Weekly “Music” Notes - February 16-20, 2026

Happy Sunday!

Here’s everything you need to know for this week!

February 16-20, 2026

Monday, February 16: President’s Day (NO SCHOOL)

Tuesday, February 17: Open Practice, 4-5PM

Wednesday, February 18: Jazz Band Rehearsal, 3:05-4:05PM NOTICE TIME AND BAND CHANGE FROM NORMAL!

Thursday, February 19: Jazz MPA, The Villages Charter HS (See Jazz MPA Section)

Friday, February 20: Altoona & Umatilla Elementary Visits with Elective Teachers & Guidance Counselors

Solo & Ensemble 1 Debrief

Congratulations to the following students who received a superior rating on their Solo & Ensemble Performance!

Landon Pack, Bass Clarinet Solo

David Rogers and Emily Young, Percussion Duet

You all will receive your adjudicator sheet from me on Tuesday!

MPA Rehearsals

Attention all Symphonic and Jazz students: Here are the dates and times:

Wednesday, February 18: Jazz Band Rehearsal, 3:05-4:05PM NOTICE it’s different than normal due to President’s Day!

Wednesday, February 25: Symphonic Band Rehearsal, 3:15-4:30PM

Wednesday, March 4: Symphonic Band Rehearsal, 3:15-4:30PM

These rehearsals are a grade and it is very important that your student comes! I need communication from the parent via email with the reason for missing if a student is missing rehearsal, preferably at least 2 weeks notice.

Students who do not show up to rehearsal consistently without communication will be at risk of not going to MPA, and will have to do an alternative assignment.

What is MPA?

Music Performance Assessment (MPA) is an opportunity for students to get to perform on a stage in front of an audience and three adjudicators. These adjudicators are some of the top music educators in the field who hope to give advice to make bands better. They also are given a rating, and there are 5.

1- Superior

2- Excellent

3- Good

4- Fair

5- Poor

If students receive the superior rating, they get a medal that hangs up on the band room wall! Last year we were super close and got twos (Excellent).

Not only is this a new experience, but it is one to bring the band closer together as we are all trying to reach a common goal. Let’s do our best to show up to rehearsals after school!

Jazz MPA - February 19, 2026

It’s Jazz MPA Week! If your student is in jazz band, please see below!

The Jazz Band will be performing at the District 19 Jazz Music Performance Assessment on Thursday, February 19 at the Villages Charter HS!

Itinerary

7:15 AM - Band Room Opens

7:30 AM – Call Time in Band room/Load equipment

7:45 AM – Depart from Umatilla MS

8:45 AM – Arrive at The Villages Charter HS

8:45 AM – Unload Equipment (Ms. Pyburn will check in the band at FBA Office)

9:20 AM – Scheduled Warm-up Time

10:00 AM – Performance by the UMS Tiger Jazz Band

10:30 AM – Pack Up Instruments

10:45 AM – Enter Auditorium to Watch Bands/Restroom Break

12:30 PM – Lunch at The Villages Charter HS

1:30 PM – Load the Bus

1:45 PM – Depart The Villages Charter HS

3:00 PM – Arrive at Umatilla MS

THE BUS WILL LEAVE AT 7:45 AM! Due to how far the Villages is and our performance time given, we must leave on time. Please make sure your student is here on time!!!!

Performance is free and open to public! Just please give yourself time to check into the front office at VHS as our performance is during the school day (all parents and chaperones have to check-in)

The Villages Charter HS Address:

2210 Dr. Randy McDaniel Way, Middleton, Florida 34762

MAKE SURE TO GO TO THE ABOVE ADDRESS! THERE ARE MULTIPLE CAMPUSES!

Jazz Uniform: Black UMS Dress Shirt (collar shirt) Black Dress Pants/Maxi Skirt, Black Dress Socks and Dress Shoes.

Needed: Instrument, Accessories and Uniform Parts, MONEY FOR FOOD!

Altoona & Umatilla Elementary Visits THIS FRIDAY!

Mrs. Pillsbury has asked the UMS Jazz Band to perform at these two elementary school visits to advocate for band! We will perform 1-2 charts from Jazz MPA for the students!

If you play another instrument not in jazz band, PLEASE BRING IT! (Flute, Clarinet, Horn, Euphonium, Tuba, Etc)

We will be traveling by school bus to both schools!

8:45-10AM: Altoona Elementary Visit

11:49-12:19PM: Lunch at UMS

12:45-2:15PM: Umatilla Elementary Visit

Concert MPA - Thursday, March 5, 2026

Concert MPA is right around the corner! Here’s what you need to know!

Thursday, March 5th (Times are tentative based on busing schedule confirmations)

2:45 PM – Meet in Band Room/Load equipment

3:00 PM – Depart from Umatilla MS

4:10 PM – Arrive at West Port HS

4:45 PM – Scheduled Warm-Up Time

5:30 PM – Performance by the UMS Symphonic Band

6:30 PM – Performance in Sight-Reading Room

6:45 PM – Pack up Instruments

7:00 PM – Load Bus and Trailer

7:15 PM – Depart West Port HS

8:30 PM – Arrive at Umatilla Middle School

Directions to West Port HS:

3733 SW 80th Ave

Ocala, FL 34481

Concert Uniform: Black UMS Dress Shirt (collar shirt) Black Dress Pants/Maxi Skirt, Black Dress Socks and Dress Shoes.

Need: Instrument, Accessories and Uniform Parts!!!

Parents are welcome to attend, as chaperones or in the audience! Parents may watch sight-reading. WARNING: In the sight-reading room, you may NOT record. Recording may disqualify the band.

Please understand the following:

1. Symphonic Band Students are required to go to this event

2. If a student has missed multiple after school rehearsal and/or is not performing their instrument in class, they are at risk of needing to complete an alternative assignment instead of going to Concert MPA. All decisions made by Ms. Pyburn are final

3. Students must have the proper uniform for this event - Black UMS Dress Shirt, Black Dress Pants/Black Maxi Length Skirt, Black Dress Socks, Black Dress Shoes

4. Students represent Umatilla Middle School at this event. Please represent our school well

5. Multiple Parts: Students will have an on-stage performance of three pieces. Afterwards, we go to the sight-reading room where students will perform 2 pieces of music they have never seen before

I am still looking for chaperones! Please email me if you are interested! YOU MUST BE LEVEL II!

Solo & Ensemble 2 - April 11th!

Students who mentioned they were interested in Solo & Ensemble should have received a Solo & Ensemble Parent Approval Form (this was also sent to your email parents)

If your student is interested in doing Solo & Ensemble, please make sure I get that form by March 2!!!! It costs the band money for your student to have this opportunity, so I am working to have as little cancellations as possible.

Date: April 11, 2026

Time: Times will vary and I will not know until after the District 19 FBA Chair makes the schedule

Location: The Villages Charter Middle School

Piano Rehearsal: Piano rehearsals will be scheduled once I have a set number of students. Most of the time it can be done during school or right after school. I will communicate ahead of time if it is after school!

All beginners received a solo to be working on, and Symphonic Band students should have chosen something by now! Please email me if you have questions!

Upcoming Dates:

Wednesday, February 25: Symphonic Band Rehearsal, 3:15-4:30PM

Monday, March 2: Solo and Ensemble 2 Paperwork Due!

Wednesday, March 4: Symphonic Band Rehearsal, 3:15-4:30PM

Thursday, March 5: Concert Music Performance Assessment, West Port HS @ 5:30PM

Friday, March 6: Teacher Work Day (NO SCHOOL)

March 16-20 (Mon-Fri): SPRING BREAK

Friday, April 3: Good Friday (NO SCHOOL)

Saturday, April 11: Solo & Ensemble 2, The Villages Charter MS

April 12-15 (Sun-Wed): Chattlanta Band Trip (UMS & UHS)

Friday, April 17: Lakeside Jazz Festival, Kenneth Parker Amphitheatre, 2PM - Cafe Stage

Upcoming Pass-Off Performances

Students can attend a music concert as a pass-off AS LONG AS THERE IS A PHOTO OR VIDEO! I will also accept a program if photo or video cannot be taken!

Monday, February 16, 7:30PM: Mount Dora Jazz Band - Copacabana Cuban Cafe, Outdoor Patio (Ms. pyburn performing on Bari Sax!)

Saturday, February 21, 7:30PM: Timothy Rosenberg (Saxophone) - Stetson University, Lee Chapel

Tuesday, February 24, 7:30PM: Stetson University Symphonic Band - Stetson University, Lee Chapel

Wednesday, February 25, 7:30PM: Stetson University Jazz Ensemble - Stetson University, Second Stage Theatre

Friday, March 13, 7:30PM: Dunwoody Mirvil (Trombone) - Stetson University, Lee Chapel

Friday, March 20, 7:30PM: Stetson Opera Theatre Presents: Engelbert Humperdinck: Hansel and Gretel - DeLand High School

Friday, March 20, 7PM: Ron Seggi and his Orchestra (Mount Dora Jazz Band) - Ritz Theatre, Winter Haven (Ms. Pyburn performing on Bari Sax!)

Sunday, March 22, 3PM: Stetson Opera Theatre Presents: Engelbert Humperdinck: Hansel and Gretel - DeLand High School

Friday, March 27, 7:30PM: Chandler Wilson (Saxophone) - Stetson University, Lee Chapel

And that is everything for now! I will keep you updated as we get closer to events!