Band

Yes, Band is year-round, which includes Marching Band. All students enrolled in HS Band participate in Marching Band.

Everyone has the opportunity to march. All band members go through marching fundamentals during our Summer Mustang Band Camp. Most students can learn to march with practice and hard work, but coordination at their age can really affect them. Therefore, some students have a spot in the marching drill because the are natural marchers. Some students start as alternates until/unless they can earn a spot or beat another student out of a spot...yes, it is competitive. Then there are two groups that don't march. Percussion students in the front ensemble play the mallet instruments, auxiliary percussion instruments, and electronics on the sideline. Then there is the PIT Crew. Those are the students that set up drum major podiums, electronics and props, and run the sound board for the show. The PIT Crew is made up of those that choose to be on it and students that didn't/couldn't earn a marching position.

You will receive a course selection sheet from your counselor. You must put Band as your #1 elective because it must be scheduled first. You will be placed in 1st or 2nd period depending on your Band Placement Audition, except for percussion and guard. Color Guard meets 1st period. Percussion is divided into Battery 1st period and Front Ensemble 2nd period. You also can sign up for Jazz Band as a freshman. Jazz Band meets 5th period. Remember, certain classes "normally" on a freshman schedule can be taken in the next 3 years; so if you want to be in Jazz Band, you can be. Applied Music is for upper class-men, and it meets 8th period.

Band does not keep your students from having a high GPA. Often our band members are in the top 10%, salutatorian, or valedictorian of their class. They constantly graduate top of their class and have attended Ivy League schools. All students must attend before/after school practices and rehearsals.

Mark your calendars...

JUNE: Students that make Drum Major or Color Guard are required to attend Howard Payne Band Leadership Camp in mid-June. Color Guard meets one day a week throughout June & July. 

Other band members are free during June, though we do suggest you practice some, especially on the Show Music.

JULY 1st full week: Percussion Camp will be 8-5 daily with an hour lunch break. Friday at 1:30 of that week will be LC (Leadership Corps) Marching Fundamentals. On Saturday, we have a Leadership Clinic for the LCs. 

JULY 2nd full week: On Sunday evening, we'll have our Welcome Back Party at the pool at 7:00 pm. All Band members will need to be at Mustang Band Camp, and we'll meet daily 8-5. Our Band Boosters will provide lunch for $25/person so band members will be together all day. We end that week with a performance for everyone in the grassy area between the Band Hall and the One-Way at 3:00 on Friday.

JULY 3rd full week: Free week

JULY 4th week until school starts: We start back with 2 hours/day Summer Band practices until school starts. Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, we'll practice on the Marching Show 7:00-9:00 pm. Wednesday and Fridays, we'll practice on Stand Music 3:00-5:00.

Yes, we take a trip every year. On even years, we take a large trip that is out of state. We've taken trips such as Disney World, Winter Park, and Branson.

On odd years, we take a smaller trip and stay within the state. We've taken trips to San Antonio and Dallas to include the following activities and restaurants: Schlitterbahn, Dave & Buster's, the Alamo, Girstmill River Restaurant, San Antonio Symphony Concert, Natural Bridge Caverns, Dallas World Aquarium, a Texas Rangers baseball game, the musical Anastasia at Bass Performance Hall, Epic Waters, Sixth Floor Museum, and Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament.

Course Credits: Students enrolled in High School Band for four years will earn the following course credits toward their graduation requirements: 2 semesters of Physical Education = 1 credit (1/2 credit during the fall semesters of freshman and sophomore years); 2 semesters of Fine Arts = 1 credit (1/2 credit during the spring semesters of freshman and sophomore years); and 4 semesters of Elective = 2 credits (one credit for the junior year and one credit for the senior year). Here's another piece of information in regards to your PE credit. Marching rehearsals end at the conclusion of football season. In Band, you will have completed your PE credit in November; while in PE class, you wouldn't complete your credit until mid-December. We do exercise during marching rehearsals including running, push-ups (or sit-ups), stretching, and (of course) marching.

Calendar: An official band calendar can always be located on the Band webpage. Please, plan your activities around band rehearsals, performances, and contests.

Summer Band Rehearsals: All students are required to attend all summer rehearsals, practices, and performances. Please, plan vacations and trips ahead of time, as the summer calendar is always up more than a year in advance. In order to be competitive as a marching band, we must utilize summer rehearsals to get marching fundamentals learned and the show music learned. By the time school begins, all Band members will have the music learned, the first drill of the show learned, all the stand music learned, and ready to perform at the first football game. Students that miss rehearsals during the summer will begin the school year far enough behind their peers in marching and playing ability that they likely won't be part of the marching show all fall. The rehearsal schedule is in place to prepare the entire group to reach a high level of achievement. Time does not allow for the directors to work with individuals to make up over 100 hours worth of summer rehearsals after school starts.

Marching Season: Marching Band meets every morning 6:30-7:45 am to practice the marching show. During the school day, they are separated in 2 classes 1st and 2nd periods to work on the music. Drum Line and Color Guard will have their own practices Monday nights usually 7:00-9:00 pm.

Marching Performances for all band members: all football games (including playoffs), Concho Classic Marching Festival, Big Country Marching Festival, UIL Region Marching Contest, UIL Area Contest (if we make a 1 at Region), UIL State Marching Contest (if we place in the top 3 at Area), Veteran's Day Program, and Winter Concert. 

Drum Majors, Drum Line and Color Guard will compete at WTAC (West Texas Auxiliaries Championships) in September at Lubbock Coronado HS.

Concert Season: Wind Ensemble will have sectionals and clinics on Tuesday & Thursday mornings at 6:30 am. Symphonic Band will have sectionals and clinics on Monday & Wednesday mornings at 6:30 am. Concert Band may have sectionals and clinics on Friday mornings at 6:30 am. Winter Guard and Winter Percussion will have their own practices on Monday nights 6:00-9:00 pm.

Concert Performances for all band members: UIL Concert/Sight-Reading Contest and Spring Concert.

Winter Guard and Winter Percussion will compete in the Caprock Color Guard Circuit.

Jazz Band will compete in the Temple Jazz Festival.

Percussion may have a Percussion Ensemble Concert.