The festival is an opportunity for the band to perform three prepared pieces and sight-reading in front of a panel of judges to receive assessment and feedback.  The highest rating a band can receive from a judge is a “1” or “Superior”.  Receiving this rating from the entire panel of judges is called a “Sweepstakes”.  The students have been working extremely hard to prepare for this event so we are looking forward to a great field trip and our first time going back to festival since COVID! 

DRESS: 
Maroon band polo TUCKED IN THE ENTIRE TIME, black pants with belt loops, black belt, black TALL socks, all black shoes (no joggers, leggings, or tall boots)

COST:       
We will collect a $10 fee to cover the cost of entry fees, lunch, and the bus.  Please pay here:

SCHEDULE:
7:10 am
Arrive to school in band uniform.  Please go to advisory as usual, eat breakfast, etc.  We will call you out when it is time to report to the band room.  Chaperones please plan to report around 8:00 a.m.

8:30 am
Leave for Zachary High School

10:40 am
Warm-up
*We will need chaperones to help unload the trailer and possibly help carry some of the large percussion equipment inside the building.  The percussion traditionally report straight to the stage door and have a chaperone watch them while the brass and woodwinds enter the warm-up room.  It is extremely important, as per festival rules, that the kids are quiet and do not make any sounds on their instruments while we are moving from one location to another, esp. inside the building.  Once the band enters the warm-up room, any parents accompanying us can go into the theatre.

11:05 am
Performance
*After the performance the band will go into the sight-reading room.  This room is closed to spectators.  This will be a good time for any volunteers to set up for our lunch.  After sight-reading, we will have pizza for the students at a location on ZHS campus.  By the time the students have finished eating, we should know the results.  If there is enough time, we will watch a band perform before leaving.

12:30 am
Leave for CMS.  We will arrive before dismissal.

---
Letter emailed on 2/25/2022:

​The LMEA Solo & Ensemble Festival is next weekend on Saturday, March 5, 2022 at Bluff Middle School.  

TIMES: 
Please find the student's individual assigned times attached here. Working around students with schedule conflicts and performing in multiple events is very difficult, but I believe we were able to make everything work.  At this time, there will be no changes to the schedule. 

LOCATION:
Bluff Middle School, 15464 Bluff Rd, Prairieville, LA 70769

CHECK-IN: 
At least 20-30 minutes before your assigned time in order to warm-up.  Check-in table will be in the gym lobby (drive towards the back of the school, it will be the last building).

WHAT TO BRING:
Your music and your instrument (percussion check with your band director to see what you will need to bring)

DRESS: 
Band Uniform -OR- Dress *NICE* (think collared shirt/dress shirt with dress pants, dresses, or "concert black")

RESULTS/AWARDS: 
Results will be released at the end of the day and posted at www.cmsmustangband.com and www.districtiv.org/solo--ens.html  Medals and awards will be given to the child's band director who will then distribute to students.  

Students will perform for a judge who is a specialist on their instrument.  The judges will give written feedback and a rating of 1-5.  1 or "Superior" being the highest rating.  Medals are awarded to Superior ratings.  The judges will also be asked to give some verbal feedback of things that the students did well on and things they should improve.  The judges use the following rubric to rate the performer:

• Brass and Woodwinds: https://www.lmeamusic.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/LMEA-Wind-Instrumental-Solo-and-Ensemble-Adjudication-Form.pdf
• Percussion: https://www.lmeamusic.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/LMEA-Percussion-Solo-and-Ensemble-Adjudication-Form.pdf  

AUDIENCE POLICY:
Traditionally, Solo & Ensemble Festival is a closed event (similar to Honor Band Auditions) where spectators are NOT allowed in the room with the judge and the performer.  This year we will allow the student to bring in any family or friends, but only at the PERFORMER'S discretion.  Some performers feel more comfortable if they are allowed to have someone watch them but for many it may make them more nervous.  If they want no audience, do not pressure the performer to do something they are uncomfortable with!  "Audience" members may NOT interact with the judge, the performer, or the process in any way and must remain silent during the process (with the exception of a big APPLAUSE at the end of course).  

PLAYALONG TRACKS:
Play-along Tracks (or accompaniment tracks) are available for most all solos (with the exception of percussion).  Performers, make sure you have communicated with your band director about the exact track you are using and if you have changed the speeds.  On the CMS website, you should be using the "Accomp" track or the "Practice" track, not the "Demo" track .  The judge will have all of the tracks pre-loaded and will start it for you.  

