BA Bands eNews

January 29, 2017

Directors Notes


NBDA All District RESCHEDULED
The NBDA has rescheduled to High School All District Band Clinic and Concert to Feb 10 & 11 at Union Public Schools. Specific rehearsal and performance times have not been received yet from the NBDA. We will make that info available once we are informed from NBDA. There are many conflicts anytime an event is rescheduled and this event will be no different. I know that many of our BA Band Students have prior commitments to this weekend (ie. BAHS Musical, College Auditions, Work, ACT exam, etc). We understand and respect that students may have to make difficult choices regarding this rescheduled NBDA event. It is not clear from the NBDA leadership how they will choose to handle issues such as: 7 year medalists, Patches, Certificates, leniency to take ACT exam and still participate, etc, etc. Again, we will communicate info directly to the students in class and share info at a later date on the BA Bands facebook and eNews as it becomes available.


Future Band Travel Opportunities - European Concert Tour
The Broken Arrow Bands are excited to announce a Concert Tour to Europe! This amazing tour and musical experience will explore Austria and Germany in June 2018. The tour will include performances in Germany, as well as a performance in the city of Mozart’s birth AND the musical "The Sound of Music" - Salzburg, Austria! All members of the 2017-2018 Broken Arrow HS Wind Bands are eligible and will have the opportunity to travel on this OPTIONAL significant cultural experience. An informational meeting will be held on February 21 in the HS band room to share trip details, travel dates, pricing and answer any questions. …Pending all final approvals from the Broken Arrow BOE.


Sale of Old Pride Uniforms
The sale of the old Pride uniforms has been approved. The old Pride uniforms are now offered for sale to current and former students at a cost of $75.00 per uniform. If you are interested in purchasing your uniform bring payment to the band office. Unfortunately, no student account funds may be utilized for this transaction and no partial uniforms will be sold. Specific uniform part #’s can’t be guaranteed. All uniforms must be paid for by Feb 27.


Uniform Check-In for Old Pride Uniforms
All Pride uniforms must be checked in on Monday, Feb 27 after school.  You have the option to purchase and keep your uniform. 


Pride Go Cart Sale
Info will be available soon regarding the opportunity to purchase an "Age of Discovery" Go Carts.


Age of Discovery Helmets for Sale
Helmets are available for sale for $20. Color Guard will have first opportunity to purchase their helmet until January 26. All other Pride members will have an opportunity to purchase the helmet beginning on January 27. The Helmet sale will end on February 10.


Pride Season Celebration (Dine out NIght) at Xtreme Racing BA
When: 5-8pm Tuesday, Jan 31
Where: Xtreme Racing at 71st and Elm
Entertainment, racing and food available for purchase. All under 18 must pre-register and have a waiver signed by a parent. Go to XtremeTulsa.com to pre-register and for more information. Xtreme Racing is donating 20% back to the Broken Arrow Bands. Pricing Info: $5 rental fee (good for one year), 1 race (14 laps) for $20.


2017 Pride Color Guard Training Sessions
All current color guard members and prospective guard members will begin their training sessions and rehearsals on Friday, January 27 at the Freshman Academy Gym from 5:30-8:30pm. Wear comfortable black attire. $30 instructional / participation fee. Sessions run each Friday night until auditions on March 6-7.


Next Band Parent Meeting - February 21
The next meeting of the Band Parent Association will be on Tuesday, February 21st at 7:00pm. This meeting will review and recap the 2016 Pride of Broken Arrow Rose Parade trip to California, and the Percussion at the Midwest Clinic AND provide detailed info about the 2018 European Concert Tour!


Indoor Percussion
Rehearsal Schedule
Rehearsal schedule for Broken Arrow Indoor for this week includes the following:

Monday, January 30th: 5-9 PM (All Members)
Tuesday, January 31st: 3:30-6 PM* (Battery and Front Ensemble)
Thursday, February 2nd: 5-9 PM (All Members)
Friday, February 3rd: 5-9 PM (All Members)
Saturday, February 4th: WGPO Broken Arrow Contest- Broken Arrow HS (All Day)

*Rehearsal Time Updated

Schedule for Saturday, February 4th:
8:00-10:00 AM- Rehearsal, Tiger Fieldhouse (All Members)
10:00-11:00 AM- Break
11:00 AM- Members Report
12:00 PM- Contest Begins
5:45 PM- Members Report to Percussion Studio/Orchestra Room
  Dress for Performance: Pride/Tradition T-Shirt, Blue Jeans, Marching Shoes (Vipers/MTX)
6:09 PM- Warm-Up
6:33 PM: PERFORMANCE
7:00 PM: Massing (Section Leaders/Select Seniors)

Tentative Schedule for the week of February 6th:
Monday, February 6th: 5-9 PM (All Members; Staging Rehearsal)
Tuesday, February 7th: 3:30-7 PM (All Members; Staging Rehearsal)
Thursday, February 9th: 5-9 PM

As a reminder, all rehearsals are mandatory for membership; each student is allowed two (2) unexcused absences before the risk of a grade reduction. Absences due to work-related issues are unexcused, and absences due to illness are only excused with a doctor's note. All absences must be communicated to Mr. Wiencken at awiencken@baschools.org.

