GONZALES CHRISTMAS PARADE Sunday, December 13, 2015 12/11/15 CHRISTMAS PARADE UPDATE Due to weather concerns the following adjustments have been made:
The Central Mustang Band, Cheerleaders, and Dance Team will be marching in the annual Gonzales Christmas Parade. Here are the details for the all of the performers: - Equipment: Instrument in case, flip folder, lyre, and music (Jingle Bell Rock). - Pick-up Options: The end of the parade in the bowling alley parking lot. OR Central Middle School at approximately 4:00 p.m. (REMIND message will be sent when we are close to the end of the route, text @cmband7 or @cmband8 to 81010 to sign up) - Rehearsals for the Parade:
Please complete the attached permission form and return to Ms. Codina as soon as possible! ![]()
We are seeking 7th & 8th graders on the following instruments to start Central’s very own jazz band:
Alto, Bari & Tenor Saxes Trumpet Trombone Drum Set Piano Electric Guitar Bass Guitar Jazz band covers many different styles of music: LATIN!!! POP!!! ROCK!!! FUNK!!! . . . AND MANY MORE! Our introductory rehearsals will be: Monday, November 16 – 2:30-4:00 p.m. Monday, November 30 – 2:30-4:00 p.m. Monday, December 14 – 2:30-4:00 p.m. If there is enough interest, we will continue in January with weekly rehearsals and performances on the Spring Concert and at Solo & Ensemble Festival. We are now beginning our 2015-2016 Fundraiser to help raise money for the Central Middle School Mustang Band. We are pleased to be selling World’s Finest Chocolate bars at $1.00 a bar and the chocolate covered almonds at $2.00 each. The band will be able to keep half the proceeds for each item sold. Some of the items and events we are raising money for include:
This fundraiser will benefit all the members of the band program so we are asking for full participation from everyone in order to make this a success. Each student will be required to sell at least one box of chocolate bars OR chocolate covered almonds and return the cash/checks in the envelope provided with the box (each box costs a total of $60.00). Students not wishing to sell may choose to pay an opt. out fee of $60.00. Receipts will be given out after the money is counted. If the money is short, it will be noted on the receipt and the difference will be expected to be turned in within the week. When turning in money, please exchange any loose change with bills or a check to make counting easier! Additional boxes can be issued as the money for the sold boxes are turned in. Prizes for the highest sellers:
Any student who returns payment for his first case of chocolate within the first two weeks (by November 9), will receive a free bowling and practice report pass. Any students who sells four cases of chocolate by the end of the sale will receive a pizza party at school during their lunch. The sale will end on November 20 at which point all the money and any unsold chocolate will be due. After the Thanksgiving break, if we still have chocolate to sell, we will either start another student sale or try to sell it in front of the local stores. Please join us for our Booster Club meeting on Tuesday, November 17 at 6:30 p.m. in the Band room. Let us know if you have any questions, e-mail [email protected]. We thank you so much for your support of the Central Middle School Band! The last home football game of the year at CMS honored our 8th graders. Thanks for your three years of commitment to the Central Mustang Band!
The EA Spartan Band invited Central and Gonzales Middle School 8th Graders to perform with them at their annual 8th Grade Night on Friday, October 2nd. The students had a blast getting a taste of what high school band is like! Thank you so much to EA Band Directors Ms. Roussel and Mrs. Mlynczak and the members of the EA Band for their hospitality. We'd also like to thank the EA Booster Club for providing pizza and drinks for the students!
I would like to encourage your child to sign up to audition for the District IV Middle School Honor Band. This is a unique opportunity where selected students can perform with outstanding musicians from throughout the Greater Baton Rouge area. Membership in this prestigious group is a great addition to any young musician’s resume! Here are the details: Audition:
If Selected for the Band:
If you would like to sign up, please sign the form below and send with the $10.00 audition payment before October 30th! Student’s Name: __________________________________________________________________________ As parent/guardian of the student named above, I grant permission for my students to be registered for the District IV Honor Band Auditions. I also grant permission for my student’s name, school affiliation, contact information, instrument, and grade to be submitted to the District IV Band Directors Association by the student’s music instructor, who is a member of the association. I also understand that the student will be photographed and video recorded for the performance. Print Parent/Guardian’s Name: ______________________________________________________________ Parent/Guardian’s Signature: ____________________________________________ Date: _____________ To download a printable copy of this form: ![]()
We would like to all extend and great big "THANK YOU" to the CMS Band Booster Club for providing pizza and water during the game!
