December 2022

 

December Performances

Winter Concert: Thursday, December 15th

Date: Thursday, December 15th

Location: Eich Gym

Call Time for Musicians: 6:40pm in the music room

Concert Start Time: 7:00pm (Doors to the gym will open at 6:40pm)

Attire: "Holiday Best" or Disneyland All Black

On Thursday, December 15th we will present our annual Winter Concert in the gym at Eich. The concert will begin at 7pm and will feature our Bands, Guitar Ensemble, and the Ballroom Dance program. The concert is free to attend so please invite all of your family and friends! 

All Band and and Guitar musicians are expected to attend the concert. We rehearse together every day and come to depend on the sound of every musician. It is very important that musicians have the opportunity to perform the same way we have been rehearsing. 

The event itself is not graded, however, students will be completing a summative reflection paper after the concert. 

I am asking students to wear their "holiday best" for the performance OR your Disneyland attire if you have it already. 

• "Holiday Best" means collared shirt or blouse, slacks or skirts, and nice shoes. Any color is fine. Holiday themed sweaters are acceptable as long as they are school appropriate.
• The Disneyland attire is all black: Slacks or ankle length skirt and a long-sleeve button up shirt with black shoes and socks (Disneyland will not accept jeans or leggings or open toed shoes)

The concert is free to attend but we will accept donations at the door and will offer the option to reserve seats for $10 each. This is optional. Order forms will be sent via email on Friday, December 2nd. 

Advanced Band @ Wit and Whimsy: Tuesday, December 6th

Date: Tuesday, December 6th

Time: 6:00-6:30pm

Location: Wit and Whimsy Toys, 8789-C Auburn-Folsom Rd. Granite Bay, CA 95746 MAP

Attire: Holiday! Wear your ugly sweater, cute sweater, warm sweater. Add a Santa hat or elf ears. Bonus points if you decorate your instrument with ornaments and/or lights.

We have a wonderful fundraising opportunity coming up this week. The Wit and Whimsy Toys store will be donating 10% of their sales from December 4th-10th back to the Eich Band for our Disneyland trip!!! More details along with a flier to share will be coming shortly....

I would like for the band to help promote the event by performing holiday music at the toy store. This is an optional event but the more musicians we have involved, the better we sound!

Please review the details below and complete the RSVP with either a "Yes, No, or Maybe."

RSVP Here

Guitar @ Centerpoint Church: Sunday, December 11th 

Date: Sunday, December 11th

Time: 9:45am-10:30am (Performance begins at 10am)

Location: Centerpoint Church, 515 Sunrise Avenue, Roseville, CA 95661 MAP

Attire: Holiday! Wear your ugly sweater, cute sweater, warm sweater. Add a Santa hat or elf ears. Bonus points if you decorate your instrument with ornaments and/or lights.

We have been asked to perform at a special event on Sunday, December 11th. The Centerpoint Church recently made a donation to help fund our campus Kindness Center. In return, Mr. Brown has asked that we perform a "Thank you" concert, along with the Ballroom Dance program. 

We will perform in the courtyard of the church from 10:00-10:30am, in between their regular services. After the performance, families are invited to stay for breakfast and snacks if you would like.   

Please note: we are not performing for the church service or inside the sanctuary of the church. If the weather is bad (raining) we will move indoors to their fellowship hall. 

This is an optional performance opportunity and a chance for us to make community connections. The more musicians we have, the better we sound! Please review the details below and then RSVP with either a "yes, no, or maybe."

RSVP Here

Fundraising Opportunity

The Advanced Band and Guitar programs are heading to Disneyland in March! To help support the cost of the trip we have partnered up with the Wit and Whimsy Toys store in Granite Bay for a "give back" style fundraiser. 

For the week of December 4th-10th, Wit and Whimsy will donate a portion of their sales back to the our program! 

Please share this flier with everyone you know and on social media. This is a great opportunity to support both a local small business and your favorite musicians at the same time!

Use this link for sharing

8th Grade Families Only

Please share your plans for high school next year. All of our areas high schools have amazing music departments that are ready to take your musicians to the next level in both band and guitar. The directors would like to get in touch with all of our 8th graders in order to share info about the programs offered. Please take a moment to complete the High School Survey and let me know which high school you plan on your musician attending next year and whether or not I may share your contact info with the directors. 

If you have any questions regarding high school options, please don't hesitate to reach out. I am happy to answer your questions and/or get you in contact with the right person. 

High School Survey

Welcome to the Music Room!

Welcome to the 2023/22 school year in the music room! In this blog you will find all of the start up information for the music department. This is the same information that was presented at Back to School Night (plus a little more). Please reach out if you have any questions! I look forward to making lots of music with your students this year!

Supplies

Everyone 

• Binder - black, 1" with "clearview" front and inside pockets
• Sheet protectors x 25
• Dividers x 4
• Pencil
• Highlighter

Instrument Specific Supplies

• Clarinet/Saxophone
• Reeds: Size 3 for your specific instrument (ex, size 3 for Tenor Saxophone)
• Brands: Rico, Rico Royal, Vandoran
• Please have 2-3 working reeds at all times
• Oboe/Bassoon
• Reeds: Medium or Medium Soft strength for your instrument
• Brands: Jones, Forrest
• Please have at least 2 working reeds at all times
• Brass (Tumpet, Horn, Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba)
• Valve Oil
• Preferred Brands: Yamaha, Al Cass, Blue Juice
• Percussion/Drums
• Sticks: size 5A or 5B
• Guitar
• Picks: Any style or strength
• Capo
• Clip on tuner

Classes

Our Music Department is made up of six different classes! Four of them are yearlong performance groups. In order to keep things organized I color code each class. Please take note of your musician's class name and color. I will refer to each group by name and color throughout the Blog. 

1st period Advanced Band

2nd Period Intermediate Band

4th Period Guitar Ensemble

7th Period Modern Band

Performance Calendar

This is the calendar for all four of our performance groups. But, not all groups perform at every event. Be sure to look for your student's class before adding the event to your calendar. 

I will send details and reminders for each event as we get closer to the date. 

• Saturday, October ?? @ afternoon(TBD): Oakmont Field Show 
• Advanced Band will perform the National Anthem at the opening of the Field Show Competition at Oakmont High School. 
• Thursday, December 14th, 7pm @ Eich Gym: Winter Showcase 
• Advanced Band Intermediate Band Guitar Ensemble will perform a combined concert along with the Ballroom dance program. 
• Saturday TBD March: American River College Music Festival
• Advanced Band Intermediate Band Guitar Ensemble will participate in the music festival. We will be evaluated and rated by judges (non-competitive).
• Usually the first Saturday in March. I will update you once the schedule is released
• TBD April: Eich-a-Palooza
• Modern Band concert festival on the Eich field
• Saturday, April 27: Six Flags Spring Trip
• Guitar Ensemble and Modern Band see details below
• Thursday, May 9th, 7pm @ Eich Gym: Spring Concert
• Advanced Band Intermediate Band Guitar Ensemble will perform a combined concert along with the Ballroom dance program. 
• Wednesday-Saturday, May 15th-18th: Disneyland Trip
• Advanced Band Intermediate Band see details below

Spring Trips

One of my goals as a music educator is to provide opportunities for our musicians to perform for a variety of audiences and experiences. This includes taking trips outside of our Roseville community and once-in-a-lifetime performances!

One Day Music Festival and Theme Park: Guitar Ensemble and Modern Band
April 27th

This is a one day trip to Vallejo to compete in a music festival and then visit the Six Flags Discovery Kingdom theme park. 

Disneyland Concert: Advanced Band and Intermediate Band
May 15th-18th

This is an opportunity to perform inside the Disneyland Resort Theme parks. We are currently waiting for our audition and application to be accepted. Once it is, I will hold a parent info night where we will go over all of the details for the trip. 

