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Titan Pride Update, Upcoming important dates!

What a weekend it was! Titans bring home their 3rd State title in 10 years. We had a blast, as I hope your kids did as well. They represented the school very well, in both pride and performance.

Here are a couple of dates and bits of information for your reading pleasure:

Saturday, December 7th
All-State Band Auditions
This only effects a few, those who made All-District Band, but I wanted to share a little.
Students will need to be on campus at Hickman High School in Columbia, MO sometime after 8:30am. Upon arriving, please locate Mr. Thurmond and get your audition number. At that time you will go to the room and sign up for an audition with said number. Auditions begin at 9am. You should plan to stay until you have seen “callback” lists posted. If you are on that list, you will need to audition again. If you are not on that list, you are free to go home.
Come prepared for a LONG day. Bring something to do, and stuff to eat. You will be doing a lot of sitting and waiting.

Tuesday, December 10th
Winter Concert, Symphonic Band/Concert Band/Percussion Ensemble/Titan Jazz, 7pm
Symphonic Band – Call time is 6:45pm in the PAC audience (reserved seats)
Concert Band – Call time is 6:30pm in the Choir Room
Titan Jazz – Call time is 6:30pm on stage
Percussion Ensemble – Call time is 6:30pm on stage
All members of Symphonic Band, Concert Band, and Titan Jazz MUST be in concert uniform. Boys are to wear a tuxedo (jacket, pants, cummerbund provided), and are to wear a white, ribbed tuxedo shirt with bowtie underneath (purchased by you), and black socks/dress shoes. Girls are to wear purchased concert dress, hose and black shoes.
All members of Percussion Ensemble are to wear ALL BLACK dress clothes. Boys must be in slacks and a black, long-sleeved, button down dress shirt, with black socks/shoes. Girls are to wear the female equivalent of this (flexible).
Students should expect to stay for the ENTIRE concert as an audience member before and after their performance. Seats will be reserved.

Friday, January 10th
Pep Band Performance at Girls/Boys Basketball game, Time TBA
We will be playing at one basketball game this year, on this date. Please reserve this in your calendars now. More information to follow.

Band Fees
There are still a handful of students with an outstanding balance for marching band fees from the fall. Please take care of this as soon as possible. As of December 6th, I will be placing a fine card on the student in the front office. I need to wrap this up before THIS Friday.

Percussion Orchestra Contract
Members of the battery are a part of the Percussion Orchestra in the Winter/Spring for Contest. They were to fill out the attached contract and return it to me signed by a parent and the student by Friday, November 22nd.
There are still 7 out of 13 that have not turned it in. If you have not taken care of this, please do so at once.

Percussion Ensemble Contract

Have a great week.

Clifton D. Thurmond

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Concert Band Playing Tests

Below you will find a list of playing tests for Concert Band. A very small number of students have spoken with me about not being able to access Charms. These are the kinds of things we’ll have to struggle with when it comes to technology. Thanks for trying your best to make arrangements to get it recorded through Charms.

If that’s not possible, please try to get me an emailed recording or — like we used to do back in the day — a tape recording. Anything will work. The important thing is that the students are practicing on these very small excerpts among other things. I will accept any and all playing tests through Monday of next week so that we can get scores in the grade book. After that (after the concert) it’s not really m uch use to the ensemble to have the playing tests done.

*Please note, percussionists are being grading on ~3 page readings on mallet technique, timpani history, tuning/technique, etc… and DO NOT have to submit the playing tests via Charms.

Thank you,

Shawn Harrel

CB-Christmas Declaration 1 11/18/2013 Play 8 times. You may insert a measure of rest. Keep the tempo steady. -Flutes, Oboe, Clarinets: m. 22, Bass Cl, Tuba: m. 45-46, Alto, Tenors: m. 35, Tpts/Horn: 38-41, Trb./Bar.=62-65 Concert Band
CB-Christmas Declaration 2 11/25/2013 Play 3 times. Fl, Cl. 47-51; Ob. 38-41; Bs. Cl, Tuba: 42-45; Saxes, Horn 32-36; Tpts, Trob, Euph. 28-32 Concert Band
CB Playing Test 3 Christmas Dec or Snow Day Celebration 12/2/2013 Play 4x: CD: Fl. 62-65; Ob., Cl., Saxes 55-58 SDC: Tpt., Hn. 30-33; Trb., Bar., Tba. 26-30 Concert Band
CB-Snow Day Celebration 12/9/2013 Play 4 times Fl, Ob, Bass. Cl. 24-28 Cl, Alto, Hn. 22-25 Tpt. 19-23 Trb, Bar. 31-34 Tuba 41-45 Concert Band
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All State Band info

Good Evening!

State band auditions are this weekend and I thought I would pass along some information that I have learned the last couple of years.

Auditions are held at Hickman High School, 1104 N Providence Rd, Columbia, MO. I believe the school opens at 8:30 a.m. and auditions start at 9:00 a.m. Mr. Thurmond is the only person that needs to officially check-in and he normally does this when the school opens. There is no set time that you need to arrive…you just need to be there before the auditions close for your child’s room. Kayla and I usually get there around 9 a.m.

Once you get to the school, you will need to find Mr. Thurmond. Typically he will be in the lobby until all students have arrived. He will give the student their registration form and it will list their audition number. You will want to make a note of the audition number…the student will turn in the registration form at their audition and all call-backs will be announced using the audition number instead of name.

Continue reading “All State Band info”

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State Football Itinerary and last minute information!

Hi all!

Are you ready for Saturday? I’m trying to be, but there’s still a lot to do. Wish me luck!

1. Here is the itinerary for Saturday:
(See attached file: State-Championship1.doc)

2. We anticipate being back in LS by 1am, however, there is no way to be certain of that, so here is the plan

  • Once we leave St. Louis, we will stop somewhere outside the city for a QUICK bite to eat. They will need cash for this.
  • Once we leave this eating establishment, I will have them text you to give you a better idea of our ETA.
  • Once we drive through Odessa (about 25 minutes from LSW), I will have them text you again and tell you to go ahead and leave the house so that your are waiting for us once we arrive
  • We will NOT be unloading equipment at this time, so please be on time so your child can exit the bus and enter your car to go home. At 1am, no one will want to be waiting around for a ride, including me.

3. IF YOUR CHILD IS NOT RIDING THE BUS TO ST LOUIS WITH US, here is your plan:

  • We will be eating, at Golden Corral (I think) in St. Charles, MO
  • Address is 1850 ZUMBEHL ROAD, (636)947-0999
  • To get your child with the band, you have two options: 1. bring them to Golden Corral (2:30pm) and let them ride to the game with the bus OR 2. meet us at the Cole St entrance to the dome. (4pm)
  • Ask your student if they remembered to bring their instrument home this weekend. If not, they are responsible for taking care of someone else getting their instrument loaded Saturday morning.

4. IF YOU ARE PICKING UP YOUR CHILD AFTER THE GAME TO RIDE HOME WITH YOU, here is the plan

  • After the game is over, you will need find our buses/trailers outside the Cole St entrance to the dome
  • I MUST see you with your child in hand. Please do not leave without checking out with MR. THURMOND himself. I will be nearest the trailers.

5. Tickets to the game are $11. You can buy them at the ticket window when you arrive at the dome. OR until 3:30pm today in the front office of the school.

I HOPE I covered everything, but don’t hesitate to ask if I didn’t cover something you’re thinking about.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving! See you Saturday!

Go Titans!

Clifton D. Thurmond
Director of Bands, Lee’s Summit West High School

State Championship.doc

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Titan Pride Update, Turkey and State Football edition!

Well, the Titans did it again. 42-14 was the final tonight over the Kearney Bulldogs. We are headed to STATE! Our last performance of the season will be in the Edward Jones Dome on Saturday, November 30th at 5:30pm.

This brings with it plenty of challenges, given we only have two days of school remaining before break. Please read the following carefully, so our trip logistics can run smoothly.

  • IF, for any reason, your son/daughter will be traveling one direction without the band (meaning they will not be on the bus), we NEED written verification of this.
  • IF they are riding to OR from with someone other than their own parents, they MUST fill out the approved travel release form that I will provide them MONDAY during class. This MUST be signed and returned NO LATER THAN Tuesday, November 26th at NOON!
  • IF they are riding to OR from with a parent, a hand-written note or email will suffice.
  • We will TRY to go outside to rehearse on MONDAY or TUESDAY during school. Please tell your son/daughter to come prepared to go outside in the cold those days.
  • I have a lot of things to iron out before I can give you an itinerary, but we plan to leave mid-morning and return LATE (as in after midnight).

Lastly, I wish you all a blessed Thanksgiving! Have a relaxing time with your families. And don’t forget to put EVERYTHING on your Thursday dinner table between two pieces of bread on Friday! (That is my favorite part)

Clifton D. Thurmond
Director of Bands, Lee’s Summit West High School

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Football playoff information

Greetings!

The LSW Titan football team had another great win this weekend. LSW will host the next game on Friday, Nov. 22nd, at 7:00pm against Kearney. The band will perform at the game and the call time for students is 6:00pm.

If the Titans win on Friday, the next game will be the state championship game! The game will be at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis on Saturday, Nov. 30th at 5:30pm and the band will perform at halftime. The band typically takes bus transportation to and from the event, leaving early morning and returning late evening. If you plan on going and prefer staying a night or two, I recommend the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark. They have blocked a number of rooms for LSW…let them know you are calling for the $79 rate that is to be given to fans of the Lee’s Summit West football team.

Go Titans!

Nancy

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Concert/Symphonic Band Playing Tests

Parents and students,

Band members in Concert Band (and Symphonic Band) are being assigned weekly playing tests through www.charmsoffice.com. These tests are designed to keep the students progressing and keep them practicing 20-30 minutes a day.

Here is some information on how to access Charms:
http://titanmusic.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/CHARMS-How-to-access.doc

Here is some information on how to access and use the Charms recording studio:
http://titanmusic.lsr7.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2013/08/RecordingStudioHelp.pdf

As with any technology, there has been a few problems with certain students getting their computer or iOS device (search for Charms Office in the App Store) to record their playing tests. Please note that this is NOT an excuse to miss a playing test deadline. Making sure your browser and Java version is up to date is the first step in troubleshooting. The students have heard me say it before, but I grade them all on a 7-year-old laptop of my o wn at home.

While having all the tests submitted through Charms would be preferred, the student should make arrangements to submit the recording one way or another by the deadline. See Mr. Harrel or Mr. Thurmond if you need some advice. You can always find the current playing tests and their deadlines by logging into Charmsoffice.com.

Parents, thanks for your help and encouragement of the students as they work consistently to improve their musicality and students, thanks for your hard work as always!

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Titan Pride Weekly Update

Hello. I’m sure most of you have been going through withdrawal from not receiving my email EVERY Friday.

Marching Band, the saga continues……….

What a glorious night it was last Monday. Marching band in 20 degree weather is how it’s supposed to be (says the guy who spent three years in the University of Colorado marching band)

There is a playoff game TOMORROW in Springfield at Kickapoo HS. The band will NOT be traveling to the game. In the event the team wins that game, we SHOULD have a home game on Friday, November 22nd. If this game takes place at Titan Stadium, we will again perform and have a 6pm call time.

Both Symphonic Band AND Concert Band members are taking WEEKLY playing tests via the CHARMS system. Please encourage your child to stay current on this, as getting behind will only have a negative effect.

Don’t forget the Winter Concert on December 10th at 7pm. All girls, at this point, should have a concert dress (purchased through the music staff). All boys, at this point, should have a rented tuxedo from the music staff. Boys are responsible for purchasing their own tuxedo shirt
(this is not a normal white dress shirt, it needs to be an actual tuxedo shirt), as well as their own bowtie. Percussion Ensemble boys are to wear black dress slacks, a black, long-sleeved, collared dress shirt, and black dress shoes. Percussion Ensemble girls have been instructed to wear all black matching the boys as best as possible (I’m not as good at describing their options).

Don’t forget that the current fundraiser orders/money are due THIS MONDAY.

Congratulations to the following students on their accomplishments at All-District Band Auditions this past Saturday. Students auditioned at Liberty High School against approximately 1000 other high school band members from the Kansas City area for a 100-piece concert band and a 20-piece jazz band:

The following were selected as members of the All-District Band
Shayla Brown, 7th chair flute
Maddie Krause, 8th chair flute
Courtney Bingham, 2nd chair oboe
Courtney Bingham, english horn 1st alternate
Allyssa DeJarnette, 3rd chair clarinet
Kayla Shaeffer, 1st chair baritone saxophone
David Burre, trombone 1st alternate
Sawyer Harmon, 1st chair tuba

The following were selected as members of the Honorable Mention Band
David Burre, 1st chair trombone

The following were selected to the All-District Jazz Band
Justin Nitz, 5th trumpet
Isaiah Carter, vibraphone
Isaiah Carter, drumset 2nd alternate
Kevin McMilian, vibraphone alternate
Quinn Mosier, piano

All of the above students are eligible to audition for All-State Band and Jazz Band on December 7th at Columbia-Hickman High School, more info to follow. In addition, they will be performing with their respective All-District ensembles the week of December 9th, please refer to their schedule for rehearsal and concert times.

Clifton D. Thurmond

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2013 All District Band

Congratulations to the following for making the Kansas City Metro District #3 All-District Band, Honorable Mention Band, and Jazz Band:

BAND
Shayla Brown – flute 7th chair
Maddie Krause – flute 8th chair
Courtney Bingham – oboe 2, alt English horn
Allyssa DeJarnette – clarinet 3rd chair
Kayla Shaeffer- Bari sax 1
David Burre – trombone HM 1
Sawyer Harmon – tuba 1

JAZZ
Isaiah Carter – vibes, alt drums
Kevin McMilian – alt vibes
Quinn Mosier – piano
Justin Nitz – trumpet 5