This Week in DHS Band and Guard

Week of March 10, 2025

This Week's Schedule

Monday, March 10th

Wind Ensemble Flute Sectional, 7:45-8:45 am
Mr. McDonald in class 5th/6th period
Symphonic Winds Saxophone Sectional, 4:45-5:45 pm

Tuesday, March 11th

Symphonic Winds Flute and Clarinet Sectional, 7:45-8:45 am
Wind Ensemble Trumpet Sectional, 7:45-8:45 am
Symphonic Winds Horn Sectional, 4:45-5:45 pm

Wind Ensemble Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba Sectional, 4:35-5:35 pm

Wednesday, March 12th

Symphonic Winds Tuba/Euphonium Sectional, 7:45-8:45 am
Wind Ensemble Horn Sectional on Thursday, 7:45-8:45 am
Mr. McDonald in class 5th/6th period
Symphonic Winds Trumpet Sectional, 4:45-5:45 pm
Varsity Winter Guard 5-8 pm

Thursday, March 13th

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

Friday, March 14th

Symphonic Winds Trombone Sectional, 7:45-8:45 am
Wind Ensemble Saxophones Sectional, 7:45-8:45 am
Call Time for Florida Trip, 8:55 am, Band Hall

Florida Trip Info

Here are the bus and hotel room assignments. Here is an updated itinerary. Here are the trip rules/procedures.

Since we are staying on property, we are allowed to start purchasing Lightning Lanes 7 days before our stay. Our reservation number as well as the park ticket number will be required to purchase lightning lanes 7 days ahead. Students may get their park ticket number from Mr. Lehmann at any time.

To get Lightning Lanes

Create an account on the My Disney Experience app
Link your park ticket to your profile
Call (407) 939-7765.
Ask Disney to link your hotel reservation with your profile. They will ask you what resort we are staying at and our check in and check out dates. (All-Star Music, Check in: 3/15/25, Check out: 3/19/25)
Purchase Lightning Lanes in the My Disney Experience app

We will be using remind to communicate with students on the trip. All students are required to join the Remind group “DHS Band Florida Trip 2025”. Text the class code @dhsbandflo to 81010.

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 9 weeks. This will be 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. Only the first chunk will be on this 9 weeks. Both chunks will be on the 4th 9 weeks grading period.

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.

Below are what each section should have prepared:

Flute: Blue Book, p. 27, "Chord Study 1", top octave, Quarter Note = 100

La Madre, m. 117-143, Dotted Half = 80

Clarinet: Blue Book, p. 27, "Chord Study 1", top octave, Quarter Note = 100

La Madre, m. 117-143, Dotted Half = 80

Alto Saxophone: Blue Book, p. 27, "Chord Study 1", top octave, Quarter Note = 120

La Madre, m. 117-143, Dotted Half = 80

Tenor Saxophone: Blue Book, p. 27, "Chord Study 1", top octave, Quarter Note = 120

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

Bari Saxophone: Blue Book, p. 27, "Chord Study 1", top octave, Quarter Note = 120

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

Trumpet: Blue Book, p. 27, "Chord Study 1", top octave, Quarter Note = 100

Fantasy, pickups to 67-75, Quarter Note = 76

Horn: Blue Book, p. 27, "Chord Study 1", top octave, Quarter Note = 100

Peacemaker, m. 55-87, Half Note = 100

Trombone: Blue Book, p. 27, "Chord Study 1", top octave, Quarter Note = 90

Peacemaker, m. 87-end, Half note = 100

Euphonium: Blue Book, p. 27, "Chord Study 1", top octave, Quarter Note = 100

Peacemaker, m. 5-20, Half note = 120

Tuba: Blue Book, p. 27, "Chord Study 1", top octave, Quarter Note = 100

Peacemaker, pickups to 22-36, Half note = 120

Pre-UIL Recordings

Wind Ensemble

Symphonic Winds

Symphonic Band

Band Banquet

Band Banquet is Saturday, May 10th at the New Braunfels Civic Center. We are looking forward to celebrating a historic year. We have sold about 1/3 of the tickets, so please purchase your tickets soon!

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.

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.

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

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

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 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 8th, Band Booster Meeting (2025-2026 Exec Board Elections), 6:30 pm, DHS Auditorium
April 11th, American Classic Music Festival, DHS Auditorium, Wind Ensemble performance 2 pm, Symphonic Winds Performance 3:15 pm