THREE SUPERIOR RATINGS!!!

The concert band traveled to Ashby yesterday to take part in our large group band contest. The band played The Klaxon arranged by Andrew Balent and Encanto by Robert W. Smith. Each of the three judges gave us a superior rating, the highest rating possible!Thank you band members for your hard work!

5th Grade Full Band Rehearsal

This week the 5th grade students are starting full band rehearsal. During this first week, the 5th graders will rehearse without the sixth grade students in order to get used to playing as a group. Today the kids learned where to put cases, where they will sit when they're in group rehearsal and how the cues work between director and band. Each of the students received a folder with two band songs. We got a chance to play a few exercises out of the lesson book as well as trying out one of the band songs. I'm excited to get this group of band students playing and ready for the spring concert!

Come back soon for some videos of the band.

Panther Pep Band Winter 2011-12

Check out the pep band schedule for winter 2011-12. Remember that pep band is open to all 8th through 12th grade band students and 7th grade after winter break. See you at the games!

Welcome Back!!

It seems like just yesterday that we were marching in the Fall Festival parade and sitting in a bus stopped in the middle of I-94(talk to Mr. P or Mike Arvidson for the full story:). However, we're back at the beginning of another exciting school year. I hope that everyone is excited or a mildly eager to be in school again.
I've spent some time going through both new music as well as the music in our band library and have come up with some awesome possibilities for this year's concerts. In addition to the music, we have a couple new tools to use in band. First is SmartMusic. SmartMusic is a program that will play accompaniment, change tempo, record your performance and rate your performance. It's really cool and the students that have used it so far have enjoyed seeing their results. The other tool we have is Finale. Finale will allow us to write music and exercises to use for individual practice or large group applications. No more hand written parts from Mr. P. !! If you want to check either of these programs out, let me know and you can come in and give them a try. See you all next week!

Fall Festival and Valleyfair

The attendance at practices has been great. I appreciate those that took the time and the heat to make sure that we can put a quality performance on the street this weekend.
We'll meet at 11:30 in the high school music room for the parade on Sunday.
The bus will load at 7:45 on Monday to leave for Valleyfair. Don't forget your sunscreen, $ for two meals, a change of clothes and swim stuff if you plan to go to the water park.
See you this weekend!

Junior High Concert

The concert by the junior high band and choir was a great example of what some good musicians can do when they work together. I'm very proud of what the band has accomplished this year and look forward to more concerts..

Great Job!!

Elementary Spring Music Program

The Parkers Prairie 5th and 6th grade band will be performing for parents and the community on Friday, May 27, at 12:30, in the elementary gym. We ask that the kids dress nicely. Jeans are allowed but the kids should wear a nice shirt without large writing. See you next Friday.

Here are videos of two songs that will be played in the concert: