Lincoln Southwest High School
7001 South 14th Street Lincoln, Nebraska 68512
(402) 436-1306 Fax (402) 436-1085
Southwest Freshmen Band Information
June 6, 2016
Hello!
Below you will find important information for the Southwest Freshmen Band.
The first 9 weeks of the school year will be dedicated to marching band and, as 9th graders, you will have your own show. This year, the show is called “Movie Magic.” This will feature the themes from famous movies like Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Jaws and Superman. We will combine the Freshmen Band with the Varsity Band for Homecoming and a few other home games. The freshmen Marching Band will also perform at 3 marching contests in October.
If your student is signed up for band during first quarter, they will be participating in marching band.
During the 2nd 9 weeks, the Freshmen Band plays in the pep band for athletic events and also prepares a Winter Concert. During the 3rd 9 weeks, the Freshmen Band plays at athletic events and prepares music for Concert Band Festival. And, during the final 9 weeks, we prepare music for our final concert. So, there is a quick overview.
On the next page, you will find information regarding our summer rehearsals for the Freshmen Band. At these rehearsals, we teach our students the National Anthem, the school fight song, our pep songs and cheers, plus how to march. We are very proud of our past Freshmen bands – they have always looked and sounded fantastic!!
Now, some of you may play instruments that don’t work too well outside (oboe, bassoon) – don’t fret!!! We have places for you in the front ensemble (percussion), drumline or on other wind/brass instruments. If this applies to you, email Mrs. Wilhelm. School instruments, such as Horn, Baritone, Tuba, and marching percussion, will be available during camp or are available for summer rental if you are interested in getting a head start.
Please know that we are aware of several conflicts during camp (i.e. football camp, locker check-out, drivers ed) and we have no problem working around these conflicts. Just keep us informed of where you need to be!
JUST FOR FRESHMEN:
We have decided that in order to give the incoming freshmen/new members of the band a chance to learn the fundamentals of marching band without all of the “veterans” around too, we would have a Freshmen Marching Band Fundamentals Day.
On August 1st from 8am-5pm, incoming freshmen will spend the day working with LSW Varsity Marching Band Student Leadership on marching fundamentals to ensure that they are better prepared for the marching season.
The BAND CAMP rehearsal schedule is listed below. All rehearsals will be held in the LSW Band room or the parking lot by the tennis courts. Again, if your student is enrolled in band for first quarter, they will be participating in marching band.
***Posted on Mrs. Wilhelm’s website (and linked below) is the
REQUIRED online form for marching band.
This is TO BE COMPLETED by July 29th and is to be completed online.
Payment for supplies is DUE on August 5th and checks can be made out to LSW.
The online form only takes a few minutes to complete and is important!
Click below for the link to this REQUIRED online form:
BAND SUPPLY FORM
What to wear/bring: Comfortable Athletic Clothing, Athletic Shoes
(NO FLIP FLOPS), Water, Sunscreen, hat (optional)
*ALL Wind and Brass players- please buy your own flip folder from Dietze. The flute one is called “flutist’s friend” and the trombone one clips to the bell.
*Clarinets, Alto & Tenor Saxes, Trumpets: make sure you have a lyre. You can purchase them at Dietze Music. All other instrument lyres will be provided.
August 1: 8am-5pm Freshmen Marching Band Fundamentals Day
August 2-5: 8am – NOON- FRESHMAN MARCHING BAND
August 13: Band Pictures AM (Exact times- TBA)
August 18: 7:00pm- BAND PARENT MEETING
LSW commons
August 20: Spirit Fest PM (Exact times- TBA)
Do remember that the October LPS Marching Festival is the Saturday of our “Fall Break”. Please save Saturday October 15th before you plan any travel. Contest dates are 10/1/16 Harvest of Harmony in Grand Island, 10/8/16 LINKS Marching Contest, 10/15/16 LPS Marching Band Festival.
**Please make sure you get your instrument cleaned/repaired BEFORE camp begins. You will miss out if you don’t have your instrument at camp!! You can go to Dietze (434-7454), Palmer’s Music (432-6702) or contact Brad Obbink (489-6522) for necessary cleaning or repairs.
Trumpets- if you are still playing on a 7-C mouthpiece, please look into getting preferably a 3-C.
Trombones- if you are still playing on a 12-C, you should be on a 6 ½ A.L.
UNIFORMS:
We just got BRAND NEW uniforms last year and we are so excited about them!
