THIS WEEK #19
Great work this past week and thank you to everyone who came to Wednesday’s Parent Meeting! Thank you to assistant principal Ms. Im for joining us to give us additional information for weekly COVID testing. We’d also like to thank everyone who supported the band and color guard by eating at Panda Express and Cold Stone Creamery on Thursday!! Continue to keep up the great work as we head into semester finals. Remember to wear a non-cloth mask both indoors and outdoors and wash your hands frequently.
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WEEKLY COVID TESTING — This week, the entire instrumental music program will begin weekly COVID testing. This will allow all our groups to perform indoors for festivals, concerts, and competitions if the circuit/venue requires it. All students must register at https://gahr.abccovidtesting.com and save the QR code on your smartphone to show each week for testing. It is recommended for students to have parents nearby for insurance information. If you have any questions, please use this link for instructions: https://bit.ly/gahrabccovidtesting.
Our assistant athletics director and Ms. Im are in charge of testing; however, please make sure you’ve turned in the Activities Participation Form to Mr. Loney. Students will be split up by sections for testing outside Room 509 on the following days & times:
Color Guard: Mondays at the beginning of 6th period class (or during lunch)
Percussion: Wednesdays at the beginning of 6th period class (or during lunch)
Woodwinds/Brass: Wednesdays immediately after school (or during lunch)
Students may choose between a nasal swab or mouth swab. If you are absent on a day of testing (or if there is no school that day), you can make up testing as soon as you return any day at lunch. Please note that you cannot have eaten 30 minutes before the mouth swab.
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WOODWIND/BRASS AUDITION PLACEMENTS — This week we will have wind auditions for placement in either the Concert Band or Wind Ensemble. This will also count as your band final for the semester. Past or current membership does not guarantee a spot Wind Ensemble. Percussionists will have their audition on Thursday, January 20th during 6th period finals. All wind players will be asked to play from the “ATSSB” major & chromatic scale sheet, do some basic sight-reading of rhythms with 8th note subdivision, and play the following excerpts:
WOODWIND EXCERPTS — American Faces: m. 157-186 and m. 212-219; City Trees: m. 152-180
BRASS EXCERPTS — American Faces: m. 21-35 and m. 86-93; City Trees: m.156-180
Because we will have COVID testing this Wednesday, these are the UPDATED audition days:
WOODWINDS — Tuesday 1/11 from 3-5:30PM
BRASS — Thursday 1/13 from 3-5:30PM
If you are unable to make the audition day for your section, we will have make ups on. Friday 1/14 from 3-5PM. As a last resort, Mr. Loney will allow video submissions for students on STIS.
Practice every day, use a metronome and take things slowly, and do the best you can. The goal is to assign students to an ensemble where they can have fun and keep up with the level of literature, but still be challenged. During 2nd semester, Wind Ensemble will rehearse Tuesdays from 3-5PM and Concert Band will rehearse Thursdays from 3-5PM.
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WINTER GUARD UPDATE — As you’ve probably heard by now, John Arroyo resigned earlier this week. Reanna Zoellers and Zachary Rosales will be leading the Winter Guard this season. On Monday we will be making some big announcements of other designers and choreographers who will be joining the team, and what the direction of the guard program will be moving forward.
The new rehearsal schedule will be Mondays 5:30-9PM, Wednesdays 6th period until 4PM, and Fridays 6th period until 5PM. We are adding an important staging camp this Saturday, January 15th from 9AM-9PM. On Friday, January 21st, we will have rehearsal from 2-6PM to continue staging. Finally, our camp on Saturday, January 29th will be from 1-9PM to finish the staging for the show. Please let Mr. Loney and Reanna know ASAP if you have any issues with these dates/times.
Just a reminder that all students should be caught up with the 1st Donation of $150 so that we are able to start production on costumes. The next donation of $150 is due Friday, January 28th. We will be handing out the information for our Winter Guard Popcornopolis Fundraiser at the end of this week.
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WINTER DRUMLINE UPDATE — Great improvement this past week! We have a normal week of rehearsals with a camp on Monday, January 17th from 10AM-2PM. Please make sure you’ve turned in the 1st Winter Drumline Donation of $175 so that we are able to get your costume. The next donation of $175 is due Friday, February 4th. We will have info soon for our upcoming Spaghetti Dinner drive-through fundraiser!
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THIS WEEK:
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MONDAY 1/10
6:30AM Jazz Band - RHYTHM SECTION only
6th- Winter Guard COVID Testing & study period
6th-5:00PM Winter Drumline rehearsal (mallets/battery)
NO JAZZ BAND AFTER SCHOOL
5:30-9:00PM Winter Guard rehearsal
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TUESDAY 1/11
6:30AM Jazz Band - WINDS only
3:00-5:30PM Woodwind Auditions
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WEDNESDAY 1/12
6th- Percussion COVID Testing & study period
6th-4:00PM Winter Guard rehearsal (new rehearsal time)
2:45PM Woodwinds/Brass COVID Testing
5:00-8:00PM Winter Drumline rehearsal
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THURSDAY 1/13
6:30AM Jazz Band - EVERYONE
3:00-5:30PM Brass Auditions
6:00PM Coffee with the Principal (Zoom link emailed out before)
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FRIDAY 1/14
3:00-5:00PM Woodwind/Brass Make Up Auditions
6th-5:00PM Winter Guard (new rehearsal day)
6th-5:00PM Winter Drumline
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SATURDAY 1/15
9:00AM-9:00PM Winter Guard Staging Camp (bring $10 for lunch and dinner)
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MONDAY 1/17
10:00AM-2:00PM Winter Drumline Mini-Camp