Meet the 6th Graders!

6th Grade Night:

• Thursday, November 8th
• In the Parkwood Middle School Gymnasium
• Students arrive by 6:30, Concert starts at 7:00
• Wear khakis & Polos, Dark shoes

Good Luck!

Chamber Music Day!

Members of the Quintessence Wind Quintet will host the first annual Chamber Day for middle school students in North Carolina.  The event will give young students the opportunity to experience playing and performing simple chamber music in an informal educational setting.  In addition, the members of Quintessence will include a master class demonstration on how a professional chamber ensemble rehearses and performs music.
This opportunity is available to interested 8th Grade Brass and Woodwind musicians!  Download Information Packet.

It all begins with the first sounds!

6th Graders have made our first sounds the last few days!  Just like walking, we must slowly take the first steps towards becoming wonderful musicians--and it starts with building new muscles.  This weekend, we ask each student to spend a few minutes EACH DAY playing long sounds with mouthpieces ONLY (and reed, for clarinets) and practicing assembling and dis-assembling the instrument until it feels very easy!

I am VERY excited about getting started!  Now is a great time to start setting aside a specific time and place to help your child build great practice habits.  A note to all parents of clarinetists--the mouthpiece has a very HIGH pitch, but I promise it will get much better once the muscles are formed and we are able to put the instrument together!

P.S.  Thank you for all of your support and patience with the great amount of information transferred at the beginning of the 6th Grade.  Our Invest-a-Kid fundraiser is already halfway to our goal!!!  THANK YOU!  I look forward to teaching and getting to know your child in the coming weeks, months, and years!

P.S.  If your child has not turned in his or her Handbook (indicates photo permission as well as contact information) or Supply Envelope  (polos must be ordered soon!) please send them to school ASAP!

Happy Practicing!

Invest-in-a-Musician!

September 4 marks the jumpstart of our annual Invest-in-a-Musician Fundraiser!  Here is our chance to invite neighbors, friends, and nearby family members to invest in your child's music program!  In this fundraiser, we ask for a small $5 investment into our program and, in return, they can see the progress your child makes throughout the school year by attending performances and events!

Further information will be sent home with your child this week; thank you for supporting Music Education--every little bit helps!

Jazz Band Auditions

Auditions for the Parkwood Middle School Jazz Band will be held the week of September 10-14.  Only 7th and 8th graders are eligible to audition.  The Jazz Band typically consists of 25 members; rehearsals take place Wednesdays and Fridays at 7:30am.  Student responsibility is HIGH and students must remain in good standing in their regular band class to remain in Jazz Band.  

Auditions will consist of a prepared piece ("Thriller") as well as Sightreading components.  CLICK HERE to listen to a recording of the audition material.

*Returning Jazz Members do not need to audition, but PLEASE sign up on Ms. Speight's door!*

*New!* Text Updates!

Text the following to the number (779)-379-3877 to automatically sign up for text updates about your child's band class!  

8th Grade:  @pwmsband8

7th Grade: @pwmsband7

6th Grade: @pwmsband6

Remind101 is a free, private website devoted to helping teachers connect with students and parents!  Visit their website if you would like more information!

Welcome Back! (+Supply Info)

Hope you're ready for a new, exciting year in band!  

Here is our To-Do list for the first days of school:

1)  READ the Band Handbook (students AND parents!)!  Parents, please fill out the insert in our band handbook (front and back!) and return it with the supply envelope (whether or not you need to purchase any supplies) by WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5.

2)  Oil, clean, assemble, and PLAY your instrument!  Practice records will begin the second week of school; spend these days getting re-acquainted with your instrument so our first days playing can be a success!

3)  Stay organized and prepared, bringing all supplies to class each day--including a great attitude!

SUPPLIES DUE WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5

1/2" Black Binder

15-20 Page Protectors

5-10 pages looseleaf paper

Small pencil pouch to fit in binder (with 2+ pencils)

INSTRUMENT with Name Tag

Flutes:  Cleaning rod and cloth, cork grease

Clarinets/Saxophones:  Cleaning Swab, 3 GOOD reeds, cork grease

Brass:  Rag, Snake, Tuning slide grease, Valve/Slide/Rotary Oil

Percussion:  Sticks, Mallets