1ST DRUMLINE & GUARD SHOW THIS SATURDAY!
WE’VE GOT A BIG WEEK AHEAD WITH OUR FIRST PERFORMANCE THIS SATURDAY FOR INDOOR PERCUSSION AND WINTER GUARD! PLEASE JOIN US FOR OUR MONTHLY BOOSTER MEETING THIS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7TH AT 6:30PM IN THE STAFF LOUNGE. STUDENTS: MAKE SURE YOU’RE STAYING ON TOP OF YOUR HOMEWORK, PRACTICING AND REVIEWING DAILY, HYDRATING, AND STAYING HEALTHY. WEAR WARM CLOTHES AND TRY TO STAY DRY WITH ALL THE RAIN!
When we get into second semester 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 JV Guard, the newly formed Jazz B, or even the district 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 Gabriel Dominguez and William Wu on performing this weekend with the All-State High School Golden State Band at the CASMEC music conference up in Sacramento! This is a huge accomplishment, both for them as well as our school. They were selected out of thousands of students who auditioned from throughout the entire state. Way to go!!
When we’re in the daily rehearsal grind and you spend hours every day with the same people, it can also be easy to lose track of the big picture and what we’re working towards. Talking about other people behind their backs, complaining, and having a negative attitude has never made anything better. It might temporarily make you feel better in the short term to vent, but it does incredible damage to others and the group as a whole. “Our bond with each other is stronger than our love of music, the thing that brought us together in the first place.” I can tell you from experience that we have something special at Gahr that most schools do not have. Treat each other kindly, cherish each day we have together, and be proud of what you do each day as if it’s your last.
UPCOMING EVENTS
2/6 Honor Band Rehearsal from 6:00-8:30PM at Whitney HS
2/7 Monthly Parent Booster Meeting at 6:30PM in the Band Room
2/8 Honor Band Sectional from 6:00-8:30PM at Gahr HS
2/9 SAX-Y GRAMS DEADLINE
2/10 JV/Varsity Guard @ Chino Hills HS and Indoor Percussion @ SCPA La Quinta
2/12 Indoor Percussion Camp 9AM-4PM
2/13 Honor Band Rehearsal from 6:00-8:30PM at Whitney HS
2/14 Sax-y Grams Delivery!
2/15 ABCUSD Honor Band Concert at 7:00PM at Whitney HS
2/16 Varsity Guard $150 for San Diego Due
2/17 Indoor Percussion Camp 9AM-4PM
2/19 Indoor Percussion Rehearsal 9AM-1PM
2/21 WGASC Committee Meeting at 6:30PM – All parents encouraged to attend
2/23 Jazz A and B @ Mayfair Jazz Festival
2/24-25 Varsity Guard @ WGI San Diego Regional
3/2 Wind Ensemble at CSUF Festival of Winds and JV Guard at WGASC OC Show
3/2-3 Varsity Guard @ WGI Manhattan Beach Regional
3/3 Indoor Percussion @ SCPA Monrovia
MONTHLY BOOSTER MEETING WEDNESDAY 2/7 – Our monthly Booster Meeting is this Wednesday, February 7th at 6:30PM in the staff lounge (connected to the new 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. We look forward to seeing you there :)
HONOR BAND TUESDAY & THURSDAY – Good work overall at our first Honor Band rehearsal. This week we have rehearsal with Dr. Cross at Whitney HS on Tuesday from 6:00-8:30PM AND an Honor Band sectional at Gahr HS on Thursday from 6:00-8:30PM. Make sure you work on your music with a metronome daily and continue to get it more comfortable (especially “Variations on a Korean Folk Song” and the “Liberty Bell March.”) Make sure you bring your signed Honor Band contract to rehearsal on Tuesday.
SECTIONALS THIS WEEK – Awesome improvement last week! There is no Wind Ensemble or Concert Band rehearsal this week due to Honor Band rehearsals; however, you will need to have a 1-hour sectional or individual practice in the Band Room either Wednesday or Thursday after school (your choice). Please check in and out with Mr. Loney or Mr. Miller to receive credit. Thank you!
1ST WINTER GUARD SHOW THIS SATURDAY – We’re super excited to have both the JV Guard and Varsity Guard perform this Saturday 2/10 at the Chino Hills Preview! Call time on Saturday is 11:30AM for everyone in the guard. Make sure you eat a big meal before you arrive and bring $10-15 for dinner concessions. All parents are expected to help with equipment, props, and carpool students. Please do not assume your child has a ride. Admission for this show is $10 per person (student performers are always free).
LOCATION: Chino Hills HS – 16150 Pomona Rincon Rd, Chino Hills, CA 91709
ITINERARY: http://tinyurl.com/yc8rj6pp
ADMISSION: $10 per person
1ST DRUMLINE COMPETITION THIS SATURDAY – Our first performance for Indoor Percussion is this Saturday, February 10th at La Quinta High School in Westminster. We will need lots of parent help (similar to a field show competition) with equipment and transportation. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU ARE CAUGHT UP WITH THE FIRST TWO DONATIONS SO YOU ARE ABLE TO GET YOUR COSTUME. All students should have purchased show shoes by this point. 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: http://tinyurl.com/yk394m4t
SCPA INFO: http://tinyurl.com/4ta57sf2
VOLUNTEER: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E48AFA82EA3F8C61-47720307-21024#/
ADMISSION: $12 per person
DRUMLINE SHOW SHOES – All Indoor Percussion members should have purchased their show shoes by this point. There are links below to buy them on Amazon, but you might be able to find them cheaper in a retail store. The battery shoes are currently available at Big 5 Sporting Goods for under $60. You may be able to reuse shoes from last year if they are still in good condition.
Battery
Front Ensemble
SAX-Y GRAMS – 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 THIS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2024.
VARSITY GUARD SAN DIEGO TRIP 2/24-25!
The Varsity Winter Guard will be participating in the WGI Regional Winter Guard competition held at Del Norte High School in San Diego on February 24-25th. This event draws the best Winter Guards from throughout the area and gives our students the opportunity to not only compete against these top guards, but also to watch some of the best groups in the nation competing in the world division.
This is an overnight trip and will cost $150 per student — DUE AND PAID IN FULL BY NEXT FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16TH. We accept cash, checks made payable to “Gahr Band Boosters,” or click here to pay online. This covers lodging for one night, as well as meals throughout the weekend. Students are still welcome to bring additional money for food and snacks at the competition site. Students need to turn in this permission form by this Friday.
If this is your first overnight trip, please know that it is standard to have students stay four to a room, typically with two queen-sized beds. Students can select who they would like to have in their room and we will do our best to accommodate their requests if possible. As with all trips for the Gahr Instrumental Music Program, students must stay in the hotel with other students. A block of rooms has already been reserved and we are able to keep the trip cost low based on the students staying together.
We are asking for all students to carpool with the same students that will be in their hotel room – one room per vehicle if possible. There are many times throughout the weekend that we will be traveling – to and from the hotel to the show site, to dinner, back to the hotel, etc. This will help to make sure no one is left behind (and also that the students are not walking around alone).
We ask that students stay together as a group for the entire weekend – traveling to/from San Diego, the competition, meals offsite, etc. It is great that a number of parents and families will be coming to support, but we ask that you please do not pull your child away from the rest of the group.
Your student needs to be current on their Winter Guard donations to participate in this trip. PLEASE NOTE: The cost of this trip is in addition to the Winter Guard donations.
We’re looking forward to a fun-filled and rewarding trip!
2ND DONATION PAST DUE – The 2nd donation for Indoor Percussion was due Wednesday 1/31 and for Winter Guard was due Thursday 2/1. This is critical so we are able to pay for instructors, costumes, and production costs. STUDENTS MUST BE CAUGHT UP WITH THE FIRST TWO DONATIONS IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THEIR COSTUME THIS WEEK. We accept cash, checks made payable to “Gahr Band Boosters,” or you can click here to pay online with a credit card.
Indoor Percussion
$200.00 due 1/31/24
Varsity Winter Guard
$225.00 due 2/1/24
JV Winter Guard
$150.00 due 2/1/24
WGASC COMMITTEE MEETING 2/21 – The Gahr Instrumental Music Program will be hosting our first-ever WGASC Winter Guard competition on Sunday, April 7th in the Gahr HS Gym! This is a huge undertaking and we will need all hands on deck – not just color guard – to make this a success! Please join us for our first WGASC Committee Meeting next Wednesday, February 21st at 6:30PM in the staff lounge (connected to the Band Room). We would love to see all of our guard parents in attendance, as well as band parents too!! This event only works if everyone volunteers and helps out, similar to the Gahr Invitational Field Tournament. See you there!
DATE CHANGES: The Gahr Area Concert has been moved one week earlier to Wednesday, May 8th at 6:30PM in the Gahr High School Gym. Our End-of-Year Awards Banquet has been moved to Thursday evening, May 16th at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts.
THIS WEEK:
MONDAY 2/5
SAX-Y GRAMS ON SALE!
7:17AM Jazz A and B
6th-6:00PM Indoor Percussion rehearsal
TUESDAY 2/6
7:17AM Jazz A and B
6th-5:00PM JV Guard rehearsal
5:00-9:00PM Varsity Guard rehearsal
6:00-8:30PM Honor Band rehearsal at Whitney HS (bring signed contact)
6:30PM Executive Board Meeting
WEDNESDAY 2/7
6th-6:30PM JV Guard rehearsal (ADDED)
6:00-9:00PM Indoor Percussion rehearsal
6:30PM Monthly Booster Meeting in staff lounge (connected to the Band Room)
THURSDAY 2/8
7:17AM Jazz A and B
6th-5:00PM JV Guard rehearsal
5:00-9:00PM Varsity Guard rehearsal
6:00-8:30PM Honor Band Sectionals at Gahr
FRIDAY 2/9
SAX-Y GRAMS DEADLINE!
NO ZERO PERIOD JAZZ BAND
6th-6:00PM Indoor Percussion rehearsal
Bring show shoes, compression shirt/shorts, and long black socks.
SATURDAY 2/10
Indoor Percussion at SCPA La Quinta HS
10:30AM CALL TIME for Indoor Percussion at Gahr HS
JV Guard & Varsity Guard at Chino Hills HS
11:30AM CALL TIME for JV Guard & Varsity Guard at Gahr HS
Make sure you eat a big meal before you arrive. Bring $10-15 for food.
THERE ARE NO SCHOOL BUSSES FOR WINTER SEASON. PARENT HELP IS NEEDED FOR CARPOOLS AND EQUIPMENT. PLEASE DO NOT ASSUME YOUR CHILD HAS A RIDE.