Manners Meal

Friday is our annual Manners Meal that will take place at the Hotel Ft. Des Moines. It has been really fun working with the students on manners and having them discuss what they do and why think some of the manners are "dumb." It makes for some great discussion and thought process things!

It's also really nice to see the students get dressed up--it's amazing how much better their behavior is when they are dressed nicely. Maybe we need uniforms :)

Simpson Honor Band

On Tuesday, I took 3 CM students to an honor band at Simpson College. It was originally scheduled for January, but due to the crazy weather we had, it was postponed. I was glad they were able to reschedule--it's always nice for students to get the opportunity to learn from another director. This year, the CM students were part of a group under Derek Stratton, middle school band director at Pella. It was a great concert and a great time!

End of the year?

I can't believe how quickly the end of the year is approaching! It seems like just yesterday we were outside for marching band!

The end of the year always brings a flurry of activities, so I thought I would update a little about our schedule.

6th grade band students (as well as 7-8 students who didn't participate in Feb.) are receiving solos this week to work on for a solo festival at the elementary on May 18th. These need to be practiced at home!

Our Fine Arts Night concert is on Monday, May 10th. Earlier in the day, the 7-8 band will perform for the 5th graders, who are coming up to tour the building in preparation for the next school year.

On Thursday, May 27th at 7PM, we will be having 8th grade promotion. Both the 6th and 7th grade bands perform, as well as the 7-8 choir.


Keep these dates in mind! We are busy up through the end of the school year!

Budget cuts not just a school music issue

I did my student teaching at Hampton-Dumont. They have an absolutely phenomenal music program in that district and a strong tradition of a summer community band. There is a great article by Kyle Munson in the Des Moines Register this morning about the band shell at Band Shell Park in Hampton and the disrepair it is in.

I was lucky enough to work a little with Brian Stevens when I was student teaching--an incredible teacher and individual! Check it out here.

Break!

I hope everyone had a great holiday break! I spent way too much of mine in a car, but got to see a lot of family!

The end of break signals to me that we are in the home stretch of the school year. Fine Arts Night (May 10th) and solos (May 18th) in May and 8th grade promotion at the end of the month (May 27th). Everything we do will push to those events. As you can see, we work right up to the end of the school year! Hopefully everyone is rested and ready to go for this last month and a half!