Welcome Back! We had a great trip to Disneyland this week. Sixty seven students, seven parents, two bus drivers, one administrator and myself had a great time and a valuable musical experience. We had great clinics in the recording studio on the Disney property which all of my classes will get to see Monday. Each ensemble worked with professional musicians in a studio environment learning what it's like to sight read and record. In the process, everyone learned valuable rehearsal tips that I look forward to bringing to our rehearsals. We also had strong performances on a professional stage with top notch performance production quality audio/ visual support. I am sure that the students and the parent chaperones would be happy to share the value of this experience with you- just ask! For more info, check out the blog posts from the trip. If you have pictures or video you'd like to share, please bring it in on USB or CD so that I can share that with everyone. Thanks to Mrs. Collins, Mrs. DiLeonardo, Mrs. Hubbard, Mrs. Shumway-Lipps, Mrs. Liebscher, Mr. & Mrs. Ricco and especially our AP of Curriculum and Instruction, Mrs. Richardson who filled a last minute void when she volunteered to join our trip just 15 hour before our departure! Thanks so much to each of these adults who gave up their time and money to help give our students a great trip!
The weekend before the trip, I was in Fresno at the California All-State Music Education Conference. While there, I saw performances from outstanding musicians of all ages that reminded me of how exciting and moving a performance can be. I also saw several workshops from the best educators around- and I look forward to bringing some of their ideas to the classroom to strengthen our programs at Pioneer. Congratulations to Brian Hubbard who was a member of the All-State bands and gave a wonderful performance. This is the first time that I know of that Pioneer has been represented at this level- congratulations Brian!
West Side Story is coming up in just 4 weeks! Those students involved in the production are going to get very busy this month, so please begin to plan ahead, look at long term projects and assignments and plan how to fit in all of the work that you are going to be expected to do in your various classes, and the practice time needed to make for a successful performance. Performances are 3/23-24, 28-31 at 7:00 pm. Tickets are already selling fast, so get yours here. Remember, this is a very difficult musical, and students are expected to perform at the highest levels to ensure a successful performance.
Jazz Band will be participating in a joint performance with the West Valley College Jazz Band on Friday, March 16 at 8:00 pm. We will have 75 comp tickets to share, but additional tickets will be available for purchase as well. We will be able to use all of their equipment, so students just need to bring their instruments and music. Jazz Band has also been hired to perform for the opening day of Almaden girls softball on Saturday morning, March 10 with a set at 10:30-11 and 12- 12:30. We will have to meet before this at school to load equipment and return after to unload. This is a paid gig!
In April, we will host a joint performance with our Jazz Band and Symphony and the Jazz Band and Chamber Strings from Castillero on Friday, April 27 at 7:00. This will be a great chance for our kids to work with and perform for the younger musicians. I hope for this to become an annual tradition- working together should help get more families connected to Pioneer and increase retention between schools.
On Saturday, April 28, we will be hosting an all day music festival at Pioneer for Music-In-the-Parks. I will be looking for parents to help in several key areas as well as many student volunteers. We'll have a few meetings during school with students and one evening meeting just before the event to make sure everyone will know what to expect and what to do.
If you can help with either of these April events, please contact me!
As you can see, while there is much going on we aren't under the high pressure of back to back to back performances that we have been under for a few months. I look forward to taking this time to really teach students to work towards the highest level of musical achievement. In music, we strive to achieve 100% accuracy in our performance- in virtually all other areas of life (academics, sports, etc.) that is unheard of. We will get to dive deeply into our music in the next weeks and learn what it takes to really become masters of our parts.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Disney 2012
Check back daily for updates and photo links. Also, find updates on my facebook- www.facebook.com/mccoysmusic
DAY 1-
We traveled safely and had a good first few hours in the parks! We arrived in Anaheim at 3:30 and spent about an hour in Downtown Disney. After that, we checked in to the hotel and had dinner before heading over to the parks for some fun times. Here is a sample of photos from throughout the day. Tomorrow will be more fun in the park and a workshop/ recording session.
DAY 2-
Today started with breakfast at the hotel and free time in the parks. Both Jazz Band and Symphony had workshops from 12:00- 2:30. That was followed by free time, dinner at the hotel and more time at the parks until closing. During the workshops, a professional musician worked with each of the groups to record music in a Disney studio. This was a great chance for students to learn from a great musician and perform at a high level with virtually no rehearsal time. I look forward to bringing some of their ideas into the regular classroom to strengthen each of the ensembles. The kids also got to hear a bit of the personal stories from each of these guys who bring a wealth of professional musical experience to the table from recording to TV to movies to musicals and in many various outlets- the kids had an incredible opportunity. Check out some of the pictures from today on my facebook here. Unfortunately, photos are strictly prohibited backstage in the studio area, so there aren't any photos from today's workshops- but they were so profitable. Tomorrow is performance day, so look for many photos from that and other antics tomorrow night.
