Thursday 31 January 2013

Lincoln Love


Lincoln Love

Get it.... That's a pic of Lincoln and he has a heart around him...


Sigh....

Reminder to Gr. 12 Concert Band and Sr. Jazz 

Monday Morning is Lincoln Love

NO SLEEPING IN!

BE HERE AT 7:00 A.M.




Feb 4, 2013

Sectionals

120 - Ms. E’s room - Flutes and Oboes
124 - Mr. Overby’s Room - Clarinets
Band Room - BCl, Bassoon, Tbone’s, Baritones, Tenors, Tuba, Bari
Surf Club - Altos/ FH
Choral - Trumpets
Gym - Percussion

Bring all stands to the GYM after sectionals

Time line

Westwood Students Arrive at 7:00 for set up.
7:10 - floor goes down.
8:00 - Greeters in place to guide students to rooms.
8:15 Lincoln Arrives
8:30 - 9:45 - Break and move to gym

10:00 - 11:15  - Full Band stuff

10:00 - 10:15 - Sr. Jazz Performs 1 tune (bit of a face break) - Gr.8’s welcome to sit in?

10:15 - Mr. Kehler and Ms. Chrisp runs the mass band through  - A Childhood Hymn and Zeal - Gr 12’s sit in section.
-Gr. 12’s and Lincoln students can perform Windjammer (Gr. 12 Optimist piece) - if desired

11:15 - 11:30 - Clean up from Gym to Band room
11:30 - 12:00 - Pizza

12:00 - Lincoln Leaves and floor comes up and rooms re-set for staff.

Friday 25 January 2013

Carry on!

Happy Friday everyone!  Here is a little something to mark the end of the semester and the official beginning of exams.

Take the advice the Kansas had to offer in the first place - seems very fitting  for those of you coming into exam week full of stress....

"Carry on my wayward son
There'll be peace when you are done
Lay your weary head to rest
Don't you cry no more."

Thursday 24 January 2013

Slight changes

Slight changes to times:

Feb 4th will start with set up at 7:00 a.m. in the gym, instead of 7:30 as previously listed.  Also, Sr. Jazz will be performing on the 4th, so I have asked all of the members of Sr. Jazz to be in attendance Monday Morning, as well.

Tuesday 22 January 2013

Important Dates for Feb and March





Jan. 25th - final day to hand in Self-Assessment #2 (this Friday)

Feb. 4th - Lincoln Love - Gr. 12 CB - 7:30 - 12:30 - Gr. 8 Band Students from Lincoln will be here    (Monday)

Feb. 8th - Cancer Concert - Sr. Jazz - 6:00 - 7:30 - Friday

Feb. 9th - University of Minnesota clinic - Gr. 11 and 12 Concert Band 11:00 - 1:00

Feb 13 - Open House

Each year we bring a raft of bands to participate in our local festival - The Optimist International Band and Jazz Festival... this year we bring a total of 7 bands.

Optimist is a high-lite of our school year and the expectation is that everyone participates; consequently, we post the dates as soon as possible so everyone can clear their schedules.  If you see a conflict, please contact me immediately, as I may be able to find a solution if given enough notice.

Students are expected to be at the location 1 hour before their performance time.

Optimist Concert Band:

These performances are at the Winnipeg Convention Centre and students meet at the bottom of the escalators just inside the main door..

Tuesday, February 19, 2013 - Gr. 10 Concert Band - 6:25 pm.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013 - Gr. 9 Concert Band - 3:10 p.m. [students will be bussed there and back - more information to follow]
Thursday, February 21, 2013 - Gr. 11 Concert Band - 8:05 p.m.
Friday, February 22, 2013 - Fr. 12 Concert Band - 6:00 p.m.


Optimist Jazz Band:

These Performances take place at the North Kildonan Mennonite Brethren Church 1315 Gateway

Thursday, February 28, 2013 - Junior Jazz - 4:00 p.m.  [students will be bussed there and back - more information to follow]
Saturday,  March 2, 2013 - Intermediate Jazz - 1:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 2, 2013 - Sr. Jazz - 3:20 p.m.

OH WHAT A NIGHT!!!!!!



A huge congratulations to everyone involved in last night's concert.  A truly marvelous performance by a truly marvelous group of young people.  You truly cannot get any finer compliment than a standing ovation from an audience and on behalf of all of the students involved, thank you.

Here is a digital copy of the program for your files.





Thursday 10 January 2013


It's that time......

Westwood Collegiate Band Department
proudly presents our

Winter Concert

January 21st @ 7:00 p.m. in the Gym
[Students are to be here no later than 6:00]


Some things you need to know about our concerts:

1.  You are encouraged to bring your own chair.

   People often ask about the chair thing. No, we are not trying to get out of work. I always respond that you can thank my father for the chair thing. When I was younger, my parents would come to my concerts in the gym, just like you have tonight. At the end, I would ask him how things went and he would often reply that his butt was numb. I realized many years later, that what he was saying was that he would enjoy the concert for as long as his butt could handle it. My solution..... comfy chairs. I know it is bit “kitschy,” but it truly makes for a more enjoyable experience.  

When can you put down your chair?  doors are open at 3:30..... fill your boots!

Now if you don't want to bring a chair you are welcome to sit in the balcony or on the stage where chairs will be provided.


2.  Students are required to stay for the whole concert.... that's right.... all of it.

   Why mandatory attendance?  Well,  we teach the team approach here at Westwood and we insist that all students, as part of their concert appreciation, watch as much of the other groups and help clean up at the end; regardless of what grade they are in. We are all in this together and I believe in the idea that my parents instilled in me as a young boy - that many hands make light work and that your applause is so much more satisfying when it is genuine.  

3.  I also get asked about  my take on concert etiquette. 

   I firmly believe that we have as a society lost or are losing concert etiquette. I have been to many, many, many concerts over the years and I am always appalled at the way some people act completely unaware of what is going on around them. I have personally seen people answer and talk on the phone during concerts. I have seen people walk out in a middle of a performance of another group... I have even heard a person cutting their nails during a performance. Slowly, but surely, actions like these have worked their way into society......don’t even get me started on going to the movies. I even teach my students that texting during a concert is the same as talking. The bottom line, is that these examples may be a sign of the times, but they are rude and if we do not teach our children, and our friends, that it is unacceptable... then who will? All we are asking is that our audience become a bit more sophisticated and put away the technology for a couple of hours and let yourself get taken away by the music. Do we really have to tell you to turn your cell off?

4.  The band DVD - taking video and photos at the concert

   As you can imagine, we work really hard to get things just perfect for our concerts.  We want you to sit and enjoy the show and take in all of the rest music.  Too often, now, when you son or daughter is on stage, you don't get to enjoy much, as you are staring at the concert through some kind of mini-window and you try to record it for posterity.    A few years ago, I envisioned a way for you to do both and thus the Band DVD was born.  I hire a professional videographer and a photographer to shoot our show so you don't have to.  At the final concert, we will put out a table and sell the DVD's for $20.  On the DVD you will get the entire year.  The photos are high res so you can even blow them up.  The DVD is traditionally available for pick-up in the middle of June and the funds raised go directly back into the band program.

5.  A final thought

    We really and truly hope you enjoy the show. We have worked very hard for many hours perfecting every nuance of the music. All we are asking is that you respect the rights of the people around you to listen to their son or daughter with the same amount of respect and intensity as you expected when it was your son or daughter’s turn on stage.




Sunday 6 January 2013

Reminder


Just a friendly reminder that mid-term examinations (assessments) begin this Tuesday. As we discussed, your exam will be either on Tuesday or Wednesday depending on your class.  Please check the last post for detailed exam information.  

Remember, we have 5 rehearsals until our concert on the 21st!  

Just remember that your attendance is mandatory at all of your midterms including ours.  If you have a conflict, you need to resolve it.

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