Pizza/Pie Fundraiser

The annual PTO Pizza and Pie Fundraiser in support of the music department, will be running through January 8, 2010. The proceeds from these fundraisers are a huge benefit to our program. In the past we bought a new xylophone, tenor saxophone and baritone saxophone. This year we will be putting 10% of the fundraiser towards the Gil Armitage Band Scholarship Fund and will use the rest for equipment in both general music and the band program.

Fundraiser orders will be delivered in time for the Super Bowl, so order away and enjoy! Your support is always greatly appreciated.

Contact Amy Dotson with any questions: Ashfordband@gmail.com

Concert Congrats!

Congratulations to all of our students on a great concert! It was fun, festive and very well played. Please look on the Music Department Website for sound clips and video clips of songs from the day performance.

Enjoy the Junior High Band's performance of All the Pretty Little Horses:

YouTube Video

Last week 19 Ashford students participated in the 4th Annual Quinebaug Valley Middle School Music Festival (QVMSMF). 10 chorus and 9 band students were selected based on their musical ability, exemplary character and leadership abilities to form an honor band and choir with students from 10 other communities. These groups met for their first rehearsal on Monday, November 9th and performed on November 12th. Despite the very short rehearsal time, the students put on an excellent concert for family and friends at Putnam Middle School. We are very proud of the following students:

Band:

Caitlin Ecsedy, Jennie Rozenberg, Tessa Weidig, Caleigh Campion, Megan Moran, Cassie Hayward, Adam Cherepon, Joseph Cherepon, Chris Pavliscsak

Chorus:

Martha Sherman, Brooke Noel, Erica Mahue, Matt Sibley-Jett, Ben Lagasse, Laina Fesenmeyer, Kayla Bendell, Shelby Colonese, Sarah Caldwell, Jessica Bassett

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Coming to UConn

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy will be coming to The Jorgenson at UConn this November. If you are interested in attending please let me know and I will look into group tickets. You can find out more information at the Jorgenson's website.


Interview with Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

Video Clip of Performance

QVMSMF

The following band students have been accepted into the Quinebaug Valley Middle School Music Festival, an honors band held in Putnam, CT on November 9th and 12th:

Caitlin Ecsedy- Flute
Jennie Rozenberg- Flute
Tessa Weidig- Flute
Caleigh Campion- Clarinet
Megan Moran- Bari Sax
Adam Cherepon- Trumpet
Cassie Hayward- French Horn
Joseph Cherepon- Trombone
Chris Pavliscsak- Percussion

The festival combines the top music students from 9 area towns to create an honors band which will rehearse for two afternoons and put on an excellent concert on the evening of November 12th. Please stay tuned for more details about the concert.

Congratulations to the Ashford participants, I know you will be great!

Fourth Graders First Meeting

Today Ashford School's new instrumentalists had their first lesson! Our instruments will be delivered and ready to take home next week, so we spent today preparing our binders and learning how to put together our instruments. All of the groups did a great job listening, following directions and jumping right in! I can't wait to hand out instruments next Tuesday!!

Jazz Band Selected

Congratulations to Ashford School's 2009-2010 Jazz Band!




Saxes:
Alto 1: Zane Cosgrove
Alto 2: Gavin Metsack
Tenor 1: Sarah Boiano
Tenor 2: Steven Kahr
Bari: Megan Moran

Trumpets:
Adam Cherepon
Kayla Bendell
Justin Vanover
Jacob Ayers
James Potter
Kasey Phillips

Trombones:
Justin Gagnon
Joseph Cherepon
Sarah Caldwell
Tyler Metsack

Drum Set:
Chris Pavliscsak
Patrick DesRocher

Piano/Keyboard:
Jennie Rosenberg
Sarah Ayers
Sarah Gamache

Electric Bass:
Jessica Bassett


Thank you to everyone who auditioned. I was extremely impressed by your preparation. I would like to specifically recognize three jazz band members for particularly great auditions; Zane Cosgrove (alto sax), Megan Moran (bari sax) and Justin Gagnon (trombone) played with excellence and musicality, great job!

Welcome Back!

Welcome back to another year in the Ashford School Instrumental Music Program! I hope that everyone had a fun and relaxing summer. I am looking forward to heading back to school to see all of you!

This year we have a great group of students who exude enthusiam and dedication. I am so excited to see the progress we will make! Please stay tuned for more details about some new programs we will be piloting this year and other updates that will be headed your way soon.

Have a great week!

Spring Concert and Summer Programs

Congratulations to your children on a spectacular Spring Concert.  I was very proud of the students hard work and professional demeanor during both the day and night concerts.  They truly raised the bar!  If your child is interested in continuing their musical pursuits throughout the summer, I have listed several opportunities below.  Students who participate in private lessons or camps over the summer have improved retention and come into the school year with many lessons to share with their peers.  It is a huge benefit to the student and our program.  Please contact me if you would like further details or opinions on an appropriate program for your child.  

Thank you so much for all of your support.  This program would not exist without you!

UConn Community School of the Arts (CSA) 

We are very lucky to live so close to this fantastic program.  CSA offers private lessons, a week long band camp and a week long jazz camp.  This is an excellent program.

Hartt Community School   

Hartt also offers excellent programs.  It is slightly farther away than CSA, but may be option if the CSA programs do not fit into your schedule.  They also offer week long, middle school trumpet, french horn and clarinet institutes.  

Spring Concert Ahead!

Next week the music program will be presenting the annual Spring Concert.  All students have received a concert reminder including performance times and appropriate dress, but I will repeat the information here for those interested.  I look forward to a great performance!

