Welcome New Families!
Welcome to Austin High, our band program, and our booster organization! The first year in our program can feel like a whirlwind because there is so much going on, but soon you will be on your second lap around the school year and you will be a pro. All of us were once new band parents and new to high school, so we understand that your first year can seem a little overwhelming. We encourage everyone to enjoy your time in band, volunteer your time if you can, and please consider donating to the band and our booster organization if you are able. You will be amazed at how your kids can work together towards a common goal and build friendships along the way.
Year Round
Communications
The band directors communicate via email and the band boosters send email newsletters beginning in the summer. You can help your band member by making sure your info in Charms is correct, so that you receive band communications. You may also wish to subscribe to our Facebook page and our YouTube channel.
The band also has a separate website.
Costs
Unfortunately, the school district does not provide enough funding for our band program. Like other programs in the area, both the band and the boosters raise money to fill the gaps. The boosters raise money via fundraisers and the band asks each family to make an annual Fair Share Fee contribution.
In recent years, the Fair Share Fee fee has been a one-time $400 payment or four $100 payments. In addition, the band asks for a $25 per semester fee if you rent an instrument, if you are in color guard, or if you are in the percussion section.
Families who can not afford fees can work with the directors for possible scholarship opportunities, and no student will be prohibited from participating in band if they can not afford band fees. The money collected is used for show design, props, master classes, equipment and supplies, instrument repair and other expenses not covered by the district.
Charms
We use Charms to keep track of fees paid, coordinate volunteering, track our calendar and family contact information. Please make sure your contact info is up to date. You may also have an account balance in Charms from previous payments that can be used to help pay band fees.
Membership and Meetings
Every parent or guardian of a band student is automatically a member of the band boosters and there is no charge for membership. We meet at the band hall on the first Tuesday of the month at 6:30pm. All members are welcome to attend.
July and August
The band year gets going in July. During this month, the state releases etudes that your student can practice if they wish to try out for all-region bands. The color guard and percussion sections have a week of camp during this month to get ready for summer band. At the end of the month, band student leadership meets for a few days and summer band kicks off with marching fundamentals. The band directors will contact you with a list of supplies needed for summer band.
August is all about Summer Band. The band first learns fundamentals and then has tryouts for marching positions. During a typical day, the band spends the mornings outside marching and afternoons indoors in playing rehearsals.
You can support your student by volunteering for Summer Band. Usually we have some more experienced boosters leading the effort and they will show you what to do. You’ll get a chance to see how hard your kids are working and meet some other band parents.
In early August, the band boosters host Outfitting Day at the band hall. This is your chance to take care of everything needed for fall marching band (shoes, pictures, meal plans, spirit items, and so on) during one event held at the band hall. Bring your kid and a way to pay for spirit items and band fees, usually check or credit cards.
During Outfitting Day, the Directors start collecting our Fair Share Fee. You do not have to pay it at Outfitting Day, but you can if you wish.
Summer band ends with the largest annual musician-only water balloon fight on the planet, pitting section against section and students against band directors. The band also gathers for Band Fiesta, a one-night party at the band hall.
School starts in late August and while other new students are finding their way around campus your student will be a pro, having been on campus for weeks.
September and October
September and October are all about Football Games and Marching Contests. On game days, your student will stay on campus after school, eat a meal with the band, change into band uniform and ride the bus to the game. Your kid will have a summer uniform for hot games and a formal uniform once the weather cools off. Austin High plays home games in historic House Park Stadium. There is free parking at the ACC parking garage near the stadium. After the game, your child will ride the bus back to Austin High.
Our band boosters are out in full force on game days, volunteering before and during the games. You can also find us in the stands. At House Park, we usually sit close to the band, in one of the sections adjacent to where the band sits.
There are lots of volunteer opportunities on game days. We hand out game day meals, chaperone buses, help with props and equipment on the field, check in uniforms after games and have a lot of fun doing it. Look for “easy” volunteer opportunities at first, like helping with meals or water. Experienced parents know that new parents may not volunteer much at first, but as time goes on you may want to try a little bit more. You can sign up for volunteer opportunities on Charms.
