Sachse Mustang Band Updates

November 14, 2023

Message from Mrs. Taylor

It's hard to believe it's almost Thanksgiving break and football and marching season have come and gone! We have several events coming up, however, the hard part for new parents and students is making sure you know which things apply to you, so please keep an eye on the band calendar for events coming up and make sure you know which specific groups your student is involved in.

High School All Region Auditions (THE NEXT BIG THING!!!)

High School All Region Auditions are just 2 1/2 weeks away! These will be hosted at Sachse High School and will require Parent and Student volunteers. We are hosting this event for the entire Region and NEED YOUR HELP! Be on the look-out for E-mail for Parent Volunteers and sign-up!

Saturday, December 2, 2023

Phase 1 Auditions

Monday, December 4, 2023

Phase 2 Auditions

More information regarding All Region auditions for those Auditioning will be coming to you in a separate s'more and via the Band APP the week following Thanksgiving!

STUDENT VOLUNTEERS SIGN UP BELOW!!!

STUDENT VOLUNTEER SIGN UP

SOLO & Ensemble (THE NEXT NEXT BIG THING!!!)

UIL Solo Information Below (VERY IMPORTANT)

All students must purchase their solo original for the contest. If you are using smart music, you will only need the solo. If you have a live accompanist, you must also purchase the piano part. Students will be turning in their solo information the week following Thanksgiving and should have the music ordered no later than Thursday, November 30, 2023. Your band fees will cover the cost of contest entry, accompanist fee, and smart music subscription, however, each student is responsible for purchasing their solo original. DUE TO COPYRIGHT, no student will be allowed to perform at the contest without an original. Solo participation comprises 2 MAJOR grades for the 3rd grading period.

Keep in mind when selecting your solo that Class 1 solos that are memorized can qualify you to advance to State if you receive a first division. There are some solos designated NMR (no memory required) that can qualify a superior rating to be qualified for state, these solos are usually either very long or very difficult. It is the performers responsibility to ensure the judge knows they are performing from memory.

Students in Private Lessons will be allowed to play a solo with a live accompanist. Those not in lessons will need to select a solo that is available on Smart Music. Smart Music solos can be accessed now.

PML

Check your solo here to ensure it is on the approved list. DO NOT purchase a solo prior to checking this.

JW Pepper Link

This link can be used to find music to purchase. Be careful to check publisher with the one listed on the PML; There are SEVERAL solos that have the same names, different composers and publishers.

SMART MUSIC

Campus Auditions

These will be taking place during A1

Friday, November 17

A1

Flutes: Bandhall

French Horns: Ensemble Room

Double Reeds Uniform Room/ Guard Room

Monday, November 27

A1

Clarinets: Bandhall

Tubas: Ensemble Room

Euphoniums: Instrument Storage Room

Wednesday, November 29

A1

Trumpets: Bandhall

Saxes: Ensemble Room

Trombones: Instrument Storage Room

DECEMBER Events

December 2

Region Auditions @ Sachse High School

Auditions start at 1 PM; first sign in time is 12:30 PM

Sign-in times will be available after we get back from the break

Set-up will be 10 AM for those working the start of the contest, use the Google form below to sign up to volunteer. We will need volunteers for Friday afternoon set-up, Saturday, and Monday.

December 4

Phase 2 Region Auditions

Evening

December 6

Sachse Christmas Parade

ATTIRE: CHRISTMAS!!! Ugly sweater Contest or Band Shirt and Jeans is the other options.

Lights are welcome, plan out your presentation!

5 PM Call time/ Warm-up in Bandhall

December 11

Christmas Concert and Dinner

More information coming soon about the dinner. Jazz Band and Percussion will be performing during the dinner portion.

Looking Ahead...

January 6, 2024

AREA Auditions

Plano Senior HS

January 13, 2024

MLK Parade

Eligibility (repeat reminder)

ALL STUDENTS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR OUR Christmas Concert, it is co-curricular! We are in the same eligibility window that we were in for the last football game for the Parade coming up in December.

BELOW IS Generic Eligibility Info

THIS 6 week check is the only 6 week check that causes a student to LOSE eligibility.

All other grading periods, the 9 week grade is the only one that can cause a student to lose eligibility. Their 3 week grade and 6 week grades can allow them regain IF they are passing ALL classes (not just the one they may have failed that caused the loss of eligibility). Just like the verification to lose, this grade check is a week prior to them actually regaining eligibility.

BAND FEES

At this time, all CHARMS fees should be paid in full. SKYWARD fees are currently being added for this year and most should now be appearing for you in skyward soon and ready to be paid. Please make the first $100 Skyward fee by the end of November and continue $100 payments until paid in full. All students should show a $200 activity fee, school owned instrument fees (some students), and $100 Percussion Camp fees should also be showing at this time for all front ensemble and battery.

Because these fees are all added manually, it takes some time and I was waiting to confirm with our bookkeeper that she had enough time to add all of these prior to letting you know that they are ready to be paid. WITH THAT SAID, IF you paid your skyward fees in full at registration, PLEASE do not pay these online. Our treasurer will be cutting a check to the School for those who opted to pay in full at registration. It will take some time for this to be cleared but your student WILL NOT be on the Loss of Credit, we have a list of all who paid in full. You will see the charge on SKYWARD, please be patient as it will take some time to get those cleared. If you have already seen these charges and paid proactively, please contact my via e-mail and copy treasurer@sachseband.org so we don't pay the district for the skyward fees that may have been paid twice. It will be mush easier to reconcile that through boosters rather than the district.

Students with outstanding CHARMS fees are being added to the School's Loss of Privilege List. As always, if a specific payment plan is needed please e-mail hctaylor@garlandisd.net and treasurer@sachseband.org so we can work out a payment plan.

Volunteers

If you are interested in volunteering, please complete the district Volunteer application as soon as possible. We need to be able to verify you are cleared prior to the event and it is HIGHLY unlikely that you will be cleared the day you fill out the application and will be dependent on how busy that office is. The earlier this is done the better. Click Volunteer application button below.

If you are interested in driving a truck or pulling a trailer, you will need to complete the 4 steps listed below.

Volunteer application linked below
E-mail Completed Drivers License Check Request to Mrs. Taylor: hctaylor@garlandisd.net
Fill out the Occumed Authorization and go to a participating drug screening facility listed to complete drug test.
Notify Mrs. Taylor once all 3 above steps are completed so I can follow up for clearance.

THANK YOU ALL FOR VOLUNTEERING, it takes a small army!

Volunteer Application