Weekly Beat | Middle School Edition | December
UPCOMING BAND CONCERTS THIS WEEK
→ Tues Dec 7 — 7-8:30pm - Union 8th Grade Bands Concert, UPAC
→ Thur Dec 9 — 6:30pm and 7:30pm - Union 6th Grade Band Class Performances, 6th and 7th Center
→ Mon Dec 13 — 7-8:30pm - Union 7th Grade Bands in Concert, UPAC
FOR 6TH GRADE PARENTS
On Thursday, December 9, your child will have his/her first ever performance on their instrument — congratulations!
We know what you are thinking… “Are you sure they are ready? Because some of the sounds I’m hearing at home don’t quite seem performance-ready!” Please rest assured that they are ready and EXCITED to perform for you and share what they have learned. As you mark this moment in their educational development, we hope that you will CELEBRATE it with your child. Make a big deal out of it and tell the world how proud you are that they are learning an instrument.
This first concert is a snapshot of their growth, much like when parents make a notch in the doorframe to mark their child’s height. Without these “sharing moments”, their growth as musicians would pass unremarked, so this is a BIG deal. You may even want to consider asking them to do a private concert for you at home as a practice run!
We hope you will cherish this moment in time, as the beginning of a wonderful adventure of growth and exploration. In many ways, your child’s progress in music will mirror their maturation as an individual. Studying music will foster self-confidence, goal setting, problem-solving skills, and perseverance. As they become better musicians, they in turn will become better people.
You and your child have begun a wonderful journey, and we look forward to supporting you in the coming months and years. Celebrate this moment!
See you on the evening of Thursday, December 9!
Your Union Bands Faculty
ESPECIALLY FOR PARENTS OF 7th & 8th GRADERS
The Union 8th Grade Band did a terrific job at the High School Football Game on October 29. And we look forward to upcoming performances: 8th Grade Concert on Tues. Dec. 7, 7:00pm at the UPAC, and the 7th Grade Concert on Mon. Dec. 13, 7:00pm at the UPAC!
We’d be lying if I told you that we’ve never had this conversation with a parent:
“My child enjoys music, but they just aren’t passionate about it, so we are going to explore other interests…”
At first pass, this may seem like a logical thought process. But somewhere recently we read that passion develops as a result of time and mastery and that takes more than just one year. While it may seem like they’ve been playing their instruments for quite a while, in the grand scheme of things, they are still young and developing musicians. You wouldn’t take this same approach with math, science, or history.
To be passionate means to have found success, and being successful in music takes time. In today’s “I need it now” world, music is a test of patience and tenacity that will yield great dividends to those who see it through.
Many students who showed marginal success as beginners blossom into highly skilled musicians after time. We’ve even had a few disinterested musicians tell us that they want to pursue a career in music. Their enjoyment and passion grew into something more over time.
We fully understand, accept, and embrace the fact that most of these children will not pursue music as a profession in the same way that most math students will not be mathematicians, most science students will not become scientists, and most history students will not become historians.
For many students, the pandemic slowed their progress and made learning an instrument even more challenging than it already is. Now is the time to double-down and show them that we are proud of them for sticking with it. After all, if you can learn an instrument in a pandemic, you can do anything!
And, it’s not just about learning to play an instrument.
We pursue music to develop our brains. We pursue music to appreciate beauty. We pursue music to appreciate a challenge and learn to overcome obstacles. But most of all, we pursue music to be human. And that is the one thing we know ALL students will be: human.
Sincerely and with best wishes for a wonderful holiday season,
Your Union Bands Faculty
7TH GRADE CONCERT REMINDER
The concert will be at the Union High School Performing Arts Center (UPAC) on Monday, December 13th, at 7:00pm. The students will need to arrive before 6:30pm. Please park in the south parking lot of the high school. Everyone will enter through the South Entrance of the High School. This is a required concert for all 7th grade band students, and they are required to stay for the whole concert. The concert is free to everyone. Feel free to invite family and friends to the concert!
