Kevin Smith, Director of Bands
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Chester Middle School Bands
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Cookie Dough Fundraiser
The Chester Middle School Band program will be selling gourmet cookie dough from Wednesday, October 22, to Wednesday, November 5. We are raising money for new school owned instruments, repairs of old ones, new music, and travel. Please see Mr. Smith or a CMS band student to place an order, or you can order online by sending an email to ksmith@chester.k12.sc.us. Please include your name, address, and quantity of each item you would like ordered. Prices and flavors are as follows:
Chocolate Chunk - $ 14.00
Peanut Butter - $ 14.00
Oatmeal Raisin - $ 14.00
Sugar Cookie - $ 14.00
Snickerdoodle - $ 14.00
Macadamia Nut - $ 15.00
Triple Berry - $ 15.00
M&M - $ 15.00
Double Chocolate - $ 15.00
Chocolate Chunk Pecan - $ 15.00
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Each box comes with 48 frozen, pre-formed cookies. Cookies have 0g trans-fat. Thank you for your support!
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A Few Updates and Reminders
CMS Band Night for the 7th and 8th grade will be this Friday, October 3rd at the Chester High School stadium. Call time will be 6:30PM. Signed permission slips are due no later than Wednesday.
Permission Slip and Information.
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Two Weeks Down
Two weeks ago, I handed out a rather large packet to students that included several sheets of very important information to be filled out at home and returned by the student the following day. I have not received this information from a number of students. Please note that your child's grade will be affected starting Wednesday for each day he or she does not bring in this information. These sheets can also be downloaded from the Student Portal section of this website.
The 6th grade band has been learning some fundamentals of music, and a bit about the different instruments that are offered in band. On Wednesday we learned about woodwind instruments, on Thursday we learned about the brass family, and on Friday, we learned all about the wide variety of percussion instruments. We will be having a short quiz on Tuesday on some basic information we've been learning the first two weeks. We will be working out of the beginner theory book just as soon as they arrive from the company, once the work order clears the district office.
Don't forget the beginner band parent meeting on Thursday night from 5-7PM. Many students have been asking me about instrument prices, and which instruments are available from the school, etc. All of these questions will be answered at the meeting. If you cannot attend the meeting, I will be giving out handouts in the near future.
The 7th and 8th grade bands have been playing out of the book 1 method book the past few classes. Hopefully, the rest of the books should arrive tomorrow (September 2) first thing in the morning, so we can begin our normal class routine. For the 7th and 8th grade band, each student will have his or her own method book, and theory book. We will use these daily in our fundamental routine. We will also be looking at concert music for the winter concert, other concert music to be used as a teaching aid, pep-band music, and other things. I will also be incorporating a set scale, articulation, technique, and chorale routine into each class as a set warmup/fundamental study each day very soon.
Here is a list of basic supply costs for items your child may need:
Clarinet reeds: $1.50
Alto Sax reeds: $2.00
Tenor Sax reeds: $2.50
Bass Clarinet reeds: $2.50
Theory Book 1 (6th and 7th Grade:) $12.00
Theory Book 2 (8th Grade:) $12.00
Essential Elements 2000, book 1 (6th and 7th Grade:) $8.00 (6th graders will get this on Sept. 16th when you get your instruments.)
Essential Elements 2000, book 1 Percussion: $16.00
Essential Elements 2000, book 2: $8.00
Essential Elements 2000, book 2 Percussion: $16.00
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Beginner Band Parent Nights
We will be having an informative meeting for all beginner band parents to discuss obtaining an instrument on Thursday, September 4th, from 5-7PM at the CMS Bandroom. Your child will receive his or her instrument and set up a rental plan from Pecknel Music on Tuesday, September 16th, from 5-7PM at the CMS Bandroom. The format will be drop-in for both nights. You are not asked to stay the entire time.
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Welcome Back! (or welcome to CMS!)
After speaking with over 100 parents and students during registration this past week, I can tell it's going to be a great new school year. I have worked very hard these past few weeks getting everything just right for day one. Your child will be receiving a handout the first day of school if you did not receive one at registration. It is also available to download here. You will be getting MUCH more information on Monday, August 25, however that information should be posted on the website later on this week. I know you will have many questions, especially if you are a beginner band student or parent. I can be reached via email anytime here. I currently do not have voice mail on my office phone. There will be a beginner band parent meeting on Thursday, September 4, from 5-7PM in the CMS bandroom.
Also MAJOR update to the calendar page just now. I added lots more events, and downloadable/printable calendars for each month, for the entire school year.
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Quick Website Update
I've updated the links page with a lot of great band and music resources, which will benefit both the middle and high school band student. I will continue to add even more as the year progresses, so continue to check that page routinely.
Students: You will receive your password for the student portal section of this website soon.
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New Website Launched
Welcome to the new Chester Middle and Chester High School bands website. The goal of this website is to showcase the band program to the parents, school, and community, as well as serve as a resource for band announcements, upcoming performances, fundraisers, etc.
We also hope both parents and students check this page on a daily basis for important announcements.
Students:
You will soon be able to login and download band forms and handouts in the student portal section. During the next few days, please look for any mistakes or omissions I may have made. Also, email me any comments or suggestions you may have about this website.
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