Weekly “Music” Notes - September 15-19, 2025

Happy Sunday!

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

September 15-21, 2025

Monday, September 15: Beginning Band Starts Weekly Performance Grades

Sunday, September 21: Stetson University Honor Chamber Festival (only students who signed up)

Stetson Honor Chamber Festival (Returning Students ONLY)

Stetson Honor Chamber Festival is THIS SUNDAY!!!!

Spend the day at Stetson University's campus and have the opportunity to work with Stetson students to perform in a concert! Students will be able to perform in either a woodwind ensemble, a brass ensemble, or a percussion ensemble! Admission is only $5 and includes a t-shirt and meals!

Check in would be at 8AM and the concert for the students will start around 6:30PM. I will be at the event the entire time, so if there are any concerns I will be consistently checking my email.

You can find more information at this website: https://stetsoncnafme.wordpress.com/honor-chamber-festival/

Beginning Band Instruments!

I would like all beginning band students to start using instruments by Monday, September 8! Parents, here are your options:

1. Music & Arts: https://www.musicarts.com/rentals

2. Music Shack: https://www.rentfromhome.com/shop/browse

3. Rent From Me: See Recent Email

4. Purchase an Instrument: ******Please talk to me first before you buy anything! There are so many scams out there....*******

It would be beneficial for your student to have the following:

• Essential Elements for Band Method Book

• Cleaning Kit for your Instrument

• Mouthpiece for your Instrument

• Clarinet/Saxophone need Vandoren Reeds (2.5, comes in a blue box)

• Brass Players: Valve Oil, Trombone - Slide Grease, French Horn - Rotary Oil

• Binder (student should already have this, but just in case they do not)

• Page Protectors

• PENCILS!!!! (No pens allowed in band)

On September 15, I will begin to grade in class performance which means the following:

- Do I have my instrument? (which includes reeds and mouthpieces)

- Do I have my music?

- Am I performing in class?

Students receive 3 points a day, and get a grade for the week (12-15 points total).

Festival of American Anniversaries Band Field Trip

On Friday, October 17, I am hosting a band field trip to Stetson University! Stetson is hosting a chamber music concert at 3PM for the Festival of American Anniversaries: Celebrating Barber and Copland!

Here is what you need to know:

- Spots are limited and will be given on a first come, first serve basis (about 40 students)

- ‎Costs (DUE OCTOBER 3)

    Students: $20 (Transportation & Meal)

    Chaperones: $12 (Meal)

- Goal is to have 1 chaperone per 10 kids

- Students must be passing ALL classes

- Students must have less than 2 referrals, less than 1 in school suspensions, zero out of school suspensions

- Students must have less than 10 unexcused absences.

- If students do not meet the requirements of the trip, their spot will be given to a student on the waitlist.

- ‎If you are interested in chaperoning for this trip, the county requires that you are a level 2 chaperone. Please email me if you are interested so I can add you to the list! 🙂

Estimated Schedule (Depending on Bus Route Times, May Change)

- ‎12PM: Estimated Lunch Time

- ‎1PM: Estimated Leave Time

- ‎2PM: Arrive at Stetson, explore campus together and check out the Stetson Bookstore (BRING MONEY FOR MERCH!!!)

- ‎2:45PM: Seated in Lee Chapel, Elizabeth Hall

- ‎3PM: Concert Begins

- ‎4:30PM: Meal in the Carlton Union Building (CUB)

- 6PM: Estimated depart from Stetson University

- ‎7PM: Estimated arrival at Umatilla Middle School

UPCOMING DATES!

September 30: Band Fees DUE

October 3: Field Trip Money DUE

October 17: Festival of American Anniversaries Field Trip

October 24: Middle School Night (Returning Students ONLY)

November 1: Marching Music Performance Assessment (Umatilla HS Performance)

Upcoming Pass-Off Performances!

Students can attend a music concert as a pass-off AS LONG AS THERE IS A PHOTO OR VIDEO!

Monday, September 15, 7:30PM: Mount Dora Jazz Band at Copacabana, Mount Dora (Ms. Pyburn and Ms. Shard are performing!)

Friday, September 19, 7:30PM: Jessica Speak, Clarinet - Stetson University Lee Chapel, Elizabeth Hall

Friday, September 26, 7:30PM: Stetson University Symphonic Band - Stetson University Lee Chapel, Elizabeth Hall

Wednesday, October 1, 7:30PM: Stetson University Jazz Ensemble - Second Stage Theatre, DeLand, FL

Tuesday, October 14, 7:30PM: Dione Chandler, Oboe - Stetson University Lee Chapel, Elizabeth Hall

Thursday & Friday, October 16 & 17, 7:30PM: Festival of American Anniversaries - Stetson University Lee Chapel, Elizabeth Hall

Friday, October 17, 3PM: Festival of American Anniversaries - Stetson University Lee Chapel, Elizabeth Hall (Field Trip)

Saturday, October 18, 7:30PM: U.S. Army Jazz Ambassadors Jazz Ensemble - Stetson University Lee Chapel, Elizabeth Hall (Free, but tickets are REQUIRED to attend)

Friday, October 24, 7:30PM: Stetson University Symphonic Band - Stetson University Lee Chapel, Elizabeth Hall

Saturday, November 1, All Day: District 19 Marching Music Performance Assessment (Umatilla HS will be performing! Time TBD)

And that’s everything! Please keep up to date with all of our communications and social medias!