HONOR BAND & 1ST DRUMLINE COMPETITION!
GREAT IMPROVEMENT LAST WEEK! THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS AND PARENTS WHO WENT TO THE 605 ALL-STAR RECOGNITION AND OPEN HOUSE. ALSO, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO WENT TO YOGURTLAND TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAM. WE HAVE A BUSY WEEK WITH HONOR BAND REHEARSALS TUESDAY & THURSDAY, OUR MONTHLY PARENT BOOSTER MEETING WEDNESDAY AT 6:30PM, AND OUR FIRST SCPA INDOOR PERCUSSION COMPETITION THIS SATURDAY AT LA QUINTA HS! THE 2ND INDOOR PERCUSSION DONATION OF $200 IS DUE THIS FRIDAY 2/7.
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU’RE CAUGHT UP WITH ALL OUTSTANDING DONATIONS FOR MARCHING BAND, INDOOR PERCUSSION, AND WINTER GUARD. ALL WINTER GUARD AND INDOOR PERCUSSION MEMBERS MUST BE CAUGHT UP WITH DONATIONS FOR US TO PAY FOR THEIR COSTUME. WE ARE UNABLE TO PAY FOR THE FLOOR, COSTUMES, AND INSTRUCTORS WITHOUT YOUR DONATION. YOU CAN MAKE A PAYMENT ONLINE HERE.
When we split into separate ensembles, sometimes it’s easy to forget that the Gahr Instrumental Music Program is still one big family! When one group succeeds, it’s a win for all of us. During this semester, I strongly encourage you to watch one of the performance groups that your own student isn’t in. It could be the Winter Guard, Jazz II, or even the ABCUSD Honor Band. I think you’ll be blown away by how talented, passionate, and hard-working ALL of our students are.
One of those wins… Please join me in congratulating William Wu on his outstanding performance last weekend with the All-State High School Golden State Band in Sacramento! This Sunday, February 9th, he will take the stage once again with the SCSBOA All-Southern Wind Ensemble at 11:00 AM at the Hyatt Regency Orange County. Selected from thousands of students who auditioned, this is a huge accomplishment, and the concert promises to be nothing short of spectacular. Way to go!!
In the daily grind of rehearsals, it can be easy to lose sight of the bigger picture and what we’re all working toward. But remember—talking behind others’ backs, complaining, and fostering negativity never improves anything. While venting may offer temporary relief, it ultimately causes harm to individuals and weakens the group as a whole. This includes both students as well as parents.
“Our bond with each other is stronger than our love of music—the very thing that brought us together.”
I can tell you from experience that what we have at Gahr is something truly special, something many schools don’t have. So treat each other with kindness, appreciate every moment, and take pride in what you do each day as if it were your last.
HONOR BAND REHEARSALS TUESDAY & THURSDAY – This week we have Honor Band rehearsals on Tuesday and Thursday from 6:00-8:30PM at Gahr High School with Dr. Arnold! Have all of your music prepared and be ready to lead by example with your best rehearsal etiquette.
This is the Dropbox link has PDFs of all the music and recordings:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/eibphc9e2lpaww0gpy888/AM-FC3j0nCOmNJfbbdeRmvU?rlkey=biwf9rxlmf9acla4r97m5s8az&dl=0
Honor Band Schedule:
Tuesday 2/4 – Rehearsal with Dr. Arnold from 6:00-8:30PM at Gahr HS
Thursday 2/6 – Rehearsal with Dr. Arnold from 6:00-8:30PM at Gahr HS (in Band Room)
Tuesday 2/11 – Last rehearsal with Dr. Arnold from 6:00-8:30PM at Whitney HS
Wednesday 2/12 – Honor Band Concert at 7PM in the Whitney MAC Theater!
MONTHLY BOOSTER MEETING WEDNESDAY 2/5 – Our monthly Booster Meeting is this Wednesday, February 5th at 6:30PM in the Staff Lounge (next to the Band Room). We’re gearing up for a big month of performances and need your help to make it a success! Meetings are warm, welcoming, and friendly. See you there :)
1ST DRUMLINE COMPETITION THIS SATURDAY – Our first performance for Indoor Percussion is this Saturday, February 8th at La Quinta High School in Westminster. We will need lots of parent help (similar to a field show competition). All parents are expected to help with equipment, props, and carpool students. Please do not assume your child has a ride.
LOCATION: La Quinta HS – 10372 McFadden Ave., Westminster, CA 92683
ITINERARY: https://tinyurl.com/4akv62xu
ADMISSION: $12 per person
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU ARE CAUGHT UP WITH THE FIRST TWO DONATIONS SO YOU ARE ABLE TO GET YOUR COSTUME. We accept cash, checks made payable to “Gahr Band Boosters,” or click here to pay online with a credit card. We are unable to pay for our floor, costumes, props, or instructors without your donation. PLEASE NOTE: YOU MUST BE CAUGHT UP WITH YOUR DONATIONS IN ORDER TO RECEIVE A COSTUME.
