Steve Thomas, Director of Bands
Weekly Schedule: 3/2
Tuesday - After School Jazz Band 3:30-4:30
Wednesday - Percussion Ensemble 3:30-4:30
Thursday - Contest Preview Concert at GMS (see below for separate call times for each band) Student set-up crew needed 3:15-4:00pm
Friday - IGSMA District Contest at Park Campus, Round Lake (see attached itineraries for detailed information)
IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES
March 5 - GMS 'Contest Preview' Concert - separate call times for each band
March 6 - IGSMA District Contest (all bands will perform on this night)
March 12 - IGSMA District Jazz Contest
March 5 - GMS 'Contest Preview' Concert - separate call times for each band
March 6 - IGSMA District Contest (all bands will perform on this night)
March 12 - IGSMA District Jazz Contest
BAND CONCERT ON MARCH 5TH
This Thursday, March 5th will be our Contest Preview Concert here at GMS. Before the concert begins, all bands will be taking yearbook photos for the yearbook and for the "wall of fame" outside the gym. Here is the plan for Thursday evening:
Wind Ensemble students should arrive at 6:00pm for a 6:10pm photo.
Symphonic Band students should arrive at 6:15pm for a 6:25pm photo.
Concert Band students should arrive at 6:30pm for a 6:40pm photo.
Jazz Ensemble students will take their photo at 6:50pm.
The performance will begin at 7pm and we will perform in the same order that our contest performances will be on Friday:
Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Wind Ensemble.
Many of you sent in IGSMA permission slips and payment last week, but for the majority of people, we will take care of permission slips and fees Thursday night at the concert. We will have a table at the front where you can check-in or check-out and sign a bus permission slip and settle up for the $10.00 IGSMA Contest Fee.
Checks should be made payable to CCSD 46 and cash is ok also.
The evening should be done at about 7:50pm.
This Thursday, March 5th will be our Contest Preview Concert here at GMS. Before the concert begins, all bands will be taking yearbook photos for the yearbook and for the "wall of fame" outside the gym. Here is the plan for Thursday evening:
Wind Ensemble students should arrive at 6:00pm for a 6:10pm photo.
Symphonic Band students should arrive at 6:15pm for a 6:25pm photo.
Concert Band students should arrive at 6:30pm for a 6:40pm photo.
Jazz Ensemble students will take their photo at 6:50pm.
The performance will begin at 7pm and we will perform in the same order that our contest performances will be on Friday:
Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Wind Ensemble.
Many of you sent in IGSMA permission slips and payment last week, but for the majority of people, we will take care of permission slips and fees Thursday night at the concert. We will have a table at the front where you can check-in or check-out and sign a bus permission slip and settle up for the $10.00 IGSMA Contest Fee.
Checks should be made payable to CCSD 46 and cash is ok also.
The evening should be done at about 7:50pm.
IGSMA DISTRICT CONTEST 3/6/20
This is a busy week and it all ends with 3 performances from our GMS bands this Friday night (3/6)! All three bands have the same separate itineraries that I've been sending home, so please just take a quick look to make sure you don't have any questions. Concert Band students have the quickest turnaround, as they need to be back here at GMS by 4:45pm. If any student is staying after school instead of going home, I just need some advanced notice so that I can make sure I have somewhere for them to hang out. They will also need to have their uniform at school to change into, and maybe a snack to eat before we leave.
Please, please, consider attending our performances Friday night. It will be the best you've heard the bands sound all year, INCLUDING our concert the night before. Trust me, it'll be worth it!
This is a busy week and it all ends with 3 performances from our GMS bands this Friday night (3/6)! All three bands have the same separate itineraries that I've been sending home, so please just take a quick look to make sure you don't have any questions. Concert Band students have the quickest turnaround, as they need to be back here at GMS by 4:45pm. If any student is staying after school instead of going home, I just need some advanced notice so that I can make sure I have somewhere for them to hang out. They will also need to have their uniform at school to change into, and maybe a snack to eat before we leave.
