(This blog post is for returning 7th and 8th grade HDMS Band students) The band room is ready… the instruments are ready… I AM READY… the only thing missing is YOU! I cannot wait to see you this week, and I look forward to a fantastic year of music-making. Please read through the HDMS Band …
June 6th Spring Band Concert – Intermediate, Advanced, and Jazz Bands
(Español) (This post is for 7th and 8th graders in Intermediate, Advanced, and Jazz Band) Our Spring band concert is this week! This concert will feature Intermediate, Advanced, and Jazz Bands performing music to celebrate the culmination of the school year. Where: Caldera High School Theatre Enter either the West or East side of the …
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Celebrations!
It has been an exciting year of music for the High Desert Middle School bands! Below is a recap of HDMS band achievements over the past few months. Feel free to share this post and the social media posts linked below, and congratulate these amazing band students. Our last two performances of the year will …
March 14th Band Concert – Intermediate, Advanced, and Jazz Bands
(This post is for 7th and 8th graders in Intermediate, Advanced, and Jazz Band) Our March band concert is two weeks away! This concert will feature Intermediate, Advanced, and Jazz Bands performing music prepared for our festival field trips. Where: Caldera High School Theatre Enter either the West or East side of the school. The …
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March 12th – COMEA Middle School Band Festival
(This post is for 7th and 8th graders in Intermediate and Advanced Band) We have learned our notes (...mostly), are working hard to polish our ensemble sound, and are ready to go to band festival! Band festival is a yearly event where school bands perform on stage for a panel of adjudicators (judges) and receive …
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Fundraising For HDMS Band Equipment
HDMS Band Parents, I need your help. I would like to start thinking about fundraising to update some of the HDMS band equipment. The HDMS band room has not seen any reinvestment in equipment since the school opened 30 years ago, and we are constantly battling broken and poorly functioning equipment. The tubas have holes …
The Hygiene Talk…
I am just getting over a lovely strep throat infection, and this has reminded me of the importance of instrument hygiene. Yesterday, I cleaned and sanitized my trumpet, trombone, and flute and changed the reed on my clarinet. Not properly cleaning your instrument and mouthpiece can lead to re-infection and more sickness (saxophone lung is …
Tonal Energy Tuner and Metronome
I have been using the "Tonal Energy" tuner and metronome app in all band classes. IMHO, it is the best tuner out there (mostly because it has a smiley face when you play in tune - gamification at its finest!). Many HDMS band students have asked me about it, and fortunately, it is available in …
Concerts, Performances, and Events
I made a Google Calendar for all things HDMS Band. Click on the "Calendar" tab to check it out. Pro tip- toggle the view at the top to "Agenda" so you can see all of the events listed for the rest of the year. All HDMS Band events are listed, but students are only required …
