This Week in DHS Band and Guard

Week of March 3, 2025

This Week's Schedule

Monday, March 3rd

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

Tuesday, March 4th

Symphonic Winds Clarinet Sectional, 7:45-8:45 am
Wind Ensemble Trumpet Sectional Thursday AM due to DMS UIL (Keyes out 1st-4th periods)
Symphonic Winds Horn Sectional, 4:45-5:45PM
Wind Ensemble Trombone/Euphonium/Tuba Sectional Thursday PM due to Jazz Night
JV Winter Guard 5-7:30 pm
Jazz Night, 6:30 pm, Canyon HS

Wednesday, March 5th

Symphonic Winds Tuba/Euphonium Sectional, 7:45-8:45 am
Wind Ensemble Horn Sectional on Thursday AM due to DMS UIL (Keyes out 1st-4th periods)
Symphonic Winds Trumpet Sectional, 4:45-5:45 pm
Varsity Winter Guard 5-8 pm

Thursday, March 6th

Wind Ensemble Clarinet, Trumpet, French Horn Sectional, 7:45-8:45 am
Letter Jacket Fitting, 4:30 pm, Band Hall
Wind Ensemble Trombone/Euphonium/Tuba Sectional 4:45-5:45 pm
Florida Trip Chaperone Meeting, 5:45 pm, DHS Auditorium
Florida Trip Meeting, 6:30 pm, DHS Auditorium

Friday, March 7th

Symphonic Winds Trombone Sectional, 7:45-8:45 am
Wind Ensemble Saxophones Sectional, 7:45-8:45 am
Pre-UIL Concerts, See below for specifics
Symphonic Winds Flute Sectional, 4:45-5:45 pm
JV and Varsity Winter Guards rehearsal and show setup, 5-9 pm

Saturday, March 8th

TCGC Davenport Contest (Hosting)

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. Trip tshirts will be handed out at the meeting.

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

Texas State Solo and Ensemble Contest

We are so proud of the 66 students who advanced to the Texas State Solo and Ensemble Contest (TSSEC). These students will attend contest on Monday, May 26th in the Austin area. Please mark your calendars.

All students who advanced to TSSEC will be recognized at the Fine Arts awards night on April 30th at Pieper HS. Please mark you calendars for this event as well.

Pre-UIL Concert

Our Pre-UIL Concert is Friday, March 7th, 2024 in the DHS auditorium during the school day. We will be performing our UIL programs as well as sight reading on stage. We will be wearing tuxes and dresses.

Students need to bring the following items to school on Friday.

Black dress shoes (closed toes, can be marching shoes)
Black crew length socks or hosiery
White undershirt for boys

Symphonic Band Schedule (out 1st/2nd/advisory)

1st period (8:55 am) Report to Band Hall and change into tuxes/dresses
9:30 am Warm up on stage
10:00 am Perform concert and sight reading
10:45 am Change out of uniform and go to advisory when finished (Derrick, Ethan stay for TSSEC Picture @ 11:25 am)

Symphonic Winds Schedule (out 2nd/Advisory/3rd period)

9:45 am Report to Band Hall and change into tuxes/dresses
10:15 Warm up in orchestra room?
10:45 Perform and sight read on stage
11:25 am TSSEC Picture in PAC foyer
11:30 Change out of uniform and go to 3rd period when done

Wind Ensemble Schedule (out end of 2nd/Advisory/3rd/4th period)

10:20 am Report to Band Hall and change into tuxes/dresses
10:50 am Warm up in orchestra room
11:25 am TSSEC Picture in PAC foyer
11:30 am Perform and sight read on stage
12:15 pm Change out of uniform, bring everything back from auditorium, stay in band hall
1:10 pm Go to B lunch

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 6:50 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.

Wind Ensemble Pass Offs

Below is a google sheet with specifics on what needs to be passed off and when it is due. You can also check your progress in the document. The first chunk is due this week. Each chunk is a test grade in the gradebook. This assignment is pass/fail, but may be attempted as many times as desired. Pass off chunks must be performed with a metronome at a mastery level with correct notes, rhythm, articulation, style, dynamics, and intonation to be passed off. These chunks will be on the 3rd six weeks report card.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1GBDx2bLWJaYZxI-SGDGJDH4n3Qh4N-MmdLFUYyz3-NM/edit?usp=sharing

Symphonic Winds Playing Tests and Pass-Offs

Symphonic Winds will have a playing test and pass off in each sectional this week. Chair results will be updated at the end of the week. Additionally, each section will have a measure number / music marking check for a grade in their sectional.

Below are what each section should have prepared:

Flute: Blue Book, p. 27, "Scale Pattern 2", Quarter Note = 100

Fantasy, m. 102-113, Quarter = 120

Clarinet: Blue Book, p. 27, "Scale Pattern 2", Quarter Note = 100

Fantasy, m. 102-113, Quarter = 120

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

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

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

La Madre, m. 117-end, Quarter note = 250 OR Dotted half = 83

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

La Madre, m. 109-end, Quarter note = 250 OR Dotted half = 83

Trumpet: Blue Book page 26, "Scale Pattern 1", Quarter = 100

Peacemaker, m. 39-55, Half note = 120

Horn: Blue Book page 11, "Chord Study 1", top octave, Quarter note = 100

La Madre, m. 57-72, Quarter note = 130

Trombone: Blue Book page 26, "Scale Pattern 1", Quarter = 90

Peacemaker, m. 39-55, Half note = 120

Euphonium: Blue Book page 26, "Scale Pattern 1", Quarter = 100

Peacemaker, m. 87-end, Half note = 120

Tuba: Blue Book page 26, "Scale Pattern 1", Quarter = 100

La Madre, m. 31-43, 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 went out on Friday.

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.

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.

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 seating is live and available for purchase. Tickets are $40 each and sales are limited due to seating capacity. Tickets on Sale from 2/15 until 4/15. Table numbers have been updated to reflect the venue's seating chart. (Please see below.) Please visit: tinyurl.com/DHSBand-Banquet for information.

Senior VIP table information will be coming to senior families from your senior committee.

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.

Recordings for all bands

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 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