Ryan Raider Band - New Members Answers t Frequently Asked Questins (updated 4/25/17) 1. Is high schl band different frm middle schl band? High schl band and middle schl band have differences and similarities. If yu have been in middle schl band 6-8 grade, yu are ready fr high schl band. The similarities are: yu will perfrm the instrument yu have begun t learn in middle schl and the cncert setting will be familiar. Hwever, there are many differences r new experiences at the high schl level: mre music, mre students, mre trips, and during ftball seasn, the bands cmbine t frm ne big band that plays at ftball games. Band is designed t be a grade 6-12 activity. Yu will find that there is smething new and exciting each year. By the time yu graduate, yu will have had a variety f experiences and pprtunities t take with yu. 2. Why shuld I take band in high schl? Music is a science. It is exact and specific. It als demands exact acustics. Music invlves mathematics. It is rhythmically based n the subdivisins f time int fractins, which must be dne instantaneusly. Music is a freign language. Mst f the terms are in Italian, German r French; and the ntatin is certainly nt English - but a highly develped kind f shrthand that uses symbls t represent ideas. Music is histry. Music is physical educatin. It requires fantastic crdinatin f fingers, hands, arms and facial muscles, while marching band strengthens the entire bdy. Music develps insight and demands research. Music and band are all f these things, but mst f all, music is art. It allws a human being t take all these dry, technically difficult techniques and use them t create emtin. Other Benefits: As ne f the largest rganizatins n campus at Ryan HS, yu will have the pprtunity t make a lt f friends and have a large supprt netwrk. Friends in band help each ther with hmewrk, advice, transprtatin, and variety f ther things. Band students als have a very high passing rate and very high GPA. Many Tp 10, Salutatrians, and even Valedictrians have been members f the Raider Band. Band members are sme f the mst successful students n campus. Many band students are als invlved in student rganizatins, sprts, and ther fine arts activities. We try t create a climate f excellence fr all band students and encurage them t take that attitude t the classrm, ther activities, and the cmmunity. 3. Hw gd is the Ryan Raider Band? The Ryan bands receive many awards fr excellence. Hwever, success r excellence cannt always be measured in awards r cmpetitin. We prgram sme f the mst rewarding and challenging music fr students t learn and perfrm. If yu are measuring success accrding t awards fr perfrmance, the Raider Band prgram has ne f the mst utstanding recrds f success in this regin f Texas. Here are sme recent examples: UIL 1 st Divisin ratings 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005; UIL 6A Area 2014; UIL 5A Area Finalist 2012 (8 th place); TMEA 4A Hnr Band 2 nd place in Regin 2 (advanced t Area); UIL 4A Area Finalist 2011 (6 th place), 2009 (6 th place), and 2007 (8 th place); Bands f America Natinal Cncert Band Festival 2009 invitatin; many UIL Sl and Ensemble 1 st Divisin medals each year; and numerus TMEA All-Regin and All-State Band members. The Ryan bands strive fr excellence and we encurage ur students t be the best they can pssibly be.
4. Am I required t attend summer band camp at Ryan HS? Yes. Students that want t have a psitin in the fall cntest shw are required t attend all f summer band camp. Attendance at this camp is imprtant because students will learn much f the shw befre the 1 st day f schl. We will als rehearse all f the music t be perfrmed at ftball games. Our first perfrmance f the year usually takes place in the first weeks f schl and this camp allws us t be prepared. Other imprtant things that take place during camp: unifrm fitting, band phts, learning all f the band prcedures, and band scial events. Students that d nt attend all f the camp will be assigned t the cntest shw as an alternate. 5. What is a cntest shw alternate? Students wh d nt attend Super Saturday and summer band camp will be assigned t begin the schl year shadwing a student that has a psitin in the cntest shw. This psitin is called an alternate because if a shadwing student participates in rehearsals regularly and shws that s/he is learning the cntest shw, the student will be able t alternate perfrmances with the student s/he is shadwing. Fr example, student A wuld march the psitin ne week while student B shadws. The next week, student B wuld march the psitin while student A shadws. Alternates may als earn psitins in the cntest shw if anther student lses his/her academic eligibility, des nt attend rehearsal, r des nt pass-ff his/her music. 6. Is Marching Band a separate class? N. Marching Band is the cmbinatin the band students all f ur classes: Wind Symphny, Symphnic Band, Cncert Band, and Percussin class. This ccurs during the mnths f August thrugh early Nvember (and ccasinally Nv.