Concert next week!

Don't forget - our Holiday Concert is Next Thursday, December 9 at 7:00 PM. The Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble will be performing. Alumni are invited to perform A Christmas Festival with the Wind Ensemble - just bring your instrument!

Please check previous blog entries (search for concert dress) for Concert Dress instructions and information. Warm-up will begin for both bands at 6:30 PM.

Jazz Band will begin January 10. Rehearsal will run from 6:00 - 7:30 on Monday evenings.

Reminders Week of 11/22

Wind Ensemble Members: No sectionals this week
Honors Band Members - Assignment is due Tuesday, November 23 with Honors Band Projects for each specific expectation, along with the quarter they will be completed. (Honors Packet info was distributed two weeks ago.)

Extended Make-Up projects from Marching Band are due November 30. (Each student this involves was given a assignment sheet.)

Brook Park Holiday parade - check the itinerary on the website for details! We will wear raincoats in the parade if it is cold or rainy but only if EVERYONE has their raincoat!!! If your family is staying for the lighting ceremony, please send a note the day of the parade and plan on meeting us at the end of the parade route - (behind Kennedy Field). We cannot release your child unless you are there at the buses to pick them up.



Have a great Thanksgiving and we'll see you Sunday for the parade!
Ms. Holtshouse

Brook Park Holiday Parade

Don't forget - the Brook Park Holiday Parade is Sunday, November 28. The Itinerary is posted on the website now! If you will be out of town for the Holiday weekend and will not back in town for the parade please send in your excused absence form ASAP. Excused absence forms are due by Friday, November 19. We will be using music for the parade. All students should bring raincoats for this performance. If it is cold, we will wear them in the parade - but we can only do that if EVERYONE brings their raincoat!!!

Concert Band Announcements

Sectionals begin this week! Here is the schedule of sectionals for both bands:

Wind Ensemble - Monday - Trumpets/Horns/String Bass
Wednesday - Flutes/Oboes
Thursday - Low Brass/Low Reeds
Friday - Clarinets/Alto Sax

Symphonic Band
Monday - Low Brass/Low Reeds
Tuesday - Trumpets
Wednesday - Clarinets (depending on FMS schedule)
Thursday - Flutes/Clarinets (depending on FMS schedule)
Friday - Horns/Alto Sax

Don't forget that sectionals are 25% of the quarter grade and excused absence forms need to be turned in one week in advance. Excused absences may be made up. (See your director to schedule a day or another make-up assignment.

Concert Dress - Reminder that concert dress is tuxes for boys and all black dress clothes for girls. Boys need to purchase black dress pants, a white tux shirt and a black bow tie. (American Commodore Tuxedo at Parmatown has the following prices available: Gently used tux shirts - $14.95, new tux shirts $25.00, bow tie $7.50 and if you need dress pants they have washable ones available for $39.00)

Ladies - you need to be in complete black - dress pants or a long black skirt (below the knees when sitting). If you wear a skirt that is not full length you need to wear black hose or tights. Dress shirt in black - ladies may also wear a full black dress.

Century Resources Fundraiser

Just a quick reminder that Century Resources fundraiser money and orders are due today! We can accept them on Monday as well so you can take the weekend for any last minute sales! Checks should be made out to Midpark High School.

Announcements 10/22

Band shirts came in this week and we do have a few extras in stock for purchase if you missed our order. T-shirts are $7.00 and Sweatshirts are $18.00. See Ms. Holtshouse or Ms. Zunic for available sizes. We also still have baseball caps, skull caps, and drawstring orange bags for $7.00 each. These will be sold on a first come first serve basis. Checks should be made out to Midpark Band.

A quick reminder that all make-up assignments are due by next Friday, October 29. Any student with an excused absence (Excused absence form turned in either one month before a scheduled event, or immediately following an illness or emergency.) You can find the make-up assignments posted under Concert Band on the website.

