It's that time of Year!

Congratulations and Thank you!

Congratulations to the Honor Band for a fantastic performance at the Northern Lights Ice Festival last Friday.  Students, you worked very hard and came to extra rehearsals.  I'm very proud of you.  You represented E.D. Walker very well and it was a great event!

Thank you to all the parents drove out and attended and especially to those that brought trucks and helped with equipment.

Concert - Tuesday - December 16

Tuesday evening is our biggest event of the semester.  Our semester concert.  This is important for several reasons:

• It is the "world premier" of  our beginning band.  Their very first performance!
• It is the final performance of the semester and a "test grade" for each and every band student.
• It is our first time this year to see and hear the entire band family at one event

What to wear

• Beginning Band - school pants and Band T-shirt.  Students may also wear something festive along with their Band Shirt - like a Santa hat.  No jeans please.  Skirts must be knee length or longer.   
• Advanced Band - Dress Up!  All black is the standard dress.  Dress pants, shirt and shoes.  Boys may wear a coat and tie but it is not required. Girls may wear a dress but it is not required.  No jeans please.  Students may have colorful accents like a tie, scarf , jewelry or a festive sweater.  Acceptable accent colors are Red, Green or Blue.  Skirts must be knee length or longer.  No jeans please.  

Schedule for the Day of the Concert

• 1:00 - school releases and band rehearsal begins in the band hall
• 2:00 - move equipment to the auditorium
• 2:30 - Clinic - Advanced band on stage, Beginners in the Band Hall
• 4:00 - Dress rehearsal.  This is a practice run through of the entire concert.  Parents are welcome to attend.
• 5:00 - Supper time.  Students should bring a sack lunch or $5 for pizza
• 6:00 - Call time.  All students should be in place in the auditorium.  Doors open to the public
• 6:30 - Concert begins
• 7:45 - Concert Ends

$5 for Pizza Tuesday afternoon - Students should bring $5 for pizza by Monday Dec 15 so we can order pizza for Tuesday evening.

Parent Volunteers

Any parents that would like to help by picking up pizza Tuesday afternoon and helping serve the students by 5:00 would be greatly appreciated.   Please contact Mr. Flemons by email at jflemons@dallasisd.org or phone at 469-774-9934

Ice Festival Performance - Update

Update for tomorrow's performance

The "Honor Band" students will be performing at the Northern Lights Ice Festival tomorrow at 6 PM.  All Walker Band Family members are invited to attend and support the band.  Come out and enjoy a great family event and ice skating.

Dress for the event is "Festive".  Blue Jeans or school khakis plus a band t-shirt and festive sweater or jacket and accessories like a scarf or hat.  We will have Santa hats for those that want to wear one.  

Still in need of a pick-up truck and driver to haul music stands and equipment.  Please call Mr. Flemons at 469-774-9934 or email at jflemons@dallasisd.org if you can help.

Itinerary

3:45 Load Busses and depart
4:45 Arrive at Northern Lights5:00 Warm Up6:00 Performance7:00 Time for skating and Fun!8:00 Load busses and depart for Walker9:00 Arrive at Walker and unload.  Rides should be waiting to pick up at 9:00

Festival Schedule

6:00 Walker Band Performance
6:30 Living Nativity performance
7:00 "Frozen" Ice Skating show
7:15 Open Ice skating, food trucks, Christmas Village

Costs

Any Food or Drink that anyone chooses to purchase will be at the posted price.

Skating is free for the students that are performing.  It is $10 per person for non-performers up to a limit of $30 per family.  So if you have 5 people in your family that wish to go skating it is still only $30

Mid Week Updates

Need Help for Friday!

Anyone who has a pick-up truck and could go with us Friday to haul music stands and instruments please contact Mr. Flemons at 469-774-9934 or jflemons@dallasisd.org ASAP to help the band.  We have to bring music stands and percussion instruments but don't have room on the busses.  

Performance for Honor Band this Friday

The Honor Band will perform at the "Northern Lights Ice Festival" this Friday at 6:00 PM.
Northern Lights is a public Ice Rink in Prosper Texas.  We will perform on a professionally lighted stage.  After our performance the students will have time to enjoy the festival.  There will be ice skating provided plus there are Food Trucks and a Christmas Village to visit.  Food Trucks only take cash so bring some $ if you want to buy something at the Food Trucks. 

Dress for the concert has changed. 

Dress for the performance will be Festive Casual.  Band T-shirts required plus jeans or school pants, festive sweaters and hats.  Things appropriate for outdoor performance and ice skating.

Performance will go on regardless of weather.  We will move indoors if the weather gets too severe for outdoor performance.

Schedule
3:45 Load Busses and depart
4:45 Arrive at Northern Lights
5:00 Warm Up
6:00 Performance
7:00 Time for skating and Fun!
8:00 Load busses and depart for Walker
9:00 Arrive at Walker and unload.  Rides should be waiting to pick up at 9:00


All are invited to come to the performance and Ice Festival

We would love to as many students and parents come out to the Festival and support the band as possible.  There will be ice skating, a Christmas village, a live performance of the Christmas story, Food Trucks and more.  It would be a great Family outing for the weekend.  There is a link to a map below.  The Festival is at 1001 Prosper Trail in Prosper TX. Just take Preston Rd or the Tollway North to Prosper about a 2 miles north of HWY 380.  Turn on Prosper Trail and Follow the lights.

