We had a number of students participate in the KSHSAA Virtual Solo and Ensemble Festival this past week. This event marks the culmination of many weeks of individual practice and tremendous effort on the part of these musicians. Students received feedback from adjudicators and earned an overall rating. For reference, in Kansas, a III Rating is considered Average. A rating of II is Excellent and students earn a Certificate of Accomplishment. A rating of 1 is Outstanding and students receive a medal.

Congratulations to these performers on a terrific achievement in our challenging year of playing! BVW results can be viewed below.

BVW Band Solo & Ensemble Results

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Dear BVW Band Families,

Happy Easter and Happy Passover to those who are celebrating this weekend! Congratulations those who submitted videos for the KSHSAA Solo and Ensemble Festival! Critiques and results should be available later this week. Please see below for some additional information about this week.

Placements - A reminder to all band members in Grades 9 - 11 that your 4th Quarter Assessment / Placement Hearing Videos are due in Canvas by Friday of this week. Percussionists needing to use the band room to record mallet or timpani can arrange times with a director. The band room is available during Academic Check and after school.

Parent / Booster Meeting - As we plan band activities for next year, our fantastic Blue Valley West Band Boosters (BVWBBB) are also preparing for a return to many of our normal events and traditions. ALL Band Parents are automatically members of the BVWBB, and you have a unique opportunity to be involved with and experience your student's journey through high school band from a front row seat! On Wednesday, April 7 from 7-8 PM, the BVWBB are hosting an informational meeting where you can learn about plans for the marching and concert seasons, fundraising, and opportunities to support our great band program! The meeting will be held in the Blue Valley West Band Room. For parents not comfortable with attending in person, Mr. Love will have a live Zoom running of the meeting as well. Please take a few minutes to attend and learn more about the 2021-2022 Band Program and our BVW Band Boosters!

Winter Guard - Our Blue Valley West Winter Guard Is finishing up their competitive season. They will record and submit their final video for the MCCGA Championships this coming Tuesday. On Thursday they will perform an encore of their show for parents in the BV West Gym beginning at 7 PM. Good luck Guard!

BVW Musical - This week the BVW Performing Arts Department presents their musical, The Little Mermaid. As with all activities this year, the cast, crew, pit, and directors have had to work around numerous challenges due to COVID, but in spite of any obstacles, they have assembled a fantastic production! We have a number of band students filling roles in the pit, technical crew, and on stage - to them we want to say break a leg! And if you want to watch, we recently learned that tickets are being made available to the public - check out https://bvwestjags.com/event-tickets for more info.

Schedule at a Glance
  
This Week:

Tuesday:
 *Winter Guard: 6:30 – 9:30 PM (BV West Main Gym - Competition Recording)

Wednesday:
*BVWBB Parent / Booster Information Meeting: 7-8 PM, BVW Band Room
 
Thursday:
*Winter Guard Parent Performance and Final rehearsal: 6 – 9 PM (BV West Main Gym)

Friday:
*4th Quarter Assessment / Placement Hearing Videos due in Canvas

Next Week:

​No special events
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Have a great week!
 
Mr. Love

Students have 3 options for Solo and Ensemble this year.

Option 1: KSHSAA Virtual Solo Festival - upload a 5 minute MAXIMUM video performance and receive written critiques and ratings. $10 participation fee.

Option 2: BV West Solo Festival - perform your solo for a live audience and receive verbal and written feedback. No time limit and no fee.

Option 3: Participate in both experiences

All students planning to participate in the Solo Festival must fill out the following form by Friday, March 26.
​https://forms.gle/DD8Bu9Jn7fNNK1kH6

BVW Band Families,

Go Chiefs! Or if you aren't into football - be sure to root for your favorite commercial this weekend!

Please check out Information added this week about Solo & Ensemble festival. A terrific opportunity for students!

This week begins the enrollment process. If you haven't yet, please check out our enrollment brochure – while primarily focused on our incoming 9th grade students for next fall, it still has useful information for ALL of our band students. As always – if you have questions about how to fit band into your schedule, please make sure to visit with one of the directors. The addition of virtual ed for next year will free up many schedule issues enabling students to have even more options to to take courses in an area of interest!

Also, our summer schedule for marching band has been released. 
 
Schedule at a Glance
  
This Week:
Tuesday:
 *Winter Guard: 5 – 8 PM
*JPG (MS): 6 – 8 PM
*Symphonic Band Rehearsal: 5:30 – 6:30 PM
*Wind Ensemble Rehearsal: 7 – 8 PM
 
Thursday:
*Winter Guard: 5 – 8 PM
*JPG (HS): 6 – 8 PM

Next Week:
Tuesday:
 *Winter Guard: 5 – 8 PM
*JPG (MS): 6 – 8 PM
*Symphonic Band Rehearsal: 5:30 – 6:30 PM
*Wind Ensemble Rehearsal: 7 – 8 PM
 
Thursday:
*Winter Guard: 5 – 8 PM
*JPG (HS): 6 – 8 PM
*Concert Band Rehearsal: 6-7 PM

 
Have a great week!
 
Mr. Love
 

The Kansas State High School Activities Association will be hosting a virtual Solo & Ensemble festival this spring. There will only be one level of adjudication – normally students participate in the Regional event and then qualify by rating to perform at the State event.
 
Students may perform any published solo for their instrument, with a time limit up to 5 minutes. Students may record at home or at school. Recordings will be uploaded for adjudication in early April. Students may opt for comments only or to receive a rating on their performance.
 
If there is a published accompaniment for the solo, then students must be accompanied by a pianist. Blue Valley West maintains a list of accompanists in the area which can be found here: http://bit.ly/BVW_Accomp
 
Costs for participation:
Entry fee: $12
Accompanist Fee: $75 – $125 average depending on the number of rehearsals you schedule
Music: varies – each student must have an original copy of the music purchased from a music vendor. www.jwpepper.com is an excellent resource.
 
Ensembles:
Students may form small ensembles. These must perform and be recorded together. Interested students should visit with a director.
 
Solo and Ensemble Festival is terrific way to expand your performance skills. While the format is different this year, students are highly encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity. If you have questions be sure to speak with a director and your private lesson teacher if you have one!