Tuesday, May 5, 2020

What do I do with my instrument for the summer?

I own my instrument. Keep your instrument at home with you for the summer. Try to send it off for professional cleaning and repair before the start of the school year.

The school provided me with an instrument. You will need to meet Mrs. Conard between 8am-12pm; 1pm-3pm on May 18-19 to return the school instrument so she can send it off for cleaning and repair. Failure to return a school instrument will result in a hold being placed on your student account. You will not be allowed to enter the middle school building. You will need to go to the back of the school and enter the band hall through the band hall doors. You must wear a mask when entering the band hall.

I am renting my instrument from RG's Music. If you are planning on continuing with band for next year, then keep your rental instrument for the summer. You do not want to lose your rental credits that you have paid. Those credits can be used to upgrade to an intermediate or advanced model instrument. If you have decided that you are no longer going to be in band, then you will need to meet Mrs. Conard between 8am-12pm; 1pm-3pm on May 18-19 to return the instrument. Do not leave your instrument with anyone other than a band director! If you do not return your instrument to a band director, you will be responsible for returning it to the company.

I am renting my instrument from another music store. If you are planning on continuing with band for next year, then keep your rental instrument for the summer. You do not want to lose your rental credits that you have paid. Those credits can be used to upgrade to an intermediate or advanced model instrument. If you have decided that you are no longer going to be in band, then you will need to return it to the music store that you rented it from.

If you need to return an instrument but cannot come to the school on May 18-19, contact Mrs. Conard to make arrangements.

Monday, May 4, 2020

Update - Month of May

We are in the home stretch!

It was great seeing several of you last week in the Zoom meetings. It is nice to see people after staring at the walls of my house for weeks. 

If you haven't heard, all school instruction will end on May 15th. That means no more new assignments will be posted after that date. Students will have the weeks of May 18th and May 25th to get caught up in all their classes. Please try to get everything completed by the 24th; it will take your teachers time to grade everything. Progress reports are going out this week to inform you if your child is on track, making progress, or has incomplete work in each class.

On May 18th and 19th, students will be able to pick up and return items at the middle school. I am not sure about exact times, but I am sure Mr. Kinney will send out a middle school update soon. No students or parents will be allowed to enter the main school building. This will be a grab-and-go kind of thing. If you know that you left your instrument or music in a specific place, please notify me so that we can find it and get it to you.

This week is Teacher Appreciation Week. I have posted an optional service activity for all band students. Please see assignments posted on the band's online learning website and in Google Classroom.

The band fundraiser items should arrive by the last week of May. I will send out a notification of when to pick up your box (or boxes) of items. If you did not save the back copy of your order form, I will scan and send it to you. You should try to contact everyone this week that bought something from you to let them know when to expect their items. It may be tricky trying to meet up with teachers and people you sold to at school. I will help in whatever way I can to make sure everyone gets their items.

Sign up for the Panther Band 2020-21! 6th-8th grade Course/Elective Choice Sheets are available online on the middle school website. If you have difficulty finding it, I can email it to you. Sheets need to be returned or emailed to the counselor this week. Band is a year-long elective that meets every day during the school day. Don’t miss out on this wonderful opportunity to be part of our award-winning band program!

If you have any questions, please contact a band director.

Sunday, March 29, 2020

Important Update from Mrs. Conard

Dear Band Students and Families, 

What a crazy time this is! I hope you are staying healthy and safe inside your homes. While we can't change the situation, we can make the best of it. This is a great opportunity for you to spend time with your family and do things you wouldn't normally get to do while at school. I am enjoying spending time with my husband, cat, and dog, and I am really enjoying getting to play my flute and piano a lot more than usual. Here's a little something I did this week with a few other flutists from all over the world:


I am deeply saddened to announce that the 6th grade band contest in Lytle is cancelled as well as our fun trip that was planned for Main Event. I am also very sad that the 7th and 8th grade trip to Sea World had to be cancelled because the park is closed. If there is a way to reschedule before the end of the school year, we will try. If not, we will make next year's trip even better! As of now, we are still planning for a Spring Band Concert. That date is to be determined. I appreciate all of your hard work that was put in before the break. Let's hope that we can get to perform together as a band once again this school year. 

The activities I have put together for you while learning from home are meant to be fun yet educational. You may choose whichever activities sound interesting to you. A good goal is to do 5 activities each week if you can. I don't want you to stress out over this. It can be as simple as practicing your instrument or watching YouTube videos. If you feel this is too much for you to handle at this time, start with 1 activity this week and then aim to do a few more the next week. If you have trouble accessing the online links or notice a particular link is not working, please email me. At the end of each week, you will submit a google form to me so I can see how you are progressing. Assignments can be viewed in the Online Learning Tab.

I miss making music with all of you, and I know you miss band and all your friends, too. We will get through this together. Hope to see you all again very soon. If you need anything (except a hug), please email or text.

Musically,

Danette Conard
#PanthersStayConnected 

Friday, March 27, 2020

Fundraiser Update 3/27/20

If you have not yet filled out the fundraiser survey, please do so ASAP. Mrs. Conard needs to know who sold items and who did not. It only takes a minute. If you cannot access it, just email Mrs. Conard and let her know if you DID or DID NOT sell any items.

Fundraiser packets and money should be dropped off on Monday, March 30 between 9am and noon. There will be a fundraiser drop box behind the school at the band hall back door.
Because school is not in session due to COVID-19, the fundraiser is being extended until April 17; however, Mrs. Conard would like to collect your packet if you are finished selling.