Map to Performance

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/E.D.+Walker+Middle+School,+12532+Nuestra+Dr,+Dallas,+TX+75230/1001+W+Prosper+Trail,+Prosper,+TX+75078/@33.0841939,-96.9216348,11z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m13!4m12!1m5!1m1!1s0x864c20eba3991faf:0x91c11acc3dacd18e!2m2!1d-96.810376!2d32.919839!1m5!1m1!1s0x864c3f674beaaa63:0x398c7eb89262db37!2m2!1d-96.8127032!2d33.2463361

This Week in Band

This Week in Band

Honor Band and Symphonic Band Lists

The lists for Honor Band and Symphonic Band are out.  You can see them by clicking the link for "Documents" at the right of this page.

Before and After School Rehearsals this week

8:00 - 8:30 Monday -Friday
All Band Students Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced have practice before school each day.

3:45 - 5:00 Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Honor Band members have rehearsal each of these days after school.  Transportation is provided in the form of a bus that will take students to their elementary school at 5:30 PM.

Performance for Honor Band this Friday

The Honor Band will perform at the "Northern Lights Ice Festival" this Friday at 6:00 PM.
Northern Lights is a public Ice Rink in Prosper Texas.  We will perform on a professionally lighted stage.  After our performance the students will have time to enjoy the festival.  There will be ice skating provided plus there are Food Trucks and a Christmas Village to visit.  Food Trucks only take cash so bring some $ if you want to buy something at the Food Trucks.

Dress for the concert is Dress Black with festive color accessories such as a tie, scarf, jewelery etc.  Appropriate accent color is blue or red or green.

Schedule
3:45 Load Busses and depart
4:45 Arrive at Northern Lights
5:00 Warm Up
6:00 Performance
7:00 Time for skating and Fun!
8:00 Load busses and depart for Walker
9:00 Arrive at Walker and unload.  Rides should be waiting to pick up at 9:00

Fall Festival this evening

Walker Fall Festival - this evening

The Band is sponsoring two booths at the Fall Festival this evening.  A Concession stand and a Cake Walk. We need the following items to be donated:

Baked goods for the cake walk - cakes, pies, cookies, cupcakes, brownies, etc.

For the concession stand - sodas, chips, candy

Students can bring items to the band room before during or after school today.

All-City Auditions Monday

All-City Auditions

Auditions take place Monday evening here at Walker Middle School

6:00 PM  Students report here for warm up and check in
6:30 PM  Rooms open and students begin to report
7:00 PM  Auditions begin
Auditions continue until all students have performed
Results will be posted after the auditions conclude

Students that are trying out can stay after school if they choose.  Students must bring their own food.  No Food will be provided. 

Dress up nice for the audition.  Practice this weekend!  Preparation = Performance!

I'm proud of the hard work you have put in!

Mr. Flemons

All - City Auditions and Fall Festival Next week

All -City Auditions Monday Evening 11/3/14

Many of our 7th and 8th grade students have prepared to audition for the All-City Honor band.  I am so proud of the hard work they have put in to get ready!  We are hosting the auditions here at Walker Monday evening at 6PM until all auditions are completed.  This process can take quite a while so please be patient.  Here is the schedule.

6;00 PM  Warm - Up
6:30 PM  Judges Meeting in the Library
7:00 PM  Auditions begin
9:30 PM  Auditions conclude

Each instrument will be assigned a room.  When that room has concluded students are free to leave.  Students can wait until results are posted if they choose.  

Fall Festival Friday 11/7/14

The band boosters will sponsor two booths again this year.  We will host a cake walk in the auditorium.  We need students to bring some kind of baked good on Thursday or Friday like a cake, a dozen cookies,  a dz brownies, pie or some other kind of baked good to donate for the cake walk.  The boosters will run a concession stand in the cafeteria as well.  They will be selling a variety of snacks and goodies like tacos! pizza, candy, Takis and whatever else we come up with.  Parents are NEEDED to volunteer to work at this booth.  Please contact Violeta Rios at 469-233-6971 to volunteer for this event.

 

Practice times and Chair tests

Students should be practicing 20 - 30 minutes per day outside of class.  They can do this by...
1 - practicing at home
2 - practicing in the band room before school Monday - Friday 8 - 8:30
3 - practicing in the band room after school Tues, Weds, or Thurs from 4 - 5

Practice time attendance is considered when choosing the Honor Band and deciding who goes on field trips to competitions.

Chair Tests will be given weekly in class.  The student's performance will affect their placement in the band and will affect their grade in the class.

Congratulations to WT White Band!

Congratulations to the WT White Band on their 1st Division performance at the UIL region 20 marching contest today! Now it's on to Area competition next Saturday. Come out to Mesquite next week to cheer on all the former Walker students and the rest of the WTW band.

Fall Events

Fall events

 Saturday, 10/18:

--UIL Region 20 6A Marching Contest – Panther Stadium – Duncanville, TX
--UIL Region 24 Marching Contest – Standridge Stadium – Carrollton, TX

Get out and cheer on the WT White band at regionals in Duncanville Saturday. They perform at 6:00 PM at Panther Stadium by Duncanville High School.   900 Camp Wisdom Rd.  Duncanville TX  75116.  If you can't make it to Duncanville head over to Carrollton for some of the strongest high school marching bands in the country. Both events are FREE and so is the parking

Monday, Nov 3:

--All-City Band Auditions.  Hosted by the Walker Band and Band Boosters at Walker Middle School. 7th and 8th grade students should be practicing daily to be ready to qualify for this event

Friday, Nov 7:

--Walker Fall Carnival. Parent volunteers are needed to help run a concession stand at the carnival in order to raise funds for new instruments

December 16:

--Fall Semester Concer. All band students will be involved   

Thursday performance - WT White Homecoming parade

Thursday - The Advanced Band will perform at the WT White Homecoming parade Thursday October 9, 2014.  WT White HS is located at 4505 Ridgeside Dr, Dallas, TX 75244.

The parade is a project grade for all Intermediate and Advanced band students.

- Students should wear the black Band t-shirt and khaki school pants/shorts or skirt
- A bus will take the students from Walker to WT White HS for the parade.
- The parade begins at 4:15.  Come out and support the band and enjoy the parade!
- The parade should be done by 5:00.
- Students should be picked up at WT White in the teachers parking lot on Welch Street by the portable buildings.  Students are responsible for transporting their instruments after the parade.  There will NOT be a bus to transport students after the parade.


After the parade, Nathan Adams elementary school is holding a Fall Carnival.  Band students may attend the carnival and perform with the band at 5:30.  Performance at the carnival is voluntary and not for a grade.  Any students that choose to perform at the carnival will receive a meal at the festival.  Nathan Adams Elementary is down the street from WT White HS at the corner of Welch and Harvest Hill.

This Week in Band 10/6/14

This Week in Band

Advanced Band

• Monday - Football game at Franklin Stadium.  Refer to itinerary that was sent home with the permission slip.  Students will stay after school for rehearsal and leave by bus for Franklin Stadium.  Located at Ben Franklin Middle School on Hillcrest Drive.  Students should bring a sack lunch or $5 for pizza.  We will return to Walker at 8:30PM.  Students can be picked up at the game at 8:00PM or at Walker at 8:30PM
• Thursday - Parade at WT White High School.  Advanced band members will perform at the WT White homecoming parade at 4:30PM.  Students should be picked up at WT White HS in the East parking lot by the portable buildings.  There will NOT be a bus coming back to Walker.  
• After School - Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday every week the band hall is open for practice from 3:45 to 5:00.  Woodwinds have a required section rehearsal on Tuesdays.  Brass and Percussion are Thursdays.  There is a bus that will transport students to their home elementary schools at 5:30 each of the three days.
• Students should be practicing and preparing the scales and music for All-City Auditions that take place Nov 3 at Walker MS

Beginning Band

• Morning practice times start this week.  The band hall opens every day at 8AM.  Students are encouraged to come in before school to take advantage of the time and have supervised practice time
• Students should be practicing Lessons 1 - 5 this week

No performance today! Nathan Adams closed.

Our performance at the Nathan Adams Carnival is canceled for today. Nathan Adams Elementary is closed due to the power outage. I will let you know if it gets rescheduled.

Fall Time for Marching Band!

Fall is in the air and it's time for marching band!  Yay!  I encourage and recommend that everyone get out and see a show or two thís year. It's a great family event!

Here is a listing of many of the marching band shows in our area this fall. 

Any of the events that are listed as a UIL event are FREE admission.  The very best shows are in BOLD type. 

Saturday, 10/4:
--Bands of America Denton Regional – University of North Texas – Denton, TX
--Centennial Marching Festival – Frisco Memorial Stadium – Frisco, TX
--Plano East Marching Invitational – Clark Stadium – Plano, TX
--Golden Triangle Marching Classic – Collins Stadium – Denton, TX
--Mesquite Marching Festival – Mesquite Memorial Stadium – Mesquite, TX
--Midlothian Marching Showcase – Midlothian Multi-Purpose Stadium – Midlothian, TX

 Saturday, 10/11:

--Tournament of Champions – Standridge Stadium – Carrollton, TX
--HEB (Hurst-Euless-Bedford) Marching Contest – Pennington Field – Bedford, TX
--Birdville Marching Festival – Birdville ISD Fine Arts & Athletic Complex – North Richland Hills, TX
--The Classic Marching Competition – Eagle Stadium – DeSoto, TX
--Marching Classic on the Lake – Little Elm Athletic  Complex – Little Elm, TX
--UIL Region 25 5A/6A Marching Contest – Clark Stadium – Plano, TX

Tuesday, 10/14:
--UIL Region 20 5A & Below Marching Contest

 Wednesday, 10/15:

