🎼 Director's Notes

Welcome to February! 

The school year seems to speed up the moment we get out of January, and we are officially moving into our busiest season. We have several "All-Hands-On-Deck" performances approaching rapidly. Please read through for some critical updates and "how-to" info for our upcoming contests!

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🎼 7TH & 8TH GRADE: THE PUSH FOR UIL

This is the time of year when students feel the pressure from every subject—and Band is no different. We are currently in the "polishing" phase of our contest music, which requires a high level of individual accountability.

• Sectionals & Rehearsals: It is critical that students show up to morning sectionals. This is where the "heavy lifting" happens. We work on section cohesion, tuning, and the fine details that we simply can't get to during the full-class period.

• Playing Tests: Students must demonstrate they can "pass-off" their music. We’ve been holding off on entering grades to let everyone settle into a routine, but the "grace period" is ending.

• The "Safety Net": If you see a low grade in Skyward for a test or quiz, please don't panic. Your child can come see us to re-play any test for a better grade at any time until the end of the nine-week period. We always provide feedback to help them improve!

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🏆 UPCOMING REQUIRED PERFORMANCES for 7th/8th grade band students

Every single student is a "starter" in Band. Attendance is mandatory for the success of the ensemble.

📍 Pre-UIL Concert | Monday, Feb 23 @ SVHS Auditorium

• Student Arrival: 5:45 PM | Estimated End: 7:30 PM

• This is our "dress rehearsal" where guest directors give us feedback. It is free and open to the public—we'd love to see a full house!

📍 UIL Concert & Sight-Reading Contest | March 5–6 @ Seguin HS

• Symphonic Band (3rd Period): Performing Thursday, March 5

• Wind Ensemble (2nd Period): Performing Friday, March 6

• We will travel by bus during the school day and return close to the final bell. More specific "Day-Of" itineraries will be sent home soon.

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🤵 UIL UNIFORM CARE & VOLUNTEERS

We are currently fitting students for their formal UIL uniforms. We still need parent volunteers to help with fittings before/after school or during 2nd and 3rd periods (9:10 AM – 11:00 AM). If you have an hour to spare, please reach out!

🚨 THE HEMMING RULE: Uniforms will be sent home soon. Most will need hemming. DO NOT CUT THE FABRIC. Use a basting stitch, hem tape, or safety pins. We need these returned in original condition for next year's students!

The Full Dress Code:

• Boys (Provided): Tux pants, white dress shirt, black vest, bow tie.

  • You provide: White undershirt (no logos), black socks, and black dress shoes (no tennis shoes).

• Girls (Provided): Long black dress.

  • You provide: Nice dark dress shoes (no tennis shoes).

Care Instructions:

• Home Wash: White shirts and black dresses.

• Dry Clean ONLY: Black vests and tuxedo pants. Please help us keep these in great shape!

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🎢 DALLAS TRIP: MAY 8–9, 2026

Registration is now officially closed. We are so excited for this trip—it’s going to be an absolute blast and a great way to celebrate a year of hard work!

• Room Assignments: These are posted in the hallway outside the band room. Please have your student double-check that their name is there and spelled correctly. (Reminder: Max 5 students per room).

• Bus Assignments: We will sign up for bus seat assignments after spring break.

• Chaperone Requirements: We couldn't do this without you! Please ensure your background check and fingerprinting are cleared through the district via Heidi Freeman (Heidi.Freeman@comalisd.org | 830-221-2661).

• Chaperone Logistics: If you are joining us, please email me to confirm your rooming preference (Single/Double) and if you plan to ride the bus or drive your own vehicle.

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🎺 BEGINNING BAND CORNER

Our beginners are doing incredible work in class! While they don't attend UIL, they are building the skills to be the leaders of the band next year. Please keep encouraging them to practice at home—your support fosters confidence that carries over into all their other classes.

Save the Dates:

• 📅 Thursday, April 30 @ 6:30 PM: End-of-Year Beginning Band Concert

• 📅 Wednesday, May 6 (School Day): Comal ISD Beginning Band Festival & Reward Trip

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📲 STAY CONNECTED

• Four Houses Scoreboard: Follow the competition live! Click Here for House Points

• Remind (All Parents): Text @svmsbands to 81010

• Remind (8th Grade Only): Text @svband8 to 81010

Once again, thank you for supporting your child's music education. 

The more they practice and the more they play, the more fun they'll have every day! 😄

-- 

James Hargreaves (j.hargreaves@comalisd.org)

Spencer Katz (spencer.katz@comalisd.org)

SVMS Band Directors

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"Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life."  ~Berthold Auerbach

Its almost December! Concert Information Incoming!

