McCord Middle School Bands

Dear MMS Band Parents,

Dear MMS Band Families,

Welcome back!  I hope everyone had wonderful spring breaks.  My husband and I spent the entire week cleaning and refinishing parts of the house, and we worked so hard that we’re ready for a break from our break!

Solo and Ensemble
If your child is participating in the OMEA contest THIS SATURDAY, s/he should have received a packet of info in class today, including performance time and maps.  If you don’t get it tonight, email me and I’ll forward it electronically.  The contest organizer did the best job she could of honoring time requests, but if you have a concern with your assigned time, please let me know and I’ll try my best to find a solution.  Our students have worked really hard on their solos and ensembles, and I’m excited for a fun day of positive experiences and reward for their efforts.

Field Trip Thursday
This Thursday during band class only, the 8th graders have the opportunity to walk across the street to WKHS to hear the high school Indoor Drumline perform their contest show.  The closest thing this kind of show comes to is like “Stomp” or “Blast,” if you have seen either of those productions.  Students will ONLY miss band, and need to return the permission slip they received today by Wednesday.  This opportunity to hear live music is an important part of our curriculum and I am looking forward to it.

As always, I’m free most days after school to work with students who have questions or concerns about their instrument or music.  If your child has any questions, please don’t hesitate to have him/her come work with me.  Both bands are working hard to finish their method books, and end the year strong with their concert songs.  Thanks for supporting your band child in his or her musical endeavors!

Dear MMS Band Families,

CONGRATULATIONS to the Seventh and Eighth Grade Bands on a fantastic performance last Monday!!! I was very proud of ther performance. Both bands had some extremely musical moments, and I am confident that it was only the beginning of a great year of performances.

This Month
We have three and a half weeks until break, and during that time we have much to accomplish! Both bands will be working on a new playing test they will get this week, and the eighth graders will audition for chairs. This will determine what parts they will play on songs for our next concert. We are focusing on scales and certain rhythms in both bands, so ask your child to play a few lines out of their book for you! 7th graders are on page 10 and 8th graders are on page 15.

Instrument Donation Drive
Please see the attached flyer about our Musical Instrument Donation Drive. If your family has a musical instrument that you would be willing to donate, I will see that it gets in the hands of a youngster next year who might otherwise not have the chance to play. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation- you can send it in with your son or daughter to me and I will take care of the rest, or you can come out to Colonial Music during our official drive, Dec. 8th -Dec. 10th.

Open Band Room is every Tuesday after school until 4:30. Anyone can come who would like help on their instrument or music, wants to play with a friend, or just wants some pointers in a small-group environment.

Jazz Band meets every Friday 4-5pm. Everyone is welcome, even if you missed our first rehearsal!

Upcoming Events
We have no more concerts this month, but I am planning a few completely voluntary opportunities for students who are interested in the next couple months, including playing at an 8th grade basketball game, having a recital night, and playing some holiday music. Stay tuned for more info on these opportunities!

Dear MMS Band Families,

Welcome to another great week for the MMS bands! It is only thirteen days until our fall concert! Our concert will be Monday, November 21st at 7:30pm at WKHS auditorium. Students will need to be there at 7pm wearing their band polos, which the 7th graders will receive in band the Friday before. 8th graders should have their shirts from last year. I have contacted MMS coaches and cleared our event with their calendars.

Jazz Band and Open Band Room…
… will be starting next week! Jazz Band will meet every Friday from 4-5pm starting 11/18 and is open to ALL BAND STUDENTS!! Open Band Room will be on one day each week (tba) for extra practice for any and all students, to take extra time to pass stars and scales, etc. Look for more info next week.

Scale Club
…has taken off with the seventh grade! It is a totally volutary task that challenges students to memorize scales. The following students have memorized FIVE SCALES in order to be in the scale club:
Anna Chen
Chidera Ndife
Andrew Highley
George Pearon
Zack Despascale
Connor McCann
Caleb Gianangeli
Nathan McDonald
Lexi Stephens (8th Grade)

These students have started memorizing some of the five scales and are well on their way!
Ashley Baurichter
Camille Rider
Karlee Scott
Chris Lickman
Hannah Kerns
Conor Moore

Congrats to all of these students! It is still open for anyone to start working towards full membership in the scale club! Sorry if I omitted anyone- let me know and I will add them!

As always, ask your son or daughter to play a line or two for you out of their book- you might be surprised how much they’ve learned!

