Mr. Varillas' Music Blog

Rehearsal Schedule: Week of Monday, February 27th, 2012

Monday

• 11:30am - Mr. V's Hour

Tuesday

• 7:15am - Senior Band
• 11:45am - Intermediate Band

Wednesday

• 7:15am - Jazz Ensemble
• 11:45am - Percussion Ensemble (Oye Como Va, collect new music)

Thursday

• 7:15am - Senior Band
• 11:45am - Intermediate Band

Friday

• 7:15am - Jazz Ensemble
• Percussion Ensemble (T.B.A.)

Announcements

1. COURSE REGISTRATION: This is the final reminder to all band members to make sure you are signed up for your music courses for next year!  Those of you who completed AMU1O should be registered for AMU2O.  If you completed AMU2O this year, you should be registered for AMU3M as well as the Senior Band (AMR4M) and Jazz Ensemble (AMH4M).  I would recommend signing up for these ensemble courses EVEN if you're not sure you can make it to these ensembles next year.  It's easier to remove a course from your timetable than to try adding it while course selections are "frozen" for the next 2 months!  If you have not yet registered for the required courses, please make sure you get this sorted out by this Monday.  All students are welcome to register for AMG2O - Introduction to Guitar.
2. MUSICFEST LONDON: Plans are well in order for our competition in London next week, Wednesday March 7th, 2012.  The bus will be leaving Madill at 6:15am SHARP and returning at approximately 7:30-8:00pm.  Students are asked to arrive to the school NO LATER than 5:45am to load gear
3. MUSICFEST FEES: The total cost per student is $30.  Payment can be made in cash, or with a cheque payable to "F. E. Madill S. S."  Post-dated cheques are also fine.
   
   N.B.  The purpose of this competition is to give ALL band members an opportunity to perform in a competitive music festival and showcase their talents as part of the Madill Music team.  My own personal rule is that NO STUDENT WILL BE LEFT BEHIND DUE TO FINANCIAL REASONS.  Students, parents,guardians... if you feel that payment cannot be made in a timely manner, or at all, please do not hesitate to send me an email or phone the school to speak with me in private.  We can easily make arrangements.  The point of being in band is to play music, not worry about money.

Music Course Registration

It's that time of year again where we choose our courses for the next school year.  Please have a look at the following documents to help guide your music course selections for the coming school year.

 

Music Courses Available - Info for Current Madill Students

Music Courses Avaliable - Flow Chart

 

Officially, course selection is due in to the Guidance office by Wednesday, February 22nd.  Please make sure to get your course selections submitted as soon as possible.  Course changes may be 'frozen' as early as next Monday so it is doubly important that if you're wavering on whether or not to take a certain music course, you register for it now.  It's easier to drop a course later than to try to get into a course that may already be full.

 

If you have any questions about course registration, please feel free to contact me.

Rehearsal Schedule: Week of Monday, February 20th, 2012

Monday

• Family Day - No classes

Tuesday

• 7:15am - Senior Band
• 11:45am - Intermediate Band

Wednesday

• 7:15am - Jazz Ensemble
• 11:45am - Percussion Ensemble

Thursday

• 7:15am - Senior Band
• 11:45am - Intermediate Band

Friday

• 7:15am - Jazz Ensemble

Announcements

1. It's course selection time!  That fantastic time of year to ensure you're registered for all your music courses!    There will be a separate blog post regarding course registration in the next day or two.
2. This is a reminder that Musicfest London takes place on Wednesday, March 7th, 2012 and we'll be departing Madill very early that day.  Please be prepared to depart Madill around 6am on this day.  This means, of course, that you will have to arrange a special ride to school that day.  Please start thinking about this now so that it's not a surprise as we approach the big day!
3. Please ensure that you are practicing your parts regularly.  Each band member should be practicing a minimum of 20-30 minutes, twice a week.  Senior ensemble members should be upwards of 3-4 practice sessions a week.  You are certainly welcome to make one of these practice sessions during the Monday lunch hour ("Mr. V's office hour") or this Friday this week as well while I am around for some extra help if you have any questions about parts etc.
4. Since Musicfest is quite a distance away and there is a registration fee per student, the cost for each student will be announced soon.  I am doing my best to ensure the cost is minimal and it will definitely be no more than $30 per student.  This cost includes the bus fee as well as all student festival fees.  The exact amount will be announced in next week's posting.

