Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Upcoming Concerts

Mark these dates on your calendars:

December 14: Junior High/High School Winter Concert - HS Gym - 7:00 PM
DRESS: Junior High - band shirt, black pants, black shoes, black socks
DRESS: High School - band shirt, black pants, black shoes, black socks

December 15: K-6 Winter Program - HS Gym - 7:00 PM
DRESS: Nice clothes

December 17: 4-6 Grades: 4th Grade Recorders, 5th & 6th Grade Bands - HS Gym - 7:00 PM
DRESS: 4th grade: nice clothes
DRESS: 5th and 6th graders: Red Band shirt from school, black pants/skirt, black shoes, black socks (no open-toed shoes unless toes are covered by black tights/nylons

Watch Us On YouTube

Even though it may not perfect, I am a firm believer that every musical experience is a learning experience. Most small schools are overshadowed by the larger school districts who have students taking private music lessons, have more than one music teacher to offer a variety of music classes, or have huge budgets that guarantee whatever the director feels is in the music department's best interests. Some music directors expect their students to obtain private music lessons - in fact, it is a requirement to be in the music department.

Having said that, many, many small schools are producing good music every day, and their students are competing against students from large schools. (Read Mossyrock Music Students Excel). This statement leads to the YouTube and the KZOK 102.9 Radio Contest.

For the third year in a row, the high school music students from Mossyrock have entered the KZOK Radio Contest. Competing against students from AA-AAAA schools, Mossyrock is the only B2 school to participate in this contest. Musicians choose a classic rock song, and play it for adjudicators. In the last three years, this contest has added videos of students playing, and creating video stories that go along with the music, although the entries are not judged on the video efforts.

Top prize is $10,000. Second prize is $5,000. There are five prizes including a pizza party. The first year Mossyrock entered, we made it into the Top Ten, and earned a spot on the CD produced by the Bob Rivers Show.

Check out our efforts on YouTube: Mossyrock High School Pep Band or KZOK Radio Band Contest. Stay tuned for voting instructions.

Mossyrock Music Students Excel

Congratulations to Travis Johnson - junior trombone player, Emily Stanton - junior flute player, and Risa Lisette - freshman tuba player, for being accepted in Pacific Lutheran University's All Northwest High School Honor Band. Students from all over the northwest were nominated for inclusion in one of two honor bands by their directors. Based on those recommendations, Dr. Powell, music director at PLU and his staff chose students nominated from 80+ schools to compete for a place in either the concert band or orchestra. There were over 800 students nominated by their directors including 234 high school seniors.

Students download audition material and perform this material for a panel at PLU on Jan 8. After being seated in one of two musical groups, the students practice for a total of 12 hours over the next two days preparing for a concert performed Saturday night, January 9, 2010.

This is a prestigious honor and one for which each student should be congratulated. Way to go Travis, Emily and Risa!!!

Kids' Night Out

Once again this year, the high school music department will be hosting a Kids' Night Out on Thursday, November 25 from 12:00-8:00 PM. This musical fundraising activity gives parents the opportunity to shop and prepare for Thanksgiving on November 26, 2009.

Informational letters will be sent home with K-6 students - Monday, November 16, 2009. The music department uses these funds to travel to Spokane when the BB team(s) go to state, and to take a RagTagTour at the end of the year.

For more information - call Mrs. Sturgeon at 983-3184.

Veterans Day Program Honors Local Veterans

Following a K-6 Veterans assembly from 9-10 AM, and a 7-12 Veterans assembly from 10:30-11:30 AM, the Mossyrock Music Department hosted a luncheon for veterans and their families at noon on November 10, 2009, in the high school gym.

With yellow ribbons decorating the greenery and pictures of family veterans, the colors were presented during the K-6 assembly followed by members of the 6th grade band playing, "You're a Grand Old Flag." As K-6 students sang, "Let Freedom Ring," the huge bell used during Mossyrock football games to signify scoring a touchdown was rung when the words, "let the bells ring" was sung. Veterans stood as the song representing their branch of service was sung by all students and played by the Mossyrock High School Band. Then K-6 students introduced their parents, grandparents, aunts or uncles who served our country. This is always the highlight of the program.

During the 7-12 assembly, the junior high band played, "American Patrol," while the high school choir sang, "Spirit of America." Several YouTube videos were shown during both assemblies including a YouTube video where a local veteran thought he recognized his father during its showing. After reviewing the video, it was discovered that the sailor was indeed his father.

A sidenote: I watched 30-40 videos trying to just the right one for our assemblies. After two weeks of searching, the Veterans Day video, "Veterans Day Tribute 2008" came up. It was a perfect fit. Who would have known that all that searching would produce a video showing a picture of a local veteran's father? Wow!!

Sgt. Josh Wold was the Veterans Day speaker. Sgt. Wold was wounded when a roadside bomb blew up resulting in the partial loss of his foot. Sgt. Wold graduated from Winlock High School and served a four year tour in Iraq.

I would remiss not to thank all of the 7-12 music students for the fantastic job they did setting up the gym on Monday night for the Veterans Day assemblies. Preparing for a concert is not just putting a ball and uniform in a bag and going - wouldn't that be great! - but takes several hours of set up before each musical event. Many music students showed up to set up the entire gym. Thank you to the maintenance department at Mossyrock for hanging the huge flag again this year, and for bringing in the tables and bell from the football field, Mr. Jay Henderson for running the projection equipment, Garrett Lambert for assisting with the electronic equipment, Rose Carver for her help in making the coffee and punch, and letting us use the lunchroom tables, and DeGoede's for lending us greenery to complete the scene.

Thank you SO MUCH to the music students and their parents for so graciously donating their time and efforts and cooking talents to make the luncheon such a success. I am always concerned there will not be enough food to feed the veterans and all the students, but this year - the whole music department showed its true colors and put together a feast! Even with all the food, there was very little left over to take home.

In this day and age when it is said so many young people don't know how to give back to their communities, these young people and their parents are to be congratulated for showing their support and love for all of those who have given so much to our country.

THANK YOU TO ALL!!! Mrs. Sturgeon, K-12 Music Director, Mossyrock School District