-Friday from 4:00-5:00pm starting next Monday, August 29 until October 28. We want to avoid athletic games, meets, tournaments, and matches. We have already worked out a plan with all coaches to share students when they participate in athletic practices.
All students in both Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble are required to attend one sectional per week from 4:00-5:00pm for a grade. Percussion sectionals have already been set to Wednesdays from 4:00-5:15pm based on the availability of Mr. Smith who teaches at 3 different schools a day.
Students are expected to "Be Punctual" and arrive seated with all materials and ready to rehearse at 4pm sharp or their grade will be affected. Students 1-5 minutes late will have their sectional grade reduced to an 85. Students who are late 5-15 minutes will have their grade reduced to a 70. Students arriving more than 15 minutes late will receive a 50. These grades replace the Practice Records used in previous years.
Thank you for helping us create the best schedule we can for band sectionals this Fall.
Band Hall Now Open Before & After School
The Band Hall will be open before school starting at 7:30am until after school at 5:00pm. Advanced Students may come to the Band Hall to practice on their Warm-Ups, Region Scales, and Region Etudes.
Rehearsals Start This Week
Last week, we reviewed our Musical Expectations & Sound Concept Priorities, as well as our List of Rehearsal Expectations so that students understand our goals and where we are headed each and every rehearsal. We also reviewed our Daily Rehearsal Report Card the directors will use to evaluate rehearsals everyday since there is a strong link of successful rehearsals and successful performances.
Now Taking Nominations for Librarians & Loading Crew
Starting this week, the directors will be taking nominations from students if they are interested in becoming a Librarian or a member of our Loading Crew. Librarians help the directors copy and pass out music, and re-copy music that other students lose or misplace. Members of the Loading Crew help the directors set up chairs and stands every Monday morning, and help load instruments and equipment when we travel or move for performances such as a Pep Rally.
Students from both of these groups serve as student leaders in Symphonic Band, and are offered perks throughout the year, such as being first in line when we eat, etc.
Fall Sectional Survey - ACTION REQUIRED
Please click on and fill out this form ASAP to tell us your student's availability after school Monday-Friday from 4:00-5:00pm starting next Monday, August 29 until October 28. We want to avoid athletic games, meets, tournaments, and matches. We have already worked out a plan with all coaches to share students when they participate in athletic practices.
All students in both Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble are required to attend one sectional per week from 4:00-5:00pm for a grade. Percussion sectionals have already been set to Wednesdays from 4:00-5:15pm based on the availability of Mr. Smith who teaches at 3 different schools a day.
Students are expected to "Be Punctual" and arrive seated with all materials and ready to rehearse at 4pm sharp or their grade will be affected. Students 1-5 minutes late will have their sectional grade reduced to an 85. Students who are late 5-15 minutes will have their grade reduced to a 70. Students arriving more than 15 minutes late will receive a 50. These grades replace the Practice Records used in previous years.
Thank you for helping us create the best schedule we can for band sectionals this Fall.
Band Hall Now Open Before & After School
The Band Hall will be open before school starting at 7:30am until after school at 5:00pm. Advanced Students may come directly to the Band Hall when the doors open to practice on their Warm-Ups, Region Scales, and Region Etudes.
Rehearsals Start This Week
Last week, we reviewed our Musical Expectations & Sound Concept Priorities, as well as our List of Rehearsal Expectations so that students understand our goals and where we are headed each and every rehearsal. We also reviewed our Daily Rehearsal Report Card the directors will use to evaluate rehearsals everyday since there is a strong link from successful rehearsals to successful performances.
Now Taking Nominations for Librarians & Loading Crew
Starting this week, the directors will be taking nominations from students if they are interested in becoming a Librarian or a member of our Loading Crew. Librarians help the directors copy and pass out music, and re-copy music that other students lose or misplace. Members of the Loading Crew help the directors set up chairs and stands every Monday morning, and help load instruments and equipment when we travel or move for performances such as a Pep Rally.
Students from both of these groups serve as student leaders in Wind Ensemble, and are offered perks throughout the year, such as being first in line when we eat, etc.
Rehearsals Start This Week
Last week, we held our first music listening session where students answered questions about a couple of "charts" (means pieces of music in jazz slang) that we listened to in class. They were able to identify specific musical attributes that they heard in each song, with the goal of increasing their ability to listening at a deeper and more meaningful level.
Parents, ask your student what they thought of the charts we listened to and if they liked them.
Santa Fe Jazz Jam
Starting in September, faculty from the Temple College Music Department will be hosting a jazz jam for all middle school, high school, and college instrumentalists and vocalists on the first Sunday of each month at Treno in downtown Temple. They will provide a pro rhythm section, music stands, and a handful of Real Books. The goal is to get students even more excited about jazz and improvising while expanding the jazz culture and community in central Texas.
The inaugural Sante Fe Jazz will be September 4th from 1:00-3:00pm at Treno Pizzeria. We would love to see you take some chances and make some music with them! And we'd love to see the students' families out supporting their kiddos and live jazz!!
Download the information flyer below:
Now Taking Nominations for Librarians & Loading Crew
Starting this week, the directors will be taking nominations from students if they are interested in becoming a Librarian or a member of our Loading Crew. Librarians help the directors copy and pass out music, and re-copy music that other students lose or misplace. Members of the Loading Crew help the directors set up chairs and stands in the Band Hall, and help load instruments and equipment when we travel for performances.
Students from both of these groups serve as student leaders in Jazz Band, and are offered perks throughout the year, such as being first in line when we eat, etc.
Meet the Directors
Mr. Pulley
Wind Ensemble
Jazz Band
Brass Specialist (trumpet, French horn, trombone, euphonium, & tuba)
Mr. Trahan
Symphonic Band
Woodwind Specialist (flute, oboe, bassoon, clarinet, & saxophone)
Mr. Smith
Percussion Specialist (mallets & drums)