Band Info - 9.21

Good Morning - Here are some important reminders for today:

-  Tonight is middle school band night with the West Orange Band.  Please remember, this is a required performance for all Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Winds students.  These students must be at West Orange by 5:55pm, wearing blue jeans, sneakers, and any t-shirt (they will receive a shirt at the game).  Please have the students leave instrument cases in the car.  After halftime, we will bring all of the students back to the West Orange Auditorium.  All students must be checked out there; a parent must come in and sign.  If you would like your child to go home with another student, we will need a written note from a parent.  This is very important - we will only release a student if he/she is signed for.

Also, please make sure students eat prior to the event.  Halftime is usually around 8:30, but this is not a guarantee.  I will be using the band's twitter account (@bridgewaterband) and will post when halftime begins, along with an ETA for the auditorium.  If you do not have twitter, you can view the feed at www.bridgewaterband.com.

-  I am very excited to announce our spring trip for our Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Winds students.  We will be traveling to Gatlinburg, Tennessee to participate in the Music in the Parks Band festival from May 2-5.  This year, we will be taking two buses (last year we took three) so seats are limited.  Please be on the lookout for the information next week; because the seats are limited, the trip will fill quickly.  We will also need chaperones for this trip - we are planning on taking 16 chaperones in addition to Ms. Cannon and myself.  Details, schedule, price, and more information will be available by Open House.  We would like every Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Winds student to attend; financial aid and fundraising will be available.  We try and make this experience possible for everyone. It is important, however, that students have no unexcused absences from any concerts or events.  Absence policy is in the band handbook - our first event is tonight's Band Night.

-  Please remember that all percussion forms and fees for September were due Sep. 1.  This is a requirement for all percussion students.  A form can be found at www.bridgewaterband.com.

- Also, please remember that the 2012-2013 band fairshare ($35) is now due for all students.  This can be paid at www.bridgewaterband.com.  This fee includes many things for this year.  Students who have paid this will get their band shirt in the next couple of weeks.

- Finally, Jazz Band 1 students will be performing at Open House next week.  They will need to be at Bridgewater by 5:30 next Thursday.  We went over dress in class today.  They will also be performing at the Winter Garden Music Festival on Friday, Oct. 5, at 6:00pm.  Details for this performance will go home Monday.

Have a good weekend,

Mr. Antmann

Band Info - 9.19

Good Morning,

- We still need five chaperones for middle school band night this Friday night.  This is an event for Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Winds students.  Please email me ASAP if you can help!

- Students auditioning for All-State band received their specific times yesterday.  Auditions are this Saturday at Ocoee High School.  Specific instructions will be sent home with them.

-  Band T-Shirts will be here soon, are included in the fairshare fee.  Please make sure that you have paid the 2012-2013 Fairshare ($35).  This can be done at www.bridgewaterband.com.  It is due by Oct. 1 for beginning band students, and was due Sep. 7 for all other band students.  This fee also covers the band polo shirt for beginners only, which is the beginning band uniform.

- The school year is off to a great start!  The beginners have started playing and we are getting ready for our first concert, which is the band pancake breakfast and fall concert on November 3.  More information will start coming home next week about that event.

-  Please encourage the students to practice at home.  We don't have specific requirements for practice.  Students have to make sure they are prepared for class and for upcoming playing tests.  I'll send home some tips on helping your child (even if you don't have music experience) soon.

Mr. Antmann

Middle School Band Night - This Friday!!

Good Morning,

This is a reminder that this Friday night is middle school band night at West Orange High School.  This is a required event for all Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Winds students.  Forms went home last week, and are due today (Monday).  Below is the content of the letter.

Also - we need 10 chaperones (no more, no less) for Friday night - We should be done between 8:30 and 9:00pm.  You will only be able to enter the football game is you are an official chaperone.  Please email Ms. Cannon (charlene.cannon@ocps.net) if you would like to help.

Here is the letter:

On Friday, September 21, 2012, all Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Winds students will be participating in West Orange High School’s Middle School Band Night.  This is a very exciting event that helps all of our students make the transition from middle school band to high school band.  Students need to report to the auditorium at West Orange High School by 5:55pm.  Students will need to wear jeans and a tee shirt – they will be given a West Orange band shirt to wear upon arrival.  Students may wear their choice of shoes, but they must follow Bridgewater Middle School’s dress code – no flip flops will be allowed.  It is very important that all students bring their instrument and music but we ask that all students leave cases and “extra” items in their parent’s car or at home.  There will be no place to store these things at West Orange.  Students should eat dinner before they report to West Orange.

During the third quarter of the football game, we will be walking all Bridgewater students back to the auditorium.  At that point, students will need to be signed out by their parent.  The game begins at 7:30pm and we anticipate being done around 8:30pm, but this time could change as the football games do not always run as scheduled.  If a student will be leaving with someone other than a parent, a note needs to be sent in at least 24 hours ahead of time.  If there is a problem with transportation to or from West Orange, please let one of us know immediately so that we may begin working on a solution.

If you would like to chaperone this trip, please email Ms. Cannon to let her know.  Chaperone spaces are limited and will be filled on a first come basis.

This letter and form serves as a permission slip and is due by Monday, September 17^th.  This will also be a grade in ProgressBook. 

Please feel free to contact either one of us if you have any questions or concerns.  We look forward to a great night at West Orange!

Mr. Antmann and Ms. Cannon

Tuba/School Instruments

Good Evening,

We are in the process of having some of our school instruments repaired, and we need to have all school tubas on campus Monday.  Please let me know ASAP if you have a Bridgewater tuba at your home (except for beginning band students - those instruments were cleared Thursday).  Please let me know!

Mr. Antmann

Band Info - 9.7

Good Morning,

There is a lot of information today, please read all the way through - especially if you are the parent of a percussion student.

-  A link to the student information form is now located at www.bridgewaterband.com.  It should be on the front page.  If you have not completed it, please do so ASAP.

-  Also, the 2012-2013 "fairshare" fee for all band students is $35.  The due date for this for all non-beginning band students is today, Sep. 7.  This can be paid online at www.bridgewaterband.com. This covers the majority of the fees for the year, including the band t-shirt, which the 8th grade students will need for their first performance on September 21.

The fairshare fee is due for beginning students by October 1.

-  All Bridgewater percussion students are a part of the "Bridgewater Percussion Program."  The dues for this is $10 per month (we decreased this from $20 last year).  Percussion is a unique section, with unique equipment and material demands.  The forms were sent home with all percussion students and is due ASAP.  A copy of the form can be found here:  https://teacher.ocps.net/michael.antmann/page2/files/Percussion.pdf

Please turn this in as soon as possible - and let me know if you have any questions about the program.

Finally - as the beginning students bring in their instruments, they should also bring in a combination lock (no key locks).  All band students get a locker to store instruments.

Please let me know if you have any questions,
Mr. Antmann