Disney Payment due Tuesday, 12/15

Please make sure that $200 payments are received on or before Tuesday, 12/15/09. Only paid students will be able to sign up for hotel rooms and bus seats at that time.

Concert Monday, 12/14

The EPHS Holiday Band Concert will be at 7:00PM on Monday, 12/14/09. Students should arrive FULLY DRESSED at 6:00PM with baked goods.

Band Boosters Meeting

Tonight's meeting will be at 6:30PM in the Band room.

Photos from Band Competition 10/17/09

Check out photos taken at the NCHS Competition here courtesy of the NCHS Band Boosters.

Cookie Dough Delivery

Cookie dough will be delivered to EPHS on Tuesday, 11/24 during the day. Please make arrangements to pick up your orders immediately after school.

EPHS Percussion Ensemble

EPHS Percussion Ensemble will meet each Wednesday from 8:00AM - 8:50AM until our Winter Concert on 12/15. Please make sure you're on time and ready to go each week.

Jazz Band 11/9-11/13

There will be NO Jazz Band on Tuesday, 11/10 or Thursday, 11/12. Jazz Band will meet on Friday, 11/13.

Cookie Dough

Cookie dough fundraiser forms need to be in by the end of this week. Checks may be made payable to EPHS Band Boosters.

Band Boosters

There will be a Band Boosters meeting on Wednesday, 10/28, at 6:30PM in the EPHS cafeteria.

Concert Band

Concert Band has started! Students have received music, folders, and pencils, all of which will be required for each daily rehearsal. Music will be turned in at the end of the concert cycle for a grade.

Practice Thursday, 10/22/09

Please remember that the band will rehearse even if it’s raining. Rehearsal may be shortened as needed. Students must report to practice in order to receive all points, regardless of weather. Dress warmly; if it’s barely drizzling or just chilly, we’ll be outside!

Cookie Dough Fundraiser

Students traveling to Disney should have picked up a fundraiser form on Tuesday. Extras are available in the band room and all money (Checks to EPHS Band Boosters) is due by Friday, 10/30/09.

Band Boosters Meeting CORRECTION

Our next meeting will be NEXT Wednesday, 10/28, at 6:30PM in the EPHS cafeteria.

IMEA Auditions (select students)

IMEA students should report to the bus immediately after school on Tuesday. We will leave as soon as possible and should return around 6:30PM.

Columbus Day Parade

Call time tomorrow is 10:00AM at EPHS. Rain or shine, students must show up to get points.

Disney Payment

If you plan on traveling to Disney, please bring your deposit of $100 on or before Thursday, 10/15. Please make sure it's in a marked envelope with a trip payment slip.

Concert Thursday 10/15

Call time for Thursday's concert is 6:00PM. Please bring baked goods (packaged three per bag for easy selling) at this time. The concert will begin with Band at 7:00, and Band members will stay for the Choir's performance.

Pit Orchestra

Please note that the Pit rehearsal for Thursday, 10/15 has been changed. We will rehearse from 11:30-1:30 in the band room, directly after your 2nd hour final.

Pit Orchestra

Please note that the Pit rehearsal for Thursday, 10/15 has been changed. We will rehearse from 11:30-1:30 in the band room, directly after your 2nd hour final.

Pit Orchestra

Our next Pit rehearsal will be tomorrow (Thursday, 10/8) from 3-5 in the Band room. All other Pit rehearsals have been added to the blog calendar.

Disney Trip Meeting

There will be a change in the Disney Trip meeting time to accommodate those students attending College Night later that evening.

This mandatory meeting (for all students going to Disney and their parents) will be in the Band/Choir room at 6:15 on Wednesday, October 7.

NCHS Marching Competition

Our competition time for the competition at Benedictine University on October 17th is 5:30PM. Here is an updated itinerary for the day:

2:30 Call time at EPHS, change into uniforms and load busses
3:00 Leave EPHS on busses
4:00 Arrive at Illinois Benedictine University, warm up, move to competition area
5:30 Band Performance
5:45 Finish performing, return to busses to change
6:00-10:00 watch other bands' performances - bring money for concessions
10:30 Depart Benedictine
11:15ish Arrive back at EPHS, put uniforms away

Please have rides at EPHS at 11:15.

