Welcome to the BHS BAND: Musical and Visual Ensembles!

1. Welcome to the BHS BAND:Musical and Visual Ensembles!

2. www.buckhornband.comMission Statement:The Buckhorn High School Band Organization is dedicated to the pursuit of excellence through the development of integrity and enthusiastic tenacity within our students through the mediums of musical and visual artistry.Our Organization:The Buckhorn Band Organization is comprised of the Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, Indoor Percussion Ensemble, and Winter Guards; as well as cultivating servant leadership groups – the “Leadership Council” and service project-oriented program called “L.O.O.T.S.” (Leading Ourselves & Others Through Service).

3. STAFF:Jacob Souder – Director of BandsKaty Souder – Assistant Program Coordinator; Brass InstructorBrandon Clemons – Color Guard Program Coordinator Leigh Penick – Guard choreography InstructorHannah Brower – Visual / Body Instructor Dennis Crosby – Percussion Program CoordinatorLeah Farris – Front Ensemble / Mallet InstructorBrandon Dodge (Atlanta) – Front Ensemble Music ArrangerDennis Eveland (Texas) – Marching Band Wind ArrangerGordon Couch (Kentucky) – Marching Band Drill Designer*additional staff (for winds mainly) are hired in during our two weeks of camp, and ALL staff are internally funded

4. BHS Band Booster Board President - Logistics/Transportation Mike Keel - BuckBand.Pres@gmail.comFirst Vice-President - Uniforms/Chaperones/Camps and EventsConnie Abbott - BuckBand.1VP@gmail.comSecond Vice-President - Concessions/Stadium Clean upMelissa Jackson - BuckBand.2VP@gmail.comAssistant Second Vice-President - Concessions/Stadium Clean upKaren Arunaogun - BuckBand.2VPAsst@gmail.comThird Vice-President - FundraisingWendy Pemberton - BuckBand.3VP@gmail.comTreasurer - FinancesJenny Naumann - BuckBand.Treas@gmail.comAssistant Treasurer - FinancesTamara Richardson - BuckBand.TreasAsst@gmail.comSecretary - Documentation/Social Media/WebsitePenny Briscoe - BuckBand.Sec@gmail.com

5. The Buckhorn High School Band Booster’s Association WHO WE ARE • The Buckhorn High School Band Booster Association is a non-profit organization comprised of the parents of the Buckhorn High School Band’s student members. The band program receives no local or state funding and therefore relies heavily upon the Association’s support. Its purpose is to provide personal and financial support to the Buckhorn High School Band program and the director through volunteerism and fundraising efforts so it is able to accomplish and acquire all that is essential to furthering the students’ music education.

6. BOOSTER MEETING SCHEDULE • Once a month in August, September, October, February, March and April at a date and time scheduled by the Executive Board. • Traditionally held on the second Tuesday of each month at 6:30 • Other meetings scheduled at the discretion of the board (notification sent by e-mail/ website/Remind101).

7. BOOSTER MEMBERSHIP • All parents or legal guardians of band members. • No membership fee is required. • Voting privileges and election as an officer are extended only to those members in good standing relative to payment of all Student Band Fees. • Committees exist to help Booster Board Officers accomplish their overarching duties.

8. COMMITTEES • Each Board Member has committee(s) that report to him/her. (Board Officers have Marching Band fees waived and a few Committee Heads receive credit for service.) • If interested, contact respective board member via their e-mail. (Board members are elected in April.) • At the beginning of the school year, information will be e-mailed with respect to committee needs and sign-ups. • JOINING A COMMITTEE DOES NOT PREVENT YOU FROM VOLUNTEERING FOR OTHER DUTIES! (i.e. – concessions, equipment crew, chaperoning)

9. VOLUNTEERING • Volunteer slots will be opened in the Charms Calendar on a staggered schedule. • Side note: We use CHARMS to contain student info, our music library, financial tracking (fees/credits), uniform and instrument inventory, and signing up to volunteer. • Sign up for ONE SLOT in first three weeks to allow other parents to volunteer. • BHS Students can volunteer to work concessions at JV/9th grade games but are obligated to perform with the band at the Varsity games.