Disneyland Performing Arts 

• A four day trip where we travel to Disneyland, perform a 30 minute concert inside the Disney theme park, and spend two days at Disneyland/California Adventure
• Requires an audition for Disney AND at least 20 musicians for each ensemble

Performance Uniform

Families are responsible for providing a performance uniform for their musician. 

**Disneyland is very particular about what their school performance groups wear. They generally require a much more formal look. If we pass the audition I will send out recommendations for shirts/pants/shoes 

Formal Uniform - for concerts and festivals/competition

• All Black "from toes to elbows"
• Black, closed toed shoes
• Black pants or skirt/dress with tights
• Black shirt with full length or 3/4 length sleeves

**Disneyland is very particular about what their school performance groups wear. They generally require a much more formal look. If we pass the audition I will send out requirements for shirts/pants/shoes 

Informal Uniform - for school rallies, field trips or other community events

• Optional music department T-shirt - available for purchase soon
• Eich branded shirts 

Communication

Please feel free to reach out using whatever method you are most comfortable with. When you send a message it is helpful if you include your student's name and which class/ensemble they are in. 

Email: jaldridge@rcsdk8.org

School Phone: 916-771-1770 ext 23146

Facebook: @W.T. Eich Music Program

Instruments 

Guitar/Modern Band

We will be learning several different instruments this year. Everyone will start on an acoustic (non-electric) guitar for the first month. After that we will branch out into electric bass, drum set, electric guitar, and potentially keyboards. 

Each student will have access to a school guitar to use in class. 
Students may choose to use a personal guitar as long as it is an acoustic (non-electric) model.
Students may store personal guitars in the music room. The music room is open at 7:45am every morning for instrument drop-off and until 2:30pm each day for pick-up. 

Band

Instrument Choice

If your student played a band instrument last year they are encouraged to continue playing the same instrument this year. The exceptions are for our less common instruments that may not have been available last year OR in the case that we have too many musicians on the same instrument. 

If your student is new to band then we will be exploring the available instrument options in class. Expect them to be assigned an instrument by the end of the week. 

My goal is to get every student on an instrument that excites them, fits their physical features, and is readily available to them.  We also need a "balanced" ensemble with representation from all of the instrument voices. With all of this in mind, it may be possible that your student's best option is their 2nd or 3rd choice instrument. I encourage students to keep an open mind and give the instrument 3-4 weeks of effort before we discuss making a change.  

Inventory

The school has a limited instrument inventory to loan to students. 

Most of our smaller, more common instruments, are reserved for our 6th grade Beginning Band students. 

Musicians in our yearlong band classes are asked to consider renting or purchasing their own instrument. The larger, less common (and more expensive!) instruments are generally available to loan to our yearlong students. 

This table lists the instruments on the Rental vs Loan list. 

Family Rental/Purchase**	School Loan
Flute	Oboe
Bb Clarinet	Bassoon
Eb Alto Saxophone	Bass Clarinet
Trumpet	Bb Tenor Saxophone
Trombone	Eb Bari Saxophone
Percussion Kit (Snare/Xylophone)	F Horn
	Euphonium/Baritone
	Tuba

**If your student plays one of these instruments and needs to loan one from the school, please reach out and I will make every effort to have one available. If the instrument is not available then we will look at other instrument options.  

Rentals and Purchases

Our local music stores all offer great quality rental instruments beginning at $25/month. They also include a rent-to-own program. This is a short list of stores that I have personal experience with. There are many others in the greater Roseville area that also offer quality services. I encourage you to shop local when it comes to instruments as some larger chain stores do not offer the same quality. Please reach out of you have any questions or would like suggestions if considering purchasing an instrument. 

The Music Yard

*Offers an online rental experience. If you choose the "delivery" option then the instrument will be dropped off at Eich or I will pick it up. 

