And the new director is...(drumroll please).........

Congratulations to Mr. Matt Verrette, on becoming the new Lavaca Middle School Band Director! Most of you already know Mr. Verrette from last Fall, when he was a teaching intern at Lavaca. He is excited about coming back to Lavaca, and he will be sending all of you a letter sometime next month about preschool band rehearsals.

If you are going to band camp at Arkansas Tech, I will be calling you in the next few days. We will all meet at the Fine Arts Building Parking Lot on Monday, July 9, to caravan together down to Russellville.

If you need anything between now and the beginning of school, please call Mr. Carter at the high school at 674-5612. Mr. Verrette won't be in town until around the 1st of August, so call Carter if you need something.

Have a great school year--see you all around!

Coats

All LMS Band Members - Please Read!

Hi guys-

Hope everyone is having a great summer so far. The 7th and 8th graders had a great time on the Branson trip earlier this month. I know some of you have already gone to camp at UAFS or Tech, or will be going to the Tech camp in July.

Since school is out for the year, and everyone is gone for the summer, there is no good way to tell the entire band something important, except through our blog here. This is not the best way to do this; I would rather see all of you in person for this, but that is nearly impossible to do since school is over. Also, if I didn't post it here now, you would hear about it "though the grapevine," and not from me.

In August, I will not be back at Lavaca. On Wednesday, I was offered a job in Fort Smith, teaching at Northside High School, Kimmons Jr. High School, and Darby Junior High School. I have accepted the job and will be teaching there next year.

Leaving Lavaca was not an easy decision for me to make; however, after lots of thought and discussion, this is the best decision for me and family at this time. I have had an amazing. memorable 3 years being your teacher. It has been a joy and a privilege to teach all of you.

I want ALL of you to know that I am not leaving because of the students...missing you guys is going to be the hardest part of moving to Ft. Smith. You are the most amazing and talent kids a band director could ever hope for, and I only wish that my new students in Ft. Smith will be half as great as you!!!

Mr. Carter is not going anywhere; he will still be here. You will also have a great Student Teacher from Arkansas Tech working with the band in the fall--his name is Mr. James Palmer, and he is a friend of mine, and an outstanding trombone player...please don't hold the fact that he is a trombone player against him :)

Right now, I do not know who the new middle school band director will be. I can tell you that you will know sometime soon, and that whoever it is will do an outstanding job of continuing the tradition of the Lavaca Middle School band. Here is what I ask of you, my band--please, please give your new director a chance. He or she is going to need your help, cooperation, and patience when the school year begins. As I can say from experience, it is hard to be a new band director at a new school. The new person will not be like me, because no two directors (or people) are the same. Many things will stay the same, but some will change. Some of you will be tempted to drop out of band because it's "different" than what you are used to...DON'T DO THAT! Like I said earlier, give the new guy (or lady) a chance, and help make the transition smooth.

I will see ALL of you around...I'll see you when you go to All-Region, Solo/Ensemble, Band Camps, Marching Contest, and maybe even a football game or two. For those going to ATU Jr. High Band Camp, me and Mr. Carter will be there, and I will be calling you all soon to set up transportation down to Russellville for camp, which starts July 9th.

Check this blog, and the high school blog (http://goldenarrowband.blogspot.com) for updates about everything that is going on. Please pass the word around about this message, and stay in touch with each other over the summer.

I love all of you, and am proud to call you all my students!

Sincerely,
Coats

ALL GROUPS - Spring Concert this Monday, May 14

Beginning Band and 7-8 Middle School Band:

Your Spring Concert is this Monday, May 14.

-The concert is at Lavaca 1st Baptist Auditorium.
-The concert begins at 7:00 p.m.
-The beginner band needs to be in the auditorium, with instruments out, ready to play at 6:20 p.m.
-The 7-8 middle school band needs to be in the auditorium, with instruments out, ready to play at 6:00 p.m.
-Dress for the concert is nice "Sunday dress." Most of you did a great job with this on the Christmas Concert. Just a reminder; this means that boys will wear pants (no denim), a button-up shirt, and a tie. No athletic shoes. Girls will wear a skirt with blouse, pants suit, or dress (no denim). No athletic shoes. This is an important event; we dress up for important events.
-Students are required to stay for the entire concert. This means that you are to stay seated, with your band, until the High School Band is done performing. Part of our job as band members is to serve as an audience for the other groups. Another part of being a band member is listening to other groups perform so you can grow as a musician.
-You will be able to order a CD of the concert after it is over!
-Last but not least: this is a graded, required performance; missing this concert will drastically hurt your 9 weeks (and semester) grade in band.

See you there--Coats

7-8 Band-- Silver Dollar City Trip is STILL ON

Hey band--

WE ARE STILL GOING TO SILVER DOLLAR CITY!!!

