Percussion: Week of Sept 13 - 19
Great job at the Showcase yesterday! Great work through the clinic, good support in the middle school portion, and a strong performance to cap the event.
This week’s #1 goal is to pass your classes. From a band perspective, our theme this week will be “Open Eyes, Focused Minds.” Success in both these areas will propel us into a great competitive performance this Saturday.
Cycle 1, Week 6, B Week, Sept 13 - 19
Sunday
No rehearsals, free
Monday
A1 - We will stay indoors. Warm-up set 3 will be graded, we will run Still I Wish, clean Part 4, and change tenor/snare heads.
A3 - Mr. Mehrafshan will lead class through Warm-up set 3 and Still I Wish
After School rehearsal from 3:30 - 5:30 at Naaman Forest
General Band Booster Meeting at 6pm - Open to all, but attendance is not required.
Tuesday
B5 - Run Still I Wish, September, Bass head change part 1
No rehearsal after school - This is your best day for tutorials and appointments
Wednesday
A1 - We will stay indoors. Run September, Pass off for Part 4, All-Region Timpani intro, Load battery drums
A3 - Part 4 Pass Off, All-Region Timpani, load Front Ensemble and sound
After School rehearsal from 4:30 - 7:30 at HBJ Stadium
Bus transportation will be offered to HBJ, students must be picked up from HBJ at the end of rehearsal (Estimated time of dismissal after loading is between 7:45-8pm)
Thursday
Before School - Unload Trailer
B5 - Start at JV Stadium to run drill team routine, rehearse Someday, I’ll Wish in class
After School Rehearsal from 3:30-6:30 at Naaman Forest
Friday (B Day) Final day before grades lock for the 6 week progress report
B5 - Run Someday, I’ll Wish, September, Load trailer
Football Game at Denton (Collins Athletic Complex in Denton), Call Time 3:15, Estimated Return time is 11:30pm
Saturday
North Texas Drumline Contest from 6:15am - 12pm
Looking Ahead
After School Rehearsals will be on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday Sept 21-25
Our 5th Football Game will be on Friday, Sept 25 (Away Game at Highlander Stadium against Highland Park)
USBands Saginaw Regional will be on Saturday, September 26. Call time is 6am
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.
Theme for the Week: Open Eyes, Focused Minds
Our Drumline Showcase offered some clear lessons. Through reflection, if we can focus on two things this week, we will be putting ourselves in a very good position for our upcoming contest:
Open Eyes - Judges will be assessing your performance by what they hear and what they SEE. Make sure you are aware of how you are presenting yourself in your performance. Additionally, use your eyes to increase communication.
Front Ensemble MUST look at each other when performing to ensure we are playing together.
Front Ensemble MUST look up to engage with the audience.
Battery needs to be aware of instrument/equipment positioning, execute proper standing procedures (set + rest), sticks out, playing position and mark time as appropriate
Battery needs to know where to look (up and forward towards audience)
Focused Minds - We perform very well when we are focused and are confident in our parts.
We need to know our entire show by memory, including Part 4
We need to establish our routines and mental practices that lead to successful performances
We need to SEE ourselves being successful
Eligibility Determined this Week! - Magic Number stands at 4
To remain eligible to participate in exracurricular performances/games, students must be passing all regular level courses with a 70 or higher. Students that are failing any regular level course will not have the ability to be eligible to perform with the band until after week 2 of the second grading cycle (October 23).
There are currently 4 students in the percussion section with grades under a 70 in regular level courses.
Attending tutorials is encouraged, but please observe the following expectations:
Tuesday is best for tutorials
Talk with your teacher about your progress in class, and let them know you are in an activity (band). If they offer tutorials, see if they are able to work around your band schedule
Do not miss band rehearsals for tutorials without communicating with Mr. Collins and receiving permission to be excused from rehearsal.
With Wednesday’s stadium rehearsal, do not plan to attend tutorials on this day.
Lessons from the Week - Glows and Grows
Glow: All students attended the Drumline Showcase and Clinic and met expectations with attire!
Grow: “Call Time” = the expected arrival time for students. Arriving a little early to a call time is fine, but no one should be late to a call time.
Glow: Great job at the game this week in our halftime performance and handling of the weather.
