2003 September Bugle

Director’s Notes

Welcome Back!!!

First of all, I would like to congratulate all of our members on a well-rehearsed summer and an enjoyable August Band Camp. The staff was able to introduce new material and teach the beginnings of our field show Echoes of Camelot and evaluate the Band for its strengths and weaknesses. We are very pleased with the attitude of the Band. We feel that the group as a whole is better prepared to handle the tasks of learning, perfecting and performing than in previous years and we are excited to see how far this dynamic group of young people can go. Keep up the hard work students!!!!

I am extremely proud of the show itself. The music is fantastic and the visual design and concepts are just as exciting. I would like to thank Michael and Mary Anne for all of their hard work in designing the elements of the visual program, to Matt, Lance and Steve thanks for collaboration in writing the percussion book, and to Martha for coordinating the choreography for the Color Guard. A heartfelt thank you goes to the rest of the staff as they teach and help the students clean up the various technical aspects of the show in their area of expertise, Sarah, Mike, Adam, Robb, Camden, Darryl, and Melinda. We, students and parents, thank the entire staff for all of their hard work and dedication to the Thousand Oaks High School Band program.

I would also like to publicly thank Key Poulan, our composer, for taking the music ideas and motifs that we designed and turning them into beautiful music compositions for our group. Let me remind you that this is an original show, written exclusively for us. I am sure that next year, when this is made public, it will be a hit across the country.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all of the Boosters for their contributions of time, effort, expertise and tenacity in getting a lot of jobs started and completed throughout Band Camp. Uniform fitting, prop building, garage cleaning and organizing, food preparation, car washes, Family Night, costume making and flag sewing, etc, etc, etc. Much more to come throughout the season and school year. You have heard me say this many times, we could not excel as the great organization we are without all the elements working in harmony, i.e. students, staff, and Boosters. Thanks to all of you.

Thank you to all of the students who worked so hard on Pennies for Piccolos. The money raised can now buy some badly needed instruments and equipment for our program. In previous years, much of the money from this fundraiser had gone to paying off the loan for the silver sousaphones. This is the first year in some time that we can make new purchases with these funds. Great job to all! Don’t forget, this fundraising effort continues throughout the year. As a note . . .I had one person come to me on Family Night and say, “We need to change the title to Dollars for Drums, I think we could raise more money with that title.” Humorous, but maybe true!!!

Now that we are officially back to school, the calendar of events for the fall season is upon us. Please take advantage of the last of the summer fundraisers that are coming up, such as the last carwash, rummage sale and the end of the AdBook sale. Some of our students have raised the total amount of money needed to meet all their band needs for this year. It is not too late, please join their efforts and you too can help reduce the finances involved with this program.

We are still working out the bugs aw we try to get the calendar on the web; we hope that we will soon be able to link it to the site. I have been told all of the Macintosh jokes that one can hear. It will soon be fixed. Sorry for the delay.

Many of you have seen the “wish list” of things to be purchased for the department. I am happy to announce that we have received a $1500 donation that went toward the purchase of the new podiums. If there are any other takers willing to contribute to that purchase, we invite you to join us. The total cost for the podiums was $4200, so if there are any other takers able to match the original donation, we would appreciate the donation. As mentioned before, the Pennies For Piccolos funds will purchase new instruments and equipment other than the podiums. Please refer to the list enclosed to see if there are any other areas where you or your acquaintances can help donate. We are also in need of hand tools; so if you have any you are not using, please send them in.

As a reminder . . . all band students are enrolled in the Marching Band PE class that runs period 8, from 3:00 to 4:30 pm. THIS IS A CLASS AND ALL SCHOOL RULES, AND ATTENDANCE GUIDELINES ARE IN EFFECT FOR THIS CLASS.

Please ELIMINATE schedule conflicts so that we may have 100% of the students enrolled and involved at every rehearsal. Everyone is a participant, so when one is missing if affects others around the person that is absent.