The CMS Mustang Band played its first home game and pep rally of the year on Thursday, September 17. Highlights included a rocking rendition of "Smoke on the Water" by Deep Purple and CMS favorites like Mustang Mambo and GO!
The booster club would like to give a huge "THANKS" to all the parents who came to help out with providing water for the students. It was a hot game, so they definitely appreciated it! We are now seeking donations from anyone willing to help with providing sandwiches and chips at the next game on September 24 during half time. Please message [email protected] to help! ![]() Attention all former CMS Band Members that are now in the EA Spartan Band! Join us for our "Alumni Game" on Thursday, September 24 at 5:00 p.m. *To sign up to attend the game, go here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XKZJH22 *Please wear your EA performance uniform. *Music can be downloaded off of the CMS Band page: http://www.cmsmustangband.com/music.html Due to popular demand, a second order of band sweatshirts and t-shirts is being taken! Please submit order forms by Sept. 10! ![]()
Thanks for such a great turn out to the booster club meeting! Attached is the agenda with my notes! The minutes will be posted on the Booster page ASAP! ![]()
The brand and quality of reeds is VERY important. We recommend Vandoren 2.5 or 3. Never Rico in the orange box, and I will explain why.
For example, today in class we were working on a high note passage with the 7th grade clarinet players. A student was on an inferior reed and just could not play the passage. I gave the student a Vandoren 2.5 and suddenly there was instant success! The reed the student was on before was just not allowing the notes to play. This happens over and over again with students who do not have the correct reeds. *A NOTE FOR 6th GRADERS – 1 box of size 2’s in any brand is OKAY to start because they will go through them quickly in the first month learning how to assemble the mouthpiece and take care of the reeds. Anything after that 1st box should be Vandoren 2.5. A better quality reed is a bit more expensive, but the improvement in playability, pitch, and tone is priceless. I highly recommend going online for them where prices are often cheaper. For example, http://www.amazon.com/Vandoren-CR1025-Clarinet-Traditional-Strength/dp/B0002E1OZY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1440716787&sr=8-1&keywords=vandoren+reeds+2.5. If a student still has brands we don’t recommend, they can leave those at home and use them for practice or emergencies. Teaching the students to care for these reeds is important so money is not wasted. Here are some tips that I share with the students at school:
Thanks so much for you attention to this matter! I appreciate everything you do for your musicians and hope these tips can help our reed players sound better and have more success! Check the band web-site often www.cmsmustangband.com
Attend our band parent Booster Meetings at 6:30 p.m. These informational meetings cover the details for rehearsals, performances, and fundraisers and are the place to come and get involved with your child’s musical education! o Tuesday, Sept 1. o Tuesday, Nov. 17 o Tuesday, Jan. 19 o Tuesday, Mar. 1 o Tuesday, May 3 Sign up for Remind messages o 6th Grade - Text @cmband6 to 81010 o 7th Grade - Text @cmband7 to 81010 o 8th Grade - Text @cmband8 to 81010 Add the band calendar to your computer and mobile device by going to www.cmsmustangband.com/calendar.html and clicking +GoogleCalendar at the bottom of the page or by using this address on any Apple device: https://www.google.com/calendar/ical/katiecodina%40aol.com/public/basic.ics Encourage your child to sign up for tutoring/private lessons! Students can sign up on my office door for 20 minute [free] tutoring slots with me or Mr. Hochkeppel. For more in-depth lessons on a consistent basis, sign up with one of our private lessons instructors (fees vary by instrument)! And don’t forget: o $35.00 Band fee due by Sept 1 o 6th Grade Deadline to have instruments is Sept 1 We are very pleased to announce that Dr. Ashley Kelly, a recent doctoral graduate from LSU in saxophone performance, will be available to teach private saxophone lessons at CMS. The quickest and best way to improve on your instrument is private lessons and Dr. Kelly is highly recommended! Please speak with Dr. Kelly or Ms. Codina to set up private lessons.
