Hollywood Trip Info (for current 8th grade only)

Good evening,

I was excited to see so many familiar faces the other night at our meeting! I know that some of you were unable to make it so I will update you with the information that we have at the moment.

  • Price for trip is around $1750 with hopes of the price being lower once airfare is finalized.
  • Fundraisers will occur to lower prices as much as possible including the Make Me a Whole Person which I will hand out tomorrow that our 8th graders can begin.
  • An online portal will be available soon to pay online and check progress of payments for the trip. (Link is not live yet)
  • A non refundable deposit of $50 is due the 26th of January so that we can reserve plane tickets for your students and all chaperones. 
    • Checks or cash are acceptable.
    • Checks written out to CHS Band Boosters
    • Money turned into money box at CJHS so that I can deliver it to the high school.
    • Online method of payment for credit cards will be open hopefully in the next week or so.
  • We are waiting on a copy of the powerpoint and the youtube video of the meeting and once we receive that I will post it here on our website for you all.

The trip sound incredible and packed full of opportunities to make memories that will truly last a lifetime.

Please remember about the deposit due at the end of the money for this trip and know that we are collecting money this early so that you have more time to fundraise and time make smaller payments. Luckily you do not have to pay for the entire trip once your kid becomes a 9th grader and you are able to start making payments now.

Contact me with any questions that you have an look out for more info!

-M. Menendez

 

 

 

Hollywood Trip Meeting Reminder (8th Grade)

Tonight at 6PM in the high school band room will be our Hollywood trip informational meeting. This meeting is strongly encouraged for anyone who plans on attending the trip next year. The meeting will provide more details of the cost breakdown, payment plan and dates for travel. If you are unable to make the trip please consider sending someone else from your family to attend. 

If you are absolutely unable to attend the meeting then we will have link with a recording of it on YouTube the following day for you to watch.

If you are unsure about high school band and/or this trip we recommend coming in person on Tuesday so that the staff, band boosters and trip organizer can answer as many questions as possible.

I look forward to seeing you all tonight! I am extremely excited to hear about all the details.

-M. Menendez

8th Grade Hollywood Trip Info/Chair Test Reminder

Good afternoon,

This Tuesday at 6PM in the high school band room will be our Hollywood trip informational meeting. This meeting is strongly encouraged for anyone who plans on attending the trip next year. The meeting will provide more details of the cost breakdown, payment plan and dates for travel. If you are unable to make the trip please consider sending someone else from your family to attend. 

If you are absolutely unable to attend the meeting then we will have link with a recording of it on YouTube the following day for you to watch.

If you are unsure about high school band and/or this trip we recommend coming in person on Tuesday so that the staff, band boosters and trip organizer can answer as many questions as possible.

Chair Test:

We have our next chair test on Tuesday the 16th. Please make sure that your student is practicing at home so that they will be prepared as possible. 

Chair tests are always for a grade and allow me to individually assess your student. It gives me an opportunity to help your student where they need it and to praise what their strengths.

After School Rehearsals:

These required rehearsals are once a week for your student and allow us to rehearse as a full band in preparation for Large Group Performance Evaluation. Please check our calendar for our rehearsal schedule. 7th Grade has their first on the 16th and 8th grade has their first on the 18th. All rehearsals end at 5PM and if we are able to dismiss early we will! Please assist me in navigating other clubs, appointments and activities so that you child can participate in all of them.

Thank you for your constant support in our band program and in your student’s music education. They are growing so much this year and I am having a blast working with them.

-M. Menendez

DHB Info

Good morning,

Below is information about District Honor Band that you will want to read through. We will bus the students down to DHB and will provide a hotel (with breakfast included). We will bus them to and from lunch and dinner. Students will need to be picked up and taken home after their concert on Saturday. I will provide more details as we get closer.

District Honor Band Information 2018

 

Good luck to our two students that are auditioning for All State tomorrow. We proud of you and are wishing you the best!

-M. Menendez

Gifts for the Holidays!

Good morning,

I hope that you have had some restful time with your loved ones. As we jump back in I would like to recommend a few items to our students to help set them up for this semester.

Percussion (per Mr. Bright since you will begin working on 4 mallet technique this semester)

1 stick bag: 

https://www.amazon.com/Vic-Firth-Standard-Drum-Stick/dp/B0002E3GXW/ref=sr_1_sc_3?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1514390948&sr=1-3-spell&keywords=vic+firth+stickbag

 

2 pair of yarn mallets: Mike Balter Medium Blue

https://www.amazon.com/Mike-Balter-BB2-Keyboard-Mallets/dp/B0002F4W1Q/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1514390794&sr=8-4&keywords=mike+balter+mallets

Buy them on Amazon or Interstatemusic.com

Before you are alarmed by the prices, I would recommend canceling your rental with whatever instrument company that you are currently renting from. From now on your student really only needs their mallets/sticks and a drum pad (which you can purchase at another time).  They can always practice at school on the mallet instruments as needed. You can purchase the above items and you will be set for a long time (unless a student breaks them).

