Thu, 09 Sep 2010 12:23:55 GMT <![CDATA[Mr. Spang's Blog]]> Thu, 09 Sep 2010 12:23:55 GMT Today was the first day of school!  It was great to see band students walking about the hallways and in home room ... we don't get to start band until Tuesday next week - Sept. 7.  That night we will host our Back-to-Band Night at 7pm.  This is an information session for parents of Band students.  I hope to see you there!

We have a lot of exciting things and some great music planned for this year!  I can't wait to get started!  Students who have not picked up their Audio Yearbook should stop by anytime this week or next to pick up their copy.

Students interested in auditioning for GT Band and/or All State should definitely stop by and pick up an application/permission slip.  Don't wait!  They will be do next week right away!  Get cracking on the music right now: you can download it and start pacticing by clicking here:

http://www.follyquarterband.org/gtmusic.html

Hope you had a GREAT summer!

Mr. Spang

 

 

]]> <![CDATA[First Day of School!]]> Mon, 30 Aug 2010 11:50:03 GMT Hey Folks!

The official MMEA All State audition music came out today.  Here is the link!  Remember, this is the same music that is used for GT Band Auditions.  Please buy the book and get crackin' on it!  I want good representation from FQMS this year!  :-)

http://www.mmea-maryland.org/images/control_panel_image/2010%20-%2011%20All%20State%20Band%20Music%20Requirements.pdf

Of course, you will still need to know your major scales up to 4 sharps and 4 flats, plus your chromatic scale.

http://www.follyquarterband.org/res_scales.html

Please ask for help AS SOON AS POSSIBLE -- don't wait until the week of auditions to ask for help!  Let me know you want to audition so I can plan on helping you!

Thanks,

Mr. Spang

]]> <![CDATA[All State / GT Band Audition Music announced!]]> Sun, 15 Aug 2010 06:47:42 GMT Hi Everybody!

I hope that you have had a great summer!  Mine is just beginning - I have taught at three band camps, a scout camp, lead a choral festival, and attended a technology conference.  Finally, I have some time to visit family and friends!  I spent some time today uploading and entering almost all of our concert dates, festivals and rehearsals into our Google calendar.  New this year: I have learned how to publish "subscribe" buttons so that you can add it directly to your iCal calendar program, or subscribe via standard XML.  Get the dates imported directly into your family calendar!  I hope this service is of use to you.  I am really excited for another great yeat at FQMS in the Band Program!

Happy summer! Ahhhhh!

 

]]> <![CDATA[Happy Summer!]]> Fri, 06 Aug 2010 07:57:02 GMT Our 2010 Audio Yearbook arrived with just an hour of school left!  If you did not get a chance to pick up your copy on the last day of school, the CDs will be held in the Front Office at FQMS.  Stop by at your convenience during summer hours and ask for your CD.  They are labeled by with the students' names. 

 

I hope that everybody has a great summer and gets a chance to give the CD a listen and revisit our successes from the past year!

 

2010 FQMS Audio Yearbook Cover

]]> <![CDATA[Audio Yearbooks]]> Thu, 24 Jun 2010 04:34:18 GMT Hello!
I wanted to let you know about our wonderfully successful trip to the Music in the Parks Festival at HersheyPark.  On Friday, May 21, we left from Folly Quarter Middle School at 5:30 in the morning with 200 students and 55 volunteer chaperons, staff members and conductors.  The Music Department performed eighteen musical selections in six separate performances for professional adjudicators.  The performances were rated and entered into a competition and the results were truly impressive.

There are two divisions and two age categories: 'A' (school populations less than 750 students, that us...) and 'AA' (school population over 750); 'middle school/junior high' and 'high school.'  Also, each one is further divided into two sections ('I' and 'II') for schools sending more than one band, or chorus, and so on...  Every ensemble receives a score in ten categories, and then they are totaled and compared with other ensembles in the same division and age categories to earn 'places.'  In all, there were over 2000 students involved from 5 states.

In addition, schools are given ratings: Superior, Excellent, Good, Fair or Poor.

The Concert Band (under the direction of Mr. Spang) earned a 1st Place in the Junior High/Middle School Concert Band II Division and a "Superior" rating.

The Symphonic Band (under the direction of Mr. Spang) earned a 1st Place in the Junior High/Middle School Concert Band I Division and a "Superior" rating.

In addition, our Symphonic Band earned the Best Overall Junior High/Middle School Concert Band trophy for the band with the highest score of the day, regardless of school population.  This is an extremely prestigious award and I couldn't have been more proud of the kids' accomplishments in earning this impressive trophy.

The Symphony Strings (under the direction of Mr. Walls) earned 1st Place and an "Excellent" rating.

The Chamber Symphony (under the direction of Mr. Spang & Mr. Walls) earned 1st Place and a "Superior" rating.

In addition, the Chamber Symphony earned the Best Overall Junior High/Middle School Orchestra trophy for the orchestra (string or full orchestra) with the highest score of the day, regardless of school population.  This is an extremely prestigious award and we couldn't have been more proud of the kids' accomplishments in earning this impressive trophy, as well.