DRUMLINE SHOW SHOES – All Indoor Percussion members should have purchased their show shoes by this point. There are three different shoes depending on your section.
BATTERY: https://tinyurl.com/mrxdt36w
VISUAL ENSEMBLE: https://tinyurl.com/8urpnfzu
FRONT ENSEMBLE: https://tinyurl.com/jby8zwat
We will be having a sneak preview this Wednesday, February 5th at 8:00PM in the Gahr HS Gym! We encourage all parents to come watch (this will be after the Booster Meeting).
PRE-ORDER AN INDOOR PERCUSSION SHOW SHIRT! THEY’RE JUST $20 EACH.
2025 WINTER GUARD – “SQUAWK!”
The students have been making great progress on our 2025 production, “SQUAWK!” Click here to download the Winter Guard information packet.
Make sure you’re caught up with both the Costume Deposit of $120 and 1st and 2nd Donations of $220. We accept cash, checks made payable to “Gahr Band Boosters,” or click here to pay online.
IF YOU ARE NOT CAUGHT UP WITH YOUR DONATIONS, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET YOUR COSTUME OR HOLD YOUR HOTEL ROOM FOR THE SAN DIEGO WGI TRIP.
PRE-ORDER A WINTER GUARD SHOW SHIRT! THEY’RE JUST $20 EACH.
WINTER PROGRAM WISHLISTS – Support our Indoor Percussion and Winter Guard students by checking out their wishlists and making a donation! This is the Indoor Percussion Wishlist and this is the Winter Guard Wishlist. Your generosity helps provide essentials needed for a successful season. Thank you for your support!
JAZZ BAND SEMESTER DONATION – We are requesting a $50 semester donation from all Jazz Band students to help cover the cost of new ties, jazz folders, music coaches, new charts, and jazz festivals. Please turn in cash, a check made payable to “Gahr Band Boosters,” or click here to pay online. Your support ensures a great experience for our musicians—thank you!
SAX-Y GRAMS ON SALE – Looking to serenade someone special for Valentine's Day? Purchase a SAX-Y GRAM for only $10! This includes a personal performance by our very own Sax-y Saxophones and comes with a beautiful rose. Show someone how much they mean to you this Valentine’s Day by purchasing a SAX-Y GRAM! Or just embarrass your son or daughter!!! THE DEADLINE TO ORDER A SAX-Y GRAM IS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2025. Sax-y Grams are delivered LIVE, IN-PERSON at school on Valentine’s Day.
CONCERT BAND & WIND ENSEMBLE – As a reminder, the Wind Ensemble rehearses on Tuesdays from 3:30-6:00PM and the Concert Band rehearses on Thursdays from 3:30-6:00PM. This is part of your 7th period attendance and grade. These rehearsals are SUPER IMPORTANT and are the only time that we combine our winds and percussion students together.
Please avoid scheduling orthodontist/doctor appointments, driver’s ed, family events, private lessons, etc. during these rehearsals. Both groups perform high-level literature and we have a limited amount of time before our performances. While the expectation is the same for both groups, Wind Ensemble students who are not regularly showing up to rehearsals or who are not prepared on their music may be moved to Concert Band. Show up ON TIME with your music prepared, ready to work, and let’s have an amazing festival season.
Concert Band Festival Repertoire
1. Fanfare for the Third Planet - Richard L. Saucedo
2. Through the Mist - Brian Balmages
3. Foundry - John Mackey
Wind Ensemble Festival Repertoire
1. Sheltering Sky - John Mackey
2. An American Songkran - Kevin Charoensri
THIS WEEK:
MONDAY 2/3
7:17-8:25AM Jazz I & II (sectional focus)
6th-6:00PM Indoor Percussion rehearsal
TUESDAY 2/4
7:17-8:25AM Jazz I & II
3:30-5:30PM Wind Ensemble rehearsal for students not in Honor Band
6:00-8:30PM Honor Band rehearsal at Gahr HS
WEDNESDAY 2/5
Ross/Haskell Recruiting Trip During School
SAX-Y GRAMS ON SALE!
3:20PM Band Room open after school
6:00-9:00PM Indoor Percussion rehearsal
6:30PM Monthly Parent Booster Meeting in Band Room!
8:00PM Indoor Percussion Sneak Preview in Gym
THURSDAY 2/6
7:17-8:25AM Jazz I & II
3:30-4:30PM Concert Band rehearsal
5:00-9:00PM Winter Guard rehearsal
6:00-8:30PM Honor Band rehearsal at Gahr HS
FRIDAY 2/7
INDOOR PERCUSSION DONATION #2 DUE ($200)
7:17-8:25AM Jazz I & II
Multimedia Rally (during school)
6th-6:00PM Indoor Percussion rehearsal
TAKE INSTRUMENT AND MUSIC HOME
SATURDAY 2/8
Indoor Percussion rehearsal and competition at La Quinta HS
ITINERARY: https://tinyurl.com/4akv62xu
SUNDAY 2/9
SCSBOA All-Southern Honor Band Concert!