After talking to some people at the park, we found out that group tickets are much cheaper than the website states. We can still go, and do it for about the same price as a Frontier City trip.

The trip is still Saturday, June 2; we will have a list of students who still owe for the trip posted sometime next week after we are done with the Spring Concert.

Coats

CONGRATS TO 7TH-8TH CONCERT BAND!!!

WOW! What else can I say, band...you did it!

You had your best run of the concert contest music on stage on Saturday...that's what we aimed for, and that's what you achieved. As I said, if you give me your best run, I would be proud and very happy, no matter what the judges said.

You gave your best performance of the music, and the judges agreed! Each one gave you a "I" rating, also known as a "Superior" rating. That gave you not only a 1st Division rating, but also "Straight Ones;" the LMS Band has never done that before!

In the Sightreading portion, you did very well--not only in playing, but also in the way you were self-disciplined and silent during the process. Your "I" rating in Sightreading also gave you a "Superior" rating for that part of the contest.

But both those "Superior" ratings together, and you have earned the 1st-ever SWEEPSTAKES award for our middle school! Way to go guys!!!!!!!!!! You should be very proud of the work you have done.

Coats

7th-8th - After-School Rehearsals

Hey band--

As we talked about in class, we are having Wednesday FULL BAND after-school rehearsal this week (March 28th) and next week (April 4). This is in place of sectionals.

We will rehearse for about 45 minutes...we will start at 3:15, and go until 4:00.

As soon as I know the schedule for our Pre-Contest concert on Tuesday, I will give you a copy and I will also post it here.

Keep working on those contest tunes--they are getting better!

Coats

Everyone - Cherrydale Farms Fundraiser

Just a reminder...

The Cherrydale Farms fundraiser is underway. This is our only fundraiser during the spring semester. Please remember:

• Order forms must be turned in by Tuesday, March 6th.

• Do not collect any money right now!!! Your customers will pay you when you deliver their items.

• Items will be delivered to you on Wednesday, March 28th.

Coats

7th - 8th Grade - NO TRIP THIS WEEKEND

This is just a reminder...we are NOT going to Solo/Ensemble at Russellville this weekend. We will do Solo/Ensemble in Lavaca, during the school day, sometime in the near future.

Coats

7th - 8th Grade: Chair Positions...FINALLY!

Hey Guys--

Sorry for the delay in getting these done - I wasn't able to get online while I was gone, and I got lazy yesterday and today.

Some sections stayed the same; some are very different, which is good, because it means that people are improving!

Alto Sax/Clarinet and Tbone, TSax, Baritone, and Bassoon will still sit in the same rows, regardless of chair placement.

If I spelled your last name wrong, please forgive me (my gradebook is not in front of me right now).

Challenges will start next week. More info to come...

Mr. Coats


Percussion:

1. Sosebee - 261
2. Alexander - 232
3. Westbrook - 219
4. Blake - 219
(Tie broken by snare audition)


Alto Sax/Clarinet:

1. Conrad - 370
2. Tracey - 296
3. Dye - 286
4. Sallis - 228


Tuba:

1. Golden - 270
2. Gann - 191


Bass Clarinet:

1. Dempsey - 364
2. W. Shelton - 273


Tbone, TSax, Baritone, Bassoon:

1. Odell - 367
2. Holloway - 327
3. Haddick - 300
4. Lewelling - 282
5. Ruston - 270
6. Torrey - 153
7. McGee - 151


Trumpet:

1. Graham - 361
2. Blake - 330
3. Ramsey - 312
4. S. Taylor - 252
5. Thrift - 183
6. Kimberlin - 175
7. O. Shelton - 143


Clarinet:

1. Almond - 382
2. Decker - 349
3. Fogo - 337
4. Floyd - 308
5. Cole - 284
6. Torress - 167
7. Barnard - 122


Flute:

1. Phillips - 287
2. Garza - 256
3. Hild - 255
4. Sayasane - 246
5. T. Taylor - 242
6. Hardison - 215
7. Finch - 204
8. King - 203
9. Majzner - 137
10. Hartoon - 47

7th and 8th grade announcements - PLEASE READ!

Band, please read this:

-There will be no jazz band this Wednesday, 2/14. Carter and I will be leaving for All-State at 3:15 p.m. that day.

-Carter and I will be gone both Thursday and Friday (2/15 and 2/16) for All-State. You will have a playing assignment and a written assignment each day. Those who do not complete both of the assignments each day will be assigned early morning detention when I return from All-State. Those who do not behave will also have detention. Bring your instrument, music, paper, and pencil Thursday and Friday, and be prepared to work.

-Woodwinds - we are out of school for Presidents' Day next Monday (2/19). You WILL have sectionals on Tuesday, 2/20.


Thanks,
Coats