JAMS Music announcements from Debra Schaaf

Music Announcements

First meeting of Friends of Jane Addams Music (FOJAM): Wednesday, June 11, 7 pm, JAMS Library: This organization will support the JAMS Music Department to ensure high-quality experiences for all music students. Please join us!!

Music Mailing List

If you haven’t already, please register your email address and child’s information here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/14qCTd2KY00wGNm8LfSa3IZ6cU2O35fKTyCoyL8prWCs/viewform

6^th Grade Music Placement Audition Dates

There will be 4 levels each of Concert Band and String Orchestra available at JAMS next year. Try-outs for placement in Band and Orchestra Classes will be held Saturday, June 7 and Saturday, June 14 at JAMS. An audition is NOT necessary for students who wish to join band or orchestra for the first time, or who would like to begin a new instrument.

Students should bring their instrument and music/book, and should be prepared to play something that they feel they play well.

Here is the link to the sign-up for BAND (Flute, Oboe, Bassoon, Clarinet, all saxes, Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone, Baritone/Euphonium, Tuba, Percussion.): http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4BAEAA2BABF58-band

Here is the link to the sign-up for ORCHESTRA: (Violin, Viola, Cello, String Bass): http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4BAEAA2BABF58-orchestra

7^th and 8^th Grade Placement

Students from Hamilton and Eckstein Middle Schools will be placed in band or orchestra classes based on recommendations from Mr. Rowe, Mrs. Armaly, Mr. Escobedo, and Mr. Smith. Students transferring from other middle schools will need to audition for placement. Please use one of the links above to sign up.

Senior Jazz Audition Date

Admission to Sr. Jazz is by audition only; at least a year of Junior Jazz experience is required. Instrumentation is limited to standard big-band: alto, tenor and baritone saxes; trumpets; trombones; and rhythm section. Auditions for Senior Jazz Band will be held Friday, June 13 at JAMS. Students should be prepared to play:

Horns: (saxes, trumpets & trombones): two different major scales of their choice (one of which must be two octaves) and one chromatic scale (preferably two octaves), a piece that demonstrates understanding of jazz style, a demonstration of improvisation (optional; concert B flat blues is recommended. There are high-quality backing tracks available on Youtube for practice, or you can use Jamey Aebersold discs) and sight-reading.

Piano, bass, guitar: a prepared piece that demonstrates understanding of jazz style, a demonstration of improvisation (optional; concert B flat blues is recommended) and sight-reading

Drum Set: demonstrate steady time in three different styles: Swing, Latin of your choice, third style of your choice; sight-reading.

Although this sounds like a lot, I promise to keep this as low-key and low-stress as possible, and am thinking of this as a first opportunity to get to know students individually and to just find out what they know and can already do. If there’s something listed in the audition requirements that students are unsure of, DON’T PANIC! We’re here to learn!!

Here is the link to the sign-up for SR. JAZZ: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4BAEAA2BABF58-srjazz

Junior Jazz Sign-up

Junior Jazz is open to students who have at least one year of experience on their instrument. Sign-up forms will be available after the start of school. Junior Jazz will meet twice a week after school on Wednesdays and Fridays, and will be taught by Colin Pulkrabek.

Questions? Contact Deborah Schaaf: deschaaf@seattleschools.org

Instrument Rentals

If you are new to band or orchestra, you will need an instrument! Renting an instrument generally costs between $25 and $45 per month. Here is a list of shops that provide rental services:

The Bass Church: (specializing in double bass)

9716 Phinney Ave N

Seattle, WA 98103

(206) 784-6626

Bischofberger Violins: (Violin, viola cello)

1314 E John St

Seattle, WA 98102

(206) 324-3119

Capitol Music Center:

1006 NE 50^th Street

Seattle, WA  98105

(206) 622-0171

Hammond-Ashley Violins: (All orchestral strings, including double bass)

320 Third Ave NE

Issaquah, WA  98027

(425) 392-396

Kennelly Keys Music:

Across the street from Northgate Mall
10720 5th Ave. NE
Seattle, WA 98125
(206) 440-8299

Metropolitan Music:

8414 5^th Ave NE

Seattle, WA 98115

(206) 729-9299

Mills Music:

13500 Bel Red Road Suite A

Bellevue, WA 98005

(425) 643-3100

Seattle Sound Repair

4122 Stone Way N

Seattle, WA  98103

(206) 659-9023

It is the policy of the JAMS Music Department that every interested student be able to participate, regardless of his/her family’s ability to provide an instrument. If instrument rental causes financial hardship, please contact us about borrowing a school instrument.

JAMS PTSA's website: the best, most immediate source of information

Hopefully, many readers have already discovered the JAMS PTSA official website:

www.jamsptsa.org 

The PTSA website is undoubtedly the best source of updated information about events and developments at JAMS.  There is also the JAMS Fusion page, jams.www.seattleschools.org (yes, that's correct), which is perhaps less user-friendly, but has detailed announcements that Paula Montgomery posts directly.

Both of these resources include the option for you to sign up to receive email updates. We encourage you to join these email lists.  You'll get news about topics such as the election of PTSA officers, ongoing hiring of teachers, and upcoming meetings for your children to get to know their new school.

A note about this blog:
You will have noticed that the posts on this blog have been few and far between as of late -- this is partly due to personal pressures and partly due to the fact that the PTSA and Ms. Montgomery now have direct means of communication with the JAMS community.  This blog was created back when JAMS was only an idea, and there were no other sources of information and organization. Now, there are other, centralized sources of direct information. The blog will continue to exist, but it will exist mainly in the form of discussions rather than intermittent news blasts. Please send your suggestions for topics to janeaddamsmsblog@gmail.com.  Thanks!