Thursday February 16th - No Buses

No Buses,

Enjoy the day!

Cheers!

 

Mr. V

Rehearsal Schedule: Week of Monday, January 13th, 2012

It's Valentine's Day on Tuesday!  Don't forget to serenade that special someone with all that practicing you're doing!  ;)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday

• 11:30am - Mr. V's Hour

Tuesday

• Happy Valentine's Day!
• 7:15am - Senior Band
• 11:45am - Intermediate Band

Wednesday

• 7:15am - Jazz Ensemble

Thursday

• 7:15am - Senior Band
• 11:45am - Intermediate Band

Friday

• 7:15am - Jazz Ensemble
• 11:45am - Percussion Ensemble - Oye Como Va

Announcements

1. This is a reminder that Musicfest London takes place on Wednesday, March 7th, 2012 and we'll be departing Madill very early that day.  Please be prepared to depart Madill around 6am on this day.  This means, of course, that you will have to arrange a special ride to school that day.  Please start thinking about this now so that it's not a surprise as we approach the big day!
2. Please ensure that you are practicing your parts regularly.  Each band member should be practicing a minimum of 20-30 minutes, twice a week.  Senior ensemble members should be upwards of 3-4 practice sessions a week.  You are certainly welcome to make one of these practice sessions during the Monday lunch hour ("Mr. V's office hour") while I am around for some extra help if you have any questions about parts etc.
3. As per our meeting before the exam break regarding attendance, please also ensure that you are arriving to rehearsal on time.  It is only fair to your fellow bandmates that you arrive at the same time as everyone else to set up and be prepared and tuned before we begin rehearsal.
4. February is the big preparation period for Festival... for as much work and time we all need to put into our music, it will truly pay off in successful performances from all of us!  Let's keep up the fantastic effort!

Rehearsal Schedule: Week of Monday February 6th, 2012

Monday

• 11:30am - Mr. V's Hour

Tuesday

• 7:15am - Senior Band
• 11:45am - Intermediate Band
• 3:15pm - Jazz Ensemble Rehearsal in the big gym
• 6:30pm - Jazz Ensemble meets in music room for performance
• 7:00pm - Performance

Wednesday

• ***No Jazz Ensemble rehearsal this morning
• 11:45am - Percussion Ensemble - March Madness

Thursday

• 7:15am - Senior Band
• 11:45am - Intermediate Band

Friday

• 7:15am - Jazz Ensemble
• 11:45am - Percussion Ensemble - Oye Como Va

Announcements

1. First of all, welcome to 2nd semester!  It's hard to believe that the school year is half over already, and with that comes preparation for Festival!  The Musicfest Regional competition takes place in London at the beginning of March (the week before March Break).  We will be performing in London on Wednesday, March 7th.  This day will be an early morning departure.
2. Given that this is the time of year when we prepare solely for Musicfest, it is very important that we get full attendance at every rehearsal.  As you know, if you are away from band for legitimate reasons, please simply inform me and that's great.  But please do not let avoidable issues become a problem.  Make sure to se your alarms properly and sort out rides to school in a timely manner.
3. Jazz Ensemble, please make sure to keep working on your repertoire for Tuesday evening's performance.  As you know, it is a short performance so clean-up should not take long and you will likely be free to go by 7:45pm.
4. As always, please feel free to call the school or email me if you have any questions, comments, concerns, or queries about life in general!   :)

Jazz Ensemble Rehearsal Friday morning

There will be a Jazz Ensemble rehearsal this coming Friday morning at 7:15am in preparation for Tuesday evening's Grade 8 Parent Night.  Please make sure you arrive on time and are properly prepared for this rehearsal.  If you cannot remember the pieces, check the calendar for the repertoire list  you are responsible for knowing.