VALLEY CENTER
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
The Valley Center Band Program is under the direction of
Jan Verboom & Kara Whitaker.
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The Valley Center Band Program maintains a very active schedule. Please check out the calendar or your individual school's page for more detailed information.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Look at the VCHS/VCMS/VCIS Band Sections of the Website for more details on Info/Schedules & Times.
Please refer to the Google Calendar for dates for the entire year. You may use the Website Calendar Section or the Calendar Button. The google calendar can be synced with your personal calendar.
SLACK Communication Update 2020 for the VCHS Band
Hello band parents and current members! This year we will be trying the app “Slack” as a means of communication. This app is easy to use and we will be able to effectively communicate to all who are on it. We will NOT be utilizing “Remind” any longer. To become included in the band reminders on Slack, please follow these steps:
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Download the Slack app (it’s free!)
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Click on this link https://join.slack.com/t/vchsband/shared_invite/zt-gd4efrf5-vDzDqkJGWvmy8ZKV8wkhww
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It will ask for you to type on your name as you want it shown to everyone.
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You will then be added to the band reminders channel.
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Leadership will be added to a separate page as well.
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Once you join the band remind page, you will see this message:
“Hey guys! Welcome to the new remind! The chat function is open to everyone, however we ask that only those talked to by staff post messages to keep the reminders clear and accessible. If you ever have any questions, you can respond to posted messages or chat with staff directly.
IMPORTANT: Once you have joined the chat, click on the ( i ) icon in the top right corner. There you can ensure notifications are set to every message and the channel is not muted to ensure you don't miss a thing!”
If any questions arise, please e-mail me at kara.whitaker@usd262.net. Thanks!
Kara WhitakerCo-Director of Bands
Valley Center USD 262
December Events & Performances:
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Thursday, Dec. 9th: VCMS Choir/Band Christmas Concert
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Monday, Dec. 13th: VCHS Choir/Band Christmas Concert (Choirs, Christmas Brass, Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble)
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Tuesday, Dec. 14th-16th: HS Concert Ensembles Auditions for Wind Ensemble/Concert Band along with chair placement are due by 3pm.
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Tuesday, Dec. 14th: HS Pep Band BB vs. Andover Central
We are selling Christmas ornaments again this year. There are 3 options and they are $10 each. If you would like to order, please complete the google form by 11/30/21. We will have them ready for pickup before Christmas.
https://forms.gle/MvHsqNSKStonn75C7
Please let us know if you have any questions.
January 2022 Events & Performances:
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Tuesday, January 4th: HS Pep Band BB vs. Ark City
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Saturday, Jan. 8th: KMEA State Band/Orchestra/Jazz/Choir Auditiona @ Salina South HS.
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Thursday, Jan. 20th-Saturday, January 22nd: HS Pep Band BB January Jam
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Monday, Jan. 24th: HS Percussion Ensemble Begins. Goes every Monday up to Regional Solo/Ensemble Festival in April.
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Tuesday, Jan. 25th: MS Jazz Ensemble Begins. Goes every Tuesday & Thursday up to the District Mass Band Concert in May.
ABOUT THE VALLEY CENTER BAND PROGRAM
We are excited about our upcoming events and hope that you'll be able to join us for some of them! Music education is a valuable part of developing well rounded students. We strive to present our students with as many opportunities as possible in a supportive environment.
Often a single concert or presentation measures the success of a music program. While it is true that a performance demonstrates the students' mastery of skills, it is only one aspect of our comprehensive music curriculum. Instrumental music classes in Valley Center are designed to prepare students to be responsible citizens in tomorrow's society. What is it about music learning that offers young musicians a head start over their non-musician counterparts?
* Music develops interpersonal skills such as teamwork, leadership, communication, negotiation and working with others; the basic personal attributes required for problem-solving in our modern day workplace.
* Music stimulates the creative, curious, and imaginative mind - the mental building blocks for critical thinking and self-motivation.
* Since much of music is active learning, it links the creative thought process to reality. The following quote is an excerpt from The Value of the Arts, created by the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities - 1993:
...Some skills taught only in the arts are as important to science as they are to art. Among these tools are playing, abstracting, building models and recognizing patterns. Non-verbal skills allow people to imagine and visualize new realities before they can be proven by logic or scientific experiment.....
When our students are in the act of making decisions based on present moment choices, they replicate the same thought processes used in expressing music. This is a human quality that must be developed; it is the foundation for all problem-solving skills.
When we take a holistic view of music learning, we develop a new perspective and appreciation for our school's music program. Music is important in the life of your child, our community, and our society as a whole.