The Wenatchee High School Golden Apple Band is an award winning band. This requires a lot of practice and dedication from students, teachers, coaches, and parents. It is so exciting to see how much our students improve from the first days of band camp to the last band competition. We are pleased that you have decided to be a member of this great team!
(For other helpful pages go to the pull down menu under Parent Survival)
Question: What is Band Boosters?
Answer:
All band members’ parents/guardians are members of the Band Boosters. It’s a group dedicated to promoting music in general and the GA Band in particular.
The Boosters meet the 2nd Monday of the month during the school year.
They organize many fundraising opportunities for the band members individually and as a group.
They assist with staffing the concession stand, chaperoning trips, monitoring rooms for solo/ensemble contests, and encouraging kids to join the band.
Parents, grandparents, siblings are a huge part of the success of the GA Band!
Question: Are there places on the Internet where I can get more info about GA Band?
Answer:
Absolutely! Check out the WHS GA Band on Facebook - search "Wenatchee GA Band" to see pictures, videos of competitions and schedule of events. https://www.facebook.com/Wenatchee-GA-Band-Boosters-303943482950094/?fref=ts
For parents - search "Wenatchee GA Band Boosters" to stay involved. You can also find videos on YouTube by searching “Wenatchee Golden Apple Band”.
Sign up for remind and check the front page of your Band Booster Website.
Find the Band Booster secretary and make sure you get on the email list. Attending the first Band Booster meeting is helpful or any of them. They are on the 2nd Monday of every month.
Question: Are there any other important things my parents and I should know about GA Band?
Answer:
Joining GA Band helps students transition to the high school.
After band camp, you’ll have 80 new friends including upper classmen!
This award winning band will teach you discipline, perseverance, organizational skills, teamwork, and instill pride.
Question: I’ve heard it costs a lot of money to be in Band. How do I pay for it?
Answer:
The “Fair Share” cost for being in Band is approx. $225.00. There are additional costs, such as buying shoes, polo shirt, dry cleaning your uniform, a section sweatshirt, the spring trip…
The Band Boosters provides several ways for students to earn the money to pay for these expenses including working at the Walla Walla Point concession stand ($20.00 per 3 hour shift is credited to your band account), (transportation may be available) also fund raisers, such as coffee and candy sales.
Collecting clothing for a cause has been a way band members have paid for the expenses. Clothes, textiles, shoes, ect. are collected in garbage bags. Each bag should weigh 20lb. and labeled. Information about drop off will be sent home with students.
There is also the possibility for scholarships to cover “fair share” costs and/or instrument rental, etc. The school has large instruments for student use, but not smaller instruments i.e. flutes, clarinets, and alto saxophones.
Question: I want to play sports. Can I do both sports and band?
Answer:
YES! However, COMMUNICATION is the name of the game! Notify coaches and Mr. Kovach of any conflicts in the practice/game schedules. A band performance or a sporting event takes priority over a practice for the other activity.
Athletic practices and band rehearsals are usually split.
At the beginning of the season, map out the band and sporting practices. If there is a conflict between a preformance and a game then the student, not coach or band instructor, decides which he/she will attend. This needs to be decided early in the season and communicated early to coaches and instructors.
Question: I’ve heard there is something called “Band Camp”. What is it? Is it required?
Answer:
Band Camp is two weeks of intensive 8:00am-5:00pm practices that takes place the last two weeks in August prior to school starting. On Monday and Thursday of these two weeks, the band will also practice from 6:00pm-8:00pm.
During Band Camp, the band will be learning their field show routine. All GA band members are required to attend.
There is an extra ½ day orientation session for incoming freshmen, the week before band camp starts.
Many parents watch some or all these practices.
At the last practice, there is a pot luck for family members and students.
Question: I know band is a class, but are there required practices outside of school?
Answer:
During the fall competition season (September through the first week of November), the band practices at the high school track every Monday and Thursday night from 6:00-9:00pm. Again many parents watch some or all of these practices.
Additional practices outside of school time will also occur in the spring during the parade marching season (Monday and Thursday nights from 6-8.)
Question: When does the band perform?
Answer:
The band will perform at home football games, girls’ and boys’ home basketball games.
They also go to approximately five out of town marching competitions on Saturdays in October and November. The kids meet at the high school early to board the buses and then return usually around midnight or later. Here is a link to get an idea what a competition looks like: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZL5ff_8jcmQ&feature=youtu.be
They march at the Veterans’ Day parade, November 11, and the Apple Blossom parade in April.
In January, students will also participate in the state solo/ensemble competition.
The band will also takes one major trip in the spring to such destinations as Victoria, B.C., Disneyland, or Silverwood Theme Park.
May is marching season with the band marching in our Apple Blossom parade and more.
The band also preforms in a winter (December) and spring (May) concert.
Question: What are the requirements for being in the different band classes at the high school?
Answer:
Percussion and GA Band are two separate classes; however, the two groups practice and perform together for field show competitions, sports, parades, and special events.
Wind Ensemble is a separate class, and there is an audition in order to be accepted into the class.
Students who want to participate in the zero period (before school) Jazz Band, must also be a member of GA, Percussion, or Wind Ensemble class.