Even as we speak
Students in grades 9-11 are completing band placements for next year. These should be completed on or before April 7th. (Students in 8th grade will be completing those in their regularly scheduled lessons at UMS.)
Jazz Bands Activities
Jazz Ensemble One has earned a bid to its “state tournament,” the Iowa Jazz Championships.
The details:
CY Stephens Auditorium on the ISU Campus
8:00 a.m.
Tuesday, April 4th
$10 at the door
We hope you can come out and support the students!
On April 21st both Jazz Bands will perform at Olmsted Elementary for their Earthday Celebration. The bands will perform from approximately 1:30 – 2:30 PM.
May 4th marks the UHS & UMS Jazz Bands’ final concert of the year at 7:00 p.m. in the UHS PAC.
Wind Symphony – Special Concert
Friday, April 21st – FREE
7:30 p.m.
UHS PAC
UNI’s Northern Iowa Wind Symphony will share a concert with the UHS Wind Symphony
All band students (and families) are encouraged to attend this very special event.
As student musicians, it’s important and inspiring to hear and see the art being created live. (Imagine a young football player trying to learn the game, but never watching a college or pro game.)
Urbandale alumni involved: Brittany Schultz (horn), Gage Schmitt (saxophone), and Jillian Whitaker (composer), and Mens Glee Club members Nathan Spicer, Noah Chalfant, Will Van Roekel, and Taylor Donner.
More info here.
Awards Concert
The concert bands will perform their last home concert of the year on May 1st. This will also be the awards concert. The concert will take place at 7:00 PM in the PAC. Please join us as we wish the seniors well on their final month at UHS and beyond. Due to the awards portion of the evening, this concert is a bit longer than the previous concert.
All-State Jazz Band – Results
Congratulations to Robert Kaman for being accepted into the 4A Iowa All-State Jazz Band for the 2nd year! Only 20 students from across Iowa are selected for the 4A band.
Selection occurs through a competitive recorded audition process. Students submit a recording of a challenging jazz etude and an improvised solo. We also congratulate Jack Kaman, Alec Albrecht, Josh Flory, Peter Schumacher, Devon Valle, and Zeke Ledbetter for completing the audition process, which fosters tremendous musical growth.
The All-State Jazz Band will perform on May 11th, 3:30pm, at the Iowa Bandmasters Association Conference at the downtown Marriott. The performance is free and open to the public.
State Large Group Festival
On Saturday, May 6th, all three concert bands will perform at State Large Group Contest at Ankeny High School; schedule TBD.
This performance is designed to be a year-end culminating performance where students display all they’ve learned about the performance of windband music throughout the year. Stay tuned for details and be sure to keep schedules clear for this day.
Commencement Band
Members of next year’s Wind Symphony will perform for commencement on May 25th. A complete roster will be posted after band placements are complete and the itinerary for May 25th will be posted in the coming days on band website and in the band room.
Drumline – Battery Showcase
Percussionists interested in playing in the battery next fall will have the opportunity to Showcase their skills by May 5th. Interested students should see a band staff member for details. Students should prepare snare drum rudiments & the etude provided by the directors.
Summer Lessons
Summer is a great time for students to get connected with the Metro’s best musicians for lessons. Students (and their parents) who are interested in connecting with great private teachers this summer should visit with any of the band staff for contact information of the best local pro’s on each instrument.
Dates for Summer 2017
The band’s summer schedule is posted here. Thanks for adding these to your calendar.
The full calendar of events for the year is in the works. We will send it out as soon as it’s complete.
As a reminder, you can subscribe to the J-Hawk Band Calendar electronically using this link:
https://www.google.com/calendar/ical/i7d3csg6oincr3dnp1gqklh97k%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic.ics
Scholarships: A Note from Dr. Watson
Over the past twelve months, Iowa schools have been reviewing a host of interpretations related to Iowa Code and Student Activity Accounts in schools. As part of this review, we are currently seeking legal guidance on the subject of scholarship programs similar to the one the PABC has offered in the past for students in our Band, Vocal, and Drama programs for individual development during the summer months. At this time, our understanding is that the PABC may not provide such an individual benefit to students to attend summer camps, workshops, etc. As this continues to evolve, we will share additional information.
-WW
We wanted to bring this ‘likely’ change to your attention as soon as possible so you may plan accordingly. -MP
Dairy Barn 2017 – Help Wanted
We are looking for some extra help to organize our efforts at the Dairy Barn this year.
We are also looking to split/share the duties for organizing the event.
So –
If you like being organized – give me a call.
If you like people – give me a call.
If you have flex time during the run of the state fair – give me a call.
