Hope you have had a good spring break!
Congratulations to everyone who performed for Solo MPA! A huge feat to pull off in the current paradigm, we will continue to reflect on the work done to continue our musical growth. Please see the information below (largely a description of events on the band calendar), it includes some recent changes, summer opportunities, band camp info, and next year’s calendar. With many students returning full time to campus this coming week we are ready in the band room to accept all students with 45 chairs set up to continue with 6’ distancing, we are lucky to have the room to do so which will allow at least our classes to NOT be subject to quarantining students in situations under 6’ seated next to a positive Covid-19 case. We will now be combining our Awards Ceremony with our Final Concert on May 6th in the courtyard. Have a look at next year’s calendar, you will see all dates for events that will likely be possible in 2021-2022. For those of you who were new to the KWHS Band this year, you will see there at least 14 major events that did not take place this year that we will be able to do at least in some capacity in the future, we have barely scratched the surface for what high school band is…
Upcoming Dates:
*Wind Ensemble weekly Tuesday rehearsals begin this week March 30th through May 4th from 2:45-4:15pm. (Percussion according to piece/part assignments).
*Symphonic Band weekly Thursday rehearsals begin next week April 8th through May 6th from 2:45-4:15pm. (Percussion according to piece/part assignments).
*Colorguard will continue Thursday Rehearsals through May 6th. We will also have a tryout night later this spring, more info to come.
*Concert MPA Recordings will be completed during the above rehearsals, Wind Ensemble April 13 & Symphonic Band: April 15.
*Thursday, May 6th 7:00pm Final Band Concert & Awards Ceremony.
*Be on the look-out for individual photo shoot dates in May so that we may have a composite photo for this year. We are still working on securing a photographer.
*Grades 9th-11th see below about Leadership 2021-22: May 10th-12th Officer Interviews. Sign up on the band office door for a time. Drum Major Auditions & Officer Elections held on Tuesday, May 18th from 2:45-4:00pm.
*Monday, May 17th, 6:00pm Band Parent meeting-Selecting band parent board officers for the next year. Please email me if you would like to be considered for a position. They are listed in the KWHS Band Handbook on page 24/25. We will have several positions open including those that were not filled for this year, several key parent volunteers had their students graduate in the past couple of years/now. All help is greatly appreciated! ***We need everyone to step-up this coming year to provide our students the best possible experience.***
*Wednesday, May 19, 6:30pm Icebreaker. All returning members meet new members.
*May 27th Graduation rehearsal (time TBD-usually early evening between 5-7:30pm). More specific info to follow.
*May 28th Graduation Performance. Report by 6:00pm.
*Summer School: two sessions will be offered this year, be aware of opportunities announced soon. At a minimum, you will be able to complete your HOPE course (two weeks for band students rather than four).
*KWHS Marching Band Camp: July 26th Leadership, July 27th Percussion/Colorguard start, and July 28 (everyone) weekdays through August 6th. We will begin camp in the afternoon through evening the 1st week and mornings/afternoons the 2nd week to accommodate summer school: Band Calendar
Other optional camps for all members:
http://www.pennysbandcamp.com (Colorguard, Leadership, & Percussion)
https://performingarts.cah.ucf.edu/camps/ (UCF Camps)
http://www.music.fsu.edu/summermusiccamps (Leadership, Band, Etc.)
http://www.stetson.edu/music/community/camps-and-festivals.php (Stetson Summer Music Camps-instrumental)
http://www.youngmusicianscamp.com/ (University of Miami Music Camps)
http://www.flsouthern.edu/academics/schools/school-of-arts-sciences/departments/music-department/band-camp.aspx (Band camp at Florida Southern)
There are many others throughout the nation. Here is a music camp directory for the entire country: http://theinstrumentalist.com/pages/The-Instrumentalist/2021-Directory-of-Summer-Camps/#Florida
2021-2022 Band Student Leadership Info
Please see the info below from the band handbook about band leadership requirements and selection for next year. We will have interviews May 10th through 12th and will have elections and drum major auditions on Tuesday May 18th after school from 2:45-4:00pm. Please sign up for an interview time on the band office door, no application needed.
