The Spring session of school is a very busy time for the District 66 Bands. Traditionally, bands attend both local band festivals/competitions and solo festivals in March and April. The early part of the year is designed to prepare your students for learning. Setting the expectations for what is to come later. Directors often try to find out what the strengths and weaknesses are of their group so they can work to improve them before festival season.
District 66 is no different. From our young groups to our more advanced ensembles, our students will have the opportunity to be judged by an independent person who will offer feedback from a fresh perspective. For our younger groups, they will participate in the festival setting where they are judged and critiqued but not ranked or rated. This gives them the atmosphere of competition without the pressure.
The more advanced bands will participate in both festivals and competitions this spring. The Lakeview Wind Ensemble will be participating in the State of Illinois Concert Band Contest on Saturday, April 28 at Illinois State University. Some of the finest middle school bands will be competing on this day and will be judged by a panel of well respected band directors. On May 11th, the Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble from Lakeview will take part in the Music in the Parks festival in Gurnee. This too is a competitive event where we will compete against other middle school's from the surrounding areas and other states.
If you would like to see any of the fine musical performances from the Lakeview Bands, please check the music website for concert information by going to www.ccsd66music.com. Stop in and see what these fine young musicians are capable of doing with their instruction. Hope to see you in the audience.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Sunday, December 4, 2011
12th Annual Winter Invitational
On Saturday Dec. 3rd, Lakeview Jr. High School was the site of the 12th Annual District 66 Winter Invitational Band Festival. The day was filled with music from 16 different concert bands from around the area. It was truly a day to celebrate music education and to provide an experience for students to showcase their talents and hard work. The ensembles that performed put in many hours of preparation for this day. They also look forward to this festival to get their performance feet wet before they put on their winter concerts over the next two weeks. When this festival began, it ran its first year with 5 bands of which 3 were from District 66. We are very proud of how the festival has evolved and that directors continue to look forward to this festival every year.
But a festival like this requires much planning and preparation. Planning for this festival began last May when the date was set. Directors were contacted and mailings were sent out. Over the summer months registration was received from the directors and in late August we had most of our participants in place. At that time Mr. Glenn Williams was contracted to be our judge. He did a terrific job providing positive feedback and constructive criticism to the ensembles.
In early September, the participants were finalized. Over the next month planning took place with the music booster board. Determining how many volunteers we would need, rooms to use, cafeteria needs, bus parking, meals, signage, etc....was discussed. After contacting the directors several times, program information and equipment needs were determined. By Thanksgiving, I had to have the entire program completed, band homerooms assigned, festival information done, student volunteers secured, and trophies ordered. About a week before the festival, we trained our student volunteers on how to guide groups through the day so they are on time and where they need to be. Programs are copied and folded and shopping is done for the cafeteria.
One day before the actual festival, everything must come together. Student volunteers came to school on their day off to help move equipment, set up the gym, set up the cafeteria, and reset the band room. The music boosters set up the cafeteria and the school was transformed into a music festival site.
The amount of personal hours poured into this festival not only by myself but from the student volunteers, student alumni volunteers, parent volunteers, and the school administrators is incredible. Unlike some festivals that are run as a fundraising opportunity for some groups, ours is not. Our focus will always be the musical and educational experience!! Sometimes you do things because there is a need for it and not because of the financial reward that may come from it.
Thank you to all of the people who had a part in making this festival a success. Next year is lucky number 13!!
Mr. T
But a festival like this requires much planning and preparation. Planning for this festival began last May when the date was set. Directors were contacted and mailings were sent out. Over the summer months registration was received from the directors and in late August we had most of our participants in place. At that time Mr. Glenn Williams was contracted to be our judge. He did a terrific job providing positive feedback and constructive criticism to the ensembles.
In early September, the participants were finalized. Over the next month planning took place with the music booster board. Determining how many volunteers we would need, rooms to use, cafeteria needs, bus parking, meals, signage, etc....was discussed. After contacting the directors several times, program information and equipment needs were determined. By Thanksgiving, I had to have the entire program completed, band homerooms assigned, festival information done, student volunteers secured, and trophies ordered. About a week before the festival, we trained our student volunteers on how to guide groups through the day so they are on time and where they need to be. Programs are copied and folded and shopping is done for the cafeteria.
One day before the actual festival, everything must come together. Student volunteers came to school on their day off to help move equipment, set up the gym, set up the cafeteria, and reset the band room. The music boosters set up the cafeteria and the school was transformed into a music festival site.
The amount of personal hours poured into this festival not only by myself but from the student volunteers, student alumni volunteers, parent volunteers, and the school administrators is incredible. Unlike some festivals that are run as a fundraising opportunity for some groups, ours is not. Our focus will always be the musical and educational experience!! Sometimes you do things because there is a need for it and not because of the financial reward that may come from it.
Thank you to all of the people who had a part in making this festival a success. Next year is lucky number 13!!