NOTE: You don’t have to have all 3 qualities…. Just 1 will do!!!
If you are willing to visit with Mr. Peterson about helping out – he will be eternally grateful!
petersonm@urbandaleschools.com
(515) 457-6871
All families:
Please mark your calendars for Aug. 10 – 20 to continue staffing the Dairy Barn at the Iowa State Fair. These proceeds have been the single most stabilizing factor in the financial health of the instrumental music department.
Fourth of July Parade
The community has long enjoyed the UHS Band students’ participation in the Independence Day Parade. Please mark your calendars so band students will be available to provide this great service to our community on Tuesday, July 4th. Students will be involved from approximately 8:00 a.m. to Noon.
We hope to see you along the route cheering on the band as they perform for you and the whole community of Urbandale!
Des Moines Symphony – April 1 – 2
CHEAP STUDENT TICKETS
“Student rush tickets” are available for $5 to high school age and younger. “Rush tickets” are purchased at the ticket window the day of the concert by showing a student ID. There are ALWAYS great seats still available the day of concerts – so take advantage!
April 1 – 7:30 p.m.
April 2 – 2:30 p.m.
Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique
$5…seriously…you can’t beat that!
See you there.
Updates From The Staff
Mr. Thimmesch
I attended the Unites States Navy Band concert last night at CY Stephens Auditorium (as did Mr. Peterson and at least two students we are aware of!). Much to my surprise they performed Washington Post March by John Philip Sousa! As you have probably heard, that is one of the songs we are planning to play at our concert on May 1, and the contest on May 6. Since it was perfectly fine to record this performance, I did! I will be sharing the video with the Symphonic Band now so they can have a goal to strive for, and to emphasize the rich heritage of music that the concert band possesses.
Band placement tryouts are well underway. I personally get a lot of feedback, and feelings of great pride when I hear a student play well enough to advance to the next band. I tell all the kids in symphonic band that I would love to have them back next year, but I’d like it even more when they advance their skills enough to get to the next level!
Mr. Rueckert
The Wind Ensemble is preparing repertoire for our year end concerts and preparing for the band placements, specifically the sight-reading component. To that end, we’ve used a number of strategies to improve our sight-reading that students can utilize on their own: practice reading every note as a quarter note, count-and-conduct difficult rhythms, write in counts, identify/recall familiar rhythmic patterns, and play the melody on one note, among other strategies. It’s easy to overlook sight-reading practice, but it’s a skill that, like anything else, can be improved through consistent practice.
Mr. Peterson
As you can see from the earlier portions of the newsletter, there are many great opportunities to hear live music around Des Moines. All three of the high school band staff continue to play music in various ensembles – and we love to see students and families out on the town enjoying the many great performances the metro has to offer. The premier “instrumental” music ensemble in Iowa, the Des Moines Symphony, is very accessible, and affordable for students with the $5 rush tickets. Mr. Thimmesch performs with the Central Iowa Wind Ensemble, whose concerts are free! Mr. Rueckert can be found nearly every Wednesday evening at Noce Jazz Cabaret performing on piano with the Des Moines Big Band. I am fortunate to perform with the NOLA Jazz Band, Tony Valdez Large Band, and the Metropolitan Brass Quintet.
We tell students that music is a lifelong thing – and we are blessed to be living examples of that. We hope it’s contagious!
One of our values is to develop appreciation for music and both performers and consumers. As students transition into their adult years, there are plenty of opportunities to continue playing as a hobby, such as the Central Iowa Wind Ensemble, the CJC Big Band, the town’s municipal band, church, start your own combo or band. And even if it isn’t “in the cards” to keep playing your instrument into the adult years, there is so much music to enjoy in Des Moines. I often face this common mental state, “Eh – I’m tired, let’s just stay home.” BUT, when I power through that moment and go hear live music, I have never – not once – regretted it. I always leave the show a healthier person. We hope you can enjoy some great art music regularly – and even better if you can do it as a family! Enjoy.
A personal note from Mr. Rueckert
You may have heard this from your son or daughter already, but I will not be returning to Urbandale High School next school year. I’ll be joining the Ankeny Centennial team teaching at Northview Middle School (pending board approval, of course). This was a really hard decision to make because I sincerely enjoy working with the students, staff, and families at UHS. When we had our son Sullivan a year and a half ago, it became increasingly difficult to manage the demanding schedule of a high school band director and the newfound responsibilities of parenthood. I knew the lifestyle was, for us, unsustainable. I am thankful for my five years at Urbandale, for the relationships the students and I share and for the mentorship and friendship of my colleagues.
-NR