Norwell High School Music Department

Just a quick update to let everyone know that we’re beginning the long process of editing and updating the 2007-08 Handbook.  Here are the most notable changes thus far:

1. Addition of all of the choral information to the handbook.  Thank you, Mrs. Cortright!
2. Addition of the two additional music classes being offered–Music Appreciation and Music Theory.
3. Addition of two additional band staff positions–Librarian and Publicist.
4. Significant revisions made to course syllabi to more accurately line up with the program of studies and to incorporate some minor policy changes.

There are obviously going to be many more revisions made to a wide variety of things, but those are the biggest chunks of text that are being improved upon.  The reason I bring this up, however, is to mention foremost that if you as parents or students wish to have something clarified or altered in some way, I’d like you to bring it to either my or Mrs. Cortright’s attention.  Please feel free to email us with any ideas you have.  Thanks!

-Mr. O’Briant

obriant@norwellschools.org

cortright@norwellschools.org

Congratulations on surviving through your last full day of school, seniors, and thank you for all the work and love you’ve put into music this year.  You certainly made my first year a lot smoother with your wit and wisdom, and you set the bar quite nicely for the underclassmen.

If I may take a moment away from being sentimental, however, there are a couple of housekeeping notes of which I must remind you:

1. We need your music back.  Please turn in everything in your folders except for: Pirates, Pomp and Circumstance, Flourish, Lip Benders, Auf meinen.  Also be sure to turn in your pep band flip folders.
2. If you’re using a school instrument, we’ll need that back as well.  Please clean out the case, and if you won’t be using the instrument at graduation, please clean it out as well so that we may pass said instrument (and not also the plague) down to a younger student.

Thanks, seniors, and looking forward to seeing you soon!

-Mr. O’Briant

Thanks to all of the students who made it out for the Memorial Day Parade this morning! In addition to being an artistic ensemble, we also serve as a group with important functions to the public, and we’ll continue to try to do that better each year.  I received a number of comments from those in attendance especially about how our solemn, heartfelt performance of Eternal Father, Strong to Save added a note of honor and respect to the proceedings.  Well done, everyone.

Every performance is a learning experience, and as such we’ll do everything we can to make it even better next year. I’d like to get in more time earlier in the year on marching basics, for instance, and revamp some of the standard repertoire. Most importantly, I think it’s extremely important that we continue to better integrate ourselves into the town’s fabric by becoming more actively involved in town events like this one! That should become easier as I continue to meet and get to know people like Mr. Richard Caldwell, who graciously organized today’s parade.

All told, I think it was a good first step towards even more successful future town events. Thank you to all of the students for coming out to play, the town for organizing this event, and to the elementary school students and their parents, many of whom I met today for the first time!

Have a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day.

-Mr. O’Briant

First, I should say that I hope everyone is enjoying the success of the Spring Concert.  Despite it being almost unbelievably hot in the hall, I’ve heard nothing but compliments from a fine cross-section of parents, faculty, administrators and students.  Bravo!

As regards Memorial Day (tomorrow), some quick notes:

1. Scheduled meeting time is 10am (show up before 10, please) at the corner of Lincoln and Main.  Bring your instrument and your flip folder.  Flip folders will be deposited at the green for the ceremony, as all music performed on the march will be played from memory.
2. Appropriate dress is white shirt and khaki shorts with comfortable marching sneakers.  Sunglasses are allowed, but hats are not.  Be sure that your white shirt doesn’t have distracting text or graphics.
3. Assume the parade is on unless you hear by phone from either me or one of the band staff students (Neves, Bourque, O’Hara, Wheeler, Tobin).

Hope you’re enjoying your weekend, and looking forward to the remainder of the school year!

-Mr. O’Briant

We hope to see lots of friends, family and community members tomorrow night (Thursday) at 7pm in the NHS Auditorium for the Norwell High School Music Department’s annual Spring Concert!

The students have worked very diligently to prepare for this performance, the last concert of our graduating seniors’ high school careers.  We all hope that you’ll come out to support them!   Admission, of course, is free.  Donations will be accepted and refreshments will be available during the intermission.

Featured ensembles:

• NHS Symphonic Band
• NHS Chorus
• NHS Jazz Workshops

Admittedly, the posts have been a bit sparse as of late; spring is the busiest time of year here!  Suffice it to say, however, that preparations for the Spring Concert are churning along quite nicely, and that we’re very excited to be able to get up on stage.  The students have grown so much over the course of the year, and are becoming fine young musicians!

Tonight, at 7pm in the NHS Auditorium, we’re hosting an open rehearsal.  We usually try to fit in a night rehearsal sometime during the week before a concert, but in addition to that this time around we’d like to open it up to interested observers–specifically NMS students, but anyone who wants to see us operate is more than welcome to attend!

For anyone who can’t make it out tonight, we hope to see you Thursday night at 7pm sharp!

-Mr. O’Briant

Ourania Tsekeris has again volunteered to coordinate refreshment sales for next Thursday night’s Spring Concert.  If you are interested in helping out during intermission and/or in bringing food or drink to be sold at intermission, please contact her at grekou@comcast.net to touch base with her and let her know what you can contribute.

As a reminder, the concert begins at 7pm next Thursday, May 24th, so if you are planning on bringing something to be sold, please arrive early.  Thank you for all of your help, time and effort!

1) We have four upcoming mandatory events:

• Monday, May 21st (7pm): Open Rehearsal, NHS Auditorium
• Thursday, May 24th (7pm): Spring Concert, NHS Auditorium
• Monday, May 28th (10am): Memorial Day Parade, meet at corner of Main and Lincoln
• Saturday, June 9th (5pm): Graduation, NHS

2) Concert dress for the upcoming performances! (Same as in handbook)

• Open Rehearsal, May 21: Regular school clothes.
• Spring Concert, May 24, and Graduation, June 9:
  • Men: White, collared, button-down, long-sleeve shirt.  Black long tie.  Black dress pants.  Black dress shoes.  Black socks.
  • Ladies: All black, either blouse/skirt, blouse/dress pants, dress.  All skirts must hang below the knee while seated.  Black dress shoes.
  • Both: No excessive or reflective jewelry.
• Memorial Day Parade, May 28th: Plain white polo, button-down or nice-looking t-shirt, no graphics.  Khaki shorts.  Comfortable marching sneakers.  NO FLIP-FLOPS or SANDALS.

Attention Symphonic Band!  We have a full rehearsal on Wednesday, May 9th during period 4, to go over marching materials for the Memorial Day parade.  I expect everyone not taking an AP exam during that time slot to be there wearing comfortable sneakers.  Continue to prepare your memorized material for that rehearsal, and expect to play without flip folders!

-Mr. O’Briant

Monday, May 21st, the Norwell High School Symphonic Band is hosting an open rehearsal of its Spring Concert program.  This event, while geared primarily towards Norwell Middle School music students, is open to the public and is free of charge.  It is a rare chance to sit behind the scenes of final preparations for a concert and see what makes our proverbial clock tick.

It begins at 7:00pm in the Norwell High School auditorium, at 18 South St. in Norwell, MA.