Odem Bands Schedule – Week of 9/24/2018
Wow, we’re already at the end of September! This coming week is the end of the six-weeks for students, and we ask that you please check with how they are doing with their grades. If they’re not passing classes this week is their last chance to work with their teachers to change that! We also ask that you make sure your students don’t have any unexcused absences at this time. If your student has been out please make sure the office has received any relevant notes to excuse those absences.
Before I go into this weeks information though I would like to congratulate members of The Screeching Owl Jazz Band who successfully earned spots Saturday at the All-Region Jazz Auditions. These students earned All-Region Jazz chairs. Joey Aguirre – Alto Saxophone, Abby Tovar – Tenor Saxophone, Clara Sanchez – Trumpet (1st Chair), Landon Garza – Trumpet, Matthew Chavez – Trumpet, Ethan Sanchez – Trombone, Natalie Stanley – Trombone, Eddie Sanchez – Bass Guitar, Christina Montoya – Drumset. Additionally Joey Aguirre, Clara Sanchez, Landon Garza, and Christina Montoya earned their way to the Area Round of auditions and recorded their audition for the All-State Jazz Band on Saturday. We will find out results for those auditions in late November. Congratulations to all of our students on an outstanding job auditioning, and running the contest!
OJH Band Fees and Practice Reminders:
Please remember that all 7th/8th Grade Students $25 band fee should be paid at this time. 6th Graders do not pay a fee during their year. All OJH students should be sure to be practicing each day during the week. We ask that students practice about 20 minutes/day, six days a week. Students who practice at least that much will be able to improve their playing dramatically through the year. Mr. Williams has the OJH Band Hall Open to pickup instruments each day at the end of the day. Students are also allowed to practice after school many days, they should check Mr. Williams availability to be certain.
Odem vs. Santa Rosa:
The game this week for the OHS students will be in Santa Rosa. The distance to this game is far enough that we will be on the bus for a while. We’re going to feed the students before the game in Harlingen before heading to the game. Students should be at the band hall by 1:45 to prepare for the game. We will head to the game after students eat. It will be a long drive home that night. I am tentatively planning a return between 12:30am and 1am Saturday morning. We will have students call and provide and estimate when we leave. Please arrange for rides to pick students up when we arrive so they can get sleep before the next day’s contest.
Robstown Cotton Picker Marching Showcase:
This week begins The Spirit of OHS contest season with our first festival on Saturday in Robstown. Our performance will be at 3:30pm, followed by a clinic with the three judges for a half hour. Students need to be at the band hall at 11:30am. We should be back at the school by 5:30pm. Admission to the contest is Free! Please make sure students have at least had a good breakfast and snack before coming to the band hall. Hydration is going to be important as it may be hot and muggy that afternoon.
Upcoming Events:
Saturday, September 29th: Robstown Cotton Picker Marching Showcase
Saturday, October 6th: Gregory-Portland High School Marching Contest
Saturday, October 13th: Rehearsal with Clinician 3pm-6pm
Saturday, October 20th: UIL Region Marching Contest
Friday, November 2nd: Bands of America San Antonio Super-Regional Marching Contest (Alamodome)
Saturday, November 3rd: Day 2 of BOA Contest
This Week’s Schedule:
Monday: 6:30pm-8:30pm – Evening Marching Rehearsal
Tuesday: 4:00pm – Band Halls Closed
Wednesday: 4:30pm-6:00pm – Evening Marching Rehearsal
Thursday: 6:30pm-8:30pm – Evening Marching Rehearsal
Friday: OEISD Early Release/Odem vs. Santa Rosa
1:45pm Students Report to Band Hall
Dinner in Harlingen
7:30pm Game vs. Santa Rosa Begins
12:30am-1am Saturday Return
Saturday: Robstown Marching Showcase
11:30am – Report to Band Hall
1:00pm – Depart for Robstown
1:30pm – Arrive in Robstown
3:30pm – Perform/Clinic
5:30pm – Return to Odem
Please contact us with any questions/concerns that you have! Thanks for supporting these amazing students!