Student Information

Music Boosters Newsletter

Kristen Stoetzer, Instrumental Director (kestoet@k12.carr.org)

Caren Bezanson, Choral Director (crbezan@k12.carr.org)

Please visit the Winters Mill music website at www.wmmusic.org.

UPCOMING CHORUS EVENTS FOR THE 2008-2009 SCHOOL YEAR:
Mon. Oct. 20, 2008 at 7pm
Thurs. Dec 11, 2008 at 7pm
Thurs. March 5, 2009 at 7pm
Thurs. May 21, 2009 at 7pm
Tri-M Music Honor Society Induction Ceremony: Mon. Nov. 10, 2008 at 7pm
2nd WM Family Celebration of the Arts: Mon. April 6, 2009 at 7pm
Music Banquet: Thurs. May 28, 2009
Music and Arts Showcase: May 1, 2009

Concert Dress

Men: Tuxedos (jacket and pants provided by the school). Black dress socks (navy socks are not acceptable). Black dress shoes (loafers are not acceptable). Tuxedo shirt and bow tie should be ordered by the parents (information included).

Women: All black. Options include:

  • floor length or ankle length black dress
  • floor length or ankle length black skirt, black blouse
  • black dress pants, black blouse

Women should also wear black dress shoes.

If students are not dressed appropriately for the concert, they will not perform.

A note about dress for concerts

The concert uniform may be used all four years of high school. Additionally, black pants and a black shirt are common items of clothing that can be worn for other purposes. If a student does not have dress clothes for the concert uniform, they are expected to purchase an appropriate outfit.

There is to be no other color than black on clothing. Women may not wear blouses or skirts with pink lining, or a white shirt underneath, or different colored beading. Dress is to be ALL BLACK.

The concert is a “dress-up” occasion. It is not acceptable to wear jeans or cargo pants, tennis shoes, or t-shirts. Men are mostly taken care of by the tuxedo. However, men do need to purchase the tux shirt (information included), black bow tie (information included), black socks, and black dress shoes.

Women will need to purchase dress pants and a blouse for concerts (unless the skirt or dress option is chosen), as well as black dress shoes (no flip-flops). Black dress sandals are acceptable.

Mrs Stoetzer will be the judge of whether or not your outfit is proper performance attire. If you have questions regarding your concert outfit, it is best to ask Mrs Stoetzer in advance, or to bring another choice with you the night of the concert in case Mrs Stoetzer feels that you need to change. Mrs Stoetzer will also be the judge of what jewelry and accessories are appropriate and may ask you to remove certain items.

The goal of the ensembles at Winters Mill is to present themselves as professionally as possible. The image that we project gives us a reputation in the school and surrounding community, as well as the rest of the county and state (field trips and festivals). Because we want to be perceived as an upper level, high class, professional ensemble, we have a strict dress code. There will be no warning or second chance regarding dress code. If you are not dressed appropriately, you will not perform.

Material for Class

Please read carefully the following materials needed for instrumental classes. Obviously, brass players do not need woodwind equipment and vice versa.

Band I

  • All Members
    • 3-ring binder
    • dividers (5)
    • pencil
    • folder (provided by teacher)
    • metronome
    • Method Book: Essential Elements Book 2 (for your instrument)
  • Woodwinds:
    • reeds for your instrument (VanDoren brand, size 3 or 3.5)
    • hard plastic reed case
    • swab for your instrument
    • cork grease
  • Clarinets: please look into getting a wooden mouthpiece and barrel for your instrument.
  • Brass:
    • trumpet mouthpiece: Bach 10 (available from Stu’s)
    • valve/slide oil

Band II

  • All Members
    • 3-ring binder
    • dividers (5)
    • pencil
    • folder (provided by teacher)
    • metronome
  • Woodwinds
    • reeds for your instrument (VanDoren brand, size 3.5 or 4)
    • hard plastic reed case
    • swab for your instrument
    • cork grease
  • Clarinets: You should have a wooden clarinet. If you do not, you should at least have a wooden mouthpiece and barrel for your instrument.
  • Brass
    • trumpet mouthpiece: Bach 10 (available from Stu’s)
    • valve/slide oil
    • trumpets: common mutes (straight, harmon, cup)

Percussion Ensemble

  • 3- ring binder
  • dividers (5)
  • pencil
  • folder (provided by teacher)
  • drum pad (RealFeel, 12”, available at Stu’s)
  • snare sticks (Vic Firth, concert sticks, VFSD1 from Stu’s)
  • Method Books: Elementary Drum Method: Roy Burns
  • Fundamental Studies for Mallets: Garwood Whaley
  • Saul Goodman’s Modern Method for Timpani

Orchestra

  • 3-ring binder
  • Dividers (5)
  • pencil
  • folder (provided by teacher)
  • instrument/bow/chinrest (3 violas, 2 cellos and 3 basses available from WMHS)
  • extra strings for your instrument
  • metronome
  • rosin
  • soft cloth to wipe rosin off strings
  • Method Book: Essential Elements: “Advanced Technique for Strings” (for your instrument)

Private lessons

Private lessons are not only a benefit to the individual student, but to the ensemble as well. It is recommended that all students take an interest in private lessons. The student will be given individual attention for an hour a week, learn specific technical patterns and exercises pertaining to their instrument, talk about tone production and expression, and go over standard solo literature for their instrument. Through the private lesson experience, students can acquire an unlimited amount of information that will help them decide whether they would like to become more serious about music or not. Please consider trying out private lessons for at least the first year of high school.

If you are considering private lessons, please contact Mrs. Stoetzer to talk about appropriate teachers in the area. Taking lessons with the wrong private instructor can be harmful to your student’s musical experience and can cause more damage than not taking lessons at all.

Thank you for your attention to this information. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Stoetzer as soon as possible so that you are sure to have all of your supplies when school begins.

It is imperative that these supplies are purchased for a successful musical experience at the high school level.

Kristen Stoetzer
kestoet@k12.carr.org