Happy holidays! Gift ideas for musicians!

Once again, our BMS bands had amazing winter performances! I am continually impressed with our talented students.

There will be a HS band party Wednesday, December 18 at 2nd Mile Rec Center from 7-9pm.
8th grade band is invited. Bring a gift ($15 or less) if you want to participate in the white elephant gift exchange. Sign up here to bring a food/dessert item.

Finally, all musicians love to receive music-related gifts. Here are some ideas for your band student:

metronome
tuner
drum sticks
box of reeds
valve/slide oil
new mouthpiece
portable music stand
instrument stand (flute stand, clarinet stand, etc.)
book of popular music (for your instrument)/play-along book
music-related jewelry (trumpet charm, treble/bass clef, etc.)
music lessons
NEW INSTRUMENT :)

Happy holidays!

Upcoming Band Performances

Thursday, October 31, 2019 – Pep Rally – 3:00pm

7^th-8^th Grade Band. Wear Halloween costumes (school-approved) or a Blanco t-shirt.

Friday, November 1, 2019 – Band Night at Varsity Football Game – 7:30pm  

8th Grade Band. Wear new band shirt and blue jeans. Report to the stadium at 7pm. Play with HS band in the stands for 1^st and 2^nd quarter. Perform Ghostbusters and Paint it Black with the HS Band at halftime then play Panther Rap for football tunnel. All students will then meet with Mrs. Conard at the start of 3rd quarter on the track. Students must stay with the HS Band until the band plays the School Song at the end of the game unless they are signed out by a parent after halftime. Mrs. Conard will have the sign-out sheet.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019 - Fall Concert at Blanco MS Gym – 6:30pm

6^th-8^th Grade Band. Wear new band shirt and blue jeans. 6^th Grade will meet in the Gym at 6:00pm for warm-up. 7^th and 8^th grade will meet in the band hall at 6:10pm. Concert begins at 6:30pm and will last 45 minutes to an hour. This is a required performance and a major test grade for all band students.

Thursday, November 7, 2019 – Pep Rally – 3:00pm

7^th-8^th Grade Band. Wear new band shirt and blue jeans.

 
Thursday, December 5, 2019 – Winter Concert - 6:30pm (tentative date)

More information to come very soon!

T-shirt orders due Friday, October 11

T-Shirt order forms for all 6th-8th grade band students are due Friday, October 11. Mrs. Conard needs to know how many shirts and what sizes to order. Just the order form is due by tomorrow. You may send the payment at any time up until Friday, October 25.

5th Grade Band Tryouts

5th Grade band will begin trying out instruments on August 27 in class. In order to get through all students in a timely manner, we will need some students to come either Tuesday, 8/27, or Thursday, 8/29, between 4:30pm and 8:00pm.

If you are available to come in the evening, please sign up for a 30-minute slot on SignUpGenius to reserve your time.

Don't worry! If you cannot attend in the evening, your child will still be able to try the instruments in class.

Here are the links to sign up!

Tuesday, August 27

Thursday, August 29

Final Band Events of the Year!

Tuesday, May 21st 
5th Grade Band and HS Band Spring Concert
6:30pm
BHS Cafeteria

Thursday, May 23rd 
BMS Fine Arts Night - 6th-8th grade Art, Band, and Theater students (select students)
5:30pm
BMS Cafeteria

Come out and be entertained by our awesome students!

Spring Concert this Thursday!

Don't miss the end-of-year Spring Concert this Thursday, May 2. The concert will be held at BHS in the cafeteria, and it will start at 7pm and last about one hour.

Come hear our MS Bands perform music from Batman, Lego Movie, and more! It's totally free! Bring the whole family!

6th grade band gets a 1 at their first contest!

Congratulations to the Blanco 6th grade band! They received straight 1s at the Pirateland band festival held in Lytle, TX on April 24. One judge said that "great things are happening in Blanco" and "other bands need to watch out!"

After the competition, the band celebrated with pizza, bowling, and games at Main Event. 

BMS Band Receives UIL Sweepstakes Award for the Third Consecutive Year!

On Thursday, March 21, the Blanco Middle School 7th & 8th Grade Varsity Band competed at UIL Concert and Sight-Reading contest. The music contest was held at Cuero HS in Cuero, TX. The band performed three concert selections: Marzo Zingaro by Randall Standridge, Colliding Visions by Brian Balmages, and Danza de España by Carol Brittin Chambers (who currently resides in San Antonio). The band received a Division 1 "Superior" rating for their concert performance. 

The band also received a Division 1 rating in the Sight-Reading portion of the contest. In this contest, the students have to perform a piece of music they have never seen or heard before. All three judges scored their performance as "Superior." One judge commented, "Wow, you make very mature sounds! A well-taught band! Bravo!"

The band was awarded with a UIL Sweepstakes trophy for receiving Division 1 ratings in both events. This is the third consecutive year the BMS band has received the highest honor of Sweepstakes. The middle school band is directed by Mrs. Danette Conard with assistance from BHS band director, Mr. Jon VanOmmeren.

UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Contest - Cuero, TX
March 21, 2019

Calendar updated for March-May events

Band events calendar has been updated with 6th grade band contest and spring concert dates.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE UPDATED CALENDAR

Fiesta TX letter and deposit due Friday, March 8

-->Please click here for more information<--

Please return the bottom part of the letter with a deposit (or full payment) by Friday!
This is for 7th and 8th grade band only.

Meet our Guest Clinician!

We are very fortunate to have a special guest coming out next week to work with BMS 7th and 8th grade band students and help us prepare for UIL. A little about Mr. Aguillon:

Charles Aguillon is the Director of Fine Arts & Academic Enrichment in Lake Travis ISD.  A native of Victoria, he began his career in music education in 1993 as a Band Director for the San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District.  In 1996, Mr. Aguillon joined the Georgetown Independent School District and served in various capacities including Georgetown High School Band Director, GISD Director of Fine Arts, and mostly recently, Associate Principal for Teaching and Learning at East View High School.  He earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music education from Texas State University-San Marcos as well as a Master of Arts in Education Administration and Supervision from the University of Phoenix where he has completed work towards a Doctorate in Educational Leadership. Mr. Aguillon currently serves on the State UIL Music Technical Advisory Committee as well as serving as President of the Texas Music Educators Association Region 32. He is active as a clinician and adjudicator throughout the United States and currently serves on the staff of the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps from Casper, Wyoming. Mr. Aguillon also provides district level support for Languages Other Than English (LOTE) and UIL Academic programs. 

(information taken from https://tx01800016.schoolwires.net/Page/1863)

Pre-UIL rehearsal and contest information

Pre-UIL Rehearsal/Concert – Wednesday, February 27, 2019 – 4pm-6pm - BMS cafeteria

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

Pre-UIL Contest – Thursday, February 28, 2019 – Performance at 2:40pm at Cuero HS

We are going to Cuero High School (920 E Broadway St, Cuero, TX 77954) for pre-UIL contest.

All eligible (based on 4^th 6 weeks report card) 7^th and 8^th grade UIL Varsity band students (not alternates) will be attending. Wear current band t-shirt and nice blue jeans. 

Schedule:

8:30am – 7^th & 8^th grade UIL band members will meet in the band hall for a rehearsal.

9:45am – Load bus and trailer.

10:00am – Depart Blanco MS.

11:00am-12:00pm – Lunch in San Marcos. Choices are Whataburger, McDonald’s, or Zaxby’s

1:30pm – Arrive at Cuero HS.

2:15pm – Warm-up in Cuero Band Hall.

2:40pm – Pre-UIL contest performance. This is open to the public. Parents may come and watch.

3:30pm – Depart for Blanco.  (possible stop at Buc-ees in Luling)

6:00pm – Approximate return time to BMS.

Click here for more information. 

ATSSB Region Band Results!

On Tuesday, January 22, 2019, 32 students from Blanco Middle School traveled to LaVernia Jr. High to audition for a spot in the All-Region Band. More than 400 students from over 20 public and private schools attended this competition. The music the students had to prepare is very challenging. We are extremely pleased to announce that 15 of our BMS band students made the All-Region Band!

Symphonic Band:

Jacee Purvis (8) – 1^st Chair, Bass Clarinet – Best in the Region!

Katherine Windham (7) – 7^th Chair, Flute – Out of 59 flutes!

Concert Band:

Calla Nelson (6) – 3^rd Chair, Flute – Only 6^th grader to make the All-Region Band!

Anastasia Durham (8) – 5^th Chair, Flute

Kirstin Culak (8) – 3^rd Chair, Clarinet

Haleigh Charles (8) – 7^th Chair, Clarinet

Isaac Moya (8) – 3^rd Chair, Alto Saxophone

Christian Manriquez (8) – 1^st Chair, Trumpet

Kelly Karnes (8) – 4^th Chair, Trumpet

Evelyn Trammell (8) – 8^th Chair, Trumpet

Ever Garza (7) – 3^rd Chair, Trombone

Cole Tharp (8) – 4^th Chair, Trombone

Tyyler Flint (7) – 5^th Chair, Tuba

Jake Broyles (8) – 4^th Chair, Percussion

Noe Alegria (8) – 5^th Chair, Percussion (moved up from Alternate)

Alternates:

Logan McIntosh (8) – 1^st Alternate, Tenor Saxophone

Kolton Gaskamp (8) – 1^st Alternate, Trombone

Albert Palacios (7) – 2^nd Alternate, Clarinet

Preston Guinn (8) – 2^nd Alternate, Euphonium

Adrian Carrillo (8) – 3^rd Alternate, Euphonium

Students that placed in the All-Region Band will participate in a clinic and band concert on Tuesday, January 29. The concert begins at 7:00pm and will take place in the LaVernia HS Auditorium. The concert is free and open to the public. Way to go, band!

Pre-UIL contest date

The Band Events Calendar has been updated with Pre-UIL Concert Contest date and location.

Pre-UIL will be February 28, 2019 at Cuero HS. More information can be found on the calendar, and a letter will be sent home at the beginning of February.

This is for 7th and 8th grade Varsity Band.

Region Band Letter Sent Home

Parents,

A letter has been sent home about the Region Band auditions that will be on January 22. Please sign the 2nd page and return before January 22.

Click here for letter - sign and return before January 22

We need a few chaperones to attend this contest. If you are available, please contact Mrs. Conard ASAP.