Director's Message

Steve Panoff, Band Director

July 20, 2007 Letter

Dear Members of the Westfield Band Family,

It is with great pride and pleasure that I welcome you to the 2007-2008 school year and the exciting world that is the Westfield High School Band. We have an exciting year ahead of us including our performance at Carnegie Hall in April 2008. In addition, the Westfield Wind Symphony has been invited to perform at UVA and Shenandoah University. I am looking forward to a great year and hope we can all work together to make the Westfield Band the very best it can be. We need all of us to work together to make a successful band program.

I am looking forward to our marching band show, "The Gift of Freedom". During the year, we are going to make a special effort to honor those who have fought so hard for our freedom. As a point of information, we have developed our own band web site. Please visit this site often for news, info, forms, and contact information. It is the core of our communication system.

In lieu of a mailed band registration packet, registration forms are instead provided on the band web site under the "Forms/Music" menu (this link will go live early in August). Please download and bring the completed forms to our first meeting for all band parents and students (i.e., marches and non-marchers, including color guard) on Sunday, August 12 at 6:00pm in the auditorium. Band registration fees will also be collected at this meeting (a description and explanation of the restructured band fee program is provided on the web site with the registration forms). If you have notified me of a conflict, please bring your materials as soon as possible following the meeting. If you would prefer to receive the registration packet by mail, please either email Debbie Falatko, Band Booster President at president@westfieldband.org. Please also email Mrs. Falatko if you are not yet on our band booster email list.

We have a great task ahead of us. I know each and everyone of you are up to it! I know I can count on your support. Please read all of the information mailed earlier regarding band camp and start of marching season. We want to make sure we all get off to a great start.

I if can be of any assistance, please let me know.

Sincerely,

Steve Panoff, Director of Bands

Westfield High School

COMMUNICATION

It is really important that we stay in touch. My current e-mail is stephen.panoff@fcps.edu. Do not hesitate to write and say hello or call me if you have questions.

ATTENDANCE

• Students are expected to attend all after school rehearsals for ensembles in which they participate. A schedule of events will be given out well in advance. Work schedules should he adjusted accordingly.
• Excused and unexcused absences/tardies will be determined by the guidelines outlined in the school attendance policy. Students should bring excuse notes for any absences or tardies. If a student has a conflict, they should make arrangements with the director before hand.
• Remember, that ALL practices and performances are part of your grade. If there are any conflicts with a scheduled event or practice, you must inform the director. ONLY the director will excuse absences.
• If you are thinking of scheduling something, just check with me first to avoid issues. A schedule of band camp and marching dates are enclosed. We will rehearse on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the afternoon and Wednesday evening for marching band.
• The concert schedule will follow a similar pattern, except each band will rehearse on a particular day of the week.

STUDENT EXPECTATIONS

• Students are expected to participate in daily rehearsals *Students are expected to practice at home on a regular basis *Students should try to secure private instruction if possible
• Students will be on time to class and conduct themselves in an orderly, musical fashion. Students should respect themselves, their peers, instructors, and the band facility.
• Students will attend all performances
• Wind Symphony students are encouraged to audition for Regional Orchestra (info at www.vboda.org)
• Wind Symphony and Symphonic band students are required to audition for all district hand, participate in marching band, and participate in solo and ensemble.
• Concert Band Students are required to participate in solo and ensemble and are highly encouraged to participate in marching band.
• Students are expected to work hard and enthusiastically to achieve their highest level of musical potential.
• Students are expected to have FUN!!

PARENT EXPECTATIONS:

• Participate in your child’s music education
• Support your child’s music education
• Volunteer
• Come to all Booster Meetings
• Come to all performances
• Support the band director and communicate if there are issues
• Parents are expected to have FUN too!!!