It's been a super eventful weekend and we're seeing this show really start to come together,  The next two weeks are really important and we're going to be working really hard to bring this all to a close with as strong a performance as possible.

We will have a booster meeting at the middle school conference room tomorrow (10/12) at 6:00PM.
​
Please sign up for a Friday concession stand spot if you have not worked yet.  We NEED every family to provide a worker for one Friday game.  We were understaffed last week and we were unable to open a band student line.  

If we continue to be understaffed we will no longer be able to run the concession stand and we will either need to charge band fees in the hundreds of dollars, no longer provide meals and/or opt for non-competitive marching band shows in the future.

Sign ups are here:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d4ea8ad2fa4fdc25-football

This Saturday is region marching band.  If the band receives an overall 1st division rating, they will advance to area marching contest.  They are very prepared for that standard and we're looking forward to this contest.  It will also be a much shorter day as region UIL has no finals format.

If the band advances to area, we will receive a schedule sometime next week for October 23rd.  Area contests is very competitive.  We need to do a lot of work over the next two weeks to make sure that the students are as prepared as possible.  Depending on the overall number of bands at area the top 3 to 6 bands out of the 20 to 30 present will advance to state marching contest.  As the current system is set up, bands can only advance ever other years to state marching contest.  This means this is the only opportunity for our juniors and seniors to do this and there will be no state marching contest in our classification next year.  Unlike the two contests we just participated in, area contest will only include other 3A bands and we should be able to compete very well in our classification, but absolutely nothing is guaranteed.

We will not be rehearsing tonight (10/11/2021).  We've had two really busy weekends and we want the students to get a lot of rest.  Monday night rehearsal will resume on 10/18

Starting this Thursday 10/14/2021 and continuing through next week we would like to start every morning rehearsal at 7:15AM.  This used to be our regular rehearsal schedule but we experimented this year with starting later on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  This has made productivity on those 8:00Am start days very challenging and we believe that starting earlier those three days (10/14, 10/19, and 10/21) could make a big difference these next two weeks.  I know that that may be impossible for some students, but we will be flexible and work with everyone who can be there.

These are posted on Google Classroom

We are looking at high possibilities of rain this weekend.  I wanted to send some information about how this usually works.

1. Weather forecasts are not reliable.  It often rains or does not rain regardless of forecasts.  Games are not generally called on forecasts, but on actual conditions at the time (can't tell you how many times we have a grim forecasts and then no actual rain!)

2. When it begins raining, woodwinds and pit percussion will case instruments always.  These instruments are highly damaged by rain.  Brass and drumline may continue to play depending on conditions.  These instruments can be easily wiped down with minimal damage.

3. If there is lightning, the stadium will have participants take shelter.  The game may be delayed or canceled depending on the expectations of the storm.  If there is not lightning (even if there is rain), the game will likely continue.  In general, the band stays and cheers if the game continues.

4. We will have disposable ponchos available for the students this weekend.

5.  When there are changes to schedules we will send out remind messages and update the schedule on the website.  Flexibility is key here, none of us can control the weather!

Two other notes:
1. Old Rip / Paluxy Schedule has been altered.  Please go check the page to see changes.

2. It is the administrations intent to have the band students home by 11:00PM from the Sweetwater game.  That may result in us leaving even earlier if the game is postponed.  For as long as we are there we will do everything we can to support our school and our team.

Mineral Wells High School Stadium, Mineral Wells HS

Spectator tickets: $5 per person over the age of six

If the band receives a 1st division at this contest, they will advance to area marching contest the next weekend.

