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Titan Pride Update, January 29th

Hi there! Hope you are staying warm. I can’t believe it is almost February, and yesterday we celebrated the 100th day of school. May will be here before we know it.

Washington DC Trip 2015
In case you missed our email yesterday (Tuesday) from Mr. Mosier, we are in danger of needing to cancel the trip. The staff will have to make that decision THIS Saturday based on the number of people “officially” registered for the trip. This means you have paid $50 to Music Celebrations International by Friday, January 31st at 11:59pm. The registration form itself can be taken care of later. In order to make this a viable and memorable experience for all (and to prevent a price increase), we must have enough students going for the performance to be what it can be. Please take care of this today if your child plans to go with us next spring. Here are the online payment instructions:
(See attached file: Online Payment Instructions)

Playing Tests
As mentioned in previous emails from me, the members of the Symphonic Band, Concert Band, and Percussion Class all have WEEKLY playing tests. In Percussion Class, we do them live. In Symphonic and Concert Band, students are expected to record their tests on CHARMS. The students know how to do this. Please encourage your child to stay on top of this, as many students are forgetting to do so, and their grade is slipping quickly.

Marching Band to perform at February 25th Basketball Game.
Please add this date to your calendar to prevent work conflicts, etc….All members of the marching band are to attend and perform. Logistical information to follow.

District Solo/Ensemble Contest
This is a state organized solo and small ensemble festival that is hosted by the staff here at LSWHS. It occurs on Saturday, March 22nd for all band students. Every member of the Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Percussion Class are required to participate as a soloist OR as a member of a small ensemble. Some students have chose to participate in both, which is great. Rules state that participants can enter two solos (on different instruments), and/or two ensembles. Currently, students are working with Mr. Harrel and I on selecting the music for this contest. Students will need to work at home and at school (before and after) to prepare. SOME class time will be devoted to this, but not enough to prepare for the contest. If the student earns a 1 rating at this contest, he/she is eligible to compete at State Solo/Ensemble Festival on Friday, May 2nd.

State Large Ensemble Contest
As mentioned in previous emails and in the band handbook (online at titanmusic.org), the Concert Band and Symphonic Band will be performing at the State Large Ensemble Contest, which is also hosted by the staff and parents here at LSWHS.
The Concert Band will perform on Wednesday, March 26 and the Symphonic Band will perform on Friday, March 28. In addition, the percussionists from the Concert/Symphonic Band are rehearsing after school on Thursdays in preparation for their performance on Wednesday, March 26.

Both of the above mentioned contests are hosted by the staff and Music Parents at LSWHS. This takes an enormous volunteer base. You should receive emails, via CHARMS, from Nancy Shaeffer concerning volunteer needs and how to sign up.

Marching Band Camp Schedule 2014
For those families with 9th-11th graders, attached you will find the marching band camp and drumline camp schedules for the upcoming season. Please get these dates in your calendar now to prevent conflicts over the summer. It is VERY important that all members are at the required camp(s) for the success of the season. Please schedule vacations and other camps around these dates. Thank you for supporting the Titan Pride Marching Band.
(See attached file: 2014 Marching Band Camp)

Have a great end to your January!

Clifton D. Thurmond

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Titan Pride Update, New Year edition

Happy New Year Titan Pride Family,

I’m sure you have missed my weekly emails, so I decided to stay in touch with some new bits of information and exciting news! As always, feel free to email me or Mr. Harrel with any questions or concerns.

Pep Band at Basketball Games
We will NOT be performing at tonight’s game, as your student should have told you. In lieu of that, we will be performing at the basketball game on Tuesday, February 25th. Please add this date to your calendar as all band members are to attend and perform.

All-State Band and Jazz Band
We are excited to announce that four of our band members were selected to be members of the Missouri All-State Band or Jazz Band. Please congratulate the following students the next time you see them, this is a huge accomplishment and they auditioned against over 1000 other high school band students in the state for these positions.

Shayla Brown, piccolo (alternate)
Courtney Bingham, 1st chair english horn
Allyssa DeJarnette, 3rd chair clarinet
Isaiah Carter, jazz vibraphone

Percussion Orchestra
This is a percussion ensemble that includes all percussionists in the Concert or Symphonic Band. They rehearse outside the school day every Thursday through March.
If you have any questions concerning this ensemble, please direct them to me or Mr. Will Braune (the director of the ensemble). His email address is will.braune@leesummit.k12.mo.us

Percussion Class
Students enrolled in the 3rd Hour Percussion Class are also working as a percussion ensemble in preparation for District Contest in March. Each student is required to take a solo to contest, as well as participate in one of our two percussion quintets. All rehearsals are during class. Please encourage your student to be practicing at home regularly.
In addition, I have asked that all students in this class have their snare stand (from home) in class every day starting THIS Monday. If they don’t have one, they are to purchase one, either online, or at a local music store. (Shining Light Music in downtown LS is a good option)

Solo/Ensemble Contest
All members of the band will be performing either as a soloist OR small ensemble member at MSHSAA District Contest (which we happen to host). This occurs on Saturday, March 22. More on this later, but please make sure this is in your calendar to prevent conflicts from arising.

