Sallas’ Music Notes

     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.

    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