OMS Bands Weekly Updates 8/31/15

Hello everyone,

Here are the weekly band announcements for this coming week.

Why am I receiving this email? (6th Grade/7th Grade/8th Grade)

Your student is currently enrolled in 6th, 7th, or 8th Grade Band. These email updates are a way for us to communicate directly to parents as well as serve as reminders for upcoming events/homework. These emails are meant for all three groups but not all of the information pertains to all of the groups. Please be careful to read which announcement is for which group (usually marked right after the section title).

Fall Fundraiser (6th Grade/7th Grade/8th Grade)

Our fall fundraiser with the Chip Shoppe will begin next week. All orders and money are due Tuesday, September 15th. We do accept donations in lieu of buying anything from the catalog. We encourage students to sell as much as they can (at least 10 items). This money is used to help pay for incidental purchases during the course of the school year like contest entries, instrument repairs/purchases, music, reeds, etc.

Website (6th Grade/7th Grade/8th Grade)

If you ever delete, lose, or do not get these updates, they will be posted on the Olympia Music Department Website.

Band Manual (6th Grade/7th Grade/8th Grade)

The OMS Band Manual was emeailed and is something that everyone has already seen (hopefully). For all grades, this is the first assignment that was due last week. Please check Skyward to see if your student has turned in their filled out form.

Extracurricular Rehearsal (7th Grade/8th Grade)

You may or may not have noticed the 7th and 8th Grade Bands have extracurricular rehearsals that occur after shuttle bus. These rehearsals are necessary as we will be combining the 7th and 8th Grade Bands for each concert. Unfortunately, there isn't a time during the school day schedule where I am available and both grades are available. These rehearsals will help ensure success at the concerts, as it would not be ideal to wait until the night of the concert to have our first full rehearsal. Furthermore, these rehearsals take place after shuttle bus to allow for students involved with multiple activities to fulfill all of their commitments. Our first rehearsal will be Monday, August 31 from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM.

Practice Log (6th Grade)

In order for the individual and group to sound good, it takes individual practice. Students are to come prepared to their lesson. Practice is very important so all instruments are to go home every night. The students will be given a weekly assignment to practice in their lesson books as well as being responsible for their band music. Their lesson material is circled in their band books.

Starting next week, 6th Grade Band members should be keeping this practice log. It can be found on the inside front cover their books. Students will write down how much they practice each day and at the end of the week have their parent/guardian initial it. In order to receive a passing grade the journals need to be completed and turned in. We ask all band students to practice a minimum of 1 hour and 20 minutes per week. Each student is asked to practice 4 to 5 times a week for 20 to 30 minutes at a time. This should enable the student to reach the required time. A good and bad example of the practice log was emailed to parents.

The grading scale for practice logs will be as follows: 110 + minutes=A, 100-110 minutes=B, 90-100 minutes=C, 80-90 minutes=D, <80 minutes=F. Practice logs that are improperly filled out are automatically lowered by one letter grade. The late work policy, as explained in the OMS Band Manual, will apply to practice logs.

Please encourage your student to practice their lesson material as well as their band music. Your student needs your guidance or reminders to practice. This helps them to build good study habits. Some students do not do this automatically. Students should have a quiet and private place to practice with a music stand. Encourage your student to play for you. Complement them on their accomplishments.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email or call.

Thank you,

Kyle Brubaker

Director of Bands

Olympia Middle/High School