Rogers Band NEws
August 18th, 2023
First Full Week in the Books
We finished our first full week of school and everyone did it!! Beginners are starting to make sounds on their instruments, passing off music masters and learning how to read rhythms. Full Band classes have been hard at work on fundamentals, learning ensemble skills and working on music. The year is off to a great start!!
Beginning Band
We are starting to make sounds on our instruments, but are not yet asking students to take their instruments home. We feel very strongly, and you would probably agree, that students need to know how to properly handle and take care of their instruments before they take it home. We will let you know when we start sending them home so you can get your video cameras ready to hear the “glorious” first sounds.
Hawaiian Falls Celebration – Money Due Monday 8/21
All members of the Rogers, Hays, Rushing and Reynolds Bands (6th through 8th grade) are invited to participate in the optional Hawaiian Falls Celebration being held on Thursday, August 31st from 5pm till 8pm. We have reserved the entire water park all to ourselves!!! That’s right… just the Rogers, Hays, Rushing and Reynolds Bands!!! The cost is $35 per person and is due on Monday, August 21st by the end of the day… no exceptions! Please see the attached flyer for more information regarding the celebration. The $35 fee will cover entrance to the park, a hamburger or hotdog, chips and a drink. A vegetarian option will also be available. HAWAIIAN FALLS 2023 FLYER
CHARMS and Band Fees and Permission Forms
If you have not been able to submit your band fees, please use the following instructions to do so. If you are unsure, email a band director and we would be happy to check for you.
Private Lessons – Sign-up Now!!
The optional private lesson program at Rogers Middle School is an integral part of the individual progress and achievement of each student. Each lesson offers your child a unique experience that he or she cannot receive during a regular classroom setting. Private lessons are held either before school, during the student’s band class, or after school based on the student’s availability and private teacher’s schedule. Each during class lesson is half the school period, of which your student will have 100% of the instructor’s attention. Each lesson consists of a weekly one-on-one instructional period with an instrumental specialist who will develop an individualized plan for each student based on ability, progress and desire. Each private lesson teacher has been selected by the directors and has gone through background checks with the district.
Private lessons are highly encouraged for all students regardless of their age and ability level. The most successful student musicians come from strong private lesson programs and tend to progress at a faster rate. The directors believe strongly in the private lesson program and believe that it is a worthwhile endeavor for each student to explore.
To see a list of all of our private lesson teacher’s and bios, please visit https://www.rogersband.com/private-lessons-1 . With over 300+ students in the Rogers Band Program, their studios fill quickly, so the sooner you can make contact the better to ensure your student’s spot.
We have a limited amount of financial aid for students throughout the school year. Parents will need to reapply each year to request consideration for private lesson financial aid, even if the student received financial aid from the previous year. We do this to help keep our records up to date and to ensure the need still remains. The application is available on the band website at www.rogersband.com/financial-aid-for-private-lessons . All completed applications should be sent directly to Mr. Ferman. If you have any questions about private lessons, please contact any of the directors.
SECTIONALS BEGIN FOR SYMPHONIC WINDS
Sectionals Begin This Week for Symphonic Winds
The concert bands at Rogers Middle School will be hosting weekly sectionals throughout the year. Sectionals are required rehearsals held before and after-school with like-instruments. Sectionals allow us to work in smaller groups and on more specialized material. Sectional attendance is paramount for the advancement of individual and group achievement in performance techniques, style and mastery of various musical projects we work on throughout the year. Below are commonly asked questions concerning sectionals.
Who participates in sectionals?
All concert bands (no beginners) participate in weekly sectionals held throughout the year. Every concert band (Symphonic Winds, Concert Band I & Concert Band II) will follow a different schedule, which will be distributed in the weekly Roger Band News.
How is the sectional schedule made? What times do sectionals begin?
We make every effort to avoid as many student conflicts as possible. Our students participate in TONS of activities! Before forming the sectional schedule, we ask students to fill out a form of known schedule conflicts (sports practice, church, etc). We take that information and try to schedule their section on days and times with the fewest amount of conflicts. There are issues that arise from time to time that we cannot work around as we have a limited amount to days and a bunch of sections to get through! The directors have great working relationships with all of our coaches at Rogers and try to work around any practice conflicts so that the student can participate in all activities. The band hall is open by 7:00am and closes around 5:00pm during sectional days to work around any ride issues. Morning sectionals are from 7:05am to 8:05am and after-school sectionals are from 3:35pm-4:45pm.
How many days a week is my student required to attend a week? Can my student go to another sectional if they are unable to attend their scheduled sectional?
Only one sectional per week is required! The purpose of sectionals is to work with like-instruments which allows us to focus on instrument specific materials. While we understand that conflicts do arise, it is important that students make every effort to attend THEIR SECTIONAL, as the effectiveness is severely limited if they have to attend another instrumental group’s sectional.
Morning/Afternoon Instrument Drop-off and Bus Line
The Rogers Admin team wants us to remind families to not block the bus lane for dropping off or picking up students. Any student dropped off 7:15am or later must use the front main or back cafeteria entrances. No students will be allowed to enter through the band hall doors after 7:15am. Thank you for understanding.
Upcoming Dates:
- Aug 21st - Hawaiian Falls Money Due
- Aug 21st - Sectionals Begin for Symphonic Winds (Schedule out next week)
- Aug 28th - Sectionals begin for Concert Band I
- Aug 31st - Hawaiian Falls Social (optional trip)