Category Archives: Music

With year 1 under my belt, I can’t wait to get started on year 2!  Already there are several new additions and new performance opportunities taking place in the music department.

Let’s start with swing choir.  Mrs. Beth Jungck is going to be co-directing this group with me!  We held auditions last spring before school was out.  The 2012-2013 swing choir consists of: Kate Roberts, Brook Scherbarth, Jen Scherbarth, Zoe Schneider , Jordan Encinia, Nate Letcher, Shane Vifquain  & Austin Weyers.  We will again be practicing on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 7:15-7:55.  Rehearsals will begin on Thursday, August 16^th.

I am extremely excited with what is happening in our instrumental department.  Numbers are on the rise and I am looking forward to seeing how this group will progress through the year.  I’m hoping you will see a little more of this group!  Right off the bat we will be playing the Star Spangled Banner at the Friendly Festival parade.

Beginning band is making a move into the school day vs. being held after school, which is exciting news for all of us!  The time has not been set in stone yet, but rest assured it will be by the time the students hit the door on the first day of school!  Notes will be sent home with the 5^th grade students containing all the information needed that first week of school!

Several groups will be going over to Gordon for the Willow Tree Festival on Sunday, September 9^th.  I’m planning on the elementary fun camp swing choir kids performing their “Disney Spectacular” show (we will hold several refresher rehearsals once school is in session), as well as the high school swing choir performing new material we will begin working on right away!  We will be performing from 3:25-4:00 pm.  As the details get all worked out I will be in contact with the students who will be performing!

Another exciting addition to the music department is the addition of the preschool.  If you have a student enrolled in the preschool at the school I am so excited that they will be spending a part of their day with me in the music room!  We will be dancing, singing and playing instruments on a regular basis!  I can’t wait to get started working with these kiddos!

District Music Contest will be held in Alliance, Wednesday, April 18th. If you would like to come and enjoy a day of music or just stop in and listen to a select group, we would love to see you there! The schedule is as follows:

• 8:00 am Clarinet Trio
• 8:06 am Flute Duet
• 8:24 am Brittany solo
• 9:06 am Jen solo
• 9:12 am Katie solo
• 9:24 am Mixed chorus ensemble
• 9:30 am Jordan solo
• 9:36 am Mixed Brass quartet
• 9:42 am Low Brass trio
• 9:48 am Mixed instrument ensemble
• 10:20 am  Swing Choir
• 3:17 pm Band performs

Note to Parents: Your music student has been provided information regarding leave times, lunch, dress, and performances. (Click “information” to view.)

The final 9 weeks!  Where has the time gone?

For parents of 4^th, 5^th, 6^th , 7^th or 8^th graders; you should still be hearing instruments being practiced.  The 4^th graders are expected to practice 30 minutes a week on their recorders; the 5^th-8^th graders are to be practicing 60 minutes a week on their instrument.  Please remember that beginning band meets on Mondays and Tuesdays from 4:15-4:45.  This rehearsal is open to any band students, it counts as 6^th-8^th graders practice times if they choose to come!

A BIG thank you to everyone who supported our Deli International fund raiser.  You should be enjoying your products by now!  Look for us to be selling again in February of 2013!

District Music Contest will be held in Alliance on Wednesday, April 18^th.  This will involve the Swing Choir, Concert Choir and Concert Band.  The concert band will consist of 7^th-9^th grade students.  6^th grade band students will not be attending.  I have not received a schedule and will do my best to communicate that with you once I have it.

We will be holding Swing Choir auditions on May 22^nd at 6:30 pm.  This audition will be open to 8^th-11^th grade students.  There will be swing choir camps on May 1^st, 8^th & 15^th from 7:15-7:50 am, where students will learn a dance combination and a section of a song.  A panel audition will be held on May 22^nd beginning at 6:30pm.  Further details will be provided at a later date.

Congratulations to the Hay Springs Small Instrumental Ensemble for being recognized as the outstanding small ensemble at Panhandle Conference Music Contest on Friday, March 23rd at Sioux County. The group consists of: Cydney Jancik, Kate Roberts, Jen Scherbarth, Whitney Heiting, Katie Scherbarth, Brittany Ferguson, Shaunna Hunter, Eli Badje, Jordan Encinia & Chris Ray.

On Thursday, March 22nd the high school swing choir will be giving performances in preparation for their upcoming contest on Friday, March 23. At 2:30 pm, the Swing Choir will be performing for the elementary students in the cafeteria.  At 3:00 pm, they will be performing in the lobby at Security First Bank.

Eli Badje and Jen Scherbarth have been selected to perform in the 5th annual Oregon Trail Honor Band. Eli & Jen will be performing with students from 15 other panhandle schools on Monday, January 9th at Gering High School. Rehearsal will be from 10am-4pm with a final concert, open to the public, at 5pm at the Gering High School auditorium. The band will be under the direction of Jay Gilbert, instrumental instructor from Doane College in Crete, NE. Eli plays the trombone and is the son of Jason & Kris Badje. Jen plays the clarinet and is the daughter of Bruce & Laura Scherbarth.