The Woodlands High School Band

Guide for Parents of Freshman and Transfer Students

Welcome to The Woodlands High School Band! Band is a rewarding experience for both students and parents. This guide will help you become familiar with the Booster Organization and the various activities of the Band and Color Guard / Winter Guard. You are now as much a part of the Band as your student. Enjoy every experience!

TWHS Band / Color Guard – “One Band”

During the Marching season (Fall semester), The Woodlands High School Band and Color Guard are referred to as “one band”. This means that no matter what grade you are in, what instrument you play, or you are part of the Color Guard, all the groups function as one band. The entire Band stays together during events and various activities.

Concert Band / Winter Guard

During the Spring semester, the Band will enter Concert season and the Color Guard will enter Winter Guard season, having its own set of competitions. The Band will be divided up into three concert bands – Wind Ensemble (1st Band), Symphonic Band (2nd Band), and Concert Band (3rd Band). There is also a 4th Band, primarily composed of beginner students. During the Fall semester, 5-6 auditions will be held to determine placement of students into each one of these concert bands. All the concert bands will be working on music in preparation for UIL competitions and will hold several concerts throughout the semester.

Standards

The Woodlands High School Band and Color Guard / Winter Guard organizations hold high standards for their students, staff, and booster members. This group stresses the importance of upholding integrity in every area and strives for excellence. It offers opportunities which are not as readily available in many schools in this area. You and your student are part of an awesome group of people. Participation in your student’s band and Guard career will be rewarding for all!

Band Boosters Organization

The Woodlands High School Band Boosters Organization is operated as a cooperative effort between parents, alumni, Band Booster Board members, and the Band directors. The Boosters assist in many aspects of the Band program. Parents are highly encouraged to attend the monthly meetings, volunteer, and be an integral part of their student’s Band experience. An information meeting for prospective students will take place in the Spring of your child’s 8th grade. Also, a parent meeting will be held at the end of May on the same day as the Band Music Day, which your student is encouraged to attend.

Website

The Woodlands Band website is www.twhsband.org. It is advised that you become very familiar with this website as it contains up-to-date, detailed information on the various activities of the Band and Color Guard / Winter Guard.

Email Sign Up!!

It is highly encouraged that you send an email to secretary@twhsband.com and be placed on the TWHS Band mailing list. Important information and changes to the calendar will be emailed to you throughout the year. It is recommended that you sign up during the Spring semester of your student’s 8th grade year.

Calendar

A yearly calendar will be passed out to your student at the beginning of Summer Band and to the parents at the first Band Booster meeting. A tentative calendar (before final revisions) will be made available at Booster meetings in the Spring, prior to Summer Band and marching season. This calendar will also be available on the Band website.

Summer Band Rehearsals

Summer Band begins the very end of July and continues through the end of the week before school starts (appx. 3 ½ weeks). These rehearsals are mandatory in order to participate in the marching show. We recommend that you schedule your vacations before this time. Students who do not attend any part of Summer Band will miss out on valuable information, learning skills and techniques, and master classes. It will be a challenge for them to catch up and will make them at a disadvantage when it comes time for marching spots to be selected for the contest show.

Band Fees

Each year a Band Fee and Travel Fee will be collected from each student to pay for expenses incurred in the various activities of the Band / Color Guard and the Booster operations. The amount of the fees varies from year to year, depending on the amount of competitions and travel that take place during the year. A payment schedule is established in order to make it easier for parents to pay out the fees. Also, many fundraising opportunities are made available to help students and parents raise money for their fees. For more information check out this years band fees.

Fundraising Opportunities

Parents and students have several opportunities available to raise money for their Band fees. Our Booster organization operates a concession stand at the Cynthia Mitchell Woodlands Pavilion. Funds raised from working at this stand are directly deposited into the student’s account. Each Pavilion concert season begins in April and new parents can begin to sign up for shifts at this time. Another way to raise money is to purchase grocery card certificates and load them to use for purchases at Kroger’s and Randall’s. Both grocers will donate 5% of every purchase that you make towards your student’s account. These cards can be purchased from our Booster Board / Grocery Card officer or from Wells Fargo Bank in Panther Creek. One way that your student can become involved in raising money is to participate in our annual Rock-A-Thon, held during Summer Band. They have the opportunity to collect money from family, friends, and neighbors to help support their Band. These funds are also applied directly to their individual account.

Uniforms

Three types of uniforms are used by The Woodlands High School Band – the casual uniform, the marching uniform, and concert uniform. The casual uniform consists of a green Band T-shirt and black shorts. You will need to purchase both of these items before Summer Band begins – can be found on the Uniform Link on the TWHS Band website (“Band / Guard” – “Marching Band”). The students will be assigned marching band uniforms. In addition, you will need to purchase marching shoes, black gloves, and long black socks – shoes and gloves can be ordered on special designated days during Summer Band. During Concert season, guys will be assigned a tuxedo and will be required to purchase a white tuxedo shirt, a black bow tie and cummerbund, black socks, and black dress shoes. Girls will need to purchase a black top, black pants or black skirt, black hose, and black dress shoes. All written requirements for these uniforms are outlined in detail on the TWHS Band website under “Uniforms”. The Color Guard orders its own uniforms for each performance. The requirements for other items needed are written in detail in the Color Guard handbook which is provided at the beginning of the year.