Clover Middle School Bands
Mr. Nicholas Gibson
Director of Bands
nicholas.gibson@clover.k12.sc.us
September 27, 2019
Hello Band Family! This letter to inform you about the opportunity for our middle school students to participate in the York County Honor Band, the South Carolina Region Six Honor band, and South Carolina All State Band.
What is York County Honor Band and Region Band?
Selected students will audition for a spot in these ensembles. If selected, students will rehearse and perform advanced music literature in a clinic setting with other superior musicians of the same age. Students will participate in rehearsal with a guest conductor/clinician with a culminating performance for family and friends.
Why audition for these ensembles?
The audition process is essential in the development of a young musician. Each element of the audition is an assessment of what the child should know and be able to perform at this stage of their musical development. Even if a student does not make the ensemble, the process alone will provide tremendous confidence and musical growth.
If students make the ensemble, they will represent our school in the county and region. They will have a quality musical experience while learning from a clinician, other outstanding students, and performing advanced literature. It will be an awesome time for everyone!
How do we prepare?
By making the commitment to audition, students are also committing to the practice it takes to prepare for the audition. In band class, students have already been given the tools needed to be successful. We have been working on scales, rhythm, terms, and sight-reading skills. But, students must take those tools and work hard individually.
Please keep in mind that the process of learning major scales, chromatic scale, etudes and sight-reading is a part of our curriculum and culminates in the honor band auditions. Participation in this process will increase confidence and musicianship like no other experience can.
Is there a cost?
Yes. however, Clover Middle School is covering the cost for each student who auditions. Please make sure you honor your commitment to the audition. Clover Middle School will be paying the fees that will be used to pay for facilities, buses, judges, and clinicians.
Students who participate in the honor band clinics will be asked to bring money for lunch on the honor band clinic days.
Audition Incentives
1. Students who honor their commitment to audition will receive two test grades of 100 percent each.
2. Students who make the band will be excused from a day of school for the honor band clinics.
3. Students who make the band will be added to Clover Middle School Band “Wall of Fame.”
Transportation to auditions
York County Honor Band Auditions are in early December at Fort Mill Middle School. Students can choose to either ride the bus provided or a parent can take them to the audition. All students will need to be picked up from the audition if you plan on taking your child separately. If your child takes the bus, the bus will drop us off and bring us back to CMS. Dates and times of this event will be available to students and parents as soon as the sight host finalizes the schedule.
South Carolina Band Directors Association Region Band Auditions are on Saturday January 11th Site TBA. All band directors are required to judge at the region band auditions. Failure to judge will eliminate their own students from the audition process. All Clover School District band directors will be working at this event beginning at 7:15 AM on January 11th.
A parent will need to drive their children or carpool with other families to the audition site. Students should arrive one hour before their given audition time to warm up properly and find the correct audition room. After the audition, students may leave. The total time at the audition site will be approximately one hour. Results of the auditions and all state call back auditions will not be announced until Monday January 13th.
Transportation to the Clinics
Transportation to the clinics will be determined once we know how many students make the bands.
When are the auditions and clinics?
December 2019(Date TBA)- York County Honor Band auditions at Fort Mill MS
January 11, 2020 – Region band auditions at Woodruff HS
January 25, 2020– All state auditions for students with a call back at Lexington HS
January 2020 (Date/Times TBA) - York County Honor Band Clinic at Northwestern HS
February 21-22, 2020 - Region band clinic at Converse College
March 13-15, 2020 - All state band clinic at Furman University
Additional Information
Each student will have a specific audition time. We will not know the times until the region chairman releases them. Students will play 7 Major scales memorized, the chromatic scale, a prepared piece, and sight-reading. The chromatic scale, prepared piece, and sight-reading are “blind” auditions meaning the judges cannot see the student while they play.
We will know the results of these auditions in a few days.
After the January 11th region band auditions, top students will receive a “call back” to audition for all-state band. All state call back auditions are on January 25th at Lexington HS. After the all-state band is determined, we will receive a finalized list of the junior region six region bands.
Listen to your solo online! https://www.sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/music/community/community_events/all_state_band_recordings/index.php
Click on your instrument, then click on the “Junior” Solo
Go here 1st Go here 2nd
Please remember…
Whether or not your child makes one of these bands, they will improve tremendously by going through this process. We recommend that all students be actively involved in auditions. If you have any questions about auditions please contact Mr. Gibson.
Dates to remember
October 18, 2019- Commitment form due
December 2019- York County Honor Band auditions at Fort Mill Middle School
January 11, 2020 – Region band auditions at Woodruff High School
January 25, 2020– All state auditions for students with a call back at Lexington HS
January 2020 - York County Honor Band Clinic at Northwestern HS
February 21-22, 2020 - Region band clinic at Converse College
March 13-15, 2019 - All state band clinic at Furman University
What do I do now?
Please return the following form to Mr. Gibson as soon as possible.
Students Name:____________________________________
(Print)
Honor Band
AUDITION REGISTRATION AND THE FEE HAS ALREADY
BEEN SUBMITTED FOR YOUR CHILD.
I have read the information about region band and York County band auditions. I understand this is a commitment and I will support my child in completing that commitment by encouraging practice and attending the audition.
By Signing this agreement, I acknowledge that my child will be auditioning for York County all county band and region band. I understand that my child will be in attendance for these auditions. I understand that if my child makes one or both of these ensembles they will have to attend the band clinics.
All forms must be turned in by October 18th in order to be signed up for these events. No forms will be accepted after October 18th.
Student Signature_______________________________________________
Parent
Signature ______________________________________________
Date ________
