Info about UIL this Thursday!

Blanco 7th/8th Grade Band 

On Thursday, March 2nd, the BMS Band will go to the “Real Deal” UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Competition at Canyon Lake High School. For this contest, we will dress up (see “what to wear” below). Students will be dismissed at 9:30am from class. We warm-up at 11:15am and perform at 11:45am at CLHS Auditorium. We then go to sight-reading. Students will need to bring $10 for lunch. After our performance, we will stop in San Marcos at an area with several fast food restaurants. We cannot guarantee we will be back by 3:30pm, but we are going to try. Please make arrangements for transportation in the event that we do not make it back by 3:30pm.

Can I come watch my child perform?

Absolutely! All concerts and band competitions are free and open to the public with the exception of sight-reading contest.

What to Wear?

Boys should wear slacks and a collared shirt (polo or button-down). Ladies should wear a dress or dress pants/blouse combination. Solid colors are preferred. All students should wear appropriate dress shoes. BISD Dress Code should still be followed. In addition, shoulders, knees, and toes should be covered. Absolutely no jeans, t-shirts, athletic shoes, or flip flops are allowed for UIL Performances. If this is going to be a problem in any way, please contact the BMS Band Director, Danette Conard, at the Middle School.

No Pass – No Play

Please remember that it is Texas State Law that students must be passing in order to compete in Extra-Curricular Activities. Any student who was not passing as of the last 6 weeks report card will not be allowed to attend. Furthermore, any student who is failing for UIL competition will not be allowed to attend the Band Six Flags Fiesta Texas trip this Spring.

Awards

At UIL, we compete against a state standard and do not compete against other schools. The band will receive a rating for their stage performance and also for their sightreading performance. A “1” in both categories will earn the highest  Sweepstakes Award. Last year, we received a 1 on stage and a 2 in sightreading. Let’s take it all the way to the top this year! We will submit a recording of our contest performance to the ATSSB Outstanding Performance Series competition. Last year, our march placed 1^st in the Region and 3^rd at the Area level. Our goal is to advance to the State level this year!  

Any questions, email Mrs. Conard.

Pre-UIL Competition - February 16th

Pre-UIL Competition ~ February 16, 2017

Here is information about Pre-UIL band competition that is happening next week.

Where are we going? Lytle High School, 18975 W FM 2790 S, 78052

Who is going? All eligible 7^th and 8^th grade band students (must have passed 3^rd 6 weeks or progress report)

What is the schedule?

8:00am – All 7^th & 8^th grade band members will meet in the band hall for a rehearsal.

9:30am – Load bus and trailer.

9:45am – Depart Blanco MS.

11:00am – Eat lunch at CiCi’s Pizza in San Antonio.

12:45pm – Arrive at Lytle HS. Unload bus and trailer.

1:30pm – Band goes into warm-up room.

2:00pm – Pre-UIL contest performance. This is open to the public. Parents may come and watch.

3:00pm – Depart for Blanco. (We will not stop on the way back.)

4:30pm – Approximate return time to BMS. Please make transportation arrangements if you normally ride the bus home. Students riding home with other students will need a parent note.

What should I wear?

2016-17 BMS Band T-Shirt and nice blue jeans. If you have not yet purchased a t-shirt, they are $15. Together, we are a team. Please do not wear anything that would draw attention to yourself.

What should I bring?

_____Instrument - in good, working order

_____Black binder - with music, scales, and warm-ups

_____Accessories  - valve oil, reeds, neck strap, mallets, etc.

_____Money - $7.25 for lunch (please bring exactly $7.25) (plus $1-$2 for a tip)

_____Positive attitude

This is a required performance and a test grade. The band director must be notified, in advance, if your child cannot attend.

Wow! Bravo! Congratulations!

Wow! What a great concert Tuesday night! I hope everyone was able to come out and enjoy the wonderful music that was made by our 7th and 8th grade band students. I received so many wonderful compliments. I am so proud of them. If you could not attend the concert, we have been asked to perform tomorrow for the middle school student body at 12:45pm. You are welcome to join us in the MS Gym for our encore performance. If anyone has any pictures or video from Tuesday night, please send them my way. Thank you!

Next up is All-Region Band Auditions on January 17th. If students have not played their music for me and they want to audition, they must play it before school gets out on Tuesday. I will be making recordings of the music so the students can practice along with them over the break.

Congratulations, band! Way to shine! Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year!

Christmas Music Recordings now available!

Professional recordings of the songs we will be playing for our Christmas Concert have been posted on the "Weekly Assignments" page. Listen and play along with them!

Christmas Concert is in Two Weeks!

(A letter has been sent home about our upcoming Christmas Concert. If you did not receive it, please continue reading.)

We are excited to be preparing for our annual Band Christmas Concert. This year’s concert will be

held on Tuesday, December 13^th at 7PM in the High School Cafeteria. The concert will be approximately one hour long and is free and open to the public.

·         5^th Grade Band:  Be in the HS Cafeteria ready to play at 6:30PM

·         6^th Grade Band:  Be in the HS Gym ready to play at 6:20PM

·         7^th/8^th Grade Band:  Be in the HS Band Hall ready to play at 6:40PM

For musical performances, it is important to dress for success. Boys should wear, at minimum, a collared polo or button-up shirt with khakis or slacks. Suits/Ties are optional. Girls may wear dresses or a nice blouse with a skirt or dress pants. Pay special attention to skirt lengths; knees should be covered when sitting! 

For all students' attire: Please, no t-shirts, shorts, athletic shoes, or fitness type clothing. School dress code applies. Fun Santa hats and Reindeer antlers are acceptable and encouraged!

This concert is an extension of our band class. All of our hard work in class culminates with this one performance. Every student is important to the success of the bands. All band students are required to attend and stay for the entire performance. As a reminder, all band performances are counted as test grades. Band directors must be contacted in writing, in advance, if there is a known conflict.

If you have any questions, please email Mrs. Conard, Mr. H, or Mr. Aly. You may also leave a comment or ask a question in this blog.

❄Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!🎄

8th Grade Band invited to play with BHS Band this Friday!

8^th Grade Band Members – You’re Invited!

All 8^th Grade Band Members are invited to join the High School Band in the stands at the last Varsity Home Football Game. The last game is vs. Rogers on November 4^th. The High School Band will perform at halftime, and all band students will have 3^rd Quarter off to take a break and go to the concession stand. 8^th Grade Band Members should report to the stadium at 7PM. The game will be over by 10PM. Students are required to stay until the very end. 

Please bring your instrument, bring money for the concession stand, bring a water bottle, wear your MS Band Shirt (with jeans or shorts), and remember to HAVE FUN!

T-Shirts are in!

Band T-shirts were given out today to students that paid for them. If you ordered a shirt, please ask your child for it. All band students need a band shirt. If you still owe money for a shirt, please send your payment to me ASAP.

Also, I have a few extra shirts if you would like to order one. Let me know what size you need, and I will let you know if I have one available for you to purchase.