The students are required to have an all black concert attire. By now most everyone should have acquired this all black concert attire. If you have not, please try to find time this week to purchase the black attire.
Ladies:
Black dress pants
Long-sleeved black dress shirt (3/4 sleeves are acceptable)
Closed-toe black dress shoes with TALL black socks
Gentlemen:
- Black dress pants
- Long-sleeve black dress shirt
- Black belt (optional, but if wearing belt, it needs to be black)
- Black dress shoes and TALL black socks
*No bare arms above the elbow or bare legs are allowed
Please click on the link below to fill out a form to have contact information updated.
https://unionbands.wufoo.com/forms/s1frwoji09viasp/
If you have any questions, please contact me at gomez.adrian@unionps.org or 918-357-8097.
Thank you so much for your support of this concert! We look forward to seeing you at the concert.
God Bless,
Adrian Gomez
7th Grade Band Coordinator
Anticipated Fundraising Availability
Chocolate and Beef Sticks are available for in-class pickup at the 6/7th and 8th Grade Centers on Thursdays (Sometimes Fridays at the director's discretion) when ordered by 3pm WEDNESDAYS.
Sign up for our REMIND for fundraiser delivery information. Text @ubpc-fundr to 81010
Our next feature fundraiser is Wreaths & Poinsettias. Look for information next week!
RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO YOU
Check out our website for all sorts of important information and available resources for the budding musician.
Here you can find vital information from your directors, class information, places on where you purchase band supplies, and much more.
class reminder
Parents - please help remind your student every day to bring:
band instrument
binder with music
pencil
stay connected using Union band parents club remind subscriptions
FUNDRAISING:
Text @ubpc-fundr to 81010
DRILLERS/ONEOK FIELD WORK OPPORTUNITIES:
Text @ubpc-drill to 81010
OFFSITE WORK OPPORTUNITIES:
Text @ubpc-osite to 81010
CONCESSION WORK OPPORTUNITIES:
Text @ubpc-conc to 81010
MERCHANDISE:
Text @ubpcmerch to 81010
UBPC BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
Text @ubpc-board to 81010
DRILLERS/ROUGHNECKS WORKERS earn money towards thier band accounts!
School has started is in full swing and we need workers at the Drillers and Roughnecks games at OneOK Field. We need cashiers and student runners for our Dippin’ Dots stand that is typically run by our students! We could definitely use everyone’s help as the Drillers and Roughnecks season continues through to October. SIGN UP HERE.
ONEOK WORK OPPORTUNITIES
Check ALL tabs on the sign-up page for upcoming events at OneOk Field TO FIND THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY TO WORK. Details HERE.
Weekly Beat | Middle School Edition | October 28th
Middle School Corner
“Music isn’t fun anymore!” This is the clarion call of October. I’m sure you have heard your child say it. If you haven’t, it’s likely coming soon! Don’t worry — it’s natural and almost predictable. It’s part of the ebb and flow of any rigorous activity.
The repetition and grind associated with daily rehearsals, combined with mounting academic pressures and the challenges of the ongoing pandemic can take a toll.
Add in after-school activities, tests, sports, and the other responsibilities associated with being a student, and he or she might be right: music might not always be fun.
Here’s a secret… It’s not supposed to always be fun. It’s supposed to be life-changing.
Yes, maybe at this very moment, music isn’t “fun.” But, do you know what music is?
Music is worthwhile.
It’s character-building, memory-making, and friendship-fostering.
Music is working hard with the same people, fighting through the tough days, and celebrating the good ones together.
Music is life-changing. That’s what music is.
Thanks for all you do to make your children successful, both in music and in all their other pursuits.
Have a great transition to the fall season, and please let us know how we can continue helping make music a life-changing part of your child’s life.
You Union Bands Faculty contact us
especially for 6th grade parents
This school year is different than years past. We are teaching and learning in ways we weren’t accustomed to before the pandemic. And through it all, you and your child are navigating the world of music. New beginnings are exciting, but the shine can wear off fast when your child hears their least favorite word: PRACTICE.
