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Will be reviewed in class this week. The NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association) solo festival is a wonderful opportunity for your student to grow as a musician. As of now NYSSMA will be in-person.

To participate, students prepare scales (or rudiments for snare drummers), a solo and sight-reading. At the festival, students perform for a judge who will give them a score and comments.

In February all YHS Band students will be learning a NYSSMA solo as part of their lesson homework; so if they are interested in participating in NYSSMA, or auditioning for Wind Ensemble (see below), they will have the necessary tools to do so.

Information and forms are attached. NYSSMA forms are due by Wednesday 2/16.

Preview attachment NYSSMA INFO 2021-2022.pdf

NYSSMA INFO 2021-2022.pdf129 KB

Preview attachment NYSSMA Student Info App 21-22.pdf

NYSSMA Student Info App 21-22.pdf91 KB

In addition to the musical opportunity, NYSSMA provides, students are able to receive honors credit for Concert Band or Wind Ensemble by earning a score of 95 or above on a level 6 solo/ensemble, or a score of 97 or above on a level 5 solo/ensemble.

Preview attachment WE auditions parent letter 22-23.pdf

WE auditions parent letter 22-23.pdf89 KB

Auditions for the 2022-2023 Wind Ensemble will take place at the end of April. Students wishing to audition should review the audition information sheet (attached). Mrs. Kluga strongly suggests that interested students also participate in NYSSMA. The Wind Ensemble audition information sheet/permission slip is attached and is also available in the band room.

If your student plays a reed instrument, this is the time of year when their supply usually needs to be refreshed. Please speak to your student about ordering a new box of reeds. If you have questions on what to order, Mrs. Kluga is happy to help.

Our next concert performance is Saturday 2/12/22 at 7:00pm, in the YHS GYM.  The plan is to hold some form of our annual Swing Dance and Concert.  More details to follow.

Due to the icy weather forecasted, we will postpone our ice skating trip to Bear Mountain. The new date is SUNDAY 1/30. 

Ms. Kluga will post a new sign up sheet in the Band Room. Details below:

The Band Officers have planned a skating outing at Bear Mountain on Sunday 1/30 for the 10:00-11:30am public skating session.  Students must be accompanied by an adult chaperone. Everyone is responsible for paying for their own skating. Meet at 9:30am to get in line and purchase your tickets. (Parking is $10. Skate rentals are $10. Tickets for skaters and spectators are $5 each). All people entering the rink area need a ticket. All YHS Band students are welcome. We hope you will join us!

Our next rehearsal is Thursday 1/13 from 6:50-8:30.  Please prepare: BEI MIR **m.1-4** and m.5-36. BOOGIE WOOGIE m.1-40+. LITTLE BROWN JUG m.1-47+. Use our practice strategies to help you be successful. All recordings and sheet music are posted on Dashboard. (FYI our BEI MIR sheet music is the “high key male” version – scroll down on the sheet music to find it). Sectionals next week: Monday 1/10: Saxophones p.8, Trumpets p.9. Tuesday 1/11: Trombones p.9, Thursday 1/13: Trombones p.5 (if you have free).

The January lesson calendar is attached and is available on Dashboard.

The Alliance for Safe Kids’ 1st annual Keeping the Dream is a youth-led community event celebrating character, kindness and thoughtful service.  ASK is collecting all forms of art, creative writing, music and dance performances to be shared VIRTUALLY during the event on January 17, and throughout the year. Students will be eligible to receive community service hours for time spent working on their submissions. A flyer with more info is attached. Submissions are due by 1/13.

Our next concert performance will be Saturday 2/12/22 at 7:00pm, in the YHS GYM.  The plan is to hold some form of our annual Swing Dance Concert.  More details to follow.

Was a great success!  Using a portion of the profit from this year’s Citrus Sale, we purchased over $200 worth of warm clothing, toiletries, toys and treats for our 10 year old student, Ardun.  Thank you so much to the families who sent in additional gifts! The students and Ms. Kluga are so grateful to have this opportunity to give back. A photo is attached.

Over 40 students attended our social gathering this past Friday.  Many thanks to the Tri-M student leaders for hosting and organizing this event, and special thanks to the First Nighters for so generously donating pizza. Students enjoyed snacks, the movie West Side Story, and time together. A photo is attached.

Our next rehearsal is Thursday 1/6 from 6:50-8:30.

The Band Officers are planning a skating outing at Bear Mountain on Sunday 1/9 for the 10:00am public skating session.  Students must be accompanied by an adult chaperone. Everyone is responsible for paying for their own skating. (Parking is $10. Skate rentals are $5. Tickets for skaters and spectators are $5 each). All people entering the rink area need a ticket. A sign-up sheet will be posted in the band room after break. We hope you will join us!

An awesome opportunity for our awesome students! ASK’s 1st annual Keeping the Dream is a youth-led community event celebrating character, kindness and thoughtful service.  ASK is collecting all forms of art, creative writing, music and dance performances to be shared during the event on January 17, and virtually throughout the year. Students will be eligible to receive community service hours for time spent working on their submissions.  More info is attached.