Ereckson Middle School

ABOUT ME

GOOD MORNING!!!!!  My name is DJ Vaccarezza and I'm so happy to be teaching at Ereckson MS in Allen!!!! This is my 10th year at Ereckson! I have been teaching Band for almost 30 years & I LOVE IT!!!!  I went to HS in Snyder, TX, then went to Texas Tech where I got my Music Ed degree and marched in the Goin' Band from Raiderland (GO RED RAIDERS!!!!).  I taught 1 year in Coleman, TX, then went to San Antonio for the next 18 years.  I taught in Castroville, TX, just west of SA, for 5 years then taught in Boerne, just north of SA, for 7 years where I opened a brand new school.  I then taught 6 years in Northside ISD where I opened another MS, Jefferson MS.  My husband and I then wanted to move to North Texas to be closer to our family.  He teaches AP Human Geography at Lowery Freshman Center.  We love to travel and are both very passionate about teaching!!! This summer (2022) we got a beagle puppy after saying Goodbye to our previous beagle (Maya) in February 2021. Our new puppy's name is Chloe Basil Vaccarezza and she's a lemon beagle. She has been fun & a little challenging as we forgot what it was like to have a spunky puppy! But we love her and can't wait for our adventure of life with her.

ACADEMIC PLANNING GUIDE

Concert Band Students will be placed in the appropriate level band class based on individual audition with the director and a balance of instrumentation within the ensemble. This course provides an opportunity for students to continue instrumental development at an intermediate level. Attendance at sectionals, rehearsals and performances beyond the school day will be required in order to meet the performance requirements outlined by the state course objectives. Some of the activities at this level are considered extra-curricular. Students must maintain a 70 or better in ALL subjects in order to participate in extracurricular activities. (Full Year)

Symphonic Band 2 Students will be placed in the appropriate level band class based on individual audition with the director and a balance of instrumentation within the ensemble. This course provides an opportunity for students to continue instrumental development at an intermediate-advanced level. Attendance at  sectionals, rehearsals and performances beyond the school day will be required in order to meet the  performance requirements outlined by the state course objectives. Some of the activities at this level are considered extra-curricular. Students must maintain a 70 or better in ALL subjects in order to participate in extracurricular activities. (Full Year)

Symphonic Band 1 Students will be placed in the appropriate level band class based on individual audition with the director and a balance of instrumentation within the ensemble. This course provides an opportunity for students to continue instrumental development at an intermediate-advanced level. Attendance at sectionals, rehearsals and performances beyond the school day will be required in order to meet the performance requirements outlined by the state course objectives. Some of the activities at this level are considered extra-curricular. Students must maintain a 70 or better in ALL subjects in order to participate in extracurricular activities. (Full Year)

Honor Band This is an advanced band class available by audition only. Students will be placed in the appropriate level band class based on individual audition with the director and a balance of instrumentation within the ensemble. This course provides an opportunity for students to continue instrumental development at an advanced level. Attendance at sectionals, rehearsals and performances beyond the school day will be required in order to meet the performance requirements outlined by the state course objectives. Some of the activities at this level are considered extra-curricular. Students must maintain a 70 or better in ALL subjects in order to participate in extra-curricular activities. (Full Year)

Percussion This class focuses on the development of keyboard and snare drum skills, as well as an introduction to the accessory percussion instruments. Percussion students are required to attend before and after school rehearsals when scheduled. Percussion students are encouraged to participate in the All-City/All Region auditions in the fall and the Solo and Ensemble Contest in the spring. The members of this class will go to the UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Contest in the spring. Occasional rehearsals and performances beyond the school day are required in order to meet the performance requirements outlined by the state course objectives. Some of the activities at this level are considered extra-curricular. Students must maintain a 70 or better in ALL subjects in order to participate in extracurricular activities. (Full Year)

Music is a Science. It is exact, specific, and it demands exact acoustics. A conductor's score is a chart,a graph with indicated frequencies, intensities, volume changes, melody, and harmony all at once and with the most exact control of time.