Music Notes. South Pointe Middle School Instrumental Music/ From the Director...

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1 Music Notes South Pointe Middle School Instrumental Music/ Newsletter Nov 2011 Volume 1, Issue 2 Trombones!! Special Interest Articles: From the Director... I hope you enjoyed your time at the fall concert. It was a little packed, but for a good cause. I was very proud of each of the groups and their level of preparation they committed to for this early concert. Well Done! I want to thank SP teachers Ms. Myers, Ms. Park and Mrs. Wadsworth for helping me behind the scenes with the students. I couldn t have done it without them! Up next we have 65 students preparing to audition for All Southern Honor Band in early Wind Ensemble celebrates Veteran s December and I will be spending this month preparing them and Day recording our top 30 students Band to Adopt WV family Bowling Night Niraj Ganesh is an 8th grader at Wind Ensemble Trip South Pointe and is one of the Donations Update top clarinet players in the Wind Thanks from Ms W Ensemble. Upcoming Events Recently Niraj auditioned for and was selected to be in the Southern California Youth Philharmonic Clarinet Choir Ensemble. Clarinetist Niraj Ganesh after school, at night and on the weekends for All State Honor Band. We wish them good luck on these auditions and know with a lot of hard work anything is possible. As for the bands, they are preparing for our January concerts where we will debut the Wind Ensemble and much more!! Just around the corner is our Chamber Night, where our after school groups will be performing. You will not want to miss this concert on Dec 8th. It is a more intimate setting from our band concerts each group is no larger than 20 students. -Ms. Willmering! Music student in the Spotlight... different ensembles simultaneously, such as the 7th grade band and the Wind Ensemble. I like getting a different perspective. Each ensemble is very unique. Outside of band Niraj is on the SPMS Science Olympiad Team headed by Mrs. Dira where his category to study and know Niraj has been playing clarinet everything about is Optics. for 4 years and has been Last year he was one of 15 SPMS studying privately for 3. When students to compete at the asked why he chose the clarinet, Olympiad Tournament at Niraj responded, The Occidental College where he took instrument looks simple and nice. first place in one of the events. I thought it would be the easiest to learn. He also enjoys volunteering for CJSF, golfing (which he finds His favorite band memory thus relaxing) and learning Indian far has been performing in two Classical Music.

2 Band Notes/ Volume #1, Issue #2 / Page 2 of 5 Wind Ensemble plays for DB Veterans Last Wednesday, the Wind Ensemble performed at the beautiful Diamond Bar Community Center for a very special Veterans Recognition Ceremony, which the city council hosts annually. As part of the event the students performed a number of tunes, representing the five branches of the military. Retired Master Sergeant of the Army Reserves and Council Member Jack Tanaka with three members of the Wind Ensemble Community members who attended were Mayor Steve Tye, Mayor Pro Tem Ling-Ling Chang, Council Members Jack Tanaka, Ron Everett, and Carol Herrera. As part of the ceremony, students witnessed the colors (flags) presented (marched in) by the USMC Color Guard. Jamie Beeman of Diamond Bar passionately sang the National Anthem, which gave me goose bumps. Music is enough for a lifetime, but a lifetime is not enough for music. -Sergei Rachmaninov, composer The mayor and city council presented the veterans of DB with certificates, key chains and a banner. At the closing of the ceremony, everyone joined in and sang God Bless America led by Ms. Beeman and her powerful voice. Several veterans thanked the wind ensemble for performing. One gentleman teared up with appreciation as he spoke of how wonderful the students sounded.! After the ceremony the students ate breakfast and mingled with the Veterans. Many of us enjoyed hearing the stories they enthusiastically told about their time serving our country. Participating in this ceremony was a great honor and a way to show our support and appreciation for our Veterans. Outside at the Diamond Bar Community Center SPMS Band adopts Walnut Valley Families for the holidays A veteran shares a story with the Wind Ensemble members Each year, during the holiday season, the band students get together and adopt a Walnut Valley family who is financially struggling and gives them a holiday season they will never forget. We ask the students to bring in new gifts, gift cards (to clothing stores, toy stores, grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, etc), and or money. Due to the fact that these families are within our community, we keep their identities secret but this has never stopped our students from getting into the spirit. Please help out and encourage your child to participate in any form they can. If we all give a little, we can make this holiday season special for our family!!! All items must be in before we go on winter break. I thank you in advance for your generosity and kindness towards this cause!!!

3 Band Notes/ Volume #1, Issue #2 / Page 3 of 5 Band Bowling Night 200+ strong!! Who knew that the band bowling night, which started off with 50 students two years ago, would be so popular! We went from renting 10 lanes to renting out the entire Oak Tree Lanes for a night of fun. For 2 hours it was ALL SP Band! Even the SPMS staff came out to enjoy the event with their families. You may have seen our principal Mrs. Arzola walking around taking in the scene. She brought along her daughter who bowled and ate pizza. Other staff included our SSRA Mr. Johnson and his family, our teachers Ms. Myers, Ms. Park, Mrs. Brittenham, and Mr. Garcia to name a few. Even our music coaches Dave, Amy, Christina and Gabe threw a few balls!! All in all it was a great night to relax and have fun!! I hope you all enjoyed yourselves! I would like to thank Mrs. Kashiwabara for organizing this night and the parents who helped with check-in and serving of the food. 6th Grade Girls having fun at Bowling Night One of our students going on the Boston Trip with the Wind Ensemble made $600 with the Bowl-A-Thon that evening which goes towards the trip cost. I bet her parents are happy!!! Can t wait for the next night of fun!!! 8th Grade Girls To stop the flow of music would be like the stopping of time itself, incredible and inconceivable. -Aaron Copland, composer 7th Grade Boys 8th Grade Band to perform at the Magic Kingdom After submitting a video recording of our 8th grade band, they were selected among hundreds of applicants ranging from middle school to college ensembles to perform at Disneyland as part of Disney s Community Arts Showcase. The repertoire will include fun Disney and movie themed tunes. Parents are invited to enjoy the performance at Carnation Plaza just to the east of the Magic Castle. Full details are still pending, such as the performance time and discounted ticket prices for parents. After the performance, the students will take a group picture with the magic castle in the background (which can be purchased) and will enjoy a free day in the park. This all takes place Friday, February 3rd.

