Sallas’ Music Notes

The final payment for the Disney trip is due February 5.   All students were given an invoice this week listing any forms that have not been turned in as well as the amount due for the final payment.

All parents of 8th Grade students zoned to attend Allatoona High next year are invited to attend an informational meeting about the Allatoona Band Program.   The meeting is next Thursday evening, February 4 at 7:00 p.m. in the Band Room at Allatoona High.   Both parents and students are invited.   The Band Directors will present great information about the Band program at Allatoona as well as scheduling information.

The Jazz Band and Clarinet Choir will be performing for Cultural Arts Night at McClure on Thursday, February 11.   We will be performing at approximately 7:30 p.m. that evening.

Our next scheduled concerts for 7th and 8th Grade students are in February.    These will be our Pre-Festival concerts to help us prepare our music for the Festival trip in March.   We have invited judges to come and evaluate us on those nights. One judge will  rehearse each band for about 20 minutes immediately after the performance to help us  to improve.

February 23, 2010          Combined Band (7-1 and 8-2 classes)       7:00 p.m.

February 25, 2010          7-2 Band          

February 25, 2010          8-1 Band

6th Grade Band Concert is coming up on Thursday, January 21.    The First Hour class performs at 6:00 p.m.    Those studnets need to arrive at 5:30 for warm up.    The Second Hour class performs at 7:30 p.m.    Those students need to arrive at 7:00 for warm up.   All students should wear the Black Band Polo shirt with black slacks, black dress shoes and black socks.   Polo shirts will be given to students in class next week.

Private Lessons gives your student the advantage.   Private lessons will enable your child to excel on their instrument at a faster rate and also keep your student working at the level they need to be working.  We strive to give as much individual attention as possible to each and every student in the band program.  Due to time constraints and the large number of students in the band program, unfortunately each individual cannot get the attention needed to excel without private instruction.

We have all the private instructors we use here at McClure listed in the Concert programs.  Private instruction is also available at your local music stores.

Please contact us if you have questions or concerns.

     Smart Music would make a great gift for all students.   Smart Music is a software program that allows students the opportunity to practice their music with professional accompaniment tracks.    Both our Concert Music and the Method Books that we use to teach our students are on Smart Music.    Students can use the program to practice their parts in the concert music so that they can play them accurately and easily.    This means less time in class drilling individual parts and more time spent on putting the music together (which is the fun part of rehearsal!). 

     Smart Music evaluates the student’s performance giving instant feedback.   The program scores the student’s performance and sends the score directly to us.    All of the tests from the Essential Elements Method Book will be conducted on the Smart Music program next semester.

     Why have the program at home?   Students with the program on their home computer will have more opportunities to take their tests.   With the large number of students in our classes, it currently takes 2-3 weeks to test everyone on  just one line from the book.    That means students only get one shot.    Students who have the program at home can practice the test as many times as they need to and only submit to us their highest score.

     Smart Music motivates students to practice.    It is more fun to practice with professional accompaniments, than to play by yourself.   It is like a game, where students want to keep trying on an assignment until they score a 100.    Along the way, students develop greater skill.    The kids get better on their instrument and they will want to practice more often and for longer periods of time.   And the more they practice, the better they sound.  And the better they sound, the more fun it is to play!

     To purchase a subscription, go to smartmusic.com.    Because we are a member of the Cobb County School System, students receive a discount of almost 40% – $18.50 for a one year subscription instead of $30.   More than one student can use the subscription, so if you have two students in Band, they can both use the program.     All three of our High Schools use the program.      

     The 7^th grade 1^st hour Band and the 8^th Grade 2^nd hour Band will be performing together on the December Concert.   We have a really entertaining program planned.   There will be some New Orleans style Jazz, some classical favorites with a surprise twist, and some holiday favorites as well.   The two classes need an opportunity to rehearse together so that we can perform at our very best!!!!!!!!

Rehearsals will be:

• Thursday afternoon, December 10 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.   Parents please plan on picking your child up at 5:30.
• Monday morning, December 14 at 8:00 a.m.

Thanks so much for your support!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Students will receive an order form in class on Wednesday, December 2.  The price of the shirt is as follows:

• $15 for Black Polo with McClure Band and Maverick embroidered on the front
• #21 for Black Polo with the student’s first name and instrument also embroidered on the front

The deadline to place an order is Friday, December 11.   Please place the order form in the wall pocket in the Band room.   All money must be placed in a white school envelope and dropped in one of the black boxes in the building.    Please write Band Polo Shirt on the envelope before dropping into the black box. 

Just a reminder, Disney payment #4 is due this Friday, December 4.