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🎶 ACS Band Newsletter

October 2026

Dear Band Families,

Thank you for your continued support of our band program! We have several exciting events and projects underway as we move through the fall season. Please take a moment to review the important updates below.

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Veterans Day Service Performance

Tuesday, November 10 at 2:15 PM

Our band students will be performing as part of the school’s Veterans Day Service on Tuesday, November 10, at 2:15 PM.

Uniform Reminder

All band students are asked to wear their dress uniform for this performance. Please take a few moments ahead of time to make sure uniforms are clean, fit properly, and are ready to go.

Performing for our veterans is a special honor, and we look forward to helping celebrate and thank those who have served our country.

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🎄 Christmas Program Music

“Christmas Holiday March”

Last Friday, students received their music for “Christmas Holiday March,” which will be the ACS Band’s featured selection during the 2026 ACS Christmas Program.

This piece includes several important musical concepts that we will continue to develop throughout the coming weeks:

• Steady tempo and rhythmic accuracy
• Dynamic contrast (playing both softly and loudly when appropriate)
• Careful attention to articulations and style markings
• Balance within the ensemble
• Consistent tone quality

Students who begin practicing now will find the music much easier as rehearsals progress.

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🎧 Practice Recordings Available

To help students prepare, I have created and shared practice recordings. In addition, I have located several professional recordings that provide excellent listening examples.

These recordings can help students:

• Hear how their individual part fits into the full ensemble
• Develop a stronger sense of rhythm and tempo
• Become familiar with transitions and challenging sections
• Improve confidence during rehearsals

I encourage students to listen to these recordings regularly, even when they are unable to practice with their instruments. Simply listening actively can make a significant difference in musical growth.

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🎺 Practice Expectations

Consistent practice is one of the most important factors in a student’s musical success.

Recommended Practice Schedule

Rather than one long practice session, students will benefit most from:

• 10-15 minutes per day for beginning musicians
• 15-20 minutes per day for more experienced musicians
• Several short practice sessions throughout the week

Regular practice helps build both musical skills and confidence.

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✅ Practice Tips for Success

1. Start Small

Focus on one difficult section at a time rather than playing the entire piece repeatedly.

2. Slow It Down

If a passage is challenging, practice it at a slower tempo first. Accuracy should always come before speed.

3. Count Aloud

Counting rhythms aloud while tapping the beat can help students understand difficult passages before playing them.

4. Listen and Compare

Listen to the provided recordings, then play along to check tempo, rhythms, and style.

5. Repeat Successes

When students perform a section correctly, repeat it several times to build muscle memory.

6. End with Something Positive

Finish each practice session by playing a favorite section or something that feels successful. This helps keep practice enjoyable and motivating.

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📅 Looking Ahead

Tuesday, November 10

• Veterans Day Service
• Performance Time: 2:15 PM
• Dress Uniform Required

December

• Continued preparation for the ACS Christmas Program
• Performance of Christmas Holiday March

Additional Christmas Program details will be shared as they become available.

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Thank you for your partnership and support. I am continually impressed by the students’ hard work, growth, and enthusiasm. With regular practice and focused preparation, I know they will deliver a wonderful performance both at the Veterans Day Service and at our Christmas Program.

Musically,

Mrs. Caitlin Creech
Band Director
All Saints Catholic School

🎶 Practice consistently, listen carefully, and enjoy making music! 🎶

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🎺 Band Newsletter Update

Dear Band Families,

I hope you are all having a wonderful week! While I was away from campus this week, I am grateful to Mrs. Kerry Thomas for stepping in and leading Monday’s band class.

🎵 Cross-Curricular Final Project Begins

During Monday’s class, students began the first phase of our Cross-Curricular Band Project, an exciting year-long project designed to connect music with other academic subjects while encouraging creativity, critical thinking, and student choice. Students reviewed project descriptions, selected a first-choice and second-choice project, and completed reflection questions about their interests and goals. [Cross-Curr…nd Project | PDF]

Project options include:

• Music and History: The Soundtrack of an Era
• Music and Math: Build a Band Festival Budget
• Music and Science: The Science of Sound
• Music and Language Arts: Create a Story from Music
• Music and Art: Design an Album Release
• Music Around the World
• STEM in Band: Design an Instrument
• Community Connections Project [Cross-Curr…nd Project | PDF]

These projects allow students to explore how music connects to history, science, engineering, mathematics, geography, visual arts, writing, and community life. Project assignments will be finalized after all student selections have been reviewed, and every effort will be made to place students in one of their preferred choices. [Cross-Curr…nd Project | PDF]

Throughout the project, students will follow our BAND Project Framework:

• Brainstorm ideas and develop a plan.
• Analyze through research and investigation.
• Navigate & Create by developing the project.
• Demonstrate learning through a final presentation or product. [Cross-Curr…nd Project | PDF]

Students who were absent on Monday should see me as soon as possible to receive project materials and complete the selection process.