Monday(5/18): Normal Day

Tuesday(5/19): Dress Rehearsal - AM

Wednesday(5/20): In-School Concert begins at 9:30

Thursday(5/21): Night Concert begins at 7:00pm.  Students are to be here by 6:15 (band students in music room/chorus students in caf)

Friday(5/22): Normal Day

Jazz Band students are required to wear black pants, black shoes, white dress shirt and bow-tie for boys.

Band students are asked to dress up.  Black or tan pants/capris, button down or collared shirt, skirt or dress are appropriate.  No jeans or t-shirts please.  

Small Ensemble Concert a Success!

Select 6th-8th grade music students organized and performed in the Small Ensemble Benefit concert on Thursday, April 16th.  Jr High students elected to support The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp for this 3rd annual benefit concert.  Thanks to the support of the staff and community, we raised $441.00 in support of the camp.  Thank you to students, families and staff members who helped to make this night a huge success!

Thank you to Mr. Boiano for his technical support and these fantastic photos!!

Jazz Band Excels at Colchester Jazz Festival

On Thursday, April 30th, the Ashford Jazz Band participated in the Colchester Jazz Festival. The 19 member, select group performed 3 charts including Moondance, Georgia on My Mind and Jericho. The band's hard work and dedication showed as they sailed through all 3 pieces. Their focus and energy was impressive and all soloists did an impecible job. In addition to earning a Silver rating, three members were recognized for individual "Outstanding Musicianship" Paul Ference (8th Grade, alto sax), Josh LeBrun (8th grade, trumpet) and Justin Gagnon (7th grade, trombone) were selected for this honor. Congratulations to these three boys and all the Jazz Band members for their hard work and dedication. I am very proud of all of you!

-Miss Dotson

Penny War Time!!

The Penny War has begun in Ashford School.  From now until Tuesday, April 14th, students, teachers, staff and parents are invited to partake in our second annual Penny War.  This year we have two teams; 7th grade and 8th grade.  The winning team will receive their own container of money for their class fund and the other container will go to support this year's Small Ensemble Concert beneficiary, The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp.  

The rules are simple:   

• Pennies are worth 1 point
• All other money is worth negative points (ex: nickle -5; dime -10, dollar -100)
• The team with the most positive points at the end of the contest will win
• Anyone can play, just pick a team to support!

So start hoarding those coins and let the battle begin!  You can find the containers in the lower lobby before school, after school and during lunch.  If you have any questions please email Miss Dotson at Ashfordband@gmail.com 

Xylophone

Thanks to the generosity of the Ashford School PTO and the support of Ashford families, the music department will be purchasing our first concert xylophone.  You can check out the specifics here:

Yamaha Acoustalon Xylophone

We look forward to incorporating this beautiful instrument into our program!

First Days of Band

Last Monday our first year students participated in their first ensemble rehearsal. All beginning players reported to the band room at 2:40 to meet and practice with second year players. During this first rehearsal we did some basic warm ups, practiced our major scale, reviewed simple songs such as Hot Cross Buns and Juba and even played large parts of our first band song, Beethoven's Ninth. The students demonstrated responsibility, maturity and excitement during the rehearsal time. I was very proud of their hard work and impressed by the skills that they have developed.

Parents will be able to experience the Concert Band at this year's Spring Concert which will be held at 7pm on Thursday, May 21st in Ashford School's gym.

Thank you for all of your support and dedication at home!

Small Ensemble Charity Chosen

Students in grades 6-8 will be presenting a Small Ensemble Benefit concert on Thursday, April 16th 2009 at 7:00pm.  Recently students held a meeting to decide what charity would benefit from this year's concert.  After discussion, students selected the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in Ashford, CT.  We look forward to fundraising for this event in our community and in our school.  Stay tuned for more news on the upcoming Penny War fundraiser and more information concerning the concert.  

Colchester Middle School Jazz Festival

The annual Colchester Middle School Jazz Festival will be taking place on April 30th.  All Jazz Band members are required to attend this exciting event.  We are still waiting to hear what time we will be performing, but in the past we have usually received a mid-afternoon time slot.  Please look out for updates in the upcoming weeks.  

Ashford Music Logos

Ashford Music Department t-shirts and hooded sweatshirts will be on sale through Friday, February 27th.  All clothing will be black with gold writing.  A sample t-shirt is hanging in the music room.  Please see Miss Dotson, Mrs. Porri or Mrs. Gagnon for additional order forms or with any questions.

T-Shirts (youth and adult): $10.00

Youth Hooded Sweatshirts: $16.00

Adult Hooded Sweatshirts: $20.00

Pizza and Pie Update

Thanks to your generous support, the PTO has raised $1,500 for the music department through the pizza and pie fundraiser.  We are very grateful for your dedication to the program and your generosity during a difficult financial year.  Special thanks to Sue Sherman for her organization and time, and the students who stayed after to help distribute the orders.  It could not have been done without you!!  

We look forward to purchasing our first full size concert xylophone to be used in all of our instrumental ensembles.

THANK YOU!!

Spring Songs

Check out our new songs:

Jazz Band (More versions will be posted next week)

Jr. High Band

Concert Recordings

I hope everyone is enjoying a fun and relaxing vacation. Click HERE to download the recordings of the band songs from the concert. You can save these all as mp4 files (ITunes) and put them on your IPods or other music devices. You can also burn them to a CD. If you'd rather have me burn you a copy, please bring in a blank CD with your name on it.

See you in a few days!!