The Placerita Music Department is "alive with the Sound of Music!" It has already proven to be a very exciting start here in Tanner Hall. The musicians and I look forward to the completion of modernization to room 801, our new music classroom. How thrilled I was this year to meet the many eager musicians who make up Placerita’s 2008-09 Advanced Band. This marks the biggest enrollment for the Advanced Band in over two decades….76 STUDENTS STRONG! I am profoundly pleased with the progress this group has made in the first few weeks of school! I am looking forward to a healthy musical year filled with con-certs and festivals and to discovering the new personalities of the musicians. It will be nice to see this group play "out and about" in our community as well.

Our String Ensemble is off to an impressive start. We welcomed our new members to this year’s string orchestra class, and I look forward to working closely with the growth of this orchestra. I predict great results when we enter the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association Music Festival this spring. SUPERIOR, WE HAVE BEEN AND SUPERIOR WE ARE WORKING FOR!!!

ORCHESTRA MEMBERS WANTED!

New members are welcome to join Placerita’s award-winning String Ensemble…so if you have experience playing the violin, viola, cello, string bass, or piano, please contact me as soon as possible at KSpula@hartdistrict.org

Beginning Band is the place to be--the most exciting elective on campus!!!! The students are quite enthusiastic and eager to learn. It’s always very exciting for me when these students choose to learn to play a musical instrument for the first time. They have shown much improvement since our first week together. It will be thrilling to watch them grow. I hope many members of the beginning band will choose Advanced Band to be their main goal in 8th grade or at the high school level.

We have a very energetic Chorus this year. Many are returning singers from last year and we are 40 strong. These singers have arrived with so much musical potential. In early December, the Chorus will sing at the Valencia Target’s ―Senior Citizen‖ Morning. Performing present repertoire and holiday selections has always proven to be a good time for all.
Mark your calendars now!! The Placerita Music Department invites you to attend our Winter Concerts listed below:
Early December:

• Valencia Target Store
• "Senior Citizen" Morning
• Chorus Performance – 9:00 AM

Thursday, December 2:

• Annual Winter Concert – All BandsWm. S. Hart Auditorium -7:00 PM

Tuesday, December 9:

• Annual Winter Concert String Orchestra/Chorus Wm. S. Hart Auditorium -7:00 PM

Every concert is truly a magnificent example of Placerita’s excellence in musical achievement. All concert performances are free and open to the public. HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!!!

Attention parents: I really enjoyed meeting all of you at ―Back to School Night.‖ I would like to remind you of our Parent Participation Program. I also wish to thank the many parents whom have already signed up to help out this year. Please feel free to contact me if you wish to assist with the success of the music program, especially during the concert season.

There are still openings for any musicians to join Band and Orchestra. An audition must be arranged with me at your con-venience. To any former students or parents who play an instrument – why not bring your instrument and participate in a re-hearsal? The more the merrier!!! Always feel free to come in and visit us in Tanner Hall…introduce yourself anytime…. One of my favorite parts of working at Placerita is getting to know you.

A BIG THANKS to all the students of the Music Department who sold magazine subscriptions. Winners of music prizes will be announced in the next Placerita Prospector issue. Profits from magazine sales provide funds to assist many de-partment needs: band and orchestra festival fees, choral uniforms, musical instruments and equipment, musical scores and methods for band, chorus, orchestra and jazz ensemble, and field trip bus transportation.