🏡 Home Practice Reminders

Consistent practice at home remains one of the best ways for students to develop their musical skills and confidence.

Please encourage your student to:

• Bring their instrument, music, and band folder to every class.
• Practice regularly throughout the week.
• Review concert music and any challenging sections we are currently rehearsing.
• Establish a consistent practice routine, even if it is only 10-15 minutes per day.

Small, focused practice sessions often lead to the greatest improvement!

Veterans Day Assembly Performance

Our next performance will be at the Veterans Day Assembly on Tuesday, November 10th.

As we prepare for this important event, students should make every effort to attend class prepared and continue practicing at home. More detailed information regarding performance attire, arrival times, and assembly logistics will be shared closer to the event.

This performance is a wonderful opportunity for our students to honor and thank the veterans in our community through music.

Thank You

Thank you for your continued support of our band program. I am excited to see the creativity and enthusiasm students bring to their Cross-Curricular Band Projects and look forward to our upcoming Veterans Day performance.

Blessings,

Mrs. Caitlin Creech
Band Director

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*Project information taken from Cross-Curricular Band Project.pdf. [Cross-Curr…nd Project | PDF]

Disclaimer: Microsoft Copilot aided in the creation of this newsletter

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This Week – Veterans Day Assembly Prep

Our first performance as the 2026-2027 ACS Band is on Tuesday, November 10th, 2026.

Student can find recordings of their “Chester” parts (part 1, 2, 3, or 4) by following this link: https://school.assumption.org/music/chester-recordings/

We still need to rehearse the last few measures of “Chester.” Then, we will be able to start chunking these smaller phrases together!

Skills Check #1

In the gradebook, there is an assignment named, “Skills Check #1.” This assignment will be postponed due to lack of time in going over the necessary skills students will need to demonstrate for this assignment.

Music Theory Books

We are continuing work in our 5 Minute Music Theory Books!

Last Week Overview (September 14th)

Last week, we continued our preparation on the hymn “Chester.“

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This Week – Veterans Day Assembly Prep

Our first performance as the 2026-2027 ACS Band is on Tuesday, November 10th, 2026. We will be performing a few patriotic tunes in honor of Veteran’s Day.

Student can find recordings of their “Chester” parts (part 1, 2, 3, or 4) by following this link: https://school.assumption.org/music/chester-recordings/

On Monday, September 21st, the band had a productive rehearsal outside! It was not planned, but the students took it in stride. We may be able to do this once or twice more before the rainy season arrives.

Skills Check #1

In the gradebook, there is an assignment named, “Skills Check #1.” This assignment will be postponed due to lack of time in going over the necessary skills students will need to demonstrate for this assignment.

Music Theory Books

We are continuing work in our 5 Minute Music Theory Books!

Last Week Overview (Aug. 31 – Sept. 4)

Last week, we went over our first 3 notes for our new students and applied them to the beloved song, “Hot Cross Buns.”

Intermediate/advanced students practiced variations III & IV of “Hot Cross Rhythms” to review different rhythms (eighth notes, quarter rests, dotted half notes, etc.)

Students were given a homework assignment to assess their ability to access our band website, input a password for a “protected” page, and follow directions. This was due on Friday, September 4th, but students may still turn in their completed assignment.

Percussionists are working on sixteenth note technique exercises to prepare them for future music literature with mroe challenging rhythms.

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This Week – Veterans Day Assembly Prep

Our first performance as the 2026-2027 ACS Band is on Tuesday, November 10th, 2026. We will be performing a few patriotic tunes in honor of Veteran’s Day.

Last week, students received a page with several tunes: students were instructed to look over the notes and rhythms of the patriotic hymn, “Chester.”

This hymn was written to unite a colonists during the political unrest of the Revolutionary War. I especially like the 4th verse:

What grateful Off’ring shall we bring?
What shall we render to the Lord?
Loud Halleluiahs let us Sing,
And praise his name on ev’ry Chord.

Our intermediate/advanced students will also be given “Armed Forces Service Songs” to prepare for this performance. We worked the Army and Marine songs for the 2026 Memorial Day Parade, so I am hoping to pick up where we left off and prepare the Navy, Coast Guard, and Air Force songs; sorry, Space Force!

Music Theory Books

Our “Five Minute Theory Books” were generously purchased by band mom, Mrs. Libby Stark! Each student will receive their own copy to use in class. Students will begin to work on the lessons in these books on Friday, September 11th.

Instrument Care

Our band book goes over some basics of instrument care, but I find it is much easier to visualize and follow a process when it is explained through video. Below are some helpful videos I found for each instrument:

Flute

Clarinet

Trumpet

Trombone