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~ Where You Too Can Chime In ~

...to share your band-related thoughts...

...(once we get connections right, of course)...

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From Band Director to Band Members:  We are very lucky to have the time and opportunity to make music together - a public school instrumental music ensemble is a rare thing actually, when considered in a historical and global kind of way.  As we learn and grow together through the largest classroom group project that I have ever been a part of (as a teacher), there is something that we need to keep in mind (above and beyond all else!).  This 'something' comes in the form of a request, the 'golden request' of group band, so to say...please be where you are supposed to be and please do what you are supposed to do, taking special care not to cause any injuries and/or damages.  Within the safe and structured setting that will result, we can push ourselves and each other to discover the truth of the following anonymous, yet very profound, quotation..."for heights and depths no words can reach, music is the soul's own speech."  Thanks for understanding the ongoing importance and urgency of this 'golden request' that I make of myself as much as I make it of each of you.

From Band Director to Band Parents, Families, and Others Who Care Deeply About Particular Band Members:  Thank you for providing your student with the support he/she needs in order to be involved in more than the classes that are 'required' in order to graduate from high school - it is a great gift that you have given/are giving to your sons and daughters.  Occasionally I get asked "what can I do to help my Band Member have success?" - while many things come to mind and my response depends entirely on the uniqueness of each Band Member's situation, there is something (above and beyond all else!) that I would say applies equally to all parents, as you are the very most important people in your Band Member's life...please come to listen to their performances and be their 'special someones' in the audience on those evenings - please if you cannot come, make sure that someone else who matters to your young instrumentalist does come.  We do not charge admission for concerts, and if it is ever even something that is discussed, I would urge those who are discussing it to consider and to try all other options first.  As most (in fact maybe all?) of the parents and families that are wonderfully regular about getting to concerts would agree, we definitely have a comfortable Fine Arts and Civic Center for sitting in!  I mention this invitation because, after teaching for fifteen years now, I really have seen the difference that it makes for kids, thus earning it the high status of 'above and beyond all else' in importance as requests that I would make of you go.  Further, I extend an open invitation for you to come to the Band Department at any point in time, you need not wait only for concerts, but please do prioritize the concerts.  Although I am not a parent, I do notice (and am awed by!) how much gets expected of you - congratulations on keeping it all together and thanks for caring enough to read all the way to here!  Looking forward to seeing you at the next concert, Mrs. Johnsen...