The Strum Shop

*15% off coupon for accessories

Tague Music

*Had a limited inventory remaining as of last week

Tim's Music

Week-at-a-Glance

The Week-at-a-Glance (WAG) document will be updated each Monday to include the weekly activities, assignments, and practice goals. The WAG is posted in OTUS and Clever. We will access and view this document daily in class. If a student is absent for any reason, they should access the WAG to keep up with the class. 

Assignments

All assignments will be posted and graded in OTUS. Parents can view the description and rubric for each assignment. You will not be able to view the student work if you are logged in as a parent. 

There are three types of assignments in music class:

1. Performance Tests - video recorded in OTUS
2. Written Assignments - written analysis of the music we are exploring and composition assignments.
3. Reflections - Written reflections on our process and progress

Assignments and assessments fall under the four IB Objectives for Visual and Performing Arts: 

A: Investigating

i. investigate a movement or genre in their chosen arts discipline, related to the statement of inquiry

ii. critique an artwork or performance from the chosen movement or genre.

B: Developing Skills

i. practically explore ideas to inform development of a final artwork or performance

ii. present a clear artistic intention for the final artwork or performance in line with the statement of

inquiry.

C: Creating and Performing

i. create or perform an artwork.

D: Evaluating

i. appraise their own artwork or performance

ii. reflect on their development as an artist.

Assignment names will include the Criterion and strands that are being assessed. Students will get a grade for each criterion assessed. Some assignments may have 1-2 grades, other may have 5-6 grades. OTUS will calculate an overall grade for each assignment. 

Example assignment name: "Ai, Bii, Ci, Cii, Diii - What's in a Name Composition"

Each Objective strand will be graded twice per year (not per trimester). 

Grading

All assignments are graded on the school-wide 8 Point Rubric. 

• 7-8 Mastery = going above and beyond the expected 
• 5-6 Proficient = grade level work
• 3-4 Approaching = approaching grade level work
• 1-2 Beginning = below grade level work
• IE Insufficient Evidence = missing or incomplete assignment

Students may revise and resubmit any assignment for a higher score

Late or missing assignments are accepted until the end of the current trimester

About Me!

I began playing the flute in 4th grade and never stopped! Currently I am the principal flute player in the Roseville Community Concert Band where I also play piccolo and the occasional Bassoon. You can also find me in various pit orchestras for local theater groups. 

My Alma Maters include Yuba Community College (AA in Music), The University of Southern California (BA in Music Education, California Teaching Credential), and Sam Houston State University (MM in Music Pedagogy and Instrumental Conducting). 

The 2023/24 school year will be my 18th year teaching! I have taught every grade level from Kindergarten to the Community College level. Middle school remains my favorite age group to teach. 

I have had the opportunity to perform all over the world including Canada, France, Italy, Japan,  and China. And with many celebrity musicians such as Earth, Wind and Fire, System of a Down, the Offspring, KC and the Sunshine Band. 

My favorite performance of all time was at the 2004 Rosebowl Game where USC beat Michigan (Fight On!) and the USC band got to perform the National Anthem with John Williams conducting (he composed the music for Star Wars, Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, and many other blockbusters). Here's the video and if you pause at 0:24 you will see me playing flute in the left hand corner!

May 2022

Calendar of Events at a Glance

Please be sure these dates are on your family Calendar

Advanced Band

• Thursday, May 12th @ Oakmont High School
• Thursday, May 19th @ Eich Middle School
• Saturday, May 21st @ Spring Trip Festival
• Thursday, May 26th @ Eich Promotion Ceremony

Intermediate Band

• Thursday, May 19th @ Eich Middle School
• Saturday, May 21st @ Spring Trip Festival
• Thursday, May 26th @ Eich Promotion Ceremony

Choir

• Thursday, May 12th @ Oakmont High School
• Thursday, May 19th @ Eich Middle School

Guitar

• Thursday, May 19th @ Eich Middle School

The Details

Thursday May 12th - Oakmont Concert: Advanced Band and Choir

Who: Advanced Band and Choir

What: Oakmont Collaboration Concert

Where: Oakmont Theater

Wear: Eich Music Shirts and pants (no shorts)

