This was emailed to students and families on Thursday, August 1, 2024
Hey Band!
Welcome to the 2024-2025 DHS Band! I’m looking forward to having a great year together. THERE IS A LOT OF INFORMATION IN THIS LETTER – PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY!
Our year starts with Marching Band. This year’s show will feature the music from the JAMES BOND movie franchise! Marching Camp starts on Monday, August 12. We perform our Halftime Show at all HOME football games.
Now would be a good time to make sure that your instrument is in good working condition and that you have things like a good selection of reeds, etc. Please take a few moments to start practicing the music for the show. The more familiar you are with our music, the easier marching will be! We will always have more success during camp if you’ve got the notes and rhythms under your fingers. It’s important that we make Camp as productive as we can!
MARCHING SHOW MUSIC:
You should have gotten our music before school ended in the spring. If you need it, the songs are available to download/print/listen to here by next week (once I can get them scanned): https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1UDdTdwc-QT1QvHc7otTXBMLLDdkx1N4L?usp=sharing (You should have access this folder from your school google account.) Recordings are also in this folder. Everyone will get a new set of music with sets and instructions written in already at Camp!☺
MARCHING CAMP SCHEDULE:
Monday, August 12 – Marching Camp (New Marchers 9:00 am–11:00, EVERYONE noon – 3:30)
Tuesday, August 13 – Marching Camp (Percussion 9:30 am – 11:00, EVERYONE noon –3:30)
Wednesday, August 14 – Marching Camp (EVERYONE 9:00 am – 2:00 pm)
Thursday, August 15 – Marching Camp (EVERYONE 8:30 am – 12:00 pm)
Thursday, August 22 – Marching Camp (EVERYONE 9:00 am – 11:00 am)
MONDAY MORNING is for ALL new marchers – 9th grade and anyone else who has not marched before. All others are invited for a refresher or to help out! (If you don’t want to go home, feel free to bring a lunch for our 11:00-Noon break)
Please note – our goal is to have full attendance. This is how we prepare for the beginning of the
Year and learn a majority of our drill and music! We have a performance at the end of our first week of school, so we have lots to get accomplished at camp!
Students - please make employers and coaches aware of band camp times and our performance schedule. Communication is key! Students who participate in fall sports must advise your coaches of the rehearsal schedule. The coaches are usually very flexible (as is the band director), which will allow you to attend our camp sessions in addition to your sports practices (usually leaving one a little early and arriving at the other a little late). I have tried to accommodate all the sports practices that I know about – the 3:30 pm ending times should allow everyone to get to their practice. Please e-mail, text, or leave me a message at school if you cannot make any of these rehearsals.
SUPPLIES FOR MARCHING BAND:
There is not a fee for Band Camp. However, there are a few materials that every student needs for Marching Band. Everyone will need a flip folder and lyre (except percussion), and marching shoes. Cost for flip folders and lyres are $12, cost for Marching shoes is $30. Unless you tell me otherwise, I will get you your lyre and flip folder. We will order our marching shoes after camp. Please bring cash or check for the first day of camp. Checks should be made out to Deerfield Schools. If you need assistance, please reach out.
Upperclassmen – I have all of your shoes from last year – if your feet have grown (of it you need to try on your shoes), just let me know. Make sure you can find your Flip Folders and Lyres, too! If you need, let me know ASAP so I can get those ordered and have them when Camp starts.
EQUIPMENT FOR CAMP:
Please bring the following items to camp the week of August 12:
Snack. We will have a snack break. (No nuts allowed).
Your instrument, in proper playing condition. Woodwinds, make sure you have reeds.
Your music. We will have extra music available.
Pencil.
A good pair of athletic shoes (please, NO sandals, flip flops, or bare feet).
A hat, water bottle, insect repellent, sunglasses, sunscreen.
CAMP FUN:
We will be doing SECTION WARS! The section that participates the most in the dress up days will be the “reigning section” and will receive a neat prize.
Monday, August 12 - SECTION COLORS
Flutes – Blue
Clarinets – Green
Saxophones – Yellow
Trumpets/Horns – Black
Low Brass – Red
Percussion – Gray
Tuesday, August 13 - TWIN DAY
Dress up the same as your band friends
Wednesday, August 14 - FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM
Wear your favorite sports team (shirt with logo, jersey, etc)
Thursday, August 15 - SCHOOL SPIRIT
Wear Deerfield Spirit Wear
OTHER INFORMATION:
UNIFORMS: I will need to size/measure ALL band members. Please plan to spend a little extra time for trying on your uniform after rehearsal. I’ll tell you the schedule when camp starts. Upperclassmen will be sized first.
FULL BAND SCHEDULE FOR THE YEAR:
I am attaching another copy of this year’s band schedule. I am still working on the winter pep band schedule and hope to get that to you soon. Please make sure that you get all of these into both your and your parents’ calendars! You can also find a copy on the Band Website here: https://sites.google.com/deerfield.k12.wi.us/deerfieldbands/high-school-band/dhs-band-schedule?authuser=0
AND – make sure to subscribe to the Music Department Google Calendar – to have our important dates and events automatically synced to your device! CLICK HERE!
I hope your summer has been nice and relaxing. I know I am refreshed and ready to tackle the school year – I hope you are, too. I’m looking forward to seeing you all soon!
Musically,
Mr. Petersen
PS - We will again not have a color guard this year for the field show – but we are looking for some non-band members to be in our color guard for parades. If you can think of anyone who might be interested, please let me know.