September 15 has been looming since our very first Midwest Memo. Today was the deadline for submitting our concert program to the Midwest Board for approval. If you’re a regular reader, you know I had every intention of submitting early....
I’ve been reading Pathways: A Guide for Energizing & Enriching Band, Orchestra, & Choral Programs by Joseph Alsobrook. I’m only about halfway through, but wow, it’s quickly becoming one of my favorite band related texts. In the next several weeks...
If you’ve been following along, you know that we had a two-hour rehearsal this morning to read through our anticipated Midwest program for the first time. I have to confess to two things: 1) While planning this rehearsal, I was...
From Jeanine, 8th grade flutist, and 3 year member of the Symphonic Band regarding our band camp: I would wake up knowing there would be a long day ahead, but I also knew it would be a day of improvement....
Well…we just finished our weeklong band camp. Things have been so crazy I haven’t even had a chance to post about it yet. This isn’t something we normally do, but added it in preparations of our performance at Midwest. In...
FUNDRAISING Since we are an Illinois band, we do not have the hefty transportation costs normally associated with a Midwest Clinic performance. We do, though, have several needs associated with our Midwest performance and preparation: – Design, photography and printing...
Buried in the back of the binder we received from the Midwest Office at the June meeting is a green sheet titled “Program Planning Suggestions” from the Board of Director’s Performance Coordinating Committee. There’s some great advice on this page...
It’s been a little while since I’ve posted. While a lot of work has gone into preparing for the school year, there are a lot of loose ends that need to be tied before I post in greater detail. Band...
Publicity photos are due to the Midwest Office by September 15. This doesn’t leave much time once school starts. Finding locations for these photos has been one of my priorities this week. While I had considered various Chicago-type locations for...
This past Tuesday morning a couple parents and I met with Skokie Mayor George Van Dusen. I don’t know if our meeting with the Mayor seems unusual or not, but at least in this case we knew we should set...