DAY 3-
Your Pioneer students did so well today in their performances! The Symphony Orchestra gave a strong performance and the Jazz Band was outstanding! Our Disney staff host said that Jazz Band was the best ensemble he had hosted! It was great to be able to perform on a professional stage with great equipment and top notch, production quality technical support with sound and lights. I hope that the students had as good a time performing as I know the audience had. The kids were in the parks today from 9:45 this morning to midnight with the performances just after noon and many of them were dragging by the time we made it back to the hotel. I look forward to a quiet bus ride home! If you haven't yet checked out the photos- check them out here. If you have photos you'd like me to share, you can email them to me- mccoysmusic [at] gmail [dot] com or get them to me on a USB drive. We plan to depart tomorrow at 9:30 for arrival back at Pioneer at 5:00 in the afternoon. Students will call home after lunch to update families with a more accurate ETA. Please, pick your students up promptly! Our chaperones have worked very hard over these last few days and they should be able to go home when we arrive.
DAY 1-
We traveled safely and had a good first few hours in the parks! We arrived in Anaheim at 3:30 and spent about an hour in Downtown Disney. After that, we checked in to the hotel and had dinner before heading over to the parks for some fun times. Here is a sample of photos from throughout the day. Tomorrow will be more fun in the park and a workshop/ recording session.
DAY 2-
Today started with breakfast at the hotel and free time in the parks. Both Jazz Band and Symphony had workshops from 12:00- 2:30. That was followed by free time, dinner at the hotel and more time at the parks until closing. During the workshops, a professional musician worked with each of the groups to record music in a Disney studio. This was a great chance for students to learn from a great musician and perform at a high level with virtually no rehearsal time. I look forward to bringing some of their ideas into the regular classroom to strengthen each of the ensembles. The kids also got to hear a bit of the personal stories from each of these guys who bring a wealth of professional musical experience to the table from recording to TV to movies to musicals and in many various outlets- the kids had an incredible opportunity. Check out some of the pictures from today on my facebook here. Unfortunately, photos are strictly prohibited backstage in the studio area, so there aren't any photos from today's workshops- but they were so profitable. Tomorrow is performance day, so look for many photos from that and other antics tomorrow night.
DAY 3-
Your Pioneer students did so well today in their performances! The Symphony Orchestra gave a strong performance and the Jazz Band was outstanding! Our Disney staff host said that Jazz Band was the best ensemble he had hosted! It was great to be able to perform on a professional stage with great equipment and top notch, production quality technical support with sound and lights. I hope that the students had as good a time performing as I know the audience had. The kids were in the parks today from 9:45 this morning to midnight with the performances just after noon and many of them were dragging by the time we made it back to the hotel. I look forward to a quiet bus ride home! If you haven't yet checked out the photos- check them out here. If you have photos you'd like me to share, you can email them to me- mccoysmusic [at] gmail [dot] com or get them to me on a USB drive. We plan to depart tomorrow at 9:30 for arrival back at Pioneer at 5:00 in the afternoon. Students will call home after lunch to update families with a more accurate ETA. Please, pick your students up promptly! Our chaperones have worked very hard over these last few days and they should be able to go home when we arrive.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
2/13-2/17
A BIG thank you to the families who helped with our Big Band Dance! Thanks to Tanya Summers, Mary Jane & Percy Kanga, Katy Cooper, Suzanne Higa, Miriam Taher, Laura & Alfonso Carrillo and so many others who worked so hard to help produce this great evening.
Thanks also to Mrs Grimaud, Mrs Higa and Mr Carrillo for their help driving Jazz Band students to our gig downtown on Friday- we had a great time getting to perform for about 1,000 of the valley's major corporate, political, labor and educational leadership.
Tour 2012 is coming up quickly! There is a MANDATORY meeting for all students and parents Monday at 7:30 in my room. We'll have symphony perform first, then go over schedule and expectations and take questions. Plan for this meeting to last about an hour. Our meeting with chaperones will take place immediately following this meeting and last about 30 minutes. (One long night is better than 2 nights out.) All students should have turned in their Tour Permission & Medical form. According to my list, Brian H, Jose M, Josefa M, Dylan M, Austin R, and David W need to turn in their forms! These MUST be turned in to go with us on the trip! Many students made money on the Big Band Dance, and I will pass out a final accounting so that families know their amount due and can make payment this week.
The first grading period of the semester is complete. As of this posting, Orchestra, Beginning Band and Jazz Band grades are posted and final. Wind Ensemble & Concert Band grades will be complete prior to our tour meeting Monday evening. Many students have neglected to turn in their journals- this does count on the grade. Also, when students miss their rehearsal points, they are able to make them up by practicing after school- 30 minutes of practicing counts for 1 excused absence.
