Greetings. This is Mr. Andy Pizzo. I am the band director at Sherwood Middle Academic Magnet School. I run my program like a championship team: with the intent of always striving for excellence and producing the highest quality and best results possible.

I am a native of Metairie, LA, and received my B.M.E. from L.S.U. in the spring of 1999 and chose to stay in East Baton Rouge Parish to give back to my new community. I began my teaching career at McKinley Middle Magnet School, then went Southeast Middle School. Now, I am in my 5th year at Sherwood Middle Academic Magnet School. I am entering my 11th year of teaching and have found it very rewarding.

I am a professional educator as well as a professional performing musician. I am a professional trombonist and perform in various groups of many styles such as jazz, funk, pop/rock, latin, ect. In 2006, I released my debut c.d. on my own record label: O-ZIP Records, with my group, The Andy Pizzo Project. You can find copies of this c.d., "Bouncin", at www.cdbaby.com. I have also performed throughout the southeast U.S. in such cities as Austin, TX; New Orleans, LA; Jackson, MS; Birmingham, AL; Atlanta, GA; etc. I have also performed in Las Vegas, NV, and New York City, New York. You can also check my personal website for my peforming schedule: www.andypizzo.com

** IMPORTANT DATES AND ITEMS OF INTEREST **

BAND TRIP INFORMATION UPDATE

Trip Payment #1 for Intermediate and Advanced Band participants ($134 total for this payment) will be sent home on Thurs. Nov. 19 and Fri. Nov. 20. The form will tell you how much your child earned from the cookie dough sale (poinsettia doesn't affect this payment) and what your current payment is (fundraiser subtracted from $134). The deadline for sending in this trip payment, which also includes chaperone payments, is Dec. 15. Please contact me if there are any problems.

POINSETTIA FUNDRAISER

The Poinsettia Plants will be delivered to SMAMS on Thurs. Dec. 10 (same date as the Winter Band Concert). We are asking that if you sold any, please come by school after 12p.m. and preferably before the concert (6p.m.) to pick up and deliver your orders. Thanks to everyone who helped sell and make this fundraiser a success.

AFTER SCHOOL REHEARSAL SCHEDULE

1) ) Mon. Nov. 30 = Jazz Band Rehearsal from 2:45p.m. - 4:15p.m.

2) Tues. Dec. 1 = Int. Band Rehearsal from 2:45p.m. - 4:15p.m.

3) Wed. Dec. 2 = Beg. Band Rehearsal from 2:45p.m. - 4:15p.m.

4) Thurs. Dec. 3 = HONOR BAND HELP SESSION (this is the last chance to get help before your audition)

5) Sat. Dec. 5 = EBR Honor Band Auditions at SMAMS (audition times will be given to those students who registered before Thanksgiving)

6) Mon. Dec. 7 = Jazz Band Rehearsal from 2:45p.m. - 4:15p.m.

7) Tues. Dec. 8 = Adv. Band Rehearsal from 2:45p.m. - 4:15p.m.

8) Wed. Dec. 9 = Beg. Band Rehearsal from 2:45p.m. - 4:15p.m.

9) Thurs. Dec. 10 = WINTER BAND CONCERT FOR ALL BANDS.... Report Time is 5:15p.m. for all students.... Concert Time is 6p.m. sharp! (There will be a $2 donation for all adults. Students get in for free).