Please, please, consider attending our performances Friday night. It will be the best you've heard the bands sound all year, INCLUDING our concert the night before. Trust me, it'll be worth it!
| Concert Band Intinerary.pdf |
| Symphonic Band Itinerary.pdf |
| Wind Ensemble Intinerary.pdf |
IGSMA JAZZ CONTEST 3/12/20
I know we are all focused on our two events this week, but next Thursday night (March 12), our Jazz Ensemble will be performing at the IGSMA District Jazz Contest at McHenry Middle School. For now, just know that we will be leaving school that day at 4:00pm, so students will not be able to go home. We will take a bus to McHenry and back. The band performs at 5:30pm that evening. We should be back at GMS and done for the day at about 7:15pm.
I hope as many of you as possible can come and listen to us perform!
I know we are all focused on our two events this week, but next Thursday night (March 12), our Jazz Ensemble will be performing at the IGSMA District Jazz Contest at McHenry Middle School. For now, just know that we will be leaving school that day at 4:00pm, so students will not be able to go home. We will take a bus to McHenry and back. The band performs at 5:30pm that evening. We should be back at GMS and done for the day at about 7:15pm.
I hope as many of you as possible can come and listen to us perform!
APPROPRIATE UNIFORM FOR PERFORMANCES, EXPLAINED!
All of our bands will wear the same uniform for all our performances (concerts and contests). Boys and girls in all 4 bands will dress the same. Here is what should be worn:
Black tuxedo shirt (you have all purchased this and they will arrive at school soon)
Black pants (no skirts, leggings, or jeans - black khakis are definitely appropriate)
Nice black shoes (dress shoes would be nice, but as long as they are all black it's fine)
All bands have a minimum of 4 concerts and 1 contest, with many bands having multiple contests - so this outfit will be worn many times throughout the year. If you have questions, please contact Mr. Thomas.
All of our bands will wear the same uniform for all our performances (concerts and contests). Boys and girls in all 4 bands will dress the same. Here is what should be worn:
Black tuxedo shirt (you have all purchased this and they will arrive at school soon)
Black pants (no skirts, leggings, or jeans - black khakis are definitely appropriate)
Nice black shoes (dress shoes would be nice, but as long as they are all black it's fine)
All bands have a minimum of 4 concerts and 1 contest, with many bands having multiple contests - so this outfit will be worn many times throughout the year. If you have questions, please contact Mr. Thomas.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR ILMEA STUDENTS
We had a dozen GMS band members audition for the ILMEA Junior Concert Band. Along with several hundred other students from the area, our students fought through their nerves and played for two judges for a change to make this band. We are proud to announce that this year, GMS has three students who were accepted and will be representing our band program and school at the ILMEA Festival in November. They are:
Ellie Bozik, french horn
Nick Ellington, trombone
Mihir Tandon, tenor sax
Congrats to all involved, and special congrats to our three representatives.
We had a dozen GMS band members audition for the ILMEA Junior Concert Band. Along with several hundred other students from the area, our students fought through their nerves and played for two judges for a change to make this band. We are proud to announce that this year, GMS has three students who were accepted and will be representing our band program and school at the ILMEA Festival in November. They are:
Ellie Bozik, french horn
Nick Ellington, trombone
Mihir Tandon, tenor sax
Congrats to all involved, and special congrats to our three representatives.
STAY UP-TO-DATE ON GMS BAND HAPPENINGS!
All adults AND students are encouraged to add the Remind app to their smartphones and add the appropriate band that they are in.
If you click on the correct link for your band, you should join the class instantly. You will still need the remind app on your phone in order to get announcements.
Symphonic Band: https://www.remind.com/join/gmssb2020
Wind Ensemble: https://www.remind.com/join/gmswe2020
Concert Band: https://www.remind.com/join/gmscb2020
Thanks everyone!
All adults AND students are encouraged to add the Remind app to their smartphones and add the appropriate band that they are in.
If you click on the correct link for your band, you should join the class instantly. You will still need the remind app on your phone in order to get announcements.
Symphonic Band: https://www.remind.com/join/gmssb2020
Wind Ensemble: https://www.remind.com/join/gmswe2020
Concert Band: https://www.remind.com/join/gmscb2020
Thanks everyone!