10. FEE CREDITS Families can earn credits towards student band fees through: • Working concessions @ football games • $50.00 per Varsity Game • $30.00 per Freshman/JV • $30.00 for Saturday morning stadium clean-up • Student fundraisers: • Fan Cloth – band / buckhorn apparel • Cookie Dough – Otis Spunkmeyer + • EAA (Moontown Airport) monthly breakfasts • Cozzzy Comfy Bed Sheets • Mattress Sale – referral sales BAND fundraisers (profits go to the general fund): • Concessions profit after parent/student credits • Mattress Sale – profit margin from every sale including referrals • Silent Auction @ Band Banquet (May) • Business sponsor profits: El Monte Mexican Restaurant, Chill Factory, Publix Cards, MyDesignStudio Painting Parties)

11. BAND FEES (2016-2017) • Camp Fee: • $50 per student due at beginning of Band Camp • Fall Fees: • Marching Band Winds and Percussion - $500 per student • Broken up $100/month from June – October • MANY students pay much or all fees through account credits • Color Guard - $300 per student • Siblings – 50% of first student’s fees • Booster Board Officers have the Fall fee ($500) waived • Spring Fees • Concert Band Students - $150 per student • Guard Students - $100 per student • Other potential costs include: • School-owned instrument rental ($80/semester – all percussion, tubas, baritones, low reeds, French horns – unless student owns a sufficient personal wind instrument) • Concert attire (you purchase independently prior to Christmas Concert - $100 tux for boys, $57 dress for girls) • Official Buckhorn Band Jacket (beginning of marching season / optional) - ~$60 • 2016-2017 TOTAL ESTIMATED COST (first year member) = ~$800 (Fall, Spring, Concert attire)

12. Program Budget:Buckhorn HS Band fees are very comparable (often lower) to similar competitive band programs across the country, partially because we have our concessions, but also because of how we calculate the fees:Each May, the board and myself takes the entire year’s expenses (every cost ), estimate any expected increases in expense (travel, instruments, uniforms, lots of etc.) and divide it among the number of students that will be in the band in the coming year. Until one really gets in to this kind of program, it can be hard to understand why we currently operate around a $130,000 annual budget. A breakdown of each budget line item, from music, to staffing, to instrument repair and purchases, to travel and competition costs, is shown and discussed in August. Our boosters and myself operate completely transparently so you know that all fees and fundraising credits in fact go to the benefit of the program and all of the experiences and opportunities it provides our students. There are neighboring programs that are “stuck” and struggle to grow because their culture has not permitted an increase in fees. Over the 7 years I’ve been at Buckhorn, fees have increased with support from the board from $500 (2010) to $700 (now), we’ve never left the program with a deficit, and the band has grown from 80 members to 150.

13. BAND FEESDue Dates • Schedule will be available on website – basically the last day of applicable months (www.buckhornband.com) • Any issues/family hardship regarding ability to pay fees need to be discussed with Mr. Souder.

14. MAKING PAYMENTS • Check • Blue or black ink. • Phone number • Student’s name and what payment is for in memo portion of check. • Made out to BHS Band • Cash also accepted • Place payments in wooden money box on Mr. Souder’s door. • If wanting to pay fees with money from Charms account, email treasurer. • Board treasurers email statements regularly • More info about CHARMS and communication, to come

15. How does your student benefit? • 150 friends of 9-12 graders before he/she even starts school • Going in to high school can be scary and the freshman year is crucial • Our Band activities provide physically demanding experiences, while teaching students how to endure, how to practice and find value and appreciation even when things aren’t “fun”. They learn that FUN is a by-product of doing something worthwhile! • The returns on the investment you and your student make are far greater than the cost. It is a lot of time and money but the experiences of performing truly awesome musical and visual productions is incomparable especially when coupled with the fact that more band students receive college scholarships than high school athletes…. • My particular teaching philosophy has much more to do with developing thoughtful young men and women of integrity, who are tenacious (follow through until it’s “right”) through the absolute best medium - band. (*I was an athlete and found that band is the ultimate team sport!)

16. How does your student benefit? (cont’d) • Research, science, and statistics all continue to PROVE that the benefits of music education are far-reaching and literally have positive physical, emotional, intellectual, and social effects on the brain – character! • The BHS Band Program has produced some of the highest-achieving students - some are involved in lots of activities and others not-so-much. Most importantly, our band brings together every kind of student – especially including those who participate in every other kind of activity available at Buckhorn! • The break down of actual expenses the band incurs will be broken down at the August meeting, but some of the largest costs include: travel, staff, show design (custom music and drill), and equipment… • Marching Band (Summer through Fall) – perform weekly (Varsity football games, pep rallies, parades) • Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble (end of Fall – Spring) – Veteran’s, Winter, MPA and Spring Concerts • Indoor Percussion and Winter Guards (end of Fall through Winter) – optional and competitive • Jazz Band (there is a class for this) – performs at Spring Concert (May), possibly S&E, inclusive…