All positions will be required to give a brief speech, less than 45 seconds. See below the signature for info about all leadership positions.
*Drum major audition:
Conduct this piece with appropriate cues, patterns and dynamic contrast: https://www.jwpepper.com/sheet-music/product-media.jsp?productID=11208928 .
Be prepared to call attention and parade rest.
Thank you!
Gary Hernandez
Director of Bands
Band Calendar–Website–Announcement Blog–Remind101 Txts
Leadership Info:
*All Band Members are LEADERS in making good choices within their lives, in band, on campus throughout the school day and in our community.*
Student leadership is the most vital part of a successful band program. What we do can only be done well if we have everyone onboard with our shared aspirations and goals. Always do your best and never have any regrets. Your actions today sow the seeds of our future leaders; we are all connected throughout the history of our band program. Never underestimate the power of your words and actions. Your service to the band will benefit you for years to come with the leadership experience gained.
The following are expectations, eligibility requirements, responsibilities and descriptions of the leadership positions:
Expectations of All Positions
- Serve as model band student in all aspects of performance and attitude.
- Promote Band spirit and morale whenever and wherever possible.
- Maintain a constant sense of service to the band program.
- Be prepared to assist with teaching marching and music skills throughout the year.
- Help to maintain discipline (appropriate behavioral choices) within the band.
- Arrive at rehearsals and performances prior to all other members of the band to help set up and remain after until all work is completed.
- Attend all band officer meetings.
- Act as a liaison between the director and students.
Requirements to be an Officer
***Grades will be checked at the end of the semester. You may be removed from your officer position if you fail to meet these requirements.***
Students must:
- Have and maintain an un-weighted 2.5 GPA or greater with no failures in any class for the past academic year (semester).
- Have, no or pending, disciplinary action at KWHS for the past academic year.
- Attend all officer leadership camps, regular band camps and rehearsals with no unexcused absences.
- Be willing and able to serve for the entire upcoming school year.
Failure to meet or maintain any of these requirements will result in ineligibility and/or removal from the position.
Responsibilities and Descriptions
Band Captain-President (1)
- Is the foremost student leader of the band who leads through example at all times.
- May run rehearsals at the behest of the bandmaster.
- Oversees and assesses the duties and functions of all officers and proactively assures that all responsibilities are being carried out.
- May break rank only when necessary to carry out duties.
- First to enter the field,and the last to leave it.
- Schedules and presides over band officer meetings.
- Reports daily to the bandmaster concerning the morale of the band.
- Mandatory attendance at a Music/Leadership Camp.
- May not miss rehearsals or performances for optional school related activities.
Drum Major-Marching Band Conductor (1)
- Conductor for all marching band rehearsals & performances.
- Responsibilities include memorization of all scores exhibited musically with a discernible conducting pattern that maintains a steady pulse.
- Functions as the morale leader of the band at all rehearsals and performances encouraging all members to constantly perform at their best.
- Mandatory attendance at a Music/Drum Major Camp.
- May not miss rehearsals or performances for optional school related activities.
Assistant Drum Major (As needed)
- Same as Drum Major.
- May be a regular performing member and function as a field conductor as needed.
- Coordinates all public relations with the band director, parents, community and the school at large.
- Other duties as assigned by the band director.
- Mandatory attendance at a Music/Drum Major Camp.
- May not miss rehearsals or performances for optional school related activities.
1st LIEUTENANT-Personnel Manager (1)
- In charge taking attendance at all outside of school rehearsals and performances.
- Oversees section leaders, assists the director in supervising sectionals, and assesses their teaching.
- Responsible for stage setup for all concerts.