Kaleidoscope Concert/Bake Sale

Please help support Band Boosters by dropping off your baked goods for our Bake Sale, taking place before and after the 7:00PM October 15th concert at EPHS.

Drop off time will be 6:00PM (call time) in the hall outside the auditorium at the High School. All money will go toward helping our band program become bigger and better!

Please package items 3 to a plastic bag so that they will be ready to be priced and displayed!

Thank you!
Band Boosters

Band T-Shirts

Please remember that all EPHS Band students should wear their Band t-shirts on game days. Tomorrow (9/18) we will be wearing the t-shirts during the Pep Assembly as well.

Columbus Day Parade Update

Call time for the Columbus Day Parade will be 10:00AM at EPHS. We do not yet know where we are in the parade order - I will post an ETA back at EPHS when I have more information.

Band Boosters

The next Boosters meeting will be Wednesday, 9/16/09 at 6:30PM in the EPHS Band room.

Pit Orchestra for Chicago

Students interested in Pit should sign up on the Band room door by the end of the week. Ability to participate will be primarily designated by instrumentation needed. We will begin rehearsals on Thursday afternoons (3-5) as soon as the music arrives. (TBA)

NOTE: The blog calendar says that Pit will begin next Thursday, 9/17. This will only be true if the music arrives before then. Please stay tuned (and pay attention in class!) for more details.

Uniform Parts

Please remember that all Band students must have the following uniform accessories to be eligible to perform:

Full-length black socks
Black marching shoes
White gloves
Ties for long hair

Please e-mail Mr. Rhoades if you do not yet have shoes, and remind him for ones that should now be ordered. You may not march without them! Extra gloves are available for $2/pair. Get them BEFORE the next performance on Friday, 9/18/09.

Pictures

We need new pictures for the blog! Please e-mail them to Mr. Rhoades if you have any.

Columbus Day Parade

The EPHS Band has been chosen to march in the Chicago Columbus Day Parade this year. The parade steps off in Grant Park at 12:00 Noon on Monday, 10/12/09. More details and call time to follow.

Attendance

As detailed in the 2009-2010 Band Handbook, please take a moment to review the policy on Excused Absences:

“Attendance is mandatory at all Band-related events. Students should arrive early so that they are ready to go at the call time. Absence requests are to be submitted to the director in writing at the earliest notice, and will be considered at the director’s discretion. Examples of excused absences include funerals and weddings in the immediate family, legitimate illness (with a doctor’s note), other school final events (not practices), and other related family emergencies. Work, vacation, non-emergency appointments, oversleeping, freight trains, lack of fee payment, and lack of transportation are not considered to be excused absences or tardies. Because band is a group activity, every member’s participation is essential to the success of the whole. Attendance is considered as part of each student’s participation grade.”

…Speaking of the handbook, some of you students still owe me a parent signature!!

There are some occasions where things come up last-minute and cannot be explained ahead of time. In those cases, please feel free to send in a note after the fact or send me an e-mail.. Unfortunately when it comes to attendance, students are “guilty until proven innocent”. That is, if a student is not at a Band event and I haven’t been notified ahead of time, their grade will be a 0 for that event. Some of you may have fallen into that category this weekend; please let me know if there’s a way I can fairly and justly help your grade in that regard.

As always, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Football Scrimmage 8/22/09

Call time for the scrimmage is 10:30AM.

Wear your band polo, khaki shorts, and marchable shoes.

The game starts at approximately 11:30AM, and we will be finished after halftime.

To receive full credit for the performance, you MUST arrive on time. If the weather turns inclement, we will cancel at that time...not before!

Weather Update

80% chance of thunderstorms for tonight. Rehearsal will NOT be cancelled. Please come prepared for slight moisture, and know that we will head inside if the weather becomes so inclement.

Students who still need uniforms should arrive a few minutes early and will be fitted at that time.

