Winter Park Band Notes
August 28, 2016
From Mr. Blackmer
Dear Winter Park Band Families,
An exciting week ahead as the students finally have the opportunity to present the beginning of their "Bicycle Race" halftime show at our first regular home football game (albeit at West Orange High School)!
Huge thanks to all of our chaperones who assisted with the away game this past Friday at Lake Nona! If you are still interested in volunteering as a chaperone for any of our events, please register through the OCPS ADDitions clearing process, and then contact Carla Shuman.
Along those lines, we will need approximately 10 chaperones for the event on September 11 and 12 at the Orange County Convention Center. The chaperones can be different from the first day to the second day. If you can volunteer for either day, please go to the Band Calendar, find September 11 and/or 12, and click on the "helping hand" icon to sign-up.
Finally, don't forget that this is the final week for Program Ads & Sponsor submissions! This is one of our biggest, most profitable fundraisers of the school year. Don't miss out!
All the Best!
Mr. Blackmer
ASIS Convention Marching Band Performance - DOWN TO NEEDING 15!
We are getting close! As of Friday afternoon, we now need 15 more students to make the ASIS event work for everyone. Students will earn $30 into their Band account. In addition, they can also receive community service hours for this event.
There will be a rehearsal on Sunday, September 11 (9 AM - 1:15 PM), with the actual presentation taking place on Monday, September 12 (6 AM - 10:15 AM). Food is being provided on both days, as well as all transportation to and from the Convention Center.
To sign-up for this event, complete the Google Form found HERE. We are still in need of at least 50 students, otherwise, we are out $3,000. We must make this happen, so please sign-up today! If the Google Form is giving you trouble, just e-mail your intent to go directly to Mr. Blackmer at Christopher.Blackmer@ocps.net. Students may also sign-up through Mr. Blackmer.
New York/Carnegie Hall Tour 2017
The initial sign-up for the Band's New York Tour has begun, and we have a few spots available for both students and chaperones. There are not many, though, so get forms and deposits in ASAP.
All information and forms may be found on our Band website!
Sight Reading Factory
The Winter Park Band students have a new tool in their efforts to become better sight readers. Each student now has a 1-year subscription to Sight Reading Factory.
Sight Reading Factory provides an unlimited resource for students to practice sight reading. The program creates real music (that makes musical sense) with a multitude of difficulty levels and various difficulty settings. In addition to assignments created throughout the school year by the Band Directors, students are strongly encouraged to create their own sight reading exercises on a daily basis as part of their regular practice routine!
At this point, all Band students should have signed in and activated their accounts. If they haven't, they should go to their class' Google Classroom page and go to the posting entered on August 21. Once they follow the link, SRF will ask them to create an account. Note: the e-mail address here does not need to be the OCPS student e-mail.
Wind Ensemble: you will now find your first SRF assignment posted as of this morning. It is due by 11:30 PM on Tuesday, August 30.
Full Marching Band Uniforms This Week!
At the conclusion of any Marching Band performance, the uniform must be returned to the Uniform Room. Each student must bring their own 2016 show shirt, compression shorts (or form fitting shorts) and long black socks to school for the performance. Your marching shoes (for those who ordered new shoes) and white gloves will be distributed this week.
Marching shoes will be distributed from the Uniform Room after rehearsal this Wednesday, August 31. You must come by the uniform room Wednesday to pick yours up so you have them for the game on Friday. Marching Gloves will be distributed on Friday before the game. All shoes and gloves look alike, so please store your items inside of a personal bag inside your Band locker so that someone else does take yours up by mistake. Write your name inside of your shoes. We are not responsible for lost items and you will have to replace them at your own cost. It is a good idea to have $5 cash each game day for replacement gloves if you need them. You must have gloves and shoes to perform.
Section Leaders: go over all uniform protocols with your section (both new and returning people) prior to Friday. To be safe, and allow for time to purchase replacement items, do this before the end of Monday's rehearsal.
Program Ads & Sponsors
The deadline for Program Ads & Sponsors is this Friday! Now is the time to secure your ads and sponsors. This is the most profitable fundraiser for your student's Band account that we offer! Many students pay for nearly all of their Band fees through this single fundraiser. In addition, any profit from this fundraiser may also be used toward the New York tour!
Forms can be found on the Band website. If you have questions please email Mary Beth Johnston at wpbandprogram@gmail.com.
Potential Chaperones, Operations Volunteers & Door-2-Door Drivers Updated!
A list of the volunteers selected for a band function will now be posted at the bottom of the itinerary for that event. Please check the itinerary to see if you are on duty. If you have not yet signed or renewed your OCPS ADDitions account, please go to our website and read any of the previous newsletters for instructions. Questions? Contact Carla Shuman, Band Chaperone Coordinator at shumanorl@aol.com.