Doc’s Blog

Five St. Michael Jazz Ensemble students earned spots in the East Baton Rouge All-Parish Jazz Ensemble. Congratulations to first chair alto saxophonist, Dylan Parker, first and second chair bassists, Alex Holeman and Matthew Hawkins, fifth trombonist, Amanda Crump, and second trumpet, Eric Peters.

I am trying to clear with our vendors for the band trip in order to finalize our payments.  Please do not send your third and final payment in until I have given your child his/her final balance.  Several of you still need to pay your second installment of $200.  Please send this ASAP, as it was due January 5.

We are also in the planning stages for our one big fund raiser, Moonlight and Jazz. This dinner/jazz concert will be held April 11, at White Oak Plantation.  Chef John Folse’s staff will provide the meal, while our very own Jazz Ensemble and and two combos will provide the musical entertainment.  You will be receiving invitations to this event through the mail shortly.  We are still in need of event sponsors. If you feel you can help, please contact me (phone 202-5962 or email kandry1@cox.net) as soon as possible. We are in need of meal sponsors (to help offset the cost of the John Folse meal), sound and lighting (funds to hire professional sound and lighting crew), and a wine sponsor (we purchase our own wine for this event).  Again, if you can help us by being a sponsor, please contact me as soon as possible.

We are also in need of donations of items to be given away as door prizes at the dinner. If you can help in any way, please contact me as well and I can put you in contact with a band boosters officer.

Thanks,

Doc

Dear Band Parents and Students:

Here is the list of dates you should be aware of for the remainder of this semester. Please print this out and use it as a reference.

First, the performances:

Tuesday, February 2, 5 – 8 PM  Jazz Ensemble performs at the Distinguished Graduates Dinner (Marriott Hotel)

Thursday, February 4, 6 PM Percussion Ensemble performs at District Rally (St. Michael Gym)

Thursday, February 25, 6 PM, Chamber Brass Recital at SJV

Tuesday, March 2, 6 PM, Jazz Ensemble performs at the Fortier/Gerbrecht Jazz Invitational at Baton Rouge High

Friday, March 5, all day, Jazz Ensemble performs at Loyola Jazz Festival

Thursday, March 11, Symphonic Band performs at District Band Festival (Time TBA)

Thursday, March 25 – Tuesday, March 30, Symphonic Band and Jazz Band in Orlando

Sunday, April 11, – Moonlight and Jazz – All students responsible for working this event.

Tuesday, April 27, Spring Band Concert  6:30 PM- All Ensembles perform

Either Wednesday, April 28 or Thursday April 28, Time TBA – State Band Festival in Lafayette.

Now, for the after school rehearsal schedule:

In February, Chamber Winds rehearsals on Thursdays, February 4 and 11. Dress Rehearsal for Chamber Winds Recital on February 18 at SJV

In March, Symphonic Winds rehearsals on Thursday, March 4, Tuesday, March 8, and Wednesday, March 9 (only three full band rehearsals before District Festival so everyone must be in attendance unless you have a school game or a school meet).  We will have one additional full band rehearsal the Tuesday (March 23) before we leave for Disney.

In April, we will have to have at least one rehearsal (April 22)before we got to State Band Festival. We may need to have another rehearsal, depending on how well we perform at District and Orlando.

All rehearsals will begin at 3 PM and will conclude by 4:30.

On a separate thought, I will need parent volunteers to shuttle equipment (music stands, drum set, P.A. equipment) to and from the Marriott Hotel next Tuesday, February 2.  If you can help, please email me ASAP.  We will need to leave school by 4:15. Our performance should conclude by 8 PM. The students will be fed.

I know this is a lot for now.  I will be sending a updates on this blog tomorrow concerning our upcoming Disney trip and Moonlight and Jazz.

Thanks,

Doc

The date for the Chamber Winds Concert has been changed from Wednesday, February 24, to Thursday, February 25.  The recital is still at SJV at 6 PM. We had to move it because the All Parish Jazz Band concert is scheduled for Wednesday at 7.

Doc

Dear Band Parents and Students,

I am please to announce two very important additional performances for our St. Michael Band Program. First, our Jazz Ensemble has been asked to perform at the Diocesan Distinguished Graduates Banquet on February 2. This comes as a special request from our new Diocesan Superintendent, Dr. Melanie Verges. It seems that word spread quickly throughout the administration about our performance for the Bishop’s Thanksgiving dinner and she asked for us specifically. The time for this event is 5 – 8 PM.  We will set up and get a sound check at 5.  They will feed us at 6, and we will play shortly after that.

