1/24/16 UPDATE

SECTIONAL REHEARSALS

This week sectional rehearsals will be on the usual schedule:

MONDAY - Saxophones

TUESDAY - Percussion, Flutes, & Clarinets

WEDNESDAY - Trumpets

THURSDAY - Trombones & Bass

NOTE: Sectional rehearsals are a very important part of the band's preparation for concert festival.

As discussed in class, if a student misses a sectional, he or she must arrange a time to make it up with Mr. Carter. Failure to do so will result in a deduction to his or her third quarter grade.

WINTER GUARD

Best of luck to the Winter Guard as they prepare for their first competition, the Rhythm & Waves LA/MS circuit show on Saturday, January 30, at Gulfport HS. Here is the weekend schedule for the winter guard:

SATURDAY, 1/30
10:30 - Rehearse at Hillcrest Christian School
2:30 - Depart for Gulfport
7:20 - PERFORMANCE
10:15 - Check in to South Beach Biloxi Hotel

SUNDAY, 1/31
10:00 - Depart Biloxi
2:00 - 5:30 - Rehearse at Hillcrest

1/17/16 UPDATE

SECTIONAL REHEARSALS

Here is the sectional rehearsal schedule, starting this week:

MONDAY - Saxophones (Tuesday this week, 1/19, due to the Monday holiday)

TUESDAY - Percussion, Flutes & Clarinets

WEDNESDAY - Trumpets

THURSDAY - Trombones & Bass

All sectionals will be 3:05 - 3:50.

If there are any changes to the schedule, they will be announced in the blog each week.

Please note the schedule to avoid scheduling routine appointments or other conflicts during your student's sectional.

SCHEDULE UPDATE

The MAIS Concert Band Festival has been rescheduled for April 15. The tentative location is Jackson Prep.

The full band evening rehearsals have shifted a week later because of this change. They will be April 5 and April 12, from 6:30 - 8:00.

Please mark your calendars with these updated events.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Sunday, 1/24 - Winter Guard - 2:00 - 6:00

February 29 - Features Pageant

March 29, April 5 & 12 - Evening Concert Band Rehearsals

April 15 - MAIS Concert Band Festival

May 9 - Spring Concert

1/10/16 UPDATE

MAIS CONCERT BAND CLINIC

Congrats to JA Band members Alexander Schott, Wes Thomas, Michael Payne, Logan Thomas, and Pier Thompson, who participated in the MAIS Concert Band Clinic at Hinds Community College.

UPCOMING EVENTS

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13 - Early Dismissal, no Band

JANUARY 16 - Winter Guard - 12:30 - 5:30

WEEK OF JANUARY 18 - Sectional Rehearsals begin after school. Schedule will be determined by each section, one rehearsal each week.

FEBRUARY 29 - Features Pageant

PHOTO GALLERY

JA students with first band clinician Dr. Marc Decker, of Northwestern Oklahoma State University:

Logan Thomas and Alexander Schott with their private trombone instructor, Carla Stovall, at the MAIS Clinic closing concert:

JA Band members in rehearsals at MAIS Clinic:

The JA Band enjoyed visits from alumni over the past few weeks. Caroline Burford from Ole Miss and Annie Campbell from MS State worked with the guard:

Zack McWilliams from MS State visited with current bass player Courtney Francois (photo credit to alum Will Tribble, visiting from Ole Miss):

1/3/16 UPDATE

UPCOMING EVENTS

January 7-9 - MAIS Concert Band Clinic, Hinds Community College

NOTE: Because of the clinic, there will be no band class Thursday or Friday this week. A substitute will be available to supervise students in the band hall.

January 9 - Winter Guard Rehearsal 12:30 - 5:30

February 29 - Features Pageant

March 29 - Evening Concert Band Rehearsal

April 5 - Evening Concert Band Rehearsal

April 8 - MAIS Concert Band Festival

May 9 - Spring Concert

TBA - Band Banquet

July 25 - 29 and August 1-5 - Band Camp


A clip from the Christmas Concert has been added to the YouTube list to the right.



The full concert is available for purchase in the JA Store.

12/20/15 UPDATE

We hope all JA Band families and friends have a wonderful Christmas break. Blog updates will resume after the holidays.

