Dear band parents,
This is Justin Dickson, band director at Hawley Middle School. Every week I will send out a message like this to communicate what is happening this week in band class, upcoming events, and other announcements.
PROUD OF OUR 8TH GRADE BAND!
Our 8th grade band performed on Saturday at the Creedmoor Music Festival. They played very, very well and I am very proud of them! The crowd loved it! If you have not seen the video, "like" the band Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/HawleyBandRoom and check it out!
IN THE BAND ROOM THIS WEEK
6th grade is working through Chapter 1, learning our first few notes and making sure that everyone is producing a quality sound on their instrument. Anyone who did not pass off their #1.02 test may do so this week. Please encourage your child to practice at home every day they can -- they will learn more from figuring it out for themselves, than they will in class.
7th grade will start working on Chapter 12, in which we learn about dotted quarter notes. Our next test will be #12.05. Percussion will need to do this on both snare drum and bells. This is a big test, the song is pretty long. Please study at home.
8th grade will test on the "Harry Potter" piece we have been learning. We will also start working on a new piece, a fun arrangement of "Thriller". Parents, please make sure your child is practicing at home and learning their part. I would love to prepare 4 songs for our October concert, but that depends on how quickly everyone learns their music.
8TH GRADER NIGHT WITH THE S.G.H.S. MARCHING BAND - OCT 6
On Friday, October 6, our 8th graders are invited to be honorary members of the South Granville High School marching band at their home football game! Your child will get into the game for free, sit with the marching band, and play along with some of the music they play during the game!
This is a special opportunity for your child to meet the high school band students and see for themselves what high school band is like (it is very different than middle school band and very, very fun). Every year, kids come back from this event saying things to me like "I am definitely doing marching band" and "I can't wait until I'm in high school." Plus, I hear there will be free pizza.
I will send out a letter with more details soon. For now, please save the date!
PEP BAND
Our first home football game is this Tuesday! Wear your blue band t-shirt, and don't forget your music folder. No practice Wednesday after school.
PLEASE SIGN UP FOR TEXT ANNOUNCEMENTS
If you have not already done so, please sign up to receive text message announcements from me via the Remind app. You do not have to download the app. Just sent a text message to phone number 81010 , and the text message should say...
... @HawleyBa17 for sixth grade
... @HawleyBa16 for seventh grade
... @HawleyBa15 for eighth grade
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OLD BUT STILL RELEVANT INFO
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BAND SHIRT ORDER
This week I will hand out order forms for our band t-shirts and sweatshirts. These are just for fun, not a required purchase, except 8th graders are required to have a t-shirt for our Carowinds trip. You may also print the order form from the Documents page on my website:
http://justindickson.com/justindickson/band/documents.htm
TECHNOLOGY TO MAKE LEARNING EASIER
By now, most of you know that I designed a free mobile app for my students called Bandmate Chromatic Tuner (www.bandmatetuner.com). I highly recommend that you download it, or that your child downloads it on their phone / tablet if they have one, because it makes it so much easier for kids to learn their notes while they are practicing at home.
Students are allowed to use it in band class, too. In fact, I highly encourage it. If you would like your child to use it in class, I recommend you purchase the Peterson PitchGrabber pickup: https://www.amazon.com/Peterson-PitchGrabber-Mobile-Tuner/dp/B014L9CCHO/
This is like a microphone that will only "hear" your instrument, so you can use the Bandmate app in class while other people are playing their instruments beside you.
The Bandmate Tuner app is a big deal because it gives personal feedback to students while they learn. It lets students see what note they are playing, so that they can check for themselves if they are playing the right note or not. It has made it so much easier for my students to learn, and people all around the world have discovered it and are using it in their own music programs. In fact I expect it will hit 1 million downloads by October.
FLUTES, CLARINETS, AND SAXOPHONES NEED A SWAB
If your child plays a woodwind instrument (flute, clarinet, or saxophone), they need a swab so they can clean out their instrument every day before putting it back in the case. You can order one from Hills Music Shop if you do not have one.
If woodwinds are stored in the case without swabbing, moisture causes the pads under the keys to wrinkle and be ruined. This costs $100-200 to fix, depending on the extent of the damage. A swab costs $5. Please make sure your child has a swab.
CONCERT CALENDAR
October 26, 6:30, 8th grade only, at Hawley
December 12, 7:00, 6th grade only, at Hawley
December 15, 7:00, 7th and 8th grade, at SGHS audition
March 8, 7:00, 8th grade only, at SGHS auditorium
May 17, 7:00, 6th grade only, at SGHS auditorium
May 18, 7:00, 7th and 8th grade, at SGHS auditorium