Have a great week!!

Dear MMS Band Families!!

Playing Test Monday Oct. 24th
Hopefully your son or daughter has been practicing over the past week for our playing test! 7th graders are playing the Eb Concert Scale and p. 40 #8, 8th graders are playing p. 40 #4 and a line from p. 42 for their instrument (they should have marked in their book which line they are playing).

7th Graders and NEW to McCord 8th Graders- Band Polo Shirt Order Forms
Order forms went out last week.  You can find another copy under “Forms” on this website.  Please note that sizes are adult sizes. I have samples if you want your child to try one on during before ordering. We wear these polos to our band concerts and to the solo and ensemble event. If your family has financial difficulty ordering a polo, please contact me and we will find a solution.

If you already have a McCord Music polo from an older student, you do not need to get a new shirt!!

Musical Enrichment
Many thanks to families who are getting notes or emails in to me about their children’s musical enrichment activities! Please remember that each concert attendance counts for 4%, and students need 10% to fulfill their project requirements. If a student only needs 2 more percentage points, they can simply play a couple lines out of the star chart for me during assist!

We need YOU!
Students who grow the most in self-confidence, ability on their instrument, and teamwork in class often don’t do it on their own- they need encouragement from parents. Ask your child to play a song or two for you. Even if you don’t know much about the alto saxophone, they will benefit from playing their instrument for an audience, and you’ll get to see how much they grow over the course of the year! Thanks for all you do to encourage your child to be the best they can be!!

Dear MMS Band Families!

Welcome to an exciting (and short!) week for the MMS bands! First of all, CONGRATS to the 8th grade band who had a fantastic performance with the high school band on Friday for Eighth Grade Night! All students who participated earned 100 points towards their performance grade for the first quarter. They played pep tunes during the first half, and marched on the field to play some songs for a halftime show. The high schoolers were really excited to see the future of the WKHS bands!

Section Competition
For two weeks in a row we’ve had the same instrument win in both periods of band on the same Friday Section Competition! Two weeks ago (I forgot to mention it) the winners were…. the Clarinets! And on Friday both clarinet sections (7th and 8th grades) crowned the Low Voices champs! Also, a big congrats to Conor McCann who became the second member of the scale club by playing all of his required scales from memory!!

Musical Enrichment- due Oct 24
We are making good progress on our musical enrichment projects. If your child wants to receive credit for taking lessons or attending concerts, he or she should ask you to drop me a note so I know to give them credit. Thank you to those of you who already have! Students who are keeping practice logs need a parent signature on their chart each week to verify their practice minutes. Other students are completing the star chart for me during assist, which they can do entirely on their own. Other options include writing a musical reflection and other options… be sure to check which project your child is doing! They are due on Oct. 24!

Flute and Trumpet opportunities
Flute players, check out the bottom of this email for a cool opportunity with Dr. Nicole Charles, a fantastic flute teacher in our area. For trumpets, Music and Arts in Worthington is hosting a trumpet day, complete with meeting Byron Stripling, director of the Jazz Arts Group and fabulous trumpet player. Flute and Trumpet players can receive credit in class for participating in these opportunities! Trumpets, call Music and Arts at 880-1000 or see the handout you got in class for more info.

Playing Test
This week I will be announcing our first playing test. Students will get plenty of advance notice, so you should hear them practicing at home!!

Have a great week!!

Sincerely,
Meg Alexis
McCord MS Band Director
www.mccordbands.info
malexis@worthington.k12.oh.us
614-450-4030

Flute Choir Opportunity:
Dear Students and Parents,

Preparations are under way for the North Star Holiday Flute Choir Session! The
session begins on Saturday November, 5th from 11am-12pm at my home in
Worthington. Participants will be given music parts appropriate for their
individual level.

We will rehearse and perform on the following dates:

Rehearsals (must attend at least 5):

Saturday, November 5th 11am-12pm
Thursday, November 10th 7:30-8:30pm
Saturday, November 12th 11am-12pm
Saturday, November 19th 11am-12pm
Saturday, December 3rd 11am-12pm
Thursday, December 8th 7:30-8:30pm
Saturday, December 10th, 11am-12pm (tentative, will confirm asap)

Performance:

December 13th, 7:30pm
Call time: 7pm
Friendship Village of Columbus
Independent Living
5800 Forest Hills Boulevard | Columbus, Ohio 43231-2999

Cost: $60

Please let me know if you are interested, thanks! Feel free to pass this on!

