Notes on the end of October

Wow! I can't belive that we've hit the last week of October, that the first quarter wrapped up on Friday, and we've been working on Concert Band music for almost a month now! I'm very pleased with the progress that we've been making as we work on music for our first concert. Chairplacements are wrapping up, hopefully I'll get everyone in this week who was out sick last week. I've heard some great chairplacements. Jazz Band started last week and it promises to be a good group this year. I'm looking forward to our next meeting on Wednesday after school.

Friday!

We made it to Friday! What a week it's been! Honor Band auditions were this week. We've been working hard on Concert Band music sixth period. I'm quite pleased with what we've accomplished already on the first two pieces that we've been working on. Should be getting a seasonal selection rounded up for next week.

Chairplacement music will be handed out today in class. Chairplacements will take place during regularly scheduled lessons the week of October 19-23. We will be warming up on these materials today and everyday next week. Students are encouraged to practice at home, during study halls, and before/after school. I will be available for questions on these materials before/after school, during study halls, and at lessons next week. GOOD LUCK!

Honor Band Audition Wrap Up

Last night Lizzy S., Shayla W., Matthew W., and Marissa H. auditioned for honor band in Indianola. This was a fun group to spend the afternoon and evening with and I am so proud of them. Here are a few items from last night:

- Townhouse Crackers!
- Penguins
- Fritos
- Cheese in a Can!!
- Fat Cats Go!
- It's okay to have a healthy fear of leaves.
- Is it crazily insane or insanely crazy?

A New Top 10 - Howar Marching Band Wrap Up

It was just brought to my attention by three "Scale Happy" young women that I needed to update my blog. How fitting, a week past our junior high marching season that I put together a "Top 10 Memories from the 2009 Howar Marching Season"

10. "Put your hands up in front of you. The one that makes an L is your left hand. Now look at your left foot!...say hello!"

9. "There's a dead squirrel out back of Howar. Don't step on it!"

8. Drummers marching beside the pep band float. Twirling themselves while playing.

7. "Whoa! Look at the size of Howar's band this year!" (Overheard at the Football Game)

6. Due to a shortage of dead bugs, this year's band pet was an acorn named "Bob."

5. Ummm...better watch your step, there's a block of concrete in the road!

4. Where's my shampoo?

3. Sunglasses are officially fashionable AND practical!

2. A.J.'s design of the NEW band mascot. Until the eyes were eaten, the nose was lost, the pencils jammed into the box. Poor little mascot!

1. Lizzy: "Ummm...I just tripped over a fork in the road!"... And there was a piece of silverware in the middle of the road!

Congratulations to the HJH Marching Band on a successful season!

Howar Junior High Marching Season

Congratulations to the Howar Junior High Marching Band and the Centerville High School Marching Band on an outstanding combined performance this past Friday night at the exciting Centerville vs. Pella game. I have heard many complements on our performance. I am pleased with how far we have come in the past two weeks.

We now have two weeks to prepare for the Pancake Day Parade. The weather report looks favorable for us to be outside hitting the streets every day this week.

Welcome Back

Welcome back to school! Tonight is Back To School Night and Seventh Grade Orientation at Howar. Hopefully you'll take a moment to stop by the band room and say "hi!" Classes start up again on Wednesday. We'll start with one day on handbooks and expectations, questions, etc. and then work on music Thursday and Friday. Our first performance is coming up quickly on September 11 at the home football game with our combined performance with the CHS Marching Band, so we have a lot to accomplish in our short time! I'm really looking forward to this school year.

Excellent Summer

Congratulations to everyone involved in the summer program this year. Our final performances went very well, and I heard many positive comments yesterday and today from a variety of members of our community. I would like to thank everyone who played, helped load and unload, and was any kind of a part of yesterday's Children's Arts Festival. What a great day!

I guess we'll be back to school before we realize it. Until then, have a safe and wonderful summer!

Mr. Taylor's Socks

Many students have been looking at Mr. Taylor's feet this summer and commenting on his fashion sense. With his permission, this has become the topic of this week's poll.

Children's Arts Festival Performance Details

A sheet will be handed out at next week's rehearsals, but here are the details for July 11 performances at the Children's Arts Festival...

Schedule:
10:30 - Mr. Taylor's Small Ensembles
11:00 - Junior Band (Mr. Taylor)
11:30 - Youth Band (Ms. Philipsen)
12:00 - Summer Jazz (Ms. Philipsen)
12:30 - Ms. Philipsen's Small Ensembles

A few small ensembles may be sprinkled in around the larger group performances depending on how many choose to perform on July 11.

All performances will take place at the band shell in the center of the Centerville Square (in front of the Court House). Please plan on being on the lawn near the shell 15 minutes before your first performance.

Dress for this performance will be casual, please wear school-appropriate summer clothing.

These performances will conclude our summer program.

To contemplate as you work on your scales...

What do you get if you run over an army officer with a steamroller?
A flat major (Ab Major!)

What do you say to the army officer right before you run him over?
Be flat major (Bb Major!)

What do you say after you run over the army officer?
See flat major (Cb Major!)