If you are not finished selling, you may keep your packet for now. All forms and money will be due on April 20. This is subject to change.

Please notify the people who bought items that there will be a delay in receiving their items.

If you did not sell any items, you may throw your packet away. Mrs. Conard does not need it back.

Any questions, contact Mrs. Conard.


Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Instrument pick-up times

If you left your instrument at the MS band hall, you may come get it

Thursday, March 26 from 4-6pm
Or
Friday, March 27 from 10am-noon
Or
Monday, March 30 from 9am-noon.

Because the school has been cleaned, you must come to the back door of the band hall. Do not enter the main school building!

If you cannot come get your instrument during these times, it is ok. Don’t stress. There will be plenty of assignment options that will not require your instrument.

Tuesday, March 10, 2020

UIL Sweepstakes!

UIL C&SR was held at Canyon Lake HS, Thursday, March 5, 2020. Congratulations to the Blanco MS Band for earning the UIL Sweepstakes Award for the 4th consecutive year! 
The band received straight 1s from all six judges in Concert and Sightreading Evaluation!
Way to go, Panther Band! To the Top!

Monday, March 2, 2020

UIL C&SR Evaluation - Thursday, March 5


On Thursday, March 5th, the BMS Band will go to the “Real Deal” UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Evaluation at Canyon Lake High School. For this contest, students will need to dress up (professional, business clothes). Boys should wear slacks and a collared shirt (polo or button-down). Suits and ties are encouraged but are optional. Ladies should wear a dress or dress pants/blouse combination. Solid colors are preferred. All students should wear appropriate dress shoes. BISD Dress Code should still be followed. In addition, shoulders, knees, and toes should be covered. Absolutely no jeans, shorts, t-shirts, athletic shoes, or flip flops are allowed for UIL Performances. 

Students are to report to the band hall 6th period. We will have a rehearsal, change clothes, load the buses, and depart. We warm-up at 3:50pm and perform at 4:20pm in the auditorium. After that, we go to sight-reading at 4:45pm. We should return to BMS no later than 6pm.

This is a REQUIRED performance for all members of the UIL varsity band.

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

UIL Rehearsal and Mini-Concert - Wednesday, February 26, 2020

UIL Rehearsal and Mini-Concert - Wednesday, February 26, 2020 from 3:45-6:00pm
Concert starts at 5:45pm in BMS Cafeteria

We have a UIL Judge coming to work with the band students after school. This is a required rehearsal for all 7th-8th grade band students that are competing at UIL. We will give a concert for parents, friends, and teachers at 5:45pm, and then students will be dismissed after everything has been packed away. 

Pre-UIL Contest - February 20



Pre-UIL contest is at Lytle High School this Thursday.
7th and 8th grade band students that have met the minimum requirements will be attending. 
This is an all-day event. 
BMS Band performs at 12pm.
Students will return to BMS by 3:30pm. 
Wear 2019-20 BMS Band T-Shirt and nice blue jeans. 
Bring $10 exactly for lunch at CiCi's Pizza. 
A detailed schedule can be found here.

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

All-Region Band Results - January 25, 2020


Over 400 students from 15+ schools auditioned on Saturday, January 25, 2020 to earn a spot in the ATSSB All-Region Band. I am happy to announce that 23 students from BMS made the All-Region Band! That is a new school record! Blanco MS placed more students in the bands than all the 3A schools and almost all the 4A schools (with the exception of LaVernia).

The region band students will participate in an all-day clinic on Tuesday, February 4, and perform a concert that evening at 7pm at LaVernia HS Auditorium. The concert is free and open to the public. 

BMS results are as follows:

Symphonic Band
Calla Nelson - Flute - 1st Chair - Best in the Region! (#1 of 54)
Katherine Windham - Flute - 3rd Chair
Korina Forsberg - Clarinet - 1st Chair - Best in the Region! (#1 of 51)
Kylie Ridner - Bass Clarinet - 3rd Chair
Jess Whitehead - Alto Sax - 5th Chair
Kaden Langford - Trumpet - 5th Chair
Cristian Alvarez - Baritone - 1st Chair - Best in the Region! (#1 of 20)
Estevan Vargas - Tuba - 5th Chair

Concert Band
Celeste Campa - Flute - 1st Chair
Katelyn Tharp - Flute - 5th Chair
Brooklyn Gamez - Flute - 6th Chair
Perry Faught - Flute - 8th Chair
Albert Palacios - Clarinet - 5th Chair
Makenzie Grissom - Clarinet - 11th Chair
Nessah Marquette - Clarinet - 13th Chair
Venessa Barrera - Clarinet - 16th Chair
Diego Mendez - Bass Clarinet - 3rd Chair
Joshua Windham - French Horn - 7th Chair (6th grade)
Ever Garza - Trombone - 2nd Chair
Sidney Johnson - Trombone - 7th Chair
Ryder Moorman - Trombone - 8th Chair
Miguel Avila - Percussion - 2nd Chair
Cooper Cate – Percussion - 4th Chair

Alternates:
Natalie DuPont – Clarinet – 2nd Alternate (6th grade)
Clark White – Tuba – 3rd Alternate
Justin Karnes – Percussion – 3rd Alternate (6th grade)


CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR AWESOME BMS BAND STUDENTS!