Dodgen Band News & Updates - Congratulations on a Successful Year!!!
5/28/2021
This year has had a LOT of differences from our typical year - starting online, instrument covers, lots of distancing in the band room, no in-person concerts to name a few! One thing that has NOT been different is the stellar performances and achievements of the Dodgen Band!
Welcoming Next Year's 6th Grade Band!
If your family has a rising 6th grader, feel free to peruse this website to get an idea of what goes on in Band and see some performances! We also have an entire section for incoming 6th graders. The information is from last year, but it will give you a sense of what to expect!
All-State Band
Dodgen once again had the highest number of all-state band students in the county! Congratulations to Chloe, Everest, Max, Manya, Nathan, Jake, and Freddy! You have earned your place in history, and will soon be on the Dodgen Band Wall of Fame!
Hybrid Performances
Performing has been a challenge this year. However, our students are up to the task! We navigated the challenge of combining the performances of students in class with those in the remote environment, and the results are amazing! Please click on the playlists below to watch hybrid performances from each grade this year...
5/28/2021
This year has had a LOT of differences from our typical year - starting online, instrument covers, lots of distancing in the band room, no in-person concerts to name a few! One thing that has NOT been different is the stellar performances and achievements of the Dodgen Band!
Welcoming Next Year's 6th Grade Band!
If your family has a rising 6th grader, feel free to peruse this website to get an idea of what goes on in Band and see some performances! We also have an entire section for incoming 6th graders. The information is from last year, but it will give you a sense of what to expect!
All-State Band
Dodgen once again had the highest number of all-state band students in the county! Congratulations to Chloe, Everest, Max, Manya, Nathan, Jake, and Freddy! You have earned your place in history, and will soon be on the Dodgen Band Wall of Fame!
Hybrid Performances
Performing has been a challenge this year. However, our students are up to the task! We navigated the challenge of combining the performances of students in class with those in the remote environment, and the results are amazing! Please click on the playlists below to watch hybrid performances from each grade this year...
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Hybrid Learning Updates!
Having band four times a week has had a huge impact - we are seeing quicker and more consistent progress in all classes! As we adjust to the current situation, here are some pointers:
For FACE-TO-FACE students:
For REMOTE students:
For 7th and 8th Grade Students:
All-State Band Auditions are coming! For more information and to register, please click here to view the online form. There is also an audition fee of $25, which can be paid on MyPaymentsPlus.
Be aware that this will require significant work outside of class, but offers you the chance to be declared among the best in the entire state! Click here to go to the official GMEA All-State page. The deadline to sign up is November 10th, so don't delay!
Having band four times a week has had a huge impact - we are seeing quicker and more consistent progress in all classes! As we adjust to the current situation, here are some pointers:
- For EVERONE:
Make sure your student has their supplies for EVERY class session. Our two biggest concerns currently are the band book and reeds (clarinets, saxophones, and double reeds). Make sure your child’s name is on the OUTSIDE of their band book in Sharpie. We have had several left behind, with no idea who they belong to. Also, every clarinet or sax player should have four opened, broken-in reeds at all times, with a few backups as well. - We are working on performance options for the first semester. Any option we create will NOT resemble a traditional concert in the Dodgen Theater, and will be in December. We will keep you posted as the plans come together!
- The more you put into music, the more you will get out of if! Practice as much as possible outside of class time!
- Use Essential Elements Interactive as your practice assistant – you will be able to hear if your playing matches the example.
For FACE-TO-FACE students:
- Make sure you have your T-shirt for your instrument cover every day. Please take it home at least weekly to wash! If the shirt brought will not work properly for the instrument cover, we will tell the student so they can communicate with parents to correct the problem. For clarinets and saxes, adult size shirts work best since we are trying to fit the ENTIRE instrument inside!
- Please take your instrument home on Wednesday and Friday as a minimum. Practice is essential for consistent progress!
For REMOTE students:
- Please do your best to join the live session as soon as possible. If you have technical difficulties or get stuck in the waiting room, please persist!
- Please do your best to adjust camera angles and audio settings as requested by the teachers. If we cannot see or hear the student clearly, we are unable to offer accurate assistance.
- Please turn in assignments on time through CTLS, and reach out for assistance if you need it!
For 7th and 8th Grade Students:
All-State Band Auditions are coming! For more information and to register, please click here to view the online form. There is also an audition fee of $25, which can be paid on MyPaymentsPlus.
Be aware that this will require significant work outside of class, but offers you the chance to be declared among the best in the entire state! Click here to go to the official GMEA All-State page. The deadline to sign up is November 10th, so don't delay!
Sign Up for 6th Grade Band - The Time is NOW!
Please Click Here to Complete the 6th Grade Music Registration Form
Please complete the form by Sunday night, August 23rd, so our administrators can start scheduling students into connections classes first thing Monday morning!