--UIL Region 3 4A & 6A Marching Contest – Mesquite Memorial Stadium – Mesquite, TX

 Saturday, 10/18:

--UIL Region 20 6A Marching Contest – Panther Stadium – Duncanville, TX
--UIL Region 24 Marching Contest – Standridge Stadium – Carrollton, TX

 Wednesday, 10/22:

--UIL Region 3 2A-3A-5A Marching Contest – Mesquite Memorial Stadium – Mesquite TX

--UIL Area C 6A Marching Contest – Mesquite Memorial Stadium 

 Friday, 10/31 – Saturday, 11/1:

-Bands of America  San Antonio Super-Regional – Alamodome – San Antonio, TX

 Saturday, 11/1:

-Duncanville Marching Invitational – Panther stadium Duncanville

 Monday, 11/3:

--UIL Class 4A State Marching Band Contest – Alamodome – San Antonio, TX

 Tuesday, 11/4:

--UIL Class 6A State Marching Band Contest – Alamodome – San Antonio

Performances and Practice Tips

Performance Additions and Changes

  October 3.  The Advanced Band has added a performance.  A group of Advanced Band students will have a short performance this Friday October 3rd at Nathan Adams Elementary school.  Their Fall Carnival will take place that afternoon.   This is performance is voluntary.  This is NOT a required performance and it is not for a grade.  It is a voluntary performance. No transportation will be provided.  Students will need to show up at Nathan Adams Elementary between 5 and 5:15 for the performance in their Black Band Shirt and school khakis or jeans that meet school dress code.  Students that participate will receive a meal at the carnival.  The performance will conclude at 5:40.  Parents should pick up students at Nathan Adams immediately following the performance.

October 6  Walker football game.  This game will go on as scheduled.  Advanced band will perform. This is a required performance.  

WT White Homecoming Parade has been changed to Thursday October 9.  Updated calendars will be sent home with students later this week.  This is a required performance.

Performances and Practice times!

Big Week for the Band - Let's go Timberwolves!

• Advanced Band Has two performances this week.  

• Tuesday - Walker Homecoming game - last year's blue shirt
• Thursday - WT White game - new shirt
• For both games the advanced band will wear khaki school pants and their band t-shirt.
• Students can bring a sack lunch for snack time or $5 for pizza the day of the performance
• Permission slips and itineraries were sent home with students on Friday.

• Beginning Band students will begin bringing instruments home this week

• students should practice about 10 - 15 minutes each day
• Practice assignment sheets will give students specific tasks that should be completed in each practice session
• Instruments and binders MUST be brought to class each and every day
• Instruments should never be opened except in the band hall or at home in the practice area, never outdoors.
• The only person that should ever handle the instrument is the student it is assigned to or the parent.  Other students should never handle the instrument.  Never attempt to work on the instrument or touch it with tools.  If something is wrong with a school instrument bring it immediately to a band director.  

• Calendar is up on the web

• Click on Band calendar on the right to see our schedule of events and rehearsals
• Weekly Rehearsal Schedule
• Open Morning rehearsals Monday thru Friday from 8:00 to 8:30 AM
• Woodwinds Tuesday afternoons from 3:45 to 5:00 PM
• Open Rehearsal Wednesday afternoons 3:45 to 5:00 PM
• Brass and Percussion Thursday afternoons from 3:45 to 5:00 PM
• These rehearsals are not part of the class grade.  Students earn points by attending.  Students will earn points by passing off music assignments, attending rehearsals, completing their daily band responsibilities 100%, and passing all of their classes every six weeks.  Attitude is key to success in the band program.  Band students are leaders at Walker and the expectation is that band members show leadership in behavior, academics and effort.

Performance tomorrow!

Performance tomorrow morning 8:00 AM! We'll meet in the band hall to rehearse. The WT White high school band will be joining us. We will be done by 10:00.  See you there.

Walker Band Back in Action!

Walker Band Back in Action!

Wednesday August 20th the Walker Band will perform for the DISD Convocation.  The faculty and staff of all the schools in our feeder pattern will gather here at Walker for the district-wide meeting.  

We will combine forces with the WT White High School band.  

Rehearsal begins at 8:00 AM in the band hall.  The performance is at 9:00 AM in the auditorium.

Dress for the event is school pants or shorts and your Band t-shirt.

If you don't have a band shirt available I will supply one.

Come be a part of the performance!  Even if you weren't at summer band last week you can still participate.

Summer Band! Adjustments

We had a great first rehearsal today. The students that participated did a great job and we had a lot of fun.

Thanks to Mr.Osborne for providing Schlotzky's sandwiches today!

We will meet again Thursday from 10 AM till 1PM.

Students need to bring their own sack lunches. We will not be ordering out Thursday.

Our performance will be next Wednesday starting at 8AM.

We will be performing along with the WT White band!  Yay! This is going to be a lot of fun.

Come join us on Thursday.  Even if you weren't here today or don't have an instrument checked out you can still come take part in the band.

See you Thursday

Mr. Flemons

Welcome back! Let the fun begin!