We are so excited to welcome all of our new 6th graders into the Mustang Band Family! After several days of mouthpiece testing, we have our official list of bandsmen for the 2015-2016 school year. Great care was taken to make sure the kids were placed with instruments that they were able to get great sounds on. 6th Grade Parents, please attend the meeting on Thursday, August 20th at 6:30 p.m. to get information on how to obtain an instrument. Getting a quality instrument is the key to success! Alison's World of Music will also be there to rent instruments. If you are unable to attend the meeting, please carefully review the Instrument Supply List and be sure to e-mail Ms. Codina with any questions. All students need to have their instruments and supplies by September 1st, however, the sooner they can start bringing it the better! After this deadline, we will change electives for any students that have NOT obtained an instrument. Please review the list carefully as many students may have a band day/schedule change now. All brass (trumpet, trombone, french horn, tuba, baritone) and percussion instruments meet on A day and all woodwind instruments (flute, clarinet, saxophone) will meet on B day. Once again, please e-mail with any questions or concerns. It has truly been a pleasure watching the students’ excitement for trying the instruments. I am looking forward to a very musical year! ![]()
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Monday was a great kick-off to the 2015-2016 school year as the Central Middle Band welcomed in new and returning students. If you weren't able to stop by the band room, here's what you missed: -Handbooks - Please sign and return receipt by August 14 (can be done online) -Important Dates - Please add the important dates to your calendars and download the google calendar available online. -Band Fees - $35 check made to CMS Band Boosters or pay online through the APSB system. -Uniform Orders - $20 band polo used for performances and optional sweatshirts and hoodies that can be worn to school. Order form attached. -Flip Folders & Lyres - All 7th & 8th Graders are required to have one (exceptions: cheer & dance)! Can be purchased at a local music store. -Remind information - Sign up to get updates about the band! For 6th Grade - Text @cmband6 to 81010 For 7th Grade - Text @cmband7 to 81010 For 8th Grade - Text @cmband8 to 81010 -To get involved with our parent support club, the Band Booster Club, please visit their page -6th Grade Parent Meeting - Thursday, August 20 at 6:30 p.m. in the CMS Bandroom. This meeting will discuss your child's instrument selection and how to go about getting an instrument! If you have any questions or concerns regarding this school year, please do no hesitate to e-mail the band director at [email protected]! ![]()
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Three of Central Middle's star musicians will soon be representing the school in the Louisiana Bandmasters Association's All-Star Concert Band.
Jessica Froisy, 8th Grade Clarinet Bella Istre, 8th Grade Flute Jolie Richardson, 8th Grade Alto Saxophone This band is comprised of the best middle school musicians from throughout the state of Louisiana. Students are selected through band director nominations and a point system which recognizes the student's achievements from throughout the school year. CMS was proud to be able to nominate many of its star players and honored that three were selected. These ladies will perform a concert on June 2, 2015 at Angelle Hall on the campus of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. On Sunday the Central Mustang Bands put on a Spring Concert at East Ascension High School celebrating a history of Rock & Roll. Mrs. Stephanie Musso, retired band director, also made an appearance performing a jazz trumpet solo on the final piece, Get Back, with the 8th grade band.
The 6th Grade Beginning Band performed for the first time in an adjudicated festival this year. The Archdiocesan Band Festival was held on Wednesday, April 29, 2015 at St. Dominic's School in New Orleans. The band performed three pieces, March Royale, Ancient Hunters, and Hot Fudge Sundae. The band could be rated 1 through 3 on each piece performed, 1 or "Superior" being the highest rating. The 6th graders received a 1 on each piece performed, giving them an overall "Superior" rating! Congratulations to our Mustangs on a great performance!
Some of top performers from the CMS Beginning Band performed in the Greater Baton Rouge Area Honor Band. The students, selected by band director nomination, met with other outstanding beginning musicians from area and after just a few short hours put on an impressive concert. Congratulations to our Mustangs who represented CMS!
Alexis Stevens, French Horn Jace Riley, Alto Saxophone Jadon Shirley, Trumpet Jordan Jones, Baritone Sophia Abbahou, Trombone |
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