Beatboxing Flute -this guy is crazy

Winter Concert

Wow!! What a concert! Thank you to everyone for your hard work over the past few months, it certainly paid off. I am so proud of you.

If you have any photos from the concert please email them to me:
Ashfordband@gmail.com

Recordings will be posted shortly.

-Miss Dotson

Congratulations Tessa!

Congratulations to Tessa Weidig who successfully auditioned for the Eastern Region Middle School Band.  On Saturday, November 8th, she played a very difficult solo in front of a judge.  She was rated against dozens of other flute players from Eastern Connecticut and has been selected to make up an honors band which will rehearse and perform this Spring.  

We are very proud of you Tessa!

QVMSMF

20 Ashford students took part in the Quinebaug Valley Middle School Music Festival, held at Putnam Middle School last week. 12 band members and 8 chorus members rehearsed for 5 hours, over two days, before presenting an excellent concert for family and friends. To check out the performance recordings click here.

Enjoy the photos!

Congratulations to the 2008-2009 Jazz Band

Thank you to every student who auditioned for for Jazz Band this year. I was very impressed by the quality of playing I heard. I am so proud of all of your hard work. The following students will make up this year's Jazz Band

Saxophones:
Alto 1: Paul Ference
Alto 2: Zane Cosgrove, Gavin Metsack
Tenor 1: Ethan Lippert
Tenor 2: Megan Moran
Bari Sax: Dylan O'Leary

Trumpets:
Joshua LeBrun
Nathan Kehoe
Adam Cherepon
Jacob Ayers
Justin Vanover
Kayla Bendell

Trombones:
Alyssa Arel
Eddie Pavliscsak
Justin Gagnon
Joseph Cherepon

Rhythm:
Set: Nick Bentley, Chris Pavliscsak
Bass: Jessica Bassett
Piano: Jennie Rozenberg

Winter Concert Sound Files

Jazz Band

Georgia on My Mind

Jericho

Concert Band

Magma

Dona Nobis Pacem

Jingle Bones

Jr. High Band

Tempest

Clouds

Christmas Festival

Recording Won't Work?

If you are unable to access the jazz recording below, you most likely do not have Real Player installed on your computer.  You can get the free download of Real Player 11 here:

www.real.com 

Good luck and let me know if you have further problems.

Contract

This contract must be signed and returned before you may begin lessons.  Click on the link to download an additional copy of the Handbook.

Handbook

Smart Music at Ashford School!

I am very excited to introduce a new tool in the music program at Ashford School. Smart Music is an online program designed to help students practice more effectively and increase communication between students, teachers and parents. I have ordered a master copy for the band room and will be incorportating it into our lessons this year. Individual students are also able to order a home membership. I invite all families to explore Smart Music together and consider this option for your children. For the price of $30, students are given access to thousands of pieces of music, including lesson books, solos and band music. The program will record your students, help them identify and correct mistakes and allow them to send me and their families, recordings of their practice sessions. I will be holding a Smart Music demonstration session during both Open Houses, but if you would like to learn more information, please feel free to check out their website:

http://www.smartmusic.com/

If you are interested in purchasing Smart Music prior to the Open House, please contact me for more information.

This an extremely exciting opportunity for our students and the music program. I look forward to utilizing the strengths of this software in our program and encouraging your children to become independent and creative musicians.

Please contact me if you would like to learn more!

Miss Dotson
Adotson@AshfordCt.org

Jazz Band Audition Piece

If you are interested in auditioning for Jazz Band this fall you can hear the audition piece at the following link:

http://www.jwpepper.com/ram/2474097.ram