It's over!

Well, the school year has ended (at least for the students). It is always a mix of emotions that I have at this time of year. I know I'll miss the students, but I also look forward to some (here and there) relax/refresh time.

The band and choir students did a great job at the 8th grade promotion event! I was really proud of the way they played and listened during the ceremony.

One final note about yesterday--I was surprised by my 8th grade students, both band and choir, with a card and a gift! I am really grateful for the tie and the Applebee's gift card! What I am really happy about is that I got a chance to work with such smart, talented, caring, thoughtful young people! That surprise absolutely made my week!

I'll have email access all summer and I'll be in to school fairly regularly throughout the summer if you need to contact me. I'll also try to blog periodically during the summer as well. Hope you all enjoy your summer!

Summer Lessons!

The summer lesson schedule has been posted on the music page of the middle school website. Lessons will start the week of June 7th. If there are questions or concerns, please let me know!

Promotion

Just a reminder that our last event of the year, 8th grade promotion, will take place tomorrow evening. Band and choir students should be at the middle school at 7PM, with the event lasting about an hour. Hopefully it will be nice and cool in the gym :) and things will go smoothly!

I want to thank everyone for an awesome year! It has been great! In June and July I play in the Ankeny Community Band--the one time of year I get to play my instrument (tuba) and refresh a little. I am looking forward to doing summer lessons and having a much needed vacation the first half of July before taking some classes in the second half of the month to renew my teaching license. Then when August rolls around, back for marching band prep! It never ends!

Summer lesson schedules will be done and posted tomorrow!

8th grade promotion

Just a reminder that 8th grade promotion will take place on Thursday, May 27th at 7pm in the middle school gym. Both the 6th and 7th grade band students are required to be at this event, as well as the 7-8 choir. The event should be shorter this year without the large number of awards that have been handed out in the past. We were able to award those on a different night. I am hoping the evening should only last from 45 min. to 1 hour.

Solo Festival

Awesome job to those who performed solos last night! There were some outstanding performances! It takes commitment and some guts to get out there and perform a solo. The judge gave some great feedback.

I was disappointed in the number of students who just plain didn't show up. Illness is certainly excused, but we as a group can do better about being responsible and being prepared.

Bandmasters

I have been fortunate the last 2 days to spend time at the Iowa Bandmasters Association Conference. It is a wonderful opportunity to network, socialize and learn some things to help me be a better educator. It is a wonderfully refreshing time--something that is much needed at this point in the school year. The keynote address was given by Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser--one of the people who wrote the Essential Elements 2000 lesson book. This is the 2nd time I have heard him speak and he is just wonderful. Very motivating! I am looking forward to returning to school Monday for the last 10 days of the year!

On My Way

I promised the choir a link to Phil Collins singing On My Way. Here it is.

Concert Day!

I always enjoy concert days--it's a lot of stress, but also a lot of fun.

The 5th graders came up today for a tour of the middle school and sat in on our rehearsal (really more of a concert run through). It was a great chance for us to play for someone before the concert. I think they really enjoyed it!

Tomorrow I will post information for the band solo festival coming up next week, as well as information about summer band lessons. I'll also try to remember to post a link here.

Hope to see everyone at the concert!

Iowa Journal--IPTV

Last night, the IPTV show Iowa Journal hosted a discussion about budget cuts in the education in the state, with the discussion centering around music education. I only caught the first half of the program because of bath time for my daughter, but it appeared like a great discussion about the importance of music education in the state. It reairs tonight at 6:30 on IPTV and Saturday at 8:30 AM on IPTV World. Also, take a look at the Iowa Journal website for more info!

Times

For the concert on Monday, the following groups should be at the middle school at the following times:

7-8 choir--choir room @ 6:30
6-8 band--Mr. Ruden's room @ 6:40
6th grade choir--bleachers at 6:50

On the 18th, 6th graders (and some 7-8 band students) are playing solos at the elem. for a judge. Everyone will be assigned a time between 4 and 8PM. If there are any special time requests, please let me know ASAP so I can take that into account when making the schedule.

8th grade promotion is on the 27th. Choir should be here at 6:30 in the choir room, 6-7 band at 6:40 in the band room.