-Dec. t perfrm shws fr ftball playff games). The Marching Band meets befre r after schl depending n the weekly schedule t prepare fr upcming perfrmances (accrding t band calendar). In additin t the music these cmbined bands play in the bleachers during the ftball game, there are three n-field prgrams the Marching Band will perfrm: the spirit shw, the drill team rutine, and the cntest shw. The cntest shw requires a higher level f time cmmitment and persnal practice. The spirit shw requires less time t learn and less rehearsal time utside f the schl day (see belw). 7. What is the difference between the cntest shw and the spirit shw? During the 1 st semester the band perfrms at all Ryan Raider varsity ftball games and band cntests. Every student in band perfrms at all f the ftball games: music in the bleachers, pre-game fr hme games, and the halftime shw. The halftime shw during the regular seasn cnsists f music fr the drill team and the cntest shw. All students perfrm the drill team prtin f halftime. Students wh are cntest shw alternates d nt perfrm the cntest shw until they earn a psitin. The spirit shw will be perfrmed at halftime during the playffs. All band students have an assigned psitin t perfrm in the spirit shw. The cntest shw will be perfrmed at 2-3 pre-uil cntests and fall UIL cntests. Frm the start f schl in August thrugh the last marching band cntest, the band rehearses the cntest shw 8 hurs utside f the regular schl day per week in preparatin fr these cntests. These 8 hurs are the nly time each week all f the band students are cmbined tgether t rehearse as the marching band. All students, regardless f cntest shw status, are required t be at 7:00am game-day rehearsals t rehearse everything we will perfrm n the field at that night s game: drill team rutine, spirit shw, and/r cntest shw. 8. Hw d I sign up? Is there an auditin fr new students t be in band? All 9 th grade wdwind and brass players sign up fr 31116 Cncert Band 1. All 9 th grade percussinists sign up fr 31110 Percussin 1. Students entering high schl band must have cmpleted band as an 8 th
grade student. Every student must auditin in rder t be placed in the apprpriate band class and n the apprpriate part accrding t his/her current ability. Auditin materials will be distributed shrtly after Spring Break. The auditin details and dates will be described in that packet and n the website. If yu are cming t Ryan frm a schl utside f Dentn ISD, please cntact the band directr t auditin. There are specific requirements t be in the different levels f band classes. Jazz Band 9 th graders interested in jazz band sign up fr 31125 Jazz Ensemble 1. Final apprval fr the class depends n an auditin. Auditin materials will be distributed shrtly after Spring Break. The auditin details and dates will be described in that packet. Jazz band instruments are saxphne, trumpet, trmbne, guitar, pian, bass, and drumset. If yu were in yur middle schl jazz band, yu shuld be prepared fr high schl jazz band. 9. What is the difference between the Wind Symphny, Symphnic Band, and Cncert Band? We expect the same wrk ethic and level f excellence frm all f ur bands. The differences between the bands are the level f skills being develped and the difficulty level f the music prgrammed fr each class. Thrughut the schl year, each band will rehearse during its wn class perid. During ftball seasn, all three f these band classes are cmbined t frm the marching band befre r after schl. After ftball seasn, each band will have its wn respective rehearsal schedule utside f the schl day (full band and/r sectinals) in preparatin fr varius cncerts and the UIL Cncert and Sight-reading Cntest in April. Wind Symphny Varsity level (1 st ) cncert band. Perfrms up t Grade 5 level literature. Required t participate in the 1 st semester UIL Cntest Shw and Spirit Shw Required t participate in the TMEA auditin prcess Required t participate in Sl and Ensemble Cntest n a Class 1 sl r ensemble Perfrms at all scheduled RHS Band cncerts Perfrms at UIL Varsity Band Cncert and Sight-reading Cntest Every tw years, recrd fr the TMEA Hnr Band cmpetitin Perfrms in any Natinal r Reginal Cntest/Festival scheduled fr the Wind Symphny Attends all required Raider Band Prgram Cncerts Attends at least ne utside cncert per semester (i.e. prfessinal, cllegiate, apprved cmmunity cncerts) All members required t maintain academic eligibility t remain in the Wind Symphny Symphnic Band Nn-Varsity A (2 nd ) cncert band. Perfrms up t Grade 4 level literature. Required t participate in the 1 st semester UIL Cntest Shw and Spirit Shw Required t participate in Sl and Ensemble Cntest n a sl r ensemble. First-time slists shuld select a title frm the Class 2 UIL Prescribed Music List. Perfrms at all scheduled RHS Band cncerts Perfrms at UIL Nn-Varsity Band Cncert and Sight-reading Cntest Perfrms in any Natinal r Reginal Cntest/Festival scheduled fr the Symphnic Band All members required t maintain academic eligibility t participate in ff-campus and extra-curricular perfrmances Cncert Band Sub Nn-Varsity (3 rd ) cncert band. Perfrms up t Grade 3 level literature.