Fees
Broken Arrow Indoor Percussion fees for this 2017 season are $1600*. Payment due dates for fees are due on the following dates:
February 15th- $400
March 15th- $400
April 15th- $400
May 15th- $400

*The price per student will go down after hosting the WGPO Broken Arrow contest on February 4th. Every dollar that is made from the contest will go directly to reducing each student's fee. With enough volunteer support to run the contest, we have the opportunity to reduce each student's fees by approximately 20-25 percent. That is why we need your help for our event! Once we collect all data after our contest, the student fees for Indoor will be adjusted accordingly. There are additional fundraisers in the works for Indoor Percussion that are both group and individual fundraisers. More information regarding these additional fundraising opportunities will be released shortly.


WGI Scholarship Opportunity
Since its inception, the WGI Scholarship Program has provided more than $750,000 to deserving young people. In celebration of the 40th Anniversary, WGI will be awarding $40,000 this April. Each group registered to compete at World Championships may nominate one member to be considered. A Scholarship Committee made up of individuals representing WGI Judges, Instructors, Directors, Staff, and others active in the WGI activity, review these applications. Scholarship winners are announced at the World Championships. If you are a current member of Broken Arrow Indoor and would like to apply, please see Mr. Wiencken ASAP. To begin the application process, you will need to collect the following: Please note, all documents must be submitted at time of application.

- Two Letters of recommendation from individuals other than the group director.
- High School and/or College Transcript
- Letter from group director stating that they have approved this applicant (one applicant per group)
- SAT/ACT scores optional
These items need to be in PDF format and will be attached at the end of the online application. Scholarship Deadline is Friday, February 3, 2017.


WGI World Championships Hotel and Ticket Information
If you are planning to make the trip to Dayton for the WGI Championships to support Broken Arrow Indoor Percussion, it’s recommended to make hotel accommodations and purchase tickets now, as hotels and finals tickets will sell out! For a comprehensive list of Dayton-Area hotels and prices, please visit http://www.wgi.org/hotels.php. Broken Arrow will be staying at the DoubleTree Suites in Miamisburg. Tickets for World Championships can be bought online, over the phone, or by mail; Prelims and Semi-Finals tickets are general admission and only sold at the door (unless purchased as part of the "VIP" package). World Finals tickets are reserved seating, and can be purchased online or by phone. Ticket information can be found at http://www.wgi.org/contents/Tickets-Perc.html. All World Class events for Broken Arrow Indoor will be held at the University of Dayton Arena.


Winter Guard and Percussion Contest @ Broken Arrow!
Broken Arrow Indoor Percussion needs your help! Broken Arrow HS will be hosting its first Winter Guard and Percussion contest on February 4th at BAHS, and we need a full roster of volunteers to make it a success. If you are available to help any time February 4th between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m., please email baspecialevents@gmail.com with the subject "WGPO BA" and include your name and phone number. A pre-contest meeting is tentatively scheduled for 7 p.m. Jan. 31 in the BAHS Band Room. Please sign up to volunteer, as this will be an important event for BA Indoor as the program continues to build off the success of its first two seasons!

The contest begins at 12:00PM, and Broken Arrow Indoor Percussion will be performing a portion of their 2017 program "WElcoME" at approximately 6:33PM.  Admission for the event is $8.00.

A couple date-related items:
Tuesday, January 31st: WGPO Broken Arrow Contest Volunteer Meeting - 7PM (Band Hall)

• Located at 71st and Elm
• 4:00 to 8:00 pm Tuesday, January 31st
• Not Mandatory - anyone can participate
• 20% back to BA Bands
• Pizza, Drinks and Candy available to purchase - profit to BA Bands
• Cake for all Pride Members
• Register Online NOW to save time www.xtremetulsa.com
• 18 year olds and younger MUST have Waiver signed by parents and MUST BRING IT WITH THEM
• $5 Rental Fee - Good for one year
• $20 Lightning Race - 14 lap race
• We are racing for best time of the day!
• Special Race at 6:30