Marching Band 2026

We hope your summer is off to a great start and you are enjoying some warm weather with family and friends and maybe even a vacation. Now is the time to relax and recharge .

This email is just to put all of the marching band pieces in one place. Below you will find:

• The Marching Band Schedule as it currently stands
• The Contract that every Marching Band Family Signed - Please review expectations
• A Link to the Marching Band Google Classroom, where you can find resources
• A Link to the "Band App" which is going to be our main way of communicating

Below is a google form for STUDENTS to fill out if they are requesting the use of an EAHS instrument for MARCHING BAND.

We have an EXTREMELY LIMITED SUPPLY OF INSTRUMENTS. If you are a student who plays the:

• Flute
• Clarinet
• Alto Sax
• Trumpet
• Trombone

We are strongly encouraging you to look into renting from a music store like Quinlan and Fabish. If you are interested it purchasing your own, PLEASE buy from a music store and not from Walmart, Amazon, Ebay, or these other "low cost" websites. The instruments on those sites are not high quality and will break within a few months adding to frustration. Please email me at bliska@d131.org before purchasing online.

Students who play these instruments:

• Tenor Sax
• Bari Sax
• Euphonium
• Sousaphone

Please fill out the form as these are instruments we provide. Most music stores won't rent these out.

If you need an instrument, we will do everything in our power to get you one, but we cannot guarantee that we have enough of the smaller instruments.

Below is a link to the current schedule. It is as up-to-date as possible. Please avoid rehearsals and performances when scheduling vacations, back-to-school doctor appointments, and other celebrations.

Students are expected to attend all marching band performances and rehearsals.

Below are links to the commitment contracts that you signed. Please refer to them as needed to remind yourself of expectations. Thank you for wanting to be a part of the Marching Tomcats.

Click on the button below as we will post updates throughout the summer. Please do this right away with your DISTRICT EMAIL. All updates will get posted in this classroom, as well as documents and any information you will need.

In the classwork section you can find recordings and other helpful resources for our 2026 Show!

We are using the Band App for updates and communication with students. Please join by clicking the link below.

August 3 -

• Freshman and Leadership Team Start at 10:00 am
• Upperclassmen Start at 1:00 pm
• Rehearsal ends for everybody at 9:00 pm

August 4 -

• 1:00 pm - ALL Marching Tomcats
• Rehearsal ends for everybody at 9:00 pm

August 5 -

• 1:00 pm - ALL Marching Tomcats
• Rehearsal ends for everybody at 9:00 pm

August 6 -

• 1:00 pm - ALL Marching Tomcats
• Rehearsal ends for everybody at 9:00 pm

August 7

• 1:00 pm - ALL Marching Tomcats

• Parent Meeting at 6:30 pm in the Auditorium
• Parent Showcase at 7:30 pm in the Stadium
• Rehearsal ends for everybody at 9:00 pm

See the full schedule above "2026 Marching Tomcats Schedule" for a complete list of weekly rehearsals and performances.

Marching band is an ATHLETIC ACTIVITY and we should dress accordingly. Not wearing proper athletic attire can cause rashes, dehydration, dizziness, and countless other issues. For the health and safety of all students we are requiring the following dress for all summer marching rehearsals (as the weather cools off dress will change, but in August it is HOT)

• NO Jeans
• NO Hoodies
• Stay away from dark clothing - NO BLACK!
• NO Sandals, flip-flops, croc, or other flimsy shoes

DO WEAR:

• T-Shirts
• Athletic Shorts
• Sneakers/Tennis Shoes
• Light Colored Hat
• SUNSCREEN

DO BRING:

• A refillable Water Bottle
• Healthy Snacks like granola bars (not candy and chips)

If every family helps out, we will have enough water for the season!

Students should join marching band expecting to attend everything. We are not getting better when you aren't there and you are not getting better when you miss.

Marching Band is a Team Sport, but the difference between this and football is, everybody is a starter. Everybody is on the field for the whole show. We don't bench anybody. You are all contributing members and we are better when everybody is there.

Conflicts should be caught early and discussed early with a director. Conflicts with less than 24 hours notice will not be excused. We have given you a complete calendar of the season, please check it before making other commitments.

Students with jobs or in other activities need to get their schedules too and make sure conflicts don't happen. Band is a class, therefore a grade. Band cannot always be flexible.

When a true conflict arises, please speak with a band director as quickly as possible and we will help you try to figure out a solution. If you have an EAHS athletic conflict, the official policy is later in this newsletter. Please read that portion and let us know if there are questions.

This word is often overused and used incorrectly. An emergency is something that suddenly happened that was unexpected. This could include an illness, car accident, or hospitalization.

If a true emergency happens, please take care of it. You will be excused only with a note or meeting from a parent to explain the situation. Simply saying the word "Emergency" does not excuse you from a band event.

This policy is to help us keep focus on what we are working on. If you are super addicted to your cell phone, please don't even bring it on the field or into the auditorium.

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Only in the case of emergencies should you leave rehearsal to go to the bathroom.

If we are on the football field, you are to use the bathrooms outside in the stadium. If we are inside you are to use the bathrooms inside. Please walk quickly to the closest bathroom and return to rehearsal as quickly as possible.

Further conversations will be had with students who are abusing the bathrooms.

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Early is on time, on time is late

This means that you need arrive before the time listed that we are going to start. Every student has equipment to get out and a place to walk to. You need to get to school before the start time of any activity.

If you are late for whatever reason, we expect that you will quickly get ready and hurry out to the football field or wherever you need to be. We are much happier when we see a late student hustling out to rehearsal rather than slowly walking and texting on their phones.

Occasionally a conflict with happen. There are 4 types of conflicts outlined below and this is how all of the conflicts should be resolved. This policy has been given to all fall coaches.

3) Sport Competition vs Band Practice – Student would attend the sporting event without any penalty from band.

4) Sport Competition vs a Band Performance – The student would choose which activity they want to participate in without influence from the coach or director. Student could be issued a penalty/make up assignment at the judgment of the coach/director. Every effort should be made to allow the student to do both if possible.