Recordings Posted for Region Band Auditions

---->CLICK HERE FOR REGION BAND RECORDINGS <---

Sheet music and more information can be found HERE on the REGION BAND PAGE.

Free Christmas and Hanukkah Music!

Composer Randall Standridge has graciously put together this music pack for the holidays! Download it...it's free! Happy Holidays!

CLICK HERE FOR FREE SHEET MUSIC

Christmas Concerts this week!

5th Grade & HS Band Christmas Concert

Thursday, December 13, 2018

6:30pm

BHS Cafeteria

 

6th, 7th, & 8th Grade Bands Christmas Concert

Friday, December 14, 2018

6:30pm

BHS Cafeteria 

 

Cost: FREE!

Invite all your friends and family! See you there! 

Happy Holidays!

Calendar Updated with Christmas Concert Dates

The band calendar has been updated with the dates for our Christmas Concerts.

5th Grade and HS concert will be Thursday, December 13th at 6:30pm in the HS Cafeteria.
6th-8th Grade will be Friday, December 14th at 6:30pm in the HS Cafeteria.


click here--------->BAND CALENDAR<---------click here


 All performances are required performances. If your child will not be able to perform with the band, a band director needs to be notified in writing (as stated in the handbook) before Friday, December 7th. Thank you!

Need help with your music or learning an instrument?

Mrs. Conard and Mr. V are available for after-school practice most days of the week from 3:30-4:30pm. 6th Grade students that want to audition for the All-Region Band MUST plan to stay after school to work on the music. Students that are new to band should also make arrangements to stay after school to get caught up with the rest of the class.

If you have any questions about after-school practice, email Mrs. Conard. There is no charge for lessons at the school.

8th Grade Band to Perform with BHS Band - October 26th

Come out to the BHS Varsity Football Game on Friday, October 26th as we "Band together to fight drugs!" 

Click here for info!

Books Orders Arrived

Students that ordered books through the school should now have them. If anyone is missing a book order, please contact the band director.

UIL Music Memory

The UIL Music Memory Page has been updated for this year's selections. There is some really good music on the list! The Music Memory event takes place in January. It is open to 6th-8th grade students. We need 5 students in each grade level to make three teams. Students may jump up to a higher grade level, but students cannot go down a grade level. For instance, the 8th grade team can be 7th and 8th grade students. The 7th grade team can be 6th and 7th grade students. The 6th grade team can only be 6th grade students. There will be several practices during lunch, tutorials, and after school from October - January. Please let Mrs. Conard know if you are interested in participating.

Band Forms and T-shirt $ Due by Friday!

6th - 8th Grade Band Students need to return the Band Handbook Form and T-Shirt/Book Order Form by THIS Friday! The t-shirt is a required band purchase and part of our band "uniform." Please contact Mrs. Conard with any concerns.

BMS Band Placed 3rd at Area OPS

The Blanco MS Varsity (7th and 8th Grade) Band placed 3rd in the Area in the ATSSB Outstanding Performance Series (OPS) for their UIL performance recording of "Forward March!" Only the top two advance to State, so we just missed it by one. What does this mean? We can brag that BMS Band is ranked among the Top 15 1C Bands in the State! (...but we don't get a prize...LOL!)

BMS Band advances to Area in OPS!

Great news! The results are in, and Blanco MS Band placed 2nd in the Region in the ATSSB Outstanding Performance Series (OPS) for our UIL performance recording of "Forward March!" We will now be advancing to the Area level! Our performance of "Night Fury" missed advancing to Area by just one place. This makes three consecutive years that the BMS Band has advanced to the Area level of competition. Great job, band! I’ll keep you posted with the Area results when I get them. What a fantastic year!

BBQ Plate Fundraiser May 19th

We have been given a wonderful donation by Aaron Stass who is purchasing and preparing a BBQ fundraiser for us. We are asking all students in the Blanco Band Program to sell at least two tickets each. We would certainly love for anyone to sell more, but if each student sells just 2 this would be one of our most successful fundraisers thanks to Aaron’s donation. Aaron is a competition BBQ Grillmaster, so it is sure to be a treat!

Tickets are $10 a plate and includes brisket, two sides, and a drink. Plates may be picked up at the High School this Saturday, May 19, from 11AM-2PM. All plates are “To-Go.”

If this is the first you have heard about it, please get with your child to sell at least 2 tickets. Students were given tickets last week, and extra tickets are available from the band directors. All money and tickets are due to Mrs. Conard by Friday, May 18^th. Thanks!

Summer Band Camps

I have added a Summer Music Camps tab on the Main page.

Summer band camps are a great way for your child to experience the band world outside of Blanco (“oboes and bassoons, oh my!”) and continue playing their instrument over the summer. They will meet students from other schools that share their same interest in music, they will learn new ideas that they can bring back to our band program to make it even better, and they will improve individually as a musician.

The camps are all different dates and prices, so depending on your summer plans and funds, you can choose a camp that works best for you. Many camps offer financial scholarships, but you have to act quickly. Most camps have audition music that has to be prepared in advance. I am available this summer to work with your child on the audition music.

Please visit the Summer Music Camps page for more information about the camps. If you have any questions, contact a band director.

Save the date for Spring Concert!

Our annual Spring Concert will be on Thursday, May 3, 2018. This is for 6th-8th grade bands and is a required performance. The concert will begin at 7:00pm in the high school cafeteria. Students are to wear nice, dressy clothes for this final concert of the year. Awards will also be presented at this time.

