From The Desk of Mr. Lee
Hope everyone is doing well. We have lots going on, so please read this newsletter in its entirety.....
REMINDER: We have seven more days left on our annual online donation campaign. This campaign is used to help raise much needed funds for individual students' band accounts and our general account. Information concerning this will continue to go out (watch for e-mails, ParentSquare Messages, BAND app posts, etc.). WE NEED EVERYONE'S HELP ON THIS!!!!
Important Things to Note For This Week:
- NOTE ON MARCHING BAND FEES
- MARCHING BAND ATTENDANCE POLICY (PLEASE READ)
- CONCORD CHRISTMAS PARADE (MP MARCHING BAND)
- WINTERGUARD INFORMATION
- NOTES FROM THE CLASSROOM (WINTER CONCERT INFO, PLAYING ASSESSMENTS, ALL-DISTRICT AUDITION INFO)
- SCHEDULE FOR 18 NOV - 7 DEC 2024
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE MOUNT PLEASANT MARCHING BAND
Spring Trip 2025
We will be sending out information concerning payment schedules, updated itineraries, etc. very soon.
NOTE CONCERNING PAYMENT OF MARCHING BAND FEES
Please ensure that you are making attempts to either make the necessary payments or doing fundraising to help pay for your marching band fees. The initial payment of $200 was due on June 6th. The second payment of $150 was due July 1st. The last payment of $150 was due August 2nd. The experience that is provided by participating in the marching band comes with costs to the organization and it is imperative that we receive these funds in order to do the things that we have planned. While the Band Booster program helps to raise funds, your "fair share" is also necessary.
PLEASE NOTE: Marching Band fees are the priority right now. If we see that we are behind on payments for this, this will cause us to re-evaluate some upcoming events (Washington D.C. trip, etc.). Please do your best to get payments turned in or participate in the current fundraiser to help pay those fees off.
Updated invoices have been emailed to parents/guardians. Please ensure you are tracking these. If you have questions, etc., please forward those to me and I will get our band booster board to link up with you!
MARCHING BAND ATTENDANCE POLICY (PLEASE READ)
For the most part, we have done relatively well with attendance for marching band rehearsals/events. Most individuals who had to miss rehearsal did the right thing by communicating this ahead of time through the use of the Absence Leave Request Google Form. Most that had emergencies that popped up (sickness, etc.) communicated those to me through e-mails. For those that have done this, THANK YOU! Unfortunately, we are starting to see a trend of select individuals starting to not communicate absences. I need to you to re-acquaint yourself with the policy notated below. Let me explain my mindset of why this is imperative.
When I set a calendar/schedule, there are “milestones” that I am trying to hit. There is a lot of planning that goes into this activity and it is imperative that we have a good plan of action to accomplish the required tasks.
When I plan a schedule I try to account for as much as I can (possible weather events, etc.) as I can to ensure our pacing is good to ensure we are ready for our first contest in September. It becomes extremely difficult to stay on pace when we have absences. I am a reasonable person, and if things are communicated, I can come to peace with it. We have folks that have communicated things like weddings, out of town trips, etc. for future dates, and I am totally fine with that. That is part of life and those things are important. I, too, have some possible life events that may cause me to have to miss things. I have several doctor’s appointments that I have to attend due to the number of health issues I have from military service. This will also cause me to miss some time. I have to do everything in my power to make sure you are successful in my absence when the time comes (and I assure you, a game plan will be set to ensure you are successful). That is part of life and those things are important. When there is a lack of communication, though, that is a hard pill to swallow. As stated before, it is imperative all members of the marching band understand the attendance policy. You depend on the communication I provide to you for your plans, and I will work hard to keep you up to date on the latest things. I demand the same courtesy from my band members. Communication is crucial.
Please read the band handbook for the policy concerning attendance. PLEASE NOTE: NO OTHER STAFF MEMBER APPROVES ABSENCES. ALL ABSENCE REQUESTS NEED TO GO THROUGH ME.
Any requests for a planned absence, late arrival or early dismissal must be submitted via our Google Form (HERE) at least two days in advance to Mr. Lee. No staff member, instructor, booster or parent can excuse a student for any reason. You may, in addition, contact the appropriate staff member or instructor for information purposes only.
If you receive an unexcused absence within the week, you will not perform in the next performance. If you receive two unexcused absences, you will be dismissed from the marching band without refund of fees.
It is essential that we have complete student and parental cooperation in this matter. Any absence, regardless of reason, creates a hardship for everyone.
Also – In the case of emergency circumstances (sudden sicknesses, family emergencies, etc.) where you do not have time to get the necessary clearance for an absence, please send me an e-mail at keith.lee@cabarrus.k12.nc.us and a private message through the BAND App to let me know what is going on. Again, I am an understanding person, and I know things of this nature happens. Please communicate to me about what is going on. “
PLEASE READ THE MARCHING BAND HANDBOOK TO BE INFORMED OF ALL EXPECTATIONS IN REGARDS TO UNIFORM EXPECTATIONS, TRAVEL, ETC. (GO HERE TO REVIEW THOSE POLICIES).
