Skyline high School Bands Newsletter
Director’s notes:
What a year! The Band students at Skyline have been exceptional. We missed making the State Marching band quarter finals by only 3.4 points in our first year of competition. The concerts were great. The Concert Band just received straight I’s for a superior rating. The Skyline Jazz Festival was a great success. The Skyline jazz Band received I’s. Why the success now? The individual students, for the most part are completely responsible for the success. I feel like the “Wizard of OZ”, they just needed the right motivation to achieve. When you consider that the band only has 12 juniors and seniors, the future of the band is very good. While sometimes, the students were reluctant to put their trust in their musical skill and go home and practice, the students have been very open to improving their performance levels. I have seen improvement in every individual student.
What next? Next fall we will perform a show based on the mythical Don Quixote. The music was written By Robert W. Smith, the countries most prolific composer. The marching drill will be written by Greg Bimm, Band Director at Marian Catholic High School in the Chicago Suburbs. Mr. Bimm’s bands have been National Champions 7 times and have finished in the top 12 for the last 22 years. We are hoping to continue and develop the cooperative program with the Longmont Symphony for lessons and sectionals. The Middle School Bands from the Skyline Feeder Schools will join the Skyline band for a concert. Mr. Ross and I are proposing trips to Disneyland in California. Concert band will be our main focus. The Visual and Performing Arts Academy at Skyline High School will offer many opportunities for the Skyline band students. We will be forming a Skyline Band Booster Organization.
Personally, this has been a big year for me. I would like to thank the students, administration and parents for all of their help in this successful year.
How does the Visual and Performing Arts Academy benefit our students? The Visual and Performing Arts Academy will offer the Skyline students many opportunities for participation in the arts that students in other school will not have. In addition to the current classes, Skyline will offer both regular and advanced placement music theory, small ensemble classes, beginning and advanced percussion classes, music technology, music appreciation, video production, photography, advanced art classes, various drama classes, dance classes and more. Students will not have to be enrolled in the program to take advantage of these classes.
Disney?
We are considering a trip to Disneyland to visit Mickey. More information to follow.
Next year’s schedule:
This is our tentative schedule for next fall. Dates may change and other dates will be added.
May 6th – Concert at VBCA
May 13th – color guard
May 14th – drum major tryouts
May 23rd – Graduation
August 10 to 15 – Band Camp – 9 to 9
August 15 – 7 :00 Drum stick challenge night performance for parents
August 17 - tentative Elich Gardens
Once school starts:
Winds 6 to 9 Mondays and Wednesdays
Guard 6 to 9 Tuesdays and Wednesdays
Percussion Wednesdays 6 to 9, Fridays 3 to 8
August 29 9 to 5 Camp Day
September 12 9 to 5 Camp day
September 18 home game
September 19 9 to 5 camp day
CSU Contest ?????
October 3 home game
October 10 Fountain- Fort Carson Show
October 14th CBA Northern Regional
October 17th Friendship Cup show at Longmont HS
Dates for other qualifying CBA Shows (quaterfinals, etc) TBA
October 16 Home Game
October 29 Home Game
November 6 home game
Dec 12 Longmont Parade
Dec. 15 Concert
March 3 Concert
May 19 concert
Band Boosters:
There has been much confusion about the organization of the school Booster Groups. We will be having a Band Booster group to help fund raise, provide food, chaperone, help with equipment and support our Band Students. Money raised will go to the Skyline Band Program. We will determine where the money is spent to support the program. There will be a Skyline Booster Club to support the overall school. At this point, this overall booster club will have as its board, members from each booster group in the school. Money will be run through the overall booster club and we will use its not-for-profit status as a division of the Skyline Boosters. We will have an account within the overall booster club. We will have our own treasurer, as will the overall Boosters. This will allow for a very accurate accounting of our funds. It is my hope to have a meeting on May 18th at 7:00 to get the parents together to answer any questions about the program, meet our staff, create some committees and discuss how we can best support our band.
Committees will include,:
A Booster Executive Board
A Food Committee ( I would like to provide lunch at shows and all day camps)
A Disney Trip committee
A uniform Committee
A Winter percussion Committee
A Color guard Committee
An Equipment Committee (this is usually made up of Dads)
A fundraising committee.
Anything to help support our kids.
Marching Band Staff:
The Skyline Marching Band Staff is going to be one of the staffs in the state. Usually, it is hard to find staff members that will support the program by looking at what is best for kids. Our staff has operated by empowering the students with knowledge and ability. Our band belongs to the students. When the students need redirected, it becomes the staff’s band until the students are able to reaccept the responsibilities expected. This type of leadership takes longer to develop, but is more meaningful to the students. This year, we will have returning staff members, Mr. and Mrs Coble, and Dieter Wiselogel. Additions will include Lauren Rosier and Mrs. Riddoch doing color guard. We soon hope to add a marching specialist.
End of school fundraiser:
May 22 is the last day of school. The band is sponsoring an end of the year rock concert. We will feature three bands from the Fine Arts Festival and QuickVictim. Quick Victim is a local band made up of former Skyline students. They are donating their time as a benefit concert.
We will need parents to help supervise, and take tickets.
Band Camp:
Band Camp for next year’s marching band will be held on August 10 to 15. The time will be 9 to 9. With breaks from 12 to 1 and 4 to 6. There will be a parent performance night on Saturday evening. Attendance is of the utmost importance.
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