WELCOME TO THE 2007-2008 SCHOOL YEAR

The 2007-2008 school year is starting out on a wonderful note! The 7th and 8th graders are busy improving their skills and beginning to work on concert music, and the 6th graders are starting to learn all the basics of playing an instrument. Students have received many handouts in the past few weeks, so please check their backpacks for all of the colorful band information.

Syllabus: the band syllabus is a bright YELLOW packet that includes a lot of pertinent information for band students, and there are pages included that are marked with an X in the top right hand corner that need to be filled out and returned as soon as possible.

Lockers: all students will be using a locker for their band materials/instruments this year, and the RED locker form also needs to be filled out and returned.

School-owned instruments: students who will be using a school-owned instrument are required to fill out and return a bright ORANGE form.

Practice records: students in all grades will be required to turn in practice records, signed by a parent/guardian, on a weekly basis. 7th and 8th graders have already begun to turn in their BLUE practice records, and 6th graders received their very first YELLOW practice record on Friday, September 14. Practice records will be due by Tuesday every week for 7th and 8th graders, and by Friday every week for 6th graders. Late practice records will receive a lower grade, and practice records with no parent signature or no name will not receive credit.

Honor Band/All-State Band Auditions: all students are encouraged to participate in these auditions, which take place on Saturday, December 1 at Dodgen Middle School. Students will play major scales, chromatic scale, and sightread for their audition. Students interested in auditioning for Honor Band must fill out a GREEN form, which includes providing parent/guardian signature, and submit $7.00 fee by Friday, October 5. Audition requirements are available in the band room, plus the scale requirements are also available on the Georgia Music Educators Association website, www.gmea.org.