CMS Band

Summer Lessons

Good morning,

I am sad to see the school year end but am glad that the students get a well-deserved break from school. Stay safe students and make sure to serenade your household with music every once in a while!

I have some very eager (and cheap) high school students that are looking to teach lessons to some of my students. If any of your kids want to take lessons with a high schooler to keep your playing in shape and grow then please contact me. The lessons will be hosted here at the Middle School and can be either half an hour or an hour. Remember that taking private lessons is also a great tool for those of you who feel like you could use some tutoring on specific concepts that did not resonate well with you this year. Many students take lessons because they are struggling with playing certain notes or making a certain sound on their instrument. This is an opportunity to get individualized attention and a great way to keep your brain and body a little more active in the summer.

I will be uploading some music in the next few days so that my students can download them and play them at home. It will be full of fun music! Remember to keep going through your Essential Elements Book all the way to the end because there are some gems in there as well. Especially “O’ Canada” 😉

Much love to you all and enjoy your summer break. Consider private lessons and be on the look out for some fun music soon!

 

-M. Menendez

School Owned Instruments

Good morning,

It is vital that school-owned instruments are returned as soon as possible. This would be french horns, baritones, tubas, double reed instruments (unless you rented them), and any other school owned instruments. If you would like to check out a horn for the summer to practice on you will need to bring it to school, fill out a form, and then I can assign you one for the summer.

If you are renting your instrument from Music & Arts then it is your instrument. That will not need to be turned in.

If you were given a horn to keep at home so that you did not have to bring your instrument to and from school then I will also need that returned.

-M. Menendez

Recruitment Concert/Band BBQ

Good morning and happy Sunday!

This Tuesday at 9 AM the 6th grade band members will perform a small concert for our 4th graders. This concert will be during the school day and will not require anything special other than their performance uniform. Students will report to the band room after the Broadcast (announcements) and will come to the multi-purpose room so that we can rehearse until the 9AM performance. I am so proud to have our fantastic 6th grade band to demonstrate the excellence of the Middle School program that they have established this year to our potential future band members! A few parent volunteers would help. Please email me or comment on this post if you are available to help from around 8:00-10:00 AM this Tuesday.

6th grade Flutes only: Those of you who have been invited to perform at the Band BBQ at the high school on Thursday, May the 4th will need to report to the band room at 10:15 AM on Thursday. Mrs. Lyle will have a quick rehearsal with you and then you all will walk down to the high school to perform. The performance will be around 11 AM. Those who would like to watch are recommended to arrive a little earlier than 11 so that you can find a great spot to watch the performance. They will perform underneath the Away bleachers. I am so excited to see you all perform this Thursday!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

-Ms. Menendez

Announcements

Good morning,

I wanted to take a moment to thank you all for your HARD work on the AYP fundraiser. I sold out of the first bunch and had to ask the company for more to sell! We sold out and made a lot of profit that will go directly towards your student. Thank you so much for taking the time to support our band program.

I know that Friday of this week will be a normal day at the Middle School so please make sure that your student brings their instrument on Friday for class. Please also ask your student to practice this week because the end of the year will involve a lot of playing and even a concert for the 4th graders that the 6th graders play in. I do not have the exact date of the recruitment concert but know that it is during the school day and is just a concert that we play to encourage the younger kids to consider joining band.

Please refer to an earlier post and consider enrolling your student in private lessons on their instrument. A lot of kids will take private lessons in the summer so that they stay in shape, work on some things to fix and prepare some more advanced concepts for the next school year. If the pricing is not good for you then I recommend emailing me and I will find a high schooler that I trust to teach your kid for much less money.

Your kids are the best and you all are such a supportive set of families. Thank you for all that you do.

Sincerely,

Ms. Menendez

Beaming with pride!

Good evening,

I had the pleasure of seeing my first show at the Cultural Arts Center here in Carrollton this weekend. This Friday I went with my family to see our local production of Beauty and the Beast and was blown away by our local talent here in Carrollton! It warmed my heart to see so many Carrollton students in the production and specifically Carrollton band students of all different ages who were involved. Our very own Lexy Walter did a beautiful job. Her bio found in the program has been posted below.

