The WGHS Band Update
September 20, 2026
How to Successfully Prepare for Auditions
1. Make sure to know ALL the requirements. Read through the requirements carefully and make sure you have all the materials you need in advance. Ask for clarification if you do not understand something as soon as possible.
2. Make a practice plan and stick to it. Decide when, where and how much you will practice each a the pieces or exercises. Write your plan down and adjust the times as needed leading up to the audition. Make the plan realistic! If you never or hardly even practice, you probably won't stick to a plan that requires you to practice 2 hours every day.
3. I can't say this enough! PRACTICE SLOWLY! And with a metronome. Playing something faster than you can play it well just makes you learn mistakes and doesn't allow you to observe all the important details (dynamics, articulations, phrasing, etc.) besides just notes and rhythms.
4. Start preparing early. You wouldn't start training for a long race like a marathon the day or week before. The same is true for an audition. A little time spent daily is much better than a lot of time the night before. Think about your schedule between now and the audition and structure your practice time so that you know when it will be and can be consistent.
5. Listen to recordings of the audition pieces. There are so many resources available now! You may even be able to find instructional videos put together by teachers or college professors to help you learn the material on YouTube.
6. Record yourself. Listen to the recording and write down or mark in your music things that you need to work on. Practice those things first in very small chunks, maybe only a few notes or measures at a time.
7. Ask for help in-advance. Have a private instructor, band teacher or more accomplished friend listen to you and give you feedback on how to improve.
8. Take care of your body. No one performs their best when they are tired, sick, hungry or thirsty. The week leading up to the audition, take extra care to get enough sleep, hydrate and take time to destress. It sounds simple, but can make a big difference in the outcome.
DATE CHANGES - DECEMBER CONCERTS
Due to some district scheduling conflicts and guest artist schedules, we have changed the date for our December Concert Band Concert to Thursday, 12/10/26 and the Jazz Band Concert to Monday, 12/14/26. Both concerts will be held in the auditorium at 7 pm.
Upcoming Events
Next football game is Sept. 25th - Hixson/High School NIght. Arrive at 4:30 pm to rehearse with their band.
We need trumpet players, horns, trombones and a tuba for two honor full orchestras through Webster's Community Music School, Young People's Concert Orchestra and Young People's Symphonic Orchestra. See Mrs. Young for details on how to get involved.
10/7 - All-Suburban Audition Applications are due.
Home football game on 10/9. Arrive at 5:45 pm.
10/10 Mattress Sale Fundraiser at WGHS - Earn $$$$ for your child's band account and help the general fund! See information below and start getting the word out on social media and texts. $50 per mattress purchased by your referrals. All students must work at 1 hr shift.F
10/10 Fall Flicks and Fun - Come join your fellow band students in the courtyard at WGHS for an outdoor movie, games, popcorn and snacks! Band students only! 7 - 10 pm
10/23 - Home Football Game and Senior Night at Moss! Arrive by 5:45 pm
10/24 - City Museum Performance - 2 pm performance
10/25 - Jazz Band Performance at the Old Orchard Fall Festival.
10/26 - 10/30 - Band Audition Week
10/30 - Possible Play-off Games TBA
A Note from our Band Aides
It’s here! The Band has its own Spirit Wear! Show your school spirit and support for the Band through Spirit Wear. Just click on our link, shop from home, and pick-up your order at Zoey’s Attic in Webster Groves. Band Spirit Store Place your orders today!!
Our first Dine Out Night of the school year is happening on October 5th at Chipotle in Rock Hill. All orders placed from 5-9 pm will earn a 25% donation to the Band. If ordering in person, show them the flyer on your phone or tell them it is for the Band. If ordering online, use code 9JW7D2F to designate the funds. Dine Out Nights are a great way to raise money for the Band program, have a great meal, and see some friends at Chipotle. Mark your calendars for Oct. 5th!
The next Varsity Concession Stand is this coming Friday. We have added another position - Line Manager. If you enjoy using your voice and keeping the line moving, this is the spot for you! For the Sept. 25th game we need 3 more volunteers: Line Manager, Runner, and one additional person for Clean-up. Sign-Up here: Concessions
Thanks for supporting the band!
Cathy Pettibone
Spain Trip Information
This is a link to our trip website. It is also a good source of information and where you will go to register for the trip. You can access it HERE. When you're ready to register, the passcode is WGHS (all caps).
HELP WANTED! CONCESSION STAND COMMITTEE
Are you great at menu and meal planning, an expert grocery shopper or a grill master? You nave just the skills we are looking for to help run the concession stand. We have some BIG shoes to fill as long-time concession stand leader, Virginia Smith, we be retiring from many years of service after next year when her youngest child graduates. Please let a director, Cathy Pettibone (Band Aides President), or Virginia know if you would be interested in learning more.
Missing a rehearsal or performance? Excused vs. Unexcused Absences
We must have a high percentage of our students in attendance to have a successful rehearsal or performance. While there are always legitimate reasons people have to miss scheduled events, we cannot excuse all absences from performances during the school year. Communicating is also important. I appreciate email and verbal reminders, but it is hard to keep all that organized. Please complete the link below if you need to miss a rehearsal or performance. The sooner we know, the better.
ALL performances once school starts are for a grade. An evergreen makeup assignment is on Canvas. Students may choose an option from the list of choices on this assignment to complete for the missed points. Make-up assignments are due 14 days after the missed performance. Assignments turned in later than this will not be given points.
Fundraising Corner
Want to earn money for your individual band account to use for Band Camp , New Orleans or Spain trips by simply purchasing items you already buy, eating at your favorite restaurants or shopping online? Raise Right is your answer. Download the app to your phone and purchase gift cards to places you know you will shop or dine. You will easily earn 2.5 percent to 17 percent back on your purchases. This money adds up quickly and easily. Click this link to get started: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aGuOpkvtxyYH3VZymjffUbNoSYHopMwS/view?usp=sharing
Mattress Sale Information
The Mattress Sale is a unique fundraiser in the fact that it benefits both individual student accounts and the band’s general fund. Students main job is to get the word out. Post on social media, hand out flyers to neighbors, text family and friends. The statistic says one in four people is looking to buy a mattress every year. Why not get one from a band student that you know and love. For each mattress sold, sales people will ask who referred the customer and that student gets $50 for their band account for each mattress sold! That can add up quickly!
Also, new this year, there is a scholarship contest for senior band students who make up to a 30 second video to advertise the sale. Please see the attached flyer for details!