Uniform fitting dates will be on Saturday, August 6. Stay tuned for an email with times to sign up!
We no longer have concert uniforms so during concert season, students will wear “concert black.” This means a black dress shirt and black pants for boys; black top, black skirt (below knee while seated), black pants or black dress (below knee while seated). Concert band begins 2nd quarter.
We are having a Band Parent Meeting on Thursday, August 18th at 7:00pm in the LSW Commons. We will be discussing important information regarding this year’s marching season and we will be able to answer any questions you may have. Band apparel and order forms will be available at the parent meeting.
Immediately following the Band Parent Meeting, we will be having a brief HAWAII trip meeting. We will be traveling to Hawaii in the 2017-2018 school year but now is the time to start planning and fundraising. If you or your student are interested in participating in the Hawaii trip (or you just want to hear what it is all about) stick around after and we will talk about beautiful Hawaii!
Attendance at band camp is very important. Not only do you learn the new music and make friends, but you will also have a ton of fun! Please make every effort to be there! School marching instruments will be available during camp if you did not rent them over the summer. If you have questions, conflicts, etc., please contact Mrs. Wilhelm as soon as you can. Have a great rest of the summer and see you at camp!!!
*We understand that financially, everyone is in a different place. If you would like to request a payment plan or your student is on the Free/Reduced lunch program, please let us know what we can do to help. We are very flexible and accommodating!
IN ADDITION…
The transition from middle school to high school can sometimes be a difficult one for students. Some will jump into high school with both feet first and try everything available to them. Others will shy away from everything and even drop activities that they seemed to enjoy because they are scared of the change.
No matter what your student says, please don’t let them make rash decisions about dropping band. Band is a place where they will make 200+ friends instantly. They will be familiar with the campus BEFORE school even begins and will meet upper classmen who will help them find their way around LSW. Why spend the last 4 years learning how to play an instrument and then choose to quit right when band gets exciting?
Please encourage your student to continue with band (and marching band) through AT LEAST the end of their freshman year. High school band has many opportunities and those opportunities only get more fun as your student progresses.
As always, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask! We look forward to seeing you and your student at the end of July!
Alyssa Wilhelm Jason Lenz
Director of Bands Asst. Director of Bands
402.436.1306 x66507 402.436.1306 x66504
wp.lps.org/awilhel2
Addendum
Cost of Band/Transportation
Included in this letter is a link to the 2016-2017 Band Supply Sheet. This supply sheet lists the necessary items for band. One item inadvertently left off of the sheet is the fact that fundraising is always a possibility for students. We will be offering several fundraisers throughout the year to assist in alleviating costs for band. Once a fundraiser is determined, we will send out communication through email. At that point, you can contact Mrs. Wilhelm in order to let us know that your student is interested in participating in the fundraiser.
TRANSPORTATION costs are our most expensive cost during marching season. The district does not provide financial support for transportation, whether travel is in town to Seacrest or to out of town contests. It has been tradition for the LSW Band Program to transport your student to ALL events, including in-town athletic events for their own safety. Last year’s marching band transportation cost was almost $15,000. This is our largest expense as it is double the expense of our professional drillwriter, arranger and guard choreographer combined.
We would like to continue to bus students to local and out of town events as our utmost concern is for the safety of students however, the following changes will be made to prevent further monetary loss in the future:
For all games and competitions, busing will be provided for students making a designated payment. Payment must be made by Friday, August 5th in order to know how many students will be riding the buses. Buses will only be ordered for the dollar amount that has been collected. If the income does not cover transportation costs for the season, then students will be asked to provide their own transportation for any remaining trips. For those choosing to provide their own transportation to Seacrest Field, a release form must be signed.
Any student who does NOT ride the bus must still adhere to call times, meet at the school to change into uniform and must return to the school to change out of the uniform. Failure to adhere to these conditions will result in a student not being able to participate in a performance, which will then affect his/her grade for the term.
It must be noted that students CANNOT drive themselves to OUT OF TOWN contests. This is a district liability. If a student has been signed off as not riding the bus, the parents are responsible for transporting them to out of town events.
The past 13 years in the LSW Music Program have seen many successes and great music making. We know that these successes would not be possible without the continued support from you, the parents. The students’ safety is our number one priority when traveling during marching season.
We appreciate your support for the LSW Band Program and look forward to a successful marching band season!!!