2012 BLOGGING

Hey guys! FIRST BLOG OF THE 2012 SEASON WOOOOOOO! Exciting stuff is going on--this past week we had our kickoff meeting for 2012 which officially starts the season! Squad leaders should have their squadlings contact information, and squadlings should contact their squad leaders if they have any questions about anything at all this summer. You all should have met your section leaders as well. We also had our band banquet this evening to celebrate all of our amazing accomplishments this past year. Congratulations to all the seniors and thank you so much for your hard work and dedication these past four years. May 29th we have an after school rehersal for ALL members, so try your best to be there. For rising freshmen we understand you'll be getting out of school later than the upperclassmen, just try to be there as soon as you can. Other than that, band concerts this week and then graduation is coming up real soon, then band camp starts July 25th! Here's some pictures of your 2012 section leaders minus James. You'll hear more about them during summer updates. Mary is a fantastic sax player and will be leader of the alto saxes; Elise is your very enthusiastic clarinet section leader; Lauren's very happy to be leading the piccolos; and Mansi is your very excited flute section leader!

Here's James the low woodwind section leader who wasn't pictured.

Alrighty then, that just about sums up this first blog post. Good luck with your last few weeks of school guys! --Kaitlynn

Spring Fever!

Hey everyone! So glad to see all your lovely faces again... it's certainly been awhile!

I hope you all had a wonderful time on the Washington DC Trip, for those of you who went! I know I had a FANTASTIC trip, although I'm so sad it was the last one :( Here's some wonderful pictures of the band (and Mr. Robinson) on the trip!





However, it's time for us to look forward into Spring and NEXT YEAR! Springtime FLIES by with the Panther Creek Band, and I'm sure you'll see why with all we have coming up:

1. AUDITIONS! This is the big one, guys! The audition etude for marching band and ensemble placement for next year can be find on the Panther Creek website, or you can get to it by following this little link:
http://www.panthercreekband.org/music/2012-13-audition-etude
The marching band auditions will be done in class if you are already a member of the Panther Creek Concert and Symphonic Bands or Wind Ensemble.
**IF YOU ARE A RISING EIGHTH GRADER: You may either record your audition (any recording file is acceptable) or email Mr. Robinson and set up a live audition!**

1.5. ELECTION OF NEW OFFICERS will happen soon as well! Leadership letters will be collected from those interested in leadership positions for the 2012-2013 year, and then the band will vote on its new five officers! :D

2. SPRING MUSICAL! Our musical for this year, Anything Goes, will be performed on April 19, 20, and 21. It's going to be a fantastic show, so go buy tickets!! It's a great way to support the Arts at Panther Creek, not to mention support your fellow band members in the Orchestra!
**PIT MEMBERS: Please make sure you turn in your bios!!!!!**

3. May 17th is the MARCHING BAND KICK-OFF MEETING! For all of you non-seniors, it's time to look forward to next year! This meeting will reveal the general theme for the 2012 show, as well as give info on competitions and volunteering. Make sure all students and parents attend!!!
(Also, rising Seniors, expect a Senior Meeting closely before this date!)

4. BAND BANQUET: May 19th at Crosspointe Church! This banquet will incorporate both Fall and Spring band events, so get ready for a night FULL of celebration! Dress nicely and be ready to shed a tear saying goodbye to another wonderful season (seniors especially).

5. TWO NIGHT Spring Pops Concert! We will be splitting our five ensembles across two nights for this event, but band members are encouraged (expected) to be present at both, regardless of performance! The concerts will be held on May 23 and 24.

6. GRADUATION. You all know the drill! Graduation is June 8th at 8 pm... time to say our final goodbyes!
Okay guys I think that's everything! PHEW. Get ready for a packed two months, because I can tell you right now, it's going to go by so quickly. Let's do it, Band! Finish out the year strong :)

Enjoy the rest of your Spring Break, and Happy Easter!
love, Sarah Morton

Just a Little (Pepsi) Refresher !

So, we've been pretty busy the past couple of months, huh? For some of us, (myself included) saying goodbye to the marching season was one of the saddest things we've ever had to do. Band means so much to all of us... and I'll be the first to tell you that you don't realize how much it means until it's gone. I love you guys! But, to recap, here's a quick photo montage of all we've accomplished in the month of November alone:

A Full Retreat (and spectacular performance) at Wake Forest University













McDonald's Day! Playing for the Grand Opening of a local McDonald's.












A Final Marching Performance at USSBA's National Championship in Annapolis, Maryland

















A Joint Concert with the wonderful UNC-Charlotte Wind Ensemble!








