Odem Bands Schedule – Week of 7/28/2025
Last week it was great to see students back as we began having students come in for summer rehearsals! This week is our most intense week of preparation, with students having sectional rehearsals, full band indoor rehearsals, and outdoor evening marching rehearsals on Monday through Wednesday. Please check the schedule below for that information! On Thursday, we will have sectionals and then the March-A-Thon that evening, followed by a pool party. Friday, we will have a morning rehearsal to begin setting drill on our first day that UIL allows us to do so. (Please note, some of the sectional times have been adjusted slightly due to having some extra help with percussion this week)
We also have our full fall schedule available here: https://tinyurl.com/25SpiritOHSFall.
On Thursday, we will have our March-A-Thon Fundraiser. For any house in the area of the route, we will stop and perform for a $50 donation. We can also make a stop at the park or in front of the school if the donor doesn’t live within the planned route! Donations of less than $50 are also appreciated, and we seek corporate sponsors who will be acknowledged with signs in the concession stand and at halftime for the right amount. Students were given forms last week, but you may find a printable copy here: https://tinyurl.com/25OdemMarchathon
High School Band Fees should be paid by Thursday, August 7th. Fees for Freshmen (or anyone who needs shoes) are $135, and Upperclassmen (who don’t need shoes) are $90. This is a slight increase over last year to handle price increases in supplies. Each student is provided with their water jug, flip folder/lyres, band shirt, band shorts, and a few other small items with this fee. Fees should be paid to OEISD via check or money order only. If you need additional time, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me to make arrangements. Guard fees are handled separately, and they do not need to pay this fee.
For our students, we remind them that they need to come to us already well-hydrated. During rehearsals, if a student arrives dehydrated, it will be impossible to catch them up while we are outside. Students should take care to avoid energy drinks, ensure they’ve had a good meal before each rehearsal, and drink plenty of water. We have provided students with their water jugs; they must be filled for every rehearsal and event. Stanley cups and other water bottles are not always appropriate, and by having a standard jug, we know how much water students are coming with.
Just a reminder, physicals are required for participation in Marching Band in Texas. Most students have completed it; if they still have not, you may find that form here: https://www.uiltexas.org/files/athletics/forms/PrePhysFormRvsd1_10_20.pdf. PLEASE NOTE: STUDENTS CANNOT PARTICIPATE IN OUTDOOR REHEARSALS UNTIL WE HAVE THIS COMPLETED!!!!!
Our students must come to school for all rehearsals and practices for the units! If for some reason they’re not able to make it, be sure to get in touch with me as soon as possible. We make final determinations for who gets marching spots and who’s an alternate, primarily based on this!
Students for all rehearsals need to come dressed in school-appropriate clothing. No crop tops, bare midriffs, or sleeveless shirts for ladies; gentlemen should not come in shirts with the arms ripped off, cut into the sides, or in tank tops. Tennis shoes or marching shoes should be worn; absolutely no Crocs or sandals should be worn for marching practices. This is a safety concern, as students cannot flex their feet correctly in them.
2026 Florida Trip
We can still add students to the Florida Trip for a couple more weeks! Incoming 9th-12th-grade band students, or JH Front ensemble members, are eligible to travel on this trip, and we can still add students.
If you missed the meeting, you may find a copy of the packet here: https://tinyurl.com/msrnkua6 . Registration is still open on their site: https://bobrogerstravel.grcoll.co/v2/go/odem26
Payment options and forms are handled through their website. I encourage students to attend this trip; it will be a fantastic experience for them, and it is only really possible for most of them as a group like this!
This Week’s Schedule
| Day: | Event: |
| Monday: | Summer Band Week 2: Mallet Percussion Sectional: 9:00 am – 11:00 am Guard Sectional: 9:00 am – 11:30 am Woodwind Sectional: 9:00 am – 11:30 am High Brass Sectional (Trumpets/Mellos): 10:30 – 12:00 pm Low Brass Sectional: 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm Battery Sectional: 11:30 am – 1:30 pm Leadership Team Meeting: 2:00 pm – 2:45 pm Full Band Inside Music Rehearsal: 3:00 pm – 5:30 pm Outdoor Marching Rehearsal (All): 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm |
| Tuesday: | Mallet Percussion Sectional: 9:00 am – 11:00 am Guard Sectional: 9:00 am – 11:30 am Woodwind Sectional: 9:00 am – 11:30 am High Brass Sectional (Trumpets/Mellos): 10:30 – 12:00 pm Low Brass Sectional: 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm Battery Sectional: 11:30 am – 1:30 pm Leadership Team Meeting: 2:00 pm – 2:45 pm Full Band Inside Music Rehearsal: 3:00 pm – 5:30 pm Outdoor Marching Rehearsal (All): 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm |
| Wednesday: | Mallet Percussion Sectional: 9:00 am – 11:00 am Guard Sectional: 9:00 am – 11:30 am Woodwind Sectional: 9:00 am – 11:30 am High Brass Sectional (Trumpets/Mellos): 10:30 – 12:00 pm Low Brass Sectional: 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm Battery Sectional: 11:30 am – 1:30 pm Leadership Team Meeting: 2:00 pm – 2:45 pm Full Band Inside Music Rehearsal: 3:00 pm – 5:30 pm Outdoor Marching Rehearsal (All): 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm |
| Thursday: | Mallet Percussion Sectional: 9:00 am – 11:00 am Guard Sectional: 9:00 am – 11:30 am Woodwind Sectional: 9:00 am – 11:30 am High Brass Sectional (Trumpets/Mellos): 10:30 – 12:00 pm Low Brass Sectional: 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm Battery Sectional: 11:30 am – 1:30 pm (No mid-afternoon rehearsal this day) Report to Band Hall: 5:00 pm March-A-Thon Begins – 6:00 pm Pool Party to Follow until 9:00 pm Students Picked up at Pool |
| Friday: | Morning Outdoor Marching Rehearsal: 8:00 am – 10:00 am (First Day of Setting Drill) |
Upcoming Events:
| Day: | Event: | Time: |
| Thursday: | Annual Marchathon | |
| August 20th: | Meet the Band (Owl Stadium) | 7:30 pm |
| August 29th: | Odem vs Ben Bolt (Ben Bolt) | |
| September 1st: | Afternoon/Evening Marching Rehearsal (We do rehearse on Labor Day!) | |
| September 5th: | Odem vs. Falfurrias (Owl Stadium) | |
| September 12th: | Odem vs. Aransas Pass (Aransas Pass) | |
| September 19th: | Odem vs. Skidmore-Tynan (Owl Stadium) |
Full Fall 2025 Calendar: https://tinyurl.com/25SpiritOHSFall
Thank you for your help and support of these amazing students! Please contact us if you have any questions!