Hello All,

If you are willing to be a volunteer to pass out programs, monitor a warm-up room or backstage or even help setup please come to see a director as soon as you arrive tonight.

Setup time:  3:15pm at the MAC

Volunteer report time:   6:30pm at the MAC

CONCERT REMINDER INFO FOR KIDS:

6th grade band:  Report at 6:30pm in full uniform, shirt tucked in, and go  directly to the stage, big cases put them backstage.

7th grade band:  Report at 6:45pm in full uniform, shirt tucked in, to the warmup room backstage right.

8th grade band:  Report at 6:45pm to the audience area reserved for you on the right side, in full uniform, shirt tucked in.

CONCERT REMINDERS FOR PARENTS:

Please collect your child’s cell phone prior to the performance.

Please do not hold up iPads or cell phones during the performance to record video or audio it is distracting to those behind you.

Please remember to be silent during the performances, this is a formal event not a sporting event.  The students deserve a quiet environment to make music in.  Please leave the auditorium if you have a crying child as we are recording audio.

PARKING:  Remember parking could be a challenge for everyone so arrive early, and be patient.

Thank you all for your support, we look forward to performing for you this evening.

With our 8th grade after school rehearsal today we put the finishing touches on our concert music and we are all set for an awesome performance next week. Here is some information to keep in mind as you prepare for next Monday night:

Arrival Information

6th grade band: arrive at 6:30pm in full uniform, shirt tucked in. Report to the stage. 

7th grade band: arrive at 6:45pm in full uniform, shirt tucked in. Report to the warm up room backstage right. 

8th grade band: arrive at 6:45pm in full uniform, shirt tucked in. Report to the front right seats to watch 6th grade perform. 

Volunteer Information

We will need several parents to come help setup after school at the MAC at around 3:15pm. We will also need everyone’s effort to pack up after the concert is over. 

Parking Information

This will be the first concert without the use of the high school parking lot directly in front of the MAC. That is where the new HS is being built. All parents will need to park across the street in the new lower parking lot. The gym and tennis court parking will most likely be pretty full due to basketball game at the HS gym. Please plan ahead and arrive a little bit early. 

Concert Expectations

My expectation for all those watching the concert is that all of the bands will stay for the entire time and enjoy the entire performance. Please do not leave early.

Please collect your child’s cell phone. Be adamant about holding onto it for them, it becomes a distraction when the students are in the audience and should be watching and listening the other bands. 

Please be extremely quiet throughout the performance. We want to create a formal, quiet environment where music can be created. We also record all of our performances for reflection in class. 

When we all work together we can create a great environment for our kids to show off. 

I cannot wait to see you there Monday night. 

I am proud to announce that we have 8 students that made the District 7 Honor Bands. 

1. Anna Lowry 
2. John Robert Ray
3. Ben Bradley
4. Austin Schumann
5. Savannah Richie
6. Lily Robinson
7. Mason Dill
8. Jadyn Dortch

All of our students did a fantastic job preparing and represented our school and band well at the audition.  I am so proud of every student that prepared for this event you have all improved so much. 

We have 35 students auditioning for district honor band tomorrow. I wish them good luck, play confidently, be respectful to the judges and do your best. Whether you make the band or not you have already made me proud. 

Reminders

1. Remember to register and pick up your judges sheet. 
2. Warmup in the gym, not too much. 
3. If you need a repair or supplies there will be a repairman in the gym. 
4. Then find your hallway and play the best you can. 

Thanks all and good luck. 

Hello all,

Welcome back from Thanksgiving break, as we approach the end of the semester I’d just like to send out some friendly reminders.

Tervis Tumbler Fundraiser Collection

• Collection is Tuesday December 1st.  
• Please place all money in an envelope with your name on it and staple it to your order form.
• Make sure your money and order match.

District Honor Band Auditionees

• I will be doing Mock Auditions all week in my office each morning and after school until around 4:30pm.  You must play for me sometime before Saturday to be cleared to go.
• Saturday December 5th is the audition.
• See my previous post on DHB procedures.

After School Rehearsals

• Tuesday December 8th – 7th Grade After School Rehearsal 3 – 4:30pm
• Thursday December 10th – 8th Grade After School Rehearsal 3 – 4:30pm
• These rehearsals are very important for our success on the Christmas Concert.  Please inform any coaches, or club directors that you will have rehearsal that day.

