Hello YHS Band Parents and Students,
Welcome to October, which is fundraising month in the YHS Music Department! This year marks our 22nd annual Citrus Sale and our 18th annual Tag Sale. Historically, both are excellent opportunities to build our spring festival funding… and to build our community. We look forward to working with you to make this year’s efforts a success!
MAKING DAILY PRACTICE A HABIT
Thank you for helping your student establish a daily practice routine! Encouraging this habit (even when your student resists!) is integral to their success!
* Busy students are welcome to practice at school during lunch, free periods, or after school until 2:45pm.
* Guided Practice Sessions are offered p.9 (led by an upperclassman).
* I am always available for extra help by appointment!
EVENTS THIS WEEK:
SKILLS CHECK #2
This week, I will check-in with each student on the content we have covered for the past 2 weeks (content was presented in class, in lessons, and reinforced through your 15 minutes of daily practice).
To be ready for your Skills Check:
· Be ready to play the assignment by yourself.
· Read the instrument specifics of your assignment posted on your Dashboard.
· Use the content on Dashboard to help you practice (.pdfs, fingering charts).
10/6: “STEP-UP” INSTRUMENTS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO TRY
Remember when your student started playing a pee-wee sport? Are they using that same athletic equipment now that they are at YHS? If your student is still playing the same instrument from 5th grade, it might be time for an upgrade.
On 10/6, I arranged for Music & Arts to bring a variety of intermediate instruments to YHS for students to try. Flute, clarinet, trumpet and alto sax options will be available. Students are welcome to try out instruments during class, their free periods, and after school.
If your student finds an instrument they are interested in, and your family would like to learn more, I will have info available. Students are not obligated to try or purchase instruments. This is meant to be a helpful way to explore options, in the comfort of our own band room.
PERIOD “0” JAZZ JAM!
Please join me before school (from 7:10…or whenever you get off the bus… until the first bell) to practice improvising. Help yourself develop your skills and a plan for success!
GUIDED PRACTICE / JAZZ BAND SECTIONALS
Offered weekly and hosted by our YHS Band elders (thank you!). Students who lead or attend a session receive 1 point of extra credit. Sessions are held period 9, unless noted otherwise. I am also always available for help by appointment.
| Monday 10/6 | Flute help with Ashley p.4, Horn with Gillian p.9 |
| Tuesday 10/7 | Trumpet with Selma, JB Sax, JB Trombones |
| Wednesday 10/8 | JB Trumpet |
| Thursday 10/9 | Trombone with Vincent, Clarinet with Joe |
| Friday 10/10 | JB Rhythm Section |
JAZZ BAND REHEARSAL #3 – THURS. 10/9
Thanks for a fun rehearsal last week! Keep making time for the practice grind – I hear your progress! Music, recordings, and HW are all available on Dashboard. Please arrive by 6:50 so we can be warmed up and tuned to start promptly at 7:00. Thanks!
CITRUS SALE ~ RUNS FROM 10/1 – 11/5
Please support our 22nd annual Citrus Sale! Ordering info was reviewed in class, is attached, and is available on Dashboard and Google Classroom.
Each year, our Band, Choir, and Orchestra ensembles all participate in regional music festivals. The monies raised from our Citrus Sale help students defray the cost of their personal festival participation. In 2019, our best sale ever, our music students SOLD 1,498 boxes and earned a PROFIT of $21,820.
PLEASE SAVE THESE DATES!
1. Wednesday, November 5th is the order deadline for truck delivery to YHS
2. Sunday, December 13th is the order deadline for USPS mail-order delivery to your home/customers’ homes (shipping fees apply)
**Your orders MUST be entered on-line by the above dates. The grove will not accept late orders.**
3. Thursday, December 11th is FRUIT DELIVERY DAY
In-person pre-orders will be delivered by truck on Thursday, December 11th. Students are responsible for picking up their entire in-person pre-order and delivering to their customers. Pick-up hours are 2:30 – 6:30pm at YHS. Parent and student volunteers will be needed all day (7am-7pm) to help unload and sort our orders. Please save the date!
PEP BAND
Our next home game performance is Friday 10/10 vs. Mahopac!
TAG SALE – Saturday 10/18
Our annual Music Boosters Tag Sale is a fun fundraiser and community building event! Please save your stuff to donate. Our sale is Saturday 10/18 from 9am-2pm at YHS. We will be accepting donations on Friday 10/17 from 2:30-7pm. Tell your friends and neighbors! Parent and student volunteers are needed to make this event a success. Look for an e-mail in the coming weeks to find out how you can help.
OCTOBER LESSON SCHEDULE
Is attached.
APPLYING TO MUSIC SCHOOLS PRESENTATION – 11/9/25
Is your student interested in studying music in college? This informative online presentation is being hosted by The Juilliard School, Eastman School of Music, and Ithaca College School of Music, Theatre, and Dance. The link to register is here.
Please also see the attached flyer (which I offered at Back to School Night), with similar information.
OUR SPRING BAND CONCERT DATE IS TUESDAY 5/12/26!
Please mark your calendars. This date was still a question when I distributed our calendar at Back to School Night, and printed our Band Handbook. Thank you for your patience!
LOCAL MUSIC OPPORTUNITIES
Opportunities for lessons and ensembles at Hoff Barthelson Music School
There are SO many musicianship, citizenship, and friendship opportunities available to you this week! Let’s make it a great one!
Musically Yours,
Ms. Kluga