Dear Band Students and Families,
Since the announcement this week of the district’s plan for online learning for the first 4 weeks of school, I have met with colleagues and staff to devise a plan and course of action moving forward. Due to these unprecedented circumstances of how we will be starting the school year, we have made the decision to make marching band optional for students. This will ONLY BE FOR THIS YEAR, and we anticipate a FULL RETURN TO REQUIRED MARCHING BAND for next year. I ask that each family talk this over and make a decision and COMMITMENT one way or the other. As you talk it over, please realize that we will only be offering marching band as an in-person activity and will discontinue any Zoom meetings of our practices moving forward. Also, please know that marching band will continue to be the basis of the curriculum for the 1st Quarter of the school year and will be our focus inside and outside of class (including Color Guard). Even if a student does not participate in the after-school, in-person marching band activity, they will be working on the music or Color Guard choreography at home during online learning, and in-person when we return to in-person learning and their assignments will be based on the marching show music. If a student commits to being a part of the in-person marching band, they MUST follow all rules and guidelines of marching band attendance, policies, and procedures as outlined in the band handbook and they will be required to attend all rehearsals and practices as long as they are not sick, do not have any COVID-19 symptoms as outlined in the waiver form (even any mild symptoms), do not have a school related event, and do not have a family emergency (just as it has always been for marching band). Once we receive the commitment, we ask that families honor that commitment so that we do not have students quitting and joining throughout the season. We must have a commitment one way or the other.
I am excited to announce that we will be working on a marching show based on Gustav Holst’s “Mars” and “Jupiter” from “The Planets”!!! Everyone in band will be working on the marching show “The Planets” for the 1st quarter (mp3 files posted in the Google Classroom)!!! We anticipate also creating a limited drill depending on the cohorts that we will be able to meet with after school throughout the season (this drill will only be for the students who choose to practice in-person). If possible, we hope to perform this show at any of the football games we can and, if possible, we would like to present the show for the families of the students involved in the in-person marching band. These details will be released at a later time. We would also like to create a recording of the students doing this show so that they can have it to remember for years to come!
We will start in-person band camp on Monday, August 3rd following the schedule listed below. We will continue working on fundamentals and hope to be handing out music for the show soon and hope to start learning drill by the end of August at the in-person, after-school rehearsals (more information about after-school rehearsals to come). As soon as we know the district’s plan concerning what phase we will be in when school starts, we will design a schedule accordingly and communicate that out concerning after school practices and rehearsals for the rest of August, September, and October. I anticipate the schedule being close to what is listed on the website, but that is subject to change due to district and health department guidelines.
I understand that some of you are nervous about coming back and doing in-person rehearsals. Please know that we have been following all protocols set forth by the district and health department and have been purposefully over-doing the distancing requirements so that students stay further apart, especially when playing their instruments. We will continue in this fashion moving forward until we receive further guidelines. Students will also be responsible for administering a health check before ANY AND ALL in-person practices, including after-school practices when they resume. The reason we want to move forward with marching band and in-person rehearsals is that it gives students something to do and something to be a part of. We are doing this for the student’s social and emotional well-being, so that they continue to have an outlet and activity to participate in during these unprecedented times. It will be acceptable and understandable if a student chooses not do in-person practices and rehearsals. PARENTS must send me an email letting me know before Monday, August 3rd if your student WILL NOT be attending and they will be excused for the in-person practices and rehearsals for the season, but will still be a part of their band/color guard class.
FRESHMEN, I would like to highly encourage your participation (as long as you and your family are comfortable with you being at in-person practices)!!! This is a great opportunity for you to get going on Marching and Playing with no pressure of “earning a spot in the competition show.” There will be NO alternates this year, so everyone will march in the show! This will be a great opportunity for the freshmen to get all of the information they have missed since May and will help them be ahead for next year’s season!
Thank you for your continued support of the Legacy Band program and I hope you all are remaining safe and healthy.
Sincerely,
Clay Stansberry
Director of Bands
Legacy High School
August 3rd Daily Schedule:
8:00 AM – 9:30 AM Flutes – Zone 1
8:15 AM – 9:45 AM Trumpets – Zone 2
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM Clarinets – Zone 1
10:15 AM – 11:45 AM Mellophones and Baritones – Zone 2
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM ALL of Front Ensemble (Inside/Outside of Band Room)
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM Saxophones and Bass Clarinets – Zone 1
12:15 PM – 1:45 PM Trombones and Sousaphones – Zone 2
12:30 PM – 2:00 PM Percussion Battery – Turf Field
2:15 PM – 3:45 PM Color Guard – Zone 1
***REMINDER: If you have not attended in-person practices yet, you MUST fill out and turn into me this waiver form (Spanish version here) before you will be allowed to participate.
***EVERYONE must complete the Self-Screening Log at home before you come to Practice.
See you on Monday!
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