July, 2008

Dear Strings Teacher,

I'd like to invite you and your students to participate in an extraordinary two-part educational event to be held Wednesday, January 21, 2009 on the campus of Fort Hays State University:

Battle of the Bands Competition

In the afternoon, up to seven Alternative Strings Bands will join in a showcase event, performing for our judges and an audience made up of their peers. Groups will be judged on technical skill, originality, visual presentation, professionalism, and overall entertainment value, and will receive written critiques of their performances. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three bands, and the first place winner performs as the opening act to a concert by Barrage that evening. We invite your students to watch this unique event! Students wanting to enter a band in the Battle of the Bands are invited through an audition process outlined in the attached details. Please note: this is an independent competition—please read attached rules regarding KSHSAA member school participation policy. Band applications, demos and fees are due October 25, 2008.

Barrage Workshop and Concert

Following the Battle of the Bands, the staff of the sensational fiddling group Barrage will run an afternoon workshop and rehearsal for participating students, teaching their alternative strings style and rehearsing a piece that the students will perform with them at their concert that evening. Music for the workshop will be sent out in advance, and should be memorized. Space for the workshop is limited to 100 students. (See attached details for registration deadlines.)

We hope to keep the entire day fun and active! In addition to the Battle of the Bands, workshop and concert, we are planning the Yamaha Experiment Room, which will be set up with electric instruments (strings and guitars), amplifiers, special effects devises, and drum kits, for students to try out the latest equipment. We'll also be having a drawing for a Yamaha SV-130 electric violin, and other prizes.

Cost for the entire day is only $10 per student, and includes the Battle of the Bands Competition, the Barrage Workshop and Concert, and afternoon refreshments.

Please feel free to contact me for additional information and details. We hope that this first-ever event will inspire young string players throughout Kansas to explore new ways of making music.

Sincerely,

Cathy Drabkin
Executive Director
FHSU Western Kansas String Academy
(785) 628-5363; cadrabkin@fhsu.edu

600 Park Street
Malloy Hall, Department of Music
Hays, Kansas 67601