Odem Bands Schedule – Week of 7/18/2021

Last week we had a great week of getting ready for camps to start up with our Leadership Team, and then the Drumline and Front Ensemble had a fantastic three day start to our show! We appreciate the great attendance we had for those days! This week we will be having our Leadership Camp for Section Leaders/Drum Majors, and Colorguard Camps Monday through Wednesday. Those camps will run from 9am-5pm Monday and Tuesday, and 9am-12:30pm for Leadership Wednesday, and 9am-3pm for Guard. The Colorguard will do a presentation of what they have learned at 2:30pm on Wednesday to close out the camp. Please see the information below on each of the camps for more details. 

This summer during rehearsals students should wear tennis shoes, comfortable shorts/shirts that are appropriate for school dress code, and bring water with them. We will be providing all students a new water jug this year as part of their fall band fees. We will hand those out when we begin our full summer band rehearsal schedule on Monday, July 26th. I have included those times in the section below. We may still adjust the sectional times a little bit later this week.

Below I discuss Marching Band Physicals. A reminder to all students/parents that the majority of our band needs a new physical this year (unless they had a new one last year). We cannot have a student practice outdoors with us until we have a current physical on file per UIL State Rules. With it being a very big State Advancing year we ask that you help us ensure all students have those before July 26th. You may drop them off directly to us, or in the case of an Athlete just turn it into the Athletic Department. We have access to Rank One where we track those to ensure we have all of those in place.

Below you will find information on our March-A-Thon, held on July 30th this year, and a T-Shirt Order Form for extras of our marching band shirts. We need all shirt orders to be completed and turned into us August 5th, as well as students Fall Band Fees paid by that date as well. Those fees will be $60 for all, and an additional $35 for Freshmen/students who need new Marching Shoes. The fee that everyone pays includes Show Shirt, Band Shorts, Water Jug, and Gloves and some supplies. Guard students have separate fees and do not pay the general band fee. If any of them have outstanding balances we need that by that time as well. If this poses an issue for you in any way please contact me as soon as you can and we will find a way to help and support you and your student! Payments should be made via Check/Money Order to OEISD – Memo: Band.

Guard Camp

Color Guard members should be at the High School by 8:45am on Monday to get their equipment and be ready to start at 9am. We will have guard rehearsals in the HS Cafetorium/Stage due to maintenance going on in the JH Band Hall. Students will rehearse from 9am-noon, and 1pm-5pm Monday and Tuesday.

Wednesday they will practice 9am-noon, and then 1-2:30pm when they will have a chance to showcase what they have learned. If any parents/family would like to come to that you are welcome. We will start at 2:30pm in the HS Cafetorium and be done before 3pm. 

Guard students should wear appropriate attire that is appropriate and that they can move freely in. Please bring water jugs and any flags that might be at home!

Leadership Camp (Drum Majors/Section Leaders)

We are excited to start off our year with our guest clinician, Dr. Trae Blanco. Dr. Blanco is currently the Director of Bands at Murray State University in Murray, KY. He holds a DMA in conducting from Arizona State University, and has previously taught at Las Cruces High School in New Mexico, and at the University of Southern Maine. He has spent a number of years in affiliation with the George Parks Drum Major Academy as well. 

In an effort to make the best use of our time we need everyone to be on time (around ten to fifteen minutes early) to each day and back from lunch. We have scheduled Monday and Tuesday 9am-noon, and then 1pm-5pm with an hour break for lunch. On Wednesday we will go from 9am-around 12:30pm to wrap up before we need to get him back to the airport. 
Students should arrive in comfortable clothes that are appropriate as we may be doing a variety of activities through the days. 

Marching Band Physicals

Every student in the marching band will need a new physical this year, unless they had one this past school year. (Most rolled over to last year as a one-time extension by UIL) 

Every student must have a physical prior to the beginning of outdoor rehearsals! You may download a form here: https://www.uiltexas.org/files/athletics/PrePhysFormRvsd2.21.pdf

These must be completed by July 26th!!!

Marching Band Camp Begins 26th!

Marching Band Camp starts for everyone on July 26th! As mentioned above, please make sure students come in comfortable shorts/shirts that are school appropriate. Tennis shoes must be worn during marching season for safety reasons! As mentioned above students must have physicals completed before we can take students out for rehaersals outside. If a student is still waiting a physical, or clearance from their doctor, they do need to still come to all indoor rehearsals! The schedule for the week is: 

Monday, July 26th -Thursday, July 29th 
Mallet Percussion9:00am-11:30amBand Hall
Colorguard Sectional9:00am-12:00pmOJH Band Hall
Woodwind Sectional9:00am-11:30amJazz Room
High Brass Sectional9:00am-11:30amBand Hall
Low Brass Sectional11:30am-1:00pmBand Hall
Battery Sectional11:30am-1:00pmJazz Room
Leadership Meeting2:00pm-2:45pmBand Hall
Full Band Music Rehearsal Inside3:00pm-6pmStage
Outside Marching Rehearsal6:30pm-8:30pmParking Lot
Friday, July 30thAnnual Spirit of OHS March-A-Thon5:00pm-7:30pmOdem
Pool Party7:30pm-9:00pmPool

March-A-Thon

Last year with everything going on we were unable to perform our Annual March-A-Thon Fundraiser, but are looking forward to bringing it back this year. For this fundraiser we ask students to seek pledges/donations of at least $50 per student to help support the needs of the band through the 2021 Marching Season. 

On the form I have linked (http://www.odembands.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/2021-March-A-Thon-Packet.pdf) you will find a map of our normal route that we take for the event. We will stop at any house along the way and perform a song for a $50 donation. We also ask for businesses to donate through this fundraiser that we also acknowledge during the announcements of our half-time show every Friday night through the season. Please ask your work places if perhaps they would consider sponsoring The Spirit of OHS this year! We’re excited about our season and hope to be able to support the students in every way that we can!

2021 Show Shirts

I have attached a form here (http://www.odembands.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/2021-Marching-Band-Tshirt-Order-Form.pdf) with our 2021 Show Shirt Order Form. This form is only for extras for family’s/community members that would like one. We need these shirt forms and payment by Thursday, August 5th so that we can get them ordered with all of the students’ other items. The shirts are moisture management material. 

This Week’s Schedule:

Monday:       Guard Camp 9am-5pm (Hour Break for Lunch from 12-1)
                    Leadership Camp 9am-5pm (Hour Break for Lunch from 12-1)
Tuesday:      Guard Camp 9am-5pm (Hour Break for Lunch from 12-1)
                    Leadership Camp 9am-5pm (Hour Break for Lunch from 12-1)
Wednesday: Guard Camp 9am-noon, 1pm-2:30pm – Performance/presentation at 2:30pm
                    Leadership Camp 9am-12:30pm
Thursday:     No Events
Friday:         No Events

Upcoming Events:

July 19th-21st:         Color Guard and Leadership/Drum Major Camps
July 26th:               Odem HS Summer Band Begins
July 30th:               Annual March-a-Thon
August 5th:             Band Fees and Extra Shirt Orders Due
August 10th:            Monthly Band Booster Meeting
August 16th:            First Day of School for Students
August 18th:            Meet the Band Performance
August 27th:            Odem vs. West Oso (Home)

Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns!