When are concerts this year?
Calendars will be given to students during the first days
of school. Check the Music
Department Calendar on this website for all the important
dates for music students. There are concerts in the fall,
winter, and spring. All performances and evening rehearsals
are required and considered part of the classroom grade.
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What if my child cannot
perform in a concert because of illness?
Missed performances must be accompanied by a written note
from a parent/guardian. Unexcused absences will result in
a one-letter grade reduction. Excused absences will be considered
on a case-by-case basis. Make-up work will be assigned at
the discretion of the director. See the music handbook for
excused absences.
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What are
the uniforms? How do I get one for my child?
- Instrumental groups:
All instrumental performing groups (except pep band) must
purchase concert dress attire for all concerts and performances:
- Girls:
Long black dresses, ordered through the music department.
Cost is $90. Students must supply their own black
stockings and black dress shoes.
- Boys:
New attire, this year, only required of 9th grade
students and jazz band members. In subsequent years,
all new students will continue to purchase the following
attire: Full tuxedo attire, including white tux shirt,
pleated front and wing tip collar, black bow tie,
black cummerbund, black tux pants and black tux jacket.
If ordered through the music department, cost is $115.
Black dress shoes and black socks are responsibility
of student.
- Pep Band:
Students will purchase a pep band T-shirt from music
department at $15. Must also purchase lyre and flip
folder through the music department.
- Choral groups:
- Madrigals:
- Girls:
Long black dress, stockings, closed-toe black
dress shoes, 18” pearl necklace, and pearl
earrings.
- Boys:
Black tuxedo, white wing collar shirt, blue cummerbund,
blue tie, studs, cufflinks, black socks, black
dress shoes. Sizing and purchase information for
all items will be distributed during the first
weeks of school.
- Chorus:
- Girls:
White shirt with collar, black skirt or pants,
stockings, black closed-toe dress shoes.
- Boys:
White shirt with collar, black pants, black socks,
black dress shoes. Tie optional, but suggested.
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Is there a program fee?
Yes, there is a program fee: $40 per student. There are
also other fees during the year, such as transportation,
concert attire, etc. Students in the various music programs
will receive a letter from their teachers describing the
program fee at the beginning of each semester. These letters
are also available on this website: instrumental
music, vocal music
and guitar, and piano.
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What if our family cannot afford
some of these fees?
Please talk directly to Mr.
White.
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Does my student need to
take private lessons to be in the school music program?
Private lessons are not required but they are strongly encouraged.
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My child plays an instrument
but needs to borrow one from the school. Are there any to
borrow?
Yes, part of the program fee and much of the music department
fundraising goes to purchase and maintain instruments for
students to use. Students should talk to Mr.
White about borrowing instruments.
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At Westland, my child had
to keep a record of his/her practice time. Is that true
at B-CC as well?
No, students are on the honor system to practice.
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Who plays in the pep band?
Members of the symphonic band and concert band. Only students
who are members of the varsity football team, varsity cheerleading
squad, or pom squad are exempt from performing in the pep
band. All pep band members are required to play at each
home football game and are required to stay for the entire
game.
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What dates does the pep
band play?
The pep band playes at all the home football games. See
the Instrumental
Music Calendar on this website for the dates and details.
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Are there concerts played away
from B-CC HS?
Yes, student groups compete at various festivals throughout
the year in the county, state, and on the annual music trip.
In addition, the ensembles – Madrigals, string quartet,
and jazz combo -- play at venues throughout the county and
state when asked. They also play for the other schools in
the B-CC cluster to introduce the younger students to high
school music.
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What is the Madrigal group?
Madrigals is a select mixed chamber ensemble that specializes
in Western Masterworks and unaccompanied literature. Students
are chosen by audition in the spring of each year for the
following school year. Interested students can refer to
the Music Department's course syllabus
and course description. These documents are also available
from Mr. White.
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What is the Concert Chorus?
Chorus is a non-auditioned large, mixed ensemble open to
any student interested in vocal music. Repertoire ranges
from folksongs to masterworks to Broadway. No prior experience
is required. A number of evening rehearsals and performances
is required as part of the course. Interested students can
refer to the Music Department's course
syllabus and course description. These documents are
also available from Mr.
White.
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Are there any acappella
groups at B-CC?
Yes, there are the barbershop and beautyshop quartets. Auditions
are open to all students in the Music Department. Both groups
require the student to commit to one lunch period per week
and self-directed practice time.
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Are there chamber
groups at B-CC?
Yes, barbershop and beauty shop quartets, string ensemble,
string quartet, jazz combo, guitar quartet, brass group,
and woodwind group are all available if students are interested.
Instrumental chamber groups are offered on a volunteer basis.
If students are interested in forming a chamber ensemble,
every effort will be made to offer coaching assistance and
music will be made available for the groups. Chamber groups
must rehearse during lunch or after school. Music teachers
must be consulted to secure a space for rehearsals.
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My student wants to play
in the jazz band. How can he/she join it?
Auditions packets are given out the first part of May and
auditions are at the end of May and beginning of June. Mr.
White will notify current B-CC students of upcoming
auditions. Students have about 3 weeks to prepare the audition
material. Required in the audition are a prepared selection,
scales, improvisation, and sight-reading. If accepted into
the jazz band, students must sign up for the course for
both semesters. All conflicts in scheduling must be resolved
to allow for full participation throughout the entire year.
