AFM Weekly Newsletter                        Mar 3, 2011   
AFM Members General Meeting, Thursday, Mar 10, 7 pm   
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ALL-MEMBERS MEETING 

AFM Message from the President  

Amador Music Families: 

 

On March 10 at 7:00 pm in the Choir Room, there is an ALL-MEMBERS MEETING.  This will be a short meeting but it is IMPORTANT.  We will bring you up to date on the dialogue with the district regarding 7 Periods for High School in 2011-12; inform you about the process of selecting AFM Board candidates for next year; and give you an opportunity to meet other music parents and form tables for the Magic of Music!  Members in attendance are automatically entered for a FREE raffle for 2 Magic of Music tickets!!  Q and A's to follow.  One hour or less!  All good things for our music community.

Please plan to be there!

Marilyn Palowitch,
AFM President.

A Reminder regarding instrument security   

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All students should be securing instruments in their band room lockers with a lock, and should not be sharing their key or combination with others.  Personally-owned instruments (i.e. not school instruments) are not insured by AFM or PUSD.  It is recommended that you check with your homeowner's insurance carrier to review the coverage of expensive instruments; some companies offer separate riders for musical instruments (State Farm is one of them) that carry no deductible.  It is also recommended that students take their instruments home at the end of each day. 
Amador winter groups shine this weekend 

 

Congratulations to the winter percussion for taking first place at the NCPA show at

James Logan High School on Saturday. The winterguard brought home 2nd place honors (out of 13 groups!) at the WGI Ceres Regional this weekend.  Congratulations to the students and instructors of both groups.

 

 

CMEA Band Festival @ California High School:  

CMEA band festival is the significant assessment of each of the four

concert bands from a panel of judges.  Students perform 3 prepared concert selections and then sight-read to test for music literacy skills.  This festival is the highlight of the 2nd semester thus far and showcases weeks of hard work to ready the ensembles for the festival.  Attendance is mandatory and parents are welcome to attend (and are responsible for transporting their child to/from the event.)

 

Friday April 15

Wind Symphony

4:30-6:00 pm

Wind Ensemble II

7:25-9:00 pm

Wind Ensemble I 8:50-10:30 pm

 

Saturday April 16

Symphonic Band

10:10 am-11:45

 

Do you have a child in 2nd period Wind Symphony?
If so, keep reading!  On Thursday March 31, all Wind Symphony members will be performing in a shared concert with musicians from Saratoga High School in the beautiful McAfee Theater on Saratoga's campus.  We have planned a pre-concert rehearsal and dinner for the musicians from both schools.  Students will need to arrive at Saratoga High School at 4:30 pm.  We are using carpools to get the kids to and from Saratoga for the performance. The planning for that needs to begin now so all 65 students have rides
arranged. Any parents who drive will have dinner provided for them by the Saratoga Music Boosters and of course all parents are invited to attend the concert at 7:30 pm. 

 

Thanks to the following for volunteering to drive to Saratoga!  We've got a 1/3 of the band covered already!
Mark Garrett, Annette Buck, Nalanda Bowman, Justin Briggs,
Meri McCoy-Thompson and Jody Harcourt 

 

Please e-mail me if you can drive students and let me know how many. Thanks for your help with getting this done early!

 
Jon Grantham
Director of Bands 


Are you getting all your AVHS music emails?   

   

Well, if you are getting this email, the answer is probably yes.  Still, it is helpful to occasionally check to be sure your email addresses are current at  www.amadormusic.org.

 

Login with ID and password, then check to be sure the emails listed for you and your family are those you most often use.  These are the emails we use for communication, invoicing and invitations to special events!  Don't miss a thing - and update your emails today!  



Magic of Music Donations!!!   

As you may know, our Magic of Music fund raiser is nearly upon us. Each year the silent and live auctions raise thousands of dollars which fund strategic investments in our music programs. For example, last year we bought new uniforms, which were entirely funded by the previous five Magic of Music events, as well as new field drums for our percussion section. Donations from parents and students have historically been some of the most popular items and I urge everyone to participate.
 
Below are some suggestions for how you can donate. Please find one or more that you would like to offer, or come up with your own creative donation. Fill out the this form and return it and your donation to me before March 15th.  If you're creating a package, please make it "auction ready" in an attractive container (basket, covered box, or your unique container.) With everyone's assistance, we look forward to a fun and successful Magic of Music.

If you have any questions don't hesitate to call or email.

Thanks,

1. Make it Easy!  Purchase a gift card through Scrip - Not only will you get an item to donate, but you will also make a contribution to your student's account.  

Scrip Suggestions:  American Airlines, Amazon.com, Best Buy, P.F. Changs, Cheesecake Factory, Hyatt Hotels, Big 5 Sporting Goods, Disney, Home Depot, Regal Cinema, Mimi's Café, Red Robin, Pottery Barn, Marriott Hotels, Starbucks, iTunes

2. Talent or Service: Do you have a special dinner or baked treat that you prepare?  Are you handy with tools or paint?  Are you a computer wizard or some type of instructor?

3. Season Tickets or Vacation Homes:  Do you have a vacation home that you would let someone have for a weekend?  How about season tickets to sporting events, plays, or the symphony? Frequent flier miles can also be donated.

4. Golf:  Do you belong to a country club or have a favorite course that might donate a round?

5. Soliciting From a Friend or Business:  Do you have a neighbor, friend or relative that owns a business?  Do you have a restaurant, hair salon, nail salon or other business you frequent?  Businesses often will give a donation to a valued customer. Don't forget about your employer as a possible donor.