Cocoa Beach Free Concert Oct. 14, 2009

Special Invitation!

The Cocoa Beach High School Wind Ensemble will present a Concert of Thanks.

The free concert will be presented on Wednesday, October 14, 2009 in the Cocoa Beach Jr. Sr. High Schools Performing Arts Center at 7:30pm.
The Cocoa Beach band families invite all of those unsung heroes that dedicate their lives to helping others -- as Firefighters and Paramedics, in Hospitals,
in Law Enforcement Agencies, Military Branches and Space Flight , past and present, retired and active, and their families and friends. We want you to come
and receive a concert of thanks from our band and school family. You are appreciated!

The Cocoa Beach Wind Ensemble will play songs from America including Armed Forces Melodies, American Marches, Popular favorites and even a few pop extras
to thrill you. We promise you will feel thanked, appreciated and hopefully re-energized about your dedicated and compassionate careers.

This is a free concert -- no charge - We will have collection bins on site to collect food donations for local food banks to help families in need.

If you are on duty and on call as I know many of you will be- please still allow us to honor you at the concert and leave when you are called -- just bring your
vehicles and we will have special parking for all on call fire trucks, police and ambulances and others for easy departure.

For particular questions about the concert- please email Chuck Brooker at brooker.chuck@brevardschools.org

Connecting the Dots

This excerpt is from the article "Connecting The Dots" in the Sunday, April 26, 2009 Macon Telegraph newspaper. The article in its entirety can be found at the following link http://www.macon.com/151/story/694214.html.

I believe the answer why all students (traditional, MYP, IB, etc.) need to be offered accessible opportunities to music education is apparent once again in this article.By 4:45 p.m., I was headed northbound on I-75 for the Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) banquet, sponsored by the Professional Association of Georgia Educators Foundation. As chairman of the foundation, I'm supposed to be in the receiving line to greet STAR students and their teachers by 6:15 p.m. If anyone asks, I followed the flow of traffic. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.I won't go into much detail, but the banquet was held at the Buckhead Hotel Atlanta and it's undergoing renovations. It's right across Lenox Road from Lenox Square, but the hotel's sign was nowhere in sight. Fill in the blanks, please.

I missed the receiving line portion of my duties. The program honors 21 region winners who come from throughout the state. Large, medium and small systems are represented. The Region 6, Middle Georgia, STAR student is Brandon Munda from Houston County High School. His STAR teacher is Laura Byrd. He joined 20 of the brightest students in the state, but only one could be the 2009 STAR student, who turned out to be Annie Wang, from George Walton High School in Cobb County. The runner-up is Emily Bragg from Columbia County's Greenbrier High School.During the program, WSB reporter Jeff Dore interviewed each student. Their interests ranged from electronic engineering to math and philosophy to political science to Arabic and international relations.For those Georgia Tech fans, more of the STAR students -- five -- were headed to Yellow Jacket land than anywhere else. Yale and Harvard claimed three apiece, followed by Brown, Dartmouth, Princeton, Emory, Auburn, UGA and Indiana University.

Granted, these students are brilliant, but what would you guess linked them together? Was it their math skills? These students shared one common trait. All 21 were proficient musicians. Hmmm. Why are the first things cut music and art? The data linking high educational achievement and the arts is miles long. Why do we not get it? I would bet this class of STAR students is not unlike the 50 classes that preceded them. Students obviously connect the dots between achievement and the arts. Why can't we? That's a question even this group of bright students are unable to answer, because no matter your angle of approach, it doesn't make sense.

Charles E. Richardson is the Telegraph's editorial page editor. He can be reached at 478-744-4342 or via e-mail at: crichardson@macon.com.

Congratulations Cocoa Beach High Winter Guard!

The Cocoa Beach Winter Guard received a 1st place for their team routine at the National Twirling Unlimited Winter Guard and Baton Competition in Seminole Florida on February 8th.

Flag Soloists Emily Bobo received 3rd place, Laura Bobo received 2nd and place and Chelsea Heywood received 1st place.

