Winter Concert Date/Venue Change

Winter Concerts are this week!  Here's the final update:

December 11 - MHS Performing Arts Center

Puma Strings, Chamber Strings, Wind Ensemble, Jazz A

Start Time: 6:30pm

Call Times (On Stage, Ready to Play): PS 6:00, CS 5:40, WE 5:20, JA 5:00

Tickets: Available at the door, $10 ages 6+, ages 5 and under free

December 14 - MVMS Multi-Purpose Room

Puma Band, Wind Symphony, String Orchestra, Jazz B, Jazz A

Start Time: 6:30pm (Jazz B at 6:00, Jazz A at 6:15)

Call Times: PB 6:00, WS 5:40, SO 5:20, JA 5:00, JB 4:40

Tickets: Available at the door, $10 ages 6+, ages 5 and under free

Upcoming Fall Dates!

Hello Parents!

All Music Families:

As you know, our annual Coffee Concerts are coming up quickly on Thursday, October 26.  Concerts will be period by period with Chamber Strings (10:00) and String Orchestra (12:00) in the Music Room (F2) and Wind Symphony (9:00), Puma Band (12:30), Puma Strings (1:30), and Wind Ensemble (2:30) in the MPR.  Parents are invited and encouraged to attend!  Student dress for Coffee Concerts is regular concert attire.  Students will *not* have time to change before performances, so will need to come to their class full dressed in concert attire.  All ensembles will wear all black shoes, black socks, black pants/skirt, with various shirt requirements per ensemble:

Chamber Strings/Wind Ensemble: Black button-up oxford shirt with Mesa-provided tie (to be handed out on Monday 10/23)

String Orchestra/Wind Symphony: White button-up oxford shirt with Mesa-provided tie (to be handed out on Monday 10/23)

Puma Strings/Puma Band: Black Mesa Music T-shirt (to be handed out on Monday 10/23)

The next day, we’ll have Music Picture Day, period by period.  Order forms will be sent home today.  Dress requirements are the same as Coffee Concert day.

We are very close to settling on our Winter Concert dates, held up by a very busy schedule at the MHS PAC, where we prefer to have our concerts.  I hope to have solid dates for everyone by the end of this week, so please watch for an email about that.  One thing is for sure - we will not have a concert on the night of the Star Wars: Episode VIII premiere, which is December 14.

All 7th and 8th Grade Families:

Back by popular demand is our Spring Trip, which will take place April 20-21.  We will be holding a non-mandatory Spring Trip Informational Meeting in the Mesa Music Room (F2) at 6:30pm on Thursday October 26.  Our travel company, Music Travel Consultants, will have a representative at the meeting to answer any of your questions regarding logistics any payment.  Anything he can’t answer should be something that I can, so come armed with your questions.

A brief overview of the trip:

We’ll leave school early on Friday the 20th, and head down to Orange County for judged performances.  After the performance, we’ll have dinner at Medieval Times, then go to our hotel near Buena Park.  On Saturday the 21st, kids and chaperons (we’ll need some!) will have most of the day in Knott’s Berry Farm, concluding with an awards ceremony for the previous day’s performances, after which we’ll head back to Moorpark on Saturday night.

Current cost for the trip, which should be locked in by the meeting on 10/26, is about $360 per student, and is all-inclusive.  MTC sets up a payment plan, and will provide additional details at the meeting.  If you cannot attend, all of the information will be available in digital form after the meeting, but if you have specific questions, it’s best to attend.

Wind Ensemble and Chamber Strings:

We will have our 8th Grade Band Night at MHS on Friday November 3!  This is an evening where all 8th grade students (mandatory attendance for 8th graders in both ensembles) will have a chance to play with the MHS Marching Band before and during the evening’s football game, watch their halftime show, and eat pizza with the Chaparral 8th graders and MHS Band.  String families might be surprised to learn that, while we don’t march string instruments, over 30% of the Marching Band plays in a string orchestra during the school day at MHS.  Any 6th and 7th graders in WE/CS are invited but are not required to attend the evening’s events.

Call time is 5:00 pm at the MHS Baseball Field (come through the Band Room, drop off instrument, head down to the field) wearing either their Mesa Music shirts, Mesa Music sweatshirt, or something that says “Mesa Verde” on it.  Release will also be at the MHS Band Room after the game, some time around 10pm.  No students will be permitted to leave from the stadium.  Parents are of course welcome to come to the game.  Especially encouraged is sitting in the Band Parent section.

