October 30, 2007

Oops – I missed last week. Sorry, but with everything going on, I’m sure you needed a break like we did!... And now (10/31) the email system is giving me problems!

First of all BRAVO! to the Marching Band and Dance Team for their One Rating at K-State! They performed with confidence and made West proud. Then they came back to the Shawnee Mission Marching Festival and put on a great show for the home town crowd as well.

The Band-Aides meeting has been moved to 7:30pm on Tuesday, Nov. 6 due to a concert by the West Area Sixth Grade Honor Band in the Cafeteria. This is only 30 minutes later, but that should give them time to complete their concert.

Marching band is now officially over. The students should be preparing to turn in their audition tape, CD or recorded audition by this Friday, November 2 by the end of school. The students all have the audition excerpt and instructions. They were given out in class over two weeks ago. They will all get the second excerpt this week that will be due NEXT Friday. These auditions are for placement in the Symphonic Wind Ensemble. Since we do not have the space required to split the band due to construction, we will keep the students all in one band this coming semester (unless the auditorium opens up and is completed earlier than planned).

Basketball Pep Band sign-up list has been posted in the band room. ALL band students are encouraged to play. Lettering points are awarded for participation. Students who plan on participating are required to attend all the rehearsals starting Tuesday, November 6 on Tuesday and Thursdays at 7:00am-7:30am. All the dates are listed on the calendar on the BAW Website.

The students who signed up for District Honor Band auditions are almost to the point of seeing the fruits of their labor. Saturday, November 10 is the district audition date. I do not yet have the audition times. The audition take place at Baldwin H.S. beginning at 8:00 a.m. Transportation is on-their-own as we have to be there early in the morning and have to stay late since we are judging.

Upcoming Performances

The Woodwind Quintet from Washburn University will perform for the Symphonic Wind Ensemble on Monday, November 5 during class and will then present a master class to the woodwinds and French horns. The Pittsburg State Univ. Jazz Ensemble will be performing for OE on Tuesday, November 20 during their rehearsal time.

OE is playing for the grand Opening of the new Perkins Restaurant at 87th and I35. They need to be at the restaurant at 6:30 a.m. (YIKES). After they finish they will be fed – anything they want from the menu PLUS they will be earning $300 to help pay for their trip to a Jazz festival in the spring. They will then come to school during first block which is a band day.. They will load equipment after school on Friday and take home for the weekend.

Have a wonderful week!

___________________________

Bill Thomas

Director of Bands

Shawnee Mission West High School

email: wethomas@smsd.org

voice: 913-993-7852