Rifle soloists Kaitlin Guseman received first place. Nicole Moser received 1st place for her duet. Sydney Smead received 2nd place in the Model category. Dominique Russell received a 3rd place for her freestyle and technical solo, a 2nd place in the model, and strut and a 1st place in her best appearing category.

The girls did a great job representing the Beach not only with their talents but with their fantastic and positive attitude! Go Beach!

Lindsey M. Brooker

Cocoa Beach High Winter Guard Competition

On Sunday February 8th 2009 The Cocoa Beach Winter Guard along with the Marching Minutemen Feature Twirler Dominique Russell, will compete in the Twirling Unlimited Winter Guard and baton competition in Seminole Florida on the other coast.

This event will bring Winter Guard and baton teams from all around the United States together in competition. Cocoa Beach will compete in both Team and individual solo Categories. The guard members are led by coach Lindsey Brooker. Good Luck Girls!

Winter Guard Members:
Chelsea Heywood, Captain
Laura Bobo, Captain
Emily Bobo
Roberta Spensley
Jorden Tschernia
Kaitlin Gusmen
Nicole Moser
Sydney Smead

Music In Education

A great letter from a teacher in Orange County, CA:
"As I watched the inauguration yesterday, I was struck by something in addition to the historical significance of the event. When it comes to the highest degree of ceremony in our land, we turn to that which is often the first to be on the chopping block in tough financial times: the arts. There was singing, poetry, an ensemble of some of the most talented and accomplished instrumental solo artists in the world, discussion of the particular painting featured at the luncheon, grand marches played by a band. Because great societies are often measured by their progress in the arts, we seem to understand intrinsically that these things belong, yet we are often unwilling as a society to preserve them in our education system. For every artist who blessed the nation with their gift yesterday, there was someone who had initially recognized their talent, nurtured it, guided its technical preparation, encouraged its development. Someone introduced Yo-Yo Ma to the cello, and put Aretha Franklin on a stage.

These things do not just happen by accident.The next time you hear the suggestion to cut the arts out of the schools because it's "nice, but not necessary," imagine yesterday without the arts... a walk to a podium, an oath, a speech, a walk to whatever comes next... no parades, no balls. Imagine the band members who played "Hail to the Chief," told in middle school that music would not be offered in their school any more. Imagine if Itzhak Perlman never held a violin. Imagine the featured choir given over to the directorship of someone with no vocal training because the chorus position was cut. These things are happening every day, and someday we may be faced with a quickie courthouse ceremony rather than royal pomp and circumstance befitting a presidential inauguration.

Think about it."Please forward -

"Walk for Love" CBHS Band members participate

On Saturday November 15th, members of the Cocoa Beach Minutemen Marching Band participated in the "Walk for Love" at the Avenues Viera.

The Walk for Love is sponsored by the Community Based Care of Brevard to raise funds and bring support to adoption. The Cocoa Beach drum line and feature twirler were the main entertainment for the event. They got the crowd fired up and kept the energy going through out the event.

Participants included , Jake Smith, Kayla McCracken, Joel Marquardt, Danny Finkelstein, Kostas Galanopoulos, and Dominique Russell.

Winter Concert – Cocoa Beach Wind Ensemble Dec. 9

Winter Concert by Cocoa Beach High School Wind Ensemble
December 9, 2008 7 pm
Community Event - Public is Invited
Performing Arts Center at Cocoa Beach High School.

Beautiful music, Holiday favorites including "A Christmas Festival" by Leroy Anderson, and even a few Carols and Sing-Alongs to enjoy the Spirit of the Holidays.
$ 5.00 per ticket sold at the door

Questions? Contact Chuck Brooker, Band Director at Brooker.Chuck@Brevardschools.org
or 321-783-1776 Ext 4002

Band Program Ad Sales

Dear Band Families,
The Cocoa Beach Jr/Sr High School Band has a wonderful opportunity to raise funds for the band program. During the next 2 weeks of November, we will be selling ads for our Winter Concert Band Program.

