Sallas’ Music Notes

    All 8th grade students who participated in the Poinsettia fundraiser should pick up the poinsettias this Thursday, December 3.   Pick up is from 4:30 until 7:00 p.m.   This is the only pick up date, so please make plans to get your plants on this date.

December 15 :    Jazz Band, 7-1 Class and 8-2 Class

December 17:   Clarinet Choir, 7-2 Class and 8-1 Class

All students should arrive at 6:30 for warm up.   The concerts will begin at 7:00.   Students should wear black slacks, black socks, black shoes and the McClure Band Polo shirt.

     The McClure Jazz Band and Clarinet Choir will be performing at Town Cener Mall on Friday, December 18 at noon.  We will be performing at the Santa Claus display in the center of the Mall on the bottom level.   Students will be bringing home permission slips this week.  

     We will need 4-6 parents to help chaperone and 1-2 parents who would be willing to drive a vehicle to carry equipment (amplifiers, drum set and larger instruments that will not fit on the bus).   If you would be available to chaperone, please email Mrs. McCardel or Ms. Sallas.

     We hope that parents can stop by on that day to hear us perform!

     All students auditioning for Honor Band and All State Band will receive a blue sheet of instructions in class on Wednesday, November 18.   This sheet lists the student’s audition time.   Instructions for exactly what to do when you arrive are on the sheet.   Parents please ask your student for this sheet on Wednesday night.

   As of today, there are only 16 days remaining until the audition.   Students should practice the audition material every night in order to be confident and really prepared to do well!   Students should be able to play the scales and the etude with no mistakes and no hesitation.   We offer extra help sessions on Monday and Friday mornings specifically for Honor Band and All State students.   Please take advantage of those help sessions.

     Auditions will be held on Saturday, December 5 at Dodgen Middle School,  located at 1725 Bill Murdock Road Marietta, Ga. 30062.    Students should arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the audition time for registration and warm up.

     We want you to perform at your very best!!!!!!!!   December will be a busy month with Band Concerts, Honor Band/All State auditions, Jazz Band Concert, Clarinet Choir Concert.   Are you spending enough time practicing on your instrument?   Did you know you can take instruments home to practice?

     The better you prepare your individual parts at home, the more time your director will have to work out the musical aspects of the piece.   The notes must be “under your fingers” at the proper tempo before your director can prepare the Band for a concert.

     Please spend time “drilling” your parts at home.   Play passages slowly until you have them correct.   Gradually drill at faster speeds until it is “under your fingers.”   It takes REPETITION.   Your goal should be NO MISTAKES and NO HESITATION.   If you cannot play a particular exercise without stopping or slowing down, that exercise needs more practice.

Please work on technique in your:

• Concert Music
• Playing Tests
• Jazz Band Music
• Clarinet Choir Music
• Honor Band/All State Band audition material:    Audition is December 5 – only 17 days left to practice and prepare.   Take advantage of every day so that you are super prepared !

Hey, Do you need a new band polo shirt?   Concerts are coming up, have you tried your shirt on???   Many of you have grown quite a bit since last year and your polo shirt may no longer fit you.

Any 7th or 8th graders who need a Band polo shirt need to order one by Wednesday,  November 18th!!!  The order forms may be picked up in class.   Please place order forms in  the wall pocket in the Band room.   All money should be placed in the black box in an envelope marked BAND POLO SHIRT.

Prices:

$14.00 for Polo shirt with McClure Band embroidered on the front.

$20.00 for Polo shirt with student’s first name and instrument embroidered on the front

The 8th grade Disney Fundraiser starts today and will run through November 16,2009.

All orders and money are Due before we leave for Thanksgiving!!  Remember, have all checks made out to your parents and  parents will send one check for the entire order.  Parents, please make the check payable to McClure Middle School.

All Plants will be delivered on Thursday December 3rd!!!  Please mark your calendar!