WHAT IS SOLO & ENSEMBLE FESTIVAL?​
An opportunity for students to do something outside of the large ensemble experience, this festival allows students to pick a solo and/or a duet or trio to rehearsal and perform.  Choosing from a wide library of classical music solos and small ensembles, students can pick the repertoire they perform.  Students will have some time in class to work on their repertoire and receive feedback from one of our instructors, however, the bulk of the responsibility is on them to work up the music.

On the days of the festival, we bring in a judge who will listen to the students perform.  The judge will offer critiques and award a rating of 1 to 5.  1, or “Superior”, is the highest rating.  Students that receive a “Superior” rating will receive a medal on our Spring Concert.  From those students, a select number will be invited to perform at our Solo & Ensemble Recital on April 15.  Performing on the Recital is completely optional but a great experience they won't want to miss out on!  The Concert will follow a quick 6:30 pm Booster Meeting.  

Students can sometimes be nervous about doing this festival.  I try to remind them that they will perform for one judge in a room with no audience, which is much less intimidating than any check-off or playing test they do on a regular basis in front of the entire class!  The lessons learned and pride taken in preparing music on their own, along with feedback that they will receive from the expert judge is invaluable!

• *Optional* but highly recommended for all 7th & 8th and all ability levels
• No auditions required to participate
• Parents complete online registration on LSU's website
• $75 fee to participate

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This combines all the best elements of an Honor Band and Band Camp into a three day event.  Our students that have attended have had a great experience performing in the LSU facilities, seeing the LSU Wind Ensemble perform, and being coached by LSU staff and students.  This year's middle school conductor will even be Ms. Patti Roussel, retired EAHS Conductor! 

There is no audition to make the group, you must simply sign-up and pay the registration fee ($75) no later than January 22.  Once registered, there will be a seating test when you get there to determine what part you will play in the ensemble.  

• *Optional* but highly recommended for top performers in 7th & 8th grade
• No auditions required to participate
• E-mail Ms. Codina to be nominated
• $60 fee if selected

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This is a summer honor band/band camp event in which students rehearse and perform with a band of the best middle school students from throughout the State of Louisiana.  This is widely regarded as a step-up from District Honor Band.  Band Directors are asked to nominate their all-star students and then LBA chooses, based on a point system, who will participate in the band.  Students accumulate points for superior solo performances, participation in honor bands, superior band performances, etc.  Nomination is not a guarantee for selection.
 
Unlike District Honor Band, you are completely on your own to organize accommodations and transportation for this event.  Many students are usually selected from CMS, so carpooling is a possibility.  Students selected are responsible for the costs of hotel, meals, transportation, and the participation fee of $60 per person
 
I have sent students for years to this honor band and they truly enjoy it.  I will notify you if your child is selected sometime in March/April.  All I need from you at this time is a commitment for your student to participate in this event IF your child is selected.  
 
E-mail Ms. Codina at katie.codina@apsb.org NLT than January 24 to be nominated!

Route Change
Please note that last year the route changed.  From EA, the parade takes a LEFT onto Burnside and end at the Eastbank Shopping Center on HWY 30.  

7th & 8th Grade Band students are strongly encouraged to audition for the District IV Middle School Honor Bands, which rehearse and perform the weekend of January 16-18, 2020 at Southeastern University in Hammond.  The Mustangs who have been selected in the past have had an unforgettable experience participating in a fun overnight trip, performing new and challenging music, meeting other musicians, and learning from an accomplished band director.  Earning membership in these prestigious groups is a great addition to any young musician’s resume.  Last year we had the highest number of students from an Ascension Parish Middle School make the band and we hope to keep the record this year! 
 
Students are already preparing the audition music and scales in class as part of their final assessments for this semester -- so let’s push them to take the extra step to go for excellence and represent at a District level!

