Doc’s Blog

We will rehearse only on Thursday next week.  I will begin teaching students interested in developmental Jazz Combo next Tuesday.  You don’t have to be currently enrolled in Jazz Ensemble to attend this.  It is designed to teach beginners the art of jazz playing, style, improvising, etc.  You don’t even have to play a traditional jazz instrument (saxes, trumpets, trombones, and rhythm section).  Actually, you don’t even need to be signed up for band this year.  We will begin class next Tuesday (Nov. 3), from 3 – 4:30.

Also, be aware that we have rescheduled “senior night” to next Wednesday, Nov. 4. in the gym for a pep rally.  We are asking parents to wear something red and black if possible.  We will have a photographer at the pep rally to take pictures with you and your senior musician. I will let you know the time when we get it.

Doc.

All Parish Honor Band auditions are going to be the 8th ant 9th of December.  I need your $10 registration fee by Wednesday of this week.  Make the check payable to Kevin Andry, as I will write one check out to East Baton Rouge Parish.  I have passed out audition material to most of my interested students.  I will be offering extra time after school (beginning this week) to work on individual parts.  Please, everyone should consider auditioning. You will never know how well could do unless you audition. 

Doc

http://www.flashpixphoto.com/

There are many good pictures of our band, dancers, and flags on this website.  To find them, you must click on the link “games of the week, homecoming, senior nights”  Then click on 2009.  After you are there, click on week seven. Then on McKinley vs. St. Michael – halftime.

Enjoy.

I’m very proud of our Warrior Band for the outstanding job at Dutchtown today!  Not only did we achieve all our goals of earning superior ratings in all three areas (overall band, auxiliary, and percussion) but we also earned “Best in Class” awards for auxiliary performance and overall performance.  I was looking at the individual scores from all the judges and we clearly dominated in the area that I concentrate on the most, that is musicianship.  We know our marching wasn’t going to blow anyone away, but we will always play musically and will play with a lot of energy.  Ms. Patureau asked me to pass on her congratulations to you as well. She was there for the performance.  Again, congratulations to all my young musicians!  Way to start the year off!

Here’s a copy to the Youtube link of the performance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yTJhkB83xk

Doc

Parking at St. George on the Sunday of fair weekend can be quite tricky.  There is a mass at 11:30 and usually a football game at noon.  The kids need to allow plenty of time to arrive, park, and get set up.  there is a shuttle service from the Lowe’s parking lot across the street from St. George.  This is usually a big help.

We are entering our busiest week of the season, with a game Thursday, competition Saturday, and our performance at the St. George Fair Sunday. First of all, I will be taking orders for po boys tomorrow. We will be feeding students after band practice Thursday, before we leave for the game.

For the Dutchtown marching festival you will need to provide your own transportation to and from Dutchtown.  I will be driving a small bus from school (fits 20 passengers) and will be making reservations for riders tomorrow in school.  We will need all percussionists (except those who live in Prairieville to meet me at school at 12:45 PM, Saturday afternoon to help load the trailer.  A couple of extra Dads or Moms would also be appreciated to help with the loading process (large instruments and formal uniforms). All other students are to bring their own instrument to Dutchtown. We will leave St. Michael with the trailer at 1:15. Everyone else is to report to Dutchtown by 1:45 PM… no exceptions.  We will change into formals and warmup at 2:20. Staging is at 2:50. Our performance is at 3 PM.  We will change out of our formals after we perform.  Students are to remain at the festival site for the remainder of the festival and attend the awards ceremony at 8 PM. At the conclusion of the festival, the bus and instrument trailer will be returning to school.  We will NOT unload the trailer Saturday night.

Sunday, everyone will meet at St. George for noon.  We will unload the trailer on site and warmup for a performance at 12:30.  Jazz Band will perform at 1:00PM and we will dismiss you at 1:30. Dress for the fair is pep band uniforms. We will rehearse next week on Wednesday (only until 4 PM).  All other after school rehearsals for the week of October 19th will be cancelled.

I hope this covers everything.  Oh, since the Dutchtown festival is a fundraiser for the band, we will not be bringing our own food.  Be sure to bring money for snacks and supper before the awards ceremony.  There will also be festival t-shirts for sale.

