Percussion: Week of Aug 9 - 15

It’s the first week of school! Let’s get excited for a great year.

Bravo on a very good band camp and string of performances. We are off to a great start and I’m excited to see us keep the momentum up.

Cycle 1, Week 1, A Week, Aug 9 - 15

• Sunday

  • No rehearsals, free

• Monday

  • Before School Performance from 6:45am-7:15am

    • 6:45 - Call Time for car riders, as soon as able for bus riders

    • 7:00 - Performance in front of school

      • Attire: Wear Naaman Forest band attire

      • Performing: Cadences + Cheer Riffs

    • 7:15am - Return to band hall and dismiss to first period

      • Teachers were emailed a list of participants and will allow you to arrive “slightly” late to your first period

  • No rehearsal after school

• Tuesday

  • Before School Performance from 6:45am - 7:15am

    • Please see notes above for details

  • After school rehearsal from 3:30 - 5:30 at Naaman Forest

• Wednesday

  • After school rehearsal from 3:30 - 6:30 at Naaman Forest

• Thursday

  • After school rehearsal from 3:30 - 6:30 at Naaman Forest

• Friday (A Day)

  • No rehearsal after school

• Saturday

  • Drill Camp from 12:00-4pm at Naaman Forest MAC

Looking Ahead

• Saturdays in August (15, 22, 29) - Drill Camp from 12:00pm - 4:00pm

  • Rehearsals for all members in band, including front ensemble

• After School Rehearsals will be on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday Aug 17 - 21

• Senior Banner Photos are on August 22 at Williams Stadium

Weekly Band Updates + Announcements

Make sure you keep up with the weekly announcements for the whole band. You can access announcements at the top of the page, or by clicking HERE.

You can access the weekly band update by clicking HERE.

Fall Semester Course Guide + Standard Rehearsal Schedule

Naaman Forest offers 3 classes for percussionists in the Fall Semester

• A1 - Battery Class

  • A Class for our marching battery percussionists. All battery members must be in this class. Students should be prepared for outdoor rehearsals during this class.

• A3 - Front Ensemble Class

  • A Class for our front ensemble members. All front ensemble members must be in this class. Mr. Mehrafshan and Mr. Collins will team teach this class

• B5 - Percussion Ensemble

  • This class is for all double blocked percussionists. We will focus on extending learning for all music, spend more time on stands music, and marching music in full ensemble

  • Double-Blocking band is the ideal band. curriculum. It ensures that you receive all the instruction possible and perform with your instrument every day.

    • If you are interested in double-blocking, please reach out to your counselor. If your counselor says you cannot double-block band, ask about options for taking some courses in the summer and/or online.

Marching Band has a “regular” after school rehearsal schedule as follows:

• Mondays from 3:30 - 5:30 at Naaman Forest

• Wednesdays from 3:30 - 6:30 at Naaman Forest, OR 4:30 - 7:30 at Williams Stadium

  • Students will need to be picked up from Stadium Rehearsals at Williams Stadium

• Thursday or Friday from 3:30 - 6:30 at Naaman Forest

  • The day of the rehearsal depends on which day we have a football game

• Thursday or Friday Football Games from 3:00 - 10:30pm

• Saturday Contests/Performances

  • First Events is Saturday, September 12 (Drumline Showcase)

  • Final Full Band Saturday Contest is Saturday, October 24 (USBands Regional)

  • Final Drumline Contest is Saturday, November 7 (Lewisville Drumline Invitational)

Please make sure to review the band calendar and weekly updates to confirm the schedule for the week and note any differences a certain week may have from our “regular” schedule.

Band Supplies

In addition to the supplies expected of all band members, I want to bring attention to 5 supplies that are expected of all percussionists

• Pair of concert drumsticks (Innovative Percussion IP-LD, Vic Firth SD1)

  • Drumset style sticks (5A, 7A, thinner sticks) and Marching snare sticks are useful, but do not meet expectations.

• Practice Pad of choice

• At least 2 pairs of matching Medium/Medium Hard marimba mallets (Innovative Percussion IT2, Innovative Percussion 3105 on Birch handles) for all Freshmen + Sophomores with at least 2 years of band experience

  • Required starting October 15

• 1 Box of tissues for the class

• Flip Folder - can be purchased from the band for $10, any local music store or online (Amazon LINK)

Grading Expectations

• Participation and meeting expectations in Performances and Saturday Events- Major Grades, specific to the event

  • Contests

  • Football Games

  • Drill Camp

  • Community Events (ex. Parades)

• Attendance for after-school events (rehearsals) - Minor Grades, based on week

  • students will lose points for unexcused absences, missing supplies and being late

• In-class or Recorded Performance Assessments - Minor and Major Grades

  • Fundamentals Checks - Minor Grades

  • Marching Music Pass-Offs (Memorized) - Major Grades by movement

  • All-Region/Cycle Solo Pass-offs - Major and Minor Grades

Reminders:

• Mandatory Band events scheduled with at least 2 weeks will be graded starting Monday, August 3

  • A parent must email Mr. Collins in advance of the event to have unavoidable conflicts be considered excused.

• Hats, proper shoes, athletic clothing appropriate from warm-weather, and a large, reusable water bottle are required for all rehearsals.

Fall 2026 Google Drive is Live, Click Below

The Percussion Google Drive for the Fall 2026 Semester is linked below. Things will be added over the next few weeks. I have already added a folder that includes a Percussion Boosted audio recording of our show music, digital parts for the show music, and our warm-up packets. This link will be available at the bottom of all newsletters from now until the end of the Fall 2026 semester.

Stay Connected

Things happen, please stay in contact and communicate whenever necessary. You can always contact Mr. Collins via the Band App or through email (ncollins@garlandisd.net)