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Band Update

Wow!  Back from NYC and no rest for the weary.  We had a GREAT time.  The kids were awesome, behaved well, didn’t complain, and represented LSW to it’s highest regard. I was proud of them and it allowed the staff to have a good time as well.  The performance was an extreme highlight of my career and I credit that to the kids as they played their rear-ends off.  In fact, as some of them have told you, I had trouble holding back the tears at the end of a very inspiring performance of Shenandoah.

Woodwind Class
Tomorrow morning, 6:45AM is when we START .  See you all there!  We have clinicians scheduled to work with the kids, so please have them there on time.  

District Contest
This Saturday, SOME  of the students are performing a solo or small ensemble at District Contest, which is hosted here at LSW.  Students not on the attached schedule will be performing at the Lee’s Summit Festival in mid-April.  More info on that to come.  Here is an UPDATED  schedule.  All changes were at the request of the student, so they should know about it already, but wanted you to have the right times/rooms.
(See attached file: Solo Ensemble Schedule.pdf)

State Band Contest – also held at LSWHS
The Concert Band will be performing at State Band Contest on Wednesday, April 3rd at 3:10pm .  More information to follow.

The Percussion Ensemble (all percussionists in Symphonic Band/Concert Band, plus Trevor Allen and Jacob Grigsby) will be performing at State Band Contest on Wednesday, April 3rd at 2:30pm

The Symphonic Band will be performing at State Band Contest on Friday, April 5th at 3:00pm

Brass Class
Next THURSDAY, March 28th, 6:45am

Have a great weekend!

Clifton D. Thurmond

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Titan Pride Update Holiday Edition

Happy Last-Week-of-School!

Mr. Harrel and I are very proud of the performances by Titan Jazz, the Percussion Ensemble, Concert Band, and Symphonic Band last Tuesday night. What a great way to kick of the holiday season! We hope the parents enjoyed our selections and performances of them. Look forward to more and better music in the spring.

Speaking of next semester, there are some NEW events to add to your calendar. Please make sure you read below in the categories that apply to your child.

ALL PERCUSSIONISTS ENROLLED IN 4th HOUR (CONCERT/SYMPHONIC BAND)
Attached is a schedule of required rehearsals for the spring percussion “orchestra”. This group will perform at large group contest in March.

Percussion Ensemble Schedule

ALL BRASS PLAYERS IN CONCERT or SYMPHONIC BAND
Attached is a schedule of required master classes. All of them will take place before school.

Brass Class Schedule

ALL WOODWIND PLAYERS IN CONCERT or SYMPHONIC BAND
Attached is a schedule of required master classes. All of them will take place before school.

Woodwind Class Schedule

ALL STUDENTS GOING ON THE NEW YORK CITY TRIP IN MARCH
Attached is a list of additional dates for rehearsals and concerts that apply only to those students going on the New York trip. These rehearsals and concert are required, please put them in your calendar now to prevent conflicts from taking place, as all three dates are non-school days.

NYC Trip Band Rehearsals

ALL STUDENTS IN THE BAND PROGRAM
Concert Performance Dates for next semester

  • Sunday, February 24th 6:00pm New York City travelers only
  • Saturday, March 23rd TBD All Students in the band program will be competing at contest as a soloist OR member of a small ensemble (To Be Determined)
  • Wednesday, April 3rd After School Concert Band and Percussion “Orchestra” Contest
  • Thursday, April 4th After School Symphony Orchestra Contest (only those wind/percussion students in Symphony Orchestra)
  • Friday, April 5th After School Symphonic Band Contest
  • Monday, April 29th 7:00pm Cavalcade of Bands 1 (Concert Band and 1st Hour Percussion Ensemble)
  • Tuesday, April 30th 7:00pm Cavalcade of Bands 2 (Titan Jazz and Symphonic Band)

Mr. Harrel and I wish you and your families a happy holiday season and we look forward to working with you in 2013.

Sincerely,

Clifton D. Thurmond

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2012 All District Band/Jazz Band

KC Metro All-District Band
Shayla Brown, 1st Alternate flute
Courtney Bingham, 2nd chair oboe
Courtney Bingham, 1st Alternate english horn
Joelle Beusterien, 1st chair clarinet
Allyssa DeJarnette, 7th chair clarinet
Abby Kaiser, 17th chair clarinet
Josiah Bardy, 2nd chair alto saxophone
Kayla Shaeffer, 2nd Alternate bari saxophone
Grant Fischer, 2nd Alternate French horn
Sawyer Harmon, 2nd chair tuba
Parker Sheridan, 2nd Alternate snare drum
Dan Ratigan, 1st Alternate snare drum
Dan Ratigan, 1st chair timpani

KC Metro All-District Jazz Band
Quinn Mosier, 1st piano, Gold Band
Isaiah Carter, 1st vibraphone, Gold Band
Josiah Bardy, 1st alto saxophone, Blue Band
Isaiah Carter, 1st drum set, Blue Band

KC Metro All-District Honorable Mention Band
Shayla Brown, 1st chair flute
Maddison Krause, 8th chair flute
Kayla Shaeffer, 2nd chair bari saxophone
Grant Fischer, 2nd chair French horn
Kenny Mott, 8th chair trombone
Parker Sheridan, 1st chair snare drum

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Band Pictures

Hello!

Just a quick message to let you know about pictures that have been taken of the choir and band. We have a music parent who is a professional photographer and has been taking pictures at a variety of band and choir events, Jeremy Flowers.

You can view these pictures by going to Jeremy’s Facebook fan page. Thank you Jeremy!!!

Bret Fischer
Band Liaison

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Park Hill Festival

Greetings!

We are at the start of a busy October, beginning with the Park Hill Marching Festival this Saturday, October 6th. Parent volunteers are needed to make this a success!

  • 1 volunteer is needed Friday from 2:30pm to 4pm to help pick up a 26′ Penske truck and take it to LSW to be loaded. We will pick the rental trucks up in Lee’s Summit on 50 Highway near 291.

Several volunteers are needed Saturday to set up tents, serve food to the band and help with equipment. We will meet at the school at 8:45am and caravan to Park Hill. Everything needs to be set and ready to serve food to the percussion at 11am.

1 volunteer is needed to drive a Penske truck to the competition and back to the school at the end of the day. We wil l meet at the school at 8:45am, returning around 6:30pm.

Please let me know by Wednesday if you will be able to help. All parents (and families) are invited, welcomed and encouraged to come to the event and show support for the band. I hope to see you Saturday!

Bret Fischer
Band Liaison

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Homecoming Week Reminders

Thursday – Homecoming Parade
Students should wear blue jeans and Aerodynamics shirt to school tomorrow, as that is our uniform in the parade. Also, no sandals or shoes without a heel are permitted.
Students will be dismissed from class at 2pm so we can load the bus and be transported to downtown LS.
Parade begins at 3:30pm
Students can be picked up back at LSW around 4:30

Friday – Homecoming Game
Students should arrive at school for a 5:45 call and be dressed in running shorts (or something similar) and their black Titan Pride shirt.
Game begins at 7pm
We will NOT perform at halftime, instead, our show will be performed AFTER the game. Please stick around and provide an audience.

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Audition Examples

Below you will find the audition excerpts. Please listen to these professionals playing them and match the style, tone, articulation, phrasing, etc…

G Melodic Minor_alto
F Major_alto
Pg 211 22_bari
Pg 44 88_bari
pg 42 79_tenor
D Major Scale_tenor
G Melodic Minor_tenor
Pg 5_bari
Page 9_tenor
P 29 A Major_tenor
78_alto
Bb Major_alto

Oboe G Minor
Oboe Etude 2
Oboe Etude 1
Oboe Db Major

Trombone_Dmin
Trombone_Gmaj
Trombone_#47
Trombone_#21
Trombone_#69

LSW Trumpet AuditionExcerpts

HornBb_Major
Horn_aMel_min
Horn30
Horn28

Ex4_flute
eminorEtude_flute
eminor_flute
DMajorEtude_flute
AflatMajor_flute

Clarinet_scales and thirds
Clarinet_Rose 21
Clarinet_Rose 20 Slow then fast
Bass Clarinet Scales
articulation study p. 24
p.14 #5
P. 36 bass cl #5

Bassoon F Major
Bassoon Etude 3
Bassoon Etude 2
Bassoon Etude 1
Bassoon E Minor

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Titan Pride Update for 11-14

The Titan Pride did a GREAT job last Friday in our first marching performance.  We are very proud of the progress we are making, and looking forward to the upcoming parts of our season.  Here is some update information for you:

Monday, September 17
Drumline Rehearsal, 2:30-4:30pm
Trash Bag Fundraiser begins – more information to come home with your child on Monday
Tuxedo sizing session at school 6:00-7:30pm

Tuesday, September 18
Marching Band Rehearsal, 5:55pm – 9:00pm

TRASH BAG FUNDRAISER
Starting Monday, students will be able to sell trash bags of all shapes, colors, and sizes for a 40% profit.  The money they fundraise will go into their individual fundraising account for the NYC trip, future trips, or other required equipment, etc…

CONCERT BAND/SYMPHONIC BAND AUDITIONS
Audtions are taking place on TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25th, from 3pm to 5pm. Students will be assigned a 6-minute time slot to play in front of a judge to decide who will be in Concert Band and who will be in Symphonic Band.  This audition is  REQUIRED and is for a grade as well.  Students who have a school-related conflict, or need a specific audition time, must submit this information to Mr. Thurmond no later than Wednesday, 4th hour.  I will then post audition times on Thursday, the 20th.

Have a great weekend.
Mr. Thurmond