Well summer is winding down and school starts in two weeks!  But the Walker band has a performance before school even starts. We have been asked to perform for the faculty of all the schools in our area at E.D. Walker on Wednesday Aug 20 at 8 AM. Wow!  What an honor!

Summer band fun starts this week. We will meet on Tuesday and Thursday from 10 AM until 1 PM each day to get ready to perform and to get the band room ready for school to start. 

I want to see who my leaders are so share this post and get the word out to all the band students. I want to see everyone there tomorrow. Bring a sack lunch or bring $5 to order pizza.  See you there!

Band Camp 2014!

Update from Band Camp!

Dallas Wind Symphony Band Camp 2014 has come to a close. This was absolutely the best year ever for this camp. Here are the highlights:

- Over 20 current E.D. Walker MS Band students performing in a band at the camp
- At least 9 former Walker Band students in the High School Honor Band
-Over 600 students at the camp total. 6 bands in all.
-Outstanding performances by all 6 bands.
-Mr. Flemons got to conduct a piece on the concert. What a privilege!
-Lots of new friends!
-We made great music together!
-Great way to kick off the summer
-Look for pictures to come later
-Stay tuned for more events over the summer!

Time for Band Camp!

It's time for Band Camp!  Here is what our schedule looks like for Monday. 

7:30 AM meet at Walker band hall

7:45 AM load bus and depart for Booker T. Washington HS

8:15 AM arrive at Booker T. 

8:30 AM check in and get room assignment. Auditions on Monday. 

9:00 AM Auditions begin

12:00  Lunch time. Lunch is provided each day. There will be a recital each Tuesday - Friday

1:00 PM rehearsal with your assigned group

3:00 PM  load busses and return to Walker. Please be ready to pick up you student between 3:30 and 3:45

End of the year events

End of the year events

May 15  -  Concert and award ceremony. Concert begins at 6:30 PM. Students should arrive by 6:00. Beginners should wear band t-shirt and school khaki pants. Advanced students should wear concert dress black.   This is the major project grade for the last six weeks.

May 23  -  End of the year school performance.  1:30 in the afternoon. Parents are invited. All students should wear band shirt a school khakis

May 26  -  instrument turn in.  All school instruments must be turned in by this day for end of the year inventory.

May 28  -  Instruments can be checked out for the next school year, 2014-2015.  $25 fee will check the instrument out for the summer and for the 14-15 school year

June 9-14  -  Dallas Winds Summer Band Camp.  Forms have come home with students. Students will catch the bus at Walker each day.  Final performance will take place in the Meyerson Symphony Center!

Sandy Lake Music Festival!

Sandy Lake Music Festival!!!   And Band Family day in the Park.  It’s time for one of our biggest performances of the year!  

Students earned the privilege of going on this trip by:

Making an A in class

Passing all classes on their report card

Learning their music

Coming to extra rehearsals and practicing at home. All the students that met the qualifications were notified earlier this week and were given a permission slip. 

Students will wear their Band Shirt and khaki shorts, pants or jeans. Students should bring $10 or more  for rides and concessions.

Two performances:  Beginning Band at 10:00 AM and Advanced band at 1:30 in the afternoon.

We need parent volunteers to help serve pizza and hot dogs for the group.  We need hot dogs, buns, paper goods, condiments and anything else for a cookout.    Parents that want to help out can contact Janell Branch at 214-335-9620 or Violeta Rios at 469-233-6971

Parents can get in the Park for free.  Just tell the person at the gate you are here for Walker MS Band.

Itinerary

8:00 AM        Meeting in the band room for all students and parent volunteers

8:30               Rehearse/Warm up

9:00               Load busses

9:15               Depart for Sandy Lake

9:45               Arrive Sandy Lake

10:00             Beginning Band Warm up.  Advanced Band Listens to performances

10:20             Beginning Band Performance

10:45             All Band members meet at our Pavillion

11:00 – 1:00             Lunch time, cook out, play games, rides in the park

1:00                All Students meet at our Pavillion

1:30               Advanced Band Warm up, Beginning Band goes to performance tent to listen to bands

2:00               Advanced Band performance

2:30               Pack all equipment in busses

2:30 – 4:00  Park time – ride rides, play games

4:00              Award Ceremony

4:30            Load Bus and Depart for Walker MS

5:00             Arrive Walker MS – Dismiss

Congratulations!

Congratulations!  

to the E. D. Walker Middle School Band and the 4 other Dallas Middle Schools to make 1st division ratings at UIL Regional Evaluations this past week.  Walker is the only CC school to achieve this rating and one of only two comprehensive middle schools.  The DISD schools to make 1st division ratings are:

Travis Academy    2-1-1
Greiner Academy  1-1-1
Atwell Academy   1-2-1
Quintanilla MS      1-1-1
E.D. Walker MS  1-1-1

I am very proud of the work our students have put in.  They showed a lot of effort and grit.  Way to go Timberwolves!

