GSMS Band

Band Auditions

2010-09-24T08:58:00.000-07:00

Auditions for our two concert bands and the jazz band begin this coming week. The auditions will be take place during each grade's lunch options. Here is a schedule by grade and instrument group (* please note that the jazz audition date has been changed to October 5):

Tuesday, September 28
Grade 6 woodwinds for concert band
Grade 8 woodwinds for concert band
Grade 7 woodwinds for concert band

Thursday, September 30
Grade 6 brass for concert band
Grade 8 brass for concert band
Grade 7 brass for concert band

Tuesday, October 5
Grade 6 percussion / all jazz instruments
Grade 8 percussion / all jazz instruments
Grade 7 percussion / all jazz instruments

Students should prepare a short piece and come ready to play a scale and do a little sight reading. (Percussion students do not need to bring anything with them.) Depending upon how many students are waiting at any given time, the conductors may audition students in groups of two or three. These auditions will be very relaxed and supportive. (Please note that the SPARK band students are not required to audition.)

If you have any questions about auditions or the band program, please contact Mrs. Maureen Steeves at maureen.steeves@nbed.nb.ca.

Band Program Details for 2010-11

2010-09-09T05:17:00.000-07:00

Band is a great way to make new friends, explore your musicality, and contribute to the cultural life of our school. At George Street Middle School, we offer three bands: Purple Concert Band for junior band students, Gold Concert Band for more experienced musicians, and Jazz Band for students interested in an extra challenge. GSMS bands give two concerts a year, play at school assemblies, and participate in the Fredericton Music Festival. We also offer an instrument rental program.

PURPLE CONCERT BAND – Conductor: Yvonne Kershaw
The Purple Concert Band is designed for students who are entirely new to band, as well as for students with one or two years of band experience. Students with no prior band experience are introduced to their instruments through the school’s SPARK program in September-October. (Interested grade 6s must select “BAND” for their first SPARK.) Full-band rehearsals and sectional rehearsals (where students focus on technique with an expert in their instrument group, e.g., woodwinds, brass, percussion) take place on Wednesday afternoons from 3 to 4:30. The more experienced band students begin rehearsing Wednesday, October 13, with the SPARK students joining them Wednesday, November 3.

GOLD CONCERT BAND – Conductor: Yvonne Kershaw
The Gold Concert Band is ideal for students with two or more years of band experience (though some students with less experience but demonstrable musical ability may be invited to join this band). Full-band rehearsals and sectional rehearsals (where students focus on technique with an expert in their instrument group, e.g., woodwinds, brass, percussion) take place on Tuesday afternoons from 3 to 4:30, starting October 12.

JAZZ BAND – Conductor: Kelly Waterhouse
Jazz Band is open to students registered in the band program who play jazz instruments (saxophone, trumpet, bass, keyboard, drums). Jazz Band rehearsals are held on Monday afternoons, from 3 to 4:30, starting October 25. More details to follow.

BAND INFORMATION & REGISTRATION NIGHT
A Band Information & Registration Night will be held on Wednesday, September 22, beginning at 6:30 pm and lasting until approximately 8:30 pm. This will feature a brief meeting, followed by registration and distribution of rental instruments. Registration forms can be sent to school before 22nd c/o Mrs. Maureen Steeves or Mr. David Steeves of the Music Department, but all band fees MUST be submitted on Registration Night. DO NOT send cheques to school. Band fees are nonrefundable after November 15. (A deposit of $25 will be withheld on all refunds up to the 15th.) Band subsidies are available for students in financial need: please contact Mrs. Steeves at 453-5419.

AUDITIONS
Please note that this year we will be holding auditions for ALL band students (with the exception of the SPARK students). Our conductors will meet with registered band students in grades 6, 7, and 8 for noon-hour auditions during the two-week period of September 27 to October 8. They will determine which concert band each student is best suited for, based on musical readiness as well as balance between the two bands. Jazz band auditions will take place at the same time.

If you have questions or are interested in seeing a registration form (which lists the fees for the program), please contact Mrs. Maureeen Steeves at maureen.steeves@nbed.nb.ca or Mr. David Steeves at gracemusic@rogers.com.

GSMS Band Program 2010-11

2010-08-31T04:59:00.000-07:00

George Street Middle School offers three bands (two concert bands and a jazz band), as well as a SPARK program for beginning instrumentalists. We hold band concerts at the school in December and June and regularly participate in the Fredericton Music Festival. The bands also play for school assemblies.

