Solo / Ensemble
Thanks and best wishes to the 103 students who have registered for this year’s Solo/Ensemble festivals.
- Participating students received a paper invoice on Dec. 12th (solo $15, ensemble $10). Payment of that invoice is due Thursday, Dec. 19, 2019. (The invoice contains instruction for an online payment option)
- Following that, we will place soloists with their accompanists. Students should plan to contact their accompanists after the Winter break to set up rehearsal times.
- Students should be ordering an original published version of their music (Photocopying music is illegal.)
- Help students remember to mark their planners on Feb. 13th and Feb. 22nd for the Urbandale and Perry solo festivals respectively.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Proactive Preparation: Parents, we (and the students) appreciate your support now – with plenty of time before performances roll around – to help students get practicing to avoid the last minute stress and panic associated with procrastination. Taking early steps to develop disciplined practice will result on a more enjoyable and successful experience later; these are also skills that benefit us in all walks of life.
Students: February will come around quickly. Be sure to get all our notes and rhythms down in December so that January and early February can be spent working with your accompanists and refining the performance
The staff is expecting students who signed up for solo/ensemble to have 100% follow through. You can do it! We’re here to help you be successful. Ask for help as often as you can!
Jazz Band I & II
SCIBA District Jazz Contest
Both Jazz Bands will perform Dec. 14th at the SCIBA District Jazz Festival. The itinerary for that event is posted on the band website ->Itineraries -> Jazz Band page.
SCIBA Honor Band Audition / Results
Congratulations to those who auditioned for the SCIBA Honor Band. Double congratulations to those who were accepted to participating in the honor band festival. Results can be found here: Catch All / SCIBA Honor Band.
Concert Bands
All Concert Bands will present a concert on January 9th, 2020, 7:00 PM
(Student call time: 6:20 PM)
Opening the concert will be the UMS 8th grade band. Concert Attire specifications are posted on the website under Ensembles / Concert Bands (and posted near the end of this newsletter).
Special Guest: Dr. James David – University of Colorado
The Urbandale Wind Symphony will be premiering a new work by Dr. James David entitled “Heartland Verses.” Students will have the unique experience of working with Dr. David prior to the premiere. You will not want to miss this exciting performance!
Dr. James M. David (b. 1978) is an internationally recognized composer who currently serves as associate professor of composition and music theory at Colorado State University and is particularly known for his works involving winds and percussion. His symphonic works for winds have been performed by some of the nation’s most prominent professional and university ensembles including the U.S. Army and Air Force Bands, the Dallas Wind Symphony, and many more. You can find his bio here.
Wind Symphony w/ 5th Grade Band
The Wind Symphony will share a concert with the 5th grade band on January 16, 2020, also at 7:00 PM
Professional Quality Instruments
For students wishing to excel on their instrument, it is vital to practice and perform on the best instrument affordable.
If you are ready to advance to the next level of performance, here’s our list of recommended instruments.
If you already have a professional quality instrument, be sure to both practice AND rehearse with your best instrument at all times. (Save your secondary instrument for emergencies.) Yes, this means you should bring it back and forth to school. If your personal achievement is important to you, this effort is well worth the sacrifice.
Band Summit – Photos
If you have photos of band events that might be great in the Band Summit video, please send those to Mr. Doggett. We have the greatest need for photos related to concert band and jazz band.
doggettt@urbandaleschools.com
Concert Attire
Many area schools have purchased long black gowns for the women and tuxedos for the men. We have chosen to give students some liberty in their choice of clothing for their concerts. However, in order to maintain the appropriate decorum in the formal concerts, we ask that all members of the J-Hawk Bands follow these guidelines when choosing their concert attire.
Men:
- Black dress shirt with collar and tie based in blue.
- Black dress pants (suitable for a crease in front) and black belt (exclude cargo pants, denim, corduroy, etc.)
- Black dress shoes with black socks (suitable for polishing; exclude athletic shoes and socks, sandals, flip-flops, or other casual footwear)
- Black suit or sport coat optional but recommended (if wearing a suit, you may substitute a white dress shirt)
Wind Symphony & Wind Ensemble men are highly encouraged to accept the suit or sport coat option.
Women:
All options offered for the men are also acceptable for women
Or
- Floor length black dress with sleeves or floor length black skirt with black blouse
- Optional accent accessories should be blue (such as a scarf or head band)
- Black dress shoes (Color: flat black close-toed and flat heel with skin-toned hose. Exclude athletic shoes and socks, sandals, flip-flops, or other casual footwear)
Proper decorum for formal concerts suggests no skin is showing from shoulders to the floor.