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September 17, 2025
Hello Band Families!
We have had a fantastic start to band! These two and a half weeks have been amazing. Beginning Band knows how to play three notes really well and Advanced Band is making some great progress on pep band songs and their Christmas music.
A few things of note:
1. Band fees are up on FACTS! Some people have already found them and paid them, thank you so much! This covers all materials/treats I give them throughout the year. You can pay the fee online or by sending a check to the office.
2. Advanced Band ONLY: We need to break down some of our Christmas music, initial work on it has been a bit slow since everyone's part is much different from each other. To help with this, the next few weeks we will have sectionals on Thursdays. Your student only needs to come if they play in that section. The schedule is:
September 25: Woodwinds
October 2: Trumpets
October 9: Percussion
I will send reminders at the beginning of the week just in case.
3. I am happy to announce that the online practice tool I've mentioned is going to be implemented soon! Each student through their band fee will get an online subscription to MakeMusic, a browser-based practice tool that comes with all kinds of features including:
- All of their current band music and red book is available to practice and play along with (even if they left their music at school)
- A free library of thousands of songs that your student can learn on their own time for fun
- Backing tracks, metronome, and their part played at whatever speed they need
- Scrolling music to help them track where they are
- Automatic feedback for every single note (if you use a microphone and record)
- A sight reading generator to help them get used to seeing a new song for the first time
- A page where they can compose their own music
- Everything syncs to Google Classroom, and I can give comments and feedback from listening to their recordings
- Video lessons where students can watch professionals give help on specific concepts for their instrument
This is going to be an absolute gamechanger for practicing at home. Before we can implement it, everyone will need to pay the band fee so I can start the subscription. I will be giving a full tutorial for the students on how to use it during one of their band rehearsals. Once launched, please encourage your student to use it at home. It's going to be so fun and helpful I'm sure they will have a blast!
4. Watching performances of bands can be encouraging for students to keep pursuing their goals and give them a vision of what playing in band looks like long-term. I am performing with the Crossroads Wind Symphony, a concert band made of music teachers in the KC area, on November 5 at 7 PM at Olathe South High School. I'd love to see your student there!