March 28- April 1

42nd Street was a great show!  I'm so proud to have been a part of such an outstanding production.  For those who weren't able to get out and see the show, you missed out!  I hope you can make our next performances and productions.  Now that the show has closed, I look forward to a little sanity and a schedule which allows more time for me to focus on my classes and my family.

Be sure to get all of the latest tour information on the Tour Page including the Permission form!

Auditions are coming up in just 3-4 weeks!  I will be publishing an online audition sign up for students this week.  More audition info is on my Audition Page.

Please take time to review the school's CST testing schedule which will impact what classes meet when from April 4-29.  We need all students to do their best, so please plan ahead.  Plus, I don't want anyone to leave their materials at home on a day when we meet as an ensemble.  I'll provide weekly reminders of the schedule in my weekly announcements.

March 21-25

42nd Street is going great!  All of my students can earn extra credit by attending one of the performances, greeting me there and turning in their ticket with their name on it the following day.

With just three weeks to go until our 2011 music tour to Anaheim, we are in final phase of musical and logistical preparations.  Later this week, I will send home (email and hard copy) details regarding our schedule, what to pack, travel rules, etc. for all tour participants.  Please watch for this!

Auditions will take place the weeks of April 18 & 25.  For more info, check out my Audition & Info page.  Students looking to advance their skills who are interested in lessons with me should contact me to arrange lessons.  I work at a low rate for students and will teach here at Pioneer.  Contact me for more information.

CMEA Band festival is scheduled for Friday night, May 6 at Gilroy High School.  We will depart PHS at about 5:30 pm and return to PHS at about 11:00 pm.  I will need about 10 parents who would like to join us to travel along as chaperones.  The event is free, open to the public, and features performances by several local school ensembles.  School bus travel has already been arranged for all students, but travel is contingent upon enough adult volunteers.  This is one of our most significant performances and with sight-reading for Wind Ensemble, represents the peak of our musical achievement for the year.  I know that many students will be taking AP Exams that day, but these will be finished in plenty of time for students to arrive in the afternoon dressed in their performing attire, already having eaten dinner.  Let me know if you'd like to travel with us.

CMEA Orchestra festival will be on Saturday, May 7 at Independence HS.  The schedule has not been published yet.  I will share that information once it's available.

Our End of Year concerts have been changed slightly to May 18 & 19 at 7:00.  Each student will only be performing one night and those nights have not yet been assigned.

Don't forget to get out and see a live performance!  Many students have already completed their Live Review requirement for this semester.  Don't get caught at the end of May unable to get out to a concert.

March 7-11

Word on the street is out- 42nd Street is going to be great!

 

Mark your calendar for March 18-19 or 23-26, all shows at 7:00 pm in the Pioneer HS PAC.  Tickets are $7 students or $15 for adults.  All instrumental music students will get extra credit for attending!

Don't forget to turn in your listening journals on Monday.  If you missed Friday's listening assignment for any reason, you can get the info on my previous post.

There are several concerts coming soon for students who would like to get out and do their Live Review.  Take a few moments and check out the links to outside performing groups and plan to attend a performance which is appropriate to your ensemble and which fits into your families schedule.  Complete information, and links to outside ensembles are on the Live Music page.

Tour details continue to fall in to place.  For the most current info on travel, performance and lodging check the Tour page.  Students and chaperones with any balance due should continue to make payments as all funds must be turned in this month.  If you have questions about finances, please contact me.  We do now have enough chaperones.  Those who were unable to travel with us this year, plans are already in the works for a great trip in the spring of 2012 for the ensembles of the Pioneer Music Department.  Once our destination is settled, I will announce dates and costs to give all families the information they need in a timely fashion.

For those of you keeping track, the instrumental program is still owed $3,471.49.

Listening Logs- Bonus footage

To supplement today's in class listening, I want to link to two great video performances of "Mambo" from West Side Story by Leonard Bernstein.

Performed by the 2011 California All-State honor orchestra, Jung-Ho Pak, conductor:


Gustavo Dudamel, conductor:


Please feel free to share your thoughts and observations here