Grow: Energy on Friday was down and several students were late and/or absent from school. With 3 games of experience, please reflect on what will help improve energy and health when we have an early morning that follows a late evening. The upcoming schedule on Friday-Saturdays will be harder than we have experienced so far.
Glow: All-Region pass-offs improved this week!
Grow: Not enough people submitted pass-offs (10 did not submit), most who did submit a video did not meet recording expectations (instrument out of view of the camera), and many waited too long to prepare their pass-off. These grades will add up. Refer to the assignment calendar below to properly plan on how to improve moving forward.
Glow: You are all very good players, capable of performing your marching show at a high level.
Grow: Battery execution of marching, Front Ensemble communication and everyone’s memorization of music is holding us back at this time.
Glow: Overall attendance and participation is very good
Grow: We had multiple instances of students missing events without providing proper advance communication leading to disruptions in our rehearsals/events that negatively affected the experience of others.
Contest Detail - Hair
As we enter the contest season, we need to discuss expectations for hair styles during performances.
Hair for contest performances should be up and completely out of our faces.
Our hair styles are a part of our identity, and it is understandable to want to maintain some level of individuality. However, marching band expects a high level of uniformity in performance.
Please take the week to experiment, discuss and find a hairstyle that keeps hair neat, off of shoulders, and out of the face.
Battery hair must fit under a shako (hat). Front Ensemble has permission to find a hair style that fits the expectations above, but fit the theme of our show.
All-Region/Semester Solo Project
Pass off 3 (Half of Timpani solo) is due by the end of the day on Friday, Sept 25
video recordings must have clear audio, with face, hands and playing surface in view.
videos should be uploaded to our band app chat thread or emailed to Mr. Collins if there are technical difficulties.
Drumline Jerseys
Drumline Jerseys are In! Students will be receiving their jersey on Monday. This year, they cost $59. If you ordered and are receiving a jersey this year, you will need to reimburse the band boosters for this purchase. Jerseys must be paid before Thanksgiving break. Paying in installments is acceptable, but please make at least 1 payment every month from September-November.
Click HERE for payment instructions.
For Your Reference: Flip Folder Selections
For this week’s game, you will need to make sure your flip folder includes the following selections:
Fight Song
Deep In the Heart of Texas (battery)
Cheer Riffs
Made You Look
College Favorite Time-outs 2
Hip Hop Stadium Blasters
Fireball
Seven Nation Army
You Belong With Me
September
Great job having music this week. Everyone needs an actual flip folder (the hard plastic part)
Reminders:
Mandatory Band events scheduled with at least 2 weeks are major grades
A parent must email Mr. Collins in advance of the event to have unavoidable conflicts be considered excused.
Points will be deducted for being late and/or not having necessary supplies.
Hats, proper shoes, athletic clothing appropriate from warm-weather, and a large, reusable water bottle are required for all rehearsals.
Weekly Supply Check:
A Large Reusable Water Bottle and Hat at our Stadium Rehearsal on Wednesday - Minor Grade
Upcoming Performance Assignments:
Warm-Up Set 3 - September 14 - Minor Grade
Part 4 Pass off, Memorized at tempo, with proper mark time - September 16 - Major Grade
All-Region Pass off 3 - 1st half of timpani solo - due September 25 - Minor Grade
All-Region Pass off 4 - 1st half of 4 mallet solo. - due October 9 - Minor Grade
All-Region Pass off 5 - 2nd half of Snare Solo - due October 30 - Minor Grade
All-Region Pass off 6 - 2nd half of 2 mallet solo + 2nd half of 4 mallet solo - due November 13 - Minor Grade
All-Region Pass off 7 - 2nd half of timpani + All Solos learned - due November 20 - Minor Grade
All-Region Pass off 8 - Recorded Performance of entire Snare Solo + 4 mallet solo - due December 1 - Major Grade
All-Region Pass off 9 - Recorded Performance of entire Timpani Solo + 2 mallet solo - Due December 4 - Major Grade
Fall Band Auditions - December 9 - Major Grade
Grades may be made up or improved. Late submissions/retakes may be made up for consideration of full credit if done within 1 week of the due date. Late submissions/retakes may be made up for consideration of 90% full credit if done within 2 weeks of due date. Late submissions/retakes may be made up for consideration of up to 70% full credit if done after 2 weeks of due date. It is the student’s responsibility to set up and communicate make up assignments with Mr. Collins
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)
