Week of September 28, 2026
Homecoming Week (Sept.28-Oct.2)
West Band students will be performing for homecoming on Friday, October 2nd. We will be performing at the Pep Rally that happens during an extended W-Hour during the school day. In the evening, all band members will perform Pep Band at the Homecoming Football Game
The Homecoming Parade is not a required performance for all band students. We are trying to find a flat bed trailer to have some students ride in the parade and perform pep band music. If you, or someone you know, has a trailer that you can loan us, please contact Mr. Singer.
Required Supplies for Success in Band
Each West band student has required materials in order for them to be successful. Most students have had these supplies required since 6th grade, though you may have run out of some items or they may have been lost. A complete list of required items for each instrument can be found on this page on our website. These items are necessary for each student to succeed. If you have a financial situation that prevents you from acquiring these items, please contact Mr. Singer.
ALL woodwind and brass students will need a Korg TM-60 Metronome/Tuner with 1/4“ jack and Peterson TP3 Contact Microphone (or Korg TM-70 Metronome/Tuner & Korg CM-400 Contact Microphone, the newest model) in good working order. Please do not purchase a single-unit guitar tuner. These do not have the necessary features and do not attach to band instruments in a way that allows the student to read music properly. We have chosen the Peterson TP3 contact microphone for its increased durability, but that only works with the TM-60, it will not work with a TM-70. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors, if either part of your setup from last year doesn’t function, you must have a working replacement for this school year.
We encourage students to have their own tuners and contact microphones. However, this year, we are able to remove the tuner rental fee for students who need to use a school-owned tuner and contact microphone. Families of students using school-owned equipment are financially responsible for damages beyond normal wear-and-tear. Batteries are available, free-of-charge, for all students.
Families can purchase tuners and contact microphones through local music stores (such as Heid Music) or various on-line stores. Please make sure to purchase the models listed above and not other tuners as they do not have the necessary features.
Fall Concert
Our fall concert is next month! All four concert band classes and the jazz ensemble will perform on Thursday, October 29th. The students have started their preparation. Below is some pertinent information for the concert.
Call time is 6:30pm. Students should be at West and ready to go no later than 6:30pm. We will be doing our final preparations through fundamentals and tuning.
The auditorium seating area will open at 7:15pm. Please do not arrive earlier than 7:15 as the auditorium won’t be open until 15 minutes before the concert. Those who arrive early may wait in the lobby.
Concert time is 7:30pm. The concert should be just over