Concert season starts in one week! Make sure your instrument is in good working order and you have plenty of reeds/valve oil. etc. We will be scheduling sectionals the first week of concert season and the sectional schedule will be posted as soon as it is available. Each student will attend one 45 minute sectional a week. These rehearsals are mandatory!

Jazz Band interest sign ups are posted in the music wing. Please indicate which sports you play so that we can schedule rehearsals!

Let's have a great end to marching season! Thanks for all your hard work this season, and many thanks to all of our parent volunteers!

Concert Season coming soon!

Have you checked your concert band instrument out lately? Concert season starts in two weeks! You still have time to get your instrument to the shop for a tune up before concert season starts! Make sure you have reeds,valve oil, etc. so that you are prepared for concert season day 1.

Parent Help Needed

There are a couple of areas we will need additional parent help in the next few weeks:
First we need a couple of underclass parents to help with Senior Night. This would include ordering flowers and organizing a reception after the game for Seniors and their families. (Cake and punch.)

Next, we need help with Band Snacks - at home conference games we are required to feed a snack to visiting bands - if you are able to help, we need snacks for 9/17, 9/24 and 10/29.

Please email Ms. Holtshouse if you are able to help!

Reminder that Enjoy the City books are on sale now through Septemebr 15. Order forms and books went home in the last couple of weeks. Orders can be taken on the envelope that the sample book came in. Checks should be made to Midpark Music Boosters.

Also, parents who are helping with chaperoning this year need to get fingerprinted at the board office. (These last for 5 years if you have already done it!)

Thanks for your help!

Opening Day Music and Reminders

Please be sure to check the Itinerary for Monday's Opening Day performance! (Click on the itinerary link on the home page of the website. Review the following music for Monday's performance and make sure you check your key signatures!

School's Out
Saturday in the Park
September
(These three songs must be passed off before Wednesday's rehearsal)

National Anthem
Fight Song
Cleveland Rocks
Final Countdown
Long Train
You Give Love a Bad Name

Report to the Band Room at 7:00 AM - details on the itinerary - have a great weekend!

Bowling next week!

Hi everyone! Just a quick note that we will have another bowling party after rehearsal next Wednesday, August 18 immediately after practice for 2 hours. Family and friends are invited to this event! Admission is $5.00 and will include 2 hours of cosmic bowling and shoes. Please RSVP by email to Ms. Zunic how many people will be attending.

Picture day is Monday! Remember to be at school by 4:15 so you can be dressed and lined up by 4:30 for the picture. Make sure you bring picture forms and money with you.

Pass-Offs are Monday for Pre-Game! We will wear our band Shirts for Meet the Meteors at 7:00 PM. People who are in sports will play with the band at 7:00 and then stay with their teams when the rest of the band leaves for rehearsal.

Please make sure you are practicing your music for the Summer show, Senior Show, and stand tunes! We need a lot of music ready for the teacher's Opening Day performance on August 23!

Thanks for all your hard work at band camp and this week! Keep up the good work!!

Emergency Medical Cards

One more note: Please bring your emergency medical card to the first rehearsal, whether that is Rookie Day or the first day of Band Camp. It is very important that we have these on file as soon as possible. Emergency Medical Forms were in your summer mailing - make sure you also bring all music that you were given in your summer packet! Recordings are available under Marching Band on the website!

Rookie Day and Band Camp!

Once again, a few reminders about Rookie day and band Camp next week!

Please keep in mind that we rehearse on a black top field! You need to:

• Eat breakfast before you come to camp!
• Arrive so that you are on the field ready to go at 8:00 AM (Monday we will start in the auditorium at 8:00 AM)
• Bring and apply sunscreen generously and often!
• Wear light colored clothing and shorts! (Dark colors will attract the sun).
• Wear a hat and sunglasses for outdoor rehearsals
• Bring water labeled with your name. (We will have coolers available for you to refill)
• Wear tennis shoes - low cut tennis shoes that tie (no slip-ons, loose fitting, or skateboard shoes)
• Rookies do not need to bring instruments to Rookie Day on Friday.

