Welcome to Nieman Elementary Bands

May 29/30- Varsity band marching rehearsal, 4-8PM in the stadium.  Bring instruments, but we will not be playing.  Remember to wear marching shoes and a gallon water container.  Boosters will provide a light dinner.

Please view/print the 2019 summer/fall band calendar.  As lettering requirements will be altered somewhat, please email me with any issues attending band camp, especially the 7 days of varsity camp (or varsity drumline camp, if applicable).  There will be a greater weight given to marching band camp than in the past.  As a father of three, I completely understand the importance of family vacations.  Having said that, we typically learn a significant portion of the show during band camp.  If we don’t have 98%+ of the band, it takes valuable rehearsal time to get caught up.

We are also collecting dietary restriction needs for next year.  Please email me if we need to be aware of anything regarding feeding your child at marching band functions.

Drumline members, please check for an email regarding summer drumline sectionals in the next few days. These are not required, but are highly recommended to get the year off to a great start. It’s especially helpful for incoming freshmen to learn the ropes and start memorizing warm ups before band camp starts. Sectionals are in the North band room, from 5:30-7:00 PM, and are on the following days: June 19, June 26, July 10, July 17.

As we are moving away from CharmsOffice and more to Skyward based communication, it’s possible we may not have access to email over the summer.  So we will use a new Remind code for communication over the summer.  Please sign up for the following classes:

Text any of the codes to 81010

2019-20 Varsity Band: @3edbb9

2019-29 JV Band: @2019jvma

2019-20 Drumline: @7ac286

2019-20 Drumline Battery: @d89a8

Finally, it’s been a hallmark year, so many memories!  Awesome marching band, California, KMEA for Jazz and an awesome contest season. Thank you all for making this year so special.  For graduating seniors, please stay in touch.  For everyone else, rest up and we’ll see you in July!

Mr. Reed

Ms. Fillingham

Band announcement: May 3-15

Friday, May 3^rd– Pizza Jazz, 6-10PM both jazz bands.  Both jazz bands report by 6PM, all other announcements have been made in class.  This event is free to the public in the North cafeteria, while North Relays is held.  All-you-can-eat Papa John’s pizza for $6, including drinks and some dessert while they last.  Bands from Shawnee Mission, Blue Valley and Olathe will be performing.

Saturday, May 4^th– Drumline auditions, 9AM-noon in the North band room.  All interested percussionists wanting to participate with varsity marching band should attend.

Tuesday, May 7^th– SPRING BAND CONCERT, North auditorium @ 7:00PM.  7^th/8^th grade Hocker bands, along with North’s freshman, concert and symphonic band.  No admission cost, concert should last until around 8:30PM.  Seniors, please remember to turn in any remaining music and/or uniform parts after the concert.  This is a graded rehearsal.  All high school students should report to the band room by 6:40PM, proper concert attire (as discussed in class) and ready to play.

Thursday, May 9^th– BAND BANQUET!  Food service will begin close to 5:30PM in the North cafeteria, and will continue serving until about 6:20PM.  Program will begin around 6:20PM or so.  This is an optional event, but one of the most special nights of the year!  Recognitions, lettering recipients, awards, senior memories and video will be seen.  Dinner is $9 (to be paid at the door), which I know is a little pricey…but food is being catered by Italian Delight, fantastic food!  Don’t miss this special evening, held in the North cafeteria.  The program lasts until about 8:30PM.

PARENTS, we still need additional help with this event, please click this link to show needs.  If you’re going anyway, it would be a big help to pitch in, thanks in advance.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040c4caeaf2dab9-smnband8

Wednesday, May 15^th– SM North Graduation.  All band students from blocks 1,2 and 7 are in this group (except percussion from concert/freshman band).  Report time of 6:15PM in the North band room, dressed business casual or better.  We will be on TV, so look nice!  You can bring homework, as I know many of you are preparing for finals.  Watch the weather and dress accordingly.  Also, please consider bring several clothes pins, so your music doesn’t fly off of your stands!

Another email with May 20^th indoor rehearsal (ALL returning students for next year) as well as the May 29^th/30^th varsity rehearsal will go out later, but keep these dates open, as per the band calendar, posted online at www.smnorthbands.org

Symphonic band students, as discussed in class, sectionals schedule as follows- all sectionals begin at 7:10AM in the band room, so be a few minutes early.

Wednesday, March 20:

Alto sax, Horn, Tuba

Low woodwinds

Friday, March 22:

Tenor sax, low brass

Monday, March 25:

Trumpets

Tuesday, March 26:

Flutes, clarinets

Tuesday, March 26- SMSD Symphonic Band Festival, SM East high school (symphonic band only).  Report time for symphonic band students is 6:30PM in the SM EAST choir room, in full uniform, ready to play.  I would plan for 6:15PMish, which will give you time to park and get settled.  Concert begins at 7:00PM in the SM East auditorium.  No admission cost, and the concert should last about 80 minutes or so.  Parents, please stay for the duration (as students are required to).

Thursday, March 28- Symphonic band festival clinic, during 11:10AM, during block IV.  This is required, so please make sure your 4^th block teachers knows you will be absent next Thursday.