Watch this site in the first couple of weeks of school for more information on the 2010-11 GSMS Band Program.

GSMS Bands Perform at Fredericton Music Festival - April 27

2010-04-07T06:56:00.000-07:00

All three GSMS bands will be performing at the Fredericton Music Festival on the morning of the same day this year — TUESDAY, APRIL 27.

Beginner Band
TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 2010
Nashwaaksis Middle School
9:30 a.m.

Senior Band
TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 2010
Nashwaaksis Middle School
10:40 a.m.

Jazz Band
TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 2010
Nashwaaksis Middle School
11:25 a.m.

The band students will be bussed to Nashwaaksis Middle School at 8:30 a.m. and will return to GSMS by bus at 11:30 a.m. Students should be at school on the 27th by 8 a.m. with their instruments and sheet music, and dressed in their concert clothes of black bottoms and white tops. We need six parent chaperones for the morning. If you're interested in helping out, please contact Maria Cardoso-Grant at mariacg@nbnet.nb.ca.

Parents are most welcome to come and hear the bands play at Nashwaaksis Middle School. If your child has conflicts with other music festival classes during their band performance(s), please contact Ms. Waterhouse (kellywaterhouse@hotmail.com) as soon as possible.

2009 Band Christmas Concert - December 6

2009-11-28T10:20:00.000-08:00

Our annual Band Christmas Concert is taking place this coming Sunday, December 6, starting at 2:30 pm, in the school gym.

All three GSMS bands (Beginner Band, Senior Band, and Jazz Band) will be performing. Concert dress is white tops, black bottoms, and black shoes. Students should arrive at the school (with instruments and music) no later than 2 pm for warm-ups in the band room.

This concert is free. There will be a silent auction, though, with proceeds to be shared between the band program and the GSMS Home & School Association.

For more information about the concert, please contact Ms. Waterhouse at 449-8035 or kellywaterhouse@hotmail.com.

Jazz Band Workshop - Saturday, November 7

2009-11-05T16:53:00.000-08:00

The GSMS Jazz Band will be attending a special workshop on Saturday, November 7, from 2 to 5 pm, at George Street. This workshop will be led by Jennifer Keating, conductor of the Leo Hayes High School Jazz Band. Members of LHHS Jazz Band will play alongside our own musicians, and there will be a pizza party at the end of the afternoon. Students are asked to bring $2 to help cover the cost of the food. Don't forget your music!

Band Sectionals Begin - Week of October 26

2009-10-20T10:48:00.000-07:00

Noon-time sectional rehearsals commence for both Beginner Band and Senior Band the week of October 26.

Instrument-specific sections of Beginner Band (e,g., brass, woodwinds) will meet with Ms. Waterhouse in the band room during lunch/options on Mondays and Wednesdays. In addition, Beginner Band will commence full band rehearsals on Wednesdays after school, from 3-4 pm, with the first of these rehearsals taking place on October 28.

Senior Band will meet with Ms. Waterhouse for sectionals in the band room during lunch/options on Tuesdays. For more details on scheduling, please contact Ms. Waterhouse at 442-1042 or kellywaterhouse@hotmail.com.

Band Rehearsals Begin - Week of September 28

2009-09-28T07:17:00.000-07:00

After-school rehearsals for both Jazz Band and Senior Band begin this week. Jazz Band rehearses on Mondays, from 3 to 4:30 pm. Senior Band rehearses on Tuesdays, from 3 to 4:30 pm. Sectionals for Senior Band will be held on Tuesdays at noon. (Please note that there will be no early-morning Wednesday rehearsals for Senior Band this year.) Rehearsals are always held in the band room, around the corner from the cafeteria. Don't forget to bring your instruments and music to school on these days!

Beginner Band is already underway through the SPARK program on Wednesday mornings. After SPARK finishes, Beginner Band students will rehearse on Wednesday afternoons, from 3 to 4 pm.

Jazz Band Auditions - Monday, September 21

2009-09-12T06:21:00.000-07:00

Auditions will be held for George Street Middle School's 2009-2010 Jazz Band after school in the band room on Monday, September 21.

All students registering in Senior Band this year are eligible to audition for Jazz Band. No prior jazz experience is required but precedence will be given to traditional jazz instruments: saxophone, trumpet, trombone, percussion, keyboard, bass, guitar. Each audition is five minutes long. Please come ready to play a short solo on your instrument and two scales (B-flat major and E-flat major). A sign-up sheet will be posted on the band room door the week of September 14. Students will be notified by phone of their acceptance into Jazz Band.