Thanks, Gail, for putting together a great newsletter. We all appreciate your hard work. Betsy and the all of the Executive Board share my interest in encouraging all parents to come to the Booster Meetings each and every month. If we all take a little time to be informed and to volunteer for the good of the students in this program the jobs will get done faster and we won’t burn out any one person or small group out. So please come and join us.

See you on the Tuesday, September 16 at the Booster Meeting of the year and on Friday night, September 19 for the first football game half-time performance.

Sincerely,

Mr. Martone

Uniform Info You Need to Know

Your student should have brought home a uniform on Family Night in a garment bag labeled with his or her name. The students have also been given a pink instruction form that outlines exactly how the uniform should be altered. If your student has not yet gotten a uniform there is something wrong: they have not picked it up in the Band Room or the district uniform usage fee of $70 has not been paid. Students will not be able to be in the group photo on September 17 if the fee is not paid. There will be a uniform check on Monday, September 15. All alternations should be completed by that date.

UNIFORM ALTERATION RECAP: The uniforms should never be cut. All hemming should be done with black thread and needle. There should be NO GLUE OR IRON ON HEM TAPE. Jackets should hit at your child’s outer wrist bone of the leading arm while in playing position. Hem both sleeves to that same length. Always remove the old hem. Pants should be two (2) inches above the ground with marching shoes on. Before hemming see if a suspender adjustment will give the desired length. AGAIN NEVER CUT THE UNIFORM!!! The students will need to furnish a pair of black socks, a black t-shirt, no logo, with either short or long sleeves, black marching shoes (ordered from us) and a Band baseball hat in order to complete their uniform. Students are advised before every event of the clothing they will need. Please watch for an itinerary to come home the day before an event. If in doubt call Dorothy Hatfield, 529-5819, or Diane Folsom, 492-2240.

By now your child should have, or should have on order, their alternate uniform shirt and jacket. The alternate uniform consists of the following items: alternate green Henley shirt, black pants or shorts, alternate band jacket or letterman and white tennis shoes and white socks. There is also a white t-shirt available that students can wear when they are required to wear white t-shirts and black bottoms for practices before a competition. If you are in need of any of these items, please contact Peggy Fenger, 493-1875.

Has your child outgrown his tux or her concert dress? If you are interested in selling these items please contact Dorothy or Diane. There is a flyer on the Band Room door that gives all the details on how to sell your gently used items. If you need to buy new concert attire details will be available next month in The Bugle. The approximate cost of a tux is $150 (includes jacket, pants, cummerbund, cufflinks, button links and shirt) and the concert dress is $70. Fittings for the dresses will take place in October; payment must be made at the time of fitting. Tux fittings and purchase take place at the tux shop. Remember funds in your Individual Student Savings Account can be used for these items. Symphonic Band members are not required to wear a tux, but they must wear a black suit. There are no substitutions for the dress. There is more information on all the above items in the Booster Handbook.

President’s Corner

Well, the school year has officially begun. Hopefully you have completed the ritual quest for the elusive three hole punched, spiral bound, edge perforated, three subject, college ruled notebook, leaving the way clear for a successful academic year. We got our first peek at the fall field show during Family Night. Music, marching, and sample costumes were featured. I can’t wait to see the rest of the show unfold. Our next glimpse will take place during half time at the first home football game on Friday September 19^,
at 7:00 pm. I look forward to seeing everyone there. Dorothy Hatfield’s sewing crew (529-5819 or the5hats@adelphia.net) and Jim Pavell’s prop builders (492-6047 or cpavell@hotmail.com) are working hard to get important visuals ready in time for the competition season. Have you been thinking about volunteering to help? Make that call, send that e-mail. You’ll have fun while helping the kids have a great season.

