In This Issue:

Congratulations Bands

Band Portraits

Jazz Band “An Evening of Dinner and Dancing”

Full Orchestra Rehearsal Schedule

Band Booster General Meeting

TFME at TMEA

Solo and Ensemble Preparations

New York Trip

Band Fees Final Installment Past Due

SMS Sign-Up

Kudos

Upcoming Events

*Band Hall Closed during lunches this week* details during class
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CONGRATULATIONS BANDS

Congratulations to all the members of the Concert Band I, Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble for their fine performances at last week’s Mid-Winter Concerts. The band program has come a long way since 2006. All three bands are to be commended for their hard work and dedication to the program.

Wind Ensemble members will receive a CD of their wonderful University of Alabama Honor Band performance in the very near future. The band directors are extremely proud of everyone’s accomplishments.

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BAND PORTRAITS
All band members will be taking band pictures on Monday during their band classes. 1st period band students should be prepared to begin taking pictures before the first bell rings. All students should dress in concert attire at the beginning of each class. Plans are to have two photographers per period. Students/parents are under no obligation to purchase the pictures, but they will be available to view and purchase online. Information regarding purchase was distributed last week.
Please bookmark www.morganphotosa.com. This site will have the proofs available shortly after the shoot.


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JAZZ BAND “AN EVENING OF DINNER AND DANCING”

“An Evening of Dinner and Dancing,” with entertainment by the Stevens Jazz Band will take place in the large band hall on Monday night. The event will begin at 7:00 pm and conclude at 8:30 pm. The Culinary department will be catering the event with offerings of heavy appetizers, light desserts, and beverages.

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FULL ORCHESTRA REHEARSAL SCHEDULE

February 9, & 16
Reduced instrumentation c/o Mrs. Wilson
7:30 – 8:00 Valse Triste
8:00 – 8:40 AM Ancient Dances and Airs (1st mvt)

February 10 & 17,
Full instrumentation c/o Mr. Rubio
7:30 – 8:40 AM Prelude to a Summer’s Dawn

February 23
Full instrumentation
7:30 – 9:00 AM
Clinic all pieces with Troy Peters

NOTE: If you are playing only for “Prelude to a Summer’s Dawn” please report to the rehearsals warmed up and ready to go at 8:00 AM

February 24, March 2 and 3
7:30 – 8:00 AM Prelude to a Summer’s Dawn
8:00 – 8:20 AM Valse Triste
8:20-8:40 AM Ancient Dances and Airs

NOTE: Rehearsal schedule on March 2 and 3 may be adjusted depending on TAKS schedule. Only eligible students are required to attend rehearsals after February 26.

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BAND BOOSTER GENERAL PARENT MEETING

A general band parent meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 9, at 7:00 pm in the large band hall. All parents are encouraged to attend.

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TFME @ TMEA
Texas Future Music Educators may attend the Texas Music Educators Association Convention/Clinic all day on Friday, February 12. Students must get the required TMEA release form from Mr. Rubio, and have it notarized before February 11. All TFME students have been receiving the Southwestern Musician magazine and are advised to review the December issue as it has the clinic schedule. Only TFME students may attend the Friday clinics and college night free of charge. The absence from school will be marked SB only for TFME students. Transportation will not be provided!


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SOLO AND ENSEMBLE PREPARATIONS

Solo and ensemble contest is less than a month away. Students should already be practicing with either Smartmusic or their Live Accompanist. All students, even those who failed to enter their information online in December, are required to perform for a judge. Ineligible students must perform their solo for a non-UIL judge for a grade only. More information regarding attire and stage etiquette will be forthcoming in later newsletters.

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NEW YORK TRIP

Trip plans to New York are now being finalized. Mr. Rubio will call a required meeting for all participants and parents of participants in the near future. We are looking forward to having a great time in the Big Apple.

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BAND FEES FINAL INSTALLMENT PAST DUE
Memo: 5792.03 & Student ID #

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HOT CHECKS

Please do not write HOT CHECKS to the Stevens Band Program! In a new school policy, the organization that deposits a hot check will incur all extra costs associated with that bad check with no chance to recover the loss.

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@JPSFALCONSBAND

We are now on twitter at www.twitter.com/jpsfalconsband. Twitter updates are also linked on the band webpage, however these messages are not seen from NISD computers.

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SMS Sign-Up
If you have unlimited text, you should consider signing up for the SMS service provided through the band website. Several parents and students have already signed up. This service is not linked to the NISD Twitter account and will be used only for band, band council and Texas Future Music Educators activities. You can find the information under the “Home” tab on www.falconspride.org

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KUDOS

-- to Mo Parks and Stacey Stilley for chaperoning the wind ensemble on their journey to and from the University of Alabama.

-- Ruth Partain and Richard Rangel for making the extra effort to see that their child didn’t miss out on the honor band event

--to Alissa P and Richard R for making to two events hundreds of miles away from each other within 24 hours

--Donald Savant for coordinating with restaurants and adjusting the schedule with the managers

--to the following parents who drove/car pooled to Alabama to support their child and the Stevens Wind Ensemble: Todd and Cynthia Carpenter, Susie Haertel, Brian and Julie Johnson, Randall Kirk, Donald Savant & Ginger Bess, Maria Serna, and Debbie Stoops

--to Mr. Maldonado for always supporting the band

--to band students who attended their friends’ concerts last week

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UPCOMING EVENTS:
February 8, Band Portraits in Concert Attire
February 8, Jazz Band—An Evening of Dinner and Dancing, 7:00-8:30 pm
February 9, Band Booster General Parent Meeting, 7:00 pm, Band Hall
February 10-13, TMEA Convention/Clinic, All-State Performances, Downtown

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Until next time
rdrubio

Many thanks to the following for their generous donation to help defray the cost of the Alabama Honor Band Festival Concert Program.

John and Angela Dominguez
Albert and Diana Gutierrez
Randall and Ruth Kirk
Christine Keyser Fanick--In Memory of Keith Haertel
Jared Morgan
John and Ruth Partain
David and Gloria Rodriguez
Robert and Lisa Rubio
Mark and Layne Roetzel
Jose and Terri Saenz
Ross and Stacey Stilley
Stacey Stilley--In Memory of Susanne Follett