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Katy ISD has enjoyed a high reputation for excellence in music performance at multiple levels for many years. The marching band is one of the most visible organizations of the campus. The marching band provides performance opportunities for band students while integrating the band program into the athletic, school, and community activities.

During the fall semester, ALL band members will participate in the Golden Eagle Marching Band. A physical education waiver is awarded to members of the marching band. Preparation takes place during class time, as well as after-school rehearsals. Performance opportunities include all Freeman High School football games and UIL Marching Evaluation, as well as other local, state, and national parades, contests and competitions, as opportunity presents.

Marching Band Participation 

As an integral part of the band program, Katy ISD's philosophy is that educationally, historically, and musically, marching band is an essential ingredient in a well-rounded music education in band. KISD believes that music students need to develop the ability to participate and perform in different ensemble experiences which, for band students, includes marching band. As a result, marching band is required for all high students who elect to take an academic band performance course. However, students who have medical complications or physical disabilities may be excused from participation at the discretion of the head band director and school administration. Philosophy regarding all aspects of high school band stems from the TEA/UIL guidelines which govern all Texas schools.

Physical Education Requirement

As an artistic endeavor, each rehearsal and performance by the marching band is a mental and physical endeavor. For marching band performance, students are always actively engaged and must bring to the experience their best performance skills. As a result, each student in the marching band is eligible to receive a physical education substitution credit in accordance with KISD and TEA guidelines (Please see KISD student handbook for more information).

Marching Band, an Integral component of the Texas Education Curriculum

Requirements

The music, performance skills, techniques, along with the associated academic skills in the band program, are derived from implementation of the expectations found in the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). Each performance by the marching band and color guard specifically includes curriculum related requirements such as demonstrating musical skills and visual artistry, performing in different musical and visual mediums, and experiencing music and visual arts through a wider range of music literature. Students are given the opportunity to demonstrate artistry through a variety of individual and ensemble performance opportunities. Students will develop music and visual performance skill and technique, marching performance/dance skill and technique, as well as critical thinking skill and collaboration that include auditory, spatial, and visual awareness.

https://www.uiltexas.org/music/marching-band 

High Academic Standards Maintained by Students

The opportunity for weekly performance is a motivating factor for academic achievement for marching band students, since only by maintaining their eligibility can they continue to perform.

Practice Time Considerations:

(1) Practice Time Prior to August 1: The members of the marching band or any of its components may not begin preparation of the visual curriculum and UIL contest presentation prior to August 1. In addition, no more than 15 hours of supervised instructional time may be devoted to visual fundamentals between the end of the previous school term and August 1.

(2) The director(s) of this organization recognize(s) the importance of the total educational process and have remained sensitive to each student’s needs in terms of academic pursuits, family life, and extracurricular activities; The director(s) of the FHS band and color guard programs have maintained a reasonable and proper balance of pre-school and out-of-school rehearsal schedules.

(3) Practice Time from August 1 to the First Day of School: UIL has no limits on practice time for marching bands – music or marching/visual - between August 1 and the first day of school. Any limits during this period of time are at the discretion of the local school district.

EXCEPTIONS:

(1) Auxiliary camps, leadership training, and preparation for special summer events such as civic parades, professional football game appearances and other non-competitive performances are not considered a violation of this limitation. Additionally, UIL has no rules that limit music rehearsal time from the end of the previous school year until the first day of school of the new school year.

(2) Visual auxiliary units such as color guards have no UIL limits on time spent rehearsing choreography unique to the competitive show from the end of the previous school year until the first day of school of the new school year. This curriculum is comparable to the music curriculum for the wind and percussion students. However, auxiliary units may not learn any drill coordinates and/or visual staging curriculum to be used in the competitive show until August 1.

Practice Time after the School Year Begins

TEA/UIL 8 Hour rule:

As per TEA/UIL rules Effective the fourth Monday in August a marching band and its auxiliary components are limited to a maximum of eight hours of rehearsal outside of the academic school day per calendar week. Exception: For schools that begin instruction prior to the fourth Monday in August the limit of eight hours of rehearsal outside of the academic school day per calendar week shall begin on the Tuesday immediately following Labor Day. Schools under this exception shall be limited to eight hours of rehearsal outside of the academic day per school week until the Tuesday immediately following Labor Day.

• During the school year, no more than 8 hours of rehearsal a week, outside of the school day, is allowed. Exceptions to the 8-hour rule include preparation immediately before games and contests. KISD observes all of the guidelines.

FHS Rehearsal and Performance Schedules.

Rehearsal and performance schedules are determined by the band staff and are published on the band calendar.

*Calendar week is defined as 12:01 a.m. Sunday through midnight on Saturday. School week is defined as 12:01a.m. on the first instructional day of a calendar week through the close of instruction on the last instructional day of the calendar week, excluding holidays.

Marching Instruments

Marching band students who play an instrument that KISD does not provide (flute, clarinet, alto sax, trumpet, or trombone) must personally provide their own marching instrument. Preferably, students will perform with the same instrument they use in band class, or a secondary instrument of the same type. This instrument must be approved by the director. Students are responsible for all maintenance on each instrument they use, whether district-owned or personally owned instrument.