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.

January 18-21

Big Band Dance is coming up quickly!  Be sure to invite your family and friends to this great event.  Be sure you share our Facebook event with your friends and get the word out!  Are you looking to raise money?  Students who sell raffle tickets by February 1 will earn 80% of all funds directly to their account.  This is a great way to get support from friends, family and neighbors who may not be able to attend or donate large amounts of money, but still want to support your student and our program.  Not a member of our Facebook group?  Join us!

We are also looking for parents of underclassmen who would like to be involved in leading and planning the event for next school year.  We will have our last planning meeting for this year Thursday at 7:30 in my classroom.  This is our most important fundraiser and we have a great team of parents to work with, and some of the jobs do not require a huge commitment of time or energy.

How would you like a fun filled trip to Disneyland?  Join us as a chaperone on our music trip!  We are looking for a few more parents to round out our list.  Let me know ASAP if you are interested.

Did you attend the County Honor Band concert?  You must turn in your Live Review this week in order to earn the double credit.  Do not wait to submit your form and get your extra credit!

Do you plan to audition for the cast of 42nd Street?  Plan to attend auditions Tuesday or Wednesday from 7-10 in the PAC.  If you plan to play in the pit orchestra, plan to attend our first rehearsal on Monday the 24th from 7-9.  More info is on my 42nd Street page.

Jazz Band has 2 events coming up.  First, Jazz Band will play at the PHS recruitment night on Thursday next week (27th) at 6:45 in the gym for current 8th grade families looking into Pioneer.  Our call time will be 6:15, dressed to perform.  We will go right into 42nd Street rehearsal following the performance.  Secondly, we will perform at CMEA Jazz festival on Friday, February 4 at Santa Teresa HS.  We are second up, and so will be there early in the morning and return to school during 3rd period.  Students will only miss their first and second period classes (Jazz Band is 3rd).  I'll make a separate posting with more details soon.

I want to remind students who miss class that they will loose participation points.  A student with an excused absence may makeup those points by coming in before school (6:45-7:15) or after school for 30 minutes and practicing or helping with the many projects going on.  Also, students who miss a listening log on a Friday must make that up as well.

Finally, I will be out of school on Friday to attend a funeral.  During this time, Jazz Band students will be working on their combos.  There will not be a listening journal assignment this week.

January 10-14

Looking for a way to start the semester with some extra credit?  All band students who choose to review this Sunday's Santa Clara County Honor Band concert will earn up to one full review worth of extra credit points!  The performance features some of the best high school band musicians from across the county on Sunday, January 16 at 2:00 at Evergreen Valley High School.  You can get tickets in advance or at the door- $8 students $10 adults.  Map it here

During S Period on Monday 1/10, students who are interested in being in the cast of our spring musical 42nd Street should attend an audition workshop in the PAC.  Students interested in performing in the pit orchestra should contact me, and check out the pit info page on the blog.  Pit rehearsals will start Monday, January 24 from 7-9.

Students who missed last Friday will need to make up the listening assignment.  We will also be doing our listening journals this Friday as well.  During the first semester, there were almost 20 students with grades between 88% and 89.9%.  Most of those students were missing either one or more listening journal entries or the Live Review.

Big Band Dance is coming upon us quickly!  Please submit your ticket order form and payment soon.  Invite your friends, neighbors and anyone else who would like to have a fun time with live music, snacks and a great silent auction.  Get all the info on the Big Band Dance page.

Jazz Band students and families should also should be aware that we have CMEA Jazz Festival on Friday, February 4 at Santa Teresa HS.  I don't have the times yet, but will share those with you as soon.  We'll need parent drivers.  Let me know if you would be able to drive for us.