Essay Contest

The 2014 SBO Essay Contest

School Band & Orchestra is pleased to announce the 14^th annual scholarship competition for music students, grades four to 12. Since its inception, the SBO Essay Scholarship Contest has awarded more than $270,000 in scholarship funds and music products to 132 students and their school programs.

In 2013, the winning student entries came from nine states: two from Georgia and one each from California, Florida, Minnesota, Montana, Virginia, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Texas. Five winners were selected from grades four through eight and five from grades nine to 12, each receiving a $1,000 scholarship, with their respective school music programs receiving a matching award of musical products from co-sponsors NAMM, Alfred Music Publishing, Sabian Ltd., Woodwind & Brasswind, and Yamaha Corporation of America.

This Year’s theme:

Now more than ever music education is important because…

250 Words or Less

Due by December 1, 2013

www.sbomagazine.com

Ashford Open Mic Night

OPEN MIC NIGHTS 

Music, poetry and more.

Solo acts to full bands - All levels and styles are welcome.

Tell your friends and bring your family.

Our audience is growing!  

Families often attend for a fun and inexpensive night of entertainment by local musicians, 

including some who perform in our summer concert series.

The house band provides a P/A with mics, amps, and drums or bring your own.

Need a band to back you up?  We have it!

First timers and closet musicians to seasoned professionals perform.  

We end the night with a monster jam where everyone gets up on stage.  

Come have some FUN and hang out with local musicians and families.  

Students are highly encouraged to attend.

Knowlton Memorial Hall, under the Ashford Library (next to Cumberland Farms) 7-10 pm

$3.00 suggested donation to benefit the Ashford Park & Rec. Dept.  $10.00 family max.

FALL Dates:  Sept. 20^th,  Oct. 18^th,  Nov. 15^th, Dec. 13^th

Want to know more about it?  Please contact John Boiano at 860-798-5692

Inside the instruments... a cool view!

http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2012/03/inside-instruments/

Can you tell what instruments you are inside?

10 Easy Ways to Optimize Your Music Practice

Check out this recent article from NPR on setting up productive practicing sessions!

http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2013/09/03/216906386/10-easy-ways-to-optimize-your-music-practice

Summer is fast approaching and I wanted to fill you in on some local musical opportunities for your children. Summer can be a difficult time to keep students motivated on their instruments. One of the following programs will keep students busy, engaged and prepared for next year. You may also want to take a trip to a music store to purchase some "fun music" to keep your students interested. It is amazing what some movie music can do for practicing motivation!

1) Private Lessons: I will be starting my Master's program this summer, so unfortunately I will not be able to provide the normal Summer Lesson Program. UConn's Community School of the Arts has wonderful private lesson teachers that offer short term, summer packages. I encourage you to check them out. If you would like a recommendation please give me a call.

2) UConn's Community School of the Arts: Private lessons, Jazz Camp and Rock and Roll Camp, provide students with the opportunity to continue their playing at a higher level with other local musicians. CSA has a wonderful faculty and does an excellent job with our students! Read more about their summer programs here.

3) Hartt's Community Division: An alternative community school at a very well established music college. The faculty is top rate and the programs provide wonderful guidance and inspiration to high level players. Find out more about their programs here.

4) SmartMusic: Smart Music is a computer based music program. For $30/year, students are able to access thousands of band songs, solos, lesson books and exercises from their home computer. This program allows students to receive immediate feedback on notes and rhythms, record themselves playing and share recordings with family, friends and teachers! Students are familiar with the program from our lessons in school. It is a great practice motivator and a very cheap alternative to buying books at the music store.

If you have any questions about the summer opportunities or your child's best option, please contact me by email or phone. Thank you all for another great year of music making. I truly appreciate all of your support and encouragement. It is a pleasure to work with your children!

Penny War & Fundraiser Results

After a grueling Penny War and fabulous Small Ensemble Concert, the results are finally in! The students destroyed the adults with a score of -10,241 to -20,457. In total the students raised $952.54 for the WINGS program.

Congratulations to everyone involved!!

2011 Penny War - Teachers vs. Students!

Do you have loose change hanging around your house, filling up your pockets and piling up in the car?? Put that change to good use at Ashford School. It's time for the Penny War, held by the music department, in support of the 5th Annual Small Ensemble Benefit Concert! This year the Penny War will be adults versus students, so everyone in the Ashford School community is encouraged to play. Bring your change to the lower lobby before/after school or during lunch. Put all of your pennies (worth 1 point) in the jug labeled (students or teachers) and put all of your silver coins and dollars (negative points) in the opposing team's jug. All of the funds raised will go this year's concert beneficiary, the WINGS program. Good luck to both teams!

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