On Friday 11/15, the YHS Jazz Band traveled to NYC to see the big band at the legendary Birdland Jazz Club. Thank you to our awesome parent chaperones for helping make this experience a success for our students! Photos attached.

Wed. 12/4 7:20-9pm   TECH REHEARSAL ON STAGE 

Tues. 12/10     WINTER CONCERT. Arrive by 5:45. Sound Check starts promptly at 6pm.

Similar to NYSSMA, YHS Jazz Band students are eligible to audition for our Westchester All County Jazz Band.  Being selected is an elite musical honor and a fantastic opportunity to perform with some of Westchester’s most talented student jazz musicians!  Interested students should prepare a jazz NYSSMA solo, fill out an application and attend the audition.   You do not need to improvise to audition. The audition date is Saturday 1/11/20 Details are attached. See me for an application. Applications are DUE to Ms. Kluga by Friday, 12/13.

Please review the dress requirements below for our concert (as found in the Band Handbook, which you received in September).  Our professional and unified visual appearance is an important part of each performance. Hopefully some items are already part of your student’s wardrobe, and all are available at your local department store.   Please contact me with any questions.

Our concert is Tuesday 12/10, at 7:00 in the YHS Auditorium.  Students will need to arrive by 6:30 to warm up. (Jazz Band arrive by 5:45 – our sound check will begin promptly at 6:00).

Concert Dress – (as found in the YHS Band Handbook)

Ladies:

·      Black dress pants or LONG black skirt. LADIES, LONG MEANS YOUR SKIRT FALLS BELOW THE KNEE.  (no black jeans/jeggings/tights/yoga pants)

·      Black Blouse– longish sleeves (no sleeveless shirts or spaghetti straps)

·      Black stockings

·      Black Shoes (no flip flops)

Gentlemen:

·      Black Dress Pants (no black jeans/track pants/sweat pants)

·      Black, Button-Down, Long Sleeved Shirt

·      Black Socks

·      Black Shoes

To celebrate our student’s performance, we will host a reception in the cafeteria.  Look for an e-mail in the coming weeks from Band Aid Core Helper (BACH) Mrs. Menduni with info as to how to donate a food item, or to help us set up/clean up.

The citrus delivery date is Monday 12/16. All students are required to pick up their ENTIRE order on this day.  Please mark your calendars!  WE ARE IN NEED OF PARENT VOLUNTEERS.  Parent and student volunteers will be needed from 7:00 – 11:00am to help unload the trucks, and again from 2:00 – 7:00pm to help students assemble and pick up their orders. Look for an e-mail from Band Aid Core Helper (BACH) Mrs. Menduni with info on how you can help.  

A unique and fun performance opportunity for our euphonium and tuba students!   Perform in a public concert on the Rockefeller Center Ice Rink with hundreds of fellow low-brass musicians!  2019 is the 46th anniversary of this event.  Flyer is attached with more info.  Questions?  Speak to Ms. Kluga.

Again this year, the YHS Band program is sponsoring a needy child for the holidays.  Her name is Arianna and she is 3 years old. Using part of the money we have raised from our various fundraisers, the band officers will purchase items from her list to Santa.  If you are interested in donating additional items, please contact me. Items are needed by Friday 12/6.  Arianna wears a size 6 children’s shoe, and size 4T shirt/pants.  We are interested in all clothing items (pj’s, outfits, socks, and shoes), and a few toys. She particularly likes purple and PJ Masks.

CB Total Boxes Sold: 369 (485 boxes in 18-19, 461 boxes in 17-18, 564 boxes in 16-17)

CB Total Pounds Sold: 7,350

CB Total Citrus Sold: $13,144

CB Total Profit: $5,398

WE Total Boxes Sold: 541 (543 boxes in 18-19, 588 boxes in 17-18, 620 boxes in 16-17)

WE Total Pounds Sold: 13,048

WE Total Citrus Sold: $19,523

WE Total Profit: $8,179

GRAND TOTALS (Bands and Orchestras)

Total Boxes: 1,498

Total Pounds: 32,660

Total Citrus Sold: $52,423

Total Profit: $21,820

85% of the funds generated from the Citrus Sale go directly into student personal accounts, toward their spring festival trip.  15% go into the band “general fund” and are used to pay for items that benefit all band students.  Some examples include: chaperones for our festival trips (we can’t go on trips without chaperones, and are not allowed to roll chaperone fees into student costs) and band events. Funds generated from the Tag Sale and Swing Dance also benefit the band general fund.  We are very fortunate to be able to provide these musical opportunities to our students!  Thanks to all for helping us do so!

The citrus delivery date is Monday 12/16. All students are required to pick up their ENTIRE order on this day.  Please mark your calendars!  WE ARE IN NEED OF PARENT VOLUNTEERS.  Parent and student volunteers will be needed from 7:00 – 11:00am to help unload the trucks, and again from 2:00 – 6:30pm to help students assemble and pick up their orders. Please e-mail Ms. Kluga if you are available.

During the month of November, YHS Wind Ensemble, Orchestra and Choir students will be collecting new and gently used shoes to help fundraise for their participation in Festival Disney.  Through a company called Funds2orgs, we will earn $.40 per pound of shoes, which are then used to support micro-enterprise vendors – small businesses in developing nations.

At next week’s band lesson, students will have their second video assessment.  Using the music for our upcoming Winter Concert, students will be assessed on their ability to demonstrate the musical concepts we have been studying so far this year: performing the correct notes and rhythms at a steady tempo with a metronome, playing with good posture, using dynamics, and using correct articulation. 

You should hear your student practicing at home (and you should hear improvement!).  Students are always welcome to practice during their free periods or after school.  If your student has questions, Ms. Kluga would love to help!  Please have them see her for an appointment.

PROFESSIONAL RECORDINGS OF OUR CONCERT MUSIC ARE POSTED ON THE STUDENT DASHBOARD. STUDENTS SHOULD USE THESE RECORDINGS TO HELP GUIDE THEIR PRACTICE.

During quarter #1 our YHS Band students clocked over 300 periods of peer tutoring/extra-help sessions!  Many thanks to our upperclassmen for your time and leadership – and congratulations to all involved on your dedication to the pursuit of excellence!

Many thanks to all band students who supported our Varsity Football team this season!  Our community appreciates your time, enthusiasm, and the spirit your music adds to our games! Congratulations to our Huskers on an awesome season, and to our awesome coach Mr. Rescigno on his 15-year career as one of YHS’s most inspiring role models and leaders for our students!