A Joint Jazz Band Concert with the A.L. Stanback Middle School Jazz Bands






...We have SO MUCH to be proud of, guys! This band program has grown so much in this season alone, and I am so honored to be a part of it! We have put forth so much work and effort nonstop from July to December, and it has paid off tremendously. That being said... IT'S TIME TO PAR-TAY!

That's Right! The Woodwinds will be having their annual End-of-Season Christmas Party THIS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9TH!
Who: All marching piccolos, flutes, clarinets, and saxes
What: A Christmas Party! (complete with a white elephant gift exchange, tacky christmas sweaters, and roasting marshmallows on an open fire with jack frost nipping at your nose!)
When: Friday, December 9th from 6-9 pm
Where: Sarah's House! (see me for directions!)
Why: Because we have SO MUCH CELEBRATING to do! :D

Until then though, let's not forget the things coming up in December!

-DEC 3: Apex Christmas Parade (awesome job on this guys! It was WONDERFUL! and probably one of the most enjoyable parades I have ever experienced.)
-DEC 10: Cary Christmas Parade!!
-DEC 15: Winter Band Concert! (I know, it's so soon!)
*also, for those of you trying out for all-district, remember those auditions are just around the corner!!!*

Also, during December...
PEPSI REFRESH!!!!!











Don't forget to be voting EVERYDAY throughout the month of December:
1. On your phone by texting 110545 to PEPSI (73774)
2. Online by creating an account through Pepsi Refresh
3. Online by connecting to Pepsi Refresh Website through Facebook
(NOTE: to vote both through your account online AND through Facebook, you must SIGN OUT of your Pepsi Refresh account, and then sign back in by using the Facebook option!)

Again, thanks for all of your hard work so far this year... let the Concert Season begin! :D
See you all tomorrow <3
love, Sarah

we're gonna fly through this week... like little birdies ;)

HEY WOODWIND.
YEAH. YOU.
ARE YOU READY FOR OUR FIRST COMPETITION?!
YEAH?!
perfection.

hey guys :)
so, just a quick update. mainly I want to show off some beautiful pictures of us in uniform from friday night's game, but I also have some SUPER important things to tell you (as always). So:

1. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for your donations to sponsor a trophy for PCI! The Woodwinds raised $100 in ONE WEEK. Which is just absolutely incredible and amazing and a million other adjectives. You guys are THE BEST!

2. LADIES: Please see the BAND FACEBOOK PAGE for instructions on how to do your hair. If you thought we were crazy about it for a football game? Just wait until Saturday, when we're actually being JUDGED based on how we look. (also, ladies, remember that we are not allowed to wear EARRINGS or any other jewelry that can be seen with the uniform on. even teeeeny tiny little studs are not allowed.)

3. TAKE YOUR MUSIC HOME AND PRACTICE IT. Although the saxes got called out today, we all know that had it been our section with a difficult and exposed phrase, half of us wouldn't have known our music perfectly either. Also, we get judged as a WOODWIND SECTION, so even if one person doesn't know their part, we all get points deducted. (This family thing is all about sticking together-- win together, lose together, support each other TOGETHER.)
so PRACTICE guys. it won't hurt, I promise.
((SECTION LEADERS: HOLD SECTIONALS.))

4. Speaking of Sectionals, FLUTES: you have an outdoor sectional TOMORROW (9/20) DURING LUNCH !

5. Don't forget about the PCI GUIDE MEETING after school 9/20

6. Don't forget about the PCI VOLUNTEER MEETING (parents, too!) after practice on 9/21

7. Don't forget about the EXTRA PRACTICE after school on 9/22

Get pumped for this weekend guys! PCI is one of my FAVORITE things we do all year (and a TON of alumni are coming back to help! YAY!) So it'll be a good time, don't you worry.

HOORAY for getting Little Bird on the field today! More rehearsals like that, and this week will literally fly by. ;)

Now that you've suffered through announcements, CHECK OUT HOW GOOD WE LOOK IN UNIFORM:















and also, how good Mansi looks in her band hair: (we're going to have a contest to see whose hair looks the best)



















and finally, some supercute pictures of woodwind friends:




























Alright guys that's all! Keep practicing!
love, sarah

It's Going to Be a Chaotic Week !

Hey Woodwinds :)
Hope you all are enjoying your nice long weekend, and I especially hope yours wasn't boringly filled with college applications like mine was. yuck. Anyways, just a few reminders, and then I'll post some pretty pictures!

1. MEMORIZE CHAOS.

2. DO YOUR DOT BOOKS.

If we have these things done by TUESDAY (as in tomorrow, yes) then the rest of the week will be a piece of cake. Which is good, because I really like cake.

