Back to School!!

Can you believe that we've been in school for 18 days?!  Time flies when you're having fun!

I am very excited about this year!  We currently have 140 students involved in the CMS band program.  That's the most we've seen in a looooooooooooong time.  With that comes a lot of great things (we can play music that requires more instrumentalists) and some things that are not so great (lack of shelving in the storage rooms).  To help with the lack of storage, it is extremely important that you have a name tag on the OUTSIDE of your instrument's case.  In one class, I have 5 saxes that all have the same kind of case.  You don't want to use someone else's reed, do you?  BLECH!

There are some audition opportunities coming up in the next months.  If you are a 7th or 8th grader interested in auditioning for All-State, please see me ASAP!

Tri-County honor band audition music just arrived yesterday.  I will be handing it out to ALL intermediate and advanced students.  I want you to see that it is within your reach! 

That's all for now.  Keep making beautiful music! 

Concert Thanks

Thank you, students, for a great concert last night!  I was very pleased with the performances!  6th graders - I think "Toyland" was my favorite of all of your songs and 7th & 8th graders, you KNOW that "Deck the Halls with Drums and Voices" was my favorite of yours! 

We've got work to do in order to improve for the Spring Concert, but let's take a few days to rest, relax and enjoy time with our families.  Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!  Come back ready to work!

News and Info

Rehearsals:
7th and 8th grade - Thursday during Advisory
6th grade intermediate band - Friday and Monday during Advisory
6th grade beginning band - Thursday during 8th period and Friday during 7th period

Concert:
MONDAY, November 19th!!!
6th graders report to the band room no later than 6:00pm.  The concert begins at 6:30 and will be over at 7:00.
7th and 8th graders report tot eh band room no earlier than 7:15 and no later than 7:30.  The concert begins at 8:00 and will be over by 8:30.

Yankee Candles:
An email from Yankee Candle says that they will be here on Thursday, the 15th.  Plan to pick up your orders at the concert.  Arrangements can be made to pick orders up before Monday if you would like.

Shirts:  Get your shirt if you do not already have one!  Limited sizes are available.  First come, first served!

Tri-County:
If you are auditioning for tri-county honor band, practice over Thanksgiving Break and make arrangements to come to advisory period after the break on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.

All-County:
Get those forms in!  If you do not get your form in, you will not be considered for the band.

Parade:
Practice that music and get a lyre.  Return those forms so Mrs. Fraley will know who plans to attend!

Turkey Time

Advisory Group!!  This one's for you.  You're welcome!

Important Information

Here are the important dates for the year (just in case you got rid of that yellow paper):
Important Dates:


• September 22 – Band competition @NHS

• November 10 – Jr. All-State Auditions (7th and 8th grade only)

• November 14 – All County Nominations Due

• November 19 – 6th grade CONCERT*** 6:30pm (report @ 6:00)

• November 19 – 7th & 8th grade CONCERT*** 8:00pm (report @ 7:30)

• November 30 – CMS Craft Fair and Family Fun Night Performance

• December 1 – Tri-County Auditions

• December 2 – Parade with CHS

• January 24 – All County Honor Band Concert

• February 10– Tri-County Concert for those accepted at the Dec. auditions

• March 16 - District XII Solo and Ensemble Festival 8am @CMS.

• March 20 – District XII Band Festival*** (8th grade only)

• April 25 – All County Jazz Band Concert

• May 7 – 6th Grade CONCERT*** 6:30pm (report @ 6:00)

• May 7 – 7th and 8th Grade CONCERT ***8:00pm (report @ 7:30)

• May 10 – Tentative date for 8th Grade Band trip to Hershey Park

Don't forget that our first test is next week - Tuesday for A day students and Wednesday for B day students.

For the Parents

A good read. #3 is especially true for band. Know when concerts, tests and other important events are happening.

I'll see all of my "B" Day students tomorrow!

Week #2

Another great week at CMS!  I was very pleased with the number of students who were prepared this week.  Keep up the good work!  If you were one of the few that forgot your instrument, please get it in next week.  We will start working on our winter concert music and also begin working in our books.  Speaking of books...some of the books are in.  The rest will be in next week.  Those who ordered from me will be able to pick them in class.

Have a fantastic three day weekend.  Don't forget that Tuesday is a B day!

We have a WINNER!

Congratulations, Katie!  You answered the trivia question correctly - Mr. Switzer was Ms. C-ham's middle school band director.  (The picture on the front page shows a 1980 Ms. C-ham and her teacher and the rest of the Lewistown Middle School Band at their winter concert.)

It was a GREAT week!  I'm so excited about this year's bands!!  Get those instruments out and remind yourself how to play them.  "A Day" students need instruments on Wednesday and "B Day"students need instruments on Thursday.  Have a fantastic weekend!

Trivia Question

Let's see who is really reading the blog...
Who was Ms. Cunningham's band director in 1980?
Find the answer somewhere in the blog.  Write the answer on a small piece of paper with your name and place it in the basket in the band room tomorrow or Friday.  On Friday during 8th period, I will pull a name from the basket.  The winner will get a $10 gift card to the store of their choice!  Read the band blog!!!

Back to School 2012-2013

Where did the summer go??  Hope you had a fantastic summer break!  I did!  I had the opportunity to travel to Italy, Greece, London, and Carolina Beach, NC! The other fantastic thing this summer..........THE PURPLE P-BONE ARRIVED!!! 

I am currently getting all of your practice records, warm ups and other paperwork ready for the first days of school.  I'm also looking at music for the year.  Any requests?

If you haven't already, get your instrument out, get supplies and play some tunes.  Hot Licks is no longer open in Prince Frederick, so if you need reeds or valve oil or a book - you'll have to travel to Waldorf or to the northern end of Calvert County.  I am going to do a large order of books so start saving your pennies!  The cost will be $7.95 for 6th and 7th grade woodwinds and brass, $6.95 for 8th grade woodwinds and brass and $10.95 for all drummers.  (Percussion books have more pages.)  Lots more to come in the next few weeks.  Can't wait to see all of you!  Enjoy your last days of summer. 

District XII

No...not District 12 in Panem!  District XII Band Festival!  It's OVER and it was FABULOUS!

Our overall score was a "II".  The breakdown goes like this:
From the three judges in the auditorium - II, I, II
Sight-reading - I

It's the highest II that you can get.  (Ironically, if we had received a II in sight-reading and two I's and one II in the auditorium, it would have been a "I" overall...go figure.  The state puts more weight on our performance.  I put a lot of weight on our sight-reading so I am beyond pleased!!

Enjoy your spring break.  Safe travels if you are going out of town.  If you're sticking around Calvert County, I may see you out and about.

Again, good job!  I am VERY, proud of you!

CMS Craft Fair

Tomorrow night, from 5:00-8:00, Calvert Middle School will sponsor a Craft Fair and Family Fun Night.  Band, Orchestra and Chorus students will perform, the Relay for Life team will sell pizza and snacks and the SGA will hold a bake sale.  In addition to all of that fun, the Book fair will open AND there all the crafters and vendors that signed up will have lots of items for sale!  Come out and get all of your holiday shopping done, or just hang out to hear some great music and eat pizza!

See you there!

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving CMS family!  I hope that everyone has a wonderful break.  Take some time to think about the good things in your life.  Try to list 5 things that you are most thankful for.
For me, I am thankful for family, friends, Davey and Cleo, my job and my students.
See you on Monday!

Yankee Candle Fundraiser is Here

Our Yankee Candle fundraiser items arrived today during 6th period.  If you have a small order and the box is light enough for you to carry, please consider taking it home with you on your bus.  If you don't feel like that is possible or your order is too large (one of you has FOUR boxes!), your parents will have to pick up your order.  I will stay after school on Monday until 4:00 to help accommodate your parents picking up orders.  If your parents need to make other arrangements to pick up your order, have them email me or call the school to set up a pick up time.  I'm usually at school around 6:30 (I can get there earlier) and I can stay late OR leave items in the office.