Each day we will break from lunch from 12:00 - 1:00 PM. Thursday lunch will be provided for you. On other days you may choose to go home for lunch, out to lunch, or pack your lunch and stay at school.

Please remember - if you need to miss rehearsal for any reason you need to fill out an excused absence form and turn it in to the directors. You can find this form under "forms" on midparkband.com

Uniform Fittings:
Here is a quick reminder of uniform fitting schedule. Please bring your completed uniform accessories form along with payment to band camp on Monday (or you can bring it with you the night of your fitting). If you are having financial difficulties and cannot pay in full next week, please contact the directors to set up a payment plan.

Monday: Freshmen
Tuesday: Upperclassmen Last names A-J
Wednesday: Upperclassmen Last names K-O
Thursday: Upperclassmen Last names P - Z

We could still use more parent volunteers for uniform fittings - if you are available and willing to help, please email Ms. Holtshouse. We also still have a few snack spots to fill if you are able to help with those!

Friday of next week will be "Meet the Band" night at 6:00 PM. Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy a performance with everything we've learned at camp this year! Dinner will be provided for the band before the performance. Students should bring their band shirts to change into for the performance.

We'll see you all soon! Looking forward to a great season!!

Another Calendar Change

Just a heads up everyone! Homecoming has been changed! Homecoming will now be September 24. (It was originally September 17). We still have room for a few more snack volunteers for the week of band camp. Please email Ms. Holtshouse if you can help!

A few other opportunities for parent involvement in the next couple of weeks: We need help with uniform fittings the week of band camp! If you sew we will need help hemming band pants - we also need parent help to fit uniforms, shoes, and pin pants for hemming, and money collection. Please email Ms. Holtshouse if you are able to help! (We will need help Monday - Thursday after band camp.)

If you have raincoats at home please plan on returning those before August 2! Thank you for helping with those!

Time Change for Parma Game

Please note: The first football game at Parma will be played at 7:00 PM! This is a change from the original time on the calendar. All other games will still be played at 7:30 PM.

One other important calendar change - the concert that was originally scheduled for Thursday, April 28 will now be on Wednesday, April 27. We needed to make the change because of the District Alumni Hall of Fame Dinner. Please make this change on your calendar.

A quick reminder that all calendar changes will be made online - check the calendar on the website for the most updated information. Looking forward to seeing you all soon!

Upcoming Dates and Announcements

Hello everyone!

I hope you're having a great summer! I'm back at school prepping for band camp and the new school year! We're looking forward to a great season and are looking forward to seeing you all soon!

A couple of reminders as camp approaches:
Please bring your emergency medical card with you on the first day of camp. (It was included in your summer mailing.) Make sure you eat breakfast each day before you come to camp and drink lots of water! Sunscreen is crucial as we practice on blacktop -bring a hat and sunglasses to protect yourself from the sun.

We need parent volunteers to bring in Band Camp snacks - if you are willing to provided 110 snacks please email Ms. Holtshouse and let me know if there is a particular day you would like to provide snacks. We try to provide a small snack two times a day. These could be popsicles, cheese and crackers, chips, cookies, etc. Morning snack is at 10:15 and afternoon snack is at 3:00 PM. Snacks can be dropped off at the beginning of the day.

The website will be updated regularly now so please check for updates on the blog and on the calendar. Please remember that the hard copy calendar may have changes throughout the year - the online calendar is the most accurate calendar!

Officer Work Day is Thursday, July 29 from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Rookie camp is Friday, July 30 from 12:00 - 3:00 PM (You do not need instruments this day)
Full Band Camp begins Monday, August 2 at 8:00 AM.
Rookie Parent Meeting - 6:00 PM Monday August 2.

Please check the calendar for Uniform fitting times and dates - please bring your uniform fees in a sealed envelope on the first day of Band Camp. (If you are having financial difficulties and need to be on a payment plan, please notify the directors.)