When: Thursday, May 12th

Call Time: 5:30pm in the Oakmont theater

Concert Time: 7:00pm

• This collaboration concert is a chance for our 8th graders to connect with their future music teachers and fellow musicians. Each group will perform independently and then we will combine for a mass performance. 
• There is a cost for admission at Oakmont concerts. $10 General Admission, $5 Adults (We will be playing/singing the same music at our Eich concert the next week)

Thursday May 19th - Eich Spring Concert: Everyone

Who: Band, Choir, Guitar

What: Spring Concert

Where: Eich Gym

Wear: Eich Music Shirts and pants (no shorts)

When: Thursday, May 19th

Call Time: 6:30pm

Concert Time: 7:00pm

• Our final concert of the year will feature all of our performing arts groups including, Band, Choir, Guitar, and Ballroom Dance. 
• There is no cost to attend the concert. We will take donation at the door!
• There is an opportunity for families to purchase reserved seats. The seats will be $10. Order forms will go home with students next week. Reserved seats are folding chairs on the floor of the gym with you family's name on them. The number of reserved seats are limited and will be filled on a first come, first served basis. I make every attempt to seat you in a location that is in front of your student for optimal viewing. 

Saturday May 21st - Band Festival and Spring Trip

Who: Intermediate and Advanced Bands

What: Festival and Six Flags

Where: Vanden High School, Fairfield and Six Flags Valejo

Wear: Eich Music Shirts and pants (no shorts)

When: Saturday, May 21st

Call Time: 9:00am in the Eich music room

Return Time: 9:30pm

Permission slips along with the final details of the trip will be sent home with students next week.

Please send in payments as soon as possible

Thursday May 26th - Promotion: Bands

Who: Intermediate and Advanced Bands

What: Promotion Ceremony

Where: Eich field

Wear: Eich Music Shirts and pants (no shorts)

Call Time: 9:00am in the Eich music room

Performance: 10:00am

The Intermediate Bands will provide music for the Promotion Ceremony. Advanced Band will join us for the performance of the National Anthem.

Recent Performances

Bands at the River Cats

Guitar at Festival

Click here to watch the performance

Book Return

Band and Guitar books will be returned to the library on Friday, May 13th. If you do not return your book you will be charged for the cost of the replacement copy. Replacements generally cost between $15-20. 

Instrument Return

All school owned instrument will be returned the last week of school for summer maintenance and repairs. 

Guitar: Wednesday, May 25th

Bands: Thursday, May 26 following the Promotion Ceremony

March 2022

Calendar of Events

Check our the bar on the right for an updated list if events for each performance group ------->

**The Oakmont Joint Band Concert has been moved to May 12th (from April 7th)

Bands @ the Sacramento River Cats: April 24th, 2022

All Band students have the opportunity to participate in this event!

Join us at Sutter Health Park on Sunday, April 24th to watch the W.T. Eich Middle School Band perform "The Star-Spangled Banner" ahead of the River Cats game vs the Oklahoma City Dodgers. The band will perform prior to the game, the River Cats will put on awesome in-game events throughout the afternoon, and after the game is the River Cats' 'Kids Run the Bases' event. Seats are limited, so be sure to secure your tickets for a fun afternoon at the ballpark

Details:

• Event Schedule:
• Call time: 12:00pm in the stadium parking lot
• Performance time: 12:45ish
• Game Time: 1:05pm
• Attire: Music T-Shirt and jeans
• Families are responsible for transportation to/from the event
• At least one adult must attend the event to supervise your student
• Everyone attending the event must purchase a ticket to the game, including student performers
• Tickets to the event must be purchased through our personalized event link!
• You can purchase as many tickets as you would like
• You can share the link with friends and family who may also like to attend
• Ticket Options
• Ballpark Seating Map
• Lawn Tickets: $15/each open seating
• Section 102 - Assembly: $24/each 
• Section 104- Senate: $30.50/each
• Section 105 - Governors Club: $40.50/each includes access to club level amenities

How to Sign Up and Purchase Tickets

1. 1. Sign up for the performance by completing the River Cats Sign Up Form
2. 2. Purchase your tickets here Eich Band Ticketing Site 

Spring Trips: Band, Choir and Guitar

We have been given approval to take our spring trip to a music festival and theme park!

