Ms. Shannon Shaker will be student teaching with Ms. Schlosser and Mr. Heydenburg from January until May, 2009.

Shannon Shaker is from Pinconning, Michigan, and graduated from Pinconning Area High School in 2004. Shannon is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music Education with a concentration on the clarinet at Central Michigan University. During her time at CMU, Shannon has played clarinet and bass clarinet in many ensembles including: Symphonic Wind Ensemble, JACKS Woodwind Quintet, and the Marching Chippewas. Shannon was also a member of Delta Omicron (a professional, international music fraternity), and served as president for a year. In her free time, Shannon enjoys cooking, baking, reading, and walking her dog. She hopes to get a job next year teaching band or elementary music, and cannot wait to student teach at Bay City Western this spring.

All Middle School and High School band parents are invited to attend the Band Parents Council Meeting on Wednesday, January 7, 2009. The meeting will begin at 7:00 PM in the High School Band Room. HS Band Trip Destinations for 2010 will be discussed as will some amendments to the By-Laws. Meetings usually last one hour or so. Please come and bring a friend! Get involved!

October 2008
Some Thoughts Regarding Recruitment and Retention of Instrumental Students by Dr. Stewart L. Ross
Directors need to recruit families, not just individual students. While it is true that students recruit students, it is also evident that music parents recruit other music parents.

A Parent Guide to Music Education by Shirley Strohm Mullins
Our society values music for its intrinsic beauty, its meaning, its sheer joy. Imagine celebrations, social or religious events, football games, television, inaugurations and parades without music. We value music because it touches our hearts and souls.

Beginning Band and Orchestra, The Roots of a Successful Program (Part 1) by William W. Gourley
In today’s economic climate and with the pressures from other academic disciplines music programs are in a fragile position.

November 2008
Beginning Band and Orchestra, The Roots of a Successful Program (Part 2) by William W. Gourley
Everyone may not be right for instrumental music but instrumental music must be right for everyone.

Partnerships: A Powerful Tool by David Branson
Partnerships between school district music programs and community art groups are critical for the creation and enhancement of a vital arts environment.

Grading the Music Student:: The Revelli Point System by William Revelli
Conductors can be afraid to give a student the grade he or she really deserves because they’re afraid that that student might become discouraged and quit. I was always a very tough grader – if Revelli gave you an A, you’d better frame it.

December 2008
Teaching the Flute to Students with Braces – No Bad Sound Days by Valerie Simosko
The majority of student flutists must at some point in their playing career learn to play with braces on their teeth. Rather than cringing at the thought of losing some of your best students to what may seem like an unhappy event, you can capitalize on it by exploring the world of sound production with your student.

How To Rehearse by Nicholas V. Holland, III, Ph.D.
Yes, I can hear your laughter, and deservedly so; there isn’t really anything “sure-fire” in teaching. However, I can guarantee that you will find at least some part of these two teaching methods useful in your daily rehearsals.

Commitment Is The Price Of Leadership For Both Students And Teachers by Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser
Commitment is what transforms a promise into reality. It is the words that speak boldly of your intentions, and it is the actions that speak louder than the words. It is making the time when there is none – coming through time after time after time, year after year after year. Commitment is the stuff character is made of, the power to change the face of things. It is the daily triumph of integrity over skepticism.

Bay City Public Schools is closed due to inclement weather for Friday, December 19, 2008 - this includes closing of our Community Education & Alternative Education programs and also our Parent Involvement Center (PIE).

Did you know that we will have several Alumni traveling to and performing at College Football Bowl games this winter?

Motor City Bowl - December 26, 2008 - Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
Central Michigan University vs. Florida Atlantic University
David Shephard, WHS 2004 CMU
Anna Cruff, WHS 2005 CMU
Tyler DeFord, WHS 2007, CMU
Megan Barnard, WHS 2008, CMU

Capital One Bowl - January 1, 2009 - Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium, Orlando, Florida
Michigan State University vs. Georgia University
Renee Pawloski, WHS 2005 MSU
Brian Arendt, WHS 2008, MSU

Have YOU considered joining a college band after you graduate? you SHOULD! You too may get to spend your vacation in a warm location!

Our Annual Winter Concerts are tonight. The Middle School concert (6, 7 & 8th grades) begin at 6:30 PM. 6th graders meet in the High School Band Room at 6:15 PM. 7th & 8th graders meet at the Middle School Band Room.

The High School Bands meet at 7:45 PM (ready to play, in uniform) in the High School Band Room and the Concert begins at 8:00 PM.

Both concerts should take approximately one hour each.

On Thursday the 18th, after the basketball game, we are going to have a Chinese gift exchange in the band room.
Flyers are up in the band room in the storage room and on the board on the wall in the band room.

It's going to be a fun chance to say good-bye to everyone before Christmas break.

Bay City Public Schools is closed due to inclement weather for Wednesday, December 10, 2008 - this includes closing of our Community Education & Alternative Education programs and also our Parent Involvement Center (PIE).

NOTICE: We will be running a "Friday Schedule" for the next two days... - bring your instrument!

Bay City Public Schools is closed due to inclement weather for Tuesday, December 9, 2008 - this includes closing of our Community Education & Alternative Education programs and also our Parent Involvement Center (PIE).

Parents of Bay City Public School students are encouraged to participate in this year's BCPS Online Parent Survey Such that the district can better respond to your needs. Thank you.