- 7th & 8th Grade Band
April 18, 2008 blog
The 7th and 8th Grade Band are preparing for our Spring Concert and Assembly as well as the Music in the Parks competition in May.
For the Seventh Grade Band the Spring Concert will be held on Wednesday evening May 7th as part of Spring Concert 2. The concert will take place at 7:30pm at West Rocks MS.
Eighth Grade Band students will be part of Spring Concert 3 program held a week later on Wednesday evening May 14th in the auditorium at West Rocks. If any parent is unable to attend the evening performance, they are reminded that the same program will be presented the day before on Tuesday for a portion of the school.
The concert dress for both the assembly and the evening performance will be the same. Students are required to wear a white-collar shirt, black pants and shoes. Boys wear a necktie.
Both the Seventh Grade Band as well as the Eighth Grade Band will be attending the Music in the Parks competition in Massachusetts in May. The Seventh Grade Band will attend the competition on Friday, May 2, 2008 and the Eighth Grade Band will be going on Friday, May 16, 2008. The concert bands will be performing for judges at these adjudicated festivals at various sites in Massachusetts. Following the performance, members of the concert bands will spend the remainder of the day at "Six Flags New England" Amusement Park in Agawam, Massachusetts. A great day is guaranteed for all! (See Events)
March 15, 2008
Congratulations to Jessica (flute),Nina (clarinet), Gina (bass clarinet), Matt (tenor saxophone) Kathleen, Sam, Michael F, and Michael O (trumpet), Julian (french horn), and Zach (tuba) for doing an outstanding job on Saturday, March 8th, at the Western Regional Concert Band and Jazz Ensemble Festival at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury, CT.
Last December, these students auditioned for a seat in one of these prestigious groups. All ten of the students scored high enough on their audition to be a part of the concert band.
On Friday, March 7th, the students left West Rocks right at the end of the school day and were transported to, and from the festival, by parent volunteers. They registered for the festival at 3:30pm, and then got right to work having a 2 hour rehearsal with the guest conductors for the region.
The conductor of the concert band was Brian Kelly, a high school band director from Newington, CT. Before he became a high school band director, Brian was a middle school band director in Bristol, CT.
After a short dinner and time to socialize with other area students it was back to work for another 90 minute rehearsal. By 8pm the kids were exhausted. They were told to go home and get a good nights rest because they would be back rehearsing bright and early in the morning. They were back at it early! By 9am, they began rehearsing once again to make the 3:30pm performance the best it could be.
I want to tell you the musicians didn't disappoint. The concert was wonderful! It was amazing to listen to the improvement from Friday evening's rehearsal to the performance on Saturday. Both festival directors commented to the audience about how wonderful the students were, both as musicians and people, and how professionally they handled the grueling schedule.
I was very proud of all those students that tried out for Western Regional, those who made the ensembles, as well as those who didn't.
Take a look at the pictures in the photo section.
March 3, 2008 blog
I was very proud of our 7th and 8th grade band students during last Wednesday's EastSide Band Concert. It is hard to sit, wait, be patient, and listen to other group's perform when you are eagerly waiting your turn to get on the stage. I don't know how the kids do it! The students should be applauded.
It is also a very important time for each of my 8th grade students. The decision they make in the near future might change their life forever. We often discuss the high school band during a rehearsal. They know my feelings regarding the band. Yes, the demands on their time are great, but so are the rewards. I've been teaching at West Rocks for a long time now, and very often students come back to visit, talk, or to see the pictures that line the walls of room 151. Some that come back are All-State caliber players, some just enjoy playing their instrument. Some who come back are students that didn't continue with band in high school. I have never had a student, continue in the high school program say to me, "What have you gotten me into?", but I have had students that didn't continue with music tell me they really miss not playing and being a member of a group.
For me, I enjoy concerts like the East Side Band Concert. I enjoy talking with former students that I haven't seen recently; to see how they've grown, improved as a player and matured as a person. I enjoy seeing the progression of musicianship from level to level all the way up to the Wind Symphony and Jazz 1, and to know I had something to do with their successes.
