WELCOME BACK!
I hope you had a wonderful and well-deserved Thanksgiving break! I would like to thank all the students and parents who came on Monday for moving day, especially the ones who stayed late. This week we will be transitioning to our new temporary Band Room in the middle of campus at Rooms 609 and 610, as well as beginning to work on Rose Parade audition music, holiday concert and jazz music, Winter Drumline, and Winter Guard. If you are interested in Winter Drumline, we will have auditions for our cymbal line as well as other positions available in the front ensemble and battery! Winter Guard already had placements and we’re excited that this will be our first season with both JV and Varsity teams!!
The filming for the 605 All Star Rose Parade Band is THIS SUNDAY, December 4th at Bellflower HS from 7:30AM-4:30PM. STUDENT CALL TIME IS 7:00AM. All Color Guard students also have an additional mandatory rehearsal THIS THURSDAY, December 1st from 5-8PM to set the group and learn choreography needed for Saturday. Please make sure you turn in $35 to Mr. Loney to cover the music, choreography/instruction, a 605 All Star Band t-shirt, and lunch on Sunday.
PARENTS: Please join us this Wednesday, November 30th at 6:30PM for our annual Gahr Invitational Field Show Debrief Meeting! We will be meeting at Room 609/610 (in the middle of campus). We’re celebrating another incredible Gahr Invitational! Light refreshments will be served. We want to hear from YOU what went well with the field show and also what could be improved for next year. Thank you!
Congratulations once again on an amazing marching season and for winning the WBA Class 4A Championships!! This is a huge achievement and milestone for the Gahr Instrumental Music Program, and would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of our students, parents, and instructors.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Also, check out these action shots that were taken at WBA Grand Championships. Click on the image below to purchase them directly from the photographer.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
FALL DONATIONS PAST DUE
The total balance of $575 for marching donations is past due. We cannot pay our instructors or for bills from production costs without your contribution. Students must also be caught up with fall donations to audition for the Winter Drumline and Winter Guard. 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.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
605 ALL STAR ROSE PARADE BAND THIS WEEK!
Welcome to the opportunity of a lifetime…the opportunity to audition for the most amazing band in all the land… the 605 All Star Band!! This massive marching band is going to be a combination of musicians and color guard students from the schools that surround the 605 Freeway! We have included 8 area high schools: Artesia, Bellflower, Cerritos, Gahr, John Glenn, La Mirada, Mayfair and Norwalk! Our goal is to create an amazing audition video and hopefully be invited to participate in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade! The parade itself is one of the most prestigious events anywhere and will bring memories that will last a lifetime…but just doing the audition with up to 500 musicians and color guard will be iconic!
The audition video recording will take place at Ron Yary Stadium (next to Bellflower HS) THIS SUNDAY, December 4th, 2022 from 7:30AM-4:30PM. STUDENT CALL TIME IS 7:00AM. The audition process will take place in two phases: parade and field. We will have the students perform “Life is a Highway” for the parade portion of the video and “Johnny B. Goode” for the field portion. We will have over 15 staff members from all the schools assisting on the rehearsal and approximately 4 video people doing cameras and drones. There is a mandatory Color Guard rehearsal THIS THURSDAY, December 1st at Bellflower HS on the soccer field next to Ron Yary Stadium from 5-8PM to set the group and teach choreography needed for Saturday.
Items to Bring:
Your instrument/equipment and music
MUSIC MUST BE COMPLETELY MEMORIZED
Wear your 605 band shirt to rehearsal
DARK Blue jeans - no holes.
Athletic/tennis shoes (no sandals or boots)
Your own water jug and a snack for yourself
The cost for each student participating is $35.00. The student will receive music, choreography instruction, a 605 All Star Band t-shirt and lunch on that day. The fee also covers the cost of the music, video production and percussion/color guard coaches. Again, this is an audition only. We are NOT guaranteed a spot in the parade. Our goal is to put together a massive musical entertainment unit and go through the process. We should know the results by the fall of 2023. Students who participate in this audition who graduate will be able to audition for the group pending the number of musicians needed to fill the group.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
NEW “BAND ROOM”
We have temporarily moved to Rooms 609 and 610 due to the Measure BB construction/renovations on the 100s building. Make sure you give yourself more time to get to these rooms before rehearsal. We also have more classrooms around us, so we need to be good neighbors and be mindful of the noise. Please keep the doors closed as much as possible when anyone is playing or practicing. Normal rules apply — NO FOOD OR DRINKS ALLOWED IN THE BAND ROOM (except water). We are extremely limited on space, so it will be important to keep the room clean and do not leave personal possessions out. For Winter Drumline, the battery will always play in a zone outdoors away from other classrooms. Color Guard has access to the side container where we will be keeping equipment and shelf space. THERE IS NO EATING OR HANGING OUT IN THE SIDE CONTAINER. We are hopeful our new facilities will be ready when school starts next year!
