Updated Announcements for Collage Week

1. Collage Concerts are Thursday and Friday (12/13 & 12/14) starting at 7pm. Student call time is 6pm. Thank you to everyone for being flexible with adjusted schedules due to weather this week.
2. Solo & Ensemble registration is due today (12/13). If you missed the deadline, you must get your information and check to us as soon as possible. We will do our best, but we cannot guarantee that we will take late entries.
3. Next Monday is our field trip to Plainfield Central HS where we will watch the University of Illinois Symphonic Band. Cost is $3 to cover transportation. Due to the trip fee, this is not a mandatory event; however, students are strongly encouraged to attend. In-class announcements requested the trip fee and a trip consent form be turned in by today (12/13). If you have yet to turn one in, please do so by the end of this week.
4. Cheesecake pick-up is 12/13 & 12/14 at the Collage Concerts.
   

Collage Rehearsal (12/11) Canceled

The Collage Rehearsal for 12/11 has been canceled due to weather.

As of the time of this message, there is still rehearsal scheduled for tomorrow (12/12) starting at 3:30. The rehearsal will extend until 8:30 due to the loss of today's rehearsal time. Please be sure to bring homework and something to eat during times when you are not performing.

Please check back for updates over the next few days.

Solo and Ensemble

Believe it or not, the Plainfield High Schools Solo and Ensemble Festival is just around the corner on February 16, 2008. For those unfamiliar with this event, the Plainfield High Schools have traditionally run a Solo and Ensemble Festival which generally follows the IHSA Solo and Ensemble guidelines. Students are encouraged to prepare a solo or small group/ensemble to perform for an adjudicator. Performance slots are 15 minutes, meaning that after performing, students will receive approximately 10 minutes of individual instruction time with the clinician. This individual attention does not occur at IHSA Solo and Ensemble Festivals.

Preparing solo and ensemble literature is perhaps the most important avenue to improving as a musician. While learning to play in a large ensemble (such as band) is very important, performing solos and ensembles is where students learn the most about technique, sound, and facility on their respective instruments. We cannot stress enough how important we feel this event is to improving individual musicianship.

Students interested in participating should fill out a "Solo & Ensemble Commitment Form" indicating how many solos and/or ensemble events they are interested in performing. Fees for this festival are: $10 per solo and $15 per ensemble. The ensemble fee is NOT for each member of the ensemble, but rather for the ensemble as a whole, and the cost should be split amongst members of the group.

In addition to the Commitment Form, students should also fill out an "Entry Form" for each event in which they wish to participate. All forms were distributed in class and are available from a band director. Forms and payment are due December 13!

Toys for Tots

This winter the PSHS Bands will be participating in the annual Marine Toys for Tots Foundation toy drive. Please consider donating a new, unwrapped toy to this great cause. All donations can be brought to the PSHS Band office or dropped off at one of the Collage Concert performances on the 13th and 14th. Happy Holidays!

IMPORTANT Announcements for week of 12/3

1. FRUIT SALE PICK-UP DATE HAS BEEN CHANGED!!! Unfortunately we do not have any control over the fruit delivery date, and the fruit company informed us that our fruit will arrive on WEDNESDAY (12/5). Pick-up will be after school on Wednesday from 5-7, during the day on Thursday, and Thursday after school from 3:30-6. If you are unable to pick up your fruit during these times, please make arrangements with us to pick-up at another time. We apologize for the inconvenience.
2. Cheesecake pick-up is scheduled to be 12/13. You may pick up your cheesecakes at the Collage concert that night if you wish.
3. Solo & Ensemble sign up will begin this week. Interest forms will be distributed and must be returned with payment by December 14!
   
4. Collage Concert - Please be aware of the rehearsal and performance schedule for next week:

• Rehearsals - Tuesday 12/11 and Wednesday 12/12 (3:30-8pm)
• Concerts - Thursday 12/13 and Friday 12/14 (7pm)
• There is NO Symphonic Band Rehearsal on Monday 12/10

Phantom of the Opera Trip!

Some photos from ESPN Zone before the show...

Announcements for week of 11/26

We hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! Below are some important announcements from this week...

1. Thanks to all who attended the Phantom of the Opera! It was a great trip!
2. Student debt invoices were sent home with students before Thanksgiving. Please detach, sign, and return the signature sheet by Friday, November 30. Payment for outstanding debt will be accepted at any time. Please make checks payable to: PSHS Band Boosters. Please also let us know if there are any discrepancies!
3. Pick-up for Cheesecake and Fruit will be the week of 12/10.
4. Auditions for second semester band placement begin 11/27.
5. Pep Band sign-up is now available. Remember that pep band counts towards end of the year awards point totals!
6. Collage Concert - Please check your calendar to make sure you are aware of the following schedule. Attendance is mandatory for all Concert Band and Symphonic Band Students.

• Rehearsals - Tuesday 12/11 and Wednesday 12/12 (3:30-8pm)
• Concerts - Thursday 12/13 and Friday 12/14 (7pm)
• There is NO Symphonic Band Rehearsal on Monday 12/10

Fruit & Cheesecake Sale

The fruit/cheesecake sale is here! Information was sent home in class, but here is a brief run-down:

• Selling Dates: 11/2-11/19
  
• Pickup: Week of 12/10 (exact time TBA)
• Requested sales: $40 fruit & 4 Cheesecakes. If you are unable to sell the requested amount, please try to sell as much as you can! Profits from items sold beyond the requested sales will go into student accounts.
  
• Buyout: $40
• Fruit-- Submit the order form (green and white sheet) AND monies in the accompanying envelope. There is also a "Door Step Direct" order form (white sheet) which may be used if you would like to have the fruit shipped directly to someone living out of the area.
• Cheesecake-- Submit order form (blue and white sheet) AND monies in a SEPARATE envelope.
• ALL MONEY IS DUE 11/19. NO EXCEPTIONS!

Coldstone!

Last Tuesday the PSHS Bands were at Coldstone Creamery in Shorewood selling ice cream! The event was a lot of fun and raised money for the PSHS Band Boosters. Thanks to Coldstone, and to our volunteer helpers: Cosette Bailey, Melanie Goff, Alex Sibley, Kyle Westfall, and Rod Westfall. It was fun to see everyone who showed up!

2007-2008 Jazz Bands

We are happy to announce that due to increased student interest, there will be two jazz bands at PSHS this year: The Jazz Ensemble and the Jazz Lab Band. Audition results have been posted outside the band office.

Rehearsals for the Jazz Ensemble will be with Mr. Cook on Wednesday nights from 6:30-8:30. The first rehearsal will be Wednesday, 11/14.

Jazz Lab Band will rehearse with Mr. Dortwegt after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:35-4:35. The first rehearsal will be Tuesday, 11/13. Jazz Lab Band members will be asked to purchase the "Standard of Excellence Jazz Ensemble Method" book. Approximate cost is $15, but will vary slightly depending on your instrument. Books will be ordered through the school, so you may purchase them from Mr. Dortwegt directly. The details of this will be discussed at the first rehearsal.

Congratulations to all who auditioned for the PSHS Jazz Bands. We still have a few openings, especially in the trombone and rhythm sections. Please see a director if you are still interested in auditioning.