It is my pleasure to announce the YHS Wind Ensemble’s participation in the Rhythms International Music Festival held in Washington, DC. The music festival will take place the weekend of Saturday, April 21 through Monday April 23, 2018. Students will receive our tentative itinerary and their personal payment information this week. If possible, a down payment and permission slip are requested by Friday 12/8.
It is Ms. Kluga’s pleasure to announce the YHS Concert Band’s participation in the Rhythms International Music Festival in NJ. The music festival will take place on Saturday 5/12, with our performance at Nutley HS, and then we will enjoy the day at Six Flags Great Adventure. Students will receive our tentative itinerary and their personal payment information this week.
Please review the dress requirements below for our concert (as found in the Band Handbook, which you all received back 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 Ms. Kluga with any questions.
Our concert is Wednesday 12/13, at 7:30 in the YHS Auditorium. Students will need to arrive by 7:00 to warm up.
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. Serafin with info as to how to donate a food item, or to help us set up/clean up.
The citrus delivery date is Monday 12/18. 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. Please e-mail Ms. Kluga if you are available.
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! 2017 is the 44th 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 Ayden and she is in 2nd Grade. Using the money we have raised from our various fundraisers, the band officers have purchased items from her list to Santa. If you are interested in donating additional items, please contact Ms. Kluga. Items are needed by Friday 12/8. Ayden wears a size 3-4 Youth shoe, and 8-10M shirt/pants. She particularly likes sparkly items.
Saturday and Sunday 12/2 and 12/3, the West Point Concert Band will present free holiday concerts at Ike Hall on the West Point campus. The West Point Band is a professional ensemble, and their concerts are always top quality and great fun! Students who attend will receive extra credit. Please bring in a program from the concert. Visit their website for more details: http://www.usma.edu/band/
Huge congratulations to our Huskers on their victory over Burnt Hills at Friday’s NY State Quarter Finals! Big thanks to the 34 band students who attended the game in Middletown to cheer on our team – and special thanks to the band parents who sent in supplies to keep the students comfortable in the cold weather. Extra special thanks to the parents who were able to drive some of our students!
Now, our team is traveling to the NY State Finals at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse!! And, our Pep Band is invited to cheer them on!
WHAT: Pep Band performance at the Varsity Football State Finals (vs. West Seneca) in Syracuse!
WHEN: Friday, 11/24 2017
Report Time: 7:30am @ the YHS Band Room. Bus leaves at 8:00am. Bus ride is approx. 4.5 hours.
Game is at 3:00 at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse.
Return Time: approximately 11:00 PM
WHERE: Syracuse Carrier Dome!
WEAR: Black pants. Black shoes and socks. Band Polo with a white long-sleeved shirt underneath.
BRING: Eat breakfast before you arrive. Bring a bagged lunch and snacks. Bring money for dinner/snacks.
A big thank you to all who attended the Jazz at Lincoln Center outing yesterday!
The concert was extremely well done. It was billed as a “young persons concert” so there were young children in the audience, but the experience was in no way juvenile. The level of information we learned about Benny Goodman, his music, and his influence on the music (and social issues) of the Swing Era was enlightening and engaging. And, the caliber of music and musicianship on that stage was absolutely inspiring! In addition, many of the pieces on the program were ones that our students had performed last year, as we studied Benny Goodman in preparation for the 2017 Swing Dance. It was fun for our students to hear live, professional, versions of the exact music we had played!
Many thanks to our parent chaperones for your valuable time and help: Mrs. Alvarez, Mr. (Charles) Racioppo, Mrs. Ryan-Onatzevitch, Mr. Weitman, Mrs. Whalen, and Mrs. Woodard.
Thanks for a fun day everyone!
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.
As part of BOE appreciation week, Dr. Hattar invited our YHS Band, Choir and Orchestra officers to give a short presentation about our Music Department. These students will be performing a few Pep Band songs, and then giving a 3 minute presentation. If any other band students are interested in performing with us, we would welcome your support!
WHAT: Pep Band performance at the BOE Meeting
WHEN: Monday 10/30
WHERE: MESMS Cafeteria. Arrive to MESMS by 6:50 with your instrument and flip folder. We will be done by 7:45.
WEAR: YHS Band Polo
Many thanks to all the band families who donated snacks and hot chocolate for the Pep Band this past Friday. The students much appreciated your generosity – as we weathered the chilly temps to help cheer on our Huskers to victory!
Our 14th annual costume contest will take place in class on Tuesday, October 31st. Winners in each class will receive half of Ms. Kluga’s substantial citrus order. (Extra points if your costume is home-made, or in any way musical.) Looking forward to celebrating this fun day with you!
Quarter #1 is not even over, and our YHS Band students have 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!
Peer tutoring is one of the best ways a band student can help themselves experience success. If you or your student would like more information on ways to participate, please contact Mrs Kluga.