Failure to be able to register in jazz band for the entire
year may result in not being able to participate at all.
Any student interested for jazz band the following year
should sign up for another ensemble. Usually they sign up
for symphonic band if they play sax, trumpet, trombone,
or percussion. Bass players can sign up for orchestra, and
guitar players can sign up for guitar class. Pianists can
sign up for piano class or chorus. After the auditions have
taken place, Mr. White sends a list to the guidance couselors
to make the appropriate changes in the students' schedules
for the following year.
In January, during the first semester exam period, Mr. White
visits Westland Middle School to listen to band members
who want to audition for the jazz band. If a student is
coming to B-CC from another middle school, s/he can call
or email Mr. White
to request an audition for jazz band.
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My child wants to sing
in the Madrigals. How can he/she join it?
Students take a private audition with Ms.
Vanek before registration closes in January. Audition
information will be made available well in advance of the
auditions. Interested students are strongly encouraged to
participate in chorus before auditioning for Madrigals.
Preference is given to those students who have demonstrated
a long-term commitment to the music department. Voice lessons
are recommended but not required.
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I understand there is a fall
musical. How can my student participate?
All students are invited to audition for roles and ensemble
parts in the fall musical. Please check the Performing
Arts Theater page for current season's productions,
audition dates, and rehearsal schedules. Mr.
Aaron Taylor will have audition packets available. These
auditions are for stage parts only.
Students interested in performing in the pit orchestra are
welcome to perform provided there is a specific part to
play. Any student who performs on these instruments is encouraged
to participate. NO AUDITION REQUIRED.
A schedule of rehearsal dates and times will be distributed
at the first rehearsal. Students must attend all rehearsals,
beginning in October and continuing to the first week of
December. The closer the rehearsal is to the performance
date, the later the rehearsal will end.
In addition, opportunities for stagehands, running crew,
set designs, and tech crew are available. For more information,
go to the Performing
Arts' Theater Program page of the B-CC website or see
Mr. Taylor.
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Does my child need
to take music at B-CC to qualify for County or State honors
ensemble auditions?
Yes, Maryland rules are very clear about this and no exceptions
will be granted. A student must be registered for and participate
in the school music ensemble that corresponds to the honors
ensemble for which they want to audition.
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Is there a music trip?
Yes, each year we plan for a trip to an adjudicated national
music festival in the spring. Please check the Music
Department Calendar for dates and destination for current
school year.
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How is the trip paid
for?
Students pay their own way. There are limited scholarships
for those who are financially unable to participate. Students
should see the music teachers to inquire about financial
aid. Students are encouraged to participate in fundraisers
sponsored by the Music Department to help pay for their
trip.
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Is there a fundraiser
for the Music Department?
There are several fundraisers. In September, students sell
Entertainment books. The Music Department and the students
split the profit from the sales of these books, with the
student share applied to their spring music trip. In October
and November, students sell fruit and similarly split the
profits with the Music Department. In February, all students
and a majority of parents participate in the department’s
biggest fundraiser, the annual Music Cabaret. In addition,
at each concert during the year, parents staff the concession
stand – profits from sales of food and drink go to
support the music program.
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What is the Music Cabaret?
The Cabaret is an annual evening of dining, musical entertainment,
dancing, and fun held for adults in the B-CC Community.
Parents and students set up and decorate for the evening,
and the students serve the food and perform with their ensembles.
Usually held on a Saturday night in late February, the Cabaret
is an important fundraiser for the music program. Please
check the Instrumental
Music Calendar for this year's date and the Music
Boosters page for updates and notices.
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What does Music Boosters
do?
Parents of music students come together to support the music
department with their time, energy, and financial donations.
There is no fee to join the Music
Boosters.
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Specifically, how can parents
help the Music Department?
-- Sign up for the email list so you can get timely reminders
of concerts, deadlines, etc. (Go to the Music
Booster page for instructions.)
-- Give of your time to the Music Department by helping
in the office, by keeping records for the various fundraisers
or for the tripm and by helping to catalogue the music.
With a large and growing number of music students, parents’
help is urgently needed for administrative tasks in the
department. Contact parent booster chairs or either music
teacher.
--Contact music booster chairs to help sell food/drink on
concert evenings.
--Come to the booster meetings to meet other parents. The
first meeting is October 1, at 7 pm.
--Offer to chair a committee for entertainment book sales,
fruit sales, cabaret.
--Work on procuring a concert
grand piano for our new auditorium.
--If you cannot devote any time to the music boosters, financial
donations are welcome.
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Are there any outside
partnerships with B-CC Music Department?
B-CC Jazz Combo plays several times a year at Panera in
Friendship Heights, which gives a portion of the evening's
proceeds to the B-CC Grand Piano Fund.
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What is the Grand Piano
Fund?
Now that we have a new auditorium, it is time to replace
the badly worn concert grand piano. To that end, we are
raising money to purchase one for B-CC HS. Currently, we
have raised over $5,000, with money collected from parents,
interested community members, and alumni. If you would like
to participate in this fund, please go to the Grand
Piano Club page on this website.
If you have other questions, please check the website
or contact Music Boosters Chairs (contact information is
on the Music
Booster page) or Mr.
White in the Music Department, 240-497-6334.
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