Band Students in the News

Westwood Band students Cam and Marielle  along with former student, Ben Dueck  in Mabel's Flight are featured in this weeks edition of The University of Winnipeg newspaper - The Uniter in support of their upcoming EP.  Read the full article here - Mable's Flight - Ready for takeoff.  Catch up with the band by visiting mabelsflight.tumblr.com.

Brandon Jazz 2nd Payment

Hello everyone! The next payment for Brandon Jazz is now past due.  If you have not gone on line to make your second payment of $100.00, please log into your school cash online account and take care of that for us.  Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Concert Info for Performers (and parents)

Everything you need to know about our 

Winter Concert - Feb 3rd.

• After 15 years of funkiness, parents are no longer permitted to bring their own chairs to our concerts as per division policy.  That said, the doors to our concerts will open at 4:00PM and if you wish to come early to reserve chairs or simply sit and wait, you are more than welcome.

• Set up Monday the 2nd at 9:15 p.m. - You should be gone by 9:45 p.m.

• Tuesday the 3rd (1st day of Semester 2) we will have dress rehearsals as follows:

Period 1 - Symphonic

Period 2 -10 Concert Band*

Period 3 -Jr. Jazz *

Period 4 (Lunch) - Intermediate Jazz

Period 5 - 9 Concert Band

Period 6 -Sr. Jazz*

* = Not @ normal class time.

REMEMBER - THIS IS YOUR DRESS REHEARSAL; MISS IT WITHOUT SPECIAL PERMISSION AND YOU CANNOT PLAY THE CONCERT.

• Be here in your room for 6:00 p.m. Tuesday night. -  Gr.9/ Jr. Jazz - Choral Room, 10 Concert/ Inter Jazz - Theatre, Symphonic/ Sr. Jazz - Band Room.

• Gr. 9’s handing out programs should be in the lobby for 6:10 with a HUGE smile.  Don’t forget the people already seated. - 1 Program per family, please.

Concert Order:

Symphonic Band

Intermediate Jazz

Intermission #1 - 5 minutes Max

10 Concert Band

Jr. Jazz

Intermission #2 - 5 minutes Max

9 Concert

Sr. Jazz

A very rough timeline:  Everything here is +/- 5 minutes

6:50 - students not in Symphonic or  Inter Jazz go to the gym (balcony?) to watch Symphonic Band.

6:53 - Symphonic Band and Inter Jazz to the stage - if you are in Symphonic Band and Intermediate Jazz - bring your Jazz    stuff with you. If you are in 10 Concert - bring that stuff with you, also.

7:03 - Mr. Wake says, “Let’s do this!”

7:05 - Symphonic Band plays.

7:25 - Inter Jazz plays.

7:30 - 10 Concert Band and Jr. Jazz line up outside the Gym to enter when Symphonic and Inter Jazz leaves. If you are in Sr. Jazz and 10  Concert or are playing with the next groups, bring your stuff to minimize transitions.

7:45 - First Intermission - Symphonic and Inter Jazz out, and 10 CB  and Jr. Jazz in.  Members of 10 Concert that are in Sr. Jazz, may want to bring their Sr. Jazz stuff.   9 Concert and Sr. Jazz to their rooms for a quick tune and get ready to line up.

7:55 - 10 Concert Band Plays - Jr. Jazz watches. - Once 10 Concert is finished, members of 10 Concert that are in Sr. Jazz, leave out the “counselling doors” behind the “shell” to join up with Sr. Jazz.

8:00 - Sr. Jazz and 9 Concert to line up outside the gym. members of Gr. 9 Concert that are in Jr. Jazz bring their Jr. Jazz stuff with them at this time.

8:15 - Jr. Jazz plays- after you are done, members of Jr. Jazz in 9 Concert band leave out the counselling doors to join the 9’s in the Band Room.

8:30 - Second Intermission - Jr. and 10 CB out - Sr. and 9 Concert in.

8:40 - 9 Concert Plays.

8:45 - Sr. Jazz Plays- Gr. 9 Concert watches.

9:00 - Everyone grabs something and takes it back to the Band room and begin stacking chairs.

• Within reason, you are expected to be in the gym supporting your colleagues in the other bands.  Remember a good audience member applauds the other bands and after jazz solos.  They also do not talk unnecessarily or use their mobile device.  In short, you are to be the model of what a perfect audience member should be.

• Remember, this is not the time to try flute if you play trumpet.  We have all worked way too hard to screw this up.  Because you will have already played during the day, there is no need for a 10 minute warm up.  Just blow a couple of notes and chat with your friends until you are directed to tune.  Don’t waste your face.

• When you are in your rooms line up as if you were in class and be very quiet so that you can tune.  1st clarinet (section leader) should have a tuner and leave it in your room for Jazz people.  If it does not go well, we may tune on stage.

• You are required to stay for the entire concert.... period... that’s how we roll... At the end of the night - Everyone cleans-up.

Optimist Dates and Times

One of the extremely exciting performance opportunities we have at Westwood is to compete in the largest school band festival in Canada held right here in Winnipeg, at our very own Convention Centre, called the Winnipeg Optimist International Band Festival.

