I’m so excited that we got the entire show on the field this past Friday (video link) with all of the backdrops and drills. Thank you for all the hard work and extra time for sectionals, coming to build props, measure and get measured for uniforms, etc. You are all wonderful! Now we continue cleaning and ADDING more visuals.
OK, here comes another crazy week in October!
Hang on and please read carefully.
Monday (10/3)
Monday (tomorrow) – SMSD Marching Festival SM South Stadium. Call time has been moved up to 4:45. We had some issues with pants when students took them off on Friday night – many came unsnapped so we will have to have an inspection again to make sure no one is walking on the pant leg.
REMINDER – The pant should only graze to top of the shoe in the font. Then the back should be correct. If it is bunched at the ankles, you will walk on the pant and will end up purchasing those pants for about $150!
REMINDER #2 – Jackets are either all the way on and zipped up and buttoned, or off. We want to always look our best. Jackets are NEVER to be worn open or unbuttoned/zipped.
When we return to the band room and are putting uniforms away after a performance, it is the responsibility of every student to hang the pants and jackets with care. If you miss it once, the section leader will show you the correct way. After that, you will have points deducted from your grade. We need to protect this investment. 😊
Eat dinner before you arrive at the band room. Dinner will not be served at the stadium and the concession stand will not be open. We perform first at 7:00p. The evening will conclude at about 8:30. You should be home by 9:30 or a little after.
Tuesday
Tuesday night – BAW meeting in the band room at 7:00p. Please come learn about how marching festivals are judged so you can know what they are looking for and you can better understand what we are teaching your students. We can still use a few more Roadies to help load at the school. We now have a second truck. Departing on time is a MUST.
(Tuesday) Marching Band Pre-Game rehearsal from 6-7p only. The Westridge 8th graders are joining us on Friday at the game. This will be their opportunity to learn where to stand for the Alma Mater and Fight song.
Last call of those wishing to sign up to audition for the KMEA District Honor Band. The sign-up sheet is in the front of the band room on the marker board. You have to be accepted and perform with the District Honor Band to be eligible to audition for the All-State Honor Band in January. Keep Practicing! If you want Mr. Hupe or I to listen and give you helpful advice, we would be more than happy to! Make sure you are preparing the scales as well as the musical excerpts. If you need the scale sheet please ask. They are being very strict with ranges and tempos this year.
Thursday
SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY Pep Band – Lenexa Hills – We have been asked to have a pep band play at Lenexa Hills this coming Thursday morning from 7:30- 8:10a. This is a special celebration for them and a great recruiting opportunity for us! I’ll put a sign up sheet on the marker board at the front of the room. You would want to take your instruments& pep band books the day before. I’ll meet everyone at Lenexa Hills at 7:30a. Address – 8650 Haven St, Lenexa, KS 66219. It’s a late start so no school will be missed.
Thursday – Drumline/Pit rehearsal 7-8:30p to prepare for Lee’s Summit competition. Since the percussion section is competing in their own drumline competition in the morning, we wanted to practice once in the gym just like they will perform on Saturday.
Friday
Friday – Home football against Ol. North. Call time is 4:00p again. We MUST Pull out of the parking lot at 4:30 if we are to have time to rehearse at the stadium. When you arrive at the band room, the first thing you do is take your instrument outside to the trucks! The parents were waiting us us to get our equipment out which made us late to the stadium and not able to have our rehearsal last week. We only have field time from 4:45 to 5:30p. Often times students stay after school and begin taking out the props, pit instruments, drumline, etc. You are MORE THAN WELCOME to stay after school.
Saturday – Lee’s Summit Marching Festival.
Saturday – Lee’s Summit Marching Festival. See attached schedule for all the details. Percussion and Guard/Dance members, bring money with you for lunch in the stadium. We are not providing lunch for you. Hornline coming on the second bus, you need to have eaten lunch before you arrive. The trucks will stay loaded from Friday night. You will change into uniform prior to leaving West. You will not have to wear your jacket on the bus, but you will when you get off the buses. If you are helping load equipment inside the truck – DO NOT wear your jacket. It would be easy to get the new white jackets stained.
Upcoming!
Clarinet All-State Excerpts as played by the clarinet professor at Washburn University. This is to give you another recording by professionals to emulate. https://youtu.be/a1_s6rjWmtU Washburn is making demo videos for all the instruments. I will forward when I get them.
Concert Band and Jazz Bands Concert – Thursday, October 13 at 7:00p.m in the West Auditorium. Call time for all performers is 6:30p. The concert will last about an hour and a half. This will be the unveiling of our Jazz and Concert Bands for the year. It will be great – Don’t miss it. Even if you are not performing, please come and support your friends! It will be a great time!
The last home football game on Friday, October 14 is the Glow Show. (Reminder – there is no school on this day) This is an incredibly fun show that the entire community looks forward to each season. The band will march our show on the turf with the stadium lights turned out – after the game. Each student will purchase their own glow sticks (Dollar Tree, Wal~mart, Amazon – wherever you desire). At half-time we will recognize our seniors and their parents. After halftime, students will change out of uniform into dark jeans/pants and a dark t-shirt/top. The students will decorate t-shirt/top and/or pants using glow sticks. Some students outline themselves with LED’s that’s fine too. There are three rules for the enjoyment of our audience and protection of our instruments – 1) lights cannot flash, 2) lights cannot shine directly at the crowd & 3) please do not tape to a school owned instrument. The tape residue sometimes does not come off. Start purchasing your glow sticks NOW o you’re not in a panic on the day of the game.
The K-State Marching Festival is Saturday, Oct. 22
Enough for now. This is a lot to keep track of.
Hollywood travelers – it is time to make your last payment. 😊
Students – don’t forget, you will be meeting with your chaperones on the coming weeks. Please do everything you can to be in attendance – these meetings are for YOU to ensure you have a great time on the trip.
Chaperone MVP training in the West Band Room Oct. 17, 4:00p – EVERYONE is welcome even if you are not chaperoning for Hollywood.