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 arlingtonmsband@gmail.com 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