All groups will have the opportunity to perform and compete in a Music in the Parks Festival at Vanden High School in  Fairfield. We will perform for judges who will evaluate our skills and give us an overall rating (we are hoping for "superior"), a numeric score and comments. We will also be competing against other schools and hopefully come home with some trophies for our music room!

After our morning performance we will head over to Six Flag Discovery Kingdom for some well deserved fun. 

The cost for this trip is $100/student. This covers our theme park ticket, festival fee, and transportation (school bus). It does not include food or souvenirs. Please reach out if you would like your musician to participate but the cost is a concern.

*Annual Passholders: if you have a valid season pass to Six Flags your trip cost is $60 for the festival and transportation

**If your student will be participating in ONLY the festival your cost is $35 and you iust provide transportation to/from Vanden High School in Fairfield

Payments are due 30 days before the trip 

Choir and Guitar Trip: Saturday, April 30th

• Event Schedule
• Call Time: Approx 7:00am 9:30am @ Eich Parking Lot
• Guitar Warm Up and Performance: 8:25am/8:50am 10:55am/11:20am
• Choir Warm Up and Performance: 9:20am/9:40am 12:00pm/12:20pm
• Arrive at Six Flags: 10:45am, free time 1:00pm free time
• Awards Ceremony:  5:30pm
• Depart Six Flags: Approx 6:00pm 8:30pm
• Return to Eich: Approx 7:15pm 10:00pm
• Payment Due: March 30th or earlier
• Check can be made payable to "Eich Middle School"
• Choir and Guitar Trip Sign Up Form

Advanced and Intermediate Bands Trip: Saturday, May 21st

• Event Schedule
• Call Time: Approx 10:00am @ Eich Parking Lot
• Intermediate Band Warm Up and Performance: 11:45/1210pm
• Advanced Band Warm Up and Performance: 12:35/1:00pm
• Arrive at Six Flags: 2:00pm, free time
• Awards Ceremony:  5:30pm
• Depart Six Flags: Approx 8:00pm
• Return to Eich: Approx 9:30pm
• Payment Due: May 3rd or earlier
• Check can be made payable to "Eich Middle School"
• Band Spring Trip Sign Up Form

Masking Updates

Beginning March 14th masks are no longer required, but still recommended, on campus. 

Students in the music room will continue to be offered musician masks and instrument bell covers however, their usage will also be optional. 

We will continue our other COVID mitigation strategies by leaving doors open and HVAC on for optimal air circulation. 

Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or concerns. 

Cell Phone Reminders

Cell phones continue to be a distraction in the music room (and all over campus). School policy is that cell phones will be placed in backpacks during class time. If your musician has their cell phone out during rehearsal I will send you an email and be submitting a referral, per school policy. 

As we prepare for our spring performances we need everyone focused and giving their best effort each rehearsal. 

Welcome to Choir!

Class Description: 

In choir this trimester you will learn the language of music (solfege), how to use your voice correctly, and how to sing in an ensemble (group).

Expectations:

Respect the Music: actively participate with your best voice 

Respect the People: quiet when teacher talks, no shaming others for mistakes

Respect the Room: treat chairs, music stands, and sheet music appropriately

Cell Phone Policy

Cell phones are not allowed in the music room. All cell phones must be placed in backpacks at the start of class. There are very limited exceptions to this rule and only with my direct permission (ie. Guitar players are tuning guitars). If a student has a cell phone out without permission they will get a verbal warning. After that I will place the cell phone at the front of the classroom until the end of class and email parents. If the cell phone is out again another day it becomes a major referral to the front office. 

