2020 - 2021 Season Cancelled
A letter from our Music Director
SW Band Member:
Hello! And WELCOME back to your participation in the Solano Winds. We have an exciting season planned and March 22nd at 7:00 pm in the Golden West Middle School Band Room (2651 De Ronde Drive, Fairfield) is our first rehearsal of the season. This is the time to return to both the benefits and joys of concert band music making and we look forward to your enthusiastic contribution. Okay, now for the business stuff:
This email contains attached registration forms and information about the COVID protocols we are following as we restart concert band activities. The forms include:
· Member Information Form
· Member Companion 2022
· Privacy Policy
· Calendar
Please complete the “Member Information” form prior to registration on March 22nd. This will save time as you move your way through the process. The registration process will take you through seven stations, each chaired by a SW Board member.
As you enter the GWMS band room, you will be greeted by Jennifer and receive forms from Robert. Then you will visit:
· Ron, for proof of vaccination (see below) and receive a copy of our Privacy Policy
· May, for Concert Shirts
· Kathleen, for PPE
· Lynn, for collection of money for dues ($40) and purchased items (Shirts, PPE)
· Joe, for Transportation Crew and Library move assistance
· Sherrill, for music folders and distribution of music to section leaders
· Lilli, for a Roster photo and collection of completed Member Information form
After registration, please find your instrumental section and section leader to receive your music. We are hopeful this process will take a maximum of thirty minutes to complete so we can move forward to the important part: REHEARSAL!
PROOF OF VACCINATION
You must submit proof of vaccination in order to participate this season. This is a one-time requirement, once you have satisfied it, there is no requirement to reverify. If you participated in small ensembles this past Fall, you likely have already satisfied this requirement.
You must be fully vaccinated. This means that you are at least two weeks past your Johnson & Johnson shot, or your second Moderna or Pfizer shot. Having a booster is strongly recommended, but not required at this time. You may send Ron Garrison (president@solanowinds.org) an electronic image of the front of your vaccination card. Alternatively, you can bring your card or an electronic image of your card to rehearsal on March 22nd. We will need to capture an image of the front of your card, as we are required to submit those to some venues (Paradise Valley Estates) for admission. Please send any questions to Ron.
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)
All brass and woodwind players must use a bell cover, and all brass players must have a strategy for emptying your spit valve without it going directly onto the floor. Regarding spit, you can leave your seat to empty spit in one of two trash bins during rehearsal, or you can use a common paper, hand or dish towel for this.
The "Spit Catcher" is made specifically for this purpose, with an absorbent top and waterproof bottom, and is machine washable and antimicrobial. Solano Winds has a stock of end covers (flute), bell covers (brass and all other woodwind), and spit catchers. Many of you have already secured this equipment. For convenience, we'll help you procure it if you still need it. (You are not required to order through Solano Winds.)
To order PPE, please submit this form no later than March 18th. Pricing and payment options are all explained on the form. It would be helpful if you'd take a second to complete the form even if you don't need to order any PPE (for whatever reason), just so that we know you've seen this! That will also help Kathleen and Lynn get organized with PPE requirements for March 22nd.
If you are paying online, go to the BAND MEMBERS section of the Solano Winds website. If you're paying online for a Spit Catcher, enter "SPIT CATCHER" when the site asks for the Bell Cover Size.
Let us know if you have questions, but don't reply to this email. Instead, contact Bill at director@solanowinds.org or Ron at president@solanowinds.org.
Looking forward to our music making on March 22nd.
Best regards, Bill and Ron
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Hi all,
Great news! With Covid numbers coming way down in Solano County, the Solano Winds Board of Directors last night confirmed that our CONCERT BAND will resume rehearsals on TUESDAY, MARCH 22! We'll follow up in the coming days with further information, but here's what you need to know for now.
FIRST REHEARSAL:
Tuesday, March 22, 2022
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Music Room
Golden West Middle School
2651 De Ronde Drive, Fairfield
Feel free to park on the blacktop near the music room, or in the parking lot in the front of the school.
Please try to arrive early for this first rehearsal so that we can get everyone registered and distribute music.
Other calendar information will be distributed at or prior to our rehearsal, or can be viewed now on the Google Calendars at solanowinds.org.
Reminder: Our $40 member fee was deferred this season to our first concert band rehearsal. If you have not already taken care of this, you may settle this with our treasurer, Lynn Garrison, at the first rehearsal.
COVID PROTOCOLS:
More details will be sent soon, but here is a quick summary of mitigations that we will be observing together:
· All members must be fully vaccinated (boosters strongly recommended).
· Wind players must use a bell cover. (We'll send more info soon on how to get one if you need one.)
· Brass players may not empty spit directly onto floor. Options include bringing a "spitcatcher" (more info coming), a towel, or walking to a trash can to empty spit.
· Face masks must be worn when not playing a wind instrument (e.g., entering/exiting rehearsal, during break).
· Also note the earlier-than-usual dismissal time of 9:00 PM, which we are implementing as a mitigation strategy.
RSVP!
If you already let us know that you intended to join us (back in January or for March), there is no need to do this. But if you have not yet completed our brief survey, or if your answers have changed, or if you're just not sure, please take a quick moment to return this to us now. We will consider only your most recent response.
https://forms.gle/gu8DQKnubLMhtDNR8
Look for more information from us in the coming days! If you have any questions, please contact me (director@solanowinds.org) or Ron (president@solanowinds.org). Do not REPLY to this email, as this address is not closely monitored.
I'm really excited to make music with you soon!
Best regards,
Bill Doherty
Music Director
Solano Winds Community Concert Band