Thank you to everyone who sold items.  We almost tripled our budget!!

Awesome Concerts!

Congratulations! You did an great job on Tuesday night!

6th graders, I am so excited about your future in the CMS band program. Look forward to being challenged for the spring concert!!

Beginning band, you are so much fun to work with and I am sooooo proud of how well you performed.  Keep up the good work!

7th and 8th grade, I was sad that "Christmas Time with Charlie Brown" had to end.  I was having a great time with that song.  I might have to dig out the DVD and watch it with Davey and Cleo this weekend :-)

Have a fantastic weekend everyone!  Be sure to start practicing for our upcoming tests on November 30th and December 1st.  (The concerts were good, but you still need to practice.)

Concert Week!

This is it!  Tuesday is the big night!!  I am very excited about our upcoming concerts.
Here's what you need to remember to make your concert night a success:

• 6th graders report at 6:00 and the 6th grade concert is at 6:30.
• 7th and 8th graders report at 7:30 and their concert is at 8:00.
• Both concerts should be approximately 1/2 hour.
• You must wear your CMS shirt and black pants - students who did not get their shirts last week will get their shirts on Monday.
• During the concert, you must remember that you are to pay attention and be polite to the other performers, do your very best and most importantly - make Ms. Cunningham look good :-)

It's going to be a GREAT concert!!  Why?  Because I teach the best students at CMS!

One week from now...

Our concert night is only one week away!!

Info that you need to know:
6th grade band students report at 6:00 and the concert begins at 6:30.  The concert will be over at 7:00.
7th and 8th grade band students report at 7:30 - not earlier because we want to give the 6th graders' parents a chance to get out of the parking lot.  The concert begins at 8:00 and should be over by 8:30.
Everybody should be dressed in their black pants (not skirts, skinny jeans, jeggings, etc) and your CMS band shirt tucked in to said black pants.  Try to take care of water and bathroom needs before entering the band room.

It's going to be a great evening!

Don't forget that the 7th and 8th grade band will rehearse during advisory on Thursday.

End of the First Quarter

Wednesday marked the end of the first quarter.  How did you do?  Is your band grade what you thought it would be?  Could it be better? Maybe you need to practice a little more...it does help.
A student said to me today, "I practiced and I sounded better!".  YES!!!  This is what I've been telling children for 18 years.  Perhaps it's time to add to my embroidered sayings...anyone out there do counted cross-stitch?
Don't forget that Yankee Candle orders are due tomorrow and the interest forms are due on Monday.  Have a great weekend.

Reminders...

Don't forget:

1. Take your instruments home to practice over the 3-day weekend.
2. Sell Yankee Candle stuff.
3. Practice for next week's tests - A day on Tuesday and B day on Wednesday.
4. The concert is coming up on November 15th.  (6th graders at 6:30, 7th and 8th grade at 8:00)
5. Practice, practice practice!
6. Monday is a B day.  
7. Ms. Cunningham teaches the BEST students!

Have a great 3-day weekend!

What's Up in Bandland?

So...just what is up?  LOTS!

• Test #3 is done and it was pretty fabulous!  
• Two new performance opportunities - November 4th will be band night with CHS and December 2nd we will have a chance to perform at the first CMS craft fair.  Details will be coming soon for both events.
• Our Yankee Candle Fundraiser is getting kicking off this week.  My apologies to parents for all of the fundraisers - we miss Mrs. King in the office - she kept our calendar up-to-date!  The band gets 40% of everything sold from the YC catalog.  If every student sells a $10 item, we will make over $400!
• Concerts are a month away!!!  Keep practicing!  

That's all for now.  Keep up the good work.  How about challenging yourself to practice 10 extra minutes this weekend?

PS - speaking of the weekend...check out the Pet Day in Solomons Island on Sunday from 12-5.  SMAWL will be there.  (Davey is a SMAWL rescue dog.)