SECTION LEADERS: You should plan to have a sectional either during SMART lunch or afterschool IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE. Most of the work that needs to be done is not ensemble work, but sectional work on our individual parts. I'll talk to you all more about this tomorrow! Also, I would very much like to attend your sectional! So let me know. :)

Alright folks, that's all! Check out the band facebook page for a video of our performance last Friday night! (Shout out to Dylan for posting it!!! Pretty awesome stuff!)





Check out those nice flute angles!!








All lined up and ready to march in!!!






One day, woodwinds will march on the field in the front line.
(Yeah, okay so I lied... but hey. It could happen.)


see you tomorrow everyone! we've got a lot of work to do :)
hooray!
love, sarah

FANFEST FRIDAY, FOOTBALL FRIDAY!

Hey guys! Here's a checklist for EVERYTHING you need to bring to school tomorrow:

THIRD PERIOD:
-shorts/shirt/socks/tennis shoes. we WILL be going outside (even if it's a little rainy) because we have to learn pre-game!!!! YAYY!!!!
-deodorant. your fourth period will thank you.
-WATER!!! (you don't necessarily need your big jug, but SOMETHING to take outside with you is definitely important).
-instrument
-HAVE STAR SPANGLED BANNER AND FIGHT SONG MEMORIZED.

FANFEST:
-money! (for food and other festivities at the event) OR a bag dinner from home to eat instead
-khaki shorts and black show shirt
-another pair of socks? (your first pair will most likely still have band funk from third period)
-lyre for your instrument with the songs we played in class today in it!

FOOTBALL GAME:
-money! (keep some in your pocket for third quarter, you'll be hungry again by then I promise!)
-instrument and lyre
-remember we're playing the opener and church in the stands, too!!!

alright, that's all! I hope you all have a wonderful second day of school!!
love, sarah

Bye-Bye Summer Rehearsals !

W
O
O
D
W
I
N
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A
R
C

My dearest Woodwinds,
I AM SO PROUD OF THE WORK WE HAVE DONE SO FAR THIS YEAR! The shout-outs we got last Thursday are just a TASTE of the way all of our hard work will pay off come October and later on in the season. Let's keep it up guys!!!
With that being said, we still have a long ways to go!
The most important thing to remember is that once school starts, our rehearsals will want to slow down. What we have to do is break down this brick wall our staff members keep referring to, and really, really, really bring focus to what it is we have to do. I know school is starting, but band doesn't get put on the back burner!! This means practicing regularly, filling out your dot books, remembering the technique, not talking during rehearsal, etc. We'll be awesome this year guys, as long as everyone is committed to achieving said awesome. :) Bottom line: we want to be great, so we have to have great rehearsals.

So, just a few reminders, and then I'll let you all get back to finishing up that AP work you waited until the last minute to do: ;)

1. DO YOUR DOT BOOKS! I cannot stress this enough. Not only will there be a dot book check TOMORROW (hint hint) but really, it makes rehearsal SO. MUCH. EASIER. if we all have at least looked at our dots before putting them on the field. One thing we really need to speed up once school starts is learning drill. Efficiency is key!
If your section leader has done a poor job of explaining dot books (which none of them have, I'm sure), here's what SHOULD be on each page:
Set Number:
Counts of Move:
Measure Numbers:
Front to Back:
Side to Side:
Side of Field:
NOTES: (anything else you need)
**Picture**
This is what the drum majors will be looking for when dot books are checked. Everyone good? Okay. Moving on.

2. DRINK WATER! Yes, even now. Even forever. Or until you are out of band. The end.

3. DRINKS FOR PCI:
I know most of the woodwinds brought in their drinks, (WHOHOOO!!!!) but if you did NOT, they will be accepting drink donations after practice on WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31 in the carpool loop. You can bring them in early and they can be stored in the band room if you feel like you might forget on this date. BRING EXTRA DRINKS IF YOU WISH! We get whatever's leftover. ;)

4. Remember that when school starts, practices switch from Tuesdays/Thursdays to Wednesday afternoons from 3:00-6:30 pm! This means that tomorrow will be our last summer rehearsal. :( SO MAKE IT COUNT!!!!! :D

5. SECTION LEADERS! Don't forget to start planning sectionals!!! SMART Lunch is a great time to pass off music! :)

Alright! Phew, that was a long one. Remember to stay focused through this last rehearsal and push through into the new school year. I have a feeling that it's going to be a fantastic season. :)
-Review Church so we can put music to drill tomorrow!
-WORK ON CHAOS! It's hard, but we can do it!
-DOT BOOKS!!! through set 35 please! :)

Okay, see you all tomorrow!
Love, Sarah