Congratulations to all our students who traveled to Jackson, TN yesterday to participate in the All-West Band Auditions!  These students competed against others throughout our region for placement in one of the two honor bands set to perform at the Canon Center for the Performing Arts in February.  All the students that auditioned should be very proud of their work and the tremendous learning experience!

The students on the list below either made one of the honor bands or holds an alternate position.  They rank among the best middle school musicians in our state!  Please help us congratulate these students on their hard work and dedication.

FLUTE

1. ​Lydia Shotsberger - 2nd Alternate
2. Anna Millard - 3rd Alternate

CLARINET

1. Lily Simpson - 5th Blue Band
2. Alex West - 7th Red Band
3. Christian Wynne - 13th Red Band
4. Hunter Hapke - 21st Red Band
5. Shachi Shyam - 23rd Red Band
6. Maggie Manis - 6th Alternate

BASS CLARINET

1. Mason Mullins - 1st Red Band
2. Anna Melby - 2nd Red Band
3. Noah Bishop - 2nd Alternate

BASSOON

1. Ryan St. John - 2nd Red Band
2. Ian West - 4th Red Band (6th Grader)

ALTO SAXOPHONE

1. Elijah Palmer - 1st Red Band

TENOR SAXOPHONE

1. Roger Jones - 2nd Red Band

​TRUMPET

1. Luke Story - 3rd Blue Band
2. Adam Linnell - 5th Blue Band
3. Johnny Kotkovich - 10th Blue Band
4. Joshua Grose - 11th Blue Band
5. Matthew Richardson - 3rd Red Band

FRENCH HORN

1. Nathan Tucker - 2nd Red Band
2. Coleman Brandt - 4th Red Band
3. Hailey Simpson - 7th Red Band (6th Grader)
4. Bryan Turner - 1st Alternate (6th Grader)

TROMBONE

1. Colin McCormack - 1st Blue Band
2. Ayaan Riaz - 4th Blue Band
3. Robert Watt - 6th Blue Band
4. Taylor Parchman - 4th Red Band

TUBA

1. Andrew Melby - 1st Blue Band
2. Jackson Beasley - 3rd Red Band

PERCUSSION

1. Paul West - 1st Blue Band
2. Cameron Pleasants - 3rd Blue Band
3. Jesse Wickman - 5th Blue Band

Yesterday several thousand students from all over our region traveled to North Side High School in Jackson to compete individually for spots in this year's All-West Clinic.   Here are the results for our students:

Oboe
2nd Blue Band - Rachel Laribee
2nd Red Band - Dilyn Doherty

Flute
1st Alternate - Katie Reich

Clarinet
10th Blue Band - Kayleigh Bunn
11th Blue Band - Laura Haynes
20th Blue Band - Rylee Renfrow
14th Red Band - Sydney Carroll
19th Red Band - Dinah Saunders
21st Red Band - Luke Hubbard

Bass Clarinets
1st Blue Band - Shelby DeVore
2nd Alternate - Anna Soto

Alto Saxophone
2nd Red Band - Logan Gossett

Trumpet
6th Blue Band - Harrison Whitworth
7th Red Band - Elizabeth Berry
8th Red Band - Luke Story

French Horn
2nd Blue Band - Jon Yopp
3rd Blue Band - David Orleans-Lindsay
6th Blue Band - Paige Shackelford
2nd Alternate - Elizabeth Zwissler
7th Alternate - Colby Dodd
8th Alternate - James Nesbit

Trombone
5th Blue Band - Ashton Looney
5th Red Band - Julian Maxwell
7th Red Band - Ethan Heverly
3rd Alternate - Alex Helvie

Baritone
2nd Blue Band - AJ Jenkins
1st Alternate - Sean Douangaphaivong
4th Alternate - Alec McCreary

Tuba
4th Red Band - Darrius Hunt
6th Red Band - Henry Richarde
2nd Alternate - Riley Hubbert
5th Alternate - Carter Klein

Percussion
4th Blue Band - Natalie Bierbrodt
3rd Red Band - Brent Brightwell
1st Alternate - Jalyin Reeves

Students who made Blue or Red Band are scheduled to attend the All-West Clinic February 11-13th.  The participation fee is $30.  You can find more information here: http://www.arlingtonmsband.com/all-west.html.  All participants are required to attend the Spring Booster Meeting.