IMG_0198

As I smiled from ear to ear I realized that we have multiple students who have different talents in our band program this year. I have witnessed the athletic skills of many of our soccer players like Kanate Jordan Evir, James Noori, Hagan Russell, Nick Jenks, Jacob Easterwood, Jackson Moncayo, Justin Arnold, Gavin Ward, Mark Zimmer, and Jayro Lopez. We also had Lexy Walter and Anna Kate Ware compete in the cross country team this year with great success.

I watched with pride last month when two of our very own, Mark Zimmer and Connor Haley,  competed in the system spelling bee and fought a tough battle, leaving with their heads held high.

I love nothing more than seeing students exploring and expanding their horizons. If your student participates in an activity and would like for me to come and watch them please contact me individually.  I will try my hardest to see them in an activity other than our band program. I want for our students to try every avenue that they have access to at this time in their life and will always support them in their exploration here in Carrollton. Please know that we as the band directors support and even encourage students to participate in other activities and sports along with our band program. We easily workout any schedule conflicts, which are a rare occurrence in the younger ages since band occurs mainly during the school day and not after school. I am excited for our 6th graders to move on up to the Junior High School and continue their journey not only in band, but in up to four other connections during each school year! The importance of the arts and athletics here in Carrollton is something that I take a lot of pride in. If you have any questions about scheduling and connections at the Junior High school PLEASE contact me. Mr. Huls is extremely excited to work with your kids next year.

(5th graders are stuck with me for one more year… *insert evil laugh*)

We have our Spring Concert this Thursday at 7:00 PM. Although many meaningful memories have been made, I look forward to what will be performed on Thursday. When you hear the improvement in the bands you will be blown away. These kids work each and every day during their connection course to learn musical, mental, social, and human skills that will stay with them forever. Thank you for your help so far and I look forward to seeing you all this Thursday. Bring your camera and take lots of pictures because we will want to hold onto these memories for a long, long time.

I often use Sunday as a day of reflection for what I have and who I have in my life up to this point. Your students bring so much joy to my life not just in their musical abilities but in who they are. Seeing them thrive and flourish is what gives me hope for the future. They are selfless and unconditional with their love and I learn from them daily.

Thank you for adding so much joy into my life through your students. I am so thankful for them and for you.

Sincerely,

Ms. Menendez

 

Spring Concert

Spring Concert: Our spring concert is March the 30th at 7PM in the Mabry Arts Center. The students will be required to wear their uniform which is black pants (no leggings or sweatpants) black socks, black shoes (no tennis shoes) and their performance band polo. We had to move our May concert date much earlier due to Milestones testing and the trips at the end of the school year.

Again: the May concert does not exist anymore. The date has been changed since December because there was a conflict with the trips and the Milestones testing window.

Please begin planning accordingly. This concert is going to be incredible! Once again we will share this concert with our CMS singers. The band will play first and students who are in CMS Singers will change and prepare for the musical during the transition.

Report time is at 6:30. 5th graders will report to the stage in full uniform while 6th graders will report to their designated seating area.

I look forward to our last concert of the year on March the 30th at 7PM.

Sincerely,

Ms. Menendez

 

Updates

Good afternoon,

Below are a few updates and reminders.

1.) AYP Cards: please keep selling them! We still have a lot left to sell.

2.) Grades: Test grades for both 5th and 6th grade are slowly going into the gradebook. Students are making up tests in class and after school daily so please be patient with their make-up grade. If your student is not happy with their test grade then they may play it for me again during class or after school to aim for a 100.

3.) Spring Concert: Our spring concert is March the 30th at 7PM in the Mabry Arts Center. The students will be required to wear their uniform which is black pants (no leggings or sweatpants) black socks, black shoes (no tennis shoes) and their performance band polo. We had to move our May concert date much earlier due to Milestones testing and the trips at the end of the school year. Please begin planning accordingly. This concert is going to be incredible! Once again we will share this concert with our CMS singers. The band will play first and students who are in CMS Singers will change and prepare for the musical during the transition. 