Marching Band Picture Day

Athletics has just informed me that our Picture Day time is Tuesday, August 25th, right after school. Tennis and Soccer students should see Mr. Rhoades ahead of time, as they have matches that day.

Students will report to the band room immediately after school, change into uniform, and head out to the field. We cannot wait for late students; those who are not there on time may not be in the final picture.

Band Boosters Meeting

This year's first Band Boosters meeting will be held on Wednesday, 8/19/09 at 6:30PM in the EPHS Cafeteria. Please note that there is also Marching Band practice during that time.

Scrimmage Performance

The EPHS Band will be performing at the football team's scrimmage game on Saturday, 8/22. Details are as follows:

Call time: 10:30AM
Game time: 11:30AM (approx)
Dress: Band Polo, khaki shorts, gym shoes (same as 4th of July)

We will play in the stands and perform at halftime. Students will be dismissed after halftime. This performance will replace the Band Preview Night from years past.

WEDNESDAY night rehearsal

Due to the Freshman Orientation on Thursday, 8/20, we will have our weekly night rehearsal that week on Wednesday, 8/19, from 6-8PM.

Band Camp 8/5/09

Band Camp will begin at 10:00AM on Wednesday, 8/5/09. We will still dismiss at 3:00PM.

Band Camp!

Dear EPHS Band Parents and Students,

Next week is Band Camp! In this e-mail are several things you need to know to make the EPHS Band as successful as possible. Much of this information was sent out in the mailer you received in May, but please review this e-mail as a reminder!

1) Rehearsal times
Rehearsals during Band Camp will be from 9AM-3PM, Monday-Friday. Bring a lunch! The following Monday and Tuesday (8/10 and 8/11) will be used only if necessary, and would be 9AM-12PM. IF YOU'RE ON TIME, YOU'RE LATE!

2) Uniform Fittings
Uniforms will be fitted to students after Band Camp rehearsals. Seniors on Monday, Juniors on Tuesday, Sophomores on Wednesday, and Freshmen on Thursday. Anyone not fitted by then can go to the 'make-up' fitting on Friday. At the fittings, please wear something appropriate that would ordinarily be worn under the Band uniform, i.e. a t-shirt and gym-type shorts. Please do not wear pants, cargo shorts, or other baggy attire.

3) Things you Need
Instrument, music, lyre, drill (already marked), SHOES (no sandals), comfortable clothes, hats/sunglasses (outside only), sunscreen, water bottles, lunches, PENCILS, etc.

4) Blog
Please check out the blog (epband.blogspot.com) as often as possible! There hasn't been much to update over the summer, but there will be a lot there once school starts!

5) Weather
Band Camp will be held regardless of weather. We may march in slight amounts of precipitation, so please check the weather before you come and dress appropriately. If the weather should turn severe, we will rehearse indoors.

6) Fees
Most students have paid their fees already. If you haven't, please do so quickly. They were due on July 4th. The district has a strict "no pay, no play" policy regarding class fees.

7) Other Forms
Please return all forms included in the mailer if you haven't already. They were due on July 4th.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call or e-mail! E-mail will be answered most efficently, as I am not in the office every day.

Rehearsal 7/16/09

Please remember that rehearsal will be held from 10AM-12PM in the Band room. Bring in a blank CD and Mr. Rhoades will give you a CD full of all the music needed to help you learn the halftime show!

4th of July Parade

Uniform:
EPHS Band Polo
Khaki shorts
Gym shoes

Call time is 10:20 at EPHS. The festival will be going on, so please plan accordingly. At that time we will load buses with equipment and head to the circle for the parade. The parade steps off at 12:00 noon, and we are 13th in line. If the parade moves at a decent pace, we should be done sometime around 1:30-2:00 at EPHS.

IN CASE OF INCLEMENT WEATHER:
Report to EPHS at the required time. If the parade is canceled, we will cancel. Please be prepared for some light sprinkles.

Added Rehearsal

Please note that there will be an added rehearsal on Friday, 7/3/09, from 10-12 in the Band room, to accommodate those students attending Summer School. If you have a previous conflict, please e-mail Mr. Rhoades (rhoadesk@epcusd401.org) as soon as possible.