Sandy Lake Music Festival is in two weeks.  Saturday, April 26

We will take two bands to perform at this event.  6th, 7th and 8th graders who have done the following will qualify for the trip:

1. Must be making an "A" 90% or higher in band
2. Must pass off the assigned music with a 90% or higher
3. Must pass all classes with a 70% or higher on the next report card.  Grading ends next Friday 4/18
4. Must attend 5 or more before school rehearsal between now and April 26.

This will be a fun day in the park for our kids and families.  Talk to your students about qualifying for the event.

Calling all parents.  We want you to be a part of our day at Sandy Lake.  Here is what we need...

• Grillmasters to man the grills for a cookout
• leaders to take groups through the park
• leaders for games.  Bring footballs, frisbees, volleyball, soccer ball for game

This week in Band

Monday
8:00 AM - Beginning and Advanced band Rehearsal
Nothing after school

Tuesday
8:00 AM - Beginning and Advanced band Rehearsal
Nothing after school

Wednesday
8:00 AM - Beginning and Advanced band Rehearsal
Nothing after school

Thursday
8:00 AM - Beginning and Advanced band Rehearsal
Nothing after school

Friday
8:00 AM - Beginning and Advanced band Rehearsal
Nothing after school

Next Week in Band

Monday
8:00 AM - Beginning and Advanced band Rehearsal
Nothing after school

Tuesday
8:00 AM - Beginning and Advanced band Rehearsal
Nothing after school

Wednesday
8:00 AM - Beginning and Advanced band Rehearsal
Nothing after school

Thursday
8:00 AM - Beginning and Advanced band Rehearsal
Nothing after school

Friday
8:00 AM - Beginning and Advanced band Rehearsal
Nothing after school

Big Event this week!

This is one of the biggest events of our year!  This week the Honor Band will perform at UIL Regional Concert and Sight Reading.  The Contest will take place Thursday at Cedar Hill High School in Cedar Hill TX.  Students who qualify will bring home a permission slip and itinerary this week.  Attendance at before and after school rehearsals is critical. 

This week's schedule 4/7 - 4/11

Monday
8:00 AM Advanced Band and Beginning Band rehearsals
3:45 - 4:45 Advanced Band Sectionals

Tuesday
8:00 AM Advanced Band rehearsal
3:45 - 4:45 Advanced Band Sectionals

Wednesday
8:00 AM Advanced Band and Beginning Band rehearsals
3:45 - 4:45 Advanced Band Sectionals

Thursday
8:00 AM Advanced Band and Beginning Band rehearsals
UIL Concert and Sight Reading Regional Evaluations - Cedar Hill High School - Cedar Hill TX

Friday
8:00 AM Advanced Band and Beginning Band rehearsals
Nothing after school

STAAR Tests this Week - UIL Contest next Week

Follow us on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/walkermsband

STAAR Tests will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday this week.  We will not have morning rehearsals on those days but we will have rehearsal after school for Advanced band after school every day except Friday.  There will be morning rehearsal for all students on Monday, Thursday and Friday

UIL Regional Contest is Next Week - Advanced band students should attend every before and after school rehearsal this week and next week.  Please see the schedule below

This Week in Band 3/31 - 4/4

Monday

8:00 AM   Advanced Band and Beginning Band rehearsals

3:45 - 4:45 Advanced Band Sectionals

Tuesday

 No Activities before School

3:45 - 4:45 Advanced Band Sectionals

Wednesday

No Activities before school

3:45 - 4:45 Advanced Band Sectionals

Thursday

8:00 AM Advanced Band and Beginning Band rehearsals

3:45 - 4:45 Advanced Band Sectionals

Friday

8:00 AM Advanced Band and Beginning Band rehearsals

Nothing after school

Next week in Band  4/7 - 4/11

Monday

8:00 AM   Advanced Band and Beginning Band rehearsals

3:45 - 4:45 Advanced Band Sectionals

Tuesday

8:00 AM   Advanced Band and Beginning Band rehearsals

3:45 - 4:45 Advanced Band Sectionals

Wednesday

8:00 AM Advanced Band and Beginning Band rehearsals

3:45 - 4:45 Advanced Band Sectionals

Thursday

8:00 AM Advanced Band and Beginning Band rehearsals
UIL Concert and Sight Reading Regional Evaluations - Cedar Hill High School - Cedar Hill TX

Friday

8:00 AM Advanced Band and Beginning Band rehearsals

Nothing after school

Progress Reports / Report Cards and Eligibility

Progress Reports / Report Cards and Eligibility

Student progress reports will be sent home this week.  A Report Card or  a Progress Report determines the student's eligibility to participate in competition for the next three weeks.  All classes must be passing with a 70% or higher in order for a student to be eligible.

Mark your calendars - Upcoming competitions

April 9 - UIL Regional Concert and Sight Reading - Advanced Band Only
April 26 - Sandy Lake Music Festival - Beginning and Advanced Bands

This Week in Band

Monday

8:00 AM   Advanced Band and Beginning Band rehearsals

Nothing After School

Tuesday

8:00 AM   Advanced Band and Beginning Band rehearsals

3:45 - 4:45 Advanced Band Section Rehearsal

Wednesday

8:00 AM Advanced Band and Beginning Band rehearsals

3:45 - 4:45 Advanced Band Rehearsal

Thursday

8:00 AM Advanced Band and Beginning Band rehearsals

3:45 - 4:45 Advanced Band Rehearsal

Friday

8:00 AM Advanced Band and Beginning Band rehearsals

Nothing after school

Contest Tomorrow!