Once again, check the website for updates and please start looking at your music for the first football show (School's Out, Saturday in the Park, September).

See you soon!
Ms. Holtshouse

Final Week Reminders

Well everyone, we're down to the last few days of school! Here are a few reminders to close out the school year.

• Be sure that you have checked the missing items list in the band room to be sure that you have turned in all uniform parts. Remember, you needed to turn in the items you were assigned at the beginning of the school year!
• Have you turned in all your fees for this year? Ms. Zunic passed out bills last month to remind you of what you owe.
• Please pick up all school owned instruments, marching and concert and take them home for the summer. (A few of you still need to check in your concert instruments from this year!)
• Make-Up assignments due Tuesday. Did you have an excused absence from a performance this quarter? Make sure your make-up assignment or service hours are completed by Tuesday.
• Be sure that you have your marching instrument Monday and Tuesday for class and finals. We will be playing!
• Friday, June 11 we will stuffing the summer mailing at 10:00 AM. Officers should plan on being in attendance and we can always use extra help if you're willing!
• Check the online calendar for June rehearsal dates for percussion and new color guard members! Remember that the online calendar is always the most updated calendar of events!
  

Memorial Day Itinerary Posted!

This will be a busy weekend for everyone! Just a few reminders:

• Wind Ensemble members need to turn in permission slips for Friday's Memorial Day performance at the Tri-City Memorial Day service! All permission slips should be in tomorrow! (Thursday)
• Anyone missing the Memorial Day parade because you will be out of town must turn in the excused absence form before the parade to be excused. Make-up assignments can be found under Concert Band. Students may choose to do 4 hours of volunteer work to make up a performance or choose one of the options on the performance make-up page.
• Have you missed any other performances this quarter? See above. All make-up assignments must be turned in by June 8. (June 2 for seniors).
• All uniform items will be turned in after the Memorial Day Parade. Please be patient when picking up students - we will move as fast as we can collecting uniforms! We could use lots of parent help that day - please meet at the band room after the parade if you are available to help!
• Seniors will turn in all instruments/locks/tuners/etc. on Monday as well. Seniors must have all items turned in or paid for before they can graduate!
  
• Check out the Summer Lesson form on edline (soon to be on midparkband.com) and complete the form if interested - this is a great way to improve your skills over the summer and it is very affordable!
• Don't forget - playing finals/auditions begin on Tuesday. You will have time in class to practice or do homework for other classes so make sure you are prepared when you come to class next week.
  

End of Year Announcements

The end of the school year is quickly approaching! Please keep checking the calendar for events and volunteer opportunities. We need a lot of help at the end of the year to wrap things up and prepare for the fall! Here are a few highlights of what's coming up:

• Officer elections continue this week - we will vote for Historian on Wednesday, Librarian (2) on Thursday, and Uniform Officer (2) on Friday.
• All Honors Band projects (Wind Ensemble) must be turned in by the day of Finals (June 8). Be sure that you know which projects you still need to complete and get those taken care of! (Please look on the online calendar for volunteer opportunities - remember 4 hours of end of the year volunteering = one Honors Project.
• Memorial Day Events - Wind Ensemble will be bringing home permission slips tomorrow (Tuesday, May 18) for next week's Tri-City Memorial Day Ceremony. We will walk to the Middleburg Hts. Rec Center unless there is bad weather. Students will be excused from class 3rd mod - 8th mod. We will have pizza upon our return - please bring your own chips/cookies to share and your own beverage.
• The Brook Park memorial Day Parade will be held on May 31 at 10:00 AM. The Marching band will meet at 8:55 AM for this event. A reminder that we collect all school owned uniform parts at the end of the parade so please plan on a little extra time after the parade for uniform collection. The Itinerary will be posted later this week.
• Parents who are willing to help with uniform collection should email Ms. Holtshouse - thanks in advance for your help!
• Playing Finals/Audition Music will be distributed Tuesday - please check the online calendar for Advanced Etude help sessions.