WEEKLY BAND LESSONS
For anyone who would like a refresher course on how lessons work, here's a quick rundown:
Each week, every section in every band will come to the band room to get a 40-minute sectional to work in a more specialized setting. This is where students can be assessed individually and more importantly get any individual help they may need. Students are pulled from another class to attend these lessons, but on a rotating schedule to ensure that students are not missing the same class more than once a month (twice in rare occasions). Other teachers are very aware of how this all works and expect students to come to them at the start of class to let them know that they will be leaving. Students are still responsible for any missed work or homework during that time. If a student has a test, quiz, experiment, or anything else that can't be easily made up, they will be allowed to stay in class. These conflicts don't happen all that often, and the goal is to always have the student feel comfortable.
Due to the rotating schedule, this is a lot for students to keep track of, but it is their responsibility to do so - and they do it! A monthly calendar is available outside the band room for them to look a week in advance (which means the morning of, most likely).
For anyone who would like a refresher course on how lessons work, here's a quick rundown:
Each week, every section in every band will come to the band room to get a 40-minute sectional to work in a more specialized setting. This is where students can be assessed individually and more importantly get any individual help they may need. Students are pulled from another class to attend these lessons, but on a rotating schedule to ensure that students are not missing the same class more than once a month (twice in rare occasions). Other teachers are very aware of how this all works and expect students to come to them at the start of class to let them know that they will be leaving. Students are still responsible for any missed work or homework during that time. If a student has a test, quiz, experiment, or anything else that can't be easily made up, they will be allowed to stay in class. These conflicts don't happen all that often, and the goal is to always have the student feel comfortable.
Due to the rotating schedule, this is a lot for students to keep track of, but it is their responsibility to do so - and they do it! A monthly calendar is available outside the band room for them to look a week in advance (which means the morning of, most likely).
JAZZ ENSEMBLE at THE JAZZ SHOWCASE
Our GMS Jazz Ensemble has again been invited to perform at the legendary jazz club in Chicago called The Jazz Showcase. Running since 1947, The Jazz Showcase is one of the most renown and storied jazz venues in the country. Every single jazz legend that you can think of (or Google) has played at that club, and now our middle schoolers will do the same. GMS is the only middle school band to ever be asked to play on that stage. Jazz Ensemble families will receive an email with more details.
The date for this performance will be Tuesday, May 5th.
Our GMS Jazz Ensemble has again been invited to perform at the legendary jazz club in Chicago called The Jazz Showcase. Running since 1947, The Jazz Showcase is one of the most renown and storied jazz venues in the country. Every single jazz legend that you can think of (or Google) has played at that club, and now our middle schoolers will do the same. GMS is the only middle school band to ever be asked to play on that stage. Jazz Ensemble families will receive an email with more details.
The date for this performance will be Tuesday, May 5th.
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PARENT VOLUNTEER LIST
The GMS band program is a very active group, and we have many upcoming events that require adult volunteers to help them run smoothly. If you are interested in helping out throughout the year (or next), please send an email to grayslakeband@gmail.com indicating your interest. When our next big event comes up, we will know who to contact first before we start begging for help. It would be wonderful to get a mix of 7th and 8th grade parents on this list so that we can continue to pass the torch as the years pass on. Thanks everyone! GMS Band Apparel is Available! Apparel will be available for purchase at all GMS Band Concerts, while availability lasts. |
PRACTICE, Please!
This is just a reminder to everyone to please help remind your child to play their instrument at home. Although we do rehearse every day, Mr. Thomas only gets to see separate instrument groups once a week and those are usually very large groups. Many, many students rarely (if ever) play their instrument at home because they assume that daily rehearsal and weekly sectionals are sufficient. Unfortunately, this is not the case. You should hear your child playing his or her instrument at home AT LEAST three times a week, and that would be a bare minimum as 5 times a week would be more appropriate. Many students' instruments never leave their locker at all, and this is a bit disturbing. Many students, especially early on in the year will simply say "I'm not having trouble with anything, I know it all." This does not mean that they shouldn't be playing their instrument at home. Playing an instrument not only requires mental skill, but a physical one also. Often just playing the instrument on a daily basis at home, a student will improve REGARDLESS of what they are playing. Please join Mr. Thomas in encouraging our band members to practice. While he can and will do his best as the band director, nothing helps more than an encouraging parent mentioning practice at home. |