Required t participate in the 1 st semester Spirit Shw. Encuraged t participate in UIL Cntest Shw. Perfrms at all scheduled RHS Band cncerts Perfrms at the UIL Nn-Varsity Band Cncert and Sight-reading Cntest Required t participate in Sl and Ensemble Cntest n a Class 2 level sl r ensemble. Perfrms in any Natinal r Reginal Cntest/Festival scheduled fr the Cncert Band All members required t maintain academic eligibility t participate in ff-campus and extra-curricular perfrmances 10. D I get P.E. credit fr Marching Band? Yes. The credit gained in 1 st semester band class may be cunted as a Physical Educatin credit. 11. Can band students earn letter jackets? Yes. DISD awards letter jackets t students wh meet the criteria fr earning a band letter jacket. DISD prvides the jacket and letter. Any additinal patches are the student s respnsibility. There is a DISD letter jacket frm that students must submit t the band directr at the end f the schl year in rder t receive the jacket the fllwing 1 st semester. This frm shws the pints system and hw a jacket may be earned. 12. Can I be in Band and Athletics? Yes. There are many students wh are in bth band and athletic activities. It is pssible t be very successful in multiple activities at Ryan HS if students manage their time wisely and cmmunicate effectively with their parents and spnsrs. The band directrs and caches at Ryan HS have a cperative wrking relatinship and have wrked tgether with students t help them be successful in the activities that interest them. The nly limits are the number f curses a student may select in a given semester. Students interested in multiple activities can remain in thse activities if they have curses smewhat planned ut fr their fur years in high schl. See the Fur-Year Academic Plan prvided n the website fr examples. See yur high schl cunselr fr mre assistance develping a fur-year plan. 13. What is the Bster Club? The Raider Band Bster Club is an rganizatin that supprts the Raider Band in a variety f ways: raising funds, prviding chapernes, prviding vlunteers t assist the directrs and students, and advcating fr the band prgram in the cmmunity. The Bster Club is a valuable cmpnent t the band prgram s success and it is a great way fr parents t be invlved in the prgram. Bster Club dues and ther funds brught in by the club benefit the students in the band prgram and help keep the cst f band participatin fees lw. The Bster Club is a 501(c)3 tax exempt rganizatin perated accrding t the prcedures and guidelines f UIL and Dentn ISD in additin t its wn Cnstitutin and By-Laws. 14. Des it cst mney t be in band? Yes. It csts mney fr the band t functin. There are many things prvided by DISD t all band students. Hwever, students must purchase their wn marching band shes, band t-shirt, and musical supplies. These are rdered thrugh the band ffice. Anything that a student will keep must be purchased by the student. Students wh use an instrument wned by DISD are required t pay an instrument usage fee. Students wh play an instrument nt wned by DISD must prvide their wn instrument either by wnership r rental. Students wh qualify fr free r reduced lunch may have this fee reduced by DISD. Any ther fees may be paid fr by fundraisers, paid frm individuals using a
payment plan, r paid in ne lump sum. Infrmatin is prvided t all Raider Band students t shw the fee structure and payment schedule f any fees. 15. What des my Dentn ISD Instrument Usage Fee cver and why d I have t pay it? This instrument usage fee is cllected s that DISD can prvide rutine maintenance and repair f schl-wned instruments. This fee helps t ensure that each instrument prvided t students is in gd wrking cnditin. The instruments wned by D ISD are the larger, mst expensive instruments used by the band. The fee charged by DISD is very small cmpared t the cst f renting r paying fr ne s wn instrument. This fee cvers rutine maintenance and repair but nt damages due t student negligence. 16. Hw much time is invlved in high schl band? Each band class will rehearse during its regularly scheduled class time. Rehearsals utside the schl day vary depending upn the band that a student is invlved in. August-Octber, students in the marching band cntest shw will put in 8 hurs each week f additinal rehearsal time utside f the schl day. During the 2 nd semester, students in Wind Symphny and Symphnic Band rehearse fr an additinal 3-4 hurs f rehearsal each week beynd their regular class rehearsals. If a student chses t participate in private lessns, the TMEA All-Regin/All-State Audtins, r Sl and Ensemble Cntests, then additinal individual practice time is necessary in rder fr a student t be successful in thse activities. 17. D I need t take private lessns? Private lessns are nt required t be in band but we cnsider them t be an imprtant cmpnent f a student s musical develpment. Rughly 60% f ur students study with a private lessn teacher n a weekly basis. Private lessn schlarships funded by ur bster club are available fr students wh meet the DISD criteria. We have highly skilled Dentn ISD lessn teachers that teach n ur campus befre schl, during band classes, and after schl. If a student is interested in making the All-Regin r All-State Bands r perfrming a sl at a Sl and Ensemble Cntest, lessns are vital. The names f ur lessn teachers and their cntact infrmatin are psted n ur website. Cntact the directrs fr mre infrmatin. 18. Wh d I cntact if I have questins? Parents and students are encuraged t cntact ne f the band directrs if they have questins: Eddy Russell, Directr f Bands (940-369-3079 r erussell@dentnisd.rg); Mary Brwn, Assciate Directr f Bands (940-369-3049 r mstandlee@dentnisd.rg); r Akira Rbles (940-369-3078 r akirarbles2@dentnisd.rg). Students als have sectin leaders t call n fr assistance. New students will chse a big brther/sister t help them thrugh their first year. The bster club will als select mentr parents frm each sectin f the band t help new Raider Band parents.