This is the first of 4 articulation events designed to get both students and parents comfortable with the high school music program, an essential part of the decision making that will come sooner than you might think!

That’s all for now!

Kurt Gray, Director

Apryl Garcia, Assistant Director

Class-Discussed Links

Below are links to a few of the things that have been discussed with various individuals in class.  

Microphone - If you're having issues with Smart Music and microphone setup, you can buy a cheap microphone on Amazon at this link: Clip-On Microphone

Pneumo Pro for Flutes - A few flutists have expressed interest in a tool we've used at school.  Purchasing this is by no means necessary, but can help some flutists gain control over the direction of their air stream: Pneumo Pro

SmartMusic Setup

Below is a step by step guide for installing and enrolling in the correct class for SmartMusic.

PC/Mac 

Note that a laptop or other computer with a built in microphone is preferable to one without.  If you do not have access to a computer with a built in microphone, see this Amazon link for an inexpensive option: Microphone Option  Students who don't wish to purchase a microphone can use school computers in the Music Room to do their assignments.

1. Download SmartMusic here, and follow the instructions for installation: SmartMusic Download Link

2. Launch the program and use your MVMS School login and password to log in.

3. Go to this link to read clear enrollment instructions: How to Enroll in a Class - Be sure to select the correct ensemble name, or you'll get assignments for the wrong class period!

iPad/Android Tablet

1. Go to the App Store/Play Store and download SmartMusic, not SmartMusic Inbox.

2. Launch the program and use your MVMS School login and password to log in.

3. Go to this link to read clear enrollment instructions: How to Enroll in a Class - Be sure to select the correct ensemble name, or you'll get assignments for the wrong class period!

Once we've all completed this step, we'll go through a step by step tutorial in class about how to use the program to complete assignments.  If you'd like to read ahead, go here: How to Complete Assignments

I fully expect that some of you may run into issues on setup.  Please don't hesitate to email me if you have issues!

Mr. Gray

Instrument Rentals

Hello 6th Grade Families,

I hope your school year has gotten off to a great start at Mesa!  Now that we’re a few weeks in, we’ve settled on instrumentation in both Puma Strings and Puma Band.  The next step will be to acquire an instrument!  There are three main options you have: renting from a music store, purchasing a reputable brand, or borrowing from Mesa’s limited inventory.

Rentals are the most popular option, both due to quality of instrument and level of financial commitment.  Here at Mesa, we host an Instrument Rental Night run by the Agoura Hills branch of Nick Rail Music.  At this point, your son or daughter has been selected to play a particular instrument, and if you’re interested in renting, we ask that you complete Nick Rail’s online rental process no later than Monday September 8 to ensure the best chance of September 11 Instrument Rental Night delivery.   All instruments are on a rent-to-own program, and many are brand-new, high quality beginner instruments.  This helps take the guesswork out of buying something that will last more than a few months.

Online Process: 

Go to NickRailMusic.com, Click “Rent”, then “Begin Rental Process”

Follow the prompts, making sure to pick the right instrument and school

For Delivery Options, select “Will P/U at Mesa Verde MS Event”

You instrument will be available for pickup at our rental night

Rental Night:

Come to the Mesa Verde Music Room between 6pm-8pm on Monday September 11 to pick up your instrument and any necessary accessories.

Borrowing from Mesa is an option that we try to reserve on an as-needed basis.  Our small inventory of instruments are functional, but often need frequent repair given the age of each instrument.  We ask for a one time $35 donation for instrument use.  Certain accessories are not provided by the school, and can be purchased online or in person at our September 11 Nick Rail Rental Night.  Your son or daughter should have a list, if anything is needed, in their school agenda books.  Instruments will be assigned in class, and you will not need to come to rental night for that reason.

Purchasing an instrument is a good option for someone sure that they’ll be committed to that instrument, or for those who would rather not make payments.  Please email me at kgray@mrpk.org for recommendations.

Our first day of playing in class will be Tuesday, September 19.  We expect that all students will have their instrument or will at least be in the process of obtaining one by that time.

If you have any specific questions, please don’t hesitate to email me as you think of them.  This is an important time of year, and I’ll be available for anything on which you might need clarification.

Thank you!

Kurt Gray & Apryl Garcia