How can it already be Thanksgiving break? This year has flown by, and what an incredible journey it has been with our talented band students at SVMS! As we head into December, we’ve got some big events on the horizon. Please take a moment to review the dates, times, and details below.

In the meantime, keep encouraging your child to practice at home! This year, we’re challenging our older students with more advanced literature than ever before, while raising the bar for all grade levels to meet and exceed their goals. Though some days bring their own challenges, these amazing kids are showing they’re ready to rise to the occasion!

🎵 Read on for everything you need to know about our upcoming concerts and events! 🎵

MARK YOUR CALENDAR:

📸 BAND PICTURES THIS FRIDAY, November 21 - During Class

  ALL Band Students will need to have their BAND SHIRT and BLUE JEANS at school on Friday for their band picture. 

Sam Roberts Photography will be taking individual photos of students (with instruments) that will be digitally stitched together into a group photo for the yearbook! They will also be taking buddy photos if you are choosing to order them.  

If you would like to purchase any of the individual, group, or buddy photos, please click on the website linked here: 

Link to ORDER your child's Band Pictures through the Sam Roberts Photography Website:

https://www.samrobertsphotography.com/graduation/svms/2025-26_svms_galleries/svms_mustan_band/ 

They have several packages available, including car window decals to celebrate being a part of the SVMS Band, Photo Buttons, Magnets, Plaques, Banners, and more. Any questions about the photos can be answered at Sam Roberts Photography (Phone: 830-980-5666 or the website above)

If you chose to go directly to the Sam Roberts website to find the gallery, you would go to: www.samrobertsphotography.com 

• • choose Online Ordering --> 2025-26 SVMS --> your Group:(Mustang Band!)

Please remember to wear a “Band Shirt and Blue Jeans” on Friday!!! (If your child still needs a band shirt, have them come see us. We have them!)

If your child won't be at school on Friday, you can also contact Sam Roberts photography directly to schedule a make-up time to take your child's picture at their studio in downtown Bulverde.

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🎺 Sectionals / Morning practice:

As a reminder, we are pausing any planned sectionals for Wind Ensemble students until January. For now, the Band hall is open every morning for open practice from 7:30-8:10am. (The exception will be the first week of December, when it will ONLY BE OPEN to beginning band students ... more about this below...)

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📯 HOLIDAY CONCERTS!

Details for all concerts here: https://sites.google.com/g.comalisd.org/svmsband/holiday-concerts 

➡ BEGINNING BAND HOLIDAY CONCERT  - Thursday, December 4 - SVMS Cafeteria

This will be a ONE-OF-A-KIND Experience you don't want to miss! Come hear what these brand-new band students have been learning this semester!

  This is for ALL Beginning Band Students (5th, 6th, and 7th periods).

• Students must be in the band hall by 6:00 pm. Concert Starts at 6:30pm

• Dress Code is their Band Shirts and Blue Jeans. 

 This concert is a major grade and a great performance opportunity for the kids. 

 Admission is free, so please invite all your friends, family, and neighbors to join you in supporting the SVMS Mustang Band and cheering on these fantastic students.

IMPORTANT: BEGINNING BAND MORNING JAM SESSIONS - December 1, 2, 3, & 4 - mornings before school

The BEGINNING BAND JAM SESSIONS will take place from 7:30 am-8:05 am EVERY MORNING the week leading up to our concert, so please make an effort to come rehearse with us as often as possible (at least 3 out of 4 days). 

Students should come directly to the Band Hall as soon as they arrive at SVMS each day. 

We understand that getting a ride early to school can be difficult and if you can find a way to get them here early, it would really help them play with confidence at the concert on Thursday Night! 

The secret to a successful performance is having the confidence that comes from repetition, so the more rehearsals they attend the better!

➡ ADVANCED BAND HOLIDAY CONCERT - TUESDAY, December 9 - SVMS Cafeteria

What better way to kick off the holiday season than with a night of beautiful music? Come out and be amazed!

  This is for ALL students in the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Advanced percussion classes (2nd, 3rd, and 4th periods).

• Students must be in the band hall by their assigned time (see below). Concert Starts at 6:30pm.

• Dress Code is their Band Shirts and Blue Jeans. 

 This concert is a major grade and a great performance opportunity for the kids.

 Admission is free, so please invite all your friends, family, and neighbors to join you in supporting the SVMS Mustang Band and celebrating the sounds of the holidays! 😁 

Please read below for group arrival and performance times:

The Concert starts at 6:30 pm on TUESDAY, December 9 in the SVMS Cafeteria.