- Assumes the role of band captain in his/her absence.
- Strongly suggested attendance at a Music/Leadership Camp.
2nd LIEUTENANT-Equipment Manager (1)
- Coordinates all equipment transport with section leaders, parents & director.
· Responsible for instrument check-out/check-in.
· Responsible for the care and maintenance of instruments.
· Assists 1st Lieutenant with stage setup.
Strongly suggested attendance at a Music/Leadership Camp.
Section Leaders-Teachers (Assistant Section Leaders as needed)
- Must be model band students and know their music, marching, and be able to conduct sectionals.
- Assist individual members within their sections with all aspects of band.
- Assist the Band Director during inspections.
- Color Guard Captain – Mandatory attendance at a Leadership/Flag Camp.
- Section Leaders – Strongly suggested attendance at a Music/Leadership Camp.
Chief Quartermaster-All Rehearsal Facilities Manager (1)
· Duties include making sure band members keep all rehearsal facilities clean and organized.
· Oversees/aids the quartermasters.
· Bus 1 Captain for all band trips responsible for seating charts and bus cleanliness.
Quartermaster-Locker Room Facilities Manager (1)
- Duties include checking out/in lockers and locks.
- Responsible for maintaining order and cleanliness of the locker room facilities. The locker room floor must be clear of all items at all times & all personal items found will be placed in lost & found and must be claimed by Friday of that school week before being discarded.
- Must conduct random lock checks to ensure security of personal and band-owned equipment.
- Bus 2 Captain for all band trips responsible for seating charts and bus cleanliness.
Quartermaster-Concert & Marching Uniform Manager (1-3)
- Duties include fitting, repairing, organizing and collecting uniforms for cleaning.
- Responsible for communicating the correct way to care for and wear the uniform.
- Responsible for communicating the uniform needs of the band to the director.
- Must be prepared to fix uniforms at all times (sewing kits, extra buttons, etc.).
- Will maintain a list of uniform infractions at all inspections.
- Bus 3 Captain for all band trips responsible for seating charts and bus cleanliness.
Quartermaster-Special Effects & Props Coordinator (Marching & Concert) (1)
- Duties include designing, building, coordinating and securing materials for props or special effects to enhance the theatrical effect of the performance area for all band performances.
- Recruit a team of band member volunteers to assist with duties.
Quartermaster-Technology Manager (1-2)
- In charge of audio and video recording for all marching and concert band performances and classes requested by band director.
- Responsible for basic editing, mastering, and transfer of audio and video files to band server/hard drive.
- Setting up of long ranger for rehearsals/games.
- Updates the Director with new ways to incorporate technology.
Librarians-Current Year (Jazz, Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band) (3)
- In charge of all activities related to the band sheet music and music library.
- Duties include distributing, collecting, organizing, copying, documenting and filing music.
- Librarian must communicate to the Band Director the sheet music needs of the band.
- Must be assigned as a student assistant in addition to a regular band class.
Librarians-Restoration (1-2)
· In charge of restoring order to all pieces not currently in use.
· Duties include organizing, score ordering, attaining missing parts, cataloguing and filing music.
· Must be assigned as a student assistant in addition to a regular band class.
Historian (1-2)
· In charge of documenting (taking pictures and video) of every band event for the entire year.
· Prepares a photo video for the Band Banquet.
· Create a digital archive of all band historical documents for the current year and previous years.
I am responsible for my behavior and the results of
that behavior.
I am responsible for what I become in life.
Life does not accept excuses.
I will not let my need to be accepted by others keep
me from doing what is right.
I am somebody.
Losers let it happen, winners make it happen.
Therefore, when faced with a mountain,
I will not quit.
I will keep on striving until I climb over, find a
pass through, tunnel underneath, or simply stay and
turn the mountain into a gold mine…
I will do my best. I know I can. I am a winner.
I am somebody.
I am an integral part of the
Key West High School Band.
