Important Band News

-Symphonic Band audition cuts and recording instruction are now posted on Canvas. You may start recording now and recordings are due next Wednesday. Mr. Schapker has posted all the info and instructions you need. MAKE SURE YOU READ ALL OF IT before recording. For those not familiar with how our second semester bands work: the first hour marching band is divided second semester into the by-audition first hour Symphonic Band and the open-enrollment second hour Concert Band. Sym Band auditions are open to anyone in the program and are optional with no grade given. However, you must audition to be in Symphonic Band. Once audition results are posted, I will give the list to the counseling department and they will make any schedule changes that are needed. -It is the last day of the quarter! Make sure that if you want to turn in anything and have it included in your first quarter grade, it is submitted today. Every day in every class I have stressed how important it is for students to turn in all Canvas assignments and most have done that and have a good grade. Some, however, are still behind and do not have a good grade. Take care of this! If you have questions or concerns, I will be checking email throughout the work day today. Your grade is completely determined by your Canvas assignments! Now, another thing to remember is that your first quarter grade is just a snapshot. It is you first SEMESTER grade that will be part of your high school transcript-your permanent record. If you didn't get a good start first quarter-determine now to do much better second quarter and bring that grade up so that your semester grade is strong. -We have bought SMARTMUSIC subscriptions for all band students. You may remember that we had free subscriptions to this online platform during the shutdown in the Spring. All music that we play for the rest of the year will be available on SmartMusic which means we don't have to deal with sheet music as much and students can follow all rehearsals from home. There are also additional resources available including recordings of full ensembles and/or your part for you to play along with and listen to, the ability to record assignments that are posted, and tons of exercises, method books and solos. Watch for instructions on how to start your subscription in the next few days because EVERYONE will need to have an active account because we will use it for every rehearsal. The subscriptions are already paid for. EVERYONE NEEDS TO BRING THEIR CHARGED LAPTOPS TO ALL CLASSES. -SMARTMUSIC, along with the band t-shirts and masks, have been paid for out of the 40.00 band dues everyone is supposed to have paid. Most have but a few haven't. If you haven't taken care of this, please do so. The payment link of the band website is closed at this point so just send a check for 40.00 made out to "SMS Band" as soon as you can. Also, some instrument rental checks have not been turned in. Those are 60.00 and the check should be made out to "SM Schools." Enjoy the beautiful weather on this extended weekend!