 - All students should arrive at SVMS by the time listed below:

• Jazz Band

  • Stay after school on Tuesday, Dec 9 to help set up the stage and do a sound check/last rehearsal.

  • We will feed them a pizza dinner at 5:15pm after the stage is set up. Sound check/run-through at 5:45pm.

  • Performance starts at 6:30pm

• Symphonic Band and All Percussion

  • Seated in the Band Hall by 6:30pm. Move to cafeteria at approximately 6:50pm.

  • Performance starts at approx. 6:55pm

• Wind Ensemble

  • Seated in the Band Hall by 7:00pm. Move to cafeteria at approximately 7:15pm.

  • Performance starts at approx. 7:20pm

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🎢 DALLAS TRIP - May 8 & 9, 2026

The Dallas Trip has been officially approved by the district (Yay!) and the ONLINE PAYMENT PORTAL is OFFICIALLY OPEN! If you haven't made a first payment yet, we still have spots available. Don't Delay. Sign Up Today!

Preliminary itinerary:

We will take charter coach buses up to Dallas, leaving early Friday morning. 

After a lunchtime stop at Buc-ee's in Temple, we will arrive in Dallas and give a performance in a nice concert hall as part of the Lone Star Showcase of Music Festival! 

Then we will check in to our hotel (The Lamar by Marriot in Arlington) before going to a fun Friday night activity (Dinner and fun at Alley Cats Entertainment). 

After spending the night in the hotel, we will get up the next morning, enjoy a huge breakfast buffet, and then spend the rest of the day at Six Flags Over Texas! 

We will get back to SVMS around 9PM Saturday night (after another stop at Buc-ee's on the way home).

If this sounds like a lot of fun, then please sign up at the link below (...we also need parent chaperones to join us on this trip... 😃 )

This trip is open to EVERY 7th/8th grade Band, Choir, and Orchestra student who is in a performing ensemble.

SIGN UP HERE and make a payment today: https://bit.ly/svmsdallas

Students will pick their roomates for the hotel in their band class the day after the Holiday concert.

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🦁🦌🦅🐉 FOUR HOUSES - The House Sorting Project

At the beginning of the year, our students all took a personality sorting quiz to place them in one of four houses and all year, the kids have been earning points for their house by passing off skills and demonstrating good rehearsal fundamentals. 

We have posted a LIVE SCOREBOARD of the Band house points on our website here if you want to follow along and cheer for your favorite house! 😁 https://bit.ly/SVHouseSorting

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📲 REMIND Groups:

DON'T FORGET TO JOIN OUR REMIND GROUPS! STAY IN THE LOOP!

• All students and parents - https://www.remind.com/join/svmsbands -OR- TEXT @svmsbands to the number 81010

• 8th-grade students and parents only - https://www.remind.com/join/svband8 -OR- TEXT @svband8 to the number 81010

Once again, thank you for supporting your child's music education. 

The more they practice and the more they play, the more fun they'll have every day! 😄

-- 

James Hargreaves (j.hargreaves@comalisd.org)

Spencer Katz (spencer.katz@comalisd.org)

SVMS Band Directors

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"Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life."  ~Berthold Auerbach

Dear Students and Parents,

We’re thrilled to officially announce the Opening-of-Year House Social happening this Monday, September 8! We’ve mentioned it before, but now it’s time to get hyped for an afternoon of fun, games, and house spirit to kick off the school year right!

Event Details:

• When: Monday, right after school until 6:00 PM

• Where: Kicks off in the upper (practice) gym, shifts to house common rooms (large classroom spaces) from 4:30–5:30 PM, and ends in the Main Gym from 5:30–6:00 PM

• Pickup: Parents, please pick up your student at 6:00 PM out in the front of the school.

Important Info for Students Staying:

• Students staying for the social must have a parent complete this Google Form (<-- CLICK HERE) to confirm you’re aware they’re staying and will be picked up at 6:00 PM.

• Head to the upper (practice) gym right after school to join the fun!

• Show your house pride by wearing your house colors on Monday!

This is going to be an awesome way to connect with your house, play games, and start the year with a bang. Let’s make it a day to remember!

Thank you for supporting the SVMS band program. We can’t wait for an incredible year!

James Hargreaves (j.hargreaves@comalisd.org)

Spencer Katz (spencer.katz@comalisd.org)

SVMS Band Directors

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"Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life."  ~Berthold Auerbach

To all SVMS Band parents and students,

A new school year is upon us once again! We've got some awesome new things planned for this year and we can't wait to let you in on the news!