Reference Recordings

Parents and Students,

Please bring in a blank CD-R to rehearsal during the summer if you would like to receive reference recordings that may make practicing the Halftime music easier. Mr. Rhoades will make copies accordingly.

(We were trying to get them available somehow on a school website, but at this time that is not possible.)

The next rehearsal is Thursday, 6/25, from 10-noon in the EPHS Band Room.

Marching Band Rehearsal 6/18

Marching Band rehearsal will be today from 10AM-12 noon. We have plenty of things to do - both inside and outside - so please be prepared for both if the weather permits.

Remember: please wear SHOES for MB rehearsals...not flip-flops, sandals, slippers, boots, or heels!

Freshman/Leadership Team BBQ (CANCELED)

The BBQ scheduled for today (6/11) will be CANCELED due to inclement weather. Our next rehearsal (involving ALL EPHS band members) will be next Thursday, 6/18, from 10-12 in the EPHS Band Room.

EPHS Band Mailer

Dear Parents and Students,

There is a VERY IMPORTANT mailer on its way to your houses in the next few days. Enclosed is information about Band over the summer, including Band Camp. Students, please do not "intercept" this and keep it from your parents. Parents, please take some time to review all of the information provided, then feel free to e-mail with any questions.

- Mr. Rhoades

Fourth of July Parade

The Band Boosters need some volunteers for the Fourth of July Parade! Volunteers will help keep the kids cool, pass out water, etc. Please contact Pat Craddock at craddockp@epcusd401.org if you are interested in helping.

Concerts

A job well done to our Elm Band students on a good concert last night!

There is an EPHS concert tomorrow (Thursday) night at 7:00. Come support our seniors in their last concert at EPHS!

Boosters Meeting

The next boosters meeting will be held at 5:30PM this Wednesday, 5/13/09. Please note the time change.

Next Band Boosters Meeting

The next Boosters meeting will be on 5/13/09 at 6:30PM at EPHS. We will discuss Hackney's, the Pep Tour, and Graduations.

Boosters Meeting

There will be a boosters meeting this Wednesday, 4/22, at 6:30PM in the Cafeteria. We will discuss Hackney's, our upcoming concerts at Elm and EPHS, and Graduation.

District Calendar Correction

The EPHS Band is NOT going to Elmhurst College on Friday. This event is for the EPHS Choir.

Jazz Cafe

Jazz Cafe is tomorrow night! Come on over for some music and snacks. We'll start Thursday night at 7:00PM in the EPHS cafeteria.

Elm Practice Cards

Elm Practice Cards for March should have now been turned in. April practice cards will be handed out today and tomorrow in class. Yes, students need to practice over Spring Break!

Band Boosters

EP Band Boosters isn't just for high school parents!

If you have a band student at home, you are welcome to come to meetings and see what's going on firsthand. Our next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 22nd, at 6:30PM in the EPHS Cafeteria. Meetings usually last between 30 and 60 minutes and are a great opportunity to get involved, meet other band parents, and make a difference for the kids! If you have any questions about boosters, please e-mail Mr. Rhoades at rhoadesk@epcusd401.org.

Band Boosters Meeting

There is a Band Boosters meeting on Wednesday, 3/25/09, in the EPHS Cafeteria at 6:30PM. We will discuss Jazz Cafe and the IHSA Contest.

Elm Practice Cards

Just a reminder - Elm Practice Cards are due next week!

7th grade due on Tuesday, 3/31
8th grade due on Monday, 3/30

Elm Practice Cards

Elm students should have 240 minutes of practice after today. Please keep up with your students on this!

Many students have not yet turned in their signature sheets to go along with the practice cards. Please remember that students must turn those in BEFORE they receive credit for the practice cards. Extras have been available continuously in Band class.

