Steve Thomas, Director of Bands
Weekly Schedule: 11/4
Monday - Pit Band rehearsal, 3:20 - 4:30
Tuesday -
Wednesday - Pit Band rehearsal, 3:20 - 4:30
Thursday -
Friday -
DECEMBER BAND CONCERT SCHEDULE
December 18 - Winter Concert (Concert Band and Jazz Ensemble)
December 19 - Winter Concert (Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble)
December 18 - Winter Concert (Concert Band and Jazz Ensemble)
December 19 - Winter Concert (Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble)
SOLO AND ENSEMBLE REGISTRATION
I will have registration forms available for students that are interested in performing at the IGSMA Solo Contest on Saturday, February 1st. This event is located this year at Plum Grove Junior High School in Rolling Meadows. This is an optional event that students can participate in if they would like to prepare a piece to perform for a judge and receive feedback, a score and a medal afterwards. While I will, of course, do everything I can to offer assistance and help sessions to students, the majority of the work has to be done on their own. That being said, only students who are willing to put in the necessary time, and commitment to learning a challenging piece of music should register.
The charge for this event is $10.00 per student. This covers the student fee charged by IGSMA and the piano accompanist fee that will perform with the students on the day of the event. I will discuss all of this with the students this week and forms will be due next Monday, November 11. Please let me know if you have any questions.
I will have registration forms available for students that are interested in performing at the IGSMA Solo Contest on Saturday, February 1st. This event is located this year at Plum Grove Junior High School in Rolling Meadows. This is an optional event that students can participate in if they would like to prepare a piece to perform for a judge and receive feedback, a score and a medal afterwards. While I will, of course, do everything I can to offer assistance and help sessions to students, the majority of the work has to be done on their own. That being said, only students who are willing to put in the necessary time, and commitment to learning a challenging piece of music should register.
The charge for this event is $10.00 per student. This covers the student fee charged by IGSMA and the piano accompanist fee that will perform with the students on the day of the event. I will discuss all of this with the students this week and forms will be due next Monday, November 11. Please let me know if you have any questions.
"NO SHAVE NOVEMBER" FUNDRAISER
"No-shave November" is an annual things that I participate in with friends and family every November. For those of you not familiar, it is an organized movement established as away to raise awareness and most importantly funds for cancer research and patients across the country. Some years, I will create a donation page on the official No-Shave November website, and other years I just participate in the event to support others in my life. Two or three years ago (I can't remember exactly), a student who knew what I was doing asked if we could have the band chip in some spare change throughout the month and if we raised a certain amount would I do something for the band as a reward. Of course I agreed! It turns out that the "reward" was for me to shave my beard off on only HALF of my face and go throughout the school day AND our concert looking that way. I did it. It was hilarious.
Fast forward to this year, and I had a couple students mention it to me because they remember seeing me that way at a siblings concert or something like that. We talked and I said we could try the same thing this year. So...to get to my point: I am going to have a bank in the band room and throughout this month I'm going to see if students can put in a nickel here, or a dime there - just small change. If we can raise over $25.00 as a band program for the cause, I will happily keep my non-shaved face until one of our concerts and then shave half of it for the day. You haven't lived until you drive up to Starbucks with half a beard and enjoy the silent judgment of the staff. 😊
My concern is that students will come home asking for money to donate, and please understand that THIS IS NOT NECESSARY, and I'm going to tell them exactly that. If they have a couple of coins left over from lunch or something, they can drop it in the bucket. Let's be honest, I'm going to personally ensure that we hit the $25.00 threshold so they will get the joy of embarrassing me whether they are able to contribute a coin or not - I just like having the incentive for a great cause.
Any money raised, be it 75 cents or 25 bucks, will go to our annual GMS St. Baldrick's fundraiser that we do this spring on behalf of the GMS band program, so it is indeed going to a great cause.
"No-shave November" is an annual things that I participate in with friends and family every November. For those of you not familiar, it is an organized movement established as away to raise awareness and most importantly funds for cancer research and patients across the country. Some years, I will create a donation page on the official No-Shave November website, and other years I just participate in the event to support others in my life. Two or three years ago (I can't remember exactly), a student who knew what I was doing asked if we could have the band chip in some spare change throughout the month and if we raised a certain amount would I do something for the band as a reward. Of course I agreed! It turns out that the "reward" was for me to shave my beard off on only HALF of my face and go throughout the school day AND our concert looking that way. I did it. It was hilarious.
Fast forward to this year, and I had a couple students mention it to me because they remember seeing me that way at a siblings concert or something like that. We talked and I said we could try the same thing this year. So...to get to my point: I am going to have a bank in the band room and throughout this month I'm going to see if students can put in a nickel here, or a dime there - just small change. If we can raise over $25.00 as a band program for the cause, I will happily keep my non-shaved face until one of our concerts and then shave half of it for the day. You haven't lived until you drive up to Starbucks with half a beard and enjoy the silent judgment of the staff. 😊
My concern is that students will come home asking for money to donate, and please understand that THIS IS NOT NECESSARY, and I'm going to tell them exactly that. If they have a couple of coins left over from lunch or something, they can drop it in the bucket. Let's be honest, I'm going to personally ensure that we hit the $25.00 threshold so they will get the joy of embarrassing me whether they are able to contribute a coin or not - I just like having the incentive for a great cause.
Any money raised, be it 75 cents or 25 bucks, will go to our annual GMS St. Baldrick's fundraiser that we do this spring on behalf of the GMS band program, so it is indeed going to a great cause.
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. |