17. Why do we audition?How does it work? • Marching Band auditions for Winds – first year having auditions • Color Guard and Percussion have always auditioned • The above auditions: all group-oriented, very instructional, includes staff, comprehensive evaluations (don’t worry…) • Our standards are high because they keep students reaching, but we scaffold them strategically so they continue to improve each year; Auditions represent individual assessment and accountability* • Concert Band Auditions (Chair and Ensemble Placement) • Students can “challenge” in the concert band setting • Jazz Band – anyone can sign up for the class • students not in the class may still participate; depending on level of interest, auditions may be used

18. AUDITION DATES: • All auditions are at BHS cafeteria/band room • Marching Band Wind Auditions • April 24th and 25th (Monday and Tuesday 4:00-6:00) • Marching Band Color Guard Auditions • Clinics: April 5-12 (3:45-5:30) • Audition: April 13 @ 6:30 • Marching Band Percussion Auditions • April 17, 24, and May 1 (3:45-6:00) • Concert Band Ensemble and Chair Placement Auditions • First week after Winter Break (January - specifics TBA) • Indoor Percussion and Winter Guards Auditions • These groups have separate auditions in November after Marching Band

19. Buckhorn Varsity FB / Marching Band • DATE OPPONENT Region H/A • 25-Aug Madison County Jamboree Home • 1-Sep Hazel Green Cotton Classic Home • 8-Sep Sparkman R Away • 15-Sep Huntsville R Home • 22-Sep Hewitt Trussville R Away • 29-Sep Jemison Homecoming Home • 5-Oct Thursday Gadsden City R Home • 12 or 13-Oct Grissom R Away • 20-Oct James Clemens R Home • 27-Oct Bob Jones R Home • 2-Nov Thursday North Jackson Senior Night Home MARCHING BAND COMPETITION WINDOW: 3 or 4 Saturdays between last Saturday of September and first Saturday of November including EITHER the Saturday before OR after Fall Break as a possibility; Past major competitions have included Vanderbilt, JSU, UNA, USBands @ UTChattanooga, etc.

20. Rehearsal Schedules: • Percussion and Color Guard Summer Practices • These students have more detailed techniques and choreography to condition • Twice a week throughout the Summer (TBD by students and staff) – able to miss up to 3 • Band Camp • July 10-14 (8 AM – 5 PM) – 8-11:30, lunch (BYO), 12:30-5:00 (with other breaks throughout) • July 17-21 (8 AM – 8 PM) – 8-11:30, lunch (BYO), 12:30-400, dinner (provided), 5:00-8:00 • BYO = bring your own; mornings are outside, afternoons almost always inside, evenings outside; • Many more details about water jugs, attire, specifics things to have will be sent in the summer. • Please remember myself and our staff are experienced individuals and keep our students’ health #1 priority. We WILL push them, but will also provide ample breaks (water, snacks, rest) while we go through the same conditions with them. • Full Band Rehearsals (between camp and start of school) • July 25 and 27 (4 PM – 8 PM) • Uniform Fitting and Parent Preview dates – TBD • During School Year rehearsal schedule: • All students enrolled in 4th block band (everyday) • Tuesday and Thursday after school until 6:00

21. DOCUMENTS • Available on website (www.buckhornband.com) • Due at Uniform Fitting Day • Required documents must be turned in before uniform will be issued and student able to perform with band (starting with Jamboree). • The Syllabus/Handbook is available on the website with detailed information about our program & expectations for students, attire, etc.

22. COMMUNICATION E-MAIL (through CHARMS) WEBSITE www.buckhornband.com FACEBOOK PAGES “Buckhorn High School Band (Fans and Members)” “Buckhorn High School Band News and Events” TEXT (REMIND 101) Text “buckho” to 81010

23. Special Events: • Annual 5 Year Softball Game – typically right after school lets out • Major trip every two years • typically 3rd week of April (Wed-Sun) • Going to Universal Studios – 2.5 days in park / Blue Man Group / etc. • Historically – Disney, New York, before me – other major locations • End-of-year Band Banquet – usually 1st or 2nd Saturday in May • Semi-Formal Event • Guest Speaker • Special awards • 15 minute musical slide show – look at the last year • Unveiling of coming year show theme and music • Other events TBD – i.e. Huntsville Havoc, Trips to feeder schools, etc.

24. Q & A…Thank you!