summer band

As you should already know, even though you are probably trying to forget about it, 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 on the marching field to form the 2019-2020 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!

Full Band Begins
-Monday, July 29th *subscribe to and carefully review the updated 2019 Google Band Calendar per instrument for rehearsal schedule
-Clear Springs High School – Band Hall

1st Day Checklist:

• Click here in order to view a detailed checklist of everything that you need to bring with you and everything that you need to do 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.
• All forms are online in Charms except for the Physical Form which must be turned in at Equipment Night, Monday, July 29.  Please click the following links to sign off that you have read the information contained within. We will verify that this is completed when you arrive for Equipment Night.
  Handbook Form
  Film Permissions
  Media Release Form
  UIL Marching Band Acknowledgement
  UIL Health Tips for Marching Band
  Private Lesson Survey
  Physical Form – You must turn in the physical form at Equipment Night on July 29.  It is suggested that you make a copy for your records.

During Summer Band students will learn many new concepts to help them play their instruments better and of course learning how to march.  Students who take the time to prepare for Summer Band will get a much more rewarding and enjoyable experience out of it, which will result in a much more rewarding and enjoyable school year.  Therefore, we highly recommend that students take action now, before Summer Band begins, in order to get the best possible experience out of Summer Band  and the school year.  There are two components to successfully preparing yourself for Summer Band, which are practicing your music and preparing your body physically.

Practicing Music

Download the 2019 show music from CHARMS if you have not already done so. (Read this for help.)

1. Work on one section of music at a time.
   • Do not try and work on an the entire piece at once.
   • When you have completed the steps below successfully, then you may move on to the next section.
2. Use a metronome
   • Seriously, use a metronome 100% of the time that you are practicing and focus on completing the steps below, in-time with the metronome.
   • Start slow, only get faster when you can complete all of the steps below successfully.
3. Tap your foot
   • This will help with marching
   • If this is easy for you, then you can practice taping your left foot on odd beats (1, 3, etc…)and right foot on even beats (2, 4, etc…)
4. Count the rhythm
   • Count as strongly as if you were playing (don’t whisper under your breathe)
   • Instrument should be in playing position
   • Finger/position your part as you count
   • Only continue when you have counted and fingered/positioned 100% successfully.
5. Say note names
   • Always do this under tempo, you won’t be able to do it as fast as counting or playing.
   • Say note names as strongly as if you were playing (don’t whisper under your breathe)
   • Say flats and sharps (e.g. if you have a B-Flat, then say “B-Flat”)
   • Finger/position your part as you say the note names
   • Only continue when you have said the note names and fingered/positioned 100% successfully
6. Play the part
   • Record yourself
   • Listen to the recording and analyze
   • Did you stay with the metronome?
   • Did you play the correct rhythm?
   • Did you play the correct pitches?
   • If you are having trouble playing the correct rhythms, then spend more time counting.  If you are having trouble playing the correct pitches, then spend more time saying note names.
7. Move onto next section or repeat this section at a faster tempo

Note:  There are many more practice techniques that can be used in addition to the ones listed above and I encourage you to use any that you may know.

Preparing Your Body

It’s hot in Texas, and while we will not be outside during the hottest part of the day,  there are some simple things that you MUST do to better prepare yourself for Summer Band.

1. Drink Water!
2. Go outside!
   • Seriously, go outside.  Yes, we know it is hot, but you need to get used to it.
   • Start off just going outside in the shade and then move to the sun, working your way up to longer times spent outside in the sun (wear sunscreen).
3. Drink Water!
4. Get some exercise (outdoors)
   • Some simple suggestions would be to go for walks or go swimming.
5. Drink Water!
6. Stop eating processed foods
   • I mean it, if it comes in a sealed plastic wrapper, has an expiration date that is more than one week away, and has hard to pronounce words on the ingredient list, then it is probably bad for you and will make you feel terrible when you do any physical activity.
   • Eat real food, normally found around the perimeter of the grocery store.
7. Drink Water!
   • Have you gotten the hint yet that you need to be drinking water?
   • Stop drinking sugary beverages, they are bad for you and will make you feel terrible when you do any physical activity.

Summer Band – 1st 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.

Students will be sent home the first day if a Physical Form is not on file.  It is the student’s responsibility to get the form from their athletic trainer if it was turned in to them in the spring.

*Returning students & parents: Please read #7 carefully as this is a slight change that will be enforced this year!

Students should have been contacted by respected section leader already in a text group (i.e.- GroupMe, group text thread, etc.). This is the absolute quickest way to get answers to questions as these leaders are in direct contact with the band directors beginning this week of 7/22/19, Leadership Camp. **Please make sure all of your information is updated in Charms ASAP!!!**

1. Sheet music for Marching Show and Stand Tunes
   • The Marching Show needs to be in a 3 ring binder with plastic sheet protectors.
   • The Stand Tunes should be in a flip folder in numerical order.
2. Flip Folder and Lyre for instrument.
   • These can be purchased at Music & Arts across from Baybrook Mall, at H&H Music across from Ellington Field, or at Amazon.com by clicking the link at the right.
   • Additional tunes will be added as they arrive.
3. 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)
   • School-issued instruments will be checked out the first day.
4. Pencil(s)
5. Water
   • Camelbaks are highly recommended
   • 1/2 gallon or bigger water jug filled with water only.  No water bottles, milk jugs, etc.
   • Blue water jugs ordered at equipment night are required for football games and should only have the student’s name and instrument on them.  Stickers and other decorations need to be removed.  These will not be delivered until the first game.
6. Athletic shoes
   • Vans, Toms, converse, vibram five fingers, or similar shoes are not acceptable footwear.
7. Athletic WHITE t-shirt and shorts (no jeans or long pants)
   • White tank tops are allowed.
   • White tees can have some print on them.
   • Ladies undergarments must remain hidden.
8. Sunscreen
   • Get the correct SPF for your skin type.
   • Apply sunscreen before you leave your house.
   • Reapply as needed during breaks.
9. Hat/visor and sunglasses
   • Sun protection for your eyes
   • Silly hats need to remain at home
10. 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
11. 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
    • Skipping breakfast is not an option