End of the Year Information

Things are starting to ramp up for all of our end of the year preparations including auditions for Color Guard, Drum Major, Percussion, and Concert Band Placement! Keep checking the calendar for updates so that you are informed! Officer elections will also be starting soon - be thinking about the leadership roles you would like to fill next year and run for office!

The Jazz Band schedule for next week will be as follows- we will rehearse at our regular Monday time - 6:00 - 7:00. Then on Thursday we will be performing for the Hall of Fame Dinner. We will need to arrive at 6:15 and we will be finished by 7:00. We will wear all black for this performance and this will be our last Jazz event of the year. Please notify me immediately if you cannot attend on Thursday - I have to have a group there and may need to find emergency fill-ins for people who cannot attend. Thanks!

Next year's calendar has been added to the online calendar if you need to check any summer dates. This is still a work in progress so many dates are not set in stone!

We've Been Upgraded to a higher end hotel!

Hello! I just got a call from our travel company and the hotel has been overbooked and they are upgrading our group to a nicer hotel across the parking lot from our original hotel. I will be emailing the details and posting them to the website when I have the details, but they have agreed to upgrade any of our family members who also booked at the Beuna Vista Hotel! If you are not traveling with our group but booked a room at our hotel, please email me and I will arrange to have your hotel upgraded. Please email me the name that the reservation was under and the number of rooms ASAP. Thanks!

Disney Reminders

The Disney trip is only a few days away! Here are a few reminders before we leave on the trip!

• Our next rehearsal is Wednesday, March 24 during sectional time from 2:30 - 3:15 PM. Any member who has not attended rehearsal may not march with the group at Epcot. (If you are not marching you will be assigned to a chaperone while the other band members are performing the parade and workshop.)
  
• Music must be memorized by the Wednesday rehearsal!
• All packet forms are due by Thursday evening. (Permission, medical, etc.) - Remember that there will be a notary available at Midpark Thursday evening if you have not had your Medical Form Notarized yet.
• Remember that all medication must be turned in with the Berea City Schools forms (with a doctor's signature.) Medication may be left at the clinic any time this week or turned in Thursday evening. Remember, this includes over the counter medication! (All medication must be in it's original container.
• Any movies going along on the trip must be labeled with your name and Bus # and turned in Thursday evening for approval.
• Pack a lunch for our trip on Friday! Remember that all drinks must be screw caps and no energy drinks are permitted!
• Don't forget to find a buddy to share garment bags with for the trip. Put all uniform parts in on Thursday evening so that it is ready to go Friday morning.

Let's have a great trip everyone! All trip packet information will be posted under Members Only before the trip. (Parents can access this for itinerary information and forms as needed.)

WInd Ensemble to perform for Fox 8 News

The Midpark Wind Ensemble will be performing for Fox 8 News tomorrow morning at 10:00 AM in the auditorium. We will be wearing concert dress for this performance. Students will be released from class after 2nd mod to change and report to the auditorium for warm-up and tuning. We will be finished by 10:15. Don't forget to bring concert dress! You will be able to change back into your regular school clothes after the performance. Mr. Kish selected us to be a featured group this year and I know we will represent Midpark well! See you tomorrow!

Disney Update

Please mark the following Rehearsal and Meeting Dates on your calendar:

Disney Marching Rehearsals - Thursday, 3/18 and Wednesday, 3/24 from 2:30 - 3:15 PM.

Chaperone Meeting - Thursday, 3/18 at 6:00 PM in the Band Room.

Parent/Student Meeting - Thursday, 3/18 at 7:00 PM in the Auditorium.

Thursday, 3/25 - 6:00 - 8:00 PM. Drop off luggage at Midpark High School for the Trip. A Notary will be available at this time for parents to sign the Emergency Medical information.

Medication Needed on the trip: If you have medication you need to take on the trip, you will need to have a doctor sign the Medication form available from the clinic and Ms. Holtshouse. Please see Ms. Holtshouse this week if you need one of these forms.