Listen, few people actually like to practice — it’s like musical homework! And what kid likes homework?
We know that practicing can be a fight that you don’t want or need — especially right now. It’s not so much what they practice, but that they practice, even if it is for just 10 minutes. Routine matters now more than ever.
In your role as a parent, you can make a big difference when it comes to practicing. You don’t have to know anything about their instrument or about music. Helping your child set aside a regular, dedicated time for practice over these initial months can have a dramatic effect on their trajectory as a musician!
What does regular practice look like? For a beginner, shorter, frequent sessions are better. It takes time to develop the ability to practice in a focused, sustained manner. Set a schedule and try and stick to it so they develop a routine. As they work through their materials, prompt them with, “That was great. Can I hear that again?” Or, “Awesome! You should play that for your brother/sister/parent.” You will trick them into practicing without them even knowing it! Sneaky? Yes! But it works!
The key to guided practice is a consistent schedule and repetition. If you can get them to sit down regularly and play things multiple times, the improvement will be significant! Please know that you are a crucial part of setting up your child for success in music, and we’re here to help you. If you have questions or struggles, please feel free to reach out to us.
Thank you for reading — and thank you for all that you are doing to support your child’s musical journey.
Sincerely,
Your Union Bands Faculty
Anticipated Fundraising Availability
LET'S PAY OUR BAND FEES WITH FUNDRAISING!
Chocolate and Beef Sticks are available for in-class pickup at the 6/7th and 8th Grade Centers on Thursdays (and sometimes Fridays at the director's discretion) when ordered by 3pm on WEDNESDAYS.
Chocolate and Beef Sticks are also available for checkout on:
Thurs 10/28 during the RR Full Ensemble practice/Resource Night/Butter Braid Money Turn in at the High School inside the doors that lead to the band room and are adjacent to the bus loop from 6:00-7:00PM.
Thurs 11/4 after the Macy’s Practice at the High School inside the doors that lead to the band room and are adjacent to the bus loop from 6:00-6:30PM.
Our current feature fundraiser is Butter Braids
*NOTE: Order totals due noon Thursday, October 28, 2021 via live link on our fundraising page.
*If you have more orders come in AFTER you input your order, Please RE-INPUT the TOTAL order (quantities you previously input plus the new quantities).
*If possible, UBPC prefers one check for your students' sales $ total.
Sign up for our REMIND for fundraiser delivery information. Text @ubpc-fundr to 81010
Our next feature fundraiser is Wreaths & Poinsettias. Look for information next week!
RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO YOU
Check out our website for all sorts of important information and available resources for the budding musician.
Here you can find vital information from your directors, class information, places on where you purchase band supplies, and much more.
class reminder
Parents - please help remind your student every day to bring:
band instrument
binder with music
pencil
eaRn money volunteering at STADIUM CONCESSIONS
We are enlisting workers (students AND parents) to help us at all of our upcoming events! Reminder that all hours earn money towards YOUR student’s band account.
Come be part of the fun!
stay connected using Union band parents club remind subscriptions
FUNDRAISING:
Text @ubpc-fundr to 81010
DRILLERS/ONEOK FIELD WORK OPPORTUNITIES:
Text @ubpc-drill to 81010
OFFSITE WORK OPPORTUNITIES:
Text @ubpc-osite to 81010
CONCESSION WORK OPPORTUNITIES:
Text @ubpc-conc to 81010
MERCHANDISE:
Text @ubpcmerch to 81010
UBPC BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
Text @ubpc-board to 81010
DRILLERS/ROUGHNECKS WORKERS earn money towards thier band accounts!
School has started is in full swing and we need workers at the Drillers and Roughnecks games at OneOK Field. We need cashiers and student runners for our Dippin’ Dots stand that is typically run by our students! We could definitely use everyone’s help as the Drillers and Roughnecks season continues through to October. SIGN UP HERE.
ONEOK WORK OPPORTUNITIES
Check ALL tabs on the sign-up page for upcoming events at OneOk Field TO FIND THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY TO WORK. Details HERE.