The 5th Grade Band will perform the same night as the High School Band, on Monday, May 14th. That concert will begin at 6:00pm in the BHS Cafeteria.

Students are only required to attend the night of their own concert, but they are expected to stay for the entire duration of the concert. All performances are test grades. The concerts are free and open to the public. If you have any questions or need more information, contact a band director.

Fiesta TX Band info posted

A letter was sent home last week with the 7th and 8th grade band about our upcoming trip to Fiesta TX  that will be on Friday,  April 27. The first payment and form are due no later than April 13th. Please visit the 7th-8th grade band web page for more information. If you have any questions, contact Mrs. Conard.

Music Composition Contest

The 2018 Texas Bandmasters Association Student Melody Competition is a composition competition for Texas band students in grades 6–12 during the 2017–2018 school year. The 16-bar composition entries will be judged on originality, creativity, phrasing, and overall musicality.

The winning melody will be used as thematic material for a wind ensemble piece to be premiered on Thursday, July 26th by the US Air Force Band of the West as part of the 2018 Texas Bandmasters Association Convention.

The winning composer along with one parent or guardian and the band director will be brought to San Antonio and stay at the Marriott Riverwalk hotel for 3 nights from July 26–29 to attend the TBA convention and be a part of the premiere.

Please visit this website for more information. http://jupitermusic.com/us/tba-student-melody-competition/ Entries must be received by May 4. 

6th Grade Band Contest Info

A letter was sent home today with the 6th grade band about our upcoming contest that will be on Thursday,  April 26 in Lytle, TX. The form and money are due no later than April 13th. Please visit the 6th grade band web page for more information. If you have any questions, contact Mrs. Conard.

BMS Band Receives Sweepstakes at UIL for Second Year in a Row!

Congratulations to our Award-Winning Band!

The BMS Band competed in the UIL Concert and Sight Reading Contest yesterday at Canyon Lake HS. The concert program was Forward March by Paul Murtha, Ming Court by Donald Pitter, and Night Fury by Carol Brittin Chambers. The band received division 1 "Superior" ratings from all 6 judges! Receiving both a "1" in concert and a "1" in sight reading earned the band the highest award--the Sweepstakes Award! This makes the second year in a row that the BMS Band has received highest honors. Way to go, Panthers!

Pre-UIL information posted on 7th/8th grade page

An update has been made on the 7th/8th grade band page, and e-notes have been sent out through email and text regarding Pre-UIL.

Please click here for the Pre-UIL information.

All-Region Band Results

On Saturday, January 27, over 500 students from about 20 schools auditioned for the All-Region Bands. Blanco MS had 16 students place in the bands--more than any other 3A/1C school!

Congratulations to the following BMS students for earning a spot in the 2018 ATSSB All-Region Middle School Bands:

Symphonic Band
April B. (8) - 1st chair flute (Best in the Region!)
Emily W. (8) - 1st chair tenor sax (Best in the Region - 2nd consecutive year!)
Daniel J. (8) - 1st chair percussion (Best in the Region!)
Rayne C. (8) - 2nd chair bass clarinet (2nd best 8th grader in the Region!)
Julianna S. (8) - 4th chair trumpet (out of 60 trumpets!)
Lori L.(8) - 7th chair clarinet (out of 62 clarinets!)
Katie R. (8) - 7th chair flute (out of 54 flutes!)
Evelyn T. (7) - 9th chair trumpet (2nd best 7th grader in the Region!)

Concert Band
Cole T. (7) - 2nd chair trombone (2nd best 7th grader in the Region!)
Buddy H. (8) - 3rd chair percussion (Ranked 9th out of 44 percussionists!)
Preston G. (7) - 4th chair baritone (4th best 7th grader in the Region!)
Valen E. (8) - 5th chair flute (Ranked 13th out of 54 flutes!)
Fabian C. (6) - 5th chair trombone (Best 6th grader in the Region!)
Anastasia D. (7) - 6th chair flute (Ranked 14th out of 54 flutes!)
Isaac M. (7) - 8th chair alto sax (5th best 7th grader in the Region!)
Kaden L. (6) - 10th chair trumpet (Best 6th grader in the Region!)

Alternates
Simon H. (8) - 1st alternate percussion
Mathew B. (8) - 2nd alternate tuba
Deonte H. (8) - 2nd alternate bari sax


The All-Region Bands will perform a concert on Tuesday, February 6, at 7:00pm at LaVernia HS Auditorium. The concert is free and open to the public.

Way to go, Panther Band! We are proud of your hard work and dedication!

Music Memory Link to Picture Slides

For Music Memory: 

Picture Slides to help with memory of titles and composers (click on link)

Welcome Back, Band!

Welcome back! So many exciting things are planned for the next few months. Here is just an outline of what is coming up for the middle school bands:

January 9-10 - Chair Test for 7th Period (this sets order for UIL)
January 26- Academic UIL Meet (music memory)
January 27 - ATSSB All-Region Band Auditions (select 6th-8th grade students)
February 6 - All-Region Band Clinic and Concert (those that make the band)
February 13 - Pre-UIL contest in Lytle (7th Period band only)
February 21 - Guest Clinician coming to work with the band (7th Period)
March 1 - UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Contest - Let's get another Sweepstakes award!
March 10 - Start of Spring Break

6th Grade Band has a goal to finish Book 1 by the end of this 6 weeks.

5th Grade Band will keep progressing on their instruments to prepare for their spring concert.(It shouldn't snow in April/May!)

Let's all give 100% and see how great we can be in 2018! Looking forward to the new year!