We have quite a few 1st and 2nd alternates.  Those students should be prepared in case they are called up to play.  While it is rare, this does happen to at least 1 section a year.  It may also happen as late as the morning of February 11th.  If you are willing to get called up, please make sure you fill out the form presented at the meeting.

We are looking forward to seeing all of you at the Spring Booster Meeting this Thursday, January 21st in the AMS Cafeteria at 6:00.  

All 7th & 8th graders going to Dollywood in April are required to attend to get necessary information for the trip.  Please expect he tentative itinerary will go home on Tuesday.  

We will continue to have Jazz rehearsal from 4 - 5:30 on Thursday before the meeting.

Thank you to all the parents who were very accommodating to the district's iPad distribution Tuesday night that moved us to the library!  
Unfortunately, that meant that I was unable to be both in the band room with our amazing Beginning Band and in the library to answer your questions.  This message will hopefully answer some of the most frequently asked questions from Tuesday night. 

I will refer to the 2015-16 Band Handbook several times.  Students were given paper copies in August and a digital copy is available on the "Forms" page here: FORMS

As in the past, our traveling groups (Concert & Symphonic Bands) will wear a uniform for their performances.  This was a marching-style blue jacket, white pants, and white shoes.  This year we are looking for a more professional appearance that highlights our concert performances.  

As stated on page 8 of the 2015-16 Band Handbook:

"7th and 8th Graders will perform in the new concert black uniforms.  Girls’ uniforms are a floor-length black dresses, which will be purchased from the band.  Girls will also need to wear black flats or heels no more than an inch high.  Hair must be of a natural color and may have appropriate ties, bows, or bands.

Boys’ uniforms will include a white tuxedo shirt, black bow tie, black vest, and black pants, which will be purchased from the band.  Boys will also need to wear black shoes and long black socks.  Hair must be of a natural color and may have appropriate ties, bows, or bands.  Hats may not be worn."

Students were fit for uniforms a last week, and they were ordered yesterday.  They will arrive in 3 to 5 weeks, in time to be hemmed or altered before the Veteran's Day performances.  

These uniform parts, like the white pants and shoes of the previous uniform, are fitted for your student and will be purchased individually to be kept by that student.  This year the cost, which includes everything but shoes and socks,  will be $55.  This is less than the cost of new white pants and shoes from previous years.

For 8th grade families that bought white pants and shoes last year, the shoes may be kept and worn in AHS marching band.  Or, you may return your used items for new Concert Black attire $30 instead of $55.

Please be mindful that your child's new uniform will not be distributed until this uniform payment has been made.

From page 9 of the 2015-16 Band Handbook:

"In April or May, Concert and Symphonic band members have the privilege of traveling to a regional band competition with an accompanying trip to a nearby theme park.  This competition is a way for the AMS band to get experience playing with other students in bands from across the country.  It allows us to rate our skills against other groups and schools of top quality.  Students look forward to this trip every year as a reward for their hard work and perseverance. 

In order to ensure a superior performance, attendance is required unless an appropriate excuse is submitted before the final payment is due.  The payment schedule will be announced at the second booster meeting in January after the itinerary in finalized.  Refunds cannot be given after the final payment is due.  This is because all money at that point will have already been received by the performance coordinator, the charter bus company, and the theme park.  Additionally, tickets purchased at the discount price afforded by the competition are one-day use tickets with the date printed on them.  They cannot be saved for later day."