One more thing.  I am extremely proud of our three Jazz Ensemble members who earned spots in the Louisiana All State Jazz Ensemble.  Eric Peters, Dylan Parker, and Alex Holeman auditioned last Saturday with students from all across the state.  Dylan placed first on alto sax, Eric placed fourth trumpet, and Alex won the only bass spot.  These young men will perform in concert during the Thanksgiving break at the L.M.E.A. state convention. This marks the second year in a row that Alex has made the all state group.

Doc

Next week is going to be a hectic one for all of us.  First of all, we have an away game on Thursday.  Competition is at Dutchtown on Saturday.  I am trying to find out our playing time.  We are going to travel to the festival via busses, so I will let you know when we will be leaving school.  Sunday, we are playing at the St. George Fair.  You should provide your own transportation to and from St. George.  Be there for noon, as we will begin playing at 12:30.

After school practice will be as follows:  Normal practice on Tuesday from 3 – 5:00.  Be advised that this rehearsal has been extended to 5.  I would rather extend Tuesday’s practice an extra half hour than to add another rehearsal on Saturday or Monday afternoon. I will remove the Tuesday rehearsal the following week.  Also, be prepared to rehearse Thursday (the afternoon of the football game) until 4 PM.  Please note that this is our LAST chance to rehearse before competition on Saturday. We will feed you after the rehearsal, before we leave for the football  game.

Speaking of feeding you, this week’s meal will be jambalaya and salad.  We have left over jambalaya from last Friday’s game.  I need a head count tomorrow (Wednesday) so we know how much to take out of the freezer.  This meal has already been paid for so it is FREE.  The post-game meal will be barbecue chicken dinners, which has also been paid for.  Remember that we need our band parents there to help serve this meal.  Next Thursday’s meal will be poboys. The cost for that will be $4 and I will need the money for that by Tuesday’s rehearsal. I will post this on the board at school and will remind you every day.  Please be prompt at our next three rehearsals so we can do our best next Saturday.

Musically,

Doc

Thanks to everyone who helped make our band night a huge success.  We had over 80 students in attendance, all of whom, had a great time.  It was so cool to see them playing their instruments, eating, singing, and dancing with our high school band students.

We have our only marching band contest in two weeks on October 17th.  I haven’t been given our performance time yet but will get that to you as soon as it becomes available.  We will be performing (both Jazz Ensemble and Marching Band) at the St. George Parish Fair on Sunday, October 18. Students will need to report to St. George for 12:00 Noon.  We will begin our performance at 12:30 (Marching Band) and will finish up with the Jazz Ensemble at 1:30.

Musically,

Doc

Our annual Band Night is scheduled for next Friday, October 2 at Olympia Field.  This event is a huge recruiting tool for our band program at St. Michael. We need help from all of you to make this event a success again this year.

First, we need help with set up at 3:30 at Olympia.

Second, we need parents to help serve the food (be there for 5:00 PM)

Third, we need parents to help with cleanup after we feed everyone.

Finally, we need help with the following items:

Percussion:  Bring two 2 liter drinks (coke, diet coke, sprite or dr pepper)

Brass: Bring a case of water

Woodwinds: Bring desserts- NO cakes you have to cut… only cookies, brownies, or pick up desserts. You may bring these next Thursday, October 1.

Thanks in advance for your help in making this a successful event again this year.

Doc

We have a very busy week for homecoming festivities.  I have cancelled percussion practice after school Monday.  We will have normal rehearsals on Tuesday and Thursday.  Wednesday, we have our annual homecoming parade.  We will be serving pizza for those who stay after school ($4).  Be on campus Wed. for 5:30.  The parade begins at 6 PM and is immediately followed by a pep rally in the gym.  Dress for the parade is pep band shirts with jeans and tennis shoes.

The bus will leave Friday for the homecoming game at 5:45.  Be at school for 5:15 to load up.  We will be serving jambalaya ($4) before the game on Friday.  There will be an after game meal served in the cafeteria when we return to campus.

Doc