May Newsletter

May Events & Announcements
PABC Garage Sale
Awards Concert
State Large Group Festival
Jazz Concert
Central Iowa Jazz Exchange
Wind Symphony Elementary Tour
Band Department Instruments & Inventory
Commencement
Percussion Ensemble Concert
2025-26 Calendar
2025-2026 Concert Bands
J-Hawk Marching Band Leadership Team
Marching Band Music Rehearsals in June
The 4th of July Parade
Volunteering
Performing Arts Booster Club Meetings
All-State & Honor Band

PABC Garage Sale – THANK YOU!
Thank you to Kari McLaren, and Dawn and Scott Schumacher for organizing this year’s Performing Arts Booster Club Garage Sale! Our families and community raised $4200 for the Band, Vocal, and Drama Departments. We are extremely thankful for everyone’s generosity and support.  Kari’s words describe why the event was successful: “This year we had amazing help from our volunteers, especially our students! The kids were very focused, they worked quickly, did a great job sorting through all the donations as they came in. We had a LOT of clothes to sort through and the students tackled bag after bag without complaint (at least I didn’t hear any). We were so impressed with their energy and helpfulness! We had great help from parents, too. I feel like it gets easier each year as parents and students get more familiar with set up and know what to expect.”

Speaking of volunteers, we need your help for our year-end concerts and events.  As Kari said, everything runs smoothly when you have volunteers.  Visit our Volunteer Page to see how you can help

Awards Concert
Monday, May 5 – 7:00 PM — Student Call Time: 6:20 PM
We look forward to seeing band families at our final home concert band performance of the season.  The concert will feature Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Wind Symphony, and the beloved Senior Video.

LIVE STREAM LINKS: UHS: https://j-hawks.com/video/performing_arts

TICKET LINKS:
2025 Band Awards Concert (5/5): https://www.vancoevents.com/us/CSQA

State Large Group Festival
Saturday, May 10th – Dallas Center Grimes High School
Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble and Wind Symphony will perform at the Iowa High School State Large Group Festival to be held at Dallas Center Grimes High School  Details can be found here: Large Group Itinerary 2025 

Jazz Concert
Monday, May 12 – 7:00 PM — Student Call Time: 6:20 PM
Featuring UHS and UMS Jazz Bands
LIVE STREAM LINKS: UHS: https://j-hawks.com/video/performing_arts
TICKET LINKS:  2025 Spring Jazz Concert (5/12): https://www.vancoevents.com/us/CSQB


Central Iowa Jazz Exchange
Tuesday, May 13
Jazz 1 will participate in the Central Iowa Jazz Exchange at SE Polk High School.

From the desk of Mr. Breese:
I’m excited to share a new opportunity! This year, myself and other area band directors have collaborated to create a brand-new event for the Iowa high school jazz community: The Central Iowa Jazz Exchange! This new event will take place on Tuesday, May 13th 2025, starting at 6:30pm in the auditorium at Southeast Polk High School. We will travel to the school VIA bus

This will be an annual event held around the same time as Jazz Championships. Our goal is to provide students with the chance to hear other local student ensembles and connect with fellow musicians from across the state in a supportive and engaging environment.

There are a plethora of competitive events in Iowa, but a clear lack of non-competitive events with a focus on only celebrating the art form. That being said, there will be no judges or clinicians; just a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere for students to perform, listen, and mingle. Following the performances, we’ll host a reception to encourage social interaction among participants. We encourage parents, friends, and anyone who is interested to come out and listen!

Additionally, this event will serve as a fundraiser for the Iowa Alliance for Arts Education, an organization that provides mentorship, funding, and professional development for beginning band directors, while also serving as a legislative advocate for Arts education in Iowa.

We hope you can join us for the debut of The Central Iowa Jazz Exchange!
Central Iowa Jazz Exchange Itinerary

Wind Symphony Elementary Tour
On Thursday, May 15th, the Urbandale Wind Symphony will tour elementary schools throughout UCSD in order to perform and demonstrate instruments for next year’s 5th grade class. The Wind Symphony will feature soloists to introduce each instrument and perform a short concert at each school. We are excited to perform and encourage band enrollment within UCSD!

Band Department Instruments & Inventory
All Band Department instruments need to be turned in for our annual inventory.
Seniors: please turn in your Band Department instrument after your last rehearsal: (Symphonic Band Monday May 19, Wind Ensemble & Wind Symphony Tuesday May 20)
Wind Ensemble: turn in your Band Department instrument Thursday May 22nd after 1st period.
Wind Symphony: turn in your Band Department instrument when we return to UHS after Commencement Thursday May 22.
Symphonic Band: turn in your Band Department instrument Friday May 23rd after 8th period.
This includes any and all school owned instruments, including mouthpieces, drum stands and carriers, etc.  Parents, thanks for your help in reminding students to check-in their instruments.  If you have an instrument at home, please make arrangements to bring it to school.
Instruments will be available for pick up at the end of the day on Tuesday May 27th.

Commencement – May 22, 2025
Commencement Band will consist of next year’s Wind Symphony members. Concert attire will be concert black. The band will play from the floor of the Knapp Center in full view of a very large audience. The students’ usual professionalism in performance, appearance, and actions will be proudly on display.  An itinerary for the evening can be found here: Commencement Itinerary

Percussion Ensemble Concert
Sunday May 25, 5:00 PM
Enjoy an evening of percussion by percussionists from all three concert bands.

***2025-26 Calendar – NEW***
We are trying something new in the Performing Arts Wing at UHS: a Performing Arts Calendar.  With so many students involved in multiple Activities, we thought it might be nice to see everything in one place; Band, Vocal, and Theatre.  Currently the calendar is accessible with your Urbandale Community School District email, students and staff only.  Take a look and let us know what you think.