4 Band Notes/ Volume #1, Issue #2 / Page 4 of 5 Thank you from Ms. W... My special thanks this month goes out to two very special and amazing former members Oboes practicing Our schools tend to refine intellects but neglect to discipline emotions. For anyone to grow up complete, music is imperative. Paul Harvey, Broadcaster/ Commentator As our concert was underway as I was calmly conducting each group I was a bit worried inside as to what was happening in the band room and if the next group was mentally and physically preparing for the concert. But, thanks to Jessica Chu, and Jasmine Koo, two freshmen at DBHS, who are former leaders and great musicians, each group warmed up, tuned and was lined up, ready to perform on time. I am so proud to have had both girls in the band program and now for them to continue to give back, really helps me out in a big way. No chaperone would know how to warm up the groups to my expectations and warming up is essential for a great performance. them on what to do, they just stepped up, took control and knew just what needed to be done That has always been the SP Band Leaders way of doing things and it humbles me when it happens. I love seeing students continue to take pride in our program even after they go onto high school. It really helps the current members see that they are all part of a larger SPMS band family, and that we do what is right and help each other out always, all while maintaining high standards. Thank you Jasmine and Jessica. You are my lifesavers!!! I never thought to ask former members to help out, and yet, it was just what we needed to pull off a successful night with ease. That night I did not even prep 6th grade trumpets practice in class Wind Ensemble s 2012 Trip It was announced last month that the Wind Ensemble will be heading to Boston. Each year we do an overnight trip with this group to expose them to grander performances, clinics with professionals, historical tours, and life changing opportunities. Tenor Saxes in sax ensemble rehearsal after school This year we will be performing at The Heritage Festival in Boston, touring Harvard, receiving clinics at both Harvard and New England Conservatory, experiencing the Freedom Tail Tour where we will learn how Boston played a key role in shaping American policies. We will also take a duck tour, attend a performance of The Blue Man Group and much more. Any student in the Wind Ensemble is invited to go, but there is limited space and plane tickets must be purchased now or the cost goes up. If you have any questions, please Ms. W. The trip takes place 3/29-4/2.

5 South Pointe Performing Arts Boosters Board (SPPAB) See s Candy Sales We are in the midst of our See s Candies Sales. We ask that each student work towards selling 10 items to help our program financially. We also have an opt out of $30 for those who do not wish to participate. All checks are made out to SPPAB. Donations Update Hey, it s almost Need a tax write off?? Luna Chu Co-President Co-President Secretary Riza Pham Treasurer Ganesh Balasubramani Fundraising Chair Consultant Chair Gloria Park Jennifer Hammond Donations Chair Susan Kashiwabara Wind Ensemble Well, after paying this month s bills of over $12,000 during last weeks booster meeting, we are hoping the fundraisers and donations are going to be successful over the next few months. We are only 3 months into the year and have not hit festival season where we then incur the costs of transportation (which normally runs $2000 an outing.) Here are the percentages in regards to how many families have made a donation according to grade level 6 th Grade- 45% 7 th Grade- 40% 8 th Grade- 43% Total Donations= $ 20,915 (Thank you to all who have donated!) Timpanist practicing during percussion ensemble rehearsal The money raised helps us to provide free instrument rental, music coaches, music, technique books, buses for festival travel, specialized clinicians, maintain and repair our instruments, pay for application fees to festivals for all 4 groups, maintain our after school chamber programs, provide free concerts and much more. You can do your part by donating to SPPAB. As we near the end of the year, remember all donations are a tax write off.! Donor Levels Include: Bronze $135 Silver $250 Gold $500 Platinum $1000 (or any amount you see fit.) If you have any questions Ganesh at Bganesh@mtsiiznc.com Did you know that Fujiyama Nursery will donate 10% of your purchase back to the band. Just mention you are from South Pointe Band when you shop there. They are located at: E. Valley Blvd. in Walnut Emerita Contreras 8 th Grade Sandy Foley 7 th Grade Joyce Liu 6 th Grade Upcoming Events Wind Ensemble Trip Payment Due- Mon, Nov 21 st for $700 See s Candy Fundraiser Due- Nov 30 th Wind Ensemble performs at Fresh N Easy school fundraiser- Thurs, Dec 1 st Chamber Concert- Thurs, Dec 8th Booster Club Holiday Dinner/Meeting- Wed, Dec 14 th, location TBA Pick Up See s Candies- Dec 14 th in the MPR Band Concerts- Jan 11 th & 12th