The Advanced Chorus (under the direction of Mrs. Sartor) earned 1st Place in the Junior High/Middle School Mixed Chorus I Division and a "Superior" rating.

The FQMS Singers (under the direction of Mrs. Sartor) earned 1st Place in the Junior High/Middle School Treble Chorus I Division and an "Excellent" rating.

On a side note, the Advanced Chorus was only 0.75 points (less than one point!) away from being tied for the Best Overall Junior High/Middle School Chorus award!

Lastly, we are very excited to announce that Folly Quarter was selected for the Esprit de Corps Award for this year's festival!  The Esprit de Corps Award is presented to the students from a school who demonstrated proper social behavior as well as musical behavior/encouragement.  They possess the qualities of highly successful people who are sensitive to the feelings of others and applaud accomplishments no matter if by one's own school or another school.  Evaluation has taken place from arrival at the festival site to the awards presentation.  All schools are eligible for this award, but only one group has the honor of taking this trophy with them back to their school.

]]> <![CDATA[Success at Hershey Park!]]> Tue, 08 Jun 2010 11:24:03 GMT Last night a new chapter in the history of FQMS happened!  We had our very first (Spring) Jazz Concert.  Jazz has always been pretty special at FQMS, but last night marked the first time that we have ever had a concert for the sole purpose of showcasing our own FQMS jazz ensembles.  The FQMS Blue Jazz Band, Jazz Combo, and Gold Jazz Band performed a 90-minute concert in a variety of styles and just blew me away!  I am soooo proud of all the musicians - they didn't just "play the notes," but were actually swinging up there and creating some great solos on the spot!

 

I hope that you were there and had a chance to hear the kids play!

]]> <![CDATA[History!]]> Tue, 08 Jun 2010 11:24:03 GMT Whew! It's been a long week and a half while we weathered the record-setting blizzards of 2010.  I had a wonderful time with my family, but I am eager to get back to school and make some music at FQMS!  I have just posted the new Symphonic Band seating results from our reseating auditions.  Tomorrow rehearsals begin again!  Hopefully, I'll have a chance to check in with our Solo & Ensemble musicians before Saturday's Festival.

 

We have some exciting events ahead.  Our guest clinician for our Symphonic Band Night Rehearsal 1 is Dr. Harlan Parker from the Peabody Conservatory!  I hope that we can manage to get enough rehearsals in so that our music is prepared for our clinician!

 

]]> <![CDATA[Winter Break II]]> Tue, 16 Feb 2010 08:56:50 GMT Hello and Happy Saturday!

It's the day of the GT Band Concert!  The kids are finishing up a morning rehearsal and will be performing tonight at 7:00pm at Howard High School.  The concert is free and will feature eight of our finest FQMS musicians!  I am sooo proud of all the kids who undertook the time, effort and risk of preparing the audition and going for GT Band!  Next week, several students will undertake the same effort and risk and audition for All State.  This isn't easy!  It takes time and dedication, hard work and perseverance!  I hope that you'll take the hour this evening to hear how well it has paid off!

Hope you are having a good day (and squeezing in some practicing) !!!

]]> <![CDATA[GT Band Tonight!]]> Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:17:38 GMT Hi Everybody! Happy Halloween!  We just got back from trick-or-treating with my kids.  Earlier this afternoon I got to see and hear the Glenelg Jazz Ensemble in concert with their guests from Freiburg, Germany.  What a great concert!  I was blown away by how good the bands sounded, especially for so early in the school year ... it was also wonderful to see so many current FQMS families in the audience.  What a great way to spend Halloween afternoon!  I was really proud by my former FQMS kids in the band -- a big shout out to Graham, Steven, Doug, Andrew, Katie and Bobby!

I am really excited by our own Jazz Bands at Folly Quarter!  We had our first Gold Jazz Band rehearsal last Wednesday and it was an incredible rehearsal -- we blew through three tunes and the band was swinging!  We ended with "Frankenstein" in honor of Halloween and just rocked out.  Wait 'til you hear these kids in concert!

]]> <![CDATA[Happy Halloween!]]> Sat, 31 Oct 2009 09:13:04 GMT I am so excited and proud of our FQMS musicians!  Congratulations to Alicia Ouyang (flute), Jackie Cohen (bass clarinet), Selby Stout (bari sax), Karl Brown (trumpet), Bauer Xiong (trumpet), Chris Buckley (trombone), Gwynn Marsh-Armstrong (trombone), and Logan Faulconer (percussion).  These students were selected for the Howard County Middle School Gifted & Talented Symphonic Band!  I am so proud of all the students who auditioned - many kids took advantage of the after-school opportunity to prepare difficult audition music and represent Folly Quarter so well!

I am gearing up and psyched for Jazz Band Auditions!  They are coming up soon (Oct. 21) and I think we will have a couple great ensembles!

]]> <![CDATA[So Proud!]]> Sat, 10 Oct 2009 07:42:03 GMT