3.) I will perform with the University of West Georgia Brass Ensemble this Friday. It is a group that is just comprised of only brass players. The first half of the concert is the Symphonic Band of UWG (a full band like we have in class) and the second half is the brass ensemble concert. If your students are interested they may attend the concert. If they speak to me after the concert or during and I see their faces, I will give them extra credit. This is an opportunity for them to see higher level musicians playing their instruments in order to motivate them to keep pushing themselves.

Symphonic Band and Brass Ensemble: Cale Self, conductor
Friday, February 24, 2017 • 7:30 PM
Townsend Center for the Performing Arts
Free admission

4.) I am looking for some donors who would be interested in aiding me with purchasing or renting an instrument for some band students. We have some of our band family members who are unable to make rental payments and I would like to help them out if at all possible to keep their rental membership up until they can get on their feet again.

Please do not feel required to help but know that it is very appreciated for our band family members.

Please contact me with any questions at maria.menendez@carrolltoncityschools.net

 

Sincerely,

Ms. Menendez

AYP Fundraiser

*Remember that 5th graders have an Essential Elements Assignment due tonight at midnight.*

Each year we sell American Youth Projects Discount Cards, they sell for $15 and give the buyer many discounts to restaurants and merchants they already use in Carrollton and Douglas County.

The fundraiser is simple, show your customers the AYP Card benefits using materials passed out in class, turn in money as you collect it each day and then the cards will be issued to you to give to your buyers the next day.  For every 5 cards sold you will be issued a FREE card.

  1. $15.00 each- Cards can be sent home with your child once money is turned in, or you may pick them up at the school.
  2. Cards have up to one (1) year of continuous discounts.
  3. For every five (5) cards you sell, you will earn one (1) FREE card.
  4. The Top Seller will win $50.00.

*Please make all checks payable to CMS Band*

The fundraiser will conclude once we have sold out all of our cards.

The money raised in all of our fundraisers goes directly to support our band account which is used for repairs of school owned instruments, supplies and music purchases, and to pay guest teachers and clinicians to work with your awesome children.

Playing test due

Good morning,

FIFTH GRADE ONLY

Please ensure that your student turns in their playing test by Friday night. Students who do not have a laptop at home to record on or an iPad (with the iPad app that is free) have been given the opportunity all week to record in class or after school. Tomorrow in class and after school until 3PM is the last opportunity for them to use one of my laptops here at school if needed. Testing in this format ensures that your student gets more individual feedback in class. Please encourage them to complete their assignments. THIS IS A TEST GRADE.

AYP Cards

Our next fundraiser is coming up in a couple of weeks. We will begin selling discount cards to people in our community. This is a huge fundraiser for us! If people are asking you already for them ask for them to promise that they will give you their business. You want for your kids to sell 6 of them so that they get the 7th free to keep! Info on that will be out soon!

Thank you for allowing your students to stay after school to practice and get help. Lots of fun times are had and lots of improvement is happening too!

-M.Menendez

6th Grade Test/5th Grade New Test

Good afternoon,

6th Grade: The 6th graders took their test on the concert F scale on Friday and did a great job. If your student was absent on Friday then they will take the test on Monday. If your student scored either an 85 or a 65 I ask that they re-take their test again. They may either ask one of the directors to re-test, or they may stay after school any day until 3PM to pass it off. If your student made a 65 that means that absolutely need some help and extra practice with me. Please have them stay after or ask for help in class so that we can make sure that they understand the concept.

Remember that I want every kid to make a 100 in band! Not because the grade is given to them, but because they learned to work hard, set goals, and aim for the stars.

5th Grade: The fifth graders have an Essential Elements playing test due this Friday. I put the date as Saturday so that they could record the assignment Friday night if they really procrastinate (which I hope that they do not). Remember that your student may record during class if they do not have a device at home and that they or you may email me at any time if you are having trouble logging in. Please encourage your students to write down their username and password like I have asked of them. I encouraged them to use their lunch numbers as their passwords.

Please wear headphones if at all possible while recording.

Please set the background music as metronome.

Please turn the microphone sensitivity level down before recording. If the recording              sounds extremely distorted than they must record the assignment again.

When your students submit the recording they will have to “add comment” and click on “Test 2” to submit the assignment for me to grade. 

 

Enjoy the SuperBowl and be safe tonight! 

–Ms. Menendez