 WHAT TO BRING TO THE AUDITION:

• Instrument (percussion should bring all required mallets and tubas and baritones are responsible for bringing their own instrument)
• Audition music (Scales & the Etude) – yes you can bring your book in the room and yes you can use your fingering chart if you’d like!
• Optional: Water bottle and a jacket or sweater in case the room is cold

 
WHAT TO WEAR:  Dress nice!  The judge will see you and you want to make a good impression.  There is no dress code, so use your best judgement. Make sure whatever you wear you feel comfortable playing in it.
 
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU GET THERE:

1. Check in at the pre-registration table to get your audition ticket
2. Go to the warm-up room.  Play through all of your audition music (slowly, take your time and remember to breathe!!!).
3. Approximately 5 minutes before your audition time, find your first room.  Many instruments audition in two rooms.  For example, they may play their scales in one room and their etude and sight-reading in another room.  These rooms should be next door to each other and clearly labeled.
4. When you walk in the room, politely say “Hello” to the judge and hand them your ticket.  No other talking is necessary!  No excuses!  No freak outs!  Show the best version of yourself!
5. When you are done, you may leave.  Results will be posted at www.districtiv.org

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Nervous?
The best way to not be nervous is to be prepared.  Spend this last week practicing everyday!  Some other tips:

• Focus the most on the parts you feel the least comfortable with
• Practice with a metronome (scales at 72) online
• Play your full audition for someone
• Listen to and play along with the recordings online at www.districtiv.org
• DON’T DRINK CAFFEINE and have lots of sugar the morning of the audition.  Some even say bananas help to calm nervous. 
• On the day of the auditions, avoid listening outside the door of the audition room and worrying about what you hear others play in the warm-up room! 

GRADING POLICY:
​​All performances are mandatory and for a grade, based on:

• On time (or EARLY!) attendance
• Appropriate dress
• Musical preparation
• Appropriate concert etiquette/behavior - including NO CELL PHONES

The 6th Grade Beginning Band is getting ready for their debut performance at our Beginner Demonstration Concert in October!  We will show off the very first songs that we have learned on our band instruments.  This educational concert will be a treat for not only our audience but also for our first time performers!

Friends and family are invited to attend and admission is free.  We will collect monetary donations at the door.  Please consider giving to help support our instructor fund.  This fund pays for our specialty instructors that work with the students in small group settings.

Students should arrive no later than 6:10 pm in their band uniform with their music book and instrument assembled (leaving their instrument cases in the car OR with their parents).  Percussionists will use school equipment that will be set-up.  The concert will be approximately 45 minutes.  
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Thank you for the great parent turnout for our first Band Parent Booster Club Meeting of the year!  As a note, Booster Club meetings ARE our Band Parent meetings and all parents of students in the band, and students, are invited to attend!  

We discussed  our general expectations for our students as members of the band program including practicing on a weekly basis, abiding by our commitment of Pride-Discipline-Teamwork, and attending all performances.

We also discussed some needs we are seeking to fill:

• Welders to build carts for xylophones that we are about to purchase
• World's Finest Chocolate will still be our required one for all students in the Spring
• Ideas for an additional (and optional for the kids to participate) fundraiser to help bolster the instructor fund
• Ongoing need for bottled water and snacks for games and events
• Volunteers to do help at concerts and games
• Donation of color printing services for all concert programs

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I wanted to give one more BIG THANKS to the parents that have helped recently to get many projects accomplished in the band room (building shelves, painting music stands, and so many "home" improvement projects), including: Kayla & Jimmy Lafleur, Monique & Greg Wempren, Niki Havard,and their children.
 
Below is the agenda from the night.  Please e-mail Kayla Lafleur at klafleur61@yahoo.com to volunteer!

WHO IS INVOLVED IN FOOTBALL BAND?
All 7th and 8th grade band members NOT involved in Cheer, Dance, Mascot, or Football.

HOME GAME DATES
Thursday, October 3
Thursday, October 10 
Thursday, October 17 
Thursday, October 24 (8th Grade Recognition)
*All mandatory performances are for a grade.  Cheer, dance, mascot, and football members are excused as long as they are reporting for their duties to those teams.

