This is it. This is the last Band Contribution for Newsflash for 2018. Let’s start off with a huge CONGRATULATIONS to our Year 6 students, heading off for new adventures afield. Have a great time at high school and keep playing your instrument! We look forward to seeing you soon at a concert.

Many Thank You’s for 2018!!

First and foremost, a big thank you to our Band Convener, CATHARINE MILLER. Her patience, organisation, and quiet determination has kept us focused as a team throughout 2018. Catharine is an absolute joy to work with and would be a blessing to anyone interested in joining our team in 2019.

The rest of the “thanks” are directly from Catharine herself:

• To all our band coordinators: Suse, Ann-Marie, Airini, Nicole, Maggie, and Rachel
• To our instrument coordinators Kirsteen and Emma
• To our amazing outgoing tutor coordinator Sarah, who has been involved with Band at Artarmon for many years - what will we do without you? We wish all the best for your family!
• To Ann-Marie for getting the Band News into Newsflash every week this year. And your jokes and cartoons!
• To Lynn, our incredibly efficient Band Treasurer and Robyn, our secretary
• To Diane for organising the band festivals, and to Joanne, Atsuko, Weimin, and Beatrice for another great music camp
• To Georgie for organising our Play-a-Thon
• To Kali for liaising with Strings and Strings Convener Emma for close cooperation with us over here at Band
• To ALL THE PARENTS who have supervised at a rehearsal or camp or transported instruments or helped students before the performance. Thank you so much for your help!
• To all the parents who have supported your children playing their instrument this year and brought them to rehearsals and events.
• To Mr Matthew Walmsley for another great year of leading our bands, and to Mr Cameron Harker for sharing conducting of our enormous training band this year.
• To all of our tutors for your guidance with our students
• To Mrs Green, Mr Coombes, and the staff at Artarmon Public School for supporting our Band Program
• And to anyone I have inadvertently missed - because it is a huge team of amazing supporters behind our Band Program, and we know each and every one of you has made a difference.

Band Folder and Music Return - Thursday 13 December - DON’T FORGET!!

Please come to the room above the music room. Junior Band should return their music before school from 08.30am. Concert, Senior, Jazz Bands, and Orchestra should return their music at lunchtime. Training Band should have already returned their folder and Yamaha book. However, if you have not done this, please give your books to Miyako on Thursday, either in the morning or at lunchtime.

Hired Instrument Return Thursday 13 Dec and Rehire 14 Dec

ALL hired instruments must be returned for our annual audit and maintenance check. Information has been sent to all families - please check your emails and contact Kirsteen at apsbandinstruments@gmail.com with any queries.

Instrument Allocation and Band Placement

Well done to all the students attending try-outs and auditions over the last week. Please do not stress over this! We have all noticed your improvement over the last year and we are looking forward to seeing you grow musically in 2019. All families will receive an email before the start of next term, advising of instrument allocation for new students, and band allocation.

Thinking of Buying and Instrument Over the Holidays?

Parents are strongly advised to seek professional advice (eg. from your tutor) before investing in an instrument for your child. A ‘bargain’ can end up being a waste of money if not suitable. If your child is new to an instrument, hiring to start off with is a cost-effective way of allowing them to have a chance to see if they enjoy playing it.

Put Your Hand Up Now to Help in Band Next Year

Every year there are many roles to fill and the band can only operate if all families help out throughout the year. If you are able to take on a role on the organising committee we’d love to hear from you now at band@artarmonpandc.org.au - Vacant roles for next year include:  Co-Convener, Festivals Coordinator, Band Intensive Coordinator, Easter Breakfast Concert Coordinator, Band Camp Coordinator(s), End of Year Concert Coordinator, Band Coordinator for each band.

Speaking of Next Year…

We are looking forward to welcoming all new band members and committee members in 2019!

• Band Information Night for New Students is on Thursday 31 Jan 2019 at 6.30pm in the music room. There will be a short information session and you can collect your hired instrument. This is aimed at parents; students do not need to attend
• Rehearsals and tutorials start in Week 2 (week commencing Mon 4 Feb), except for Training Band rehearsals. We want to give the new students a bit of time to learn a few notes and will leave the first rehearsal for later in Term 1. If you are having tutorials at school, you will be contacted with details before week 2.
• Jazz band auditions will be held in Week 2 with details provided when school returns in 2019.

And that’s it. Enjoy your holidays, everyone! Remember to pull your instrument out for a bit of practice over the holidays - they get a little lonely too! ;) But most of all: rest up, have fun, and bring your smile back to school in 2019!!