**Upcoming Performance – 11.10.2025 Veterans Day Prayer Service & Assembly**
On Monday, November 10th, the ACS Band will have their first public performance (aside from the few who played for Holy Hoops)! We will be performing the song “America” for the Veterans Day Prayer Service & Assembly.
This is a required performance, and I have already created the “Major Grade” assignment in FACTS.
If students are unable to play in the group performance (i.e. they forgot their instrument or are absent), they will play “America” for a makeup grade at a different time. It’s a lot easier for students to get full credit if they participate in the performance!
I know students do not typically bring their instruments on Monday, but they will need to bring their instruments as well as their band binders (with their music) on the morning of Monday, November 10th. I will send out email reminders the weekend before to both the student and parent email group!
Students may find the below instrumental recording helpful in their practice of “America.“
Pep Band – Girls’ Basketball Home Games
The following dates are home games for our ACS Girls’ Basketball Team!
- Monday, November 10th at 4 pm (Horizon MS v. ACS)
- Wednesday, November 12th at 4 pm (Franklin Academy v. ACS)
- Monday, November 17th at 4 pm (Nooksack Valley MS v. ACS)
- Wednesday, November 19th at 4 pm (Lynden MS v. ACS)
- Tuesday, November 25th at 4 pm (Lummi Nation v. ACS)
If you are interested in playing for our Pep Band, please signup via the SignUp Genius link below! The more people signup, the more fun and enjoyable your Pep Band experience will be!!
SignUp Genius Link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084AAAAA2DA6FAC43-60110847-pepband
Accidentals, Slurs, and Christmas Program
Wednesday, 10/29, we began work on an exercise in “Framework Fundamentals” (practice video linked below). We are working on the skill of slurring from one note to second note — what this means is, students articulate (use their tongue) to define the start of the first note and then change their fingers for the second note without articulation. This skill will be needed in our preparation of “Silent Night” for the Christmas Program.
Students received a collection of Christmas tunes for our “Band Caroling” that takes place in the foyer prior to the Christmas Program (Thursday, 12/18). We have only started work on “Silent Night” so far, but I encourage students to take a look at some of the others before we get to them in class!
Below is a video that talks about “accidentals.” They are far from being an accident! They are actually intentional markings in music used to alter a note (usually by a half step). We will watch this video in class this afternoon (10/31)
Seesaw – Homework Assignments
Seesaw Information was sent home today (10/31)! Please take a look and follow the directions listed on the handout. Mrs. Creech will start uploading assignments to Seesaw next week.
Reminder: There is no penalty for late work, but in order to keep students accountable, I will stick with this system of changing M’s to zeroes every 2 weeks or so!
Practice Tracks
Ideally, students should practice at least 5-10 minutes a night to maintain the skills we go over in class. Repetition and thoughtful practice are the keys to success in life and in band! Students should practice with a metronome, and brass players could greatly benefit from a tuner to ensure they are playing the accurate notes (each fingering/slide position has different, achievable notes).
Students can access a free, online tuner and metronome here: Metronome/Tuner
If you have questions about anything mentioned in our newsletter, please reach out to Mrs. Creech at ccreech@assumption.school .
Thank you and stay musical!!
