Bands and Choir are rehearsing and Sectionals are going well. Students should keep watching the schedule for their time. If a student misses their sectional, it is their responsibility to see Mrs. Bussean or Ms. Beekman to schedule a make up or get a make up assignment.

Thank you to those who supported September's Dine and Earn at Portillo's!

If your child already has the required uniform, please make sure they try it on ahead of time. There's nothing worse than trying to fit into a pair of pants you have grown out of 30 minutes before the concert!

Students are also required to wear black DRESS pants. No crop pants, yoga pants, athletic pants or black denim will be permitted. Students need to own a good pair of straight leg dress pants.

Students should wear black socks that cover their ankles. We don't want to see ankles when we sit down!

Also, shoes should be completely black.

I have included some photos of these items below.

Plans for the Hamilton trip are underway. There is still space on the trip. If you didn't sign your child up and are still interested, please fill out the form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfmPAiHbYO6wgr_q8a3_dMi8ztifHL2UMlMQI-ikKOfPHn_lw/viewform to reserve your child' space.

Here are the trip details:

• When? Tuesday, January 8th
• Time? We will depart from MJH after 3pm, head downtown for dinner, and then see the 7:30 performance of Hamilton. We should arrive back at MJH around 11pm
• Who? All MJH Choir and Band students are invited to register - up to 105 students may attend
• Apparel? Students are expected to dress nicely to attend this performance
• Cost? The cost of the trip will be approximately $150 - it may go up or down slightly depending on bus and gas prices, but it should stay near $150. This includes transportation, dinner, and the ticket price for the show. Students can use fundraised IBA money to pay for this trip!

The first deposit of $50 is due this Wednesday, October 10! Students can pay one of four ways:

1) IBA Transfer if you have money in your account. You may combine this payment with other forms.

2) Cash - Please put it in an envelope clearly marked

3) Check - Please make your check payable to the Mokena Music Boosters

4) Paypal via your Charms account. Please note that there is a $2 convenience fee.

The second installment will be due on Wednesday, October 31 ($50) and the final payment will be due on Wednesday, November 28 (approximately $50).

If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Bussean.

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.

You should have received a monthly Charms statement on or about October 1. 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

We encourage all other band students and families to come out to Lincoln-Way West to support our students and see some excellent marching bands.

As always, if you have any questions or feel like you may have missed something, please contact any of the directors via email.

IBA Fundraisers usually occur once per quarter. We will be offering one very soon. Keep watching for information.

10/8/18 - NO SCHOOL - Columbus Day

10/13/18 - Marching Meteors Performance at the LW Invitational Marching Band Competition

10/16/18 - Music Booster Meeting 7:00 at MJHS

10/19/18 - First Quarter Ends

10/23/18 - Fall Concert at MJHS

...................Beginning Band and Cadet Band - 6:00

...................Concert and Symphonic Band and Choir - 7:30

10/26/18 - Report Card Day