This Week in DHS Band and Guard

Week of February 24, 2025

This Week's Schedule

Monday, February 24th

Wind Ensemble Flute Sectional, 7:45-8:45 am
Symphonic Winds Saxophone Sectional, 4:45-5:45 PM

Percussion Dress Rehearsal, 4:30-6:30 pm
Band Booster Meeting, 6:30 pm, Auditorium (if percussion is done)

Tuesday, February 25th

Symphonic Winds Clarinet Sectional, 7:45-8:45 am
Wind Ensemble Trumpet Sectional, 7:45-8:45 am
Symphonic Winds Horn Sectional, 4:45-5:45PM
Wind Ensemble Trombone/Euphonium/Tuba Sectional, 4:45-5:45 pm
JV Winter Guard 5-7:30 pm
Percussion Concert, 6:30 pm, Auditorium

Wednesday, February 26th

Symphonic Winds Tuba/Euphonium Sectional, 7:45-8:45 am
Wind Ensemble Horn Sectional, 7:45-8:45 am
Symphonic Winds Trumpet Sectional, 4:45-5:45 pm
Varsity Winter Guard 5-8 pm

Thursday, February 27th

Wind Ensemble Clarinet Sectional, 7:45-8:45 am
JV Winter Guard 5-7 pm
Varsity Winter Guard 5:30-8:30 pm

Friday, February 28th

Symphonic Winds Trombone Sectional, 7:45-8:45 am
Wind Ensemble Saxophone Sectional, 7:45-8:45 am
Texas Lutheran University Band Recruiting Concert in Band Hall, 12:50-1:50 pm (All Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Winds, Symphonic Band students attend A Lunch, then come to the band hall)

Saturday, March 1st

UIL Solo and Ensemble Contest, Canyon HS (rescheduled from last Saturday)
TCGC Smithson Valley Contest, JV and Varsity performing, approximately 8 am call time, parent pickup at 7:30 pm, final itinerary released Wednesday via email

Hosting Texas Color Guard CIrcuit Competition

We are hosting the TCGC Davenport Winter Guard Competition on March 8th at Davenport HS. This is a large fundraiser that benefits the entire band program, and we need your help! Starting at 7 am on that Saturday, we will have several shifts of all kinds of jobs that need to be filled. Please consider signing up at the link below.

https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/10C094AACA62EABFFC70-54548897-tcgc

Jazz Night

Jazz Night is the Comal ISD Jazz Concert on March 4th at 6:30 pm at Canyon HS. All 5 high schools in the district are bringing their Jazz Bands. Our performance is at approximately 6:30 pm. Tickets are $5, and they can be purchased here. All money collected goes towards scholarships. DHS students in the Jazz Band will wear all black. Call time for DHS Jazz Band members is 4:45 pm on Tuesday at DHS. We will be providing transportation to and from the concert. We will stop at Cane's on the way to Canyon HS, so please bring money. Pickup from DHS is approximately 9:30 pm. Students participating in the Comal ISD All-Star Jazz Band will be out of class during 4th-7th periods.

Symphonic Winds Playing Tests and Pass-Offs

Symphonic Winds will have a playing test and pass off in each sectional this week. Chair test will be updated at the end of the week. Below are what each section should have prepared:

Flute: Blue Book page 29, "Scale in Thirds", Bottom octave, Quarter note =100

Fantasy, pickups to 41-49, Quarter note = 110

Clarinet: Blue Book page 29, "Chord Study 1", top octave, Quarter note = 100

Fantasy, pickups to 13-24, Quarter note = 110

Saxophone: Blue Book page 29, "Scale Pattern 2", top octave, Quarter note = 120

Fantasy, Pickups to 33-40, Quarter note = 110

Trumpet: Blue Book page 29, "Chord Study 1", top octave, Quarter note = 100

Fantasy, pickups to 21-30, Quarter note = 110

Horn: Blue Book page 29, "Chord Study 1", top octave, Quarter note = 100

La Madre, pickups to 49-56, Quarter note = 130

Trombone: Blue Book page 29, "Scale Pattern 2", top octave, Quarter Note = 90

La Madre, m. 43-56, Quarter note =130

Euphonium: Blue Book page 29, "Chord Study 1", top octave, Quarter note = 100

Fantasy, m. 21-29, Quarter note = 110

Tuba: Blue Book page 29, "Chord Study 1", top octave, Quarter note = 100

La Madre, m. 49-56, Quarter note = 130

Letter Jacket Ordering

Our first letter jacket fitting this year is March 6th at 4:30 pm. This is when students may order their letter jackets if they lettered in band this year. Students can qualify by earning a chair in the region band or earning a 1st division rating on a solo or ensemble at UIL Solo and Ensemble. Here is a list of all the students who have qualified. Please let Mr. Keyes know if your name should be added.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1j6f9RnfUVN-epbwNDPtLEeyNGmeGMUWmiD1m19T-BNw/edit?usp=sharing

The school pays for the jacket and letter. All add ons (get expensive quick) and must be paid for by the student on March 6st. Order forms will go out in a week.