CONCORD CHRISTMAS PARADE - SATURDAY, 23 NOV 24
This weekend, the MP Marching Band will be participating in the Concord Christmas Parade. We are Unit 95 in the parade. Schedule of events is as follows:
- Report Time - 11:30 AM (Students need to eat before their arrival to MPHS)
- Dress - 11:35 AM
- Final Meeting - 12:15 PM
- Board Bus - 12:30 PM
- Depart MPHS - 12:40 PM
- Arrival to Staging Area - 1:00 PM
- Start Time of Parade - 2:30 PM
- Approximate Mileage of Parade - 2.2 Miles
- Approximate Length of Parade Time - 1 Hour From When We Start
- Approximate Arrival Back to MPHS - 5:00 PM
Those who plan to decorate horns, equipment, etc. need to plan accordingly.
We will need someone to haul the small trailer behind the buses so we can haul some of our bigger equipment. If you are available, please let me know.
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE MOUNT PLEASANT WINTERGUARD
Congratulations to those who made the 2025 MP Winterguard. More information will be coming out this week.
UPDATES FROM THE CLASSROOM
WINTER CONCERT INFORMATION: We are closing in on the end of our 1st Semester. That is crazy to think about. As we come into these final few weeks, we are in our final preparations for the Wind Ensemble’s winter concert to be held on Sunday, December 15th at 2:30 PM (per syllabus sent beginning of semester). Report time for all students is 1:30 PM.
To put the final touches on our preparation for this concert, we will be having a series of MANDATORY after school rehearsals (also notated in syllabus that went out the beginning of the semester). This is crucial because these are the only times we can get all of the classes together to rehearse. The dates and times of those are as follows:
- Monday, December 9th (2:30 - 4:30 PM)
- Tuesday, December 10th (2:30 - 4:30 PM)
- Wednesday, December 11th (2:30 - 4:30 PM)
- Thursday, December 12th (2:30 - 4:30 PM)
As notated in the syllabus that was sent home at the beginning of the semester, these events (rehearsals and concert) are graded events. If there is any type of conflict with any of the above dates/times, I need to know ASAP so we can make alternate plans for your student.
Dress for this event will be:
- Males: dress pants/khakis, collared shirts (button up or polo), dress shoes preferred
- Females: dresses/skirts/dress pants, “dressy” top, dress shoes preferred
- Christmas sweaters, etc. are permissible as long as they are school appropriate.
PLAYING ASSESSMENTS: We have begun doing playing assessments this quarter. Students should have a great grasp of the technique exercises we have been working and they will be tested on the concert literature we are working on, as well. Students had assignments assigned to them in Canvas to knock out. These were due last Friday (15 NOV). If they are not done, these need to be done ASAP. More assignments are coming this week. All assignments are due by 6 DEC for credit.
They will also have assignments assigned to them through SmartMusic. If students have not registered for the SmartMusic accounts, they need to do this ASAP (see info below for instructions).
ALL DISTRICT AUDITIONS: Any student who is wanting to audition for the South-Central District Bandmasters All-District Band needs to let me know no later than 2:15 p.m. on December 5th so we can get you registered. The audition will be held on Saturday, January 11th at Porter Ridge High School. The audition fee is $10. Please make checks payable to the Mount Pleasant Band Boosters.
BAND HANDBOOK: All students and families are expected to read the Band Handbook (found HERE). Lots of information pertaining to expectations, rules, schedule, etc. can be found there.
SMARTMUSIC: We will be working to establish SmartMusic accounts for all students by the end of next week. SmartMusic is an online tool we utilize to aid in individual practice and assessment. To get started creating SmartMusic accounts, do the following:
- Go to https://admin.makemusic.com/join?classCode=UC7CJ-V4WYE
- The class code should automatically populate, but if it does not, it is UC7CCJ-V4WYE
- Hit “Find Your Class.” The class Mount Pleasant HS Band 2024-2025 should populate. Hit “Join this Class.”
- Please put in an e-mail address that you utilize often to establish your account.
- Check your e-mail for a confirmation e-mail. Please confirm your account.
To Login to SmartMusic: Go to HERE
SCHEDULE FOR 18 NOVEMBER - 7 DECEMBER 2024
November 19: Christmas Parade Rehearsal; 3:15 PM - 5:15 PM
November 21: Christmas Parade Rehearsal; 3:15 PM - 5:15 PM
November 23: Concord Christmas Parade; SEE INFO ABOVE
November 27 - December 1: Thanksgiving Break (NO SCHOOL)
December 5: Deadline to Register for All-District Auditions (by 2:15 PM)
December 5: Christmas Parade Rehearsal; 3:15 PM - 5:15 PM (In Preparation for MP Christmas Parade)
December 7: Mount Pleasant Christmas Parade; MORE DETAILS TO COME