Great news, 70% of each sale will be applied to student’s accounts!
Programs will be distributed at no cost to attendees of our Band Winter Concert on December 9, 2008. During Concerts, our large new auditorium with over 600 seats is occupied by many parents, family and friends of the students, music lovers and leaders in the community. We encourage band families to support our sponsors and advertisers.

Parents, do you or anyone you know have a business card that you would like to include in our Band Concert program? How about a message from a business to our band? Would you like to write a message to your band student?

We also gratefully accept donations without messages or advertising. Donors will be listed as “Silver, Gold or Platinum” sponsors in the program. Prices start at $25.00. Please see the attached order form for details. Please send payment and business card or ad copy (which will be scanned) to Mr. Brooker using the attached order form.
For ad styles other than business cards: We request that in addition to sending a hard copy and check to Mr. Brooker, that you email your ad request directly to Claudia Davis, the volunteer that is designing the program at Claudia@ClaudiaDavis.net. Make sure to email advertiser contact information if there are questions. You may also call Claudia at 960-2577 if you have any questions.
Please write your student’s name and phone number on the attached order form and make enough copies to take to businesses, relatives, and friends that you are soliciting for ads. An order form MUST accompany each ad. This is the only way to insure the student will receive credit for the sale.
Please turn in Ad orders as soon as they are ready so we can track our progress and work on the layout. The final deadline for ads is Monday, December 1, 2008.
Here is the order form: http://cocoabeachbandboosters.com/programad/programadflyer.doc
Thank you,

Chuck Brooker
Band Director

"Volunteer of the Year" Dale Vicos, Cocoa Beach Jr Sr High School

Congratulations to Dale Vicos! He has been selected as the Cocoa Beach Jr Sr High School AdultVolunteer of the Year!

Dale Vicos has volunteered countless hours for the school. He is the Band Parent Vice President and also works on concessions team. Mr. Vicos volunteers for all events within the band. He helps to load equipment, coordinates truck, and is an expert at driving the golf cart. He Coordinates and works with the Elks and the Kiwanis groups. Has also worked as a coach with Odyssey of the Mind students and the FPS students. He has had 3 students here at the school and has helped with almost all organizations in some way throughout the years. His volunteer hours are countless in all elements of band and others.

Congratulations Mr. Vicos, you represent the minutemen band and Cocoa Beach well!

2009 Middle School - All County Band Results - Congratulations!

2009 Middle School - All Brevard County Band Results Congratulations to the Cocoa Beach - Middle School - Concert Band Students Jonathan Marquardt on Baritone Saxophone, Chloe Parker on Bb Clarinet, Christopher Bobo on Bb Clarinet and Sebastian Otero on Tuba! They have been selected for the 2009 Brevard County Middle School All County Band.

Hundreds of students from around Brevard County had to prepare scales, play a prepared piece of music and complete sight-reading of music they have never seen before. They had to perform the audition in front of two judges to be selected. These students will rehearse and perform with other selected students from around the county with a national level clinician in January at the King Center.

Congratulations to these students, they will represent us well. Please pat them on the back for a job well done!

2009 High School All County Band Results - Congratulations!

2009 High School All Brevard County Band Results - Congratulations to the Cocoa Beach High School Wind Ensemble students Holly Henderson Bb Clarinet, Andrew Huang on Bb Clarinet, Matthew Brooker on French Horn and Matt Henson on 1st Chair Baritone!

They have been selected for the 2009 Brevard County High School All County Band. Hundreds of students from around Brevard County had to prepare scales, play a prepared piece of music and complete sight-reading of music they have never seen before. They had to perform the audition in front of two judges to be selected. They will rehearse and perform with other selected students from around the county with a national level clinician in January at the King Center.

Congratulations to these students, they will represent us well. Please pat them on the back for a job well done!

Congratulations to the Cocoa Beach Band All State Musicians!

Congratulations to the Cocoa Beach Band All State Musicians! These students will travel to Tampa, January 7th-12th, 2009, and participate in the Florida Music Educators All State Clinic/Conference representing our school amongst thousands of directors and students from across the state. Beach Pride!