Last year was our first overnight trip, which met with much praise from our students and chaperones.  This year our trip is again set for overnight, Friday and Saturday, April 29 and 30.  Our destination will be Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, and we will visit the Dollywood theme park.  The Choir and Strings programs will again be traveling with us that weekend.

Payment information will be distributed at the Spring Booster Meeting in January.  The cost depends on a number of things, but it will be comparable to the $215 needed for last year's trip to Atlanta.

The State of Tennessee has recently changed the way funds may be raised by schools for performing arts, sports, and the like.  We will not be able to support individual fundraising to lessen your child's personal trip cost this year, as we did with the Sonic Cards.  However, we can do group fundraising activities to lessen the cost of the trip for everyone equally.  

One minimally invasive way to fundraise is to enroll in the Kroger Community Rewards program.  Our band was just assigned our NPO number: 15586.  Visit the Band Website for complete instructions on how to enroll here: 

We want to provide the maximum musical experiences at the minimal personal cost, so please encourage your friends and neighbors to enroll!

Band Fees and the forms on the back of the handbook were due on Tuesday at the meeting.  If they were not turned in then, please turn them in as soon as possible.  Your children need them to perform.  

Mrs. Stanfield, our booster president, is a notary public.  She will be available to notarize health forms at no charge for 7th and 8th graders at Early Band on Wednesday, September 30th.  All you need to bring is a valid ID.  Students will not be able to travel with us without this form.

If this email did not answer your current questions, please email Mr. Foster at [email protected].

Daniel J. Foster
Arlington Middle School, Director of Bands
5470 Lamb Road, Arlington, TN 38002
[email protected]

Congratulations to all of the students who competed individually with 6th, 7th, 8th AND 9th graders from all over West Tennessee on Saturday.  Every student who completed the audition should be very proud of him or herself.  Please look forward to the break-down of your score on Tuesday to help you improve your playing.

Below are the students whose audition placed them in the clinic bands.  These students rank among the best Middle and High School performers in the state and are listed by instrument.

Rachel Laribee - Blue Band, Oboe 1
Dilyn Doherty - Gold Band, Oboe 1

Sierra Jackson - Gold Band, Bassoon 1
Alex White - Gold Band, Bassoon 4

Emma Spessert - Gold Band, Flute 7

Hannah Pallera - Red Band, Clarinet 20
Promise Robinson - Gold Band, Clarinet 10
Kayleigh Bunn - Alternate, Clarinet 4

Shelby DeVore - Blue Band, Bass Clarinet 2
Nathan Massey - Red Band, Bass Clarinet 3

Debra Adamolekun - Red Band, Alto Sax 2

Hayden Etters - Blue Band, Trumpet 7
Kellen Kornrumpf - Red Band, Trumpet 3
Blake Hays - Gold Band, Trumpet 8
Cayden Bush - Alternate, Trumpet 2
Alex Merritt - Alternate, Trumpet 3
Lily Shannon - Alternate, Trumpet 8

Joe Miller - Blue Band, French Horn 3
Lindsay Benjamin - Blue Band, French Horn 4
David Orleans-Lindsay - Blue Band, French Horn 7
Alex Robinson - Red Band, French Horn 2
Paige Shackelford - Gold Band, French Horn 3
Hope Henderson - Gold Band, French Horn 7
Victoria Leslie - Alternate, French Horn 3
Dani Villarin - Alternate, French Horn 5

Derrick Nguyen - Red Band, Trombone 2
Ethan Wales - Red Band, Trombone 7
Philip Hubbard - Gold Band, Trombone 6
Hunter Byers - Alternate, Trombone 1

Cooper Etters - Blue Band, Baritone 1
Timothy Wales - Blue Band, Tuba 4
Brie Jarrett - Gold Band, Tuba 2
Ryan Hansen - Alternate, Tuba 1

Seth Colin - Red Band, Percussion 2
Natalie Bierbrodt - Gold Band, Percussion 5
Jackson Torregrossa - Gold Band, Percussion 6
Brent Brightwell - Alternate, Percussion 6

These students (except alternates) should pick up their clinic folders on Tuesday.  They are expected to have their music learned by the clinic starting on February 12th.  If you cannot attend the clinic, please tell Mr. Foster immediately.  More details on the specifics will be available in the clinic folders and at the Second AMS Band Booster Meeting, Thursday, January 22nd.