Pre-UIL Band Evaluations - Wednesday March 19

Itinerary

• The students that are involved were notified and given a permission slip. 
• Students should arrive to the band hall in their Concert Dress Black clothes by 8:00 AM ready to play their instruments.

• Boys - Black or grey dress pants, shirt, shoes and socks.  Tie and jacket is optional.  
• Girls - Black or grey dress, or dress pants outfit.  Skirts MUST be knee length or longer.  

• Students should bring $7 for lunch at CiCi’s pizza, their instrument, their music, reeds, valve oil and all needed accessories and their permission slip. 
• All parents are welcome to travel with us and attend the performance

8:00 - Meet in the band hall, warm up and rehearse

9:15 - Pack and Load the bus

9:30 - Depart for Tasby Middle School 7001 Fair Oaks Ave., Dallas, TX 75231 | Phone:(972) 502-1900

10:00 - Arrive Tasby Middle School unpack and line up

10:15 - Warm time

10:45 - Concert Performance

11:15 - Sight Reading Performance

12:15 - Pack and load the bus

12:30 - Depart for CiCis pizza 7879 SPRING VALLEY RD

12:45 - Arrive at CiCis

1:30 - Depart for Walker Middle School

1:45 - Arrive at Walker - Go to 6th and 7th period classes

Back to School - Contest Wednesday!

Back to School Monday - Contest on Wednesday!

Our first Contest of the Spring is Wednesday March 19.

• Students should be practicing at least 15 minutes a day at home to prepare their music for performance
• We will be having required practice before and after school Monday and Tuesday.  8:00 AM - 8:45 each morning and 3:45 - 4:45 each afternoon.  Make arrangements for transportation.
• Wednesday morning we will meet in the Band Room at 8:00 am and load the bus to travel to the contest
•  This applies to the advanced band members who qualified by:

1. Making an "A" in band 90% or higher
2. Passing all classes on the last report card 70% or higher
3. Attended extra rehearsals and passed their music.   

Those students will be traveling by bus to Tasby Middle School Wednesday morning to perform at the Dallas ISD Concert and Sight-Reading Evaluations.

Students should "dress up" in their concert black or a combination of black and gray.   Boys should wear dress pants, shirt and shoes.  Ties and Jackets are optional.  Ties can be blue as an accent color.   Girls should wear a black or black and grey dress or skirt/blouse or dress pants outfit.  All skirts must be knee length or longer.  Girls can wear blue accessories as an accent color.  This is formal wear.  

What NOT to wear.  Students should not wear jeans, athletic shoes or anything outside of the guidelines listed above.  

Happy Spring Break! Apps for Band.

Hope everyone is having a great Spring Break!  Here is what's happening in band.

Students should download a "Tuner" app for their phone or tablet.  These apps greatly improve the students practice and ability to tune their playing with the rest of the students.  There are many good apps, some are free and some cost a dollar or so.  here is a list of what we recommend:

Best *****        Tonal Energy Tuner     

this one costs 3 or 4 bucks but would be worth ten times that.  It has a tuner, metronome, sound analyzer and the ability to record and playback  

Very Good***   Clear Tune               excellent tuner  $2
                           Pitch Lab Pro          multiple screens.  Sometimes free, sometimes 1 or 2 dollars


Good**          LinoStrobe Lite            Free
                       Da Tuner                     Free

Extra Credit Assignment!

Band Extra Credit assignment.

Parents!  An extra credit assignment was given today in class.  Ask your child if they have completed it.  Click on the "Documents" page of our website for details.  http://edwalkermsband.blogspot.com/ 

This week in Band! March Fourth! 3/4/14

Preparing for Contests

Only 6 rehearsals left until our first contest performance.  A little practice makes a big difference.

• During the week Band students should be practicing assignments at home for 15-20 minutes each day to prepare for performance.
• Take your instrument home over Spring Break and practice 20 - 30 minutes each day.
• Attend as many before and after school rehearsals as possible.  8 - 8:45 AM Mon. - Fri. and 3:45 - 4:45 Tue., Wed, Thur.

District Pre-UIL -                   March 19 -               Advanced Band
Regional UIL -                       April 9 -                    Advanced Band
Sandy Lake Music Fest          April 26                    Beginning and Advanced Band

All students are working hard and learning in class and accountable for classroom assignments.  Not all students will qualify to attend the contests/field trips.  Advanced band students have their first contest 2 days after we return from spring break!

 In order qualify a student must  do the following:

-Be making an A in band 90% or higher and passing all tests with a 94% or higher
-Pass all classes with 70% or higher on the most current report card and progress report
-Attend 3-5 before or after school rehearsals per week  See the weekly schedule below.

