YHS Bands Update – 4 Dec – Yorktown High School Bands

Corrected 12/5/2023

This Week: Dec. 4 – Dec. 1	Concert Bands	Jazz Band	YMB/AIP/YHSWG
Monday, December 4	Tri-M Meeting: 3:15 – 4
Monday, December 4	WE Rehearsal: 4 – 6	Rehearsal: 7 – 8:05 a.m.	AIP: 6 – 8:30 p.m.
Tuesday, December 5	CB Rehearsal: 3:30 – 5YSO Rehearsal: 4 – 5:30		YHSWG: 6 – 9 p.m.
Wednesday, December 6	Early Release Day
Wednesday, December 6		Rehearsal: 7 – 8:05 a.m.	AIP: 6 – 8:30 p.m.
Thursday, December 7
Friday, December 8		Rehearsal: 7 – 8:05 a.m.	YHSWG: 5 – 8 p.m.
Saturday, December 9			YHSWG: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.AIP: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Director’s Notes:

I am looking for one or two sets of wind chimes to supplement a piece for the upcoming concert. If you have a set we can borrow through the end of next week, please bring them in. The bigger the better!

I am also looking for a handy parent who may be able to help construct a storage space for our timpani and add shelves to a couple of cabinets. It would be a bit of design, then cutting and assembling plywood. Please email me if you might be able to help.

Last call for nominations for the Mid-Atlantic Honor Band at Shenandoah; please email me today if you’d like to be nominated

Class Happenings

We are focusing mainly on learning our concert repertoire at this time.

After-School Rehearsals – Mark your calendars (or add the YHS Bands calendar to your Google Calendar)!

Since our winds and percussion do not all meet together in class, it is necessary to have some after school rehearsals so we can play as an entire ensemble. Absence requests should be made to Mr. Witkowski via email as soon as you know about a conflict. Aside from personal illness or family emergency, excused absence requests made within 48 hours of a rehearsal will be denied.

Concert Band	Wind Ensemble
Wednesday, November 29: 3:30 – 4:45 p.m	Wednesday, November 29: 4:45 – 6 p.m.
Tuesday, December 5: 3:30 – 5 p.m.	Monday, December 4: 4 – 6 p.m.
Monday, December 11: 3:30 – 5 p.m.	Tuesday, December 12: 6 – 8 p.m.

Instrument Upgrades

A few students have recently upgraded from their beginner instruments to intermediate or professional line horns. The holidays can be a great time of year to upgrade your student’s instrument. I recommend consulting a professional and trying out multiple options before you buy. I can put you in touch with someone if you need guidance. Foxes Music is a great locally owned shop. Music & Arts is also having an event, called Upgrade Your Sound. There will be exclusive one-day-only discounts and 36-month 0% interest financing available for qualified buyers at Music & Arts Chantilly on Saturday, December 16th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

APS Winter Music Workshop

Apply to participate in a FUN, One-Day workshop for developing high school musicians who want to play new and interesting music together. This Honors-style event is geared towards students who are excited about music, but have not been accepted into Senior Regional/All-District Ensembles. Applications are due Wednesday, December 20. Event is Saturday, February 12.

Next Week: Dec. 11 – Dec. 16	Concert Bands	Jazz Band	YMB/AIP/YHSWG
Monday, December 11	CB Rehearsal: 3:30 – 5:30		AIP Rehearsal: 6 – 8:30 p.m.
Tuesday, December 12	YSO Rehearsal: 3:30 – 5WE Rehearsal: 6 – 7:30	Rehearsal: 7 – 8:05 a.m.	YHSWG: 6 – 9 p.m.
Wednesday, December 13	YSO Rehearsal: 3:30 – 5CB Rehearsal: 3:30 – 4:45		AIP Rehearsal: 6 – 8:30 p.m.
Thursday, December 14	Band Concert: CB & Jazz report @ 6; 7 p.m. ConcertWE & YSO report at 6:50; 8 p.m. Concert
Friday, December 15			YHSWG: 5 – 8 p.m.
Saturday, December 16			YHSWG: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.AIP: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

On the Horizon:

December 11: CB After School Rehearsal
December 12: WE After School Rehearsal / 8th Grade Information Night
December 14: Band Concert
December 20: APS Winter Music Workshop Application Deadline
January 6: All-District Band Auditions @ McLean

Financial Statements

Not all costs that you can pay on SchoolCash Online apply to your student, your statement from MyMusicOffice is your official balance and should be your guide. I am pushing out statements today from MMO. Please pay balances via SchoolCash Online or check. Students need to have a zero balance on their financial statements with the band to be eligible for the spring trip.

Student Happenings

If you/your student have any events coming up like recitals, concerts with outside groups, sporting events, etc., let me know and I am happy to include them in the updates so we can support you!

Outside (Non YHS/APS) Opportunities

Shenandoah University – Mid-Atlantic Honor Band
1. January 26 – 28. Guest composer Kelijah Dunton
2. Students/families will be responsible for their own transportation and lodging in Winchester
3. If you are interested in being nominated to participate, email Mr. Witkowski by Monday, December 4
Clarinet Christmas
1. YHS on Dec. 9 at 1:30 with performance starting at 4pm
Merry TUBACHRISTMAS! – 50th Anniversary
1. Kennedy Center on Monday, Dec. 11
2. Registration begins at 2:30 p.m. Rehearsal at 3:30 p.m. They are capping the number of performers to 250. There is no storage space for cases. Please make plans to leave cases in your vehicle.

YMB Portraits

The individual portraits from YMB Picture Day are up and available for purchase here. ALL proceeds from photo sales benefit the Yorktown Band Boosters.

YHS Bands Calendar

The most up-to-date calendar can always be viewed at https://yorktownband.org/WP/calendar/. I have also created a “list” calendar that is available at https://bit.ly/yhs-band-cal.

Also, you can add the YHS Bands Google Calendar to yours. Follow these steps:

On your computer, open Google Calendar.
On the left, next to “Other calendars,” click Add From URL.
Enter the YHS Bands calendar’s address.
Click Add calendar. The calendar appears on the left, under “Other calendars.”