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This is a district music festival for all our music students. At the festival, our students play before a judge, and the judge grades them on their performance. They receive ribbons for how well they play. The judges give many helpful comments and suggestions on how to play and improve their skills on their instrument. This is a great learning event for our students.

Mr. Winer will register all participants on Monday FEBRUARY 22, 2010 before school at 8:15 A.M.. All participants must have a check or money in to me no later than Friday, February 19. No one will be allowed to register after this date and time. All forms and checks must be given to me by this time and made out to P.V.U.S.D. SOLO AND ENSEMBLE FESTIVAL OR pay cash to Mr. Winer. A receipt will be given.

STUDENTS (FEBRUARY 22). A special notice will be given to all those who register, giving time for your performance. If you want a morning or afternoon time, please mention this on the notice handed in with your $5 registration fee. The festival will run from 8:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.

PLACE: Greenway Middle School located on Nisbet St., which is located one block south of Greenway Rd. You can get there by going south on 32^nd St. and then taking a right (heading west) on Nisbet.

Be sure to have your musical selection approved by me at least two weeks before your performance to make sure it is appropriate and so you have time to prepare it. 1). Be sure to have a copy of your music for the judge when you perform and give it to them before you perform. Please number all measures so the judge can critique easily. 2). Also bring your ADJUDICATION FORM WITH YOU. This will have your name and time of performance on it.

Be sure to get to the school a half hour before your performance time. Go to the registration desk first to sign in and find out the room where you will perform. A room will be used for warming up. Get to your assigned room 15 minutes before your performance time. School clothes are fine. Accompanists are recommended but not mandatory. Points will not be taken off if you do not have an accompanist! Performances can last up to 3 minutes or so, or they can be very short for beginners. The judge will critique and give helpful hints for the next 5 minutes. Have fun , enjoy the experience, and come home with a ribbon! See you there! Please call Mr. Winer if you have any questions (home: 623-587-7032).

This is a mandatory meeting for all those going on the Disneyland trip; students, parents (at least 1 per family), and chaperones! I will pass out information for the trip, room lists, gear lists, rules, policies, etc. Please make every effort to be there. Please be on time. The meeting will start promptly at 7:00 P.M. so we can get you back home.

Please sign and return this notice no later than FRIDAY, March 12, 2010. If you have any questions, please let me know. If you canít make it for some reason, please call or email me, so I can get information to you, but you really need to be there. Your childís safety and success on the trip depend on your presence!

PURPOSE: To welcome and invite our awesome elementary school band students, PARENTS, and band directors to come and play with us at Vista Verde Middle School, so you can see our school, meet our band members, and get to know Mr. Winer, the band director. We want you to get excited about joining our band next year, too!

PLACE: VISTA VERDE MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND ROOM, (C-106). WEíLL BE OUTSIDE TO WELCOME YOU IN FROM THE FRONT (SOUTH) OR SIDE (EAST) ENTRANCES.

WHAT TO EXPECT: I will have three easy pieces to play, that your band directors will give to you. We will rehearse the three pieces that night, so you are ready to play at our spring concert, along with our bands, which will be at North Canyon High School, May 24, 2010, at 7:00 P.M. I will give you more information the night of the rehearsal at VVMS. Just bring your instrument and music the night of the rehearsal.

Vista Verde is on the corner of 28^th St. and Grovers. We are one block south of Union Hills and one block east of Cave Creek. If you have any questions, please call me at home (623-587-7032) or contact me at school. SEE YOU THERE! LAST YEARíS EVENT WENT VERY WELL! We had 100 band members playing at NCHS.

I CAN HARDLY WAIT TO MEET YOU ALL. 5^TH graders may come too, if they can play the music. Weíd love to have you there also. Parents, if you play, please play with us.

ASSIGNMENTS are given daily. Students put them down on their practice sheets where they record the number of minutes that they practice. The practice sheets need to be signed weekly in the left-hand blank column to the left of the date column with full signature. They are collected every first day of the school week and graded. Practice is 50% of their grade. We alternate every week with either a written test on our standards or a playing test, which helps me to evaluate and assist our students in their playing and technical skills.

Last year was an absolutely great year! This year is going to be even better! Our numbers for band are up. Our students are very dedicated. Performance and behavior are at an all time high. I am truly excited about what we are going to accomplish this year! As I get dates for concerts and our Disney trip at the end of the year, they will be posted on this site.

BAND STUDENTS: Test scores were excellent last year, and I am very proud of what you accomplished last year. By the end of the first week of school, everyone should have their instrument (beginners) and their band method book. A list of stores is available and will be handed out so you know where you can get books and supplies. We use the band method books for warm-up, national and state standards, homework and testing.

The closest store from here is AZ Music on Union Hills by the Harkins Movie Theater. The name of the book that we use is STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE. Beginners use book one. The Symphonic Band uses book two. The Jazz Band uses the Jazz Ensemble Method. The books are around $8 or so and come with a C.D.

Please be sure to get you practice sheets signed before you turn them in on Monday at band class. This is half your grade! 75 minutes or more each week is an A in practice.

GRADING: All band classes have a test every Friday. The first week of school, we have a written test. The next week is a playing test. We always go over what the test is on during the week. Your final exam is the concert in December and what you have taken for notes in class. Participation is mandatory at concerts. If you need a ride, please see me. The concert is free, so bring the entire family! Band classes pass in practice sheets every Monday. This is half their grade and tests are the other half. If you don't get 100% on your test, you can come in for help and retake the test as many times as you like. If you get less than 80% on your test, please make it up.

The same uniform applies for male and female members. Please have these purchased for our first concert in December (information below as to time and place when we find out.)

CONCERT SCHEDULE: These are the concerts that we have to date. Additional information will follow. Some dates or events are entered below and will be completed as I get more information. A rough idea of where and/or when will be given at this time. All conerts are free and for the entire family. Attendance is mandatory. Attendance will be noted and will serve as your final grade the end of each semester.