I've been looking over our instrumentation for the year and things look pretty exciting!  Middle School is an excellent opportunity to consider switch instruments.  As we grow from the more elementary instrumentation towards high school instrumentation, we need students to step forward and begin to play many of the instruments that were unavailable when they began in elementary school.  This includes the oboe, bassoon, french horn, baritone/euphonium, and the tuba.  This year we have particular needs for students to play the oboe, the french horn, and the tuba!  If you (or your child) have the personality to be unique, the drive to master new skills, and the spirit to improve the band, I hope that you will come to me and volunteer to begin the excitement of a new instrument!

We had a great Back-to-Band Night on Tuesday night!  I really appreciated all the parents who took the time to come out, listen to all the information, and ask all those great questions!  A special "thank you" to the members of Friends of Folly Quarter Musicians who came early and stayed late, and provided all the tasty treats!  I am excited by the group of kids we have this year!  We should be making some wonderful music.  I just finished our last rehearsal without instruments, and I'm psyching myself for tomorrow!  I can't wait to hear the Bands!

Well, I am minutes away from my first "rehearsal" with kids.  I am excited, but a little depressed, too.  It's the beginning of the year and I have started getting a few of "those" notes.  The ones from home.  I don't get a lot, but I always get a few at the beginning of the year.  'So-and-so has decided to stop doing Band.'  First of all, I honestly don't think it should be entirely up to the student!  Read my thoughts on the FQMS Band Wiki on Quitting Band.  Most depressing for me is when people say it is so that the student may "focus on academics."  Honestly, I had an unweighted 4.0 GPA and was a National Merit Scholar when I decided to major in music.  I chose music because it was the most academically stimulating coursework that I had in my schedule!  I was enrolled in the most advanced courses in every subject that my high school offered, but it was only in music that I was able to push myself without limits.  It was in music that I was allowed to always progress at my own pace, to explore, to stretch, to grow!  If you truly want to train yourself or your child to succeed -- real life skills that are simply too difficult to boil down to a test score -- keep your kid in Band.  If can do anything to help, please do not hesitate to stop in, talk to me, email me or call me.  I will be delighted to discuss this at any point.  Okay!  Now, I'd better get ready for my first rehearsal!