We will be in touch with you soon over email and CTLS to schedule your one-on-one instrument fitting session. This video call will only take less than five minutes and helps us narrow down each student's preferences to their very best fit!
Complete student schedules with connections classes will be available in ParentVue on Wednesday, August 26th and our first band classes will be on Thursday or Friday of next week! Welcome to the Dodgen Band!!!
If you missed any CTLS sessions, watch the videos below and contact Mr. Jeffres or Mr. Westphal if you have questions!
Please Click Here to Complete the 6th Grade Music Registration Form
Please complete the form by Sunday night, August 23rd, so our administrators can start scheduling students into connections classes first thing Monday morning!
We will be in touch with you soon over email and CTLS to schedule your one-on-one instrument fitting session. This video call will only take less than five minutes and helps us narrow down each student's preferences to their very best fit!
Complete student schedules with connections classes will be available in ParentVue on Wednesday, August 26th and our first band classes will be on Thursday or Friday of next week! Welcome to the Dodgen Band!!!
If you missed any CTLS sessions, watch the videos below and contact Mr. Jeffres or Mr. Westphal if you have questions!
Welcome to the 2020-2021 School Year!
We are extremely excited for the year ahead! This will truly be a year to remember, as we begin the year in a virtual format! While we are busily planning for an engaging and successful year, here is the status for many of our normal activities:
6th Grade Beginning Band
Students WILL be able to sign up for band! Here are the basics:
Concerts
We are not sure exactly what our performances will look like this year. I imagine the first round of performances (typically late November, early December) will not look exactly like a traditional concert. However, rest assured that students will have opportunities to perform and share music with our families and community!
Ensembles for 7th and 8th Grade Band
Our extracurricular ensembles will not start at the beginning of this school year. They will need to wait at least until we are back at school in person, and more likely until second semester.
GMEA Events
These include District Honor Band, All-State Band, and LGPE. Our state organization is still working out plans for these events, and many ideas have been proposed to continue these events in some form. There is a possibility that the honor group events (All-State & Honor Band) may happen later than usual, or may adopt a different format. LGPE is a more locally controlled event, so we will have to wait and see if, when, and how that will happen.
Disney Performance
Currently, field trips are suspended until further notice. This means that under current CCSD guidelines, the Disney trip for 8th grade cannot happen. If and when trips are allowed again, we will explore available options.
6th Grade Beginning Band
Students WILL be able to sign up for band! Here are the basics:
- All 6th graders will have two music classes on their initial schedule. This is to facilitate the music department orientation, and will be changed the second week.
- While attending these music classes, the students will have an overall orientation to the music department, then spend one virtual class session with each of the three music groups.
- After class on Friday, August 21st, the music group signup form will be released!
- Music and connection classes will be scheduled and officially start on August 27th!
- Band will spend the next week helping students choose their ideal instrument and going over music basics.
- We will start with instruments after Labor Day!
Concerts
We are not sure exactly what our performances will look like this year. I imagine the first round of performances (typically late November, early December) will not look exactly like a traditional concert. However, rest assured that students will have opportunities to perform and share music with our families and community!
Ensembles for 7th and 8th Grade Band
Our extracurricular ensembles will not start at the beginning of this school year. They will need to wait at least until we are back at school in person, and more likely until second semester.
GMEA Events
These include District Honor Band, All-State Band, and LGPE. Our state organization is still working out plans for these events, and many ideas have been proposed to continue these events in some form. There is a possibility that the honor group events (All-State & Honor Band) may happen later than usual, or may adopt a different format. LGPE is a more locally controlled event, so we will have to wait and see if, when, and how that will happen.
Disney Performance
Currently, field trips are suspended until further notice. This means that under current CCSD guidelines, the Disney trip for 8th grade cannot happen. If and when trips are allowed again, we will explore available options.
The Virtual Spring Concert!
5-20-2020
This has been quite an interesting year! We have had unprecedented individual success, breaking our previous record for All-State Band members, and having HUGE representation in District Honor Band! We also had amazing group success in our full band and ensemble concerts! We were also fortunate that our 8th grade class got to have their performance in Disney World in February! Unfortunately, all of our spring semester performances were cancelled due to the Coronavirus school closure.
But the band found a way to play on! We hope you enjoy our Virtual Spring Concert, and look forward to seeing ALL of our students when we resume in the fall!
5-20-2020
This has been quite an interesting year! We have had unprecedented individual success, breaking our previous record for All-State Band members, and having HUGE representation in District Honor Band! We also had amazing group success in our full band and ensemble concerts! We were also fortunate that our 8th grade class got to have their performance in Disney World in February! Unfortunately, all of our spring semester performances were cancelled due to the Coronavirus school closure.
But the band found a way to play on! We hope you enjoy our Virtual Spring Concert, and look forward to seeing ALL of our students when we resume in the fall!
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