Dr. Charles
Flute Teacher and North Star Flute Choir Director
www.NicoleCharlesFluteStudio.com
(614) 325-8987

“Eighth Grade Night” Information
Who: 8th Grade Band members will join the High School Marching Band

What: To rehearse and perform during the first half and a halftime show at the WKHS Football Game

When: Friday, Oct. 7th
Rehearse at 4pm (Walk across street right after school and meet marching band on front lawn of WKHS, bring instrument, bookbag, etc with you)
Pizza Party at 5:45pm
Football Game at 7pm
8th Graders dismissed after halftime (depending on game, maybe between 8:45-9:30)

Where: WKHS

Wear: Bring these to school in the morning because we are walking straight to WKHS after school! Wear Athletic Shoes and socks (no sandals!), jeans and McCord/Kilbourne Spirit Wear! Have blue/black/white/grey shirt and sweatshirt or something warm! Prepare for the weather- rain coats, extra warm layers, hats/gloves, etc

Music: Students may use, borrow, or purchase lyres or flip folders at Colonial Music or Rettig Music if they choose to help hold their music. Students who purchase a flip folder can use it throughout marching band in high school, but it is not required. Some students have already memorized their music and don’t need to use a lyre.

After halftime, we will walk back to the band room to pick up our bookbags. Students can use their cell phones or use the school phone to call home when halftime is over. Parents should pick students up from the east entrance to the high school- pull into the HS drive and turn all the way to the left, park in the parking lot at the end.

Dear MMS Band Families!

It’s been another great week for the McCord Bands! First of all, CONGRATS to our 7th and 8th grade bands for a great performance at the school Pep Rally on Thursday! The event was a lot of fun, and everybody knows it’s not a Pep Rally without the BAND!

Binder Check
In order to help keep students organized, we had a binder check on Thursday for students who had their binders complete. They were graded on having a three ring binder with page protectors and their songs and fingering charts. This is a pass or fail grade and I have extras of everything students need (including used binders and page protectors) for students who still need to pass. Hopefully all students will pass this assignment by the end of this week!

Tags on Cases
A couple weeks ago I gave every student a tag for his or her instrument case. Please make sure your child has a tag with his or her name and phone number on it just in case the instrument is left somewhere, or if someone picks up the wrong instrument by accident!

Musical Enrichment
10% of students’ grades are earned by choosing one or several “Musical Enrichment” projects. Ask your child which project(s) he or she is planning on completing for this grade. Most of the projects are due October 21st.

Some of you got a chance to hear the WKHS Marching Band perform at Market Days in Downtown Worthington on Saturday- it was a lot of fun! If you haven’t, come check out the band sometime! The 8th graders will get a chance to work with them on Oct. 7th when we play on 8th Grade Night!

Have a great week!

Dear MMS Band Families!

Congratulations to our 7th and 8th grade bands for a great performance at the 8th grade football game on Wednesday!!  Our band combined with Worthingway and Kilbourne Middle School’s bands to create a mass band of almost 200 members!  ***If you got pictures and are willing to share, please email them to me so I can share them with our school!

It was wonderful to meet so many parents at our curriculum night.  If you missed it and have questions for me about this year, please don’t hesitate to email me!

The winners of Friday’s section competition were…
7th grade: altos and horns!!
8th grade:  (after Mrs. A had to break a tie with her vote…) the low voices!  Trombone, Baritone, Bari Sax, Tenor Sax, Bass Clarinet, Tuba, and Bassoon!  also nicknamed “The Dark Side”!

Seventh grade have two songs to be working on for their star chart: #4 and #7.  Ask your band kid to play these songs for you!  Eighth grade will start this week.

Our binder check will go on all week.  This is just to make sure that students have a three ring band binder with page protectors and the songs and handouts we have been working on.  This helps them stay organized!  I have extras of all the items students need; they can ask me during assist if they need an item.

Coming up, we will start working on concert band songs for our November concert.  Since we have no school Friday, we will not have a section competition this week.  On Wednesday, some sections will have a small group sectional with the other kids who play the same instrument, and then will go out to the cafeteria or instrument room with Mr. Day or Mr. Nathan, the high school band directors.  Thursday, both groups will play a few of our Pep Tunes in the school’s Pep Rally at the end of the day!  It’s going to be a good week!