CROSBY BAND NEWS FROM THE DESK OF MR. STIVERS - Crosby Middle School Band

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CROSBY BAND NEWS FROM THE DESK OF MR. STIVERS - Crosby Middle School Band
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
CROSBY BAND NEWS FROM THE DESK OF MR. STIVERS - Crosby Middle School Band
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

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CROSBY BAND NEWS FROM THE DESK OF MR. STIVERS - Crosby Middle School Band
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!

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CROSBY BAND NEWS FROM THE DESK OF MR. STIVERS - Crosby Middle School Band
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!

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Volume 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.

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Volume 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!

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