Bus sign ups are this week! Stop by the Band Room to sign up for your seat on the bus!

We're looking forward to a great trip! The detailed information packet and forms will be coming home next week. Keep checking the members only page on midparkband.com for updated information.

Announcements Week of 2/16/10

Wind Ensemble Members: Reminder that University of Akron permission slips and meal orders are due by Friday. (Look under Wind Ensemble on the main page of the website if you do not have your copy at home.) The itinerary is posted there as well. Remember that you will need to bring your concert black clothes in your garment bag to school on Monday. Parents are invited to attend the 7:00 concert and can take students home straight from the concert with a note. There is no admission for the concert.

Wing Night is this Saturday, February 20 at the Front Row Bar and Grill from 6:00 - 9:00 PM. Please note that this is an adult event only. (More information under Support the Band). Please note that advance tickets are being sold at a discounted rate of $18.00.

Pre-Contest Concert is next Tuesday, Feb. 23. The Band portion of the concert will begin at 7:30. Warm-up will begin at 7:00 PM in the Band Room/Choir Room. The choir portion of the concert will begin at 7:00 PM. We are hosting the Choral portion of the Large Group Contest at Midpark. We will have sign-up sheets for workers at the Pre-Contest Concert. Please help if you can!

Large Group Contest will be held at Strongsville High School this year.
Tentative Contest Times: Wind Ensemble - Friday, March 5 - 5:05 PM in the Auditorium
Symphonic Band - Saturday, March 6 - 9:00 AM in the Gymnasium.
Full Itineraries will be posted once times are confirmed.

Band Camp 2010 will be August 2 - 6! We are working on next year's calendar and will keep you posted on when dates are added to the calendar!!!

Disney details/full itinerary: Please notice that the tentative performance details are posted under members only on the website. Our full detailed itinerary will not be available until our final packet comes out a couple weeks before the trip. The final packets will include forms, itinerary details, and any other information you will need!

Solo and Ensemble Cancelled

The State Highway Patrol has a Cuyahoga County at a level 2 warning that means you should stay at home if you don't have to travel. District IV Solo and Ensemble is CANCELLED today. AT this time I don't have any additional information. Enjoy your day and stay safe!

Final Disney Payment Information

Attention all students and parents going on the Disney trip! The final payment on our original payment schedule was 1/8/10. Many of you are paid in full - thank you! If you still have a balance, it MUST BE PAID IN FULL BY FEB. 9!! The tour company is no longer accepting payments and all further payments should be sent to school and made out to Midpark High School. All accounting has been completed and if you are unsure of your final payment please contact Ms. Zunic through email (kzunic@berea.k12.oh.us). We will not be sending individual bills home with students.

We are required to lock in our final numbers on Monday, January 25. If for any reason you think you will not be able to pay the final balance by Feb. 9 let us know through a phone call or email before 3:00 PM on Monday, January 25. A reminder that the refund deadline has passed and you will not receive any refund on funds already paid.

Disney Announcements and Deadlines

Our Disney Trip is quickly approaching! Don't forget that your trip must be paid IN FULL by February 9, 2010! All fundraising money will be sent to the company by the end of this week so final bills will be distributed next week. (Adults, please remember that your fees are different from students - please refer to your initial payment plan for specifics.)

Room assignments begin tomorrow! Emails went out through edline today with instructions and I will include them here as well. Student rooms are primarily rooms of 6. (The rooms are suites.) Please talk to your friends and decide who will be in your room. Assign one person to be the room leader. This person will be responsible for signing up all students in the room. Any questions/problems will be referred to that person.

Senior room leaders may sign up Wednesday before school. Juniors may sign up Wednesday after school. Sophomores Thursday before school and Freshmen Thursday after school. Students not signed up for a room by Thursday after school will be assigned to a room.

Check back often for more detailed information on the trip, along with details for parent meetings, and chaperone meetings which will be announced soon!