CROSBY BAND NEWS FROM THE DESK OF MR. STIVERS - Crosby Middle School Band
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Volume 3: April Edition Apr 30, 2018
CROSBY BAND NEWS
FROM THE DESK OF MR. STIVERS
Rolling Announcements “Cultivating a musical community through respect, compassion,
responsibility, and service” is our Crosby Band mission statement. In our most
Practice Logs recent newsletter, a challenge was presented for all in our community to
examine what strengths we possess and how bringing those strengths into our
community will make us stronger. For this April newsletter, we will focus on
The 6th grading period respect. Through respect, trust is established. Without trust, a community
practice log was distributed cannot follow faithfully.
April 16th. The 6th grading
Valentines Day 1967, Aretha Franklin became an icon for women worldwide.
period practice log will be due Her hit song “Respect” took the air—becoming a top chart song for months. If
Thursday, May 31st. you dig deeper, her inspiration for her arrangement came from singer/
songwriter Otis Redding. Redding had crafted his own song “Respect” which
reinforced the traditional family structure of the time: Man works all day, brings
money home to wife and demands her respect in return. Aretha’s version blew
that structure to bits. She goes as far as to spell out “R-E-S-P-E-C-T” with
backup singers and their clever interplay. Her rearrangement became an anthem
and a transformative moment in the women’s rights movement and the civil
rights movement. Click here to watch her live circa 1967.
Some of Franklin’s lyrics read, “Ooo your kisses. Sweeter than honey. And
guess what? So is my money.” In context, Aretha was wanting it to be known
that a woman can work and support herself and family, just like a man can. Her
lyrics capture this aspect of a healthy relationship and a demand to be
understood. I imagine we could take her lyrics and claim that if her man never
came to appreciate her work—his kisses would become sour. Overtime, I
All grade levels have goals to imagine the relationship would suffer because she was never understood. If
there is no sense of understanding in a relationship—trust diminishes. Without
work towards: trust, there is no authenticity in a relationship. The same is true for a
6th: Scales and Spring Music community like the band classroom.
7th/8th: Scales, Spring Music
A challenge I hold myself to within the first week of school is to memorize
Reminder that a minimum of
student’s first and last name. If I fail to get their name correctly, I will drop and
90 minutes/week is expected. give that student 5 push-ups. At one point, I recall having to do 50 push-ups in
Playing Exams the course of a day. I remember being sore the next day and not being able to
raise my arms to conduct. With each push-up, I would think to myself the
students name over and over. For me, this push-up challenge is symbolic of
Students can expect the respect. I am willing to show how important each student is to me and that
following playing exams the knowing them as a person truly matters. I believe a community is at its best
6th grading period: when all members feel respected.
6th: All Scales learned and One of my top five movies of all time is Disney’s “Remember the Titans”. It is
Concert Bb Chromatic based on a true story of African-American coach Herman Boone and his attempt
7th/8th: All 12 major scales to integrate T.C. Williams High School football team in Alexandria, Virginia.
plus B-flat chromatic and During this time in the 1970’s, racial tension was growing in some places of the
nation as blacks and whites merged schools. Before Coach Boone, there was
various playing exams over Coach Bill Yoast. The whites in the community were loyal to a fault for Yoast
Sprint Concert Music. Click and were outraged when he was replaced by Coach Boone. The school board
here to view/listen to files. offered Yoast to be an assistant to Boone. At first Yoast was ready to pack his
bags and look for a new head coaching job but when the young white players
CBN www.crosbyband.com 1
Volume 3: April Edition Apr 30, 2018
8th Grade Band were planning to quit football altogether unless he remained, Yoast accepted the
Banquet Update assistant coaching job.
In the midst of racial tension and this newly formed team, Coach Boone and
Our annual 8th Grade Band Coach Yoast take the team and retreat to a football camp at Gettysburg College.
Banquet will be Wednesday, May It is during this camp, that they require blacks and whites to sit next to one
2nd 2018 at Middletown another on the bus ride and even room with one another during their stay. The
teammates are anything but kind to one another and fights break out over the
Christian Church. RSVP’s with
color of skin. When all hope seems lost, there is a turning point in a late night
ticket payment were due scrimmage. The white former captain of the team, Gerry Bertier, realizes his
Wednesday, April 25th. If your fellow white defensive lineman #87 (Ray) isn’t blocking as he should. Play
student and family would still like after play goes by as Gerry’s black teammate Petey is sacked over and over and
over. Realizing his team isn’t getting anywhere, Bertier confronts Ray. When it
to attend, please email Mr. Stivers seems like a fight is about to ignite, Coach Boone and Coach Yoast let them
ASAP. The second and final letter tough it out. The next play is set. The ball is snapped. Ray finally does his job
with banquet info will be sent and Bertier can advance the ball. Click here to watch this powerful scene.
home 4/30/18. Last Name A-L is
If you are like me, you get goosebumps no matter how many times you watch
encouraged to bring a two-liter. this movie. This scene embodies what it means to respect. Respect involves
Last Name M-Z is encouraged to understanding one another but it also requires action. It is an attitude of
bring a dessert. Click here to humility that places others before self. It also requires a willingness to confront
one another in love so the community can be at its best. In light of this, respect
download the final banquet
is two-fold—respect for one another but also a respect for a united vision/
letter. mission of a community.