Monday

No School

Tuesday

8:00 AM   Advanced Band and Beginning Band rehearsals

3:45 - 4:45 Advanced Band Sectionals

Wednesday

8:00 AM Advanced Band and Beginning Band rehearsals

3:45 - 4:45 Advanced Band Sectionals

Thursday

8:00 AM Advanced Band and Beginning Band rehearsals

3:45 - 4:45 Advanced Band Sectionals

Friday

8:00 AM Advanced Band and Beginning Band rehearsals

Nothing after school

Ice/Weather Day

No School Today - March 3, 2014 - Rehearsals this week are critical.

Rehearsals this week are critical as we go into Spring Break, especially since we don't have Monday.  All advanced band students that are getting ready for Pre-UIL and all beginning band students that are attempting to qualify for Sandy Lake should attend every rehearsal if possible.  

Click on "Calendar" at the right to see all scheduled rehearsals and events
Follow us on Facebook at E.D. Walker Middle School Band or follow me on Twitter @JohnFlemons for all the Walker Band updates

Getting Ready for Contest and Spring Break - Weekly Schedule

Getting Ready for Contests!

Beginning and Advanced Bands are preparing to perform at several contests this semester.

District Pre-UIL -                   March 19 -               Advanced Band
Regional UIL -                       April 9 -                    Advanced Band
Sandy Lake Music Fest          April 26                    Beginning and Advanced Band

All students are working hard and learning in class and accountable for classroom assignments.  Not all students will qualify to attend the contests/field trips.  Advanced band students have their first contest 2 days after we return from spring break!

 In order qualify a student must  do the following:

-Be making an A 90% or higher and passing all tests with a 94% or higher
-Pass all classes with 70% or higher on the most current report card and progress report
-Attend 3-5 before or after school rehearsals per week  See the weekly schedule below.

Monday

8:00 AM   Advanced Band and Beginning Band rehearsals

3:45 - 4:45 Advanced Band Sectionals

Tuesday

8:00 AM   Advanced Band and Beginning Band rehearsals

3:45 - 4:45 Advanced Band Sectionals

Wednesday

8:00 AM Advanced Band and Beginning Band rehearsals

3:45 - 4:45 Advanced Band Sectionals

Thursday

8:00 AM Advanced Band and Beginning Band rehearsals

3:45 - 4:45 Advanced Band Sectionals

Friday

8:00 AM Advanced Band and Beginning Band rehearsals

Nothing after school

Follow E. D. Walker Middle School Band

Like us on Facebook
E. D. Walker Middle School Band is on Facebook now

you can find us at

www.facebook.com/walkermsband

This week in Band 2-21-14

Grading Period ends Friday 2-21  

The 4th 6 week grading period ends Friday 2-21.  The grades that students earn on that report card will determine eligibility for the next 3-6 weeks.  If ANY class is below 70% the will not be eligible for competition and field trips until they receive a progress report or report card with ALL classes passing at 70% or higher.

Before and after school rehearsal schedule

Students are preparing for competition and concerts.  Groups are rehearsing every day before schoolfrom 8:00 AM to 8:40.  Also, Tue, Wed and Thurs after school from 3:50 to 4:30.  See the schedule below.  Attending 3 - 5 morning rehearsals and 1 - 3 sectionals per week is required in order to qualify for competition / field trips.

Monday

No school - Teacher work day

Tuesday

8:00 AM  Advanced band rehearsal

3:45 - 4:45 Advanced Band Sectionals

Wednesday

8:00 AM Advanced Band and Beginning Band rehearsals

3:45 - 4:45 Advanced Band Sectionals

Thursday

8:00 AM Advanced Band and Beginning Band rehearsals

3:45 - 4:45 Advanced Band Sectionals

Friday

8:00 AM Advanced Band and Beginning Band rehearsals

Nothing after school

Open House Canceled due to Weather

The Open House performance and section rehearsal for Thursday Feb 6 has been canceled due to inclement weather.  Students should go home immediately after school as there are no band activities today after school.

Advanced Band performs at Open House Thursday Feb 6

E D Walker Open House Thursday Night Feb 6. 

Advanced band is performing at 6:30 pm in the auditorium. Students should wear their band t shirts. Students can stay after school until the performance. 

Performances and rehearsals

Thursday - Advanced band students should arrive between 6:00 and 6:30 wearing their band shirt and khaki pants for the performance. The show starts at 7:00 and we are first on the program.

Friday and Saturday - All-city band members report to Molina High for rehearsals and chair placement. Please follow the schedule that was given to students.

4 events this week

Four different events happen this week that are significant to our band




1 - All-City band rehearsal and performance on Friday and Saturday.

Four E.D. Walker band students made the All-City band this year and will be performing. They have already received detailed information as to the time and place they should be there.



2 - The Annual Variety Show. Rehearsal is Wednesday Evening and Performance is Thursday for the Advanced Band Students that are participating. See Calendar for details



3. After School section rehearsals begin. Advanced band students have 1 rehearsal per week after school in order to qualify for contest and field trips.



4. Before School daily rehearsals begin for all students beginners and advanced. 8:00 AM to 8:45 each day. These are not mandatory but highly encouraged.