WOW!

With the Golden Arrows' win last night, next week just got REALLY busy!!! We will travel to Fountain Lake just outside Hot Springs on Friday for the state semi-final game. Saturday is the annual Lavaca Christmas Parade. Monday, the 8th, is the Christmas Concert.

On Tuesday I'll have an itinerary for the game. (Dress and game plan to follow)

Call time for the parade Saturday will be 9:00 at the gym at FBC Lavaca. Dress is Red sweatshirt, blue jeans, Santa hats and tennis shoes.

Call time for the concert on the 8th for HS will be 6:00. MS call will be 6:15 and beginner call will be 6:30. The concert starts at 7:00. Reception to follow in the band room.

Great job last night!!

ROUND #3 TONIGHT

CALL: 6:45 PM at Stadium
UNIFORM: Warm Clothing!!!
Band room opens at 5:00. You are responsible for your own equipment!

...............Yes Freshmen.............It's still a required event!

Friday

2 Major Items:

1.  Recorded Assignment 1 is due Friday by 5:00.  It is the same as a PERFORMANCE GRADE - those account for 30% of your grade.  Make sure you get it done.

2.  Call time for the game is 6:45 dressed and seated at the stadium.  Wear layers so you'll be warm.  

Assignments and Stuff

Nov. 17-21

Early band and sectionals meet all week.  SECTIONALS START AT 7:00.  BAND STARTS AT 7:55.  BE ON TIME!!!!  : )

Recorded Assignment #1 is due by Friday 11/21 - Material is posted in the bandroom.

Game Friday is here versus Earle - yep, Earle.  If we win we play next week.  The location depends on the result of the Cedarville v. Perryville game.  If Cedarville wins we would be here.  If Perryville wins we would travel there.  I'll have information for you on the different scenarios later in the week.  Check often.  

WE WILL PERFORM AT THE GAME WHERE EVER IT IS!

Have a great week.

Coming Up...............

It's playoff time! The game Friday is here. We'll be playing. Call time is 6:30 dressed and at the field. The uniform room will be open until 6:15. Be early! Game time for all playoff games is 7:30. If we win this week, we'll be home again next week. It's difficult to predict after that. So, keep checking in to see.

We DO have early band Wednesday. Sectionals will resume next week - Nov. 17-21.

Christmas Parade - Dec. 6
Christmas Concert - Dec. 8
JH Region Tryouts - Dec. 13

Congrats Jazz Dudes!!!

Congratulations to Logan, Clayton and Evan on qualifying for the All Region Jazz Band!!! Way to go guys!!! Lavaca went 3 for 3 in the auditions!!!

Video Post and Video Request

Here is a link to a video of the MS Band's performance at the Mountainburg game. Great job kids!!

https://mail.lavacaschools.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLgaQz11lFU

I am still looking for videos of the HS show from the Greenland game.

Thanks
c

Does anybody have a video of Friday?

I have had numerous requests for a video of Friday night.   If you have one, would you please send it to me at school so I can put it up for people to see.  

Thanks.

WOW!!!

What a night!!  The crowd went NUTS!!! Some of the responses - "AWESOME!!" , "That was the coolest thing I ever saw!!"  "Y'all just made band nerds COOL!",  "BEST I'VE EVER SEEN!" - the list is virtually endless!!! 

I'm so proud of you guys!  Great job! 

c

It's Showtime!!!

Tuesday, October 21!!
Contest!
Showtime: 4:30!!

We'll be leaving school shortly after lunch time.
The Tech show is last and then we'll head home. We'll be back around 10:00-10:30.

Senior Chili

October 23. See Carter for details.

Cookie Dough - !!!!

Cookie dough will be delivered Monday, October 13.  You may pick it up at the band room from 3:15 until 5:30.  Boxes of cookie dough may NOT be taken on the bus.  You must have transportation.  Also - cookie dough must remain frozen, so it must be picked up and properly stored in order to maintain the product.  

