Dear Crystal Middle School Band and Color Guard members and parents/guardians:

Hello, and welcome to the 2024-2025 CMS Bands school year! My name is Ben Wilkinson, and I am both honored and humbled to take over the music program for Mrs. Doherty, who recently retired after her 40th year of teaching! I recently graduated from SFSU with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music, and attended SJSU prior to that. While I am new to the middle-school classroom, I have worked with marching bands and color guards across the Northern California region for the last twenty years, and taught elementary general music for two years before going back to school to finish my degree. 

After having the opportunity to meet all of your incredible students this week, I am certain that this will be an exciting year to remember! Along with our thriving beginning, advanced, and jazz bands, we are re-introducing the color guard/pageantry class this year, as well as restarting the after-school CMS Cougar Band and Drumline, beginning September 23rd, from 3:30pm-4:45pm.  We are very excited to be able to offer so many different musical activities to our Crystal Cougars and encourage anyone in the beginning band that’s interested to join the marching band.

 In order for these activities to be successful, we rely heavily on parent volunteers to keep our nonprofit running and to supplement the educational needs of our students, such as off-site performances and competitions, food, travel, educational supplies, etc. WE WANT YOU TO JOIN OUR MUSIC BOOSTER PROGRAM! Our CMS Music Parent Meeting will be Monday, September 9, at 6PM in the CMS Band Room at the front of the school, and will provide you with everything you need to know about the band and the upcoming year. While meetings are not mandatory, I highly encourage parent attendance in order to build community and be more involved in your student’s academic life. This is also a great opportunity to meet other families at Crystal and develop life-long relationships, as well as to support your student in a positive, musical way!

In the upcoming weeks, students will be or have been assigned instruments/equipment to bring back and forth between home and school. Students are expected to practice their instrument at home as time and circumstances allow, and it is of utmost importance that these school-provided instruments are cared for with respect, as they are to be used for many years to come. We are very privileged to have had the opportunity to purchase many new instruments with the funding from CA Proposition 28, and it will be important to ensure that our materials last for decades.. Instrument care instructions will be provided; please help your student be successful and reinforce good habits when students play at home. If you would like to talk to me about how to encourage and support your child’s at-home practice sessions, let me know! I firmly believe in “work smarter, not harder” when it comes to rehearsal, so I do not put a time requirement on how much a student practices outside of school, though I recommend 15-30 minutes a day to quickly review what was learned in class, and work on something personal and fun. 

Attached you will find the CMS Bands 24-25 School Year “At-a-glance,” as well as the syllabus for your class. Please review and add the dates to your calendar, as out-of-school band performances count for 30% of each student’s grade. This is a performing arts class and the emphasis will be on performances throughout the school year. Band teaches students to build trust and rely on each other to make beautiful music, and it is important that everyone is doing their part to be at all performances. In the event of a family emergency, performances will be made up with an alternative assignment, on a case-by-case basis. However, I highly encourage you to get your students to each performance, so that they are able to pass the class, and learn how to be a part of a team. Band is a sport, we are only as strong as each member on our team. If students do not participate or perform, the entire group suffers both in quality and morale. While this may sound like a daunting commitment, I am here to offer support if you have questions or concerns, and can attest that the time-management, social-emotional, and teamwork skills learned in band will translate to the success of your students in whatever they choose to do as adults.

Over the next week I will be assembling a band website, our google classrooms, and our Band Student/Parent Handbook. These materials will present you with all information you need to know to be successful in the CMS Band Programs, and can be referenced at any time if you have questions. It’s important to note that because this is my first year, I am simultaneously enrolled in a credentialing program through CSUEB, which requires that I record classes frequently throughout the school year in order to receive feedback on my teaching so that I can be at my best for your students. Release forms will be sent out in the coming week as well. 

Lastly, all documents will be considered “living documents” and subject to change, as I may need to check and adjust my plan as the year progresses. I will relay any changes via ParentSquare and Google Classroom, which will be my primary modes of communication. I can also be reached in the CMS Band Office,  707-435-5800 x 3624. Leave a message and I will return your call at my nearest availability. 

I am so impressed by every student enrolled in the CMS Band programs so far, and am grateful to have the opportunity to help your students become musicians as they journey into young-adulthood. My goal is to be as transparent and supportive as possible, so please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions, comments, or concerns you might have! My job is to support the growth of your students, and would love to work together to give your students the best possible shot at success! I’m looking forward to meeting you all at our CMS Music Booster Meeting on 9/6 at 6pm in the CMS Band Room! 

Best regards,

Ben Wilkinson

Band Director

Crystal Middle School