December Newsletter

Solo / Ensemble
Best wishes to our students who have registered for this year’s Solo/Ensemble festival!

  • Participating students must pay the participation fee by Dec. 11th (solo $15, ensemble $10). A link to the online payment system can be found here.
  • Students should be ordering an original published version of their music (Photocopying music is illegal.)
  • We will place soloists with their accompanists once payment has been received through the Activities Office. Students should be sure to add the following dates into their calendars:
    • Rehearsals: Jan. 24, Jan. 31, and Feb. 7
    • Urbandale Solo and Ensemble Event: Feb. 11th

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
The jazz band performances originally scheduled for Dec. 12th and 15th have both been cancelled. The Jazz Colloquium scheduled for Feb. 6th has also been cancelled. We are looking to register both jazz bands in virtual festivals as soon as activities start up again.

SCIBA Honor Band Audition / Results
Congratulations to those who auditioned for the SCIBA Honor Band. Accepted students will be announced at the following link on Friday, Dec. 11th: Catch All / SCIBA Honor Band.

Concert Bands
The Concert Bands are still planning to performing two concerts this semester.
– Jan. 7th – Team J-Hawk
– Jan. 12th – Team U

An exact schedule of events will be announced the week of Dec. 14th.

Concert Attire specifications are posted on the website under Ensembles / Concert Bands (and posted near the end of this newsletter).

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/Videos
The Band Summit has been cancelled but we would still like to create a video to share with our middle school students. Any pictures or videos you would like considered for the Annual Band Summit Video should be submitted to Mr. Doggett. These photos and videos should be of current band students participating in band activities from this year. Examples could include selfies or group photos taken before or after a band event.

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Concert Attire Details
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.

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