Christmas Concert

• December 14th – 7 – 8:30pm
• At the Mabry Arts Center
• 6th Graders report in uniform at 6:30pm to the stage.
• 7th Graders Report at 6:40pm to the warmup room.
• 8th Graders Report at 6:45pm to the auditorium to watch 6th grade.  Leave instruments in cases.
• Uniform Requirements:
  • Black CJHS Band Polo
  • Black DRESS Pants  (No black jeans)
  • Black DRESS Shoes and Socks (No sneakers or high tops, shoes must be all black.)
• PARENTS PLEASE COLLECT YOUR CHILDS CELLPHONE BEFORE THE CONCERT BEGINS.  STUDENTS WILL NOT NEED THEM FOR THE PERFORMANCE OR DURING THE OTHER BANDS PERFORMANCES.  THANK YOU.

The Beta band had an awesome performance today at the Georgia Beta Convention in Macon GA. They earned 3rdplace in the Group Talent event. These kids worked really hard and I couldn’t be more proud of them. 

As we get closer to the audition date on December 5th I wanted to make sure you all knew how to finish up preparations and plan for the audition date.

PREPARATION

There is still a lot of time left between now and then for your children to get their scales memorized, and up to tempo (120 bpm.)  So please keep pushing them through out this week and over Thanksgiving break to continue work on scales and their etude.

MOCK AUDITION INFO

The week we return from school from Thanksgiving Break Nov 30 – Dec 4th, I will be available in my office each morning from 7:15 – 7:45 am and after school until 4:30pm. Each student is required to do a mock audition atleast one time, and I will determine whether they are ready to go to the real audition.  This process is to make sure that students feel comfortable at the audition to make it a good experience for them.  This process is a very positive one for the kids, if they are nervous please trust that I will not be disappointed in them and I am only trying to put them in the best position to be successful.

ON THE AUDITION DAY

This year I will be judging and will need to be at Excel Christian Academy very early, we will not be getting a bus like I thought I might have been able to get.  We will do it the way we have done every year in the past where you are free to bring your child to the audition.  Our block starts around 1:15pm, but if you have another event that day you may go early in the morning, we start judging at 9am.  Here is the schedule you should follow to make sure you audition during our block:

11 AM – Leave Carrollton to head to Excel Christian Academy, 325 Old Mill Road, Cartersville, Georgia 30120

12:15pm – Arrive at Excel Christian School and check in. (should be signs posted where registration is)

12:30pm – Warm-up in the gymnasium (Don’t play too much, save it for the audition)

1:15pm – Head to your hallway and wait in line to audition.  This shouldn’t take too long.  (hallways will be marked with signs, and their should be guides to help if needed)

2pm– You will be all done and can head home.  I will get the results later on that weekend and tell you Monday if you made it into the DHB.

Students should be dressed up and looking nice, BUT NOT IN ANYTHING THAT SAYS CARROLLTON.  They want to keep things as anonymous as possible for the judges.  There will be food available there as well as a repair man just in case you need a reed, or emergency repair.  Students are responsible for bringing their own instrument.

THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND

The judges for the event are all the middle school band directors from District 7.  They are fantastic people and very encouraging and supportive educators.  They work with kids every single day, and will make sure that your child feels comfortable during their audition. All your child can do is their very best, whether they make it or not, I am still very proud of all these awesome kids.

Thank you for your support, if you have any questions or concerns please feel free to email me.

Ms. Driver just received notice that the 8th grade members who are part of the BETA band are one of the five groups selected to perform at the upcoming BETA convention coming up this week. 

We will need to find a time next week to rehearse after school to finalize our routine. All members should practice this weekend to get back into shape. This should be an exciting performance. 

Hello all,

Just a friendly reminder to keep selling Tritan Tumblers. I have had a lot of students tell me that they are already on there way to selling 10. Remember every ten cups you sell you earn a free cup for yourself. 

Thanks all

Thank you to all my 8th grade parents who helped prepare your kids for today’s performances. They did a fantastic job all day of representing their school and their band. Thank you to the parents who volunteered to serve pizza and to all those who helped setup and tear down. 

I am very blessed to have such great kids and such a supportive band family.