Incoming 9th Grade Music Students to Buena High School!

Concert Ensembles:
            Most incoming Concert Band Music Students to Buena (including Foothill Students), will register for Period 1 Concert Band for Semester 1 and Semester 2.  To qualify for Wind Ensemble (Period 4) Anacapa students will audition with Mr. Hutchison following your end of the year concerts.  Balboa students will need a recommendation from Mr. Walwick.  Any incoming 9th graders from another Middle School should:

A. Make an appointment before the end of the 2010-11 school year with Mr. Theisen john.theisen@venturausd.org and audition in person ahead of time.
Or…
B. Have your current Band Director send a recommendation, (for ex. Mr. Boccali from Cabrillo M.S. etc.)
Or…
C. Sign-up for Concert Band, and try to test into Wind Ensemble the first week of school.

All Students in Periods 1 and 4 (Concert Band/Wind Ensemble) will audition the first week of school to assure you are in the correct ensemble.  Please earn it. J

New Scheduling Considerations:
There has been one change to the initial information that was presented to you at registration.  The Summer (on-campus) Health & Geography offering has been cut for incoming 9th graders. 

However!  Administration here at Buena is very supportive and understanding that music students need elective options!  While your counselors may not necessarily mention all the options you have, it is extremely important to realize that YOU DO have options.  Right now you can take an online course (BYU program) to be accepted for Health/Geography in the UC system.  You can delay and take the course later in High School (when you have MANY more elective options), and we are also working on ADDITIONAL options at the moment.  Please DO NOT decline from registering for music classes because of this issue, email me instead.  I would love to help you.

Marching Band:
Many of you have expressed interest or have already enrolled in Marching Band!  That is a great way to make new friends before you even start classes on either Foothill or Buena’s campus next fall!  So many 9th Grade students over the years have expressed that the upper classman in Marching Band made their transition to the High School fun and less stressful.  Many students create lifelong friends through this activity, and summer band camp, although challenging, was one of the most fun experiences they had in high school!

Here is some important information to begin the process of becoming a member of the group:

• Enroll! (Please contact me (x2264) or the High School Counselors if you have not already registered) (805) 289-1826 x1021
• Contact me at john.theisen@venturausd.org and let me know you plan to register.  Because there is a delay in receiving registration info, the sooner I know, the more specific info I can give you.
• SHOW UP to training sessions. J

Audition/TrainingDates:        
                                    Hornline/Drumline:
                                                Wednesday, May 11 (after school-5:30)
                                                Wednesday, May 18 (after school-5:30)
                                                Thursday, May 26 (after school-5:30
(We realize that you will arrive to the sessions a little later, that is ok, come right after school and that is fine and expected J)
                                    Colorguard:
                                                Tuesday, May 17 (after school-5:30)
                                                Wednesday, June 1 (after school-5:30)

                                    Full Marching Band:
                                                Tuesday, June 7, 6:30 PM (BHS Music Room)                                                                     

PARENT/GUARDIAN MEETING! MANDATORY
                                                Monday, June 13, (after school-5:30)
                                                Monday, June 14, (after school-5:30)

• TRAINING/AUDITIONS: To make sure incoming 9th graders feel welcomed, inspired, and “in the loop” for the upcoming season; our Training/Audition process is designed to do just that.  Please consider yourself IN MARCHING BAND!  We sometimes divvy up our responsibilities to different sections.  Colorguard=dance/flag/rifle/choreography, Hornline=all wind players, Drumline=all percussion players (battery=marching drums, and Pit=stationary keyboards, electronics, and concert percussion instruments). All of these make up the full MARCHING BAND. Please visit the schedule online (google calendar) so you can plan to be at these training/audition sessions.  Please show up to these dates.  Please keep in mind that Middle School music responsibilities come first!!  I am aware of at least one possible concert conflict.  Please just communicate ahead of time.
• TIMELINE! Because Marching Band drill is written during the summer and we start learning the material on Aug. 1st, we cannot just ‘add’ a student into the specific design of the show after our June 14th rehearsal before the end of the school year. 
• This process is meant to develop confidence in all members.  Auditions are not to determine whether a student can participate or not.  Auditions are used to determine instrument assignments, and set up the students for success right from the beginning.
• RECRUITING! Please feel free to invite your talented friends to join our Colorguard!  We have an excellent staff.  No prior experience necessary.  This involves dancing, flag work, rifle spinning, and visual choreography on a football field.
• Parent/Guardian meeting, June 7th 6:30 PM. This meeting is required for Parent/Guardian AND Students!  A LOT of questions and vital information about the upcoming season can and will be discussed and answered on this evening.  We unveil the concept and music for the show.  It’s a fun and important night, especially coming into the program, you will be welcomed to the family! J If, by chance, there is not a way an adult in your family can attend, email me, thank you.  John.theisen@venturausd.org