Thanks also to Mrs Grimaud, Mrs Higa and Mr Carrillo for their help driving Jazz Band students to our gig downtown on Friday- we had a great time getting to perform for about 1,000 of the valley's major corporate, political, labor and educational leadership.
Tour 2012 is coming up quickly! There is a MANDATORY meeting for all students and parents Monday at 7:30 in my room. We'll have symphony perform first, then go over schedule and expectations and take questions. Plan for this meeting to last about an hour. Our meeting with chaperones will take place immediately following this meeting and last about 30 minutes. (One long night is better than 2 nights out.) All students should have turned in their Tour Permission & Medical form. According to my list, Brian H, Jose M, Josefa M, Dylan M, Austin R, and David W need to turn in their forms! These MUST be turned in to go with us on the trip! Many students made money on the Big Band Dance, and I will pass out a final accounting so that families know their amount due and can make payment this week.
The first grading period of the semester is complete. As of this posting, Orchestra, Beginning Band and Jazz Band grades are posted and final. Wind Ensemble & Concert Band grades will be complete prior to our tour meeting Monday evening. Many students have neglected to turn in their journals- this does count on the grade. Also, when students miss their rehearsal points, they are able to make them up by practicing after school- 30 minutes of practicing counts for 1 excused absence.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
2/6-2/10
This week-
Jazz Band gig, Big Band Dance, Tour and more!
Jazz Band gig Friday morning- we need another parent driver! Two of our regular drivers are not able to help this time around, so please join us this week. We need to meet at Pioneer at 6:45 and will head up to the convention center by 7:00 and perform until about 10:00. We will be back at Pioneer not later than 10:30 am (for 4th period).
Big Band Dance is Saturday! Be sure you get your ticket order in ASAP so that your student gets account credit. Raffle tickets are now out and students get 80% of all money they raise. Parents are reminded that families last name A-K are asked to bring a dessert and L-Z appetizers. Parents are also asked to volunteer for a shift. Indicate your interest on the ticket form and we will contact you. We rely on parent involvement to make this event successful! Students are also required to work a shift- sign ups for that will take place this week.
Mandatory tour meeting for parents and students is next Monday, February 13 at 7:30 pm. All students must turn in their Tour Permission & Medical form THIS FRIDAY! This assignment is worth 25 points, but is worth 30 points Thursday, 35 Wednesday and 40 points Tuesday. Also, students should remember our S Period rehearsals this week and next. Be sure that you check out our preliminary itinerary- which includes confirmed performance and workshop times from Disney! This and more is on the Tour 2012 page. All tour costs must be paid prior to traveling! I will be handing out a balance sheet to each tour participant after all Big Band Dance fundraising is counted this week.
It was good to see that several students attended the St. Olaf concert this past week. What an incredible ensemble, many of whom were not even music majors. Their concert was an inspiration to me and reminded me how much I love music! Opportunities like these are so important and serve as a good example of why I require a Live Review each semester.
Jazz Band gig, Big Band Dance, Tour and more!
Jazz Band gig Friday morning- we need another parent driver! Two of our regular drivers are not able to help this time around, so please join us this week. We need to meet at Pioneer at 6:45 and will head up to the convention center by 7:00 and perform until about 10:00. We will be back at Pioneer not later than 10:30 am (for 4th period).
Big Band Dance is Saturday! Be sure you get your ticket order in ASAP so that your student gets account credit. Raffle tickets are now out and students get 80% of all money they raise. Parents are reminded that families last name A-K are asked to bring a dessert and L-Z appetizers. Parents are also asked to volunteer for a shift. Indicate your interest on the ticket form and we will contact you. We rely on parent involvement to make this event successful! Students are also required to work a shift- sign ups for that will take place this week.
Mandatory tour meeting for parents and students is next Monday, February 13 at 7:30 pm. All students must turn in their Tour Permission & Medical form THIS FRIDAY! This assignment is worth 25 points, but is worth 30 points Thursday, 35 Wednesday and 40 points Tuesday. Also, students should remember our S Period rehearsals this week and next. Be sure that you check out our preliminary itinerary- which includes confirmed performance and workshop times from Disney! This and more is on the Tour 2012 page. All tour costs must be paid prior to traveling! I will be handing out a balance sheet to each tour participant after all Big Band Dance fundraising is counted this week.
It was good to see that several students attended the St. Olaf concert this past week. What an incredible ensemble, many of whom were not even music majors. Their concert was an inspiration to me and reminded me how much I love music! Opportunities like these are so important and serve as a good example of why I require a Live Review each semester.
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