Odem Bands Schedule – Week of 4/12/2021

We hope this message finds you all well and ready for one of the busiest weeks remaining of the year for the Odem Bands! This week we have our UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Evaluation on Wednesday, and Windi and Jazzi on Saturday! Please see each section for some specifics that you need to know.

Before I get to more of this week, I wanted to let you all know that for the 7th Consecutive Year, Odem-Edroy ISD has been named one of the top school districts for Music Education in the country! The NAMMFoundation has named us, along with just 81 districts in Texas, and 686 nationwide to receive this honor. It is an incredible award for the district, and we appreciate all of the support from the OEISD Board of Trustees, Superintendent, and Campus Administration in making this possible!

Moving onto the UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Evaluation, I had hoped to be able to allow limited audience attendance to this, but I was informed that our UIL Region has determined that no audiences are to be allowed this year. This is due to security of the sight-reading materials, which is similar to the requirements/expectations of state standardized testing materials. Due to issues in other regions of unauthorized recordings they have determined it must be closed to the public. We will make sure that we perform their music on the Spring Concert though so that you all have a chance to see the amazing work your students have been doing! 

Tickets are still on sale for Saturday’s Windi and Jazzi performance. We ask that you help spread the word and buy your tickets if you haven’t already done so! This is a major fundraiser for us each year, and we look forward to a fun concert that’s different than anything else we present through the year! I would estimate there around 30-40 tickets left depending on the group sizes that purchases them. Please consider joining us for that evening of great music and food! We are still selling tickets online and through the Band Hall Office. Please contact me if you have any questions! 

UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Evaluation

Wednesday will be our UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Evaluation for the Odem JH Symphonic Winds, Odem HS Symphonic Band, and Odem HS Wind Ensemble. Students arrival times/performance times are listed below. We ask that you help us make certain that students bring their clothes to school with them on Wednesday. OJH Symphonic Winds will change at the end of the day, and OHS students will not be likely to have much time to run home. This is a required graded performance for all students in those ensembles!

Concert Attire for Odem JH: Ladies Black Blouse/Black Slacks and Shoes, Gentlemen White Button Down Shirt, Tie, Black Slacks, Black Socks, and Black Dress Shoes.

Concert Attire for Odem HS: Ladies and Gentlemen Black Blouse/Button Down Shirt and Black Slacks, Black Shoes, Black Socks.

Students at OHSWarm-UpLeave to StagePerformanceBand
3:30pm3:50pm4:10pm4:15pmOJH Symphonic Winds
4:15pm4:30pm4:50pm4:55pmOHS Symphonic Band
4:55pm5:10pm5:30pm5:35pmOHS Wind Ensemble

Windi and Jazzi

Windi and Jazzi will take place on Saturday, this will be our first event with an audience indoors. Tickets are to be purchased online through http://odemhsband.ludus.com/ or they may be purchased through the band directors. The online software will automatically let you select your seats and blocks out seats around you for social distancing purposes. Each ticket includes Dinner (Fried Chicken or Steak), Live Music, and Dessert. We will also hold a silent auction that will be held online simultaneously for anyone who cannot attend. I would advise purchasing before that day! 

This is a required graded performance for all eligible students in the Odem HS Band.

Spring Band Fees

Every band student in Grades 7-12 is assessed Spring Band Fee of $25.00/student. This fee helps us pay for our spring expenses and helps us maintain supplies like reeds, valve oil, sticks/mallets, instruments, and music through the spring each year. This year in particular, since we have provided every student a band mask and a bell cover, we need the funds that this fee generates to help close out our year.

These fees were due last week. We very much appreciate those of you who have already turned them in. If your student has not yet paid the fee we ask that you please get it turned in this week. Payment should be made out by check or money order to OEISD, Memo: Band 

If there’s an issue with paying please contact us and we’ll find a way to work something out. Thank you for your assistance in getting these fees turned in!

This Week’s Schedule:

Monday:                Guard Practice 4:00pm-4:45pm
                           OHS Wind Ensemble Rehearsal 6:30pm-8:00pm (Required)
Tuesday:               Band Hall Open until 4pm
Wednesday:          UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Evaluation (Required)
                           OJH Symphonic Winds at Odem HS by 3:30pm
                           OHS Symphonic Band at Odem HS by 4:15pm
                           OHS Wind Ensemble at Odem HS by 4:55pm
Thursday:              Band Hall Closed After School
Friday:                  3:45pm-5:30pm – Windi and Jazzi After School Rehearsal (Required)
Saturday:              Windi and Jazzi –
Doors open at 5:20pm!
Performances and dinner begins at 5:30pm.

Upcoming Events:

Thursday:                      UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Evaluation (Odem)
Friday:                            After School Rehearsal for Windi and Jazzi 3:45pm-6pm
Saturday:                       Windi and Jazzi Fundraiser (Possible morning rehearsal)
May 17th:                        JH Symphonic Winds and HS Band Spring Concert
May 18th:                        JH Beginning Band and Concert Band Spring Concert
May 28th:                        Graduation


Thank you for all of your help and support, please let us know if you have any questions!