Mr. T
Friday, November 4, 2011
Nothing Like Fannie May for the Holiday's
Fannie May Candy Sale
It's that time again for the music students. We are having our annual Fannie May Candy sale. This has been an excellent fundraiser for our program and our students. Please take a moment to read the information below. Please let your friends and family know that if they are buying candy for someone special this year,
You child received a packet of information for our Fannie May Candy sale which will benefit your child as well as the music programs in our district. The sale begins today and runs through Nov. 17. All of the information you need to participate in the sale is included in the packet on the Blue and Red instruction sheet. To make it easier for you to view the products and prices, we’ve posted the brochure on the music website at www.ccsd66music.com . If you want to share this sale with people who are either out of state or those you may not see very often, you can lead them to the website to view the items they may wish to purchase from you. All orders will be delivered to your home.
We are encouraging all of the students in our music programs to participate in this sale. As a participant in one or more of the music programs, your child has a Student Music Travel Account where a portion of the fundraising profits will be applied to their account. Money accumulated in the account can be used for future travel opportunities with the musical performing groups in Jr. High School. There is a 30% profit from the sale of which your child will receive 15% and the remainder will go into the Music Activity account to support our programs.
Please take a few minutes to review the fundraising instructions and forms. Sample forms have been provided for you so you can fill out your forms properly. Final turn in date is Nov. 17. If you have any questions regarding the sale, please contact your child’s director.
Thanks for your support with this fundraiser!
Mr. t
Friday, October 28, 2011
Lakeview Grads Achieve Success with the DGS Marching Mustangs
Cocgratulations to the Marching Mustangs on a terrific season.
As a participant in the instrumental music program in District 66, I would like to share the success of our students not only for their current accomplishments but also for those they receive once they leave Lakeview.
We are lucky to live in a community where we have a strong music program at all levels and that includes Downers South High School University of Illinois
Below is a link to the DGS music blackboard page with a note from Mr. Glenn Williams, Fine Arts Dept. Chair at DGS and Band Director. Please take a few minutes to read his account of the event and share the video with your children. It is a culmination of a lot of hard work and dedication by these young musicians. Maybe someday your child will be a part of this outstanding organization. I am proud to see many of my former students involved and making such a significant contribution to the success of this group. I am also proud to say that both of my sons participate in this group and are thrilled to be a part of it and it's success. Good Luck to the Marching Mustangs as they prepare to participate in the ISU State Invitational Marching Band Contest this coming weekend where they will compete against some of the top bands across the state of Illinois. Enjoy the video!!
To view the link press ctrl & click the link. For a better view, watch the video in full screen.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Gaudete Brass visits Lakeview
This week the Wind Ensemble students had the pleasure of working with and hearing the Gaudete Brass Quintet from Chicago. The Quintet is made up of 2 trumpets, 1 Trombone, 1 French Horn, and 1 Tuba. It is a collection of outstanding musicians who make their living as performers and teachers.
The Gaudete Brass were here to rehearse with the Wind Ensemble in preparation for a performance which will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 15 at 7:00pm at DGS. The performance will feature the Eisenhower JHS Band, The Lakeview Wind Ensemble, and the DGS Wind Ensemble. Each of the groups will be performing a selection with the Brass Ensemble.
Our rehearsal went very well and it demonstrated to the students how hard we will have to work to sound as good as the pros. We look forward to another rehearsal with them in a couple of weeks to prepare for this performance.
For more information on the Gaudete Brass Quintet go to GAUDETEBRASS.com
The Gaudete Brass were here to rehearse with the Wind Ensemble in preparation for a performance which will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 15 at 7:00pm at DGS. The performance will feature the Eisenhower JHS Band, The Lakeview Wind Ensemble, and the DGS Wind Ensemble. Each of the groups will be performing a selection with the Brass Ensemble.
Our rehearsal went very well and it demonstrated to the students how hard we will have to work to sound as good as the pros. We look forward to another rehearsal with them in a couple of weeks to prepare for this performance.
For more information on the Gaudete Brass Quintet go to GAUDETEBRASS.com
Friday, September 30, 2011
Practice Tips For Band
Practice Guidelines for Success
One of the hardest things to do for a music student is to develop good practice habits and techniques. Most of the group activities that students are involved in require group practice. Band requires group practice to develop a good ensemble sound but it also requires good individual practice to help improve personal skills which make the ensemble better.
We are all busy with our jobs and our kids are involved in several things as well. As a parent of two sons, I know the struggles that go along with finding quality time for them to practice. My sons were involved in baseball, church groups, private music lessons, and family obligations for other siblings. In order to help you help your child have successful practice sessions, I have put together a few suggestions for you to consider which worked for me and my family as well as other people.
Band is Academic – Learning to play an instrument should be treated like any other subject. We do not like to think of band that way because it is music. It is our goal to teach children how to create and perform music at a high level. This makes them smarter for it and develops an appreciation for the art. Instead of paper, pencil, calculator, etc. we have an instrument, musical symbols, and sound. Make it part of your child’s homework time. Repetition is the key to a successful player. Like doing math problems each night to reinforce the concepts, musical skills require repetition for muscle memory, strength, endurance, tone building, and consistency. If you want them to be successful, make it a priority and don’t leave it until last. You will see the results!!
Set a goal - Before starting to practice, your child should set an achievable goal for their practice session. Depending on the amount of time they are going to practice, they should determine what they can achieve in that amount of time.