This policy is in line with our campus-wide Eich Cell Phone Policy. 

Week-at-a-Glance

The Week-at-a-Glance (WAG) document is available in Clever and in Otus. The WAG will have the rehearsal goals for the week, links to assignments, sheet music, and audio/video practice tracks. If you are absent it is expected that you will view the WAG and practice the songs listed for 15 minutes and/or complete any assignments. 

Material and Supplies

• Pencil - that's it!

Students will be given a folder to store sheet music and study materials. The folder may be kept in the music room and will be returned at the end of the trimester. 

Grading:

Summative Grades will be based on

• Two Summative performance videos
• Two written tests
• Process Journal final project including performance videos, reflections, and personal assessments. 

Formative Grades will be based on:

• In class participation
• Written warm-ups
• Practice videos 

Final Concert

As part of our final project we will be rehearsing and presenting a choir concert for the end of the trimester. The concert will either be presented as a Facebook live event during class time or prerecorded and emailed out to families 

Masking

Singing uses large volumes of air at increased speeds. It is recommended by the CDPH that masks be worn while singing. CDPH Guidelines, section 16.

February 2022

2022 Music Department Shirt

Calendar of Events

February 18th     End of Trimester

April 7th             Advanced Band @ Oakmont Concert

April 24th           Advanced/Intermediate Bands @ River Cats

May TBD           Spring Trip???

May 19th            Spring Concert @ Eich 

T-Shirt Update

Shirts have been ordered and I just received confirmation that they have shipped. They should arrive by the end of the week and will be handed out in class

If you have not done so already, please send in $5 (cash or check made out to "Eich Middle School")

Thank you to several parents who donated extra money to cover the cost of shirts

I did order a couple of extra shirts so if your size doesn't fit or you didn't submit an order form, we have some options. I won't know what extra sizes are available until after all shirts have been distributed. 

Grades and Assessments

The end of the trimester is coming up in on February 18th.

All classes will have at least one more summative assessment between now and then.

If you are missing any assessments you have until February 18th to submit them. Anything submitted after the 18th will not be graded in time to be included in the upcoming report card. 

Cell Phone Policy

Cell phones are not allowed in the music room. All cell phones must be placed in backpacks at the start of class. There are very limited exceptions to this rule and only with my direct permission (ie. Guitar players are tuning guitars). If a student has a cell phone out without permission they will get a verbal warning. After that I will place the cell phone at the front of the classroom until the end of class and email parents. If the cell phone is out again another day it becomes a major referral to the front office. 

This policy is in line with our campus-wide Eich Cell Phone Policy. 

Spring Trip: TBD

Typically in the spring we take a field trip to Vallejo to perform and compete in a music festival. Then we spend the rest of the day enjoying time at the Six Flags Theme Park. 

The District Office has given me a "maybe" for this event. We would need to use a district bus and they are not currently approving bus requests. However, they are hoping to be able to change that policy soon.

The cost for this trip is usually around $100. 

I am hoping to be able to make a final decision on this event by the end of February. 

Eich Bands @ the River Cats: April 24th

The Eich bands will be performing the National Anthem at the River Cats Baseball game on Sunday, April 24th! All members of the Advanced and Intermediate Bands are invited to participate. All music families are invited to attend. 

Families will provide their own transportation for this event. No busses. 

Do not buy tickets on your own! We will have a dedicated ticket site for purchasing tickets. 

More info is coming out soon but here are the basic details:

Call Time: approx. 12:00pm

Performance: approx. 1:00pm

Attire: Music T-Shirt/Jeans

Eich Advanced Band @ Oakmont HS: April 7th

The Advanced Band will be performing a concert with the Oakmont Band and Fresno State Wind Ensemble on Thursday, April 7th in the Oakmont Theater. We will perform on our own and then combine with Oakmont for one piece. This is a great way for us to make connections with our future bandmates and have the opportunity to work with the new Oakmont Director, Ms. Mello. 