We will be sorting and prepping the orders until 3:15 so we won't be able to hand out orders early.  Please plan to pick up your order during the times listed.

c

Crunch Week

October 13-17 is crunch week.  We will be meeting for early band on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 7:00 a.m.  7:00 is start time, not arrival time.  Plan to arrive early so you will be prepared to begin rehearsal right at 7:00.  We will not have sectionals.  The guard will meet every day.  This is final week before contest.  Let's buckle down and get it knocked out.  

c

Upcoming Stuff

Hey gang. Great job last week. We have a lot to do this week as well. We're on regular full rehearsal schedule. All sectionals and early band will meet. We will travel to Lincoln for the game Friday. Stay tuned for call time and travel details. I do think you'll enjoy dinner Friday!! : )

I need your help in keeping everything put away and clean at the FAB. Many of you are leaving personal items laying around and equipment out. With the number of folks we have using the facility we need to make sure to keep things put away.

Contest is Oct. 21. We will be at Northside in time for the first band and stay until the end of the event. Our performance is at 4:30.

c

Yes we have sectionals Thursday!!

Among other things......
Call Friday is 3:30. We don't have much time to get ready and get on the road b/c of the whole uniform thing. Make sure you are ON TIME!! You need your travel AND your band uniform.

Call Saturday is 6:30 a.m. We'll be home around 5:30 p.m.

: )

UPDATE FOR FRIDAY

Hey gang! We're wearing travel uniforms Friday. That is a change from earlier post. Also - put away ALL visible jewelry during the show. It's gotten out of control and is visually distracting. Call time Friday is right after school. We'll change and leave immediately. It's a long ride to Mt. Ida, so hurry quickly and get ready to go.

Show Friday is Earth Song, Smoke, I Feel the Earth.....we'll move up until the first box set.

See ya!
c

September 15-19

Hey gang! We have our first road trip Friday. We'll be travelling to Mount Ida. We will be in full uniform for the first time this week as well. The plan is to perform the complete opener with drill and to play Colors as a stand still feature. After today that leaves us with about 4 pages to learn for the show Friday.

No early band this Wednesday. All sectionals will meet. Tuesday groups will meet on Thursday.
You need to pass of opening sequence - Earth Song, Smoke and I Feel the Earth for your section leaders from memory before Friday. No music on field for Friday night's show.

We will begin rehearsing the closer next week as well as learning drill for Colors. Lots to do.

Signups for the Kawneer picnic will begin on Wednesday. Sign up early to get the best job!!

Enjoy Tuesday off. We'll be in meetings all day : ( I'd much rather be working with you guys!

c

Busy Weekend Ahead

Hey gang! We have a busy weekend ahead of us. Friday we have our first pep rally. It'll be good.
You will come to the band room after 7th period to get ready for it. We'll go to the gym together. Friday night we will be combining with Booneville for a couple of tunes - We'll do Mag 7 & Louie, Louie. We may do the opener to the show as well, not sure yet.

Call time Friday night will be at 5:45 at the band room to rehearse with the Boooneville Band. Remember, their director, Justin Martin, is one of our own. He's a former Lavaca Band All State Tuba Player. His wife, Suzanne is one of my former flute players as well. She also teaches his colorguard. It will be a special night as we combine the two groups. I'm REALLY looking forward to a H U G E sound!!!

Saturday is the Mac Steel Picnic. It is at Columbus Acres in Fort Smith. Call time for most of you is 9:00. Grill workers and a few others will have to be there earlier than that, but I'll notify those folks. Dress for the picnic is comfy, but modest and presentable. You need to wear closed toe shoes and your shirt must have sleeves. Short sleeves are fine - just no sleeveless. Shorts are also ok, but they need to meet dress code.

Signups for the Kawneer Picnic will go up Wednesday.

Have a great day!

c

Prairie Grove Game

Great Job! Here are some pics!

Parent Update

Hey Parents!!!

I hope you're doing well. Things are off to a great start! Sectionals and early band are in full swing. We're working hard on the show. Things are fantastic! I'm very pleased with the overall effort and attitude of the band. They're doing a wonderful job!

Sectionals meet once weekly at 7:00 a.m. Full Band also meets at 7:00 on Wednesday. Daily morning rehearsal start time is 7:55 - This helps us recoup some of the time we lose by having to stop early to get back to the band room and equipment put away. Please help your kids get here on time. On time really means early so they are ready to go at the start time - not staggering in the door half asleep! We open the building at 6:30 every day that we have early groups in.