8:30AM - Rehearsal at the band hall
10:00AM - Load up
​10:30AM - Depart for Mineral Wells Stadium
11:30AM - check in at stadium / stadium cheeseburger meals
1:00PM - Warm up
1:45PM perform at stadium and get a group picture
2:30PM - Ratings announced
3:00PM - Depart for home
​4:00PM unload at band hall

​Full Schedule of Bands:

C.H. Collins Stadium in Denton, Texas

Parent tickets available here (cheaper than in person): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/don-hanna-marching-contest-tickets-169391704147

For a discount use code: LastChanceDHMC2021

Band Attire: Full uniform.  Have black shorts and t-shirt on to change into after performing
Roadie attire: Have your costumes and clothes to change into
​
​5:00AM - Band hall opens (have uniform, be in gym shorts and a t-shirt that you can wear under your uniform.  Have your black socks etc)
5:10AM - Roll check
5:20AM - Departure
8:20AM - Arrive at CH Collins stadium / Unload equipment and set up props
9:00AM - Warm up begins
9:35AM - Waiting at gate
9:45AM - Eastland Band Performs
10:30AM - 4:30PM Watch bands, students will have $8 each to buy lunch at the concession stand
4:30PM - Drum major retreat and announcements of awards
5:00PM - Chick-fil-a Meals at the stadium

Then...
If not in finals, load up and return home.  Eta 8:30PM

​If in finals perform again, results announced at 8:45PM, home around midnight

Full Schedule of Bands:

This is a CRAZY day.  It's been a couple of years since we've done this and we will all be very tired when this weekend is over, but it will also be AWESOME!

9:00AM - Rehearsal at the band hall (arrive in red shirts and gym shorts.  Have full uniforms ready)
9:45AM - load up trailer, practice parade marching, put on the rest of our uniforms.
10:30AM - March to Main street
11:00AM - Parade!
11:30AM - Free Time at Old Rip (Tacos provided)
1:05PM - Role check on Bus (must be in full uniform at this time)
BUSES WILL BE ON THE STREET BEHIND 1st FINANCIAL BANK Downtown
1:10PM - Buses Depart for Glen Rose HS
3:20PM - Band Warms up at Stadium
4:00PM - Band Performs (This will likely be indoors stand still due to rain)
4:45PM - Awards Announced
We will stay and watch / perform in finals. (This will likely be outdoors, regular marching)
9:30PM - Final Results announced
11:30PM - Arrive home

Frequently Asked Questions:
What if I'm on the football float?
Here are your options (Either one is fine):
1. March the parade with us in your jersey or in uniform
2. Come to the practice in the morning at 9:00AM, then go join the football float.  (If you do this, you can put instrument on the trailer and uniform in a bus.)

What about roadies?
Either come join us in the morning and join us for the parade or join us at the buses at 1:00PM

Location: Sweetwater, TX
Attire: Full Uniforms (Wear black gym shorts under bibbers)

2:15PM - Dismiss from class, load up trailer, change into red shirts and gym shirts.  (Uniforms will be in uniform bags, hats will be bagged and boxed)
3:00PM - Depart for Sweetwater, TX
5:00PM - Park at Whataburger (301 NE Georgia Ave, Sweetwater, TX 79556) Students will spread out between McDonalds, Heffs, Whataburger, Wendy's, or Golden Chick.  They will have $8 each provided by the district, but are welcome to bring additional money.
6:00PM - Depart for stadium
6:15PM - Unload, assemble props, set up for game
7:00PM - Warm up in stands
7:30PM - Game begins
Approximate:
BAND WILL LEAVE AFTER HALFTIME
9:00PM - Depart Stadium after loading
11:00PM - Arrive at home.  We will NOT unload this night.

It was amazing to see the students finally have a home game and return to our place in the stands! What an exciting time!

We have some announcements for this week:

Concession stand:
we need every high school band student to work at least one Thursday game and every family with a high school student to provide a worker for at least one Friday game. Sign up for your games here:

Parent sign up (still need some for this week):
​www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d4ea8ad2fa4fdc25-football

Student Sign Up for Thursdays:
www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d4ea8ad2fa4fdc25-thursday

Uniforms:
Despite some challenges with reds shirts this last week, we should have full uniforms for Friday, this includes all of the items they have been given:

1. Bibbers (marching uniform pants)
2. Hat
3. Bandana
4. LONG BLACK SOCKS
5. Marching Shoes
6. Red Show Shirts (if you ordered it, it will be here after school on Wednesday)
7. Silver star

Students should have all parts of this uniform. Uniforms may be kept at home or in the student's uniform bag (with the exception of the hat which must be kept at home).

