Encore news, updates, schedule changes

Hello Encore Families,

The instrumental "try-out" day went very well. If you missed it, there are options to finding the perfect instrument for your student, let me know that you are needing help.

Staff from Beautiful Music and The Band Aide came to help the kids try string and band instruments. Mr. Gaskin was there to talk to potential choir members.

For band instruments, I will have order sheets from The Band Aide for any supplies you may need. They are a local company and can get swabs, reeds, valve oil, and other items.

String players can visit J.J. at Beautiful Music (across from the bowling alley) for rental instruments and supplies.

We have made a few tweaks in the schedule this year. It won't affect all the groups, but please take note of the changes in case you know of others that are thinking of joining us this year and don't know of the new times. Please read beyond the time changes for added information.


JrHigh/Sr High - Choir - 9am - no change

Elementary Choir - 10am - no change

Beginning Band - 9am - no change

Intermediate Band - 10am - no change

Beginning Orchestra - 11am

Intermediate Orchestra - noon

Percussion Ensemble - a new group, will meet at 11:15 - there are still a few openings so let me know if this group is of interest. The kids in this group need to be in another Encore group (choir, band, or orchestra) to enroll in this group. The tuition is $45.00 for the percussion ensemble. The director is Emily Bachert - a KU music major.

Advanced Band - 1pm

Jazz Band - 2pm

Many of the kids in Beginning Band will move up to Intermediate Band after an audition. It is okay to do another year of beginning - just know that it is possible to move up IF an audition is passed. The audition would be to play Regal March or a piece of your choosing that shows the level you are at.

Beginning Orchestra students can also audition to move up to Intermediate Orchestra. Please choose a piece from your book that shows the level you are currently at.

Intermediate Band members need to audition to be in Advanced, if they wish to move up. The students should play a piece of their choosing that shows the level they are at - music from last year would be fine - but not Regal March :o)

Advanced members have the option of being in Jazz Band. Intermediate and Advanced members have the option to audition for Jazz Band. Members must be in a "concert" band or orchestra in order to be in Jazz Band.

Another change this year is a way we have found to thank you for you bringing in new students. If you have referred anyone this school year and they sign up with the same director your child has, please let me know so I can explain how bringing in new students will benefit you.

We start rehearsing on September 9th - that is when fall semester fees are due. We are looking forward to seeing you all!

Date set to try out instruments and audition

We will be offering an opportunity to try out various band and orchestra instruments for those wishing to join our group. We offered this last year and it was a success - many students had a chance to try any instrument that was available that day. The goal was to find a good match between the student and instrument, and that was accomplished.

Mark your calendar for Friday, August 12th - from 10:00am to noon. We will meet at the Morris Baptist Center - 146 Indian Ave. - in Lawrence. Students and their families can come and meet the directors, try instruments, learn about our groups, and ask questions.

An instrument repair person will be available that day for those who already have an instrument and want it evaluated or repaired. Information regarding places to rent or purchase new or used instruments will be available as well.


The levels of band and orchestra for this year are based on enrollment but we are planning on the following:

Beginning Band - no musical experience required

Beginning Orchestra - no musical experience required

Intermediate Band - audition required

Intermediate Orchestra - audition required

Jazz Band - audition AND enrollment in an intermediate/advanced group is required.

Advanced Band - audition required

And new this year - Percussion Ensemble - no previous musical experience is required - space is limited. For more information - click here.

Audition info: For those students that wish to be in intermediate/advanced groups or jazz, an audition with the director will be required.(no audition is required for beginning groups) The student prepares a piece of music that demonstrates their ability and plays it for the director. Auditions will be held the same day as the instrument "try-out" day - starting at 12:30 pm - first come, first heard basis.

Basic information about our groups can be found on this site - on the right side bar.

Email contact:

Martha Bachert -
Founder and Executive Director
Lawrence, Kansas

encorehomeschool@sbcglobal.net - or
hsmom@sbcglobal.net

Tony Swisher - Band/Orchestra/Jazz director
John Gaskin - Choir Director
Emily Bachert - KU music major/student director of Advanced Ensemble and Percussion Ensemble

New this fall - Percussion Ensemble

In our world we are surrounded by musical sounds. Our homes contain many objects that make great musical instruments. A plastic bin might be a bass drum or a metal pot could be a bongo. The new Encore percussion ensemble will make music in unlikely ways, by using household items as well as real percussion instruments.

Previous music experience is not required. Each student will start with the basics and learn skills beneficial to other instruments and to further their current or future musical abilities. Come and join the fun for an interesting group experience.

The group will be led by Emily Bachert, a KU music major and student director of the Encore Advanced Ensemble. The tuition will be $45.00 per semester and space is limited. The group will meet on Friday - time to be announced soon.

Students must be enrolled in another group in order to be eligible for the percussion ensemble. (choir, orchestra, or band) Email or call 785-841-6308 for more information or to be added to the class roster.

Announcements for Fall Semester - 2011

We had a great performance at TEACH Night. Beside the snafu with the keyboard being changed to a different key, and the pianist not knowing it, everything went well. He certainly handled the situation well!

Thanks to all that donated toward the director's gift cards. With your donations, I was able to buy a variety of cards.

It is time to think about next semester so keep an eye on this site for updates and new information as it becomes available.

We will have a date where students can come and try different types of instruments, like we had last year. That date hasn't been determined yet - I am hoping for a Friday in early August.

All the Encore groups will begin meeting on September 9th. Auditions, to move up to another level of orchestra or band, will be held in mid to late August. The audition piece is one that the student chooses and should demonstrate the level they are able to play at.

This coming year, we will be adding a percussion ensemble - led by Emily Bachert, a KU music major. This will be a fun group, and a way to learn rhythms and read percussion music. No prior percussion experience is required and those who already play percussion are encouraged to enroll. The age/grade level for participants is still being considered. Contact me or watch this site for more information.

Hope you are all enjoying your summer.

Blessings,

Martha

785-841-6308

End of semester announcments and reminders

We are just about at the end of another year of band, orchestra, and choir - a very successful year!!

This coming Friday - May 6th - will be our final rehearsal, leading up to our spring recital on May 9th. The program will be held at Community Bible Church, off the 10 Highway by-pass.

Band and orchestra members should wear concert black and white. Mr. Gaskin will let the choir know what they should wear for the performance.

Please be at the church by 6:30 with your music and music stand. The program starts at 7pm.

There is still time to contribute to the gift cards - they are given to the directors at the end of the semester. I will be at the rehearsals on Friday. the final day I can collect for the cards.

If you have any question, be sure to ask :o)

Time to compete!

We want to send our very best to all the kids competing at the Blue Ridge Festival on April 15th. Remember, no band or orchestra on the 15th or the 22nd. Please be sure to be at the two remaining rehearsals - April 29th and May 6th - recital/TEACH Night is May 9th at 7:00pm.

I will post the results of the competition, once I know the ratings.

Hope everyone travels safely - and I will see many of you there.

Blessings,

Mrs. Bachert

We will be rehearsing on Friday - March 25th

We DO meet this Friday, March 25th. There may have been some confusion about taking that day off due to Spring Break, but we WILL meet as usual.

However, thinking ahead: we will NOT meet on April 15th or April 22nd.

The 15th is the Blue Ridge Festival and several of the kids will be competing as well as the older choir.

April 22nd is Good Friday, we always take Good Friday off.

With missing two Fridays in April, please try to be at all the remaining rehearsals so all the music can be polished and ready for the spring recital/TEACH Night - May 9th.

Have a great week and see you Friday!