There will be no Early Band Tomorrow, Tuesday, January 20th.  Please do not come to school until after 8:45.

Thank you!

Students, especially Beginners, are highly encouraged to see all the groups perform.  See below for when your child needs to be at AHS:

12:45pm - Beginning Band Call Time, Including All 6th & 7th Grade Beginners (Meet On Stage)
1:30 - Beginning Band Performance
2:00 - Concert Band Call Time (Meeting in AHS Band Room)
2:30 - Concert Band Performance
3:00 - Symphonic Band Call Time (Meeting in AHS Band Room)
3:30 - Symphonic Band Performance

We will NOT have access to AMS on Sunday, so please make sure that students take home their instrument, music, and uniform.  Tubas, Baritones, and Percussion Equipment will be taken to AHS on Friday afternoon.  All students will leave their instrument cases in the AHS Band Room before going to the stage. 

Please refer to page 8 of the Band Handbook for complete details about Beginning Band dress for a formal performance.  If you have questions as to whether or not something is appropriate, please email Mr. Foster to check.

As stated on page 14 of the Band Handbook, students who have a "D" or an "F"  in any class or have received an ISS this quarter will not be able to perform on the concert.  This policy applies to all sports and performing arts in Arlington and is meant to incentivize students to meet our high expectations on and off stage.  

I have already talked to students who fall into these categories, and I expect that all of them will be able to raise their grades to at least a "C" by Friday, December 12th in order to perform.  We need every student for the band to sound its best!

Students who are not participating because of their grades or behavior are still encouraged to attend the performance, and thus will satisfy their grade requirement for the performance.  Students who do not attend will be given an alternative assignment to make up the grade.

A huge thanks from me and all the students in the AMS band for Laney Borwick, Jimmy Caldwell, Erik Eslich, Russ Etters, Dale Hunt, and Jonathan Wales, who gave up their Saturday to create our new state of the art instrument storage room.  

These parents worked from 9am to 6pm and completed the entire project in one day.  If you watch the slideshow, you'll see that was no easy task!   It truly is parents like these that keep the AMS band on top!

Every year before Concert Festival, the AHS Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Wind Ensemble perform their festival program in the AHS auditorium for judges.  This year, they have invited us to join them.  

This Pre-Festival Concert will give us the best opportunity to prepare for our formal ensemble grading in March.  It will be held on Thursday, February 26, starting at 7pm in the AHS Auditorium.

The order of bands will be the AMS Concert Band at 7, then the AMS Symphonic Band, followed by all three AHS bands.  Middle Schoolers will be asked to stay and watch the high schoolers play.  This will work as an excellent model of procedure and performance for our students.  If you have never heard the AHS bands in concert, then you are in for a real treat!

Please put this date on your calendar for future reference.

Here is another message of appreciation for the great boosters we have!  I have never seen a more dedicated group of parent volunteers than the ones right here in Arlington.

Musically Yours,

Daniel J. Foster
Director of Bands, Arlington Middle School

Sad news!  We just got back with the shipping company, and the band lockers will not actually get to the school until Monday.  More information on the installation is coming soon.

Thank you to all the volunteers who agreed to work this Saturday.  Your dedication will not be forgotten!

Feel free to check out the forms page on our website to find a digital copy of the Veteran's Day Itineraries that students got last week.

Please make sure that every student other than Tubas, Baritones, and Percussion take home their instruments and music tomorrow after school, so they have it for Sunday.

On Sunday, student call time is 2:30pm in the Depot Square.  Instrument cases need to be left in the car, and students need to be in full uniform upon entering the square.  The Arlington Chamber of Commerce will be transporting our equipment to and from the square.  Help setting up and tearing down would be greatly appreciated!