Color guard members who complete a season in the Varsity Winter Guard or earn a 1st division rating on a solo or ensemble at the TCGC solo and ensemble contest will qualify to order a jacket at the end of this school year.

Smithson Valley HS UIL Solo and Ensemble Contest - 2/22/25 - Now 3/1/25 @ Canyon HS

Here is the schedule for students attending the UIL Solo and Ensemble Contest at Canyon HS on March 1, 2025. Students are responsible for getting themselves to and from Canyon HS. Dress is business casual. Students need to arrive 60 minutes before their performance time to find their room and warm up. Students need to practice starting their ensemble and tune before performing.

Solos/ensembles attending CHS Contest on 3/1

Ty Bates, Mackenzie Stark, Marie Urbina
Noah Bond, Noah Juarez, Cameron Blue, Derick Daughtery
Xavier Wolff, Yandel Jacaman, Stephen Irving
Raithe Fox
Reese Davis

Results will be posted here.

Obligations for past due fees

Invoices for past due band and color guard fees were emailed out on February 1st. Paper copies will be handed out on Monday. Obligations for past due fees will be turned in to the front office at Spring Break.

You may pay your booster fees online at this link.
The instrument usage fee can be paid at this link.

Students will not be allowed to purchase a band banquet ticket until their fees are paid. Please email Mr. Keyes at jeffrey.keyes@comalisd.org if you have any questions or concerns.

Florida Trip Meeting

We are having a mandatory meeting or all students going on our Florida trip on Thursday, March 6th at 6:30 pm in the DHS auditorium. One parent needs to accompany the student at the meeting.

Join the Texas Arts Education Commision to Advocate for Music Education

See link below to join the Texas Arts Education Campaign. The TAEC team's mission is to inform state lawmakers about the unique importance of fine arts as a part of a well-rounded education and preparation for a global workforce.

www.txartsed.org/join-us

Band Banquet

Band Banquet is Saturday, May 10th at the New Braunfels Civic Center. We are looking forward to celebrating a historic year.

BAND BANQUET TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

Tickets are $40 each and sales are limited due to seating capacity.

Tickets on Sale from 2/15 until 4/15.

2 Steps

FIRST, visit tinyurl.com/DHSBBTickets to buy yours and get your payment confirmation code for choosing your seat.

THEN, after you purchase your tickets, you will need to sign up for seating through the Sign Up Genius.

Visit tinyurl.com/DHSBand-Banquet for information.

Please note the following from our Band Handbook about Band Banquet.

Students who are ineligible two out of the three 9 weeks grading periods lose the privilege of attending the Band Banquet. All fees must be paid in full for students to purchase a band banquet ticket.

2025 Summer Band Dates

2025 DHS Marching Band Summer Dates (required)

May 27-29, May Camp, 9 am - 4 pm, DHS
May 31, Band Registration, 9 am - 4 pm, DHS
July 15-16, Student Leadership Team Camp, 9 am - 4 pm, DHS
July 17-18, Drum Major Camp, 9 am - 4 pm, DHS
July 21-23, Band Camp - Winds, Percussion, and Guard, times TBA, DHS
July 28th, Summer Band begins for all (Winds, Percussion, and Guard), 8 am - 3:30 pm, DHS

Comal ISD Band Scholarship Application

The link to the Comal ISD District Band Scholarship application is now open. The application is due by March 31st, 2025.

Symphonic Winds Recordings

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/10sLHTG3G9lrUs4Xvg0VQzhmZUljGQWBn?usp=sharing

Florida Trip Hotel and Bus Sign Assignments

Below is the google sheet with rooms assignments and seat assignments.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1of7IjmYDTvpVQYHIRjvtyfKEzX_b0aicYdVkyK3JKDM/edit?usp=sharing

Remind Groups

Parents and students, please take a moment to join the appropriate groups by texting the code including the @ to 81010. You do not need to re-join if you were in the correct group this year.

Directors to Students/Parents

Woodwinds - @99edfh to 81010
Brass - @dhswolfb to 81010
Percussion - @kdb2aa to 81010
Color Guard - @dhswolfba to 81010

Fee Payments

Fee payments can be made at any time to Mr Keyes or online.

You may pay your booster fees online at this link.
The instrument usage fee can be paid at this link.

Upcoming Events

March 1st, TCGC Smithson Valley Winter Guard Competition
March 1st, UIL Solo and Ensemble Contest, Canyon HS
March 6th, Florida Band Trip Meeting, 6:30 pm, DHS Auditorium
March 7th, Pre-UIL Concert During School Day
March 8th, TCGC Davenport Winter Guard Show (Hosting - we need volunteers)
March 14th-20th, Florida Trip
March 22nd, TCGC Area
March 29th, TCGC State
March 31st and April 1st, UIL Concert and Sight Reading Competition - Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Winds, and Symphonic Band competing
April 11th, American Classic Music Festival, DHS Auditorium, Wind Ensemble performance 2 pm, Symphonic Winds Performance 3:15 pm