From the desk of Josh Murray…

There are many opportunities for our most dedicated and talented students to audition for local, regional and state Honor Bands, with the approval of the Directors. If you are not sure which (if any) groups would be a good fit, please have the student speak with one of us, and we’ll help advise.

• ARC High School Honor Band. Held at American River College on December 4 and 5, and open to schools in the Sacramento area. This band is by Director recommendation only, and there is no audition. Interested Concert Band students should see me or Mr. Kiesner to apply. Accepted students will miss school on Friday, December 4th.  Informational flyer.
• CMEA (California Music Educators’ Association) Capitol Section Honor Band. This high-level Concert Band is by audition only, and is open to schools in the Sacramento area, as well as much of Northern California. Interested students must contact me soon to talk through details. Mr. Kiesner or I will preview all recorded application materials, and we will only submit recordings that exactly follow the printed directions and meet the minimum performance requirement for consideration. This determination will be at our discretion. Applicants must agree to participate in ALL scheduled events if they are accepted. I have linked two documents with information about the schedule of events, as well as the recorded audition requirements. The required excerpts and scales can be accessed in our dropbox- https://www.dropbox.com/sh/x7qyuf7m0g5subs/AAAmLWcgV3mRISQQ0iZ9j-fUa
  • CMEA Document 1
  • CMEA Document 2
• CBDA (California Band Directors’ Association) All-State Jazz and Concert Bands. These are extremely high-level groups, for students whose playing is near professional level. Follow this link- http://www.cbda.org/index.php/auditions for the audition materials, directions and scheduling information. Please let me know if you plan to make an audition recording. All submissions will be at our discretion, and sub-standard auditions or those which do not completely and accurately follow the directions, will not be submitted for consideration.
• TNT- Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society’s Honor Band. It’s a long-standing tradition in the Sacramento area, and dozens of Rio kids have taken part over the years. Auditions will be held on 9/15. Here is a flyer and more info- www.facebook.com/TNTSacramentoJazz

From the desk of Mr. Murray…

1. The Pep Band will be playing for two Friday night football games this year- September 11 and October 16. Both are ‘home’ games, but will be held at Del Campo High School. They are required events for ALL Rio Band students. If there is a conflict with either date, please have the student speak directly with Mr. Kiesner or Mr. Murray to work through it, as soon as possible. More details will come as we get closer. We are NOT playing for the football game this Friday, September 4.
2. SENIORS AND SENIOR PARENTS: This is the time of year when students are asking teachers to write letters of recommendations for college. Here are a few suggestions/ guidelines- Ask Politely! Treat it like the significant favor it is. Be organized! Keep in mind that writing a letter of recommendation takes roughly 1 hour per student. Give AT LEAST two weeks notice before the letter is due. Make sure to give a heartfelt ‘Thank you,’ from students AND parents after the letter is written and submitted.
3. It’s always advisable for students to study privately on their instruments, and we recommend (but we do not require) that they do so.  Here is our list of recommended private teachers on each instrument. There may be some others who should be included. We try to update it every year. If you’re not sure which teacher would be the best fit for your student, Mr Murray and Mr Kiesner can help with that decision.
4. THEATER CONSTRUCTION NEWS: We will be moving out of the music building, into temporary housing in existing portables between February 8 and 12. We’ll need to reschedule the Winter Concert and Small Ensemble Night scheduled for that week. We’ll also have a big ‘say goodbye to the band room’ party. More information when we have it.
5. THEATER CONSTRUCTION NEWS, PART 2: I will be suggesting that the new theater complex be named “The Craig Faniani Center for the Arts at Rio Americano”. Mr. Faniani was the Band Director here at Rio from 1981 to 2007, and I had the honor of working side by side with him for nine years. He built the program that we all love from the ground up, and without him, there would be no theater to name. Since leaving Rio, ‘Mr. F’ has been the Visual and Performing Arts Coordinator for SJUSD. His leadership helped our Arts programs avoid the draconian cuts made in nearly every other nearby district. He has positively affected thousands of students in his more than 35 years in SJUSD. The final say about the name for the facility will be up to the SJUSD school Board.
6. Look for more information about Honor Band opportunities soon.

Thanks to All!

We’re always looking for new ways to fundraise in support of our band program and students. We don’t sell chocolates, or wrapping paper, or discount cards, or anything else. I know how annoying and time-consuming those product sales can be. Here’s an easy way for all of us to help raise funds for Rio Band, without doing anything extra!

When shopping on Amazon, please use this link: https://smile.amazon.com/ch/68-0018985
A percentage of all sales will automatically be sent to RABB.
I have already bookmarked it, and will start shopping only through that link. It couldn’t be easier. One or two clicks and it’s set up. Don’t forget to bookmark it!

Thanks in advance for your help, and thanks to Erin Treadwell for setting up the account with Amazon.

Amazon Smile Link: https://smile.amazon.com/ch/68-0018985