Summer Band – First Day Checklist

The following list of items should be brought with you on your first day of Summer Band.  Please review it carefully to ensure that you do not forget anything important, and do not wait until the night before to look at it.  READ IT NOW!  For your convenience, you can print it out by clicking the print button at the end of this post.

  1. CCISD Physical Form
    • Cannot use any other form
    • Must be signed by Parent/Guardian AND student in THREE separate places
  2. Band Handbook Acknowledgement/Film/Media Release Form
    • Signed by Parent/Guardian and Student
  3. UIL Acknowledgement form
    • Signed by Parent/Guardian and Student
  4. UIL Health Tips for Marching Band Acknowledgement Form
    • Signed by Parent/Guardian and Student
  5. Parent Consent Form for school sponsored trip
    • Signed by Parent/Guardian
  6. Student Medication Form
    • Signed by Parent/Guardian
  7. Sheet music for Marching Show, Fundamental Book, and Stand Tunes
    • These need to be in a 3 ring binder with plastic sheet protectors.
  8. Flip Folder and Lyre for instrument.
    • These can be purchased at Music & Arts across from Baybrook Mall or at H&H Music across from Ellington Field
    • We are using the same stand tunes as last year.  These should be printed and placed in the flip folder in order.
    • Additional tunes will be added as they arrive.
  9. Instrument
    • With all necessary equipment such as reeds, valve oil, etc….
    • Instruments will be set down on concrete, therefore it is recommended that you bring a small towel to place underneath your instrument. (Not required)
  10. Pencil(s)
  11. Water jug (1/2 gallon minimum; does not have to be the blue one purchased at Equipment Night) or Camelbak (or equivalent)
    • Updated 7/27: Water jugs ordered on equipment night will NOT be distributed the first day of Summer Band because the equipment items have not yet been delivered. Camelbaks are highly recommended for rehearsals. (not required)
    • Blue water jugs (the one from equipment night) are used for football games and should only have the student’s name and instrument on them.  Stickers and other decorations need to be removed.
  12. Athletic shoes
    • Vans, Toms, converse, vibram five fingers, or similar shoes are not acceptable footwear.
  13. Athletic t-shirt (white) and shorts (no jeans or long pants)
    • Tank tops are allowed.
    • Ladies undergarments must remain hidden.
  14. Sunscreen
    • Get the correct SPF for your skin type.
    • Apply sunscreen before going outside.
    • Reapply as needed during breaks.
  15. Hat/visor and sunglasses
    • Sun protection for your eyes
    • Silly hats need to remain at home
  16. Prepare for rehearsal at least 48 hours in advance
    • Drink Gatorade the night before every rehearsal
    • Eliminate soft drinks and energy drinks from your diet
  17. Eat a quality breakfast and drink lots of water before rehearsal
    • Do NOT eat a big bowl of sugary cereal or pop-tarts.  You will end up feeling terrible and/or “feed the birds”.
    • Breakfast should include protein and avoid simple sugars.
    • A 1/2 banana is always good for potassium
Instructions For Downloading Music and Forms
  1. Click here or the CHARMS link at the top of this page
  2. Enter your student area password (initially your CCISD student ID)
  3. Click “Files & Handouts”
  4. Click “2016 Marching Show”, “Fundamental Book” and “2016 Stand Tunes” then click the PDF for your instrument.  (It is recommended that you print a test page 1st to ensure that everything is working correctly in order to avoid wasting any ink.
  5. Download and READ the Band Handbook, and then continue to number 6.
  6. Click the folder “Required Forms” and download and print every form.  Make sure a parent and student signature is on every form. These are due on the first day.
Important Note About Physical Form:
  • ANYONE WHO DOES NOT HAVE A COMPLETED PHYSICAL FORM WILL BE SENT HOME AND WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO RETURN UNTIL ONE IS TURNED IN WITH ALL SIGNATURES.

The Importance Of Being Early

In a previous post on this website we have told students that they should arrive 15 minutes early for rehearsal.  We do not tell students this just for the sake of being able to start band rehearsal on time.  We also tell students this because, if they can turn it into a habit, it will be something that benefits them for the rest of their lives.

Students that learn the habit of being early as teenagers will not have to be worried or rushed when they are older and have something that they have to be early for and is very important.  A job interview is one such example.

In the Clear Springs Band, we believe in helping teach our students this important habit of being early.  One of the ways we do this is by lining up in 2’s outside the band hall door, with all necessary items for rehearsal, and marching to the practice field a few minutes early so that we can begin rehearsal on time. This also helps get students mentally focused for rehearsal.  This is not optional, if it were it would not be an effective teaching tool, because of this students are marked tardy if they are not in 2’s once we start marching over to the field or if they have to go back inside because they forgot something.

Thank you parents for your support in helping teach our students the importance of being early.

Summer Band Is Almost Here

As you should already know, even though you are probably trying to forget about it, but we will be kicking off Summer Band next week.  This time of year can be a very exciting time for band students as we get up off the couch, head to school early, learn a ton of new stuff, and make countless new friends that you will always remember.  The Freshman and Upperclassmen will be getting together for the first time to form the 2014-2015 edition of the Clear Springs Charger Band, a group that will only be in existence for this one year.

We will be starting a journey, one which will take us from thinking about one new concept at a time to thinking about literally hundreds of different concepts all at the same time, while also entertaining thousands of people.  So everyone buckle up, because here we go!

Freshman Begin
Monday, July 28th at 9:00 AM
Clear Springs High School – Band Hall

Full Band Begins
Tuesday, July 29th at 9:00 AM
Clear Springs High School – Band Hall

Important notes for the 1st day
  • Eat breakfast and drink water before band begins everyday of Summer Band.  Click here to review our previous post on preparing your body for summer band.
  • Make sure you are on time, in fact you should plan on arriving 15 minutes early for every rehearsal.
  • All required forms and music are now available for download from CHARMS.  Please visit CHARMS by clicking the link at the top of this page or by clicking here, and download them as we will be collecting the forms at the beginning of rehearsal on the first day and you may be sent home if you are missing something.
  • Click here in order to view a detailed checklist of everything that you need to bring with you on the first day of Summer Band.  READ IT NOW! Do not wait to read it until the night before or you will be very stressed.