All students and parents are welcome to attend this public performance for the town of Arlington!

On Monday, student call time is 8:45am.  That means that students cannot take the bus to school.  Symphonic Band members may arrive as early as 7am, unpack their instruments and head to the gym.  If you need to drop a student before 7 in order to get to work on time, please contact me so I can make sure to be here when you arrive.

Please make sure that students have a change of clothes for after their school performance.

Please make sure that students pick up and take home their new uniform pants tomorrow in class!

If you have any questions, please visit the band website, http://www.arlingtonmsband.com/, or contact Mr. Foster at [email protected].

Musically Yours,

Daniel J. Foster
Director of Band, Arlington Middle School

Here is your last minute reminder about this year's First Booster Meeting Tomorrow at September 16th!  Come hear three selections by the Beginning Band and information for the whole year.  Meet other parents and the Booster Board.  Pay fees and turn in the handbook consent form in the AMS Cafeteria tomorrow at 6pm!

As indicated in the 6th Grade Itinerary, which was passed-out last week, Beginning Band members can stay after school in the cafeteria.  I recommend that all 6th graders stay after so they don't miss the performance!  If you do not stay after, call time is 5:30PM in the cafeteria.  

Make sure you bring your instrument, music, band shirt, and kaki pants or shorts!  

If you are still missing a band shirt, make sure you've paid the band fee and then see Mr. Foster for one during class.

The 2014-15 Band Handbooks went in students' hands at the end of last week.  Please read or review all of the information, sign and return the consent form on the last page by the booster meeting tomorrow.  

As mentioned at Curriculum Night, the reason we were delayed in printing these was the alignment with new ACS policies and procedures.  The new Medical Form and Travel Policies are the same for all arts and sports activities in the new district, so please make sure to notice the changes.

6th Grade students only need to return Pages 13 and 14, as they do not travel outside of Arlington.  They do not need to fill out the Medical Form.

All 7th and 8th graders must additionally sign, notarize, and return Pages 11 and 12 by November 3rd in order to travel with the band.  This is to ensure prompt and effective medical treatment in the rare and unanticipated event of an emergency.

If you need an additional digital copy of the Handbook for any reason, please visit my website page: http://www.arlingtonmsband.com/forms.html.

Also out last week was the acknowledgment form for 8th Grade Night with the Arlington High School Band.  All 8th graders should have received a copy, which must be signed and returned by Tuesday, September 23rd wether you plan to attend or not.  

The AHS band needs an accurate count to know how many Flags, Drums, and Sousaphones to have ready.  They also need to know how many students and parents will be attending, so they know how much Free Food to make!

The form should answer any question you may have about the event on September 30th, and digital copies are available at http://www.arlingtonmsband.com/forms.html. 

Please visit http://www.ahstigerband.com/ for more information about the whole Arlington High School Band program.

A complete list of events is available on Page 10 of the Band Handbook.  Here is a short list of nearby dates that you should remember. 

Sept. 16 - First Booster Meeting and Beginning Band Performance
Sept. 30 - AHS Band 8th Grade Night
Nov. 03 - Medical Release Forms Due
Nov. 10 - AMS School Veteran's Day Performance 
(Symphonic Band Only)
Dec. 14 - AMS Bands Winter Concert

As always, please visit my website, www.arlingtonmsband.com 
for more details, and reply to this email at [email protected] with any questions!

Musically Yours,

Daniel J. Foster
Director of Bands, Arlington Middle School

First Booster Meeting Scheduled

Our beginner classes are well under way and starting to sound like a band!  Come to the first Booster Meeting on Tuesday, September 16th to hear what they sound like in their first performance!

The meeting will start at 6pm in the AMS Cafeteria.  All parents are encouraged to attend.  The meeting should last no more than 45 minutes.

