Weekly email blast:
June 14
Hello, marching band families! All students and parents are copied.
Welcome to the new season of the RFH Marching Bulldogs! We are so happy to have returning members and new members on board for an exciting season ahead.
1—TO-DO LIST Thank you for doing the one or two items below! In late July I will send more to-dos (marching band app, band shoes, Arbiter portal).
1. EVERYONE: Please order your required casual apparel from Athlete's Alley. ONLINE STORE OPEN NOW THROUGH JULY 5
New members should order the bundle (all other items are optional). Please note that the "men's" bundle can be for anyone. Many members like the longer "men's" mesh shorts, which are comfortable to wear by themselves as well as underneath band uniform pants.
Current members may choose any items they'd like to refresh their band wardrobe. Please remember that you need your RFH marching band t-shirt for multiple occasions, including if you would like to take your uniform jacket off for 3rd quarter at football games!
Everything gets delivered to band camp in August
2. COLOR GUARD ONLY: Please look at the size chart for this costume tell us ASAP which size costume you prefer! We need to order costumes on July 1 to get them in time for the season.
2—Access the calendar at any time through this Google Doc, also on our band website under "events." I will have a Google Calendar up soon. During the season I send weekly emails on Sundays reminding you what is coming up for the week.
3—See how you fit into the big picture by taking a look at this spreadsheet! It's a roster that shows all of our members and which parts/roles they play. Do you have a friend who hasn't joined band yet, but you want them to? Please have your friend and their parent(s) email me ASAP! We can add color guard members for approximately two more weeks (costume deadline is July 1). We can add musicians for approximately another month (when I start writing each person a unique drill spot in the halftime show)
4—Musicians: Consider taking summer lessons so that you can arrive at band camp feeling your most confident! Contact Mx. Chayette ASAP to see if they can fit you into their summer schedule (chayettem@fairhaven.edu), ask Mr. Lebitsch or Mr. Lorelli for a recommendation, or arrange for lessons at Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank (formerly Monmouth Conservatory).
I know lot of you like to practice in July, whether you're taking lessons or not, so here is everything you could need or want when you practice:
"ICARUS," our 2026 field show, is in the linked folder. We are working with the arranger on some revisions, but the existing parts will not change so much that you can't practice them now.
Warm-ups are here. We typically learn: 9 count tones in F and Bb, Flexibility #1 for everyone and #2 for brass only, Note Length Shape, Chorale #3.
Pep tunes are here. We typically begin the season with Across the Field, Hey Song, Land of 1000 Dance, Louie Louie (there will be more)
Don't worry—the student leaders and I will print hard copies of all of this music for you for band camp!
5—Parents: Consider joining the parent Facebook page! Also, this email went to the address(es) you entered on the 2026 sign-up form. If you have a different preferred email, or just additional addresses, send them to me and I'll get them on the distribution list.
6—Music In the Parks is offering discount tickets to Hersheypark for performers and their families. Follow this link and use the code "MITP"
7—TRAILER UPDATE: The trailer is getting delivered on MONDAY! We will pick it up with a school truck on Monday afternoon and park it in the usual spot, where you can come take a look. The next stop will be Powerhouse Signworks to get our name, graphic, and sponsor decals. For our new member families who may not know, we undertook a HUGE fundraiser this spring to purchase a new, 24-foot trailer to haul all of our equipment.
Thank you!
Dr. M/Sara