Students need to have their name on all uniform parts.

PLEASE BE CAREFUL with all of the uniform. Hats are especially fragile and difficult/expensive to replace.

Everyone must come for uniform inspection between 3:30 and 4:30 on either Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday after school this week. Mr. Cox must see you in your full uniform at one of these times.  Once in uniform, inspection should happen quickly.

Friday Schedule
We will meet at the stadium at 6:15PM to unload and set up. Show up in full uniform, we will have pre-game homecoming responsibilities. You may leave from the stadium after equipment has been loaded and band stands have been cleaned.

A lot of things are happening this week!  The first home game is coming and we will be doing a combined pre-game performance with the Jim Ned band as well as performing our entire opener and first mvt. with props and uniforms.

We have a pep rally Friday morning after 1st period.  The students were planning to wear their red show shirts, vests, and hats with jean for the pep rally (the theme is western).

Schedule for Friday:

4:00PM - uniform inspection.  Be in the band hall in bibbers, red show shirt, black socks, marching shoes, vests and hats.  (We wear gym shorts underneath our bibbers).  

4:45PM - Depart for Siebert Elementary.

5:00PM - Pizza at Siebert with the Jim Ned Band.

5:30PM - Rehearsal for national anthem with the Jim Ned Band

6:15PM - Depart for stadium (students may travel by bus, or on their own/with parents etc.

6:30PM - Unload at stadium

7:00PM - Warm up / prepare for pre-game national anthem performance

7:30PM - Game Begins

10:00PM - Game ends, load up.  Students may leave the stadium with their parents or ride back to the school on the bus.

The students are doing AMAZING.  Here are this week's announcements.

Quick Notes:
1. Students are checking out bibbers (marching pants) in the morning Tuesday and Thursday.  We will be wearing them with uniforms next week at the first home game!

2. Students will also need gym shorts and long black socks to wear under their uniforms by next Friday (9/3/2021).

3.  If anyone is interested in auditioning this December for all-region/all-state band, they need to pick up music and start preparing.  Same goes for all-region jazz (which happens in a few weeks)

4. All-rehearsals are regular times this week at the band hall/parking lot.

5. Make sure you have turned in all paperwork by this point.  Fee worksheets are Dur September 1st, 

6. Despite having no school on next Monday (9/6/2021), we will still have Monday night rehearsal 6:30PM-9:00PM.  This is very necessary to have our show ready in time for October contests.

Schedule for Holliday Game 9/3/2021
This trip is going to be another long away game.  Normally if a trip is over 2 hours we plan a restroom stop, but due to the location, there is no good place to stop for a restroom break.

Attire: Spirit wear (same rules as last week)

3:00PM - Dismiss from class / pre-trip  meeting / load up
3:45PM - Depart for Holliday
6:15PM - Arrive at stadium and Unload
6:40PM - Pizza at the stadium
7:05M - Warm up in stadium
7:30PM Game Begins
Approximately : 10:30PM - depart for home
Approximately ​: 1:00AM - arrive at the school

Students did an excellent job cleaning buses and unloading after arriving home last week.  It was about 12 minutes from the time we arrived until we had everything finished. 

I have to have the travel waiver by game day:

First week of school was excellent for the band students.  They have been working hard and taking care of business.  This coming week us going to be a busy one and I’ve attached as much information here as possible.

Quick notes:

• We will be wearing jeans (pants, not shorts), tennis shoes, and black/red spirit wear for the game on Friday this week and next week for the games.  Any black and/or red Eastland shirt is acceptable. We have some extra maverick t-shirts available if needed.   Students are welcome to wear facepaint, ribbons, etc.  We will begin wearing our cowboy uniforms on the first home game.

