2nd Place – Cleveland HS Wind Symphony!!

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Not what any of us signed up for, but I am doing my best to help your young musician find some opportunity to make some lemonade out of the lemons we have been dealt.
Here is the current plan for our band classes.

I am using a portfolio system through Google Classroom.  Here is an example of the weekly assignment from Week 2:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1L3z6F30xo8Og8AzANbHJcd4k6rt7pSlJ/view?usp=sharing

I have also helped create a “Portfolio Framework” for our district to use.  I have given the students access to this document which has a large number of options with links.  It is categorized, as well to help the students find things they might be interested in.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1U84Ncg1Dl1Mu9Zliz6jAIO0AgxhdK9fn/view?usp=sharing

Students are given a new assignment every Monday at 8:00 am.  I have staggered the due dates to coincide with our class meeting times which are listed on the school schedule for distance learning.  The main sites that we are using are:  SmartMusic,  Sight Reading Factory & Tone Savvy.  Passwords and codes are supplied in the Portfolio Framework or in Google Classroom under “Online Learning.”  Here is a screenshot of what the Classroom Tab in Google Classroom looks like for your band student:

If you have any questions, feel free to check in with me.  Email, Remind, whatever works for you.

End of the Year Celebration / Awards Night
One of the most important events on my radar for this program is our opportunity to celebrate the wonderful students in this program.  We are still in the very beginning stages of planning, as we are learning what is truly possible.  In the planning process I have three groups working independently at this moment:

1. Seniors (I have set up a Google Classroom for this group to collaborate with each other and myself.
2. Leadership (Another Google Classroom with students going through a Leadership course, and working on ideas for this event)
3. Parents (There have been some ideas shared back and forth, and I am hoping to address some concrete plans with our FOCB board at our next meeting.

Eventually we will be merging these groups together.  There are some plans that each group has that must be kept “secret.” Once those are settled, we can put the finishing touches on the event as a whole.

That’s all for now.

In an effort to not overwhelm everyone, I will stop with addressing these two subjects for now.

My family is well and enjoying the sunshine when we have it. My biggest battle is to make sure that I am able to fit into my clothes or my stimulus check might end up being used to buy me a new wardrobe!  Is it just me?  This new reality sure makes me hungry!!

I pray that everyone is hanging in there, safe and healthy.  Thank you for your tremendous support of your children!!  This is not easy.

Musically Yours,
Gary Riler

Congratulations to the members of the 2020-21 Jazz Ensemble. This has shaped up into an intriguing group. I am excited to see what this group can do next year. Thank you to all who auditioned!! – Mr R

SAXES
Auden Koeneke, Lead Alto (11)
Hayden Spurgeon, Alto (10)
Rena Marthaler, Tenor (11)
Caleb Goodrich, Tenor (12)
David Knight, Tenor (11)
Aidan Schauer, Bari (10)

BONES
Liem Friel, Lead (10)
Enzo Jamesbarry, 2nd (10)
Aaron Asay, 3rd (12)
Mason Patrick, Bass (10)

TRUMPETS
Maia Connelly, Lead
Sal Wallin, 2nd
Miles Wheeler, 3rd
Davis Blecha, 4th

RHYTHM
Ian Sage, Drums (12)
Noah Mortola, Drums (10)
Jack Lattimore, Aux/Vibes (12)
Radley Baker, Aux/Vibes (12)
Jason Tran, Piano (11)
Wah Ri Moo, Piano (11)
Josie Chatkupt, Bass (11)
Zoe Yazenchuk, Guitar (11)

This is going to be a major plot twist for our band students. Mr. Riler is in the process of producing a curriculum that will provide opportunity and flexibility for everyone. Students MUST keep their eyes on Google Classroom to be up to date with their band classes. Updates will be provided through the newsletter starting next Tuesday. If we can all be patient and creative, we will still be able to gain some valuable skills through this process. Thank you for your patience.

Google Classroom is where recordings are to be submitted.  Instructions can be found on the Jazz Ensemble page of the website. If there are any questions or concerns, email Mr. Riler so he can help troubleshoot. ALL students interested in being in Jazz Ensemble must audition, including those that are currently in the ensemble this year.

A BIG thank you to everyone that auditioned for the 2020-21 Wind Symphony. This was the most competitive audition to date.  Some very good playing going on in the program, and I am so proud of all of you. Congratulations to those who auditioned into the Cleveland HS Wind Symphony, you have a great deal to live up to, as this year’s group was on a trajectory to make more history at Cleveland HS. This year’s seniors are looking to you to finish the job in 2020-21!
-Mr R

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The next FOCB meeting will be done via Google Meet on Monday April13, 6:30 pm. Everyone is welcome. Here is the information:
Join: https://meet.google.com/foz-dkfp-kdi
+1 316-550-0060 PIN: 533549#

The Play-a-thon is the band program’s biggest fundraiser! It is extremely important that we start the year with a solid team. We currently have a Live Stream Operator and Fundraising Chair (GoFundMe and donations manager, etc.) in place for fall 2020 but still need one important part of the team. We are looking for an Event Coordinator! The Event Coordinator’s duties include:

• Works with Hospitality Chair to plan menu and logistics for serving dinner, snacks, and water to all participating band students throughout the evening
• Works with Communications Chair, making sure the event is well advertised in the Band‘s weekly newsletters, social media sites, outside promotion (local news), Enews etc.
• Manages parent chaperones throughout the Play-a-thon evening, trouble-shooting as needed; working with chaperones to block off restricted areas of the school, etc.
• Arranges for borrowed tables and chairs (from CHS) to be available and set-up for the event, then returned at the end of the evening
• Arrange for movies and DVD players to be run throughout the event in the student hang-out room(s)
• Arrange contact with vendors to provide gift cards for participating students (Dutch Bros in the past)
• Works alongside Livestream Coordinator, Fundraising Coordinator, and FOCB to support their efforts for a successful event

Interested in finding out more? Please contact volunteer coordinator Jennifer Means at jennmeans@gmail.com.

A BIG thank you to everyone that auditioned for the 2020-21 Wind Symphony.  This was the most competitive audition to date.  Some very good playing going on in the program, and I am so proud of all of you.

Congratulations to those who auditioned into the Cleveland HS Wind Symphony, you have a great deal to live up to, as this year’s group was on a trajectory to make more history at Cleveland HS.  This year’s seniors are looking to you to finish the job in 2020-21!

-Mr R

Wind Symphony 2020-21 List »

Jazz Ensemble auditioners will need to be checking in on the Jazz Ensemble page of the band website for backing tracks. The “LIVE” audition will now be recorded. Mr. Riler will definitely be able to answer questions about this process in the virtual meetings.