submitted by a West Rocks band parent, July 2006:

Parents, your help is needed! At year end, WR band (and orchestra and chorus) students participate in a band competition called "Music in the Parks", in Massachusetts or New Jersey. It's an all day event and parents are invited to help in chaperoning around the park, and in giving the students well-earned audience approval!

If your child is involved in either of the jazz ensembles, your help is needed even more. The jazz ensembles perform at various venues during the course of the year. Music stands and percussion equipment have to be moved back and forth. There's also the matter of car-pooling students to venues when a bus is not available. Red Jazz does 5 to 10 venues away from school. It also participates in "IN CONCERT", a jazz improvisation clinic which meets 3 times and culminates in a rock-the-house concert not to be missed! Parents are needed to help in planning this huge undertaking (100 jazz students from 4 middle schools). Blue Jazz also has about 3 to 5 outside venues which need parent involvement.

Volunteers are also needed to keep the photos/local music news updated on the bulletin board in the music hallway. In addition, photos are needed for 2 music pages in the school yearbook each spring. And digital photos, small digital video-clips under 1 minute (wmv format), and digital audio-clips can be submitted to this webpage for posting. To do so, send an email to: mlavins@optonline.net

In late April/May, a couple parents are needed to help prepare the "Music Makes a Difference Fund" mailing. MMAD is a voluntary "pass the hat" appeal, done once a year at year end, as a way to say "thank you" collectively to the music teachers for their amazing efforts during the course of the year. All contributions are shared by the music teachers to further improve the music program for students during the following year. For more information about MMAD, contact cquad@optonline.net

If you have specific technical, instrumental, internet, or editorial (including email) skill which you think can help the band program or music department in general, please feel free to talk with Mr B about any ideas. If you have a web server or web skill which can be used to help the band or music department, you are needed! If you have a "big old truck" which can be used to move equipment, talk to Mr B. If you have a musical instrument or product you can donate, or you're a wiz at repairing things, or construction ability, talk to Mr B.

In general, if you have an idea/ability which makes sense for the music department, or for supplemental fund-raising, or for new venue opportunities for the ensembles, music teachers are interested to hear from you.

West Rocks MS has an excellent, award-winning band program and music department: a long tradition of dedicated music teachers, talented students, involved parents. Thank you for getting involved!