PEP RALLY THIS FRIDAY!
Congratulations on a great week of rehearsals and auditions! After over a year of construction and delays, we are excited to finally be in the new Band Room!! A heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who supported the music program by donating on #GivingTuesday.
This Friday we have a PEP RALLY! This is the first Pep Rally in FOUR YEARS – and the first one even for our senior class. The Band and Color Guard will be performing a “stand still” of our 2023 field show and some holiday music. BAND: Wear your field show shirt and jeans, and your band jacket if you have one. GUARD: Wear your field show shirt, Guard jacket, and black leggings. Turn in the signed permission form by Wednesday.
Tomorrow, Monday 12/4, we have a MANDATORY PARENT/STUDENT MEETING for all members of the 2024 Indoor Percussion. The meeting will be at 6:00PM (following rehearsal) in the new Band Room! We will be going through important information including competition dates, parent support, and the payment schedule. Indoor Percussion is off to a great start, and we look forward to seeing you there!
Thank you so much to everyone who auditioned for the Winter Guard last week! The results have been posted on the BAND app based on auditions, but also based on the improvement and progress made throughout the summer and fall marching season. Please note that the staff reviewed the audition videos carefully and discussed each member before placing them on the best team for them to be successful. If you have any questions about your placement or what to continue to improve, please feel free to ask Sami and Chadd. Overall, the talent level is strong, and the staff are excited about the potential of both JV and Varsity teams! Due to the overall improvement of the guard program, that both the JV and Varsity will be competing in a higher division this year. Starting this week, the JV Guard practices from 6th period to 5:00PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and the Varsity Guard practices from 5:00-9:00PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We’re looking forward to an amazing guard season!
STUDENTS: We have an important week of rehearsals for Jazz A, Jazz B, Wind Ensemble, and Combined Band as we continue to prepare for the Holiday Band Concert, this Friday’s Pep Rally, and as we begin staging and learning new material for the JV Guard, Varsity Guard, and Indoor Percussion. Make sure you continue practicing DAILY with a metronome. Please read below for this week’s rehearsal schedule.
WINTER PEP RALLY THIS FRIDAY 12/8
There will be a PEP RALLY during school this Friday, December 8th in the redone Gahr HS Gym! This is the first Pep Rally in FOUR YEARS. The entire marching band and color guard will perform a shortened “stand-still” of our 2023 production for this rally! Winds & percussion will also play one of our holiday pieces, “Sing Along with Santa.” BAND: Wear your field show shirt and jeans, and your band jacket if you have one. GUARD: Wear your field show shirt, Guard jacket, and black leggings. Please turn in the signed permission form by Wednesday so that you will be able to set up and have a rehearsal/run-through before the rally starts. We’re looking forward to an awesome Pep Rally!!
HOLIDAY BAND CONCERT 12/20
Our annual Holiday Band Concert is Wednesday, December 20th at 7:00PM at the Whitney High School Theater! Come enjoy all your favorite holiday tunes from our jazz and concert bands. Admission is just $10 for adults, $8 for students, and children 3 and under are free if they are sitting on your lap. If you would like them to have their own seat, you must purchase a ticket for them. ALL TICKETS MUST BE PRE-PURCHASED. There are only 360 seats available and we WILL sell out.
Click here to purchase tickets through Ticketleap:
gahrband.ticketleap.com/ghs-holiday-concert/
STUDENT ALL BLACK CONCERT ATTIRE:
Option #1) Long-sleeved, solid black button-up dress shirt, tucked-in with black belt, solid black dress pants, LONG black socks, and black dress shoes (or polished marching band shoes).
Option #2) Long, black concert GOWN (below the knees - not a skirt).
Students may also wear Santa/holiday/festive/fun hats!!
REHEARSALS: Winds and percussionists will have after school rehearsals on Tuesdays and Thursdays to prepare for this concert. This is a FAST turn around, so make sure you practice your music SLOWLY and CORRECTLY so we can be successful.
HOLIDAY BAND CONCERT REHEARSAL SCHEDULE:
Tue 12/5 – Wind Ensemble rehearsal 3:30-5:30PM
Thu 12/7 – Combined Band rehearsal 3:30-5:30PM
Tue 12/12 – Wind Ensemble rehearsal 3:30-5:30PM
Thu 12/14 – Combined Band FINAL REHEARSAL 3:30-5:30PM
Mon 12/18 – Wind Ensemble FINAL REHEARSAL 3:30-5:30PM
Tue 12/19 – Combined Band rehearsal 3:30-5:30PM
Wed 12/20 – Holiday Band Concert 7:00PM @ Whitney HS (call time 5:30PM)
INDOOR PERCUSSION
Mondays 6th period–6:00PM
Wednesdays 6:00-9:00PM
JV GUARD
Tuesdays 6th period–5:00PM
Thursdays 6th period–5:00PM
VARSITY GUARD
Tuesdays 5:00-9:00PM
Thursdays 5:00-9:00PM
FALL DONATIONS PAST DUE
The total balance of $675 for marching donations is past due. We cannot pay our instructors without your contribution. Students must be caught up with fall donations to participate in the Winter Guard and the Indoor Percussion programs. We accept cash, checks made payable to "Gahr Band Boosters," or you can click here to make a donation online. Please communicate with Mr. Loney if you have any issues with your financial obligation.
NEW BAND ROOM
We are continuing to transition to the new Band Room this week! Just a friendly reminder that there is no chewing gum, food, or drinks (besides water) in these spaces. All winds will be assigned a locker to keep their instrument(s). No instruments, music, or personal belongings should be left on the ground. Students are responsible for keeping their instrument locker clean and organized. This is a HUGE UPGRADE and we want to treat this space with respect. If we have additional space once instrument lockers are assigned, we will assign lockers to Color Guard and Percussion.
THIS WEEK:
MONDAY 12/4
7:15AM Jazz Band A in new Band Room and Jazz Band B in Room 355 — Arrive early to set up and warm up.
6th-6:00PM Indoor Percussion rehearsal
6:00-7:00PM Mandatory Indoor Percussion Parent/Student Meeting in Band Room
TUESDAY 12/5
7:15AM Jazz Band A & B
6th-5:00PM JV Guard practice
3:30-5:30PM Wind Ensemble rehearsal (Minor Alterations)
5:00-9:00PM Varsity Guard practice
WEDNESDAY 12/6
PEP RALLY FORM DUE
NO JAZZ A OR B
6:00-9:00PM Indoor Percussion rehearsal (bring warm clothes)
THURSDAY 12/7
NO JAZZ A OR B
6th-5:00PM JV Guard practice
3:30-5:30PM Combined Band rehearsal (Sing Along with Santa, Many Sounds of Christmas)
5:00-9:00PM Varsity Guard practice
FRIDAY 12/8
PEP RALLY BELL SCHEDULE
7:15AM Jazz Band A & B
SNACK – All students report to Band Room to set up and practice for Pep Rally
3rd/4th – Set up and run Pep Rally
Pep Rally – Sing Along with Santa, Fight Song, Mvt. 1 & Mvt. 3, Alma Mater
Lunch/5th – Clean up, extra time to eat lunch. Report back to 5th period class.
3:30PM Freshman FitnessGram make up
NO JAZZ BAND A OR B AFTER SCHOOL
Please take your instrument/equipment home to practice.