The COUGAR BLUES

Cougar Family, I hope you all had a great weekend. We had a wonderful Band Night Out this past Friday with our 8th & 7th Grade Band members. We had a blast cheering on those Huskies.  On behalf of Mr. Radford and the Huskie Band, thanks for coming out Cougars!

Band Family we have some wonderful things going on this month.  We invite everybody to the annual York Chester Music and Arts Festival 2012 (YO CHE FEST) on October 27th from 12-4pm.  The 7th & 8th Grade Bands will perform along with the Chorus. This is our culminating activity for Hispanic Heritage Month, also. We will have special guests such as local dance teams, church groups, and professional artists. If you check the band calendar, I will keep updating the list of performers. There will be concessions, games, music, and just a whole lot of community pride, so come on out!

This week we are going to be working hard to become better musicians. Our 6th Grade Beginning Band students need to practice 10 minutes nightly and record it in their practice charts. I will check charts next week. Practice is a graded part of average for all students. We are quickly approaching the end of the 1st 9 weeks, October 29th, and we need all students to have their book, Measures of Success Book 1 $9. If your student brings $9 in, I will get the book brought to the school. Students will also have a test on 1.12 this Friday; therefore, have them practice up to that exercise in the book. Consistency is the key! If students are not practicing on a regular basis at home, they will not excel.

7th Grade band students are improving each day, but we need several students to purchase a Foundations for Superior Performance Book $7 and some baritones need to purchase a mouthpiece $25. Remember to bring in your money for your book or mouthpiece and we will get what ever you need brought to the school. We will check Practice Charts the week of October 15th. Students should practice 20 minutes a night in order to receive full academic credit for their practice. This Friday 7th Graders will be tested on their Concert F Major Scale. Let's keep getting better students!

The 8th Grade Band will continue to lead the band in our work ethic. This Friday, students will play their Concert C & G Major Scales. 8th Graders like 7th Graders should practice 20 minutes a night and we will have our second practice chart check the week of October 15th. Remember it is not just about the amount of time that one practices, it is about the quality of that time. Like I tell the students, "don't count the time...make the time count".  

We will begin the Cougar Band Karate Belt Incentive Program this week. So all students should be working on their belt assignments. Remember only students who fulfill the Belt requirements each 9 weeks are eligible, along with other assignments, to receive and "A". 

Each student is compiling an ePortfolio which is used as a collection of their work for the year and to help mark progress. If you would like to check your child's progress, you can check the Parent Assist program through Gaston County Schools and I can send you part of their ePortfolio. If I can do anything to keep you better informed please let me know.

I am excited about the week ahead. Keep those Cougars Practicing each night. That is the only way to improve. GO COUGARS!