Mrs. Cancino’s Fifth Grade Band Newsletter
December 5, 2016
Dear Band Parents:
Don’t forget that concert letters came home last week with all the details you’ll need (who, what,
where, when, and how!). Please check with your child if you haven’t seen it yet. There is a confirmation
portion attached that should come back to me by December 15th.
As we are working more frequently on our concert music, I am hearing familiarity on the students’
part with their more consistent at-home practice. A few classes are still pretty rough around the edges,
though, and need to increase the time their horns come out of the cases. I have reminded the kids, we
have only about 5 or 6 classes left (depending on the school) before they have to play in front of people!!
Nerves often take over in performance settings, and it’s really important for the kids to know
their music so well that the nervousness of a concert doesn’t overwhelm them to the point that they
make mistakes. I keep telling my classes that their families should have all these songs stuck in their
heads—if they’re not, the children aren’t practicing enough!
In Band, the kids really are depending on each other. In Math, if Joe Schmoe doesn’t study and
bombs his test, it doesn’t affect Sally Studeezalot in the least. Unfortunately for us, Joe Schmoe not
practicing is going to sound really bad against Sally Studeezalot’s stellar show. Every band member has to
play every note correctly at exactly the same time for it to sound good, and we need everyone to be
working hard at home for that to happen. I know they can all do it, it’s just a matter of spending the
time.
We are already halfway through the second quarter, and your child’s Band grade will appear for
this quarter’s interim. I’ll have grades posted on Edline by the end of the day today (Dec. 9). Please
make sure that he/she has all of the assignments completed to earn full credit. I offer extra credit
throughout the quarter, and it just needs to be turned in. If you aren’t signed up for Edline yet, check
with your school’s main office for more information.
I hope your weekend is filled with relentless renditions of reindeer refrains as your children play
their concert music for you.  Have a great week!
Mrs. Cancino
Band Director: Matula, Mitchell, Barnhart, Parks
[email protected]
http://www.ccboe.com/departments/music/