First of all we would like give a huge thank you to all of the students who showed up last week to summer band and helped us kick off our 2022 season! They had a very busy week with Summer Band, attending the DCI Contest, and ending the week with our Annual March-A-Thon/Pool Party! Thank you to all of you who came out to support that event in particular! We appreciate how it has grown and the community comes out to support the students on that day. We raised just under $3,000 this year through the event, and appreciate every member of the community who supported the band! 

Our fall fees for marching band will need to be paid this week by Thursday. For all Sophomores-Seniors who have marching shoes that fit the fee is $50. This includes the show shirt, water jug, and helps pay for other items like flip folders, lyres, etc. Freshmen, or any other member who needs shoes will need to pay an additional $40, for a total of $90 to cover marching shoes as well. This has had to increase from last year due to increased prices on items.

Guard members should have paid a total of $400 by the date they tried out. The final fee for them is $100 as long as they were paid in full. (Full 2023 fee is $500 between the two payments) They do not pay the regular band fall fee.

If this poses a problem to have this in by Thursday we will work with students to figure out a plan. I was unfortunately out last week, and this was an item I never had a chance to address with everyone. Payments need to be made in CHECK or MONEY ORDER only please to OEISD Memo: Band. We do not accept cash for these items. 

This week we will see students getting busier with athletic practices in the morning, and band rehearsals in the afternoons/evenings. Please help us make sure each student is there for those rehearsals, as this is our first week of setting drill on the field! Our goal is to have the first movement, and at least half of the second movement on the field by the end of this week. Anytime students miss rehearsals they do get behind!

For tomorrow’s rehearsals all winds, battery percussion, and guard members need to make sure that they have a few things with them. First, a charged cell phone if they have one. If students can download the app UDB App Pro tonight before they come to rehearsal that would be very helpful! I will send out login information for this season to students in the morning so they can download the drill file. We use this App to learn drill at a much faster pace than our old paper coordinate sheets. If a student does not have a cell phone we will provide paper copies though. 

Second, they should have a roll of duct tape and a sharpie marker to write on it with. Students will mark their spots on our practice field so they can easily come back to them as we learn the drill. Finally, they also need to make sure they have their water jugs cleaned and ready to go for a new week! 

Front ensemble members will stay inside and work on their music for the evening rehearsal for at least tomorrow night. We will let them know when we expect them to start moving outside with us. 

Finally, just a few dates to keep on your radar here. First, we’ll have our ‘Meet the Band’ event the evening of the first day of school on Wednesday, August 17^th. We’ll finalize a time for that soon, but it’ll probably be about 8pm. Our first football game will be the following Friday on August 26^th when we travel to Karnes City. Our full schedule is listed in the calendar available online at www.odembands.org. 

Summer Band Week 2 Schedule

This week we switch to afternoon music rehearsals, and evening marching rehearsals. Monday through Thursday we will meet from 3:30pm-5:30pm inside, and 6:30pm-8:30pm outside on the parking lot field. Please make sure students are present for all of these practices as they get very far behind in a hurry! 

We know this week is a tough one with athletics in the morning and band in the evenings, but please help us ensure students are still in attendance at all rehearsals!

 

This Week’s Schedule:

Day:	Event:
Monday:	Leadership: 2:00pm-2:30pm Band Hall Indoor Full Band Rehearsal: 3:30pm-5:30pm Stage Colorguard: 3:30pm-5:30pm OHS Band Hall Outside Marching Rehearsal: 6:30pm-8:30pm Parking Lot
Tuesday:	Leadership: 2:00pm-2:30pm Band Hall Indoor Full Band Rehearsal: 3:30pm-5:30pm Stage Colorguard: 3:30pm-5:30pm OHS Band Hall Outside Marching Rehearsal: 6:30pm-8:30pm Parking Lot
Wednesday:	Leadership: 2:00pm-2:30pm Band Hall Indoor Full Band Rehearsal: 3:30pm-5:30pm Stage Colorguard: 3:30pm-5:30pm OHS Band Hall Outside Marching Rehearsal: 6:30pm-8:30pm Parking Lot
Thursday:	Leadership: 2:00pm-2:30pm Band Hall Indoor Full Band Rehearsal: 3:30pm-5:30pm Stage Colorguard: 3:30pm-5:30pm OHS Band Hall Outside Marching Rehearsal: 6:30pm-8:30pm Parking Lot
Friday:	No Rehearsal

Upcoming Events:

Day:	Event:	Time:
August 17th	Meet the Band Night	8:00pm
August 24th	Beginning Band Instrument Drive	4:30pm-7:00pm
August 26th	Odem vs. Karnes City (Karnes City)
September 2nd	Odem vs. Tidehaven
September 5th	Spirit of OHS Evening Rehearsal  We do rehearse on Labor Day! Please make sure students are there!
September 8th	Odem vs. Mathis (Televised Thursday Game)
September 16th	Odem vs. San Diego (San Diego)
September 17th	All-Region/All-State Jazz Auditions
September 23rd	Odem vs. Taft (Taft)
September 24th	Odem Owl Marching Invitational (Need at least one volunteer for every student this day)

You may find our full 2022-2023 Odem Bands Calendar here (Includes JH Dates as well): http://www.odembands.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2022-2023-Odem-Bands-Calendar-v1.pdf

Thank you for your help and support of these amazing students! Please contact us if you have any questions!