Holly Henderson - Bb Clarinet - 11th Grade - was selected to participate in the 2009 Small School Honor Band. She was the only clarinet selected from Brevard County for this ensemble.

Matthew Brooker - French Horn - 10th grade - was selected to participate in the 2009 Small School Honor Band. He was the only French Horn player selected from Brevard County for this ensemble.

Allison Chillingworth - French Horn - 8th grade - was selected to participate in the 2009 Middle School Honor Band. She was the only French Horn player selected from Brevard County for this ensemble.

Cocoa Beach High Band Stool Drumming

Filmed at the Spring Concert 2008.

Cocoa Beach High School Band drum section performs during halftime.

Cocoa Beach vs. Astronaut Football Game

Homework - Cocoa Beach JrSr HS Band

All Students in Mr. Brooker's classes have a ongoing homework practice assignment.

30 minutes nightly high school -or - total of 3 hours a week

20 minutes nightly middle school -5 days a week

What to practice? Class music for upcoming concerts, warmup sheets, scales 2 octaves, all county music, etc.

All practice time is to be logged into their charms account online. I have taken a lot of time in class showing everyone how to do this and even had them do it in class. Please email me if you are having difficulty with this.

Practice helps us become more proficient and enjoy the music more. Everyone should challenge themselves to be the best that they can be.

Chuck Brooker
Band Director

Cheesecakes and Coffee! Cocoa Beach HS Band Fundraiser

Our Cheesecake and coffee fundraiser kicks off next Week on November 3rd. Orders will be taken through Thanksgiving Weekend. They will be delivered on December 15th for use during the winter holidays.

I need one parent that can help kick it off and take in payments and write receipts when it is complete. We will show you how to do it.

Chuck Brooker
Band Director

Vote for Cocoa Beach HS Band! Battle of the Bands

Our own Cocoa Beach HS Marching Band is in the “Battle of the Bands” on WFTV. Cocoa Beach HS Band is competing with Eustis HS Band.
We need your vote! Follow the voting link below and please vote for the Cocoa Beach Band.
Vote here: http://www.wftv.com/surveyresults/17727571/index.html?taf=orlc
Watch bands perform here:
Cocoa Beach
http://www.wftv.com/video/17727541/index.html
Eustis
http://www.wftv.com/video/17727544/index.html
At the end of the season, we'll have one more vote and the winner will receive an invitation to march in the nationally televised Citrus Parade!

"Awaken the Dragon" CBHS Band half time show

The Cocoa Beach Jr./Sr. High band plays while a Chinese Dragon, composed of color guard members, dances on the field.

The band chose a Chinese theme, "Awaken the Dragon," to reflect the recent Olympic Games in Beijing.

(Submitted by Chris Montoya, CBHS student for The Verge)

Cocoa Beach at Viera 9/19 Color Guard

Cocoa Beach Jr./Sr. High School Color Guard entertain the crowd during half-time of their game at Viera High on Friday.

Car wash raises money for Band Booster clubs

BY BETTY PORTER • FOR FLORIDA TODAY • September 9, 2008

COCOA BEACH — School programs at Cocoa Beach Jr./Sr. High have a pair of fundraising friends in the Cocoa Beach Kiwanis Club and Elks Lodge.

Both organizations assist school groups by providing water, supplies and a location for benefit car washes. Most recently, the Cocoa Beach band washed cars to raise money on Saturday at the Armstrong Chiropractic Clinic parking lot on State Road A1A, directly across from Lori Wilson Park.

Members of the Marching Band, the Color Guard, the Wind Ensemble, and the Concert Band sprayed, rubbed and scrubbed cars for a suggested contribution of $5 per car. The car wash, which took place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. brought in more than $500.“More than 30 students and adults helped in the effort,” Dale Vicos, vice president of the band boosters said. “It was a very successful fundraiser. The students had fun, got really wet, and made money for their cause in the process.”

Chuck Brooker, the Band Director of Cocoa Beach, said the money raised at the car wash will be used to help pay for musical instruments, music and a few special treats.“This money will also enable us to bring in special guest conductors, coaches and music specialists to provide more specialization assistance to our students,” Brooker said.