May 2008

To:  All Southside Rebel Band Members and their Parents

 From:  Steve Kesner and Sean Carrier

Although it seems like your summer break has just begun, we wanted to go ahead and send you a letter welcoming you to the 2008-09 edition of the Southside Rebel Band.  The Rebel Band has a national reputation of excellence and has earned that reputation because of students like you.  We want you to be proud of that heritage and work to do your best to achieve personally, and as a team, to preserve and continue the quality that makes the Southside Band great.  Each new school year brings with it new challenges and we are anxious to work with you in tackling these challenges.  Our goal for this year is to have the best Southside Band ever! Our marching show will consist of “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap” (AC/DC), “Sweet Home Alabama” (Lynyrd Skynyrd), “Get on Your Feet” (Gloria Estefan), and “When a Man Loves A Woman” (Percy Sledge).  These are great arrangements and this will be a thrilling show to perform and to watch.  This will also be the largest Rebel Band to date with over 225 members!

 · Our summer rehearsals will begin on Monday, August 4th.  These rehearsals are mandatory and will be from 8:00 am-12:00 pm each day .  The rehearsal dates are as follows: August 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11 (this one only is from 6:00-9:00 pm),12, 13, 14, & 15. In addition to these rehearsals, the field percussion and mallets will also practice from 1:30 - 3:00 each day.  These rehearsals are extremely important. We have had 12 rehearsals the last few years and this year we only have 10! We will be learning our show music and also learning marching fundamentals. We want and expect everyone to be at all rehearsals. We do realize that their may be some absences that are legitimate. If you have any conflicts with the rehearsal schedule, please call or e-mail Mr. Carrier or Mr. Kesner by Monday, June 30th. We must know of any absences by that date. Our contact information is at the end of this letter.  Any absence from a summer rehearsal will be made-up after school starts. Being  member of the Rebel Band requires commitment and, sometimes, personal sacrifice on the part of you and your family. Your directors take your commitment to the “team” very seriously.  When you miss a rehearsal, you are not only affecting you, but every other member of the band and your directors.  Please let us know NOW if there are any potential problems. Unexcused absences from rehearsals or excessive absences can result in not being used in the show.

 · We design the show to allow for some reserve marchers who are worked into the show as needed. Rehearsal attendance, mastery of marching fundamentals, playing ability, cooperation, and effort in rehearsals will be considerations in selecting the band members who will be marching positions in the show drill.  If your plans have changed concerning band for next year, please call so that we can make the adjustment in our roster. 

 · Everyone should have the show music for next year. Please practice it as much as you can this summer!!!

 · On Monday, July 28th, there will be a “work day” for all drum majors, captains, band officers, and section leaders at the band room.  We will work getting ready for rehearsals to begin and will work from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm that day.  We will feed you lunch.

 · Please  make note of the very important meeting of the Southside Band Parents on Tuesday evening, August 19th at 7:00 pm in the band room.

 · We have included a 2008-09 Southside Band Calendar for you and your parents.  Please give the calendar to your parents and post it where you can refer to it often.  Your required events are designated on the calendar.  Please examine the calendar with your parents carefully NOW and look for any potential conflicts with your family calendar.  Please understand that being a member of the Rebel Band requires commitment and, sometimes, personal sacrifice on the part of you and your family.  Please let us know NOW if there are any potential problems. Any unexcused absence from a performance will result in a deduction from the semester grade and could result in removal from the marching show/concert or removal from band with a failing grade. These will be considered on a case by case basis.

 · Our Performance Trip this year will be to Hawaii!!! It will be on June 3-8. We will perform at Pearl Harbor, march in the Pan-Pacific Parade, visit the Dole Plantation, visit the Polynesian Cultural Center, hike Diamond Head, enjoy beach time, take a cruise on the world’s largest Catamaran, and overall have the trip of a lifetime.  

We are really excited about the 2008-09 Southside Rebel Band!  Have a great summer!

Let’s make the 2008-09 Rebel Band the best ever!!!! Play like a champion today!

Steve Kesner skesner@fortsmithschools.org

Sean Carrier scarrie1@fortsmithschools.org

Southside Rebel Band Leadership

Drum Majors -  Hannah Vines, Zenetta Slabbert, Kenyon Savage

Co-Presidents - Ashley Jackson and Ahmed Salem

Vice-President - Ngoc Huynh

Senior Council - Haley Laffoon, Sydni Keppen, Phuong Tran

Junior Council - James Brown, Rebecca Kesner, James Vo

Sophomore Council members will be elected during pre-band

Section Leaders: Flutes/Oboes - Ngoc Huynh, Caitlin Smith

Clarinets/Low Clars - Phuong Tran, Haley Stone, Jennifer Harvey

All Saxes - Tyler Huntington, Matt Vu, Mollie Hutchison

Trumpets - Omar Qasem, Kayla Shelton

Horns - Ashley Jackson, James Brown

Trombones/Baritones - Nick Adrian, Parker Wallace, Will Hough, Daniel Williamson

Tubas - Nick Hannaman, Kenneth Humphrey

Pit - Cody Kirby

Percussion - Justin Ball, Sydni Keppen

Play like a champion today!