The second event is our very first performance by a new ensemble called the St. Michael Chamber Winds.  This group of  brass musicians will perform in concert February 24, at 6 PM at St. Jean Vianney Catholic Church.  The evening’s music will feature sacred brass chamber music from Renaissance composers such as Palestrina and Gabrielli. The concert is free and open to the public.  Rehearsals for this concert begin this Thursday after school (3 – 4:30) and will continue once a week until the concert.

Musically,

Doc

Dear Band Parents and Students,

I am sending this to thank you for your help with the Catholic Charities “Adopt a Family” project.  We were able to provide gifts for a family of four: mom, dad, and two girls (ages 10 and 3).  With your generous help we were able to provide them with gifts of clothing, household goods, a brand new bike, dolls, a watch, and over $200 in gift cards.  I think this is a great way for us to give something back as a group and I hope to be able to adopt two families next year.  I apologize again for the short notice at the end of last week.  I understand there was a change of personnel at the diocese that caused us not to get information about our family until late last Thursday.  Thanks again, good luck on exams, and have a Blessed Christmas.

Doc

We’re still on for our parade. Remember that we are wearing pep band uniforms. It will be 71 degrees.

Also, we did get a family for the Catholic Charities donation. You should have received an email from Angie. If you still want to participate, could use your help.  The bicycle, clothes, doll, t-shirts for the dad, and household items have been donated, along with a Wal Mart gift card for $60. We could still use help with the girls purse, wristwatch for dad, the sheets, and any other gift card.  Thanks to all those who responded to this.  We hope to be able to give this family a happy Christmas morning.

Doc

It looks like the weather will be warm Sunday, so we will be wearing pep band uniforms.  Also, you may want to check out the pictures from our Christmas Concert at: http://www.shutterfly.com/progal/gallery.jsp?gid=768a5498ce7e30a968d8

It’s the Christmas event.

Doc

Dear Parents and Students,

First of all, congratulations to you students for two fantastic performances this past Sunday and Monday.  It was one of our best Christmas Concerts ever!  Parents, please remember we have our last Bingo of the year this Sunday.  Workers are to report to the Bingo hall on Airline Highway, just past Earl K. Long  in north Baton Rouge.  You should be there by 1:30.  The actual bingo begins at 2 and ends between 4:30 and 5:30.

Students, we march in the Jones Creek Christmas Parade this Sunday too. You are to report to the band room for 12 noon. Parents, I need two trucks to carry instruments (drums and other large instruments) to follow the busses to the staging area (Seventh Day Adventist Church) and then meet us at the end of the parade (Ralph’s Supermarket).  I will decide on the uniform based on weather conditions by Friday. Right now is looks like we’ll be in formals because the temps will be in the low 60’s by parade time.

Doc

I have attached a power point presentation study guide here for you:

midterm-study-presentation

Doc

I attended the 2009 Louisiana All State Band Concert today and it was a “who’s who” among St. Michael Jazz Band Students!  Lead Alto player, Dylan Parker and trumpeter/flugelhorn player, Eric Peters were each featured on separate pieces.  Bassist, Alex Holeman got some extended solo work as well. I have attended many All State Jazz Band performances and I can say that this ranked as one of the top performances.  The group played with plenty of excitement and had good dynamic contrast as well.  I have to say that our St. Michael students REALLY stood out among the rest. Anyway, it’s time for the rest of you guys to really get working on all-parish audition material.  Ask any one of the guys who made the all state band and they will tell you that it was really worth the hard work it took to prepare for the audition.  They really had a blast and performed in a “once in a lifetime” event that they will remember for the rest of their lives.  In 23 years of teaching, I have never had more than one student in an all state group in any given year. So, to have three in one year was extra special.  I am SO very proud of them and all my St. Michael students.  Just think, if we put three guys in All State,  I think we can at least triple that in all parish (concert and jazz groups).

Well, I’m off to Dallas to be with my daughter for Thanksgiving.  Keep us in your prayers.  She’s having her third surgery on her knee.  This time, it’s for a torn meniscus (had 2 ACL surgeries prior to this since her junior year in high school). I want to wish all of you a very happy Thanksgiving.  I know I’m very thankful to be able to work with some of the greatest kids on the planet.

See ya’ll on the 30th!  Practice over the holiday so when we get back, we don’t stress before our concert on the 6th.

Doc