DMS Bands Weekly News
March 1, 2020
This Week
Schedule: Week 1
A B C D E
No morning band room until further notice.
- Monday 3/2 - Percussion Ensemble (3:30-5:30)
- Tuesday 3/3 - Symphonic Band performs at MPA - James Clemens HS (9:30 AM)
- Wednesday 3/4 - 8th Grade Field Trip to Bob Jones; Set Up for Safe Schools Assembly (Volunteers Afterschool Until about 4:30 p.m.)
- Thursday 3/5 - Safe Schools Pep Rally (Symphonic Band Only) - During School; Percussion Ensemble (3:30-5:30)
- Friday, 3/6 - Solo and Ensemble Registration Forms and Money Due!
Update Your Calendars!
- March 3 - DMS Symphonic Band Music Performance Assessment - James Clemens HS (9:00 AM)
- March 11 - DMS Concert Band Music Performance Assessment - Hartselle HS (9:50AM)
- SPRING CONCERT DATES - May 11 (Cadet and Concert Band)
- SPRING CONCERT DATES - May 12 (Symphonic Band)
- Jazz Brunch: May 16 (Jazz Band Only)
See ORLANDO TRIP required meeting dates below!
Announcements for All
Volunteers Needed - Wednesday afternoon, March 4
We need a few students to stay afterschool and help us set up for the Safe Schools Assembly on Wednesday afternoon until about 4:30 p.m. If you can help, pleaes email info@dmsbands.org.
Please double check CHARMS so you can see your balance due. If you need help checking your CHARMS account, email info@dmsbands.org.
We REALLY need you guys to buy some of this amazing DMS Band spirit wear! We have tons of types of clothing, including gym shorts, athletic wear, sweatshirts, etc!! Please get some!!
https://sew-southern.com/collections/discovery-middle-school-band
Solo and Ensemble Registration Forms have been sent out! Please watch for them and be sure to sign up for some fun events!
Just a few quick tidbits of info about Solo and Ensemble (Saturday, April 18-Meridianville MS):
- Students can participate in 4 events (One solo per instrument)
- Jazz Band typically performs at this event - but their performance does NOT count as one of a student's four events
- Students can mix and match instrumentation and band classes to participate! Find some friends and learn some music together!
- Music must be approved by a band director for Solo and Ensemble. We have certain rules to follow regarding music selection, which we will explain to students in class.
- Students are given an assigned time and judge for their performance. Performances are just for one judge. After students play, they are free to go and results are distributed on the following Monday!
All DMS Band students should fill out the google form below:
Know any current 5-7th grader who wants to do band??
Direct them to this website:
https://sites.google.com/madisoncity.k12.al.us/mcsnewtoband
They can just sign up for "beginner band" - its THAT easy! We will see them at our PETTING ZOO nights in the spring. The first Petting Zoo is March 26 and the second is April 14. Students will get more info about these at their school next week and at Panther Prowl.
Cadet Band
Solo and Ensemble
This year, we are asking each of our Cadet Band members to learn a solo piece to perform either for our band class or for a judge at Solo and Ensemble festival. We will be working on the music in class and this is a great opportunity to get positive feedback as we progress! Please watch for the paperwork this week so you can sign up!
Please check this week and make sure students all have working instruments. We are having too many students sit out repeatedly for broken instruments. We need your help in checking these! If your student has an instrument sent in for repairs, please send us an email or a note to keep us in the loop! Thank you!
Get you some AMAZING Discovery Band spirit wear!
https://sew-southern.com/collections/discovery-middle-school-band
We are running into MANY students who are not quite as organized as we have been in the fall. Please make sure your beginner band student has the following:
- book
- binder (black, w/ nametag)
- pencil
- instrument
- accessories (mallets for mallet players, reeds and ligatures for reed players, neckstraps for saxophone players, mouthpiece for brass players, etc)
Starting this week, parents will get a phone call each time a student forgot something they needed for class. We have way too many students showing up repeatedly forgetting supplies. Students get behind when they can't participate with the group, so please help us help you!
Concert/Symphonic Bands
Last ORLANDO trip payment due 2/28 - please see box below called "orlando trip updates!"
MPA is coming up soon! Parents are welcome to attend - but this year (due to our BJHS 8th grade field trip) Concert and Symphonic Bands will have to compete at different locations. Symphonic Band will compete at JCHS and Concert Band will compete at Hartselle HS. See "save the date" box above for times and locations. Permission forms are below! Please return permission slips and $10 for lunch (if you do not have a UA Honor Band credit in Charms) by Monday, 3/2!
THANK YOU to the parents who volunteered to chaperone! Please make sure you have your volunteer card in place. You guys rock!
Symphonic Band MPA Field Trip Plan - Tuesday, March 3
- 7:45 AM - Depart DMS
- 8:00 AM - Arrive James Clemens HS
- 8:30 AM - Warm-Up
- 9:00 AM - Performance in James Clemens Auditorium (Followed by Sight-Reading and listening to a few band performances)
- 11:00 AM - Leave for Stevie B's pizza
- 11:15 AM - Arrive at Stevie B's pizza
- 1:15 PM - Return to DMS
- Students will attend their E Block Class at the end of the day
Safe Schools Assembly
Symphonic Band will be playing in the Safe Schools Assembly during the school day on Thursday, March 5. Symphonic Band students will need to wear concert uniforms to school on Thursday and bring a change of clothes. Students should bring their backpacks as they will be attending classes on this day as well.
We need a few volunteers to stay afterschool on Wednedsay and help set up the Gym for the Assembly. If you can stay until about 4:30 on Wednesday afternoon, please email info@dmsbands.org.
Solo and Ensemble Sign-Up Forms have been handed out! Be sure to sign up if you want to perform! This is a great way to get some positive feedback on your playing, earn medals for your uniform and have a great time making music with your friends!
Get some AMAZING Discovery Band spirit wear!
https://sew-southern.com/collections/discovery-middle-school-band
ORLANDO TRIP UPDATES
See image of meeting dates above. Add these meetings to your calendar - they are required for trip participants. Email info@dmsbands.org if you have a conflict.
Check your CHARMS accounts to make sure they are up to date, please. Trips should be paid by March 1 unless a payment plan is drawn up.
Last payment due 2/28 - $250. Please email us if you need a payment plan. Thank you for being patient as we switched out our money box and understanding in your efforts to pay on time. We have already paid most of these payments out of the band account to our travel company, and we are thankful we are able to do this on-time because of you all!
Spring Trip Newsletter: https://www.smore.com/6tegj
Treasurer Updates
Please remember: Checks and online payments are the preferred method of payment.
2 phone numbers and 1 drivers license number should be included on checks.
Spring Class Dues ($50) and Spring Instrument Rental ($60) are due. Thank you for helping us collect these payments in a timely manner!
Here is the link you can use to pay online:
https://www.madisoncity.k12.al.us/domain/1659
Note that there is a $3.50 charge for paying online
Please email us a copy of the receipt so we can enter the payment in Charms. The systems aren't linked so it won't post automatically, and it takes us several days to get a copy of all online payments.
Band Room Supply Wish List
-CANDY for bribing...we mean...encouraging our students!
-Computer paper (white)
-Paper Towels
-Tissues
-Command Hooks
-Pencils (non-mechanical)
If you ever purchase reeds or any music supplies that don't work for your student, see if they can work as a donation to the program! For pricey donations we can provide a tax letter. Thanks!
Contact:
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If you have any questions please contact us.