Practice less more often – By making practice time part of homework time, students can divide up their core academic subjects with short sessions of practice time. This will also help kids use the creative side of their brain which will enhance their learning in all areas.
Playing twice an evening for 10 - 15 minutes is just as good if not better than a long session. Students can focus on one or two things rather than too many things. You do not need to set aside 30 to 40 minutes to practice. If your child has 10 min. to practice before going off to soccer practice, that will get a few repetitions on something they are working on. The more times your child plays their instrument (even for a short time) the more they will remember and the better they will get. Practicing once a week for 60 – 80 minutes is not effective and does not give your child the repetitions they need.
Play something for fun – Practice does not always mean to play an assignment. Yes, I want them to be prepared with their assignments but they should also find something else to play. Playing songs for fun helps improve music reading skills. Smartmusic is a great way to help find something to play for the sake of playing. Practice with someone else. Find a friend to play along with.
Have your child play for you - Whether your child is playing scales, lesson book assignments, or band music, ask them to play for you a couple of times a week. Offer some encouragement. Comment on their posture or sound. You don’t need to know much about music to know something sounds good or needs more work. As you might do with your child out on the practice field, offering encouragement will help keep your child interested and motivated.
Use Smartmusic- Smartmusic is the best tool around to help keep students focused. Smartmusic has thousands of pieces of music to keep your child occupied and reading new things. Their lesson book assignments can be found in Smartmusic. Your child can choose from movie music, holiday music, concert band, jazz band, and other selections at all levels. Students can record themselves practicing and play it back for you if you are not around when your child is practicing. This is a great way for them to share their work with you.
Closing Thoughts
These are just suggestions that have proven to work. The most important thing is that you as parents are invested in this part of their education as you are with any other part. Being part of a musical ensemble takes individual dedication, encouragement and instruction from their coach (director), and support from you as parents.
Being part of a musical ensemble can offer children an opportunity to do things they cannot do in any classroom or athletic field. Their musical training is something that they can carry with them for the rest of their life. This can only happen with personal practice, group practice, and support. Please try some of the suggestions that I have made. This will hopefully give you some ideas to help you customize a practice routine that works for your child.
Keep music a part of your life! Happy Practicing!!
Saturday, September 24, 2011
The New Look at Q and F
This weekend I had the opportunity to finally get to the new Quinlan and Fabish music store in Burr Ridge. It is located just off of Plainfield Rd. and High Grove avenue. It is a beautiful new facility that will serve our community and surrounding communities for many years. There is a fabulous new showroom with instruments out on display for people to see, touch, and play. The store is sectioned off into 4 separate areas to make locating what you are looking for very easy.
While I was there picking up some supplies for our students, I was given a tour of the complex that many people do not get to see. Q and F now has a huge storage wharehouse that can hold thousands of instruments for distribution throughout all of their locations. The Yamaha Corp. is renting a portion of the space to store their inventory that they distribute throughout the United States. Yamaha also has professional technicians on site to test and evaluate all of their instruments.
The repair department is also housed in a spacious area to make repair and replacement of instruments more efficient. The new facility also features a conference room that is used to hold meetings for band directors, Q & F staff, and other business related to the music industry. A new feature at Quinlan and Fabish will be the addition of private lesson studios. They will soon house private instructors on all instruments right out of the store. This will be a great service to our community for those looking to have their child study privately.
This new facility is a far cry from the small store that George Quinlan Sr. and Tom Fabish opened in Chicago many years ago. It was a family run business which served a small community of people and schools. It is still a family run business but is now considered one of the primary band and orchestra dealers in the mid-west if not one of the largest in the country. If you have not had a chance to stop in, please do so and see what they have to offer. They have been serving our community for thirty years. We are fortunate to have a company like this who supports instrumental music education in our community. Congratulations to George Quinlan Jr., George Quinlan Sr. and all of the people who had a part in this vision.
While I was there picking up some supplies for our students, I was given a tour of the complex that many people do not get to see. Q and F now has a huge storage wharehouse that can hold thousands of instruments for distribution throughout all of their locations. The Yamaha Corp. is renting a portion of the space to store their inventory that they distribute throughout the United States. Yamaha also has professional technicians on site to test and evaluate all of their instruments.
The repair department is also housed in a spacious area to make repair and replacement of instruments more efficient. The new facility also features a conference room that is used to hold meetings for band directors, Q & F staff, and other business related to the music industry. A new feature at Quinlan and Fabish will be the addition of private lesson studios. They will soon house private instructors on all instruments right out of the store. This will be a great service to our community for those looking to have their child study privately.
This new facility is a far cry from the small store that George Quinlan Sr. and Tom Fabish opened in Chicago many years ago. It was a family run business which served a small community of people and schools. It is still a family run business but is now considered one of the primary band and orchestra dealers in the mid-west if not one of the largest in the country. If you have not had a chance to stop in, please do so and see what they have to offer. They have been serving our community for thirty years. We are fortunate to have a company like this who supports instrumental music education in our community. Congratulations to George Quinlan Jr., George Quinlan Sr. and all of the people who had a part in this vision.
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