Ms. Borchert's Band Blog

Week of May 11th, 2009

CONGRATULATIONS ON A GREAT SPRING CONCERT AT THE MABLE HOUSE FRIDAY NIGHT! Your performance and your attentiveness to the other performers was excellent. Thanks for all your hard work. There were lots of compliments on your performances. It was a great ending to a fantastic year!

This week we will begin to wrap up the semester by finishing any assignments, collecting music, and checking in school owned instruments. We will also clean out instrument storage cabinets and collect the combination locks. 

You will receive your study guide for your final exam later this week. 

Have a great week and again congratulations on your performance Friday night.

Week of May 4th, 2009

We are finishing up scale tests this week and completing preparation for the Mable House Concert which takes place this Friday. Look for information to be sent home early this week- directions, call times, etc.

Next week we will collect music and check in school owned instruments. Seniors will take there final exam. Seniors- you will receive your study guide next Monday.

We are looking forward to the Mable House Concert! Have a great week.

Week of April 13, 2009

Welcome Back from Spring Break!

I hope your week off was restful and you are now ready for the last 6 weeks.

Mable House Concert, Friday, May 8th-

The entire Lassiter High School Band Program will perform on the Spring Concert, Friday, May 8th at the Mable House Ampitheater.

Leadership Week, Monday-Thursday, April 20th-24th

If you are interested in being a section leader, assistant section leader, or drum major in the 2009-2010 Lassiter Marching Trojan Band you will need to attend Leadership Week starting next Monday. We meet Monday through Thursday from 4-6pm. Tryouts are on that Thursday. Wear shoes you can march in each day.

Drum Major Tryouts

If you are interested in being a drum major in the 2009-2010 marching season you will need to attend Leadership Week and then the following Wednesday, April 29th will be Drum Major Tryouts. See me for information.

Band Banquet, Saturday, May 16th-

Celebrate the end of the year by attending the Band Banquet. Tickets will be available soon.

Week of March 23, 2009

Sym II and Concert II

Both classes are doing further work on scales. This work will be evaluated in the weeks following Spring Break.

Hawaii Trip

The Aloha Concert is next Monday, March 30th at 7pm in the Lassiter Gym. The bands will rehearse together before the concert on Monday afternoon. Exact rehearsal times will be announced in class. Those students who are not traveling to Hawaii are not required to attend this concert. 

Lassiter High School Orchestra Concert- Tuesday, March 24 at 7pm, Kell HS Auditorium. If you have a free evening come watch the Lassiter Orchestra perform Barber, Moussorgsky, and feature some of their top players in concerto performances.

Fall color guard/ flag line- Informational Meetings are Mondays, March 23, April 20, or May 11. If you know someone interested in being a part of the Lassiter Marching Trojan Band by being a member of the color guard/flag line, no experience necessary!, send them to the high school band room on any of those dates listed to find out more.

Week of March 16, 2009

FESTIVAL PERFORMANCES

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL FOUR OF THE LASSITER HIGH SCHOOL CONCERT BANDS ON SUPERIOR PERFORMANCES.

It was a very successful two days for the Lassiter Bands at Large Group Performance Evaluation. The musical preparation that was done resulted in performances at the highest levels. Each group had a Superior performance. All the extra rehearsals and hard work paid off. Congratulations!

HAWAII TRIP

The Hawaii Trip is only 16 days away. We will begin working on the music in class in addition to scale studies. The Farewell Concert is Monday, March 30th in the Lassiter High School Gym. 

March 9, 2009 Festival Week!

Last week of preparation for Festival! Keep the individual practice going.

Sym II

Rehearsal tonight is from 6:00-8:00pm. 

Rehearsal on Wednesday is 3:45-5:45 with Dr. Ticheli, the composer of Wild Nights. 

Thursday is Festival Performance!

Call time is 4:30 in the band room. We perform at 8:30 pm at McEachern. We should arrive back at Lassiter by 10:45pm.

Concert I

We have rehearsal Thursday morning at 7:00-8:15am.

BRING YOUR CONCERT ATTIRE TO SCHOOL THURSDAY MORNING!!

You will eat lunch during 4th period and then you will change during 5th so we may leave at 12:30. 

Concert II performs at 4:20 at McEachern. We should arrive back at Lassiter by 6:45pm.

Week of February 17th, 2009

Symphonic Band Camp is this weekend! 

Sym II Report Time- Friday, Feb. 20, at 4:00pm. 

Sym II Guest Conductor- Ms. Sue Samuels, Director of Bands at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. 

Concert II Report Time- Saturday, Feb. 21 at 12:30pm.

Concert II Guest Conductor- Mr. Andrew Cole, Director of Bands at Hightower Trail Middle School.

Guest Clinicians will include faculty from Columbus State University, the University of Georgia, and members of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. 

Saturday morning's schedule includes the Professional's Recital- a recital by the clinicians listed above, and Masterclasses by those same professional musicians. Concert II members are not required to attend but are welcome and encouraged to participate in the morning activities. 

Sectional Schedule for SYM II

Sym II- The sectional schedule this week is as follows:

Trumpets- Weds. 2/18; 3:45-5:15

Horns- Weds. 2/18; 5:30-7:00 (A change because Freddy will be working with you. Thanks for making the adjustment to your schedule!)

Percussion- Weds 2/18; 5:15-6:30

High Woodwinds (Flutes, Clarinets, Oboes, Alto Saxes)- Thurs. 2/19; 7:00am-8:15am

Low Woodwinds (Tenor and Bari Saxes, Bass Cl., Bassoons)- Thurs. 2/19; 3:45-5:15

Low Brass (Trombones, Euphs, Tubas)- Thurs. 2/19; 5:15-6:30

Sym II and Concert II Assignments

Intonation Charts are due Thursday. Pick your own partner to record for you. You should be checking your notes chromatically from Concert F- Concert F, 2 octaves.

Week of February 9th, 2009

Symphonic Band Camp is Friday and Saturday, Feb. 20-21.

Sym II

Small sectionals continue this week. Check your schedule. We will have our second recording assignment- assigned Friday and due the following Tuesday, Feb. 17th. The assignment is worth a test grade.

Concert II

Continue working on scales and your festival music. Testing on these materials will begin later this week.

Week of February 2nd, 2009

SYM II

Recordings were due today (Feb. 2nd). Critique assignments will be given tomorrow and they will be due on Thursday, Feb 4th. These assignments are worth 10% of your final grade. 

CONCERT II

Friday, Feb. 6th will be your first rhythm performance test in class. You should be able to count out loud, tap your foot, and clap any rhythm from the front of your rhythm page.

Week of January 26, 2009

Sym II

Great start to the semester! Small sectionals begin this week. Check your schedules to make sure you know when your rehearsal time is. Part of your individual practice time should be focused on the Ticheli and the new piece: Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night.

Concert II

Your focus in rehearsal is quite good. Keep it up! You can increase your test score for Rhythm Test #1 by turning in corrections by Wednesday, January 28. Performance tests on 4 scales and the first 8 lines of your rhythm sheet will take place next Friday.

You do have a written test this Friday, January 30 on more rhythms from your rhythm sheet.