In September, we participate in the Austin ISD Jamboree at Burger Center. This is a one-night event where every marching band in Austin ISD plays their show.
The band spends some Saturdays in these months at marching contests, perfecting and polishing their show. In the past few years, we have attended contests in Seguin, Bastrop, Austin, Round Rock, and Dallas. These are one-day events, but they usually take up the entire day. Like football games, there are lots of volunteer opportunities for parents to help the band at these contests.
Letter Jacket Dinner
In the fall we have a Letter Jacket Presentation in the Austin High Band Hall. Students who have earned their “letter jacket” receive them at this presentation. Students earn jackets by getting points for different band activities, like trying out for all-region, being a section leader or just being in band. Some students earn enough points to get their jacket as a junior, but most students get them as a senior. Students must be current on band Fair Share Fees to receive a jacket.
UIL Region Marching Contest
In mid-October, the band performs at the UIL Region Marching Contest, usually held on a Tuesday at Burger Center. If the band does well at region, they advance to the UIL Area Marching Contest, usually held the Saturday after the Region contest. Every year, the top bands at Area advance to the UIL State Marching Contest at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
All-Region Jazz
Tryouts for All-Region Jazz Band are usually held in October.
November and December
By mid-November we are moving to concert season. The band is divided into three or four bands for concert season. Color guard and percussion continue to learn in their own classes, and percussion joins the winds for some rehearsals to prepare for concerts.
All-Region Band and Orchestra
Some of our kids try out for All-Region Orchestra and All-Region Band in November. If your student makes these groups, they will attend a workshop and perform in an all-region concert. These are usually in the Austin ISD Performing Arts Center in the Mueller development, a beautiful building for music performance. Students that score well enough at the tryouts are eligible to try out for All-State Band in January.
Winter Concert
The fall semester ends with the Winter Concert, where all the bands gather to perform their first concert music and play some holiday tunes. The Jazz Bands also host their Winter Concert around the same time.
There is usually nothing during the winter break unless we travel. The band went to London for the London New Year’s Parade a few years ago and has been twice in recent history.
January and FebrUary
The band and orchestra combine during this time to form a full orchestra and prepare for UIL Orchestra competition. There is usually a “pre-UIL” concert at the Austin High PAC to practice performing and entertain parents. Parents are also welcome to attend the UIL Orchestra competition. Not every school in the area has a full orchestra program.
Kids are also working on solo and ensemble music for UIL Solo and Ensemble contests. If they do well enough there, they are eligible to attend the State Solo and Ensemble contest, usually held in the Austin area in late May.
Some kids are chosen to participate in Austin ISD’s All-City Band. These kids attend a workshop in January and perform at a concert in the Austin ISD PAC.
Winter CONCERT
In February the Jazz Bands hold a concert, dinner, and fundraiser on the Austin high Campus. This is a great way to reconnect with band families after the winter break. Money raised from dinner sales and fundraiser goes to support the band program.
March and April
In March bands start preparing for UIL Concert and Sight-Reading competition. The bands have a “pre-UIL” concert at the Austin High PAC and travel to UIL contest later in the month. Parents are welcome to attend the UIL contest and go into the sight-reading room. Watching sight reading gives you a glimpse into how the band directors teach music to your kids. Our bands regularly receive “1”s, which is the top rating, at these contests.
During these months the band boosters may host a Spring Fundraiser. This is also the time of year when the boosters are looking for next year’s officers and committee chairs.
During this time, students try out for leadership positions for the next year, including drum major and section leaders, trailer crew, sound crew and other positions in the band. The directors host tryouts and students find out who will be their leaders during the next year.
May and June
The band usually has a Spring Concert at the end of the year to play music and recognize seniors. Seniors receive a book of memories during their time in band. The band hosts Band Banquet around the first week in May. Parents are invited to attend the banquet, but be warned, you are going to hear inside jokes that you do not understand but your kids think are hilarious!
Many of the band members participate in Graduation Band, which is a group of band members that play at graduation. After all seniors walk across the stage and the band plays the recessional, the band year is officially over.
Shortly after school is over, next year’s section leaders and drum majors meet for leadership camps, dates for camps and summer band in July are set. Enjoy the time, it will end before you know it!