Welcome back, everyone! I can’t wait to start making music with all of you again! Everyone needs to bring their instrument to school tomorrow (Monday). We WILL be playing in all of our classes and get lockers assigned. While everyone will have a locker for their instrument, it is expected that instruments will go home to be used for practice at least 2-3 times a week! Your improvement will be very limited if you only play during class. Band has homework just like math, English or science. It is just called practice. 😊 Parents – please help encourage the instrument to come home regularly.
Hollywood 2022
We will have a Hollywood meeting on Tuesday, August 16 at 8p – right after the BAW meeting at 7p – in the band room. This is for anyone interested in going to Hollywood. We MUST have everyone there for this meeting! I have to turn in EXACT numbers on Thursday, Aug. 18. If you have not signed up – NOW is the time!
Mega Car Wash
MEGA Car Wash – Don’t forget to obtain pledges! Getting pledges is how you make the BIG money. Remember, you will retain 85% of the pledges you get if you are going with us to Hollywood credited to your trip account! Anyone not going, we still need your help. EVERYONE is important to the team. ALL band students (including freshmen) will be assigned to a time and location tomorrow in class. We NEED every band member present!
Band Fees
Fees & Forms Envelopes – All Marching Band students have received a manilla envelope with several forms included along with a smaller envelope to return cash or check payments for band fees, shoes and/or gloves). Freshman/Concert Band members will receive their envelopes on Monday (tomorrow). The Marching Band fee is $60, the Freshman/Concert Band fee is $25. Marching Band members only owe the Marching Band Fee. The MB fee pays for meals at games and competitions, band T-shirt, entry fees, and uniform cleaning fee. The Fr. Concert Band fee pays for T-shirt and entry fees. Anyone using school-owned instruments will also owe an instrument rental fee of $65. I will send those forms shortly, but you can pay the fee now if that is easier. PLEASE let Dr. Thomas of Mr. Hupe know if you need to wait a while on the fees. We know back to school can be a drain on finances.
Grocery Sacking
Grocery Sacking (for the Hollywood trip) went really well recently. We would like to give more people an opportunity so are checking to see if we should schedule another date. We are looking at scheduling for Sunday and Monday September 4 & 5 (Labor Day weekend). If you would like to partake in the sacking, please sign up by Aug. 15. (See Email for link) Here’s a note from the parent who is helping us schedule this for you – “When sacking groceries, it is important to introduce yourself and tell customers why you are there (“Hi, how are you? My name is _____ and I’m bagging groceries to raise money for the SM West Marching Band to go to the Hollywood Christmas Parade”). Also, please wear your band shirt!”
Band App
The Band App. – Please everyone download the Band App for your phone – Parents and Students. It is a free download and will allow us to communicate if events change quickly – like a storm, or at a marching festival. It will not replace my weekly emails because I provide so much info. here, you don’t want to read it on a phone, nor do I want to type it on a phone. I also uploaded several pictures from last weeks exhibition performance.
Pregame Music Testing
Marching Band – Pregame music is due to be passed off (for a grade) by this coming Friday. Make sure you are getting with your section leader or Mr. Hupe or Dr. Thomas to make that happen. All the other pass-off dates are listed on the marker board in the front of the classroom.
Band Sponsors Needed
Corporate sponsors needed. Do you or someone you know own a business? The Band (Band~Aides West booster club) is looking for corporate sponsors to help us meet our needs for the year. We have a couple of immediate needs and one longer-term where funding help is needed.
- We need a new Apple MacBook Air for the marching band. One of the laptops we have currently is a 2009 and is struggling to run the software needed for the keyboard synthesizers used in the pit. (Appx .cost $1,200)
- We also need help paying for the transportation of our uniforms, and equipment to Hollywood in November. We will rent a Penske-like box truck and need to pay for the rental, fuel and lodging expenses for the parents who will drive it to California and back. (Appx. cost $4,750)
- Clinicians for our students during the second semester. We typically provide bi-weekly group lessons for our students in the Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble during class using professionals specific to their instruments (clarinet, saxophones, trombones/euphoniums, French horns, double reeds, flutes). (Appx. cost $3,000)