Saturday, April 6^th– Regional solo/ensemble festival at Olathe South high school (students who have signed up to participate).   Precise times have not been announced by the festival host as of yet.

PARENTS: We have been requested to provide at least 6 six parents to work a 3 hour shift at Olathe South’s solo/ensemble festival.  If you child is performing, please sign up for a shift to work.  If you sign up for a shift that ends up being when your child performs, it will not be an issue to watch your child perform, then continue your 3 hour shift.  So…since many of you will be there anyway, PLEASE consider volunteering.  Olathe South will continue to host this huge event, as long as schools continue to volunteer on average at least 6 parents.  ALSO, PLEASE email me that you volunteered so I know we’re getting out quota of parents!  Here is the link to volunteer:   https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050d4ba4a62ea64-regional2

STUDENTS: If you are looking for additional service points for lettering, please use the link above to volunteer at the solo/ensemble festival.

Attention all trombone players:

I would like to invite you to a master class by John Engelkes, bass trombonist of the San Francisco Symphony.

The class will be held this Thursday, March 21, 3:00 p.m., at Central United Methodist Church. The church is located at 5144 Oak Street, KCMO, and the class will be in the sanctuary. PLEASE ENTER ON THE WEST SIDE of the building. The east doors will be locked.

Ms. Balsinger has been chosen as Hocker Grove’s Teach of the Year.  A special shout-out to our North area middle school band director!

A reminder about tonight’s (Monday, Feb. 11^th) booster meeting, 5:30-6:30PM in the band room.  Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend.

Tuesday, Feb. 12- Double header b-ball game.  Report time of 5:30PM in the band room.

Wednesday, Feb. 13- Crimson Tribe Jazz Ensemble rehearsal on stage, 7-8PM.

Tuesday, Feb. 19- Double header b-ball game.  Report time of 5:30PM in the band room.

Wednesday, Feb. 20- Crimson Tribe Jazz Ensemble rehearsal on stage, 7-8PM.  Parents, if you want to see our music set, you’re more than welcome to drop by from 7:30-8:00PM.  Having said that, we still have about 10 spots left on the bus for Wichita the following morning.  Please contact me if you’re interested.  Details about this trip were sent in an email a few weeks ago.

Friday, Feb. 22- Double header b-ball game.  Report time for 5:30PM in the band room.  This is the final regular season game of the season!

Hello everyone-

Details for next week’s taco dinner concert, which is now a pancake dinner!

5:30PM- dinner will be available in the cafeteria, especially students who are performing later in the evening.

5:45- official time to serve.  $5 all you can eat pancakes, which includes sausage and orange juice, catered by Chris Cakes!

6:00PM- jazz bands will begin playing in the cafeteria as everyone is eating pancakes.

6:40ish- everyone heads over to the auditorium, for the 6^th grade honor band, freshman, concert and symphonic band performances.  Concert should end by 7:30PM.

Admission is free, but we are encouraging EVERYONE to eat with us, as this is a fund raiser, yet the price is really low.  Besides, no school chili this year, pancakes!

Parents, we will need a dozen or so helpers with setup and serving.  Please use the link below, which shows our needs for next Tuesday night’s dinner/concert.

Casual/formal attire for all performing band members, no specific color coordination.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040c4caeaf2dab9-smnband6

Thanks everyone-

Mr. Reed

Ms. Fillingham

FYI- the spring calendar can now be found online at www.smnorthbands.org under the calendar link

Jan. 24^th– North area band festival.  Symphonic band and Crimson Tribe only.  Report time of 6:30PM in the band room, in full uniform and ready to play.  Concert is in the field house at 7:00PM, should last one hour.

SYMPHONIC BAND- please remember we have a required rehearsal at 7:40AM in the field to run our program this same morning, and to run the finale with the elementary school students.  ALSO, we need as many hands as possible at 7:00AM to sling 350+ chairs, get percussion/sound equipment from the band room to the field house.

Jan. 29th– b-ball game, double header.  Report time of 5:30PM

Feb. 1^st– b-ball game double header.  Report time of 5:30PM

Feb. 5^th– Our annual Chili supper has now been changed to a TACO DINNER!  Tacos catered via Don Chilitos, yummy!  $1/taco, purchase as many as you like.  Admission is free, but PLEASE plan on eating some tacos with us as the jazz bands play.

5:45PM- will begin serving dinner in the cafeteria

6:00- both jazz bands will play in cafeteria while people are eating

6:40ish- Everyone moves to auditorium.  Order of performance is 6^th grade honor band, freshman band, concert band, symphonic band.

All students should wear casual formal, no specific color coordination.

Congratulations to the following students who auditioned for the state level band/orchestra/jazz, with the following results:

Jada Green- 3^rd chair flute (orchestra)

Kaeleen Kronawitter- 6th chair flute

Asa Martin- 6^th chair trombone

Thomas Parnell- jazz piano alternate

Evan West- 1^st chair trumpet

A special shout out to Jada, as she has been selected all three years, the first band student from North to do so in over a decade!