Each year, all of our ensembles participate in this dynamic event.

This year's dates and times:

Tuesday February 24th
Grade 10 Concert Band @8:00PM in room #2

Wednesday February 25th
Grade 9 Concert Band @2:50PM in room #2

Friday February, 27th
Symphonic Band @ 6:20PM in room #2

Saturday, March 7th
Sr. Jazz @ 3:35PM - NORTH KILDONAN MENNONITE CHURCH 1315 Gateway.

Optimist Notes:

• Grade 9 Concert Band will be taking a bus to the convention centre.  They will be leaving at 1:00 and returning at 4:30PM

• Grade 10, Symphonic Band and Sr. Jazz members are responsible for their own transportation to an from the festival.  It is the hope that all members of the band bring parents and friends to form our audience, as we all know the bands will play better when there is an audience.

• As this is a huge team event, the expectation is that all members attend.  Mr. Edwards must be notified of any conflicts as soon as possible.

• The above times are our performance times.  Students are to be in the lobby of the convention centre at the bottom of the main escalators no later that 1 hour before their performance time to prepare for warm-up.

• Symphonic Band has again volunteered to help with the tearing down of the festival.  Students (and parents) will help with the stacking of chairs and placing percussion section items back in  boxes.  Please bring a change of clothes.  Students will be done no later than 9:30PM.  This time can count towards volunteer hours.

Free Guitar Picks

Yesterday I managed to find the coolest Christmas present to the band program.  I found a guitar pick maker designed by the people at www.pick punch.com

How our reclamation program works.

You know how you always end up with hotel room keys and empty Tim's cards and just end up throwing them away..... well trash them no more.  Instead, think about sending them to Westwood with your son or daughter and we will reclaim them by turning them into guitar picks, which will be made available for FREE to anyone in the school.... sort of a permanent present to our student population.

From there who knows what we will accomplish? .... heck, this might even motivate a new renaissance of recycling and guitar music.

Merry Quizzmas

Merry Quizzmas marking Rubric is now available.

Follow this link:  Merry Quizzmas

Playing tests beginning during class time Monday the 15th.

Last Two Weeks of School Before Break

It a sprint to the finish as we prepare for the end of the year…. seems funny to write that, but in all actuality, we only have 2 weeks left or 5 classes.

Here's the plan:

1.  We wish Ms. Russell, Mr. Toms and all of the cast and crew of our school musical, AIDA, the greatest of success as they begin the run on their show on Monday.  You can still get some tickets, but most nights are sold out.  Contact the school library for ticket details.

2.  All jacket orders have gone in and we are doing out best to get them here by Christmas; however, due to the delay in the samples driving, it is most likely that the order will arrive sometime during our break; your patience and understanding is greatly appreciated.

3.  As one of my colleagues used to tell his students, MERRY QUIZZMAS!  Yes, my gift to you, playing tests are coming to a band near you and will begin this week and wrap up next week.  After looking through numerous pieces, the band have all selected their music for concert and the playing tests will be exclusively on this music.  Jr. Jazz:  Romancing the Chili Pepper, Caldonia and Better Get it in Your Soul.  Inter Jazz:  Stuck in a Groove, Charleston Shuffle and Chili Today,Hot Tamale.  Sr. Jazz: One More and Chain Reaction.  9 CB:  Cumberland Cross and Hyperdrive.  10CB:  Danzon and Tricycle.  Symphonic Band:  Prelude, Siciliano and Rondo as well as Mambo.

4.  Last Sr. Jazz breakfast this year will be on the 18th - hosted by Mr. Edwards.

5.  Just a reminder that our winter concert is coming up on February 3rd at 7:00 in the gym.  One of the fantastic traditions of our concert has, unfortunately come to an end.  :( Sadly, after 15 years of some very memorable moments,  you will no longer be able to bring your own chair to our concerts.  Due to fire code restrictions, we will now be providing chairs for everyone in attendance. :(

6.  Speaking of concerts, now is a good time to remind everyone of our uniform.  We believe that you have to look good to play well.  In addition, we like our uniform as it allows for the opportunity for it to be worn outside of the concert setting.

Men:  Dark suit or Sports Jacket and Dark pants, tie, matching dark socks and dress shoes.

Ladies: Dress [leaning towards the summer dress style and not the formal ball gown type], matching dress shoes.  As a reminder,  a dress is a one-piece outfit and not a skirt and a top.

Please be forewarned that we take our uniform VERY SERIOUSLY at Westwood, and any student that shows up to a concert without the above mentioned uniform will not be permitted to play until they are dressed appropriately.  In addition, if the student fails to change into the proper uniform, they will receive an “Incomplete” standing for their performance. We take the uniform very seriously and consequently students who show up to concerts without the proper uniform will be sent home to change or not be permitted to perform.

Do not hesitate to contact Mr. Edwards if you have any questions.

7. Rock the Halls will be happening on the 19th. If you are a member of a band and would like to participate contact the office and find out what's involved. This is a great opportunity to share your talents with the school.

8. Lastly, just a reminder that you want to complete your sectionals before winter break to was your pain in January. Cut off date for sectional #2 and Self-Assessment #2 is January 19th.