February 15, 2008 blog
The Eastside Band Concert at Norwalk HS has been rescheduled to Wednesday, February 27, 2008. This is a great opportunity for 8th grade band students to decide if they want to join the band program at Norwalk High School. The 8th grade students from both Nathan Hale and West Rocks view an informational video and discuss what it is like being a band student at NHS with freshmen and upper classmen.
Seventh and eighth grade students from both Nathan Hale and West Rocks have been asked to perform 2 numbers each at the Eastside Band Concert. Eighth grade students will be at Norwalk H.S. from 4:00pm until 7:00pm that afternoon rehearsing with the Norwalk H.S. Symphonic Band and Wind Symphony, and have dinner. Seventh grade students are to report to the rear of the high school auditorium at 6:45pm dressed for the concert. At 7:00pm, all West Rocks students, both the seventh and eighth grade students will tune for the concert. The concert begins at 7:30pm sharp. Admission to the concert is $2 at the door.
The concert dress will be:
Boys - White collar shirt, black pants, shoes and a tie.
Girls - White blouse, a dark skirt or black pants.
Please call me immediately if your son or daughter needs a ride to Norwalk H.S. or home after the program is over.
Click here for my letter about the upcoming Eastside Band Concert (please note the concert date has been rescheduled to WED, FEBRUARY 27), and here for the REVISED introduction letter to 8th grade students from Mr. Smith, Band Director at Norwalk HS.
December 13, 2007 blog
On Saturday December 8th, the 7th and 8th grade orchestra and concert band performed for parents and holiday shoppers at the Stamford Mall. The concert band perfromed first and took center stage at 1:00pm, all 96 members.(Check out the photos) Not only did we take center stage but took several rows of audience seating intended for listeners. I was very proud of our kids. They sounded great! There was nice blend and balance and good overall intonation. It was also fun performing in front of such a large crowd . Thank you goes out to all the parents who were able to attend the concert. We received much enthusiasm from those in the audience making it a great deal of fun to play.
I received many compliments about the group after the concert from many people who were just spending the afternoon catching up on their holiday shopping and several former students. A special thanks goes out to several families for schlepping all the equipment to and from the mall and storing timpani in their living rooms for the weekend. Also, I would like to thank all those parents who just lent a hand setting up and breaking down after the program.
The final holiday program for the 7th & 8th grade band will be on December 18th for our annual Senior Citizens Concert. Students are to wear good school clothing for the program and report to the stage at 9:00am.
November 1, 2007 blog
Holiday Concert 1
The first concert of the school year will be West Rocks annual Holiday Concert 1, which takes place on December 5, 2007 at 7:30pm in the West Rocks auditorium. Members of both the seventh and eighth grade bands will be performing and should arrive no later than 7:00pm the night of the concert.
If parents are unable to attend the evening holiday program, they are reminded that the same program will be presented the day before on December 4, 2007 for a portion of the school. The time of the assembly will be 8:45am.
Stamford Town Center Concert
The 7th and 8th grade concert band is busy preparing for our second concert of the school year. The concert takes place on Saturday December 8th at the center stage of the Stamford Mall. I am asking that the kids arrive at 1:00pm to warm and tune up and then the concert begins at 1:30pm. The students have been working very hard since the beginning of October on the new band pieces and are looking forward to the opportunity to perform them.
I will use the email addresses that I collected at the beginning of the school year to notify both parents and students of the concert. I will also use the conventional method of notification by handing the sheets out in band. Check those backpacks and good luck!
Band has a limited instrumentation and it becomes very important to know who will and won't be able to attend the concert. Please take a moment and fill out the permission form and send it back to school with your child by November 22nd.
I am also looking for parent volunteers to transport equipment to and from the mall on that Saturday. We also might need some parent volunteers to transport students who might be stuck for a ride on that day. If you would be able to help in either way please call me at West Rocks or email me at jbellagamba@snet.net. Your help would be greatly appreciated.
