Thank you so much for your help in making Friday Night’s Homecoming Tail-Gate a success (despite the rain)!  Whether you donated food, hot chocolate, or your time, the band truly appreciate your support!  Special thanks to Mrs. Serafin for organizing our parent volunteers, the DiPierro and Statler families for donating grills (and grilling skills!), and the DeGuglielmo, Pratt, and Warren families for donating rain shelters.

With 70 band members attending, we were a musical force in the stands.  The challenging weather seemed only to intensify our already overflowing Husker Pride! What a wonderful opportunity for all YHS band members 9-12 to have fun together and support our school community.  Thank you again for making this evening possible; it’s these kinds of events that stick in student’s minds and help build a strong and unified band program!

Our 8th Annual YHS Music Boosters Tag Sale will be held on Saturday, October 17, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.  The money generated from this sale benefits every student in our music program; helping to fund our annual festival trips and music dept. events.  Last year we earned over $3,000 and are hoping for an even better sale this year!

We are asking for donations of items to sell (kitchen items, clothing, furniture, DVD’s, books, etc.); what a great opportunity to scour your homes for un-used items and do some autumn cleaning!

A flyer is attached here FYI.  Feel free to share with family/friends or post on work or community bulletin boards.  Parent volunteers will be needed.  In the coming weeks, look for an e-mail from parent-organizer Cindy Scinto ([email protected]) to find out how you can help.

Our first big event of the year is the YHS Homecoming.  The YHS Pep Band will be performing crowd-rallying music at the varsity football game, as well as enjoying a pre-game dinner and tons of band spirit beforehand at the 12th Annual YHS Band Homecoming Tail-Gate BBQ.

What: Pep Band Tail-Gate BBQ and Homecoming Varsity Football Game

When: Friday, October 2nd at 5:00pm (game-time 7:00pm)

Where: BBQ will be outside the YHS Band Room.

All YHS Band students are welcome!  This is a great way to support our football team, share in the homecoming festivities, and earn some band extra-credit!  A student sign-up sheet is available in the band room.  PLEASE SIGN UP BY WED. 9/30 so we can get an accurate head-count, and plan our logistics.  Thanks!

We are also looking for parents to donate supplies and/or their time.  We will need chaperones, food donations, food preparation, and clean-up help. Please see the e-mail from parent-organizer Margaret Serafin ([email protected]) to find out how you can help, and/or visit donate.yhsbands.com/homecomingbbq

You should hear your student practicing at home.  Each week every band student receives a lesson homework assignment that will be graded.  Students are always welcome to practice during their free periods or after school.  If your student would like extra help, Ms. Kluga is always available.

Seating auditions will take place the week of 9/28, at your student’s weekly lesson.  It is imperative that students understand that WE ARE A MUSICAL TEAM and ALL PARTS ARE IMPORTANT!  Just as any sports team needs to have balanced playing positions on the field, our band will perform and sound best when have strong players on every part.  If you have questions, please see my attached letter found here, regarding this process.

This past Sunday, 63 YHS Band students enjoyed a social outing to Wilken’s Farm!  Students had fun taking a tractor ride, apple picking, and enjoying yummy cider donuts and apple cider.  Many thanks to senior (and WE Vice President) Theo Coutsouros, for organizing this year’s trip!

This is an away game.  A sign up sheet is available in the band room.  Please be at YHS by 5:45pm to catch the bus (note the time change!).

What: Pep Band performance at Somers HS

When: Friday, September 25^th. Meet at YHS to catch the bus AT 5:45pm (NOTE TIME CHANGE!)  Game-time is 7:15pm, so we should be home by 10pm.  Students must ride the bus to and from the game, or get a ride from a parent to and from the game.

Wear: Our NEW polo shirts!  If you think you will be chilly, please wear a long sleeved turtleneck/t-shirt under the polo.  If you still think you’ll be cold, bring a coat/sweatshirt.

The First Nighters is a parent group whose mission is to support the YCSD Performing Arts programs.  Each year they invite parents to help their cause!   Some of their initiatives include:

• Advocating for and supporting the arts programs in all schools.
• Providing yearly summer music camp scholarships to elementary, middle and high school students.
• Providing yearly scholarships to outstanding seniors.
• Honoring Performing Arts juniors and seniors at an annual recognition dinner.

The First Nighters annual information letter is attached on a document here.  Please consider volunteering your time and talents, and/or becoming a sponsor.  Akin to the Husker’s invaluable support of Athletics, the First Nighters are a vital part of keeping the Performing Arts alive in YCSD!

ALL BAND MEMBERS:

• Metronome and tuner. The TONAL ENERGY APP ($3.99) features both a metronome and tuner, and is

available for both iPhone and Android.

• A 3 ring binder, 5 dividers, and 10 sheets of staff paper. (Free staff paper at www.blanksheetmusic.net)

Percussionists:

• Snare drum (or drum pad) and snare drum stand.

• A bell kit with mallets. A good option is the CB Percussion 6854 Bell Kit

Flute:

• Cleaning rod.

• Soft cleaning cloth (about an 6” x 6” piece of an old t-shirt will work).

Oboe / Bassoon:

• REEDS: At least 3 quality reeds. Quality reeds can be found at Radovich and Dean (in Carmel)

www.radovichanddean.com or on-line at: hodgeproductsinc.com or forrestsmusic.com.

• REED CASE: A reed case that holds 3 reeds. An economical option is the Fox Oboe Reed Case, or Fox

Bassoon Reed Case.

Clarinet and Alto Sax:

• REEDS: 1 full box of Van Doren* reeds (strength 2.5 or 3).

*Please purchase Van Doren reeds, they are higher quality. Also, please purchase a full box (10 reeds).

At YHS, you will now learn to rotate reeds. This supply will last you until December.

• REED CASE: A reed case that holds 4 reeds. An economical option is the Rico “ReedGard IV.”

Bass Clarinet and Tenor/Bari Sax:

• REEDS: 1 full box of Van Doren* reeds (strength 2 or 2.5).

*Please purchase Van Doren reeds, they are higher quality. Also, please purchase a full box (10 reeds).

At YHS, you will now learn to rotate reeds. This supply will last you until December.

• REED CASE: A reed case that holds 4 reeds. An economical option is the Rico “ReedGard IV.”

Trumpet and Horn:

• Al Cass valve oil

• Schilke tuning slide grease

• Mouthpiece cleaning brush and a cleaning snake

Trombone:

• Slide-O-Mix Trombone Lubrication System (contains 1 small bottle and 1 large bottle)

• Schilke tuning slide grease

• Mouthpiece cleaning brush and a cleaning snake

• Spray bottle (an old Windex bottle will do)

Euphonium and Tuba:

• Al Cass valve oil

• Schilke tuning slide grease

• Mouthpiece cleaning brush

Our 8th Annual YHS Music Boosters Tag Sale will be held on Saturday, October 17, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. The money generated from this sale benefits every student in our music program; helping to fund our annual festival trips and music dept. events. Last year we earned over $3,000 and are hoping for an even better sale this year!

We are asking for donations of items to sell (kitchen items, clothing, furniture, DVD’s, books, etc.); what a great opportunity to scour your homes for un-used items and do some autumn cleaning!

A flyer is attached on a document here FYI. Feel free to share with family/friends or post on work or community bulletin boards. Parent volunteers will be needed. In the coming weeks, look for an e-mail from parent-organizer Cindy Scinto ([email protected]) to find out how you can help.

What: Apple Picking at Wilken’s Farm in Yorktown
When: Sunday 9/20
Report Time: Meet AT WILKEN’S at 10:00am
End Time: Approximately 12:00 noon
COST: $7 (includes a half-peck of apples, hot apple cider, 2 cider doughnuts, and priceless band memories :).

This is an away game. A sign up sheet is available in the band room.

What: Pep Band performance at Somers HS
When: Friday, September 25th at 5:45pm. Meet at YHS to catch the bus. Game-time 7:15pm, we should be home by 10pm. Students must ride the bus to and from the game, or get a ride from a parent to and from the game.

Thanks to all for a great first rehearsal this Wednesday! Please remember that we will not meet Wed. 9/23 due to Yom Kippur. Please be sure you are making time to practice your music this week. Reference recordings are available on Dashboard. Mr. Whalen and Ms. Kluga are looking forward to a great year working with all of you!!

Began last week. All students have a homework assignment that will be graded at next week’s lesson. You should hear your student practicing at home :). If students have a question about their assignment, or would like some extra help, please have them see Ms. Kluga. As with any academic class, is important they get their questions answered before the assignment is due. If you have questions about this important part of your student’s grade in band, please review the YHS Band Handbook found here, or contact Ms. Kluga.