 

• There is an attached PDF that shows what forms we have received and what is still missing from students (top of this post).  With the exception of the fees worksheet, all forms need to be turned in by this Wednesday for students to travel.  Extra forms are available next to the band hall door. (Additional note: If a student has turned in their physical to the athletic department, they will just need to let me know that via email).

 

• All students ride to away games with the band buses.  Students may be checked out after the game after all equipment has been taken back to the trailer.  Mr. Cox will be next to the trailer with the sign out sheet.  Please sign out students at the band trailer and not in the stadium.  If a student needs to ride with someone who is not their parent/guardian please provide a written note from a parent before the game.

 

• Please be checked into the band calendar available here: http://www.eastlandband.com/calendar.html This includes regular rehearsal times, events, and information to both contact Mr. Cox and to sign up for remind messages for parent and students.  Everyone needs to write these dates on their calendars and compare them to any other events and activities so that we can identify and solve conflicts early.

 

• Please be aware of our attendance policy and, in the event that a student must miss a rehearsal, please fill out the absence form before the absence if at all possible: http://www.eastlandband.com/attendance-policy.html

 

• Monday night rehearsals are incredibly important.  Missing a Monday night is equivalent to missing nearly and entire week of material and we often learn new sets on Monday nights.  We have reduced the number of morning practices this year and this puts and even greater emphasis on Monday nights than in previous competitive years.  There are several days that we do not have school on Monday.  We are intending to have Monday night practices on these days, even when we do not have school.  If we are ahead of schedule when these days approach, those rehearsals would possibly be canceled.

Monday 8/23/2021
Morning rehearsal will start 7:15AM in big sectionals.  Woodwinds in the auditorium, Brass in the front band hall, percussion in the back band hall.  We will bring everyone together at 8:00AM in the band hall.

There is a booster meeting in the middle school conference room at 6:00PM.  Any and all parents are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Monday night rehearsal begins at regular time, 6:30PM and goes to 9:00PM.  While we dismiss the students at 9:00PM, they will be responsible for putting away their equipment after dismissal.

This week we will be working with pit outside and marching our intro to this years marching show.  We will add a couple of sets to what we currently have on the field.  We will perform the intro marching and the first movement in place this Friday.

Tuesday 8/24/2021
We start at 8:00AM on Tuesday.  This Tuesday, we will not be rehearsing as we have a special guest singer songwriter Chris Beall provided by the Texas Commission for the Arts to perform for our band students and talk to them about song writing.


Wednesday 8/25/2021
Normal rehearsal time 7:15AM outside.

Thursday 8/26/2021
Normal rehearsal time 8:00AM outside
​
Friday 8/27/2021
normal rehearsal at the school at 7:15AM

Itinerary for Wall Game 8/27/2021
Attire: Tennis shoes, blue jeans, black and/or red spirit attire.  Facepaint, hair ribbons allowed!
1:15PM - Dismiss from class
1:25PM - Pre-trip meeting / Load up equipment and check off checklist
2:00PM - Depart for Wall High School

1 stop planned at:
Flying J Travel Center
I-20 Exit 277 101 N. FM707, Tye, TX

5:15PM - Arrive at the stadium, unload, set up in stands
5:45PM- BBQ Sandwich meals at the stadium
6:30PM- in stands for warm up
6:45PM- School song
7:00PM- Game begins

Everything from this point on is based on how quickly the game progresses and is nearly an estimate.  I will send an estimated time of arrival (ETA) when we depart the stadium and then again after we stop on the way home.

10:00PM - Game Ends
10:30PM- Depart for home

1 stop planned at:
Flying J Travel Center
I-20 Exit 277 101 N. FM707, Tye, TX

1:30AM - Arrive at band hall

When the students arrive at the band hall they will clean the trash off of the buses and unload the trailer.  If the students work quickly this work is done in as little as ten minutes.