Join Us in January! Important work is still at hand for the Beal City Bands! Consider joining us to see how much you make a difference!

Monday, January 14 Monday, February 11

Monday, March 11 Monday, April 8Monday, May 13 All listed meetings at 7PM in the band room

Starting on January 7, Mr. Course, a teaching intern from Central Michigan University will be joining us for t h e c o m i n g semester. He comes with a vast degree of knowledge and exper ience as both a guitar and horn player. Mr. C o u r s e h a s sought to push the envelope of his education and training, knowing the demands of the 21st century classroom will require a

diverse set of skills. After spending his mid-tier experience in Midland, he is looking forward

to teaching in a s m a l l - s c h o o l , s m a l l - t o w n e nv i ro n m e n t . W e w i l l b e g e t t i n g h i m exper ience at b o t h M a y e s Elementary and St. Joseph the

Worker to round out his intern experience. When you have the opportunity, please welcome Mr. Course to Beal City!

TEACHING INTERN!

Happy HolidaysThe holidays are always a fine time to assess the special joys and reflect on the amazing gifts we have in our lives. I hope each of you know that you are a special joy and an amazing gift in mine. Your support and dedication of our students in the Beal City Bands is unquestioned and unmatched! From my family to yours, Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!

nnn

Carols & Candy Canes We hope you were able to join us for our annual holiday

presentation. Our student performed holiday classics and new favorites for a packed house. Please check the new concert day

guidelines on page 2. Make certain to mark your calendars for our next concert, Sunday, February 24!

T H E O F F I C I A L N E W S L E T T E R O F T H E B E A L C I T Y B A N D S

DRUMbeatD E C E M B E R 2 0 1 2

A Response to the People: Concert Day ReformatMany parents, community members and students have commented on the process of set-up and clean-up at our concerts. Often, students are dropped off earlier than anticipated for set-up; then students are left unsupervised without tasks to complete as the concert draws

closer. Although chairs are lettered, often we cannot find the proper racks for our seating at the conclusion of our concerts. In discussion with our TEMPO Club Executive Board at the December meeting, the following changes will be implemented for the remaining concerts:

CLASS ASSIGNMENT

Each class will be assigned either a task of set-up or clean-up. Students will no longer receive extra credit for arriving early to help; e x t r a c r e d i t w i l l b e awarded to those students who have a parent or older sibling attend and assist in set-up or clean-up. Often, students have arrived, helped out minimally and then spent time shooting baskets or walking down to the store. Everyone benefits from and will take part in this activity. In order to receive credit, students should log in with Mr. Lowe either at 2:30 or the end of the concert.

SET-UP

All audience seat ing, microphone placement, concert equipment prep will occur at 2:30PM on Concert Sundays. Please do not arrive before. Mr. Lowe has concert day preparations of his own to accomplish without having to worry about what unsupervised students are doing.

CLEAN-UP

Concert clean-up will o c c u r i m m e d i a t e l y following the concert. All audience seating will need to be placed appropriately near lettered placards to be racked and taken to the

proper storage space. Likewise, ensemble chairs and stands and percussion equipment will need to be removed to the band room.

ATTIRE

Middle School and High School ensembles will wear their concert polo shirt with black pants, not jeans, and black dress shoes, not sneakers. Sixth grade wears white shirts. Young ladies, please wear black tights or leggings when wearing a skirt. Our performances need you looking appropriate and at your best!

COMING EVENTS

JAN 30An English Tea in the Band Room

FEB 9CMU Jazz

Festival

FEB 16HS Solo &

Ensemble Festival

FEB 24Festival Winds

Concert

BEAL CITY PUBLIC SCHOOL BANDS

The purpose of this chart is to visually demonstrate student effort toward specific goals. These goals may

include sections of music, scales, technique drills, private lesson assignments, etc. Record daily minutes of

serious practice demonstrating your effort to improve and maintain your performance skills. To receive

credit: print your name; print your goals for each day’s practice; record minutes in the right column; add the

total practice time for the week; and, get your parent to sign the record.

STUDENT NAME _____________________________________________________________

PARENT SIGNATURE _________________________________________________________________

6th Grade Students 10 Minutes/Day or 70 Minutes/Week

7th & 8th Grade Students 15 Minutes/Day or 105 Minutes/Week

High School Students 20 Minutes/Day or 140 Minutes/Week

Warm Up:

Daily Goal:

Review:

Warm Up:

Daily Goal: Review:

Warm Up:

Daily Goal:

Review:

Warm Up:

Daily Goal: Review:

Warm Up:

Daily Goal:

Review:

Warm Up:

Daily Goal: Review:

Warm Up:

Daily Goal:

Review:

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Minutes

TOTAL

MINUTES

ALL SIXTH, SEVENTH & EIGHTH GRADE STUDENTS AND PARENTS:Practice Records are a weekly assignment for your student in band class. They

serve as a record of practice for both parents and teacher, but also as a weekly progress report. These are important to each student’s grade.

PARENTS: Please be certain to sign each practice record. Assignments will not be accepted without a parent signature.

WARM - UPThis helps prepare the mind and body for your practice session. It is also helps get your instrument in tune. Think of it as stretching before running in band! An important and often overlooked essential!

DAILY GOALPracticing is a good idea, but aimless practicing without a goal is often pointless and frustrating. Decide on your goal before you warm-up, before you get your instrument out. This will make your practicing targeted and focused.

REVIEWAlways finish off your practice session reviewing some material - something you enjoy, something you play well. It refreshes you and leaves you energized for the next practice session!

Try practicing with friends! Discover similar

goals and have your partner give important immediate feedback makes practicing

more effective!

Afternoon or Low TeaAfternoon tea, or low tea is a small snack-sized meal that is habitually

served between 3:00 and 5:00 PM. This tradition can be traced back to the nobility of the mid-1800s and usually associated with hosting guests.

Now, all classes of English engage in this afternoon meal to fight away the post-lunch doldrums.

Low Tea has a diverse serving and can include varying small sandwiches

of cucumber, egg and cress, fish paste, ham or smoked salmon, scones served with clotted cream and jam, sponge cakes and crumpets.

ElevensesBasically, Elevenses is a morning version of Afternoon Tea. Small cakes and pastries are served, accompanied by coffee and a variety of teas.

High TeaHigh tea is customarily the large evening meal to be served with children in attendance (when parents would dine later in the evening).

Hot dishes such as fish and chips, shepherd’s pie or macaroni cheese can be served followed by assorted cakes and bread, butter and jam.

“High” and “low” monikers refer to the height of the table used in the

serving of the meal. High tea at the dining table, low tea in the parlor.

Elevenses?! An English Tea in Beal City?!In an effort to expand our understanding of British culture as we study the music of that ‘precious stone set in the silver sea,’ the Beal City Bands will be hosting an English Tea on Wednesday, January 30. With assistance from TEMPO Club and caterer extraordinaire, Diane Fussman, each class will take part in a piece of English culture. Parents, if you are available, please feel free to join us, especially during your student’s class time. We will additionally be inviting faculty and ancillary staff members, administrators and assistants, and school board members.