BAND UNIFORM

• Maroon Band polo tucked in
• Black pants (no leggings, joggers, or faded black jeans)
• Tall black socks
• Black belt
• Black shoes

REPORT TIME
Report no later than 4:30 pm in band uniform to the CMS Bandroom

PICK-UP TIME
Games typically finish around 6:30 pm.  We send a remind message in the last quarter to let you know when to pick-up.  But…. STAY and watch the kids play!  We play a lot of music and have a great time!

TRANSPORTATION
Students are required to go home and come back for the 4:30 pm report time.  Many students will arrange to go home with a friend that has an adult available to drive them back for 4:30 pm.  As always, CONTACT ME If you are having trouble getting transportation sorted out and I will help you find a solution!

DONATIONS OF SNACKS & WATER
We appreciate any donations of individually portioned chips, cookies, etc. to have as a snack for the students during half time.  We are also in need of bottled water donations.  Please contact Kayla Lafleur at klafleur614@yahoo.com to inquire about our needs.

VOLUNTEERS
Volunteers to hand out water, monitor students during break, etc. are greatly appreciated.  Please contact Kayla Lafleur at klafleur614@yahoo.com to volunteer.

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For many of you band is a new experience for you and your child.  I invite you to attend our first Band Parent Meeting (Booster Meeting) on August 29 at 6:30 pmin the bandroom to get more information.  Meanwhile, please email if you have any questions!

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Other reminders:
- Pay Band Fee ASAP on our band website OR OSP
- Order Band Polos (mandatory for Oct concert) on our band website
- Order Sweatshirts (optional but can be worn to school) on our band website NO LATER THAN AUG 23
- Read & Sign our Band Concert online: http://www.cmsmustangband.com/handbook.html 

Please follow the links below for what you need to know for band:

• Read and Sign our band handbook agreement online
• Place all important dates in your calendar OR simply add the google calendar to your device to always have the most up-to-date information.  Click the +GoogleCalendar link at the bottom of the calendar. 
• Pay $35 band fee (Child will not receive band books until this is paid.  Can be paid through OSP, however, we prefer that it be paid through the Boosters on our website.)
• Order $20 band polo used for performances (Can only be paid on our website)
• Order optional $25 band hoodie that can be worn to school (Can only be paid on our website)
• Purchase lyres & flip folders (7th & 8th gr. Only)
• Check the supply list to make sure your child has all necessary instrument cleaning supplies, reeds, etc.

 

For those that prefer online shopping, links are provided below!  

NOTE:  There are some slightly cheaper clarinet and saxophone lyres available if you shop around, however, last year we went with the very cheapest we could find online to try to save money and almost immediately had regrets.  They broke almost instantly, leaving us to have to order more of a better quality!  
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Flute 

• Flutist's Friend Lyre
• Extra Windows (You only need half this pack - about 6 extra pockets - so find a flute, trombone, or snare friend to share with!  The music store may sell these individually!)

Clarinet 

• Flip Folder 
• Lyre

Saxophone

• Flip Folder 
• Lyre 
• *Lyre only for Yamaha Brand saxophones

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Trumpet

• Flip Folder 
• Clamp on Lyre #1  -or-  Clamp on Lyre #2  -or-  Traditional Lyre   *I would like to try the "Clamp-ons" this year because the traditional lyres take the place of the 3rd valve slide rings, which means the student often looses the ring and then is unable to use it while playing.   

​Trombone

• Bell Lyre and Flip Folder in One
• Extra Windows (You only need half this pack - about 6 extra pockets - so find a flute, trombone, or snare friend to share with!  The music store may sell these individually!)

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Baritone & Tuba (flip folder only, no lyre needed)

• Flip Folder

Percussion (do not order until you know which instrument you will be on)

• Marching Snare & Quads Lyre 
• Snare & Quad players need also:  Extra Windows (You only need half this pack - about 6 extra pockets - so find a flute, trombone, or snare friend to share with!  The music store may sell these individually!)
• Marching Bass Lyre
• Cymbals - Flip Folder