416 FM 1187 South

Aledo, TX 76008

(817) 441-5197

Michael W. Ganus, AMS Director

Joey Qualls, AMS Assistant Director

Michael Robinson, McAnally Director

visit the Aledo Middle School Band online at:   www.aledoband.com

NOTE: Windows XP - SP2 will block all images in this newsletter unless you allow them.
 

AMS Band Newsletter
Volume 4 - Issue 2
September 26, 2005

Inside this issue

Get the Point?
EXTRAVABANDZA
AMS Halloween Party
Fundriaser Money
Region Band
MS Football Game
Band Boosters

Mark Your Calendar:
October 2005

10 No School

11 Band Booster Meeting
7:30 p.m.
AHS Distance Learning Center

14 7th Grade Zoo Trip

18 Concert 3 - Pep Rally
starts at 3:10 p.m.

21 Band Progress Reports
(please sign and return)

28 EXTRAVABANDZA
(see article)

29 AMS Halloween Party
AMS Bearcat Den
6:30 - 9:00 p.m.

31 Advanced Band
Halloween Concerts for
Elementary Schools

November 2005

1 Band Booster Meeting
7:30 p.m.
AHS Distance Learning Center

1 Golden Ticket Week

4 End of 2nd Six-Weeks

12 Region Band Auditions
Acton Middle School
(all day)

14 Solo's Go Out This Week

15 Band Booster Chili Supper

23-25 Turkey Break!

Did You Know?

Contact Information

Aledo Middle School Band
416 FM 1187 South
Aledo, TX  76008
(817) 441-5197 voice

McAnally Intermediate School Band
151 FM 5 South
Aledo, TX  76008
(817) 441-9327 voice/fax
Get the Point?

 

What a great start we have to our year! I'm very excited about the sounds that I'm hearing from all four of our bands. Your directors are working very hard to make this year the most musical ever!

Here is something new that we are trying this year. We wanted to devise a way for our band students to be able to earn an award at the end of the year instead of being selected. It seems that some kids feel they deserve an award and don't get one. This way, they can award themselves for their hard work.

Students earn positive points for good work...
Turning in practice records on time
Donating time to the service of the band directors
Working with peers on music (director supervised)
Mastering a Full-Range Scale
Attending Instrumental Concerts
Auditioning for Region Band
Performing a Solo or Ensemble
Playing their Instrument for an audience (Church, etc...)
Taking a Private Lesson (with a teacher or a director)

Students can also lose points...
Discipline infraction in class
Late assignments
Unexcused absences from performances
Playing on instruments that are not their own
Not showing respect to adults or peers

Students will manage their own points through a card system. Students who wish to add points to their account will do so by filling out a card (provided) and turning it in to the lock box (some documentation may be required). Practice records and late assignments are done automatically. Awards will be given for those who reach a certain level of points by the end of April. Special awards will go to the top ten award winners as well as the individual with the overall highest number of points.

This is a new system for us and I'm sure there will be good questions and some bugs to work out. It was designed to let anyone be a super-star no matter what class they were in.
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EXTRAVABANDZA

 

EXTRAVABANDZA IS COMING!!
Friday, October 28

Details:
5:00 p.m. (meet at H.S. Parking Lot)
7:30 p.m. H.S. Football Game
(approx.) 8:15 p.m. EXTRAVABANDZA HALF TIME
(approx.) 8:30 p.m. Released to Parents

We are very excited about EXTRAVABANDZA this year! For those of you who are not familiar with this event, let me tell you about it. During the half-time performance of our October 28 Aledo H.S. football game against Mineral Wells, we will put our entire band program on the football field to perform for the home audience. We will all play together as one mass band with over 500 musicians on the field.

All Middle School Band members will wear their Band Shirts (Orange Polo's) and blue jeans. We will have only one rehearsal for this event at the High School student parking lot on that Friday at 5:00 p.m. We will then transport the kids to the game for you. The bands will sit together in the stands. Once the performance is over, the kids are released into your hands. Please be at the game to take responsibility for your child after half-time.

One note: Parents who wish to see their child perform at our half-time Extravabandza will have to pay full admission into the game.


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AMS Halloween Party

 

Halloween Costume Party
October 29, 2005
6:30 - 9:00 p.m.
Bearcat Den


Only members of the Aledo Middle School Band will be able to attend.

Fun and games will be the order of the evening for this wonderful event. Costumes are optional. Students are required to bring the following for admission:

7th Grade Girls: Baked goods (brownies, cookies, rice crispy treats)
7th Grade Boys: 2 liter drinks (bring a couple of your favorites)
8th Grade Girls: Snack foods (whatever!!)
8th Grade Boys: Plates, cups, napkins, plastic silverware

We need parents to stay and help chaperone this event!
We always have a great time...come and get involved!

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Fundriaser Money

 

The Middle School fundraiser items have arrived and are ready to go home. If your child did not bring their box home last week, then please have them pick it up from Mr. Ganus A.S.A.P.


Fundraiser Money is due by Tuesday, October 11th.

Once all the money has been collected, we will distribute prizes to the kids. All of the profits from your child's sale will be credited towards their Schlitterbahn Trip in May. You will receive a statement of account in early November.
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Region Band

 

Region 7 Honor Band Auditions
Saturday, November 12th
$6.00 Audition Fee by October 21.

Since the first week of school our kids have been working on the music for this year's TMEA Region 7 Honor Band Auditions. They will be held at Acton Middle School on November 12th. All students who will be auditioning - which is ALL of Advanced Band and should be all of Challenger and Concert Band, Developing Band may audition as well. Some of you have already paid this at the beginning of the year...Thanks!!

Golden Ticket Week - October 31 through November 4

Students will have to earn a Golden Ticket to be allowed to audition for Region Band. Students must be able to play through all audition pieces and scales in order to be allowed to go to the audition. Students who do not earn a golden ticket the first time will have one more shot on Monday, November 7th.
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MS Football Game

 

Come and Join the Fun!

The middle school band will be performing at the home football game on Tuesday, October 18th. I know that football athletes will not be able to perform...but the rest of us can! Members of every concert band are welcome. You may now know every piece of music...but you can learn it quickly!

Join us in the band hall at 4:00 p.m. for a quick rehearsal.

We will walk over to the stadium and we will play until 6:30-6:45 -ish.

Wear your orange and white band T-Shirt (unless it is freezing cold..then wear a coat too)


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Band Boosters

 

Next Band Booster Meeting - October 14
7:30 p.m. - Aledo High School Distance Learning Center

I am so excited to see so many of our Middle School and Intermediate School parents involved with our Band Boosters. There are so many ways that you can contribute to your child's band experience. The school district is doing an excellent job of providing our Band Program with the necessities, but our band boosters are able to add the icing to the cake!

If you are interested in getting involved (come on, you know you want to!!!) then come to our next meeting!

Support You Band Boosters - Purchase Your 2005 Orange Out Shirt!
(available at home football games from the Band Boosters)


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If you have any questions, concerns or comments, please contact Mr. Michael Ganus at (817) 441-5197.