Becky Borbas is the 5th-8th grade band teacher at Judson, Polk, Heminway Park, and Swift. Mrs. Borbas went to the University of Connecticut for her Bachelors Degrees and Central Connecticut State University for her Master's and Sixth Year Degrees. Mrs. Borbas is at Polk School on Monday and Tuesday, Judson School on Thursday and Friday, and Swift Middle School every afternoon. Mrs. Borbas can be reached at her school email address: borbasre@watertownctschools.org
Welcome to the Swift Middle School Band
Sixth and seventh grade band students have their band sectional scheduled into their day. They do not have a pull-out lesson this year! This is wonderful - they will not be pulled out of a class for band! The sixth and seventh grade band students also have a full band rehearsal on Tuesday afternoons.
Eighth grade band students have a pull-out schedule on Thursday, rotating between A, B, DE, and FG Blocks. Eighth grade full band is on Thursday afternoons.
THERE WILL BE NO MORE DECEMBER 8TH GRADE PULL-OUTS ON THURSDAYS! Pull-outs will continue on Thursdays in January. The rotation is below:
1/8 |
1/15 |
1/22 |
1/29 |
B Block
Brass |
B Block
Clarinets
and
Saxophones
|
B Block
Flutes |
B Block
Percussion |
A Block
Percussion |
A Block
Brass |
A Block
Clarinets
and
Saxophones |
A Block
Flutes |
DE Block
Flutes |
DE Block
Percussion |
DE Block
Brass |
DE Block
Clarinets
and
Saxophones |
FG Block
Clarinets
and
Saxophones |
FG Block
Flutes |
FG Block
Percussion |
FG Block
Brass |
Thanks to our new band room, all band students have received their own band locker. Please have your child come into the band room first thing in the morning to store their instrument in a safe place.
MUSIC FOLDERS:
All Swift band students must have the following
musical selections in their band folder
6th and 7th grade:
In Dulci Jubilo
March Militaire
Christmas Medley
8th Grade:
Nutcracker
Peer Gynt Suite
All is Calm
Christmas Medley
Students must have their instrument, music folder, Essential Elements 2000 Book 1 & 2 band method book, and any extra reeds/valve oil they need every day in band.
JAZZ BAND
Jazz Band is done for December and won't begin again until the January 20th. Jazz Band will have to switch to Tuesdays. Jazz Band meets in the Band Room from 2:35-3:25. Students can take the late bus home if they can't get a ride. The late bus picks students up at 3:30 at Swift, brings the students to WHS, and then students transfer to the bus that will bring them home. If students are getting picked up after Jazz Band, there must be someone there at 3:30 to pick up on time.
FINGERING CHARTS:
If you need help with any fingerings on your instrument, please click on the following links to fingering charts:
PRACTICE SHEETS:
Practice sheets are due at the end of every month. Practice sheets count towards your grade for band, so please make sure you are handing them in.
September Practice Sheet 
click to download
October Practice Sheet 
click to download
November Practice Sheet 
click to download
December Practice Sheet 
click to download
LINKS TO WEBSITES:
The 8th grade band is going to play a fantastic piece of music called Mars. Mars is one selection in a series of pieces called The Planets by composer Gustav Holst. Please visit his website for more information on this wonderful composer:
Gustav Holst 
Please visit this site for more information on Holst's composition:
The Planets 
The Watertown Band program works with two music companies in the area. Both music companies sell and rent band instruments. They offer private lessons on many of the band instruments and also piano, guitar, and drum set. The band method book, Essential Elements 2000, is sold in the stores. You can also get your reeds, valve oil, and cleaning kits. Both stores offer a variey of fun sheet music for you to play. Please click the links to see more:
Westbury Music
686 Main Street
Watertown, CT 06795
phone #860-274-1556
Michael Lange Music
14 Park Street #4
Thomaston, CT 06787
phone # 860-283-9342
SCHOOL INSTRUMENT RENTAL FEES:
Watertown School System has several instruments for student use for the year. The yearly fee for a school instrument is $50.00. Third notice payment sheets are going out next week.
REGIONAL/ALL-STATE AUDITION INFORMATION:
Northern Regional Middle School auditions will be on Saturday, January 10, 2009. Auditions are at King Phillip Middle School in West Hartord. A bus will transport students from Swift to West Hartford for the auditions and then back to Swift. Times will be given closer to the date. I highly recommend any student interested in auditioning should already be taking private music lessons and already have started the audition solo. Scales and sight reading are also apart of the audition. Please see me if you are interested in auditioning. Money ($7.00) and permission slip is due to Mrs. Borbas by 2:30PM on Monday, December 8th. Please click here to down load permission slip.
MEMORIAL DAY PARADE:
The Memorial Day Parade is Monday, May 25, 2009.
Swift Middle School Band students will be marching!Please make sure you have your black pants and your white Swift Middle School Band T-Shirt with comfotable walking shoes. We need to meet at Adam's Grocery store parking lot at 9:15AM with your instrument. Make sure your parents meet you at the end of the parade at the Watertown Gazebo. Any parents who would like to march with us are more than welcome!
FANTASTIC FESTIVAL:
The Swift Music Department is going to "Fantastic Festivals" on Friday, May 29th. You will need your instrument and music for this trip. Please wear your black pants and your Swift Middle School T-Shirt for the performance. Bring a change of clothes for the park. I'd highly suggest sun screen! You will also need money for food (lunch, dinner, and snacks) and the arcade. An updated flyer with up-do-date information will be going home with the students on Tuesday. This flyer will include drop-off and pick-up times.
CONCERT:
The Swift Winter concert is Wednesday, December 10th at 7PM in the Swift Auditorium. Students must wear black pants/skirt, a white long sleeve shirt or blouse, black socks/tights and shoes, and a tie is recommended for the gentlemen!
EXTRA REHEARSALS FOR BAND:
Wednesday, December 10th - A & B Blocks
Wednesday, December 10th - J Block - Jazz Band
The snow date for the concert is Thursday, December 11th.
GENERAL BAND INFORMATION, GRADES 5-8
Key topics that will be covered throughout the year in band, grades 5-8 will include:
- Ryhthm reading
- Key Signatures
- Dynamics
- Articulations
- Tone production
- Memorizing major and minor scales and their arpeggios
Tips for students to succeed in band:
- Always have an instrument
- Always have reeds and valve oil (if you need them)
- Always have your Band method book
- Always have your digital tuner (if you have one, parents...this is a great gift!)
- Please come with a positive attitude, a helpful hand, and a smile
Page updated on 12/9/08