Woodwinds:

A new box of Vandoren size 3 reeds. Go to amazon.com and type in Vandoren size 3 reeds and your instrument name. Just make sure to double check that you purchase the correct size.

Brass:

Valve oil, slide cream of your choice. Most work the same.

Having great equipment will allow your student to excel in class and will make sure that their instrument is working at a high level so that it does not hinder them in any way. The money will payoff down the road when your students are offered money to play in college and their resume is full of extra curricular activities likes band. (No, seriously. They will throw money at your kid!).

IMPORTANT DATES:

8th Grade: Trip meeting in 1/9 at 6:00pm (high school band room)
$50 Non-refundable Deposit due on 1/12

 

After school rehearsals begin 1/16 (7th) and 1/18 (8th). Check calendar for details. These are for a grade and are our only chance to combine to work on our music for Large Group Performance Evaluation. They end up being a blast because the students get to hear what the pieces sound like as a full band. Please make sure that you notify me of any conflicts. 

Carowinds Payment Due: 1/31/18 Make sure to pay your December one if you have not already.

Annual Symphonic Camp: 2/10/18 @ CJHS

We are blessed to have professionals visit our school so that they can teach our students on their instruments and as a full band in preparation for Large Group Performance Evaluation. *Mandatory* for all students and will end with a bash in the cafeteria including food, games and music. FYI: This event used to go from 8AM to 3 or sometimes 5 in the past. I have shortened the day drastically out of respect for your time on a Saturday. Let me know if you have any conflicts.

You may subscribe to our band calendar on our website so that the dates sync automatically to your phone.

Please let me know if you have any questions and know that I will send out weekly reminders for things as needed to help us all stay on track.

Much love to this wonderful band family and Happy Holidays!

Sincerely,

Ms. Menendez

2018 Trip Announcement for CHS Trojan Band

Good evening,

We are delighted to announce that the CHS Trojan Band is awaiting final approval to perform in the Hollywood Christmas Parade next November in Hollywood, California. While we are finishing up some final details with the parade committee and the staff involved we wanted to inform you all of what we know thus far for this trip.
Highlights include:
Universal Studios
Admission into the Grammy Museum
San Diego Zoo
BBQ cookout at the beach
Marching in the Hollywood Christmas Parade (televised)
and more!
This is an incredible opportunity for the high school members which the 8th grade class of this year will be a part of next year! We want to go ahead and begin giving out information and taken in payments so that we can spread out the price as much as possible. It would be unrealistic for the freshman of next year to pay the entire trip in a few short months. Mr. Carr and Mr. Bright have asked me to inform you of the downpayment for the trip (to reserve the plane seats) and of our meeting at the high school band room on January the 9th that will go over the itinerary and cost layout for the trip.
 If you and your student are considering attending the trip next year (yes, we need chaperones) then we ask that you attend the meeting on January the 9th at 6:00pm. 
A $50 Non-refundable Deposit is due on January the 12th. Payment for the trip would be a great gift from loved ones during the holidays.
Get the lawn mowers ready and get ready to babysit 8th grade because you have the chance to travel across the country and make some unforgettable memories with your band family!
Trip meeting in 1/9 at 6:00pm
$50 Non-refundable Deposit due on 1/12
I will see you on the 9th!
(Don’t worry 7th grade, we have plans for you too in the next couple of years!)
-M. Menendez

District Honor Band Info

Good morning,

For those of you who have students who made District Honor Band, the dates for that event are February 15th to February 17th. As specific times comes out I will let you all know of them. We provide transportation and hotel to DHB but parents are expected to provide transportation back from the concerts on Saturday.

For the two students who moved on to the All State round, below is some info on those auditions.

FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS (1)

-M. Menendez

Holiday Brass and Tuba Fest

Good evening,

50BEB87C-E44D-4419-8017-3D8BDB2056F9This is just a reminder about the concert at the AMP tomorrow that some of you may be interested in participating in or watching. At 2PM there will be a rehearsal for all musicians and at 3PM the concert will begin. It will be short but very enjoyable!

 

The CJHS Band room will be open at noon tomorrow for students who need to get their instruments for the concert.

-M. Menendez