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
WINTER DRUMLINE REHEARSAL SCHEDULE
MONDAYS
6th Period-6PM
WEDNESDAYS
6-9PM
FRIDAYS
6th Period-5:30PM
SOME SATURDAYS
WINTER GUARD REHEARSAL SCHEDULE
TUESDAYS
JV Guard: 6th Period-4PM
Varsity Guard: 5-9PM
THURSDAYS
JV Guard: 6th Period-4PM
Varsity Guard: 5-9PM
SOME SATURDAYS
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
HOLIDAY BAND CONCERT 12/22!
Our annual Holiday Band Concert is Thursday, December 22nd at 6:30PM at the Whitney High School Theater! Come enjoy your favorite holiday tunes from our Jazz Band and Combined Bands.
REHEARSALS: Winds and percussionists will have some after school rehearsals on some 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!
Thu 12/1 - Rehearsal 3:30-5:30PM (605 Parade Band rehearsal)
Thu 12/8 - Rehearsal 3:30-5:30PM (winds only, no percussion)
Tue 12/13 - Rehearsal 3:30-5:30PM
Thu 12/15 - Rehearsal 3:30-5:30PM
Tue 12/20 - Rehearsal 3:30-6PM
Wed 12/21 - Run-through 3:30-6PM
Thu 12/22 - Call time 5:30PM at Whitney HS / Concert 6:30PM
CONCERT ATTIRE: ALL BLACK — 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). Ladies may wear a long, black concert gown (below the knees - no skirts). Students may also wear Santa/holiday hats :)
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
HAWAII PERFORMANCE TRIP!
We are so excited that the Gahr Band will be traveling to Hawaii this summer!! Click here to download the itinerary and payment sheet. The performance trip includes accommodations for 6 days and 5 nights, a performance at the USS Missouri in Pearl Harbor, a clinic at the University of Hawaii, a visit to Diamond Head State Monument, a dolphin and snorkeling excursion, a luau, and more! ALL PAYMENTS ARE MADE DIRECTLY TO WORLDSTRIDES. YOU MUST KEEP UP WITH THE MONTHLY PAYMENTS TO KEEP YOUR SPOT ON THE TRIP.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
THIS WEEK:
MONDAY 11/28
BRING INSTRUMENT/EQUIPMENT TO SCHOOL TO ROOM 609/610
TURN IN $35 FOR 605 ROSE PARADE BAND
7:20AM Jazz Band RHYTHM SECTION ONLY
4th/5th — Winds finish organizing Room 609/610
6th — All Winter Guard practice during class
6th-6:00PM Winter Drumline OPEN AUDITIONS & rehearsal
TUESDAY 11/29
7:20AM Jazz Band WINDS ONLY
4th/5th — Start 605 Parade Band music
6th-4:00PM JV Winter Guard rehearsal
6th — Varsity Winter Guard Study Hall
5:00-9:00PM Varsity Winter Guard rehearsal
WEDNESDAY 11/30
6th — Varsity Winter Guard practice during class
6th — JV Winter Guard Study Hall
6:00-9:00PM Winter Drumline Rehearsal
6:30PM Gahr Invitational Field Show Debrief Meeting — ROOM 609/610
THURSDAY 12/1
PANDA EXPRESS & WING STOP FUNDRAISER
7:20AM Full Jazz Band
NO WINTER GUARD JV/VARSITY REHEARSAL
3:30-5:30PM 605 Parade Band rehearsal with Mr. Loney (winds & percussion)
5:00-8:00PM Mandatory 605 Parade Band COLOR GUARD REHEARSAL @ BELLFLOWER HS!
FRIDAY 12/2
7:20AM Full Jazz Band
6th — All Winter Guard practice during class
6th-5:30PM Winter Drumline rehearsal
5:30-6:00PM LOAD EQUIPMENT TRAILER (battery, tubas, front ensemble, music stands)
DRINK A LOT OF WATER AND GO TO BED EARLY
SUNDAY 12/4
605 ALL STAR ROSE PARADE BAND FILMING DAY!
Make sure you bring your instrument/equipment, music, hat, and water. Wear your 605 Parade Band shirt!
6:30AM Trailers arrive. Unload equipment.
7:00AM Student Call Time at Bellflower HS — 15301 McNab Ave, Bellflower, CA 90706
7:30AM Parade portion and music recordings
12:00PM Lunch - “grab and go” burgers/hot dogs, chips, soda, cookies (provided by the Mayfair Boosters)
12:45PM Learn drill and record
3:30PM Smaller group work specific drill, everyone else will be dismissed
4:30PM Rehearsal over