Flutes/Clarinets - Monday
Low Brass/Alto Group - Tuesday
Wednesday - Full Band
Thursday - Trumpets

Current grades are posted on Edline. The scale is:
Daily grade 10%
Sectionals 30%
Performances 60%

If a student has missed one of the two sectionals so far, then their grade is not very good. I expect that will come up significantly as we add more sectional grades and performances to the mix. Being at the right place at the right time with the with the right equipment and the right attitude ready to roll is where the daily points are derived from.

Thanks for all you do to help your students be successful.

Big Week!!!

First Home Game Friday night!!!!! Call time will be 6:00 at the stadium.
Uniform is Band T Shirt, plain solid black windsuit pants, plain black socks that are at least crew length if not longer and bando band shoes.

Cookie Dough Orders due Friday!!!!

Fast Start

Kevin W. from the MS group is the first to report 40 items sold!

Cookie Dough Kickoff!!

The cookie dough sale is in full swing! Work hard. Brochures are due on Sept. 5

Don't forget the fast start prize for the first person to report back to me with 40 items sold!!!

LHS Band 08

Welcome!

For those of you who came to the parent meeting tonight, Welcome to the Blog! You'll find all kinds of stuff here. The calendar is online. I'll post frequent announcements and updates here as well. Occasionally you'll find congrats, props and thoughts here as well. You can use this as a feedback tool as well. Just click on comment and you can send me a message.

c

Calendar

Band Calendar - Click on Mini for a Full Size version

2008-2009 Is Here!!

Hey Gang!!

Summer Band is coming up!

Guard, Percussion, Leadership Team and other interested parties should report at 8:00 a.m. on July 28. We will work the 28th and 29th to get ready for the whole crew.

Full Band will report Monday, August 4 at 8:00 a.m. We will work each day until Noon.

Those of you involved in multiple activities - band, athletics, Ag, etc. don't forget that we split time EVENLY. Let us know who you are so the other group leaders and I can get together and work out your schedule for you.

See ya soon!!!

c

GRADUATION

YES WE'RE PLAYING
YES IT'S STILL REQUIRED
C YOU TONIGHT AT 7:15

IF YOU CAN COME AT 5 TO MOVE EQUIPMENT IT WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED
WE'LL MOVE STUFF FROM THE TRAILER TO THE FIELD AND THEN GO HOME AND GET READY

: )
c

End of the Year Stuff

Hey gang! Great trip. I was very pleased with everyone and everything.

As we press on toward the end of the year I just want to remind you of the last few remaining events on our calendar. Remember - they are REQUIRED!

Saturday, May 17 - Picnic in Conway: We'll leave VERY early that morning and return around 6:30 or 7:00 that evening. You know the usual drill for those things. Make sure to dress appropriately. I also still need several parent workers.

Saturday, May 24 - Graduation. Dress will be usual concert clothing. Look sharp! Itinerary TBA. Also, don't forget, the 8th grade always joins us on this gig.

Other stuff:

Band Camp forms are due by May 15.
Summer Lesson Signups are up in the band room. Lessons are free.
Calendars for 08-09 will be out next week.
Guard and Drum Major Auditions will be next week.

Have a great day.

c

Trip Itinerary

Here is the itinerary for the weekend. Luggage check will be from 3:15-5:00 Thursday afternoon. You must be present with your bags for them to be checked in. Do not just drop them off at the band room. You may bring one small bag. Carryons will be checked on Friday morning. Click on the itinerary to see a bigger version.

c

Band Camp

If you are attending Band Camp at ATU this summer those forms need to be turned in by May 15.

c

ALL TRIP MONEY IS NOW DUE

If you have not yet paid off your trip please do so today.
All money is now due. If you need to know your balance, it
is posted outside my office.

Trip forms are also past due. Please turn in your medical
form and your trip rules sheet.

c

Spring Meeting

We'll be having a Spring Band Parent's Meeting on Monday, April 7 at 6:30 p.m. We'll discuss the end of the year trip, a May picnic and a new fundraiser we have coming up! Hope to see you all there.

c

As we press on toward the end of this year.....