October 16, 2007 blog
To 8th grade band students only: Please note the attached information 2007 Cavalcade Information from Jeff Smith (Norwalk HS Band Director) regarding Norwalk's Cavalcade of Band's Competition on Saturday November 3, 2007. This is the best way to find out if band in high school for you. It is also an honor to be invited to perform in this event. Parents, please let me know immediately if your 8th grader will not be attending this event. More information regarding Cavalcade is posted on the Norwalk HS Band webpage Norwalk HS Cavalcade of Bands 2007
Cavalcade headline result in our local newspaper, next day: headline photo
September 15, 2007 blog
The seventh and eighth grade band is off to a great start! I have asked each member of the band to buy a half-inch binder an use it as a folder for this year. In the folder the students have their lesson schedule and their practice card. Parents: please make sure your son or daughter fills out their card each week and presents it at their weekly lesson. Make sure to sign the card each week so we all know the amount of time being set aside for practice. Remember the card is worth 10% of your childs quarterly grade. Also, if your child is unable to attend the weekly lesson due to a test, lab, or sickness, the lesson can, and should be made up after school on either Wednesday or Thursday afternoons.
In the binder we also have this year's audition packet and a cover letter that explains the scales and piece each student will be responsible for on the audition. Reminder to students: your audition shows your seating placement in band, and if you are ready to be in one of our 2 jazz ensembles. The audition score is also a major grade for the first marking period. I encourage each student to fully prepare for the exam.
Seventh grade students will have an extra week to prepare for the audition because of their annual trip to Nature's Classroom.
The binder also contains three combined band pieces the group will be performing during the school year. Students need to carry their binders to lessons, rehearsals, and concerts. Periodic folder checks will be held during the school year.
Again, I am very excited about this school year. If parents have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to contact me at school or via email.
-PRIOR YEAR 7TH & 8TH GRADE BAND BLOGApril 16, 2007 blog
The 7th and 8th Grade Band are preparing for our Spring Concert and Assembly as well as the Music in the Parks competition in May.
For the Seventh Grade Band the Spring Concert will be held on Wednesday evening May 9th as part of Spring Concert 2. The concert will take place at 7:30pm at West Rocks MS.
Eighth Grade Band students will be part of Spring Concert 3 program held a week later on Wednesday evening May 16th in the auditorium at West Rocks.
If any parent is unable to attend the evening performance, they are reminded that the same program will be presented the day before on Tuesday for a portion of the school.
The concert dress for both the assembly and the evening performance will be the same. Students are required to wear a white-collar shirt, black pants and shoes. Boys wear a necktie.
Both the Seventh Grade Band as well as the Eighth Grade Band will be attending the Music in the Parks competition in Massachusetts in May. The Seventh Grade Band will attend the competition on Friday, May 4, 2007 and the Eighth Grade Band will be going on Friday, May 18, 2007. The concert bands will be performing for judges at these adjudicated festivals at various sites in Massachusetts. Following the performance, members of the concert bands will spend the remainder of the day at "Six Flags New England" Amusement Park in Agawam, Massachusetts. A great day is guaranteed for all! (See Events)
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The 7th and 8th grade band have just concluded a week of auditions in which they had to memorize a number of scales including the chromatic scale, and perform an audition piece on their instrument.
I was very pleased with the efforts of most of the students. They did a great job preparing for the audition. The results of the audition can be seen on the bulletin board outside the bandroom in the music wing. The auditions were used to decide which chair a person would be in within their section, and also to determine if they were ready for our jazz ensemble, and of course their grade.
The 7th & 8th grade band now begins to prepare for the annual Winter Concert held at West Rocks in early December. The band plans to perform at the Stamford Mall in December as well.
I received a great number of email addresses from parents of 7th & 8th grade band students when I sent out the course prospectus at the beginning of the school year. I plan on using these addresses as a backup form of communication, to let parents know of upcoming events. I will also send notices home the conventional way, handing them out to students, but I cannot promise they will ever leave their backpacks. The new way should help!
As always, thank you for your continued support, and please call me at WRMS if you have any questions.