As a reminder, you can subscribe to the J-Hawk Band Calendar electronically using this link:  https://www.google.com/calendar/ical/i7d3csg6oincr3dnp1gqklh97k%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic.ics.  
The J-Hawk Band Calendar can be accessed using your preferred device and the itinerary for each event is included in the details.

2025-26 Concert Band Placements

J-Hawk Marching Band Roster 25-26 – LEADERSHIP

From the desk of Ms. Eadie: Calendars and Newsletters:
First, please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the J-Hawks Band Website. This is where you will find any itineraries, upcoming events, concert information, and more. The full 2025-26 Band Calendar will also live here once it is finalized. Additionally, Mr. Doggett publishes a detailed newsletter on the J-Hawks Band website each month. All information you need to know will be posted in these two places.

We highly recommend students and parents subscribe to the calendar electronically. Any changes or updates automatically adjust on the electronic calendar.

Marching Band Summer Schedule:

Please add the following dates and times to your calendar:

Summer Band Schedule
Attendance expectations: During July, students who are in town are expected to attend rehearsals. Communication for jobs/sports/etc to directors is required. Students who are on family vacation or or are out of town are not expected to alter their travel plans, but must communicate. Beginning in August, attendance at all Band Camp rehearsals is expected and necessary for students and the ensemble to succeed.
June 17 Indoor Music Rehearsal: 5:00-7:00pm
(optional but encouraged)		 All Members UHS Band Room
June 24 Indoor Music Rehearsal: 5:00-7:00pm
(optional but encouraged)
 All Members UHS Band Room
July 1 Percussion Rehearsal: 9:00 – 12:00 p.m. All Percussion Members UHS Band Room
Leadership Session #1: 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. Leadership Team UHS Band Room
New Marcher Orientation: 2:30 – 4:30 p.m. New Members & Leaders Band Room/Stadium
New Band Parent Meeting: 5:30 p.m. New Band Parents/Members UHS Band Room
July 2 Percussion Rehearsal: 8:00 – 10:00 a.m. All Percussion Members UHS Band Room
Marching Band Rehearsal: 9:00 a.m. – noon All Members Band Room/Stadium
July 3 Percussion Rehearsal: 8:00 – 10:00 a.m. All Percussion Members UHS Band Room
Marching Band Rehearsal: 9:00 a.m. – noon All Members Band Room/Stadium
July 4 Urbandale Independence Day Parade: 8:00 a.m. All Members UHS Band Room
Attendance Expectations: Students who elect to be in band are expected to attend all events according to the following calendar.
Band Camp
Date Event Participants Location
August 4 Leadership Session #2 w/seniors: 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Leadership Team Band Room
Band Camp Orientation: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. New Members & Leaders Band Room/Stadium
August 5 Band Camp Rehearsal: 8:00 – 11:30 p.m.; 12:30 – 3:00 p.m. All Members Band Room/Stadium
August 6 Band Camp Rehearsal: 8:00 – 11:30 p.m.; 12:30 – 3:00 p.m. All Members Band Room/Stadium
August 7 Band Camp Rehearsal: 8:00 – 11:30 p.m.; 12:30 – 3:00 p.m. All Members Band Room/Stadium
August 8 Band Camp Rehearsal: 8:00 – 11:30 a.m. All Members Band Room/Stadium
Band Camp Rehearsal: 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. All Members Band Room/Stadium
Capture The Flag 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. All Members Stadium
August 9 Uniform Fitting: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. All Members UHS Band Room
August 11 Band Camp Rehearsal: 8:00 – 11:30 p.m.; 12:30 – 3:00 p.m. All Members Stadium
August 12 Band Camp Rehearsal: 8:00 – 11:30 p.m.; 12:30 – 3:00 p.m. All Members Stadium
August 13 Band Camp Rehearsal: 8:00 – 11:30 p.m.; 12:30 – 3:00 p.m. All Members Stadium
August 14 Band Camp Rehearsal: 8:00 – 11:30 p.m.; 12:30 – 3:00 p.m. All Members Stadium
August 15 Band Camp Rehearsal: 8:00 – 11:30 a.m. All Members Stadium
August 15 Friday Night Lights – 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. All Members Stadium
Supporting UHS Bands:
Family involvement is very important to us! We highly encourage all parents to attend the July 1st New Band Parent Meeting, and Friday Night Lights on Friday August 15th. Additionally, inserted below is the volunteer link that will be updated once the football schedule is released. Parent volunteers are essential to each and every event’s success, and we would greatly appreciate your consideration for being an active volunteer in the UHS Band program!

Performing Arts Booster Club Meetings
Any member of the UHS Performing Arts community with an interest in seeing our programs succeed is invited to attend meetings of the Performing Arts Booster Club.  The next meeting is May 27. All of these meetings will be at 7:00 pm in the Media Center at UHS.  You can also keep connected with the Performing Arts Booster Club via Facebook,

All-State & Honor Band
For students considering Instrumental All-State auditions next fall, here are the honest keys to success.  Remember, if you plan to audition for SCIBA Honor Band, you must also audition for All-State:

  • Students study with a private teacher on their instrument starting ASAP and throughout the summer.
  • Play on a professional quality instrument
  • Practice Daily
    • Scale and solo preparations.
    • Build technique: tone quality, range, endurance, finger dexterity, and melodic interpretation
    • Aim for the 100-day club; practicing for 100 consecutive days – then 125, etc.
    • Focus on goals, overcome obstacles.
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