Hey gang! I'm really enjoying the sounds you're making on Slavonic! It's going to be an awesome opener. We'll be adding a movie score to round out the program.

Beginning next week we'll be rehearsing in the old gym. During the next couple of weeks the FAB will be in use for testing (SAT 10, EOC, IBTS, etc.), so we'll be displaced. We will press on with our regular schedule of rehearsal. You'll be able to store your instrument in the gym during the day, but you'll need to take it home at night, as the facility is used by the public at night and there's no way to secure your stuff.

Make sure you're getting to rehearsals on time. WE STILL START AT 7:55! The vast majority of you are doing great at this. The rest need to get hooked back up and do right. Finish strong!

Finally - If you have photos you would like to see in the end of the year slideshow at the concert, I need those by the 15th of April so that I can put that together.

Thanks.
c

Contest Itinerary

Contest Thursday, March 13.

Call is right after school. We'll dress, load and leave ASAP
Once at Alma we'll unload and wait in the gallery until our warmup time.
We warmup at 6:00. Our concert is at 6:30. At 7:00 we'll sight read.
After that we'll load up, go to Geno's for pizza and return to the band room around 9:30.

Dress is uniform, black socks and bandos. Hair must be neat and contained. NO CRAZY HAIR!! : )

Make sure to invite your friends and family. It's gonna be a great concert!!

c

SNOW DAY FRIDAY, MARCH 7~!!!

ENJOY!

Well???? I dunno!!!!

It's been a tough week. I've been on the couch with the flu all week, as has Angie. I hate to have been gone, but like I constantly tell you - if you're sick, stay home. Well.....I had to stay home.

Who knows about tomorrow? Not me, that's for sure. If we're in school, then I plan to be there. Any guesses????

School's Out!

Enjoy a rare March snow day! We'll have to figure out our plan of attack when we get back.
Juniors - Do a great job on the test! We're rooting for you!!!

c

This Week is Crazy!!

Hey gang! We are in crunch time. Contest is Thursday, March 13. We'll meet at the band room right after school to travel to Alma. We'll get there, warm up, play, sight read and then go to Geno's for pizza.

Tuesday and Wednesday rehearsals will be at FBC. We'll either be in the fellowship center or H2O. I'll let you know later today via an announcement.

If you are a guard member or a new band member you need to get with the uniform staff before this week is out and get a uniform for contest.

The trip final cost is $320. Everyone needs to have $100 paid or earned by Spring Break. The second $100 must be paid by April 1 and all balances have to be paid by April 20.

Have a great week.

c

Limo Lunch Update

Those of you who are on the Limo Lunch for the Eagle Cookiedough sale will be going on April 14. We have to put it off till then due to standardized tests. More info on the event as the date draws near, but put it on your calendar.

The Final Countdown

Contest is coming quickly. March 13. We are also scheduled to play our precontest at Alma on Feb. 26. In order to get ready for those two events we have a lot of work left to do. Stay hooked up solid and keep pressing on.

All sectionals will meet this coming week. Monday group will come on Wednesday. Percussion will meet Tuesday night.

Cherrydale kicks off on Wednesday. The trip to St. Louis is going to run between $325 and $350. Many of you have the majority of that raised. Many others still need to raise the bulk of it. The Cherrydale sale is your last chance to fundraise for the trip. Work hard to minimize, or even eliminate out of pocket expense for the trip.

Enjoy Monday off!!! I know I will. See ya Tuesday - Low Brass group at 7:00 a.m.

I'm proud of the work you've done in the last couple of weeks. Keep it up!!!

c

Congrats to All Staters!!!

Pat Melton - 2nd 2nd Jazz
Logan Dooly - 1st 1st Concert

Way to go guys.

Great Rehearsal Today!

Thanks for a tremendous rehearsal this morning. The vast majority of you are SO great about working hard and having a great spirit about what we're doing. Keep it up. I'm proud of you!! Remember, we're not just learning notes and rhythms in music. We're learning life.