What made the Titan’s a football team to remember wasn’t so much the fact that
they ended up winning a state championship. The Titan’s are remembered for
overcoming adversity and uniting in their vision/mission. They were changing
the community so much so that people didn’t see one another as black or white
—they were seeing one another as brothers and sisters.
I wish I could tell you our world has changed over time and moved past racial
tensions and religious wars and other stereotypes that divide humanity… but we
all know that is not the case. I truly believe, however, that within every soul
there is a hope that never fades. There is this deep, deep desire for healing. A
desire to be known. To be understood. To feel respected. With that sense of
hope, I challenge each of us to travel on this road called humility. When we do
so, we are more apt to respect one another with sincerity. In the band
Jazz Band & classroom, our community is only at its best when we respect one another and
Percussion Ensemble take action towards our vision/mission. Will you follow this road of humility?
Concert If you are a student reading this, I challenge you right now to write down how
much you know about your classmates. When finished, I am willing to bet your
Our annual Middletown Mash-Up list revolves around your closest friends. But what about the more quiet
will be Wednesday, May 9th 2018 students in class? How much do you know about them? What about the
student who seems so different from you? What about the student who seems to
at Eastern High School! This carry a weight on their shoulders—a weight you can feel but know nothing
concert will feature Crosby about? What if you could be the difference for that person? What if your smile;
Middle School Percussion your high five; your hug; your note of encouragement… what if those simple
things could bring down walls of adversity. If the world needs healing, we have
Ensemble, Crosby Jazz Band, and
the power to change the world one person at a time through respect.
Eastern Jazz Band. Admission is
free and this is a family friendly Sincerely,
event! Parent letter will be sent
home 4/30/18 and is due back Mr. Stivers
with a signature by 5/4/18. Click Director of Bands,
here to download. Crosby Middle School
CBN www.crosbyband.com 2
Volume 3: April Edition Apr 30, 2018
6th Grade JCPS All-County
Band Concert
Congratulations on an outstanding
performance from our 2018 6th
Grade JCPS All-County students!
2018 8th Grade Crosby Band Banquet
Our annual 8th Grade Band Banquet has been scheduled for Wednesday, May
2nd, 2018 at Middletown Christian Church from 6-9pm. This event is always a
special occasion for Crosby Middle School Band students as we honor their
commitment to music and our musical community over the years. This banquet
is reserved for current 8th grade students and family members. Ticket price
includes: Mark’s Feed Store catering, awards/supplies, and DVD duplication for
each student. We want all students to attend this special evening! If price is a
concern, please email Mr. Stivers at joseph.stivers@jefferson.kyschools.us. The
final banquet letter will be sent home 4.30.18. Click here to download. We look
forward to a special evening!
CBN www.crosbyband.com 3
Volume 3: April Edition Apr 30, 2018
2018 MIDDLETOWN MASH UP CONCERT
OUR ANNUAL MIDDLETOWN MASH UP CONCERT
HAS BEEN SCHEDULED FOR WEDNESDAY, MAY
9TH 7PM AT EASTERN HIGH SCHOOL
OUR CONCERT WILL FEATURE THE CROSBY
JAZZ BAND, CROSBY PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE,
AND EASTERN HIGH SCHOOL JAZZ BAND
FREE ADMISSION.WE HOPE TO SEE YOU
THERE. Click here for concert letter.
ro s by
C ConcertBand
Spr ing Wednesday
April Eighteenth
Sixth Grade at
Seventh and Eighth G Six PM
Click here for downloadable flyer.
rade at Seven PM
Click here to view our Facebook
event page and invite friends and
family!
CBN www.crosbyband.com 4Volume 3: April Edition Apr 30, 2018
CAMP COUGAR
Looking for a summer day camp for your young musician?
Crosby Band hosts an annual summer music camp for middle
school students and Crosby Band alumni! This camp is loads of
fun and provides an opportunity for your students to keep playing
over the summer break.
What does this camp include?
Students will be provided themed music at the beginning of
summer break. Chair/part assignments will be determined based
upon ability level and experience of the musicians. At the camp,
students will work with established musicians from the Louisville
area. After the morning practice sessions (in small groups), the
students will have a snack break and team building activity in the
gym. The students will conclude their camp day with full band
rehearsal. At the end of our camp (Friday), students will perform a
concert for parents and family members in the Crosby gym.
The dates for Camp Cougar are July 30th
through August 3rd 2018!
Click here to download the registration packet. Forms and
payment are due 5.25.18! Checks made payable to Crosby Middle
School. For more questions, please email Mr. Stivers at
joseph.stivers@jefferson.kyschools.us.
CBN www.crosbyband.com 5Volume 3: April Edition Apr 30, 2018
CROSBY BAND WINS 1ST PLACE IN
CLASSIFICATION AND 1ST PLACE OVERALL AMONG
9 MIDDLE SCHOOL CONCERT BANDS FROM ACROSS
THE COUNTRY AT THE 2018 MUSIC IN THE PARKS
FESTIVAL IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA!
CBN www.crosbyband.com 6
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