Winter Guard - next rehearsal is Sunday, January 3 from 2:00 - 6:00.

12/13/15 UPDATE

Thank you to the band members for a wonderful Christmas concert at the beautiful St. Andrew's Episcopal Cathedral on Thursday. Thanks also for the family members and friends who came to enjoy the performance, and to the Boosters for providing a reception after the concert.

Shorter video productions was at the concert, and will create a DVD for purchase in the JA store. We will let everyone know when it is available.

MAIS CONCERT BAND CLINIC

The following JA Band members have been selected to participate in the 2016 MAIS Concert Band Clinic in January: Michael Payne, Alexander Schott, Logan Thomas, Pier Thompson, and Wes Thomas.

This year over 140 student musicians from independent schools around the state -- the most ever --will make up the two bands for the 3-day clinic at Hinds Community College.

CORKY'S FUNDRAISER

Corky's reminders:

*Orders will be ready for pickup tomorrow,  Monday, December 14, at the band hall at 1:00 pm. Any change to the time will be communicated via group text.

*Please let Lisa know (601-613-3533) if there are any errors with your order or if you need to make arrangements for storage and a later pick-up. 

*Band students and parents are encouraged to come help unload and sort orders tomorrow, if available. Please be in the band hall at 12:15 to assist with this.

*Band students who achieved the goal of selling 5 or more meats should come claim their Bop's gift card reward from the band hall tomorrow. 

Happy Holidays from the Band Booster board -- Catherine Arnold, Ginger Thomas, Lisa Thomas, and Vicki Tirman!

WINTER GUARD

The next Winter Guard rehearsal will be after the holidays, January 3 from 2:00 - 6:00.

12/6/15 UDPATE

Please invite family and friends to join the JA Band for an evening of jazzed-up holiday music this Thursday, December 10, at the beautiful St. Andrew's Episcopal Cathedral downtown.

The concert will begin at 7:00 pm with the JA Concert Jazz Band, followed by several numbers by the Small Jazz Ensemble. There will be a reception hosted by the Band Boosters after the show.

Attire for all band members is concert black. They should be at the cathedral by 6:30, ready to perform.


The 20 members of the Jackson Academy Independent Winter Guard had a great first rehearsal on Saturday, learning drill and work for this year's competition show. The next rehearsal for Winter Guard will be in January. 

MARCHING BAND VIDEO

The video of the JA Marching Band from the MAIS State Marching Festival has been posted to YouTube: JA BAND 2015 - NATURAL WONDER.

JA BAND BOOSTERS

HOLIDAY CONCERT

We are asking all our band families to bring a favorite holiday treat to share at the reception after the Christmas concert on Thursday. Thank you!

CORKY'S

We have made an important date change to the December Corky's sale. Logan's terrific dad Chris Thomas has volunteered to go to Memphis to pick up the orders which needs to happen on his day off from work. (Thank you, Chris!!). So our dates have shifted slightly. Orders will now be due to Lisa Thomas this Tuesday, December 8. The orders will be delivered to the Band Hall mid-day on Monday, December 14. We will follow up closer to the time with logistics. In the meantime, keep up the selling! Our goal is 100% participation and 5 meats per band family between the 2 sales. Lisa is hanging a poster in the band hall so the kids can chart their progress.

For details about products available, click on this link: CORKY'S

MAIS CONCERT BAND CLINIC

The MAIS Concert Band Clinic will be January 7-9, 2016, at Hinds Community College in Raymond. All JA Band members may participate.

The clinicians this year are Juanita Proffitt, Director of Bands at Copiah-Lincoln Community College, and Dr. Marc Decker, Director of Instrumental Music and Director of Music Education at Northwestern Oklahoma State University.

Cost for the clinic will be $65, plus lodging costs if the student desires to stay overnight (approximately $45 per student per night, double occupancy).

Clinic auditions will consist of scales, a prepared piece, and sightreading. Audition results will determine which ensemble a student will be placed into as well as chair placement within the ensemble. Mr. Carter will assist any student who wishes to participate to prepare for the audition.

Here is a link to audition materials and other clinic information: MAIS State Concert Band Clinic

If your student wishes to participate in the clinic, send the $65 registration fee (payable to JA Band) by this Tuesday, December 8.