More info is coming out soon but here are the basic details:

Call Time: TBD (maybe as early as 5:00pm)

Performance: 7:00pm-9:00pm

Attire: Music T-Shirt/Jeans

8th Grade Band Families

In order to help bridge the gap from middle to high school, I would like to get you in contact with your future high school band director, no matter which high school you are planning to attend! 

If you would like to receive communications from your next band director, you can complete the form found below. This will give me permission to share your email so that you can begin to get information about upcoming events including summer band camps, fall schedules, and parent/student info meetings. 

High School Band Contact Form

January 2022

 Spring Performance Calendar

The spring is usually a very busy performance time for us. This year we have a couple of events on the calendar and a few more that I am tentatively working on. I am hoping that we will continue to be allowed to return to more of our "regular" activities. 

Scheduled Events

IB Information Night

Tuesday, January 25th, 6-8pm Eich Music Room: Per 1 Advanced Band and Per 4 Choir only

Spring Concert

Thursday, May 19th, 6-8pm Eich: All Yearlong Classes 

**Date and time subject to change based on current COVID guidelines

Potential Events

Oakmont Collaboration Concert

TBD: Bands and Choir

Eich Music Night with the Rivercats

TBD April or May, Rivercats Stadium, ???

Cap Section Honor Choir

TBD March or April, Sacramento State: Select Choir Students

Cap Section Honor Band

TBD May, Roseville Areas High School, Select Band Students

Spring Trip: Six Flags

TBD: All Yearlong Classes (Band, Choir, Guitar)

**Subject to District Guidelines and Approvals

Class Materials

Reeds for Clarinet, Saxophone, Oboe, Bassoon

The instruments listed above require reeds to play. I have exhausted my school supply and am asking families to please supply their musician with reeds. Reeds can be purchased from any of our local music stores or many online retailers. Musicians should have at least 2 working reeds at all times. When you purchase reeds you need to specify the instrument and the size/strength of reed. 

ie. Eb Alto Saxophone, Size 3

Clarinets and Saxophones: Size 3

Oboe/Bassoon: Medium Soft

Recommended Brands: Rico, Vandoren

Sheet Protectors

The best way to keep our music organized and safe is with a binder and sheet protectors. Most students, especially in choir, are running low on the sheet protectors. Please check with your musician to see if they need more.

Grades

The mid-trimester progress reports will be out next week, January 14th. Since we had the concert in December we don't have any summative grades at this time. Your musicians will be getting the two learning behavior grades. 

Masking

Just before winter break our musician masks were delivered. We will begin using these in all band classes. The masks are specially designed to be worn while playing an instrument. They have an overlapping design that allows a musician to "open" the center of the mask and place their instrument mouthpiece on their face. When the mouthpiece if removed, the flaps closed back up. This eliminates the need to pull masks down while playing and provides more consistent coverage. 
The district is providing ONE  mask per musician. If you lose your mask, you are responsible for replacing it. Musicians will not be allowed to play without an approved musician. mask. 
Here is the link to the mask we will be using. Any mask with a similar structure will be an acceptable replacement. 

Our procedures are in line with the current CDPH Guidelines, section 16.

IB Information Night: January 25th, 6pm-8pm

Our IB Information Night is a chance for current 5th grade families and other potential future Eich families to visit our campus and see what we are all about. The Advanced Band and Yearlong Choir groups will be performing throughout the evening. Please add this performance date to your calendar. I will send out more details next week. 

Cap Section Honor Choir and Honor Band

Honor groups are an opportunity for our top musicians to gather with other top musicians from around the Sacramento area, rehearse, and present a concert. These experiences are generally 1-2 days long with intense rehearsals and a culminating concert. This year both Honor Band and Honor Choir will be happening! Details are still limited but I can tell you that the dates are almost finalized and I will share as soon as I can. 

I believe that this year participation will be based on director recommendations and not on student auditions. Musicians interested in participating will need to demonstrate excellent performance and rehearsal skills in the upcoming weeks.