Mokena Meteor Music

February 1 - February 7, 2019

Important Information from the Music Department!

Please be sure to read it in its entirety as I have updated sections.


Pep Band Step Up will take place TONIGHT at LWC. See information below. Only students who have previously signed up for this event should attend.


We were able to work out a date to reschedule the LWC Choir Step-Up Night that was originally scheduled for Tuesday, January 22nd. It has been rescheduled to Monday, February 11. See below for more information,


The Concert and Symphonic Bands will be going on a Field Trip on March 4. More information below.

7th and 8th Grade Band Students Only

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8th Graders Only!

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Solo Contest - February 9th

Just a reminder that Solo/Ensemble Contest will take place on Saturday, February 9 at Hickory Creek Middle School in Frankfort. Information has been emailed out previously. If you did not receive information and your child is participating, please let Mrs. Bussean know immediately.

CHOIR STEP UP HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED!!!

MJH CHOIR STUDENTS ONLY!


We were able to work out a date to reschedule the LWC Choir Step-Up Night that was originally scheduled for Tuesday, January 22nd. Here is the updated information:


Monday, February 11th

What? Lincoln-Way Central Choir Step-Up Night

Who? All 6th, 7th, and 8th grade choir students

Where? Lincoln-Way Central Auditorium

Time? Students arrive at 6:00pm, concert for families begins at 7:30pm

Apparel? All choir students should be in their uniform (green polo shirt, black pants, black socks, black shoes)

Other Info? Pizza will be provided to students when they arrive

Concert/Symphonic Band Field Trip to Northern Illinois University!

The Mokena Concert and Symphonic Bands (6-8) will be having a field trip to Northern Illinois University for a clinic with Dr. Thomas Bough on Monday March 4th during the school day. While at NIU, there will be a 2-hour clinic in the concert hall for all band students covering a variety of concepts including the music we will be performing for IGSMA contest. We will also be receiving a tour of the school of music. To cover the cost of the clinic, buses, and lunch, we are asking for $30.00 per student. You may pay by cash, check, or IBA.


Here is the tentative itinerary:

7:00 am-Depart for Northern Illinois University (charter buses)

8:30 am-Arrive and Unload

9:00 am-Clinic with Dr.Bough (Percussion will have an hour clinic with NIU Percussion Studio members and then join the band for the last hour)

11:00 am- Pack-Up Instruments

11:15 am- School of Music Tour

11:45 am-Lunch at Dining Hall

12:30 pm-Depart for MJHS

2:00 pm- Arrive and Unload at MJHS


We HIGHLY encourage that students attend this field trip as it will benefit the entire ensemble. Here is Dr. Bough's biography from his website:


“Dr. Thomas Bough joined the faculty of Northern Illinois University in the fall of 2005 as the Director of Athletic Bands. He also conducts the Wind Symphony and teaches graduate conducting and instrumental arranging. A former high school band director, Bough performed for two years with the Phantom Regiment Drum Corps, and has taught with the Cavaliers Drum Corps for five years in his capacity as a Yamaha Performing Artist. As a scholar, Bough has contributed nearly twenty articles and hundreds of new music reviews to the Instrumentalist magazine, School Band and Orchestra magazine, and DCI Today, as well as articles to five volumes of the Teaching Music Through Performance in Band series. Dr. Bough is an active conductor, arranger, composer, clinician, and adjudicator for concert band, marching band, and brass band, with dozens of appearances per year to his credit across the United States. His music is published by Alfred Publications, Cimarron Music and GPG Publications. He has served as a masterclass clinician and/or conductor for the Music For All Summer Symposium and the Music For All National Concert Band Festival for over a decade. In May of 2014, his first compact disc was released, entitled, Concertos for Brass: The Music of Thomas Bough. It is available on the Summit Records label at www.summitrecords.com or on iTunes. Learn more about his work at www.ThomasBough.com.”


If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Beekman at beekmant@mokena159.org.

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Band Assignments

Please continue to check the Google Classroom for any assignments for band. If your child missed an assignment, please encourage them to finish it and submit it to their band director as soon as possible so we can update their grade.


Thank you to all the students who submitted their assignments on time!

LWC Band Audition Information - 8th Graders Only

The time for Concert Band placement auditions for the 2019-2020 school year is approaching! For next school year, auditions will be video recorded and sent to outside judges for scoring. Audition recordings will be accepted from February 1st through February 14th. Audition videos can be recorded at home or at school.


All students planning on joining band next year should audition. The audition will be used for concert band placement for the 2019-2020 school year, as well as marching band part assignment and role assignment (alternate spot).


More information regarding how to prepare for the auditions, as well as how to download the audition music/materials, can be found on our music website at the link below.


Website link: http://www.lincolnwaymusic.org/bandauditions


Please contact Mr. Mroczek at cmroczek@lw210.org with any questions.

Lincoln-Way Central Pep Band is hosting its Annual Pep Band Step Up Night on Friday, February 1 at Lincoln-Way Central. Please see the attached itinerary for more information.


ONLY STUDENTS WHO HAVE SIGNED UP PREVIOUSLY MAY ATTEND.


If you have any questions, please let me know.

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Help Support the Music Boosters by Shopping Online!

The AmazonSmile fundraiser is available year round - not just at Christmas time. This is a great way to support our music programs without any 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. This is available year round. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Bussean.

Private Music Lessons

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

MUSIC BOOSTER MEETING - FEBRUARY 19, 2019

Come out on Tuesday, February 19, 2019 at 7:00 PM to the monthly Music Booster Meeting held at Mokena Junior High School in the Library. 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!

DO YOU OWE MONEY TO THE MUSIC BOOSTERS OR THE DISTRICT?

We still have quite a bit of outstanding money due in Charms. Please check your accounts over break and make sure you are up to date. Please be aware that the District is also reaching out about outstanding District participation fees. While this can get confusing, it is important that everyone understand that there is a difference between the participation fee charged by the District for participation in activities (ie basketball, track, scholastic bowl, band, choir, etc.) and the fees charged through the Music Boosters (Booster registration fee, books, polo shirts, etc.). Please make sure you are current on both sides. If you ever have any questions about this, please feel free to reach out to your director.


You will be receiving monthly Charms statements (these are the Music Booster fees) on or about the first of every month. Please check your balances in Charms at any time by logging into your child's account. If money is due, please pay one of four 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
  4. IBA Transfer - please complete the online transfer form: https://goo.gl/forms/MOZFB8jurkbF7ByR2


If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Bussean

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.
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February, 2019


2/1 - LWC Pep Band Step Up Night - 7/8th Grade Band Only - not mandatory

2/5 - LWC Music Department Information Night for 8th Graders Only at LWC at 6:30 pm

2/9 - Solo/Ensemble Contest

2/9 - LWC Jazz Fest

2/14 - LWC High School Band Audition Submissions Due