If you have ANY questions about the event, please let me know.  The best way to make sure you are not nervous is to be the best prepared you can be and play your solo in front of people before the event.  Use the upcoming break as an opportunity to practice playing (without stopping!) for your friends and family.  And remember next Saturday to be COOL, CALM, COLLECTED and CONFIDENT!  You've got this!

The Gonzales Christmas Parade is back on!  Our 7th and 8th grade band members march in this event along with the cheer and dance.  

Sunday, December 12, 2021
Here are the details:
Report by 11:00 am in the back parking lot of Central Middle School
Uniform:  We will let you know via Remind text which top we will wear.

• If it is cold - Band Tunic Top, supplied & issued by school with band polo underneath
• If it is warm – Maroon Band Polo
• Black pants (NO faded black jeans, joggers, or leggings)
• Black belt
• Tall black socks
• All black comfortable shoes

Bring:  Instrument in case, flip folder, lyre, and music.
PLEASE CHECK WITH YOUR CHILD THAT THEY HAVE THEIR LYRE AND FLIP FOLDER as they may have misplaced these since football
Pick-up:  Central Middle School back parking lot at approximately 3-4:00 p.m. (REMIND message will be sent when we are leaving the route, text @cmband7 or @cmband8 to 81010 to sign up).  We will not be releasing the students at the end of the route.  Please pick up at the school.

Rehearsals for the Parade:

• DRUMLINE ONLY – Monday, November 29 – 2:30 – 4:00 p.m.
• All marchers - Tuesday, November 30 – 2:30 – 4:00 p.m.
• All marchers - Tuesday, December 7 – 2:30 – 4:00 p.m.
• Please note that students must be able to attend the rehearsals in order to participate.  Basketball players can split their time with practices if necessary!

​We would love to have you chaperone and we are also looking for someone to pull the trailer.  Please indicate on the online permission form if you are available!

Click here for the Permission Form and Sign-up

Looking forward to having our students perform for the community!

​Parade Chaperone Informational Google Meeting at 6:00 pm (should only take 15 minutes!) click here: https://meet.google.com/aqb-zjvs-dqj
​---

Other dates to have on your calendar:

• Honor Band Auditions @ Denham Springs JH - Saturday, December 11 (optional event, individual times TBA for those choosing to audition)
• Winter Concert @ CMS - Wednesday, December 15 - Staggered performance times starting with 6th Grade at 6:00 pm (Mandatory performance for all students)

UPDATE AS OF 5/5:
We will be performing inside in the gym!  Everything else remains the same except please do not bring camping chairs.  All audience members MUST BE MASKED!

UPDATE AS OF 4/28:

PLEASE NOTE TIME CHANGES!
5:00-5:20pm - 7th Grade Woodwinds
   5:20-5:40pm - Transition
5:40-6:00pm - 7th Grade Brass & Percussion
   6:00-6:20pm - Transition
6:20-6:40pm - 8th Grade Brass & Percussion
   6:40-7:00pm - Transition
7:00-7:20pm - 8th Grade Woodwinds 

Thank you for your understanding in this change.  We are still outside for this performance, so we needed to make sure that a) we had enough transition time to sanitize between performances and that b) the last group would be finished before the sunlight faded too much.  

A few other notes:

• 4 audience members per student.  Students will be given 4 tickets.  AUDIENCE MEMBERS MUST HAVE A TICKET TO ENTER!  If you are NOT going to use all of your tickets, please ask your child if they know if someone needs more, and/or bring it to the concert and leave it with the check-in table so that someone else can use it if necessary. 
• Students report 15-20 minutes before their concert time directly to the back door of the bandroom.  (Due to capacity, DO NOT REPORT EARLIER THAN THIS!)
• Gates will be open for audience members 20 minutes before their child's performance.  You can only attend the concert time for which you have been given a ticket.  The stadium will be cleared in between performances.  Please wait in your car until it is time to enter.
• Audience must enter through the back gate by the bandroom OR the gate by ITTC at the left front of the school.
• The performance is on the football field and there is limited seating at 6 ft spacing in the bleachers, so I encourage you to bring a folding chair/camping chair if you have one.  The ticket is NOT a ticket for a seat, just a placeholder for the number of people we can have in the area. 
• Each concert is approximately 20 minutes in length. 
• Our program will be digital this year, so please don't forget to scan the QR code when you enter in order to access it on your smart phone.
• Audience members should be masked up and stay 6 feet apart, despite the latest changes at the state level, the school mandate is still for everyone to be masked up on campuses.  
• Finally, see the memo below for dress requirements (it is NOT too late to still get a band polo if you want one!)

