Our last newsletter of the school year and our first for the Marching Band season!  To everyone new, welcome to the UHS J-Hawk Band Family! To everyone that graduated, moving, or moving on, thank you for your contribution to our program and remember, you’re always family.

Calendar & Band Website
A calendar of all activities for the UHS band can be found at the top of the band website (jhawkbands.urbandaleschools.com). We suggest that you subscribe to the calendar electronically so that all events appear on your preferred device.  Many of you expressed concern over the number of events being added to your electronic calendar; I deleted all events prior to this school year.  We’ve taken every opportunity to ensure the accuracy of the calendar to help avoid or resolve conflicts with work, vacations, and other activities prior to the event.  All band students and parents should bookmark the band website jhawkbands.urbandaleschools.com.  Please take the time to explore our website and get to know our program and policies.

Instruments for the summer
Do you need an instrument to practice on this summer?  Do you need it delivered it to your home?  We can help because we know that percussion instruments and sousaphones can be difficult to transport.  Fill out this form and tell us what you need.

Getting involved
I would like to invite families to get involved and volunteer. I understand that the word “volunteer” scares some people away but I’ll tell you that a little work goes a long way. For example, at football games, our percussion students need help pushing their instruments onto the field; no experience necessary. At uniform fitting, we need a volunteer to snap buttons on a uniform; no experience necessary. Other jobs need some experience. We need a volunteer to add content to our digital program for UMI. We need a volunteer to organize volunteering. That job is involved, but the previous volunteers created a step-by-step guide to follow; no experience necessary.

June Rehearsals
We know that students have lives outside of Band but we also know that some students would like extra rehearsal time on our show music.  We are offering Optional but Encouraged music rehearsals on the following dates:
Tuesday June 17th: 5:00pm – 7:00pm
Tuesday June 24th: :00pm – 8:00pm
All rehearsals will take place in the UHS Band Room.  This is a great opportunity to get to know other students and to learn the music ahead of camp.

July 4th Parade
As you know, Urbandale and Independence Day go hand-in-hand. The community has tremendous pride in the J-Hawk Band. This is a great time to show them our appreciation and provide an excellent community service. Plus, it’s a great way for new band members to meet and work with the older students before the school year begins. Please read the information carefully and let us know if you have any questions.

Uniforms for the parade will consist of khaki shorts, tennis shoes, and the white “Urbandale J-Hawk Marching Band” T-shirts. Shirts will be handed out to new members on the morning of the parade (sizing only guaranteed if pre-order form was submitted).  All students will be required to wear the official “Urbandale J-Hawk Marching Band T-Shirt” under their uniform for all performances throughout the summer and fall.

If you are in need of a second Band T-shirt, please complete this form.  This form is only for additional t-shirts because your first one is free of charge courtesy of the Boosters.

4th of July rehearsal and parade schedule
All rehearsals and meetings begin in UHS Band Room unless otherwise noted.
*New Marchers and New High School Band Families*. Please see our calendar for a few activities designed just for you.
July 1st  – New Marcher Orientation – 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm
July 1st  – New Band Parent Meeting – 5:30 pm

July 1
Percussion Rehearsal: 9:00 – 12:00 p.m. All Percussion Members
Leadership Session #1: 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. Leadership Team
New Marcher Orientation: 2:30 – 4:30 p.m. New Members & Leaders
New Band Parent Meeting: 5:30 p.m. New Band Parents/Members

July 2
Percussion Rehearsal: 8:00 – 10:00 a.m. All Percussion Members
Marching Band Rehearsal: 9:00 a.m. – noon All Members

July 3
Percussion Rehearsal: 8:00 – 10:00 a.m. All Percussion Members
Marching Band Rehearsal: 9:00 a.m. – noon All Members

July 4
Urbandale Independence Day Parade: 8:00 a.m. All Members
All instrument cases and personal belongings will be left at UHS.  After warmup, all students will be bused to the beginning of the parade route (70th St. and Oliver Smith Drive). Following the parade, students will load the buses at the end of the parade route (Gloria Dei Church parking lot, 86th St. and Aurora) and return to UHS. We are usually done by noon.

How to be successful at the 4th of July Parade: have Confidence memorized (School Song) and stay hydrated.

Attendance expectations and cellphone policy
Band is a performance class. Attendance at rehearsals and performance is expected. Students who elect to be in band are electing to attend all events according to our calendar.
During July specifically, students who are in town should make plans to attend 4th of July rehearsals.  Please communicate with jobs / schedulers accordingly.  Students who are on family vacation or working at camps out of town are not expected to alter their travel plans. Beginning in August, attendance at all camp rehearsals is expected and necessary for students and the ensemble to succeed.

Band is a “No Phone Zone.”  Students should store electronic devices in their locker, instrument case, or another staff-designated area. Urbandale staff reserves the right to protect instructional time from interruptions caused by cell phones and electronic devices. If cell phones and electronic devices are to be used for instructional and/or curricular purposes, that will be at the discretion of the teacher and/or administration.

Music Lyre and Flip Folder
Purchased from local or online music stores: $10-$15
Instrument specific lyres and flip folders
Talk to a director for additional information
We have an abundance of lyres and flip folders from students that have graduated.  Check with a director, drum major, or section leader to obtain one.

Instruments
To get the most out of Band, your instrument needs to function.  Protect it at all times and keep it in the case when it’s not being played.  When we rehearse outside, we do “Section Pride” with instruments to keep them safe and organized.  When your personal instrument needs repaired, immediately take it into any of the local music stores: Rieman’s, Sleister, or Uptempo, and ask for a loaner while they repair your instrument.  If you play a school-owned instrument, immediately notify a band director.  We’ll take care of the repair and getting you another instrument to play.

Band students in high school, especially those in the advanced ensembles (or aiming for the advanced ensembles in the future) are highly encouraged to step up from their beginner instruments to “professional” level instruments. Please feel free to e-mail the directors for further advice when preparing to shop for a new instrument. It is one of those occasions when you truly get what you pay for and we’d love to help ensure you get the most for your investment.

Speaking of instruments…we need some very specific percussion instruments for our Marching Band show.  The following items have been requested by our show writers: Large stock pots, skillets from 8 – 12 inches, Baking sheets with lip on the edge, wooden spoons, and metal spatulas.

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.
On July 20th, www.ihsma.org will post the audition etudes.

Jazz Band
Auditions will take place at the end of August or early September.  More information about Jazz Band will be announced during Band Camp.