FIRST THINGS FIRST: Back-to-School Registration/Orientation

Back-to-school Registration/Orientation is happening TOMORROW and WEDNESDAY. Before you come to SVMS, we need EVERYONE to:

1. READ the new SVMS Band Handbook. We made some changes from last year that we think you will like.

2. Fill out an ONLINE REGISTRATION FORM for the SVMS BAND (It's FINALLY a Google Form this year! No more paper forms—for now!)

3. If using a school-owned instrument, complete a CISD Equipment Usage Agreement and bring it with you to registration.

GO to the REGISTRATION INFO page of our website for all the relevant documents and links. 

There is also a calendar of events for the year you can print and hang on your fridge, a materials list for the first day of school, and more!

SVMS Back-to-School Registration / Orientation / Schedule Pick-Up

• Incoming 6th graders: TOMORROW, TUESDAY, August 12 from 8:30am-11:30am or 2:00pm-5:00pm.

• Incoming 7th/8th graders: THIS WEDNESDAY, August 13 from 8:30am-11:30am or 2:00pm-5:00pm.

Please try to come at some point on one of the days listed above and say hello to your band directors (and other teachers too!). You will also have an opportunity to pay all your school fees at one time in one place, pick up your child's schedule, and tour the campus.
Ensure you fill out our SVMS Band Online Registration Form before you come to registration. This will help limit confusion around band fees and documents on the day of.

Sign up for our REMIND groups:

• All students and parents: https://www.remind.com/join/svmsbands  -OR- TEXT @svmsbands to 81010

• 8th-grade students and parents only: https://www.remind.com/join/svband8  -OR- TEXT @svband8 to 81010

SECOND THINGS SECOND: Incoming Beginning Band Students

Incoming Beginning Band Students ... WE CAN'T WAIT TO MAKE MUSIC WITH YOU! 

But we can't do that if you don't have an instrument.

To get an instrument, follow these steps:

• If you already know what instrument you will be playing this year, go to the Beginning-Band Page on our website to find our instrument supply letter.

• If you missed the interviews or haven't received a confirmation email or phone call with your child's instrument placement, LET US KNOW! 

We want to help your child get set and READY to ROCK this school year! Let us know your child's instrument preferences by filling out the Google form here: http://bit.ly/Join-The-Band. (Just ignore the questions about picking an interview. Those were back in April...)

• Beginners will NOT need an instrument the first week of school. Don't wait to order one though. You will need it secured by the second week. We start playing on the third week of school. LET US KNOW IF YOU NEED HELP WITH THIS. We are happy to help guide you through this new endeavor. 😁

NOW, THE AWESOME STUFF:

Last year, we piloted a new practice incentive program called the "House Sorting Project" (also called the "Four Houses of the SVMS Mustang Band"). If you were a part of that experiment last year, THANK YOU! It was so successful, that ALL of SVMS will be participating in it this year!

That's right, this year ALL students (and Teachers and Staff) will be sorted into one of four unique teams or "houses" that will act as a sort of family for them this school year. These families will extend beyond their clubs, grade levels, and class periods and help link students to the wider SVMS community. It is our hope that this link will provide our younger students with peer mentors who can help them throughout the year AND provide our older students with opportunities for leadership and growth. 

The four houses are called Impact, Serenade, Spark, and Bravura.  Each house has an associated mascot and coat of arms, as well as specific personality characteristics common to members of that house.

After the first day of school, students will take the House Sorting Quiz (with their school Gmail account) during their advisory period. This is a personality-style google form that will sort the students into their house. Results of the quiz will be released about a week later. Students who were already in a house last year will not need to take the quiz again as they will remain in their house as elders and leaders who will guide the culture and traditions of their house.

All the other details about this exciting project can be found on the "Four Houses" page of our website.

Parents, if you have any questions about this program, please do not hesitate to reach out. This is a fun new tradition for our band program and we welcome any thoughts or insights you might have.

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We are truly excited about all the fun this year has in store. The longer we teach, the more we understand that each new year is an adventure; with new faces to match with names, new personalities to mix with old, and new musical frontiers to explore. We look forward to going on this journey with you and your child and we can't wait to discover where the music will take us next! 

If you run into any questions or concerns as we get this new year started, please feel free to reach out.

Thanks again,

James Hargreaves (j.hargreaves@comalisd.org)

Spencer Katz (spencer.katz@comalisd.org)

SVMS Band Directors

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"Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life."  ~Berthold Auerbach