Things went VERY smoothly last when we followed all of these protocols with our 6th grade concert, so I am looking forward to another great performance from our Central Mustang Band.  Thank YOU for everything you have done to continue to support your child through this very unusual band year!

--

Original message:
Parents,

I am so excited to announce our one and only concert of this year!!!!!  It has been quite a challenging year for music and live performances, but nevertheless our students have been working hard all year and have some great tunes prepared to play for you!  We are planning for the concerts to be outdoors at Central Middle School with staggered times to allow for smaller audiences and to follow COVID protocols.  At this time, plan for 4 audience members per student.  We will send more details as the concert gets closer!  This performance is required and for a grade (*see the note at the bottom for Virtual students).  

Please save the dates!

6th Grade Band - Wednesday, April 21, 2021 at 6:30 pm
     Download Concert Program Here

7th & 8th Grade Bands - Thursday, May 6, 2021 (SEE TIME CHANGES ABOVE)

Uniforms:  Due to this being our only full group performance of the year and many students not owning a band polo and/or their current one doesn't fit anymore, these are the guidelines for uniforms that we will follow:

• Band uniform (black pants, black shoes, black belt, maroon band polo* tucked in) -OR-
• Dressy/performance appropriate attire in black, white, gray, red/maroon.  Boys should have collared shirts, a tie is a plus!  Should ladies choose to wear a dress/skirt it needs to be school appropriate length.  NO loud prints, jeans, shorts, athletic wear, leggings, or sleeveless tops.  AVOID athletic shoes if you can, unless they are all black.  (You can just keep it simple and do what professional musicians do!  We wear all-black and even call it our "Concert Blacks".)  Contact me if you have any worries or questions!

*Band polos: We do have many on hand and will still require them in future performances next year (as things should be more normal!). So if you would like to purchase one and have your child wear the band uniform for this concert, you can purchase them through the website here: http://www.cmsmustangband.com/store/p2/Band_Fee.html

-

For our virtual students who have not been performing in class with us on a daily basis, they can either: 
1) Do an alternate at home assignment 
-or-
2) Start coming to class to rehearse with the group.  For the students that do this already they just get dropped off by the back bandroom door and get picked up at the end of class.

-

We will send more details as the dates get closer, but please let me know if you have any questions!

Each year over a thousand students from across the Greater Baton Rouge area audition for the District IV  Honor Band. There have been substantial modifications to the audition  process and event this year in order to meet COVID requirements. Students who are selected for this prestigious group will perform in small ensembles along with their peers from across the area.
 
Honor Band is a great goal to work towards in a year when other performance opportunities are limited.  We believe students who are selected will love the unique experience of performing in small ensembles. I  am encouraging all 7th and 8th grade students who are capable of performing the audition music,  at any level, to audition.
 
Registration - $10

• Deadline - Monday, January 11th
• Pay $10 by sending Cash/Check made payable to CMS Band
• Return the registration form, which includes acceptance of the COVID stipulations for this year.
• There is no late registration this year. If the student does not register in time, it is not possible to add them  later.

 
Honor Band Auditions - Prerecorded

• Monday, February 8th to Friday, February 26th
• Students will be given a username/password to log in to their Music First  account beginning on February 8th.  Recordings must be made using the Music First website. They cannot  create recordings using other software and upload them.
• Students may attempt their recordings as many times as they like during the three-week audition  window. When the audition window closes on February 26th, the most recently stored recording becomes final. 
• Audition Music
  • We have been learning portions of the audition music in class since the beginning of the year. However, students are responsible for individually preparing all of their audition material. After school clinics will be offered for each instrument to answer questions and refine audition music.
    • Brass & Woodwinds
      • Recording 1 – All scales on the honor band scale sheet, in order, without stopping.
      • Recording 2 – Honor Band Etude
    • Percussion
      • Recording 1 – All scales on the honor band scale sheet, in order, without stopping.
      • Recording 2 – All snare rudiments listed at the bottom of the honor band scale sheet, in  order.
      • Recordings 3-6 – Each etude in a separate recording. Snare, timpani, melodic.