EPHS IHSA Contest

A Tentative Schedule for Saturday, 3/28/09:

(a note will be sent home in the next couple of days)

7:45AM Arrive at EPHS, change into Concert Uniforms (or arrive dressed)
8:00 leave for Mother McAuley HS
9:00 arrive at MMHS, unload
9:20 Choir warmup
9:40 Choir performance
10:00 Band warmup
10:30 Band performance
11:15 leave for EPHS
12:00PM arrive at EPHS, change, go home

Elm Sectional Schedule

The Sectional Schedule for Elm has been posted to the calendar. They will receive a note in class today or tomorrow about this. Groups are as follows:

A Flutes and oboes
B Clarinets
C Alto Saxes
D Trumpets
E French Horns
F Trombones, Baritone, Tuba, Tenor Saxes, Bari Sax, Bass Clarinet
G Percussion

Please remember that all after-school events are worth 10 points. Students involved in Elm sports practices should come to sectionals first.

Band Boosters Meeting

There will be a Band Boosters Meeting at 6:30PM on Wednesday, March 25th. We will discuss Jazz Cafe and the IHSA Contest.

Concert Recordings

Mp3 files of the pieces played on Monday's concert can be found at the district's Fine Arts Website.

Elm Practice Cards

Starting in March, Elm Middle School Bands will be using practice cards. These will be handed out Monday and Tuesday, 2/23 and 2/24 in Band Class. Please note that there is a typo on the pink sheet: It says that 400/450 would earn an 80%, whereas in real mathematical terms that would equate to 88.89%. Please revise as such. There is a section on there that will need to be returned by the end of the week, and the actual practice card will be due at the end of March. The whole Band and I greatly appreciate your honesty and integrity in signing off on the practice cards.

Should the practice card be misplaced, please e-mail Mr. Rhoades for an additional copy at rhoadesk@epcusd401.org.

MSC Band

Students participating in MSC Band will be excused from academic classes all day on Tuesday, 2/17. They should report to the Auditorium before 8:30AM. Rehearsals will run all day. Dinner will be provided, but students should bring their own lunch or plan on purchasing it in the cafeteria. There will be time for students to change into standard black concert attire after dinner.

The concert will be at 7:30PM and will be open to the public, so please come out and support the arts in Elmwood Park!

Summer Update

Tentative dates will be set later today for the summer and for 2009 Band Camp. These dates have not been officially approved, but can still be used for a general guideline.

Please note that Band Camp (set for August 10-14) is required for all EPHS Band students. Please do not schedule vacation during this time. Students must be in attendance during band camp in order to be eligible to march in the first performance.

Elm Sectionals and Rehearsals

Elm Students and Parents,

Please take note that the schedule for sectionals at Elm has been changed. You should have seen a blue note with this updated information sometime last week. The schedule posted here is ALWAYS the first to be modified and should be your #1 source of information whenever possible.

As a reminder, sectional groups are as follows:

A - Flutes and Oboes
B - Clarinets
C - Alto Saxes
D - Trumpets
E - French Horn
F - Tenor Sax, Bari Sax, Bass Clarinet, Trombone, Baritone, Tuba
G - Percussion

Boosters Meeting

There will be a Band Boosters meeting on Wednesday, February 11th, at 6:30PM in the cafeteria.

Concert Monday, February 23

EPHS/Elm Students and Parents,

The concert on February 23 will feature all bands in District 401.

The concert will be at 7:00PM in the EPHS gym. Call time will be 6:00PM (already changed into tuxes, dresses, and uniforms, so get here early if you plan on changing here).

Freshmen and Sophomores, please bring baked goods to sell.
Juniors and Seniors, please bring a beverage (2L or larger) to share.

The baked goods will be pawned off as usual to support the Band Boosters.

EPHS Band Practice mp3s

If you would like a copy of the music from EPHS Band to practice along with, please e-mail Mr. Rhoades at rhoadesk@epcusd401.org and he'll e-mail you back with an mp3.

Basketball Band

There is an EPHS Basketball game this Friday. Call time for the band will be 6:00 and grading will be treated as a usual performance.

Band Boosters Meeting

There will be a Boosters meeting this Wednesday, 1/7/2009 at 6:30PM. We will be in the cafeteria unless it is being used.

Band Boosters Meeting

There will be a Boosters meeting this Wednesday, 1/7/2009 at 6:30PM. We will be in the cafeteria unless it is being used.