Please note that there is a $50 additional fee for participating in Jazz Band. All band forms and fees must be received at our Band Registration Night at the school on Wednesday, September 23. Jazz Band rehearsals will be held on Mondays after school, beginning on September 28.

Last year the GSMS Jazz Band won gold at the Fredericton Music Festival — we look forward to another swinging year of jazz at George!

Registration for 2009-2010 Band Program - September 23

2009-09-02T17:03:00.000-07:00

Band is a terrific way to make new friends, explore your musicality, and contribute to the cultural life of our school. At George Street, we are proud to offer three bands: Beginner Band (for students with no prior band experience), Senior Band (for students with one or more years of experience), and Jazz Band (for Senior Band students interested in an extra challenge). All three bands are directed by Ms. Kelly Waterhouse, a graduate of the music program at Mount Allison University. GSMS bands play at school assemblies and hold two concerts during the year, as well as performing at special events such as the Fredericton Music Festival.

A Registration Night for the 2009-2010 Band Program will be held on Wednesday, September 23, from 6 to 8 pm, in the front lobby of the school. Registration forms and all band fees must be submitted at this time. For forms and/or more information, please contact Lisa Alward at lalward@nb.sympatico.ca, 455-7888, or Marienna MacDonald at mmacd@nb.sympatico.ca, 454-6961. A small number of band subsidies are available for students in financial need; please contact GSMS music teacher Maureen Steeves at maureen.steeves@nbed.nb.ca, 453-5419. Conductor Ms. Kelly Waterhouse may be contacted directly at kellywaterhouse@hotmail.com.

Playing an instrument gives lifelong pleasure — and middle school is one of the best times in life to start!

Bands Perform at 2009 Fredericton Music Festival

2009-04-14T12:02:00.000-07:00

All three of our GSMS bands will be performing at the 2009 Fredericton Music Festival:

Beginner Band
Tuesday, April 28
Nashwaaksis Middle School
9:30 a.m.

Senior Band
Wednesday, April 29
Nashwaaksis Middle School
9:30 a.m.

Jazz Band
Wednesday, April 29
Nashwaaksis Middle School
10:40 a.m.

Band students should wear black bottoms and white tops to school on their music festival days. They will be bussed to Nashwaaksis Middle School shortly after the morning bell. Senior Band students will attend their 7:30 a.m. rehearsal, as usual, on Wednesday, April 29. NOTE: Senior Band and Jazz Band students who are also in the GSMS Choir should speak to Kelly. The choir's musical festival performance is also on Wednesday, April 29 (10 a.m. at FHS).

Parents are most welcome to come and hear the bands play.

GSMS Bands Beat to a New Drum!

2009-03-09T10:29:00.000-07:00

The GSMS band program recently received generous contributions from our own George Street SRC, as well as from the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival, which awarded us a one-time grant of $3,500. The band room now features a new drum set with all the bells and whistles ... not to mention orchestra bells, triangles, cymbals, etc. And more instrument purchases and repairs are on their way! Support like this, both at the school and the community level, contributes enormously to the stability of a band program like ours, enabling us to invest in new projects such as the GSMS Jazz Band. Thanks to all concerned!

Workshop for Senior Band Students - October 25

2008-10-15T17:48:00.000-07:00

All senior band students are invited to attend a special workshop with conductor Don Bossé and members of the FHS concert band on Saturday, October 25 (2:30 to 5:30 pm) at George Street Middle School. This workshop will focus on repertoire for the Remembrance Day Assembly and will include sectionals and a full rehearsal. There is no cost but students are asked to bring along $2 to help subsidize a pizza party at 5 pm.

Please let band director Kelly Waterhouse know no later than Wednesday, October 22, if you can attend this exciting workshop opportunity. For more information or to confirm attendance by email, contact Kelly directly at kellywaterhouse@hotmail.com.

Band Fees Due - October 10

2008-10-15T17:38:00.000-07:00

This is just a reminder that the registration forms and post-dated cheques for both junior and senior band were due on Friday, October 10. If you haven't yet submitted cheques for your child's 2008-09 band fees or require another copy of the registration form, please contact band director Kelly Waterhouse at kellywaterhouse@hotmail.com or George Street music teacher Maureen Steeves at Maureen.steeves@nbed.nb.ca. Thanks!

Stay tuned for info...

2008-10-02T15:55:00.000-07:00

Please stay tuned for information on the school band.