Washington DC 2015
In case you haven’t heard, the music department is taking a trip to Washington DC in March of 2015. To make paying for this trip as easy as possible on you, we have devised a payment schedule running from February 1st of this year through February 1st of next year. Any student wishing to go on the trip MUST be registered through Music Celebrations International by February 1st (which is only a few weeks away). Please stay on top of this. We also need several parents to go as chaperones, so, if interested, you will need to register as well. Here is the information you need to get registered for the trip (you can also find it on titanmusic.org). Note: Absolutely NO Payments will be handed in at school, all will be handled through the company organizing our trip.
(See attached file: Individual Registration Form – Lee’s Summit.pdf) (See attached file: Online Payment Instructions.docx)

Have a GREAT weekend!

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

Individual Registration Form – Lee’s Summit.pdf

Online Payment Instructions.docx

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Titan Pride Update for October 7th

Happy Friday Eve,

An outstanding performance given by the band last Friday AND Saturday. We were awarded a 2 (Excellent) rating and given the Outstanding Music Award for the competition.

Goings-on for this week:

Monday
Band Council Meeting – 7am

Tuesday
Band Rehearsal – 5:55pm to 9pm
NOTE: Orchestra Winds/Percussion will be released early enough to dress/prepare for concert, Mr. Mosier is aware of the conflict and we are working on a plan of action
All students in black marching shoes and navy rehearsal shirt

Thursday
Morning Sectionals – 6:50am – Flute/Clarinet/Baritone/Trumpet
Drumline Rehearsal – 2:30pm

Friday
Early Release Day
Morning Sectionals – 6:50am – Sousaphone/Saxophone/Mellophone
Football Game – call time is 5:30pm
All students with black marching shoes/socks, gloves, and black uniform shirt
We will load the equipment trailers after the game again, please plan accordingly for pick up

Saturday
Bronco Invitational – All Day – call time at LSW is 9:15am (Race for the Future will be going on, so please be aware of parking/drop off difficulties)
Contrary to years past at this competition, we WILL be bussing to LSN after a short rehearsal at LSW, AND bussing home after the awards
I would like to ask that ALL students stay with us for the duration of the festival, probably about 1.5 hours after the performance, as we will stay in the stadium to observe the last few bands as an educational activity. Students can be picked up at LSN around 5:30pm OR at LSW around 6pm
Here is the itinerary for the day:

Bronco Invitational

A continued reminder that Symphonic/Concert Band Auditions are rapidly approaching (October 28-29) Please be encouraging your son/daughter to be preparing diligently at home.

Have a great weekend!

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

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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, week of Jan. 14th

Hope you have had a great week and that your weekend is blessed!

Legally Blonde Pit Orchestra
Rehearsal Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 6:40am.
Also, please make sure you have the rehearsals in your calendar that start on Jan 28th, as they are everyday after school and evening.
Here is the schedule one more time:

Legally Blonde Pit Orchestra Schedule

Fall 2013 Drumline
The first audition clinic, which is not required but strongly encouraged, is Thursday, Jan 17th after school until 4:30.
Also on this schedule is drumline camp for this summer. Please make sure this gets in your calendar now to prevent vacation conflicts, etc…..

2013 Drumline Summer Schedule

Percussion Ensemble
Rehearsal on Monday, 3:15 to 4:30. Be ready to rehearse with instrument and music set up by 3:15.

Basketball Band (ALL MEMBERS of the Band program)
We will be performing at two basketball games this Winter. Students will need to arrive at school at 6:15 and will be released after the games.
Thursday, February 21st
Friday, February 22nd

Fall 2013 Marching Band
All students in the 2013 Titan Pride Marching Band need to mark these dates off in their calendar for summer camp.
Monday, July 29 through Tuesday, August 6 (excluding Saturday and Sunday) 8am to 4pm

New York Trip
All students going on the New York Trip must be in attendance at our rehearsal next Monday, January 21st from 10am to 1pm.
Also, your final payment (which means you have paid a total of $1800) is due no later than Friday, February 1st

Sincerely,

Mr. Thurmond

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Titan Pride Update

Greetings! I hope your week goes well. The kids have been working very hard, so I’ve decided to give them ALL of Wednesday off. Have a great day, kids!

Some information for your reading:

Friday, November 30th
Band Banquet – Dinner served starting at 5:30pm. We are asking that all attendees follow a business-casual dress style for the event. More information to come out from Bret Fischer later in the week regarding cost, etc…

Saturday, December 1st
All-State Band and Jazz Band auditions. Columbia, MO at Hickman High School. We will not be providing transportation to this event, so parents and students will need to drive to Columbia. Times will be available next week. Participating students should be bringing $10 cash OR a check made payable to LSWHS for the audition fee. They are also bringing home a travel release form for the event. Please sign and return as soon as possible.

Tuesday, December 11th
Winter Concert, 6:30pm, LSWHS PAC, Symphonic Band, Percussion Ensemble, Concert Band, Jazz Band, Symphony Orchestra, Concert Orchestra
Females: Please make sure your dress has been altered properly before this date.
Males: Please make sure you have purchased your TUXEDO shirt and bow tie before this date. Boys SHOULD have possession of their tuxedo coat/pants/cumberbund at this point.
Call times will be announced at a later date.

Have a Blessed and Relaxing Thanksgiving.

Mr. Thurmond