 
Honor Band Event – Small Ensembles

• Friday, April 16th & Saturday, April 17th
• Students who make the honor band will perform in small ensembles with other top players in the district.  The ensembles are separated by instrument (Flute ensemble, Trombone ensemble, etc). There are also two  top groups: the Brass Quintet & Woodwind Quintet. Auditions for the two top groups will be held in  person on April 23rd before the first rehearsal.
• Students who make the honor band will rehearse on Friday evening and all day Saturday. There will be a  concert for parents Saturday evening. The location for the event is TBD, but Dutchtown High School is  currently our top choice. 

 
COVID Protocols

• Students will complete a temperature check and health screening questionnaire each day of the event.
• Rehearsals and concerts are currently planned to be held entirely outdoors under covered areas.  Concerts will be staggered as necessary based on the current COVID guidelines in April.
• Students will be socially distanced during the entirety of the event.
• Participating students will be required to wear masks at all times when not actively playing a wind instrument. Wind instruments must be equipped with acceptable PPE (bell coverings). 

It is official - we will be able to play at the football games!  Only the 8th grade band plus 7th grade drummers will be allowed to attend due to COVID regulations.

100% Virtual Students:
100% Virtual Students are allowed to participate only if they attend the after school practice.  

After-School Full Band Practice for all 8th Graders and 100% Virtual Participants:
Wednesday, October 7 - 2:30 pm (or as soon as 100% virtual can get here) - 4:30 pm

Game Day Instructions:
Thursday, October 8 at EA Stadium (Band cancelled due to weather)
Wednesday, October 27 at EA Stadium 

• Report time is NO LATER than 4:30 p.m. 
• Please make sure you’ve made arrangements for transportation.  We have a large band family willing to help out with transportation.  Please have your children reach out to their friends in band if transportation is an issue.  
• Full band uniform 
  • Black pants
  • Black belt
  • Black shoes (or as close to, I understand with this short of notice it may be difficult to get the correct shoes)
  • Black socks
  • Maroon band polo ($20 if you need another one!)
• Must have flip folder & lyre (go by Music & Arts if you need one!)
• Due to COVID regulations, they will pre-sale game day tickets.  Only 2 spectators per participant is allowed at EA Spartan Stadium.  
• Games last approximately 1 to 1.5 hours, we will send a remind message during the last quarter to let you know when you can come and pick up.  Text @cmband8 or @cmband7 to 81010 to sign up for our remind messages.

Safety in the Band Room

• The band room is very large, so students will be truly spaced 6 feet or more apart. 
• All surfaces that are interacted with will be cleaned between classes.
• There will be no playing of wind instruments at school until it is safe to do so.

Do students need to bring their instruments to school?
No, all instruments should remain at home for now.  However, 7th and 8th grade students should still be practicing at home and will be given assignments to work on.  
​
6th Graders please do not purchase or rent an instrument at this time.  When it is appropriate to do so, I will hold a parent meeting to provide information on how we will instrument test and how to go about purchasing/renting instruments.  It is extremely important that students end up with functional, quality instruments, or they will struggle to learn to play them.  Please wait to acquire an instrument.

What will be the band schedule?

• Hybrid Students: In person class vs. at home days
  • Because of the A/B Day schedule and the Mustang/Pride group splits, students will come to band class in person every 4 days.  They will have a virtual assignment to complete from home during the time between in person classes.
  • What day do they come to school?
    • Mustang Group - Last Names A-J 
    • Pride Group - Last Names K-Z
    • *there may be some exceptions to this, check Powerschool when it is available to be sure.
  • ​​What day do they come to band?
    • A Day - Brass & Percussion
    • B Day - Woodwinds
    • *since 6th graders do not have instruments yet, we tried to put them in a class based on what they originally showed interest in and/or where needed to balance the classes.  Don't worry if their schedule says brass but they were interested in woodwinds or vis versa.  This can be fixed later once we start learning instruments!
  • ​​When they come to school but don't have band, they go to PE!  
  • For a full breakdown of August, see our band calendar here:
    http://www.cmsmustangband.com/calendar.html
  • Example schedule for the first two weeks of school:

Finally, CMS has a tradition of great bands and we value the meaning of a band family. We know your child will feel at home here in the band room. We are so excited that your child will be a part of this! We weren't able to do any recruiting this Spring in person, so please, if you know of anyone interested in joining the band, tell them to let me know so we can get their schedules changed ASAP!

Musically yours,

​Katie Codina
Central Middle School, Band Director
Louisiana Music Educators Association, District IV Director
Louisiana Music Adjudicators Association, President
katie.codina@apsb.org