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. If you have not received your music or you no longer have it, click “2019 Show Music”, “2019 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.  Parents should download and read the survival guide as well.
6. All forms are to be completed online.  In Charms, in the “Files and Handouts” folder there is a PDF of “Required Online Forms” under the heading “Handouts for All Students.”

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 AND AN ALL-CLEAR FROM THE DOCTOR.

Below are the guidelines that were developed by CCISD administration and athletic trainers a few years ago regarding the temperature and humidity levels during practices.  I have also included the section from our band handbook where we address the issue.  You have also seen and signed the UIL document with their heat guidelines.  Furthermore, every staff member has gone through annual training by the UIL and has been certified in CPR.  Our student leader team has gone through the same UIL training and several students are trained in First Aid and CPR.  Also, whenever possible, we have a nurse volunteer on hand during practices, games, and contests to help out with any medical issues that may arise.

While all of these guidelines are helpful and communicate that we have plans in place, we do not overlook the fact that common sense is of the utmost importance.  Students are expected to have a buddy who watches out for them and makes sure they are drinking water during practice.  They are also expected to notify an adult or a student leader (who will then notify an adult) if there is a student not drinking water or who is having difficulty.

Students may not at any time share water jugs or drink after each other.  Whenever this happens in drum corps or marching band, mono and other illnesses tend to go through the group like wildfire and shuts them down for several days.  In addition to putting the students in danger, we do not want to lose preparation time because of something that is easily preventable.

Parents, please monitor your child at home.  I have spoken to all of the students and have instructed them to drink a lot of water.  Gatorade and similar drinks are great at replacing electrolytes after rehearsal.  They are also good to drink in the evening before bedtime as some will remain in their system for morning rehearsals.  Soft drinks, tea, and coffee should be limited to no more than one per day during marching season.  These drinks tend to accelerate dehydration.  We also ask that students stay away from energy drinks such as Red Bull and Monster.

In the Heat Guidelines, there is mention of “the sensitive group”.  This is in reference to students who may suffer from asthma, may be recovering from an illness, or who have extra sensitivity to the heat due to weight or other medical issues.  If your child falls into this category, please have a conversation with them encouraging them to use common sense and to sit out when they feel it is warranted.  We will not penalize students who have to sit out; however, if they sit out frequently, we do need to re-evaluate their activity level and their responsibilities in the marching band which sometimes results in reassigning them to a less strenuous position.

During summer rehearsals we will be outside in the morning and inside in the afternoons.  While we are outside, there will be parent volunteers who will be at the ready in case a student gets overheated.  If you are available to volunteer during this time, please visit the calendar at Charms to sign up.  It is a great way to see what we do and to get to know fellow band parents!

The following is from the CCISD Heat Guidelines:

High School Extracurricular Activities

• When the temperature reaches 100 degrees or above, all students in the sensitive group may sit out without penalty.
• When the temperature reaches one of the following conditions then, all outside practices will choose one or more of the options listed.
  • 104 degrees or above
  • 100 degrees or above AND the humidity is 45% or above
• OPTIONS when conditions are met:
  • Practice will be moved to air-conditioned areas
  • Practice will be called
  • Practice will begin after 6:00 p.m.

Please see the following sections from our band handbook regarding the heat.

HEAT PLAN

1. Students are required to bring a ½ gallon jug of water to every practice*.  Bottles purchased in the school vending machines or at convenience stores are not sufficient for hydration during practice.
2. Light colored and lightweight clothing should be worn*.  White shirts are required at all marching rehearsals.
3. A hat or visor is highly recommended along with sunglasses.
4. Sunscreen should be used at every rehearsal.
5. Students who overheat will be taken into the building to cool down.  If further treatment is needed, the parent will be contacted and an attempt will be made to locate an athletic trainer or school nurse.
6. During periods of severe heat (temperature of 104 degrees or higher as per district policy), rehearsals will be moved indoors or rescheduled to late evening.

*Students who do not have a ½ gallon water jug filled with water or who are not wearing proper rehearsal attire will be sent home with an unexcused absence.  Parents should not deliver forgotten items to the front desk or attendance office during school hours.  You may deliver it to the band hall or back parking lot after school.

RAIN PLAN

1. Rehearsals will take place in the event of rain.
2. The band will not rehearse outside during severe weather or during storms where lightning is present; however, we will rehearse outside during periods of light rain.
3. A staff member is constantly monitoring the presence of lightning with a lightning detector.
4. According to district guidelines, the practice field will be cleared and all students moved indoors when lightning is within 6 miles.
5. We will not return to the field until 30 minutes have passed following the last lightning strike.
6. Rehearsals that are canceled due to severe weather will be rescheduled to the next day or time will be added to the remaining rehearsals for that week.