All 6th grade performers are encouraged to stay after school on the 16th to wait for their performance.  This will give us our first combined rehearsal time and avoid any one coming late.  If you cannot stay that afternoon, make sure to be present by call time, which is 5:30pm.

All-West Music Posted

The Junior All-West wind music is finally here!  You may download a copy any time on the band website at: http://www.arlingtonmsband.com/all-west.html or wait to receive a copy on Monday.  

The webpage also includes a complete description of the All-West auditions and clinic.  It would be wise for all Concert and Symphonic Band students and parents to review this information.

The percussion music will be posted on the same page later this week.

As a reminder, all 7th and 8th grade students will audition on January 17, 2015 at Arlington High School.  Audition times will be posted in December.  6th Graders may contact Mr. Foster to audition at the recommendation of a private teacher, because we will not have covered the prepared music or all 12 major scales in class at that point.

Upcoming Events

Sept. 16 - First Booster Meeting and Beginning Band Performance
Sept. 30 - Probable date for AHS Band 8th Grade Night 
(Subject to Change)
Oct. 6-10 - Fall Break
October - Uniform Distribution (Concert and Symphonic Bands)
Nov. 7 - AMS Veteran's Day Performance at School 
(Symphonic Band)
Nov. 9 - Probable Date for Arlington Town Veteran's Day Celebration
Dec. 14 - Winter Concert (All Bands)
Dec. 22-Jan. 5 - Winter Break
Jan. 17 - All-West Auditions 
(Concert and Symphonic Band Students)
Jan. 22 - Probable Date for Second Booster Meeting
(Mandatory for Students Attending the All-West Clinic)

As always, visit our website for more information at www.arlingtonmsband.com, or contact me at [email protected] with any further questions.

Musically Yours,

Daniel J. Foster
Arlington Middle School - Director of Bands
5470 Lamb Road, Arlington, TN 38002

Welcome To Band 2014!

I hope everyone has had an amazing summer filled with thrilling and edifying experiences.  All the teachers at AMS have been excitedly readying themselves for this historic year in the Arlington Community Schools, and the AMS Band is no exception!

Below is some important information for parents and students to hit the ground running.

The New Band Website

Last year's band website was run by SCS, so we have made the move to an ACS approved site.  
This gave us the opportunity to register our own domain name.  Our new website is:

www.arlingtonmsband.com

Please visit this site often as we transfer to the new format.  There is already a wealth of content available including the calendar, private teacher list, and All-West information. 

The First Day of School

Unlike last year, band classes will be meeting on Monday, August 4th. However, as I said at registration, you do not need to worry about bringing your instrument in addition to everything else you need for the first day.  We will be going over the band handbook, calendar, and other expectations for the year.

We will need instruments for the second day of school (Tuesday).  The exceptions to this are those 6th graders new to the area that have not yet received an instrument assignment.  You will get that information during the first week of classes.

Band Placements and Books

This information is for 7th and 8th grade members only.  6th graders are all in Beginning Band and will use Time for Band.

As you remember, last spring band students auditioned for placement in this year's bands.  Students we shown their placements on the last week of school, but not all students we able to see them.  This information was also put in an email and placed on the band website's homepage.  If you have not found out your placement yet, please look it up on the new band website, www.arlingtonmsband.com.  

Also on the website, you will find information on what book to purchase for your band.  The books are instrument specific just like your old Time for Band book.  Both books were chosen to take students from their current levels and move them quickly to the next, so make sure you have it!

Upcoming Events

Sept. 9 - 8th Grade Night at AHS (All 8th Graders)
September - 6th Grade Performance and Booster Meeting
Nov. 9 - Arlington Town Veteran's Day Performance 
(Symphonic Band)
Dec. 14 - Winter Concert (All Students)
Jan. 17 - All-West Auditions
Feb. 12-14 All-West Convention

Please visit the band website for a complete calendar.

Musically Yours,

Daniel J. Foster
Arlington Middle School, Director of Bands
5470 Lamb Road, Arlington, TN 38002
www.arlingtonmsband.com