Life Lesson - Following instructions and doing what you're told are not just things you do as a kid at home or in school. They're things you'll have to do all your lives. Every day I have instructions from those I work for that I have to follow. Your parents do too! I'm sorry to report to you that when you grow up and move out on your own you really won't get to call the shots. We're all accountable to many different folks. Tax time is coming up soon. We all have to file our income taxes. Why? Because that's the rule. We may or may not agree with it, but it's the rule and our opinion of it really doesn't matter. We have to follow the law of the land or pay the price. When you go to work you're going to have a boss that will require things of you. If you choose not to comply you will most likely lose your job. Bosses are RARELY, if ever, as lenient as parents and teachers. They generally won't tell you repeatedly how to do, or not do, something - especially if you're rebellious toward their authority. They'll just fire you. Work hard, do what's expected (or more), keep your shoulder to the wheel and you'll do well. Have an awesome week!! Keep pressing on!!

c

Cherrydale Starts Feb. 20

Start lining up your sales now. Get together your "peeps" and get them ready for Cherrydale time. We need to make a ton of $$$, so let's talk it up and prep it. I can't wait for you to see their totally new product line and brochures. The company was purchased this past year and they have undergone an extreme makeover. You're gonna love it!

c

Bowling for Bucks!

Congrats to Lehman Petty for winning $400 in scholarships at a bowling tournament last Saturday. He scored 254 in his winning effort! Good Job Lehman!!!!

All State Jazz Auditions

All State Jazz tryouts will be held in the Russellville area on Tuesday. Details to be final from ASBOA later today. Stay tuned. Logan Dooly, Clayton Masterson and Patrick Melton will be auditioning.

c

Congratulations Logan!!

Logan Dooly is 1st Band 1st Chair All State String Bass. He not only was the top String Bass player on the band side, but he also outscored the basses in the orchestra. WTG Logan!!! He'll travel to Hot Springs Feb 13-16 to perform at the All State Band clinic.

Feb 4-8

Good morning everybody!

This week is a full regular schedule. In sectionals and rehearsals we'll be working transitions in the march. Tempo and continuity in Deerpath and Australian. Just a heads up - The Alma Invitational (our precontest concert) is coming up on Feb. 26. That's not very far away. To borrow a line from the Smokey and the Bandit theme song - We've got a long way to go and a short time to get there. Let's buckle down and get it done all the way right.

Sectionals Week of Jan. 28

Clarinets: We will work the beginning of Australian and the 16th passages of Deerpath
Low Group: We will work 87 in Deerpath, the repeats in the march and balance and sustaining in Australian
Trumpets: We will work melodic sections of Deerpath (12, 44, 61, 69, 102)and sustaining and balance in Australian
Flutes: Beginning of Australian, 16th passages of Deerpath, range
Percussion: All of Deerpath - making sure ALL parts are covered, establishing the percussion equipment setup, knowing your travel map so that you know when and where to move during Deerpath. Timp part in Australian.

Rehearsal Info

Friday 1/25
March 2nd strain
Australian 21-end
Deerpath 52-78 work up to tempo

Monday 1/28
Australian Beginning-13
Deerpath 78-end
March Intro

Tuesday 1/29
Australian 13-21
Deerpath 87-92, 109-end
March Trio (softly)

Wednesday 1/30
Australian all the Scottish flips (de dah)
March Trio and Outstrain
Deerpath 44-60

Thursday 1/31
Australian all (slower tempo) begin working rubato (push and pull)
March all transitions
Deerpath tempo work, transitions throughout

Friday 2/1
Attempt run through of program and record. (I know it'll be rough! We just need a guage)

New Sectional Schedule

Monday - Clarinets
Tuesday - Low Brass/Low Reed/Alto
Tuesday PM - Percussion w/ Mailer
Wednesday - Flutes/Trumpets

Morning Sectionals begin at 7:00 and are required.
Percussion Sectionals begin at 6:00 p.m. and are required.

Regular morning rehearsals begin at 7:55.

Students should arrive early for all band events in order to have equipment ready, be warmed up and prepared to rehearse. Arriving at the band room at the time the event starts is NOT considered on time. On time means everything ready, student in place warmed up and ready. Please be mindful of this and respectful of fellow band members and directors by arriving in plenty of time to get ready.