newsletter
OCTOBER 27, 2024

Weekly Newsletter - OCTOBER 27, 2024

Sent 10/27/2024, 1:45 PM.

Greetings from the road!  We had a great showing at the Basha Invitational - the kids performed exceptionally, and represented our program well.  This show has garnered some great attention on Tik Tok, and it was fun to watch as our band was recognizable by a completely new community.  Huge thanks to all the parent volunteers that made it out to help, especially our trip coordinator Mr. Bowdoin.  It takes a ton of parent support to make this program successful, and we have the best band parents in the city!

It's crazy to think that we've reached the last official week of marching season.  Every year, I'm amazed at how fast it goes.  But band season is far from over - now we dive right into concert season.  We've got one more football game next weekend - our Halloween game - which is always a great time, more on that below.  Plus All-State auditions start this week.  

Let's look at what I have this week.  There is a lot from Mr. Sayre, so please make sure you read through his section below, too.

What's in this newsletter?

Here's what I have for you all this week:

• Halloween Football Game - Some fun new details on our game this weekend.

• Yearbook Photos - Lot's of activity these past couple of weeks.  Keep those yearbook photos coming...

• Volunteer Opportunities - open signups

• And a word from Mr. Sayre - a lot in here, so make sure to read through this

This week in band...

Wednesday 10/30

• All-State Auditions Begin

• 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM - Color Guard Sectional

Thursday 10/31

• 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM - Percussion Sectionals

Saturday 11/2

• Football Game vs. Atrisco @ Community Stadium (Visitor) - 9:00 AM Report Time (HALLOWEEN GAME)

Now on to the details...

Halloween Football Game

Halloween is Thursday, but we'll be celebrating at our football game this coming Saturday at Community Stadium.  The kids will be dressed in themed costumes for their section and, as always, there will likely be tons of candy.  They will be performing at pregame in costume, and this will be their last show performance of the year.

This year, we're trying something new.  If you are a parent, family member, or friend that plays a band instrument, you are invited to join the band in the stands this Saturday and play pep tunes with the students.  So if this is you - bring your instrument and come out and have some fun making music with the band!  If you know an alumni that might be interested, pass along the message.  The more the merrier!

More details below from Mr. Sayre about times and place.

Yearbook Photos

With all the band activity these past couple weeks, I'm sure everyone has some great pictures capturing memories of these events.  If you have any especially good photos that are yearbook worthy, be sure to send them into Mrs. Whiston for consideration.  Email them to yearbooks@eldorado.band.

Volunteer Opportunities

Here are the current active signups available.  You can also always see any open volunteering opportunities on the Volunteering page.  Specifically, we still need MPA Chaperones, and there are still some important slots open for the MPA Support Volunteers.

• Hydration Volunteers: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080F4BA4AD23A4FE3-50748878-hydration#/ 

• Football Game Chaperones: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0D48ADAA2DA1FB6-football#/ - (UNSUPERVISED CLEARANCE REQUIRED)

• Spirit Wear Sales Help: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0D48ADAA2DA1FB6-51080557-spirit#/ 

Have a great week!

Go Eagles!

JD

Now, a word from Mr. Sayre...

Hello Eagle Band!

What a great week for our band program!  Zia, APS MPA, and Basha Invitational in Phoenix all in 7 days.  Thank you for your unwavering support of the program.  Thanks also to the students that have put in the hard work to make this show spectacular.  I’d like you to take a moment and reflect on how much the students have learned and accomplished to get the band this far.  It isn’t over yet! Mr. Snowden and Mr. Sayre have some great things planned for you this year.  

Thanks to our volunteers for the Phoenix trip! Huge shout out to the chaperones, pit crew, staff members, water crew, and helpers for the Arizona trip.  Everything was great and we experienced nothing but great vibes.  It was a cool experience to see that bands recognized our band and show from Tik Tok.  People came in just to see our show and I hope that you, the students, felt like celebrities even for just a moment.  

Thanks also to our volunteers at the APS MPA for making the event go smoothly.  More volunteers were able to come in from other schools as well so we are setting a great example and inspiring other volunteers to support the event from other bands.  

Parents and Friends at the Game this Saturday - Bring your instrument and play in the stands with the students!  All are welcome to play.  Let me know if you have any questions or need to borrow an instrument.  Also - wear a costume. Call time is 9 AM for students.  The game is at Community Stadium.  You will need to come in with the band.  

Schedule this week. WE WILL TAKE ZERO HOUR ATTENDANCE TUESDAY- FRIDAY:

• MONDAY (A Day directors not here)- no Zero Hour.  All other class periods will work on recording Zero Hour Placement Auditions for Allstate Auditions.  

• TUESDAY- Zero Hour is in sections by concert instrument.  Students will record placements and practice for Allstate Auditions.  NO TUESDAY AFTERNOON FULL GROUP.  Students will have the music building available during this time to record placements and practice Allstate audition materials.

• WEDNESDAY- Same as Tuesday.  If students have not recorded they will be required to record this day.  If they believe they can do better they can still record when they get home.  Allstate Audition recordings will start this day

• THURSDAY- Zero hour on the field. Pep tunes and Show music

• FRIDAY (C Day) - Zero hour on the field

• SATURDAY- Game report time is 9:00 AM. Halloween Game

Zero Hour Placements - Placement music will be the excerpts from the Allstate Audition material listed below for your instrument AND a minimum 2 octave F Concert Chromatic Scale OR Full Allstate Range Chromatic Scale.  Mr. Snowden and Mr Sayrel need your audition to be submitted on Google Classroom by Wednesday evening.  Please record in an audio only file if possible (voice memos or voice recorder) to minimize the file size.  If you do need to record on video please use your Chromebook to record and follow these steps:

1. Record the file for each audition requirement

2. Upload the files to a folder that you can easily find in your Google Drive

3. From the Google Classroom App find the files in the folder and attach them to the assignment

USEFUL TIPS

1. Do NOT use the record function on the Google Classroom App- it rarely works.

2. If your file takes more than a couple minutes and hasn’t finished uploading the files WILL NOT UPLOAD and you must retry to upload.  On APS Wifi (the fastest in the city) it should take less than a minute to upload even a large file.  

3. DIsconnect and “Forget” the APS network then reconnect with your APS credentials if the connection isn’t working.  

4. Be persistent until the job is done and uploaded.  It may require you to focus on it uploading for a while and not let your device lock or go into standby.  If you are “waiting for it to upload” for more than 2 minutes it likely isn’t uploading, try again.  

5. Record multiple takes and submit what you believe to be the best ones.  

6. Do your best.  It does not have to be perfect, it just has to be your best work so students can be placed in the zero hour band that best meets their needs.  

Record a minimum of a 2 octave f concert scale OR the full Allstate Range and the following:

Flute:

• Romanza: m 18-21

• Giga: Beginning to first note of m 8

Clarinet:

• No. 26 Allegro Furioso-  m.1- Downbeat of m. 9

• No. 34 Adagio- m. 1- downbeat of 8

Bass Clarinet:

• Allegro Moderato:  m10 to beat 4 of m14

• Largo:  Beginning to m9

Oboe:

• Larghetto:  Beginning to m9

• Allegretto scherzo:  Beginning to downbeat of m8

Bassoon:

• Allegro assai:  m13 to m24

• Andante sostenuto:  Beginning to fermata in m9

Saxophone: 

• #3 Andantino BEG to DB m. 8 

#22 BEG to DB m.15

Trumpet: 

• Moderato: 1-8

• Allegretto: 5-14

Horn:

• Andante: M. 1-8

• Allegretto: M. 1-8 till breath mark

Trombone/Euph:

• Veloce: measure 1 to the end of measure 19 (2nd measure of 3rd line)

• Andante Pastorale: measure 40 to the end of measure 48

Tuba:

• Bordogni (andante pastorale) - M. 40-47 (end on G)

• Blazevich (allegro) - M. 1-8 (end on B natural)

Percussion:

• Mallets: pg. 62 Allegro - Measure 1 to downbeat of measure 10.

• Snare: #2 measure 41 to end

Allstate Auditions: Time slot sign ups will be posted Monday.  Make sure to sign up early and only in slots available.  Mr Sayre will be recording students from October 30th to November 6th (not on weekend) Jazz auditions will be recorded in class so no sign up is necessary for Jazz Students.  Audition information is here.  Find the scales for your instrument and be sure to have them down!  It also includes sight reading so be ready.  

Go Eagles!

Mr. Sayre