12/12/10 UPDATE

Thank you to everyone who attended the Christmas Concert on Tuesday evening. All the groups performed well, and it was a good opportunity for the JA Band families to get together before the holidays. Thanks to Trey Waltman for sharing these photos.

Thank you also to Sim Dulaney for the slide show, to Stacy Overstreet and her students for providing the readings, and to Martha Ray for organizing refreshments for the reception after the concert.

We have several students who have indicated they plan to attend the MAIS Clinic January 6-8 but have not yet sent payment.

It is not too late to sign up; however, all clinic attendees need to bring a payment of $65, made out to JA Band, by Wednesday of this week.

Each student was given a letter to bring home, describing the clinic, including information about auditions for placement in one of the two bands. Please let me know if you have any questions or would like me to email you a copy of the informational letter.

12/5/10 UPDATE

Please join us for the JA Band Program Christmas Concert this Tuesday, December 7, at 7:00 in the beautiful JA Performing Arts Center.

The concert will be a multi-media experience, with performances by the Sixth Grade Band, the Jazz Band, & the Concert Band; readings by JA Drama students of Ms. Stacey Overstreet; and video interludes provided by JA teacher and technology coordinator Mr. Sim Dulaney, including the new slideshow video featured to the right. Refreshments will be provided at the conclusion of the concert.

Sixth Grade Band members should be in their seats on the stage in the PAC by 6:45. Attire for the concert will be Sunday dress up (coats and ties for the boys, pants or skirts knee length or longer for the girls).

High School Band members should be in the PAC by 7:00. Attire for high school students is black for the boys and dark pants or skirts (knee length or longer) for the girls.

UNIFORM TURN-IN

All band students need to turn in their band uniforms Wednesday or Thursday of this week. All uniform parts should be clean and hung neatly in the uniform bag (with name tag), with gauntlets. Students keep their own shoes and gloves. The uniform bags should be hung on the rack at the front of the band hall, and the student's name should be checked off the list in the band hall office.

The 2011 MAIS Concert Band Clinic will be held at the Regency Hotel January 6 - 8. We expect about 100 students from independent schools around the state. It is open to any band member in grades 7-12, and we encourage our student musicians to participate.

Clinic participants will be placed into two bands, based on auditions at the beginning of the clinic Thursday afternoon. For the auditions, each student will play a short prepared piece (30 sec - 2 min), two major scales, and a sight reading exercise. All students who audition will be chosen for one of the two bands, and we will help our students prepare.

Cost per student will be $65. We will cover the rest of the clinic expenses, including lodging, but they will need to bring enough money for meals other than the complimentary continental breakfast at the hotel, and the pizza dinner on Friday night. There will be a lunch available in the hotel restaurant for about $7. We will try to coordinate transportation among our parents for some of the meals, if necessary.

All clinic events, including auditions, rehearsals, social events, and the final concert, will be at the Regency. Even though this is a "local" event for us, all students are required to stay at the hotel and participate in all scheduled activities. This is an opportunity for these student musicians to share not only rehearsal and performance time, but also some more relaxed activities. Cammie and I will be staying at the hotel to monitor our students during the clinic.

Here is the schedule of events:

Thursday, January 6
1:00 - Audition warmups in the auditorium
1:30 - Auditions begin in posted rooms
5:00 - Dinner Break
6:30 - Seating of Bands
7:00 - 10:00 - First Rehearsal

Friday, January 7
Complimentary Continental Breakfast at Hotel
8:00 - 11:00 - Rehearsal
11:00 - 12:30 - Lunch Break – Lunch available at hotel
12:30 - 5:00 - Rehearsal
5:00 – 6:30 – Free time
6:30 – 9:00 – Pizza dinner and evening entertainment at the hotel

Saturday, January 8
Complimentary Continental Breakfast at Hotel
8:00 - 12:00 - Rehearsal
12:00 - 1:30 - Hotel checkout, lunch break
2:00 - Final Concert

If your student wishes to participate in the MAIS Clinic, please send a check for $65, made out to the Jackson Academy Band, by this Friday, December 10. 

JACKSON INDEPENDENT WINTER GUARD

The Jackson Independent Winter Guard began their season in earnest on Saturday, with a 12-hour rehearsal to learn this year's show. Show designer Lenny Westmoreland and instructor Ashleigh Bradley were in town from North Carolina to work with the girls.

A couple photos from the rehearsal:

 

The guard members worked very hard to learn the complex show, which features the song, The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, by Leona Lewis. Their competition season begins on January 29, with Field Day at Pearl High School.