Hey everyone! I’ve been hesitant to give updates before I really got accurate information from above. I still don’t know everything, but I need to share what I do know because y’all are kind of in the dark… I sent out a mass email and I hope it finds you. Summer communication is always difficult with new students and sometimes the emails that I have access to are inaccurate.
- Summer Band – This event is not postponed; It’s cancelled from the district. There will also not be a performance this year at 6th grade orientation (Bronco Roundup). I am not sure in what capacity that orientation will happen this school year. I believe the administration is trying to figure that out now.
- Beginning Band students – The plan is to see you all on Sept 8th. You do not need to do anything to prepare yourself for that start except start gathering your instrument and/or supplies. You can find those supply lists on our band website under the supplies and materials link.
- 7th & 8th graders – We are about a month out from starting back up and I’d like you all to start building up your embouchures and sharpening some of your skills on your instrument before we get back. It’s been awhile since we’ve gotten to do band the way it’s supposed to be done and we all need to get back into shape. Please re-teach yourself your Region Scales (Concert Bb, Eb, Ab, F, C and Chromatic) and start working through your Ed Sueta beginner book #1 & #2 if you still have them. Use this as a review. 7th graders – many of you did not finish your scales and none of you finished the book. Just do your best; review what you learned and what you remember. 8th graders – You can also play through the Hal Leonard Intermediate Band Method (orange book) to sharpen up. All of you can also work on whatever you enjoy practicing as well! We just need your muscle memory and face muscles to return to where they were before COVID shut down the whole country…
- We are SUPPOSED to be getting our instruments back from summer cleaning on Wednesday of next week! Once we have those instruments back inside our building I will send out an email inviting students who play oboe/bassoon/bass clarinet/tenor sax/bari sax/french horn/euphonium/tuba to come pick up an instrument so that you have something to practice. We sent everything that was played on last year for cleaning. This has taken much longer than normal to get instruments back, but I have to think it’s because we’ve sent so much more this summer than normal.
- Thank you for your patience with everything. Students – I miss you… I want to have y’all in class and make music with you. I love my job and I love spending my days teaching MS kids. It’s been a whirlwind and I want to have you back in the building. We are getting a bunch of students that are transferred from another school because of the MS re-zoning. We are starting over 100 beginners that are coming from the elementary schools. I genuinely cannot wait to meet you! I want to provide you with a safe and supportive musical learning environment where you enjoy to come every day. I know that this whole thing has been discouraging. You don’t sign up for band to play by yourself. Stay strong and be patient. We’ll have our time together as a band soon and I can’t wait until then!
PS – if you’re on facebook please ‘like’ Lake Belton MS Band and you will get updates on your wall.
Sincerely,
Jordan Dolotina
Lake Belton Middle School Band 