October 2024

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Director’s Update

October 2024

Band Families,

Here are several updates and reminders for the month:

Summary:
Marching Band – pictures, MPR, Anoka info
Seniors – senior band pictures
Everyone – Instrument rental is up, private lessons at school

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Marching Band:
We will continue to have our Monday night practices through the MEA break. Because of the limited rehearsal time we have together as a full marching band, this time is important. This year we have been able to accomplish more drill and on a quicker time thanks to people arriving on time and being focused. Let’s keep up the trend!

Pictures:
Please keep uploading pictures to the BandApp. It is great to have a collection of pictures of the band to share with everyone. Also during game day there are several photographers on the field taking pictures. Jim and Ruth Lindquist voluntarily come to events at both Lakeville North and Lakeville South and take fantastic photos of our students.  They allow the school, yearbook and families 100% free downloads!

If there is an image you would like to have, copy the image as you see it.  If you would like the full resolution file, you will need to hover your cursor over the big image on your screen and “left click” on it.  Doing that, an even bigger image will appear and that is the full resolution file. 

https://sidekick.smugmug.com/Lakeville-North-Fall-2024-Activities

If you find some photos that you like, please send Jim and Ruth an email to thank them for their time!

MPR Engagement:

  • Record a video of yourself in which you explain in 10 seconds or less “Why I love marching band” or “What marching band means to me.”
  • Say your name, school (or marching band name) and what instrument you play or which section you’re part of. (Example: Hi, I’m Randy Salas, and I play baritone with the MPR Regiment of St. Paul. Marching band is the best because…”) 
  • Show your instrument or gear in the video – and maybe even other members of your section.
  • Send the video to Dr. Wanken when you have completed it and he will forward it to MPR.
  • Have fun!

Anoka:
Coming up at the end of the month is the Anoka Halloween Parade. This parade features all members of the marching band summer and fall. This takes place this Saturday, October 26. For the parade, the band room will open at 11am, load at 11:30, leave at 11:45. The parade begins at 1pm. The parade should last about 20-30 minutes and we will arrive back at LNHS around 4:30. We will need 4 bus chaperone. If you can help out please, sign up with the Boosters Sign Up Genius link. This is always a fun parade!

Senior Band Banners:
This is for all seniors in the band program (marching, concert, jazz).
When: Tuesday, October 15th @ 2:45pm
Where: Band Room

Mr. Anselment will be our photographer, a special shout out and THANK YOU!

What to Bring:
– Your band uniform (no hat required)  If you are not marching this fall, please wear concert attire (all black)
– Your instrument or flag if you’re in the guard
– Anything you want to prep for pictures (like a comb 🙂
– Your best smile!!
If your student does not want to participate please reply and let me know.

Instrument rental:
If you are using a school instrument (percussion, tuba, baritone, horn, saxophone, etc.), please make sure to pay the instrument rental fee. These funds are the only source of our instrument repair budget. Without funds to repair instruments we cannot keep the instruments in working order. The fee is payable in the School Store (Infinite Campus>>School Store>>LNHS>>Class Expenses)

Private Lessons:
The past several weeks the trombones, baritones, and saxophones have been able to all work with our private lesson teachers. These are professional players that give lessons during band time (students go to the lesson for half the time and band the other half once a week). Private lessons are one of the best ways to improve on your instrument and our teachers are amazing! Right now we have low brass, trumpet , saxophones, flute, and percussion teachers lined up. If other students are interested, please let Dr. Wanken know so he can work on inviting more teachers to school. I am happy to answer any questions you may have or you can reach out directly to the lesson teachers if you are interested in taking lessons. Low brass: Gavin Carney  gctrombone@gmail.com ; Trumpet: Graham Taylor  https://www.trumpetlessonsminneapolis.com/; Saxophone: Bobby Bellairs bellai1@stolaf.edu;Flute: Cynthia Johannessen johannessen.cynthia@gmail.com;Matt Nielsen  niel8012@isd194.org

If other instruments are interested in private lessons, please let me know. We usually have to have at least 3 students interested in order to bring a teacher in.

Thank you for all your support. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Be Bold, Be Brave, Be Kind,
Dr. Wanken