INFORMATION TO HELP YOU PLAN YOUR EVENING:

Now in its 15^th year, the Swing Dance Concert is an eagerly anticipated, well-attended and fun evening for our entire Yorktown community (each year we have many senior citizens and community members attend and enjoy the evening with us!). 

All YHS Band students are required to attend. Concert Band, Jazz Band, and Wind Ensemble will perform.

·      Cost: $15 for adults / $10 for students and seniors.  Tickets sold at the door only. Cash, Check or Zelle.  YHS Band students are free.

·      Time: Dance Lesson 7-8pm / Music and Dancing 8-10:30pm

·      WHEN STUDENTS SHOULD ARRIVE:

1.     Jazz Band – arrive at 5:30 so that you are ready to play for our soundcheck at 5:45.

2.     Students interested in participating in the dance lesson – arrive by 6:50.

3.     Students NOT interested in the dance lesson – arrive by 7:45.

SWING DANCE CONCERT SNOW DATE

Please be aware that the Swing Dance Concert Snow Date is Sunday 2/11

SWING ERA ATTIRE ENCOURAGED (For both adults and students!)

Get into the “swing” of things and have fun dressing up in 1940’s style.

Gentlemen 

·      Usual Concert Attire: Black pants, long sleeved button-down black shirt, black shoes, black socks.

·      Swing Additions: fedora hats, suspenders, solid color or pin striped shirts, colorful ties, spats, jackets.

Ladies

·      Usual Concert Attire: Black top (appropriate neck-line, no spaghetti straps or sleeveless tops), black pants, or black skirt/dress (appropriate length).

·      Swing Additions: saddle shoes, any color 1940’s style dress as long as it has an appropriate neckline, length, and sleeves. 

Many parent and student volunteers are needed, please, to make this evening a success.  

PARENT HELP

Please click on this link for ways you can help (parent volunteers, food and item donations).  THANK YOU!

STUDENT HELP

Sign-up sheets available in the Band Room. Please mark your calendars to help us set up and tear down the gym on Saturday 2/10. Part of the fun (and community building) of this event is setting up and decorating the space together!

·      Saturday 2/10, 8:00am – 4:00pm – help is needed setting up and decorating the gym.

·      Saturday 2/10, 10:30pm-12:00am – help is needed cleaning up the gym.  

In addition, student help is needed organizing supplies and decorations during any free period, or p.9 during the week of 2/5.

YOUR STUDENT CAN DANCE?

As part of our Jazz curriculum, students study the music from the period and also learn to social dance the Jitterbug. This week’s videos are attached. 

 Wind Ensemble Swing Dance Lesson 1-25-24.MOV

 Concert Band Swing Dance Lesson 1-25-24.MOV

NYSSMA information 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! 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 the coming weeks, all YHS Band students will begin learning NYSSMA skills as part of their lesson homework; so if they are interested in participating in NYSSMA, or auditioning for Wind Ensemble, they will have the necessary tools to do so.

Additional information and forms are attached. NYSSMA forms and payments are due by Wednesday 2/14.

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. 

Auditions for the 2023-2024 Wind Ensemble will take place at the end of April.  Students wishing to audition should review the audition information sheet (attached).  I strongly suggest 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.

Flyers are attached for your review and listed below. Some interesting musical opportunities for our students!

·      Montclair State University Double Reed Day

·      Montclair State University Clarinet Day

As part of our Jazz curriculum, students study the music from the period and also learn to social dance the Jitterbug. Thursday was our first dance lesson – we are off to a great start!

Please be aware that the Swing Dance Concert Snow Date is Sunday 2/11

Our next major event is the fun and fabulous Swing Dance Concert! Please save the date: Saturday, February 10^th 2024 from 7-10:30pm in the YHS Gym. All YHS Band students are required to attend – Concert Band, Jazz Band, and Wind Ensemble will perform.

Now in its 15^th year, the Swing Dance Concert is an eagerly anticipated, well-attended and fun evening for our entire Yorktown community (each year we have many senior citizens and community members attend and enjoy the evening with us!).

I am so excited to share this news – our YHS Band students will have the opportunity to learn from the talented musicians of The West Point Jazz Combo!  Our day together will include performances, clinics, and Q&A sessions. Here is our tentative schedule:

• Period 1-2       Concert Band Performance, clinic, and Q&A
• Periods 3-4      Jazz Band Performance, clinic, and Q&A
• Period 8-9       Wind Ensemble Performance, clinic, and Q&A

Come out and support our Huskers and Blythedale Children’s Hospital at YHS’s 3^rd annual “Charlie Strong” game!

WHEN: Friday 1/12. Report at 5:15pm in the Band Room

BRING: Bring your instrument and charged cell phone.

WEAR: Your YHS Band polo. Music and Snacks will be provided.

GAME: The basketball game will run from 6:15-8:00pm.

We need parent volunteers, please. Roles include: securing raffle prizes, creating raffle baskets, planning logistics, and working the raffle table, admissions table, and buffet table the evening of the event.

Our next committee meeting is this Thursday 1/11/24 from 8:30-9:15pm (please note the time change) in the YHS Band Room. Please let me know if you would be able to help – we would love to have you join our team!

Our music, recordings, and the HW assignment are posted on Dashboard. Please set aside for personal practice so that you are ready for our rehearsal this Thursday 1/11/24 from 6:50-8:30pm. Happy practicing!

Please save the date:

Wednesday 2/7: Jazz Band’s annual “World Tour of Yorktown” Fieldtrip (7:45am-3:00pm, Mohansic, Crompond, Brookside, BOCES Pinesbridge School and MESMS)

Monday 1/8	Percussion
Tuesday 1/9	JB Trombone
Wednesday 1/10	Sax
Thursday 1/11	JB Trumpet, JB Rhythm, JB Sax, Clarinet, Flute
Friday 1/12

Many thanks to the band parents who so generously donated food items, or their time, to host our post-concert outdoor reception.  Special thanks to Ms. Rindone and Mrs. Aoukar for coordinating the on-line donations.  It was wonderful to see all the smiles from our students and families as everyone celebrated their performance!