Don’t forget to get that uniform hemmed. I can tell you from experience that the local cleaners get backed up with last minute band pant hemming emergencies. Don’t be lurking in front of the cleaners 30 minutes before your student needs the uniform. They wear their uniform for band picture day on Wednesday, the 17. They do not want to miss it!

Once the competitions begin in October, Boosters will be needed to help feed and prep the Band, move equipment on and off the field and haul essentials back and forth. The students are great, the Booster parents are lots of fun and the entertainment is fabulous. Join us for a great time. Contact people are listed elsewhere in the Bugle.

Please try to attend our monthly Booster meetings. Every member is welcome. This is a great chance to see "the machine" close up and get your questions answered. We discuss finances, review and plan fundraisers, hear from Mr. Martone and share news of show season progress. Our first meeting is on Tuesday, September 16 at 7:30 pm in the Band Room. Our children are working so hard. Show your support by getting involved.

During the performance season, the Band Hotline will answer many of your questions. I will try to keep it updated with the week’s particulars. When we are on the road, the hotline provides updated information on competition results and return times for those left behind. Before you head over to the high school for a midnight pickup, call the hotline, that way you won’t have to sleep in your car for two hours! The hotline number is 435-4331 (it is listed at the top of the roster). If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me. I am easily reached by e-mail at TOHSBANDPREZ@aol.com or call me @ 498-3638.

Betsy Connolly, Band Booster President

WISH LIST ITEMS WILL HELP ROUND OUT THE PROGRAM

Mr. Martone and the staff have compiled a Wish List of items we could use to make our program better and more complete. Often people ask what our specific needs are and how they could help or donate to the program or toward these needs. This is a fantastic way to impact the program long-term. If you are interested in making a donation of one of the items on the list please contact Mr. Martone. He’ll be more than happy to give you all the details!

Percussion

New Battery Drums-Indoor Pearl Set Full set: 6 snares, 4 quads, and 6 basses

4 Mallet Kats

New Auxiliary Equipment for Pit

1 set Concert Bells—Adams with Adjustable Height Frame

1 Vibraphone—Adams with Marching Frame

1 Marimba—Adams 4.5 Octave with Marching Frame

1 Xylophone—Adams with Marching Frame

1 Set Concert toms—Pearls—6 Drums with stands and hardware

1 Tam-Tam—Paiste (Very Large)

1 Roland Sampler

1 Trapkat or Kat

Marching Cymbals

Field

2 Extra Large Podiums delivered 8/11/03

Field Striper Machine

12 Cases White Upside Down Paint

2 Cases All Colors Upside Down Paint

200 Field Flags (each color)

8 Various Colors

Complete set of Cones for 2 fields—

Big Cones 10’s, Small Cones 5’s

New Generator

Halogen Lights

New Dr. Beat (88)

New Lone Ranger

New Motorola Walkie-Talkies (for staff use)

New Steel Tower with Steps

New Sound System for Field Season

Color Guard

Sound System Equipment for Indoor Guard

Use in the GAR

Sound System Equipment for Outdoor Guard Use

Equipment Storage in the GAR (Cage Area)

Instrument Repair

Donations can be made directly to Nick Rail Music for Thousand Oaks High School

$10,000 Needed for Current Total Repairs

Instruments

Silver Marching Horns—Trumpets, Bþ Bugles, Altos-Fluge Horns/Mellophones, fren Horn, Baritones-Big Bore, Euphoniums

Garage

Hand Tools

Power Tools

Air Compressor

Power Paint Sprayer

Funding

Unlimited Scholarship Money

Dollars for awarding scholarships to students in need

Corporate Funding for budgetary needs

Vehicles

18' Box Truck

Instrument Semi 24' Prop Truck

Uniform Vehicle

Band Room

Secure Instrument Storage Lockers $20000

Security System

Uniform Storage System/Uniform Cases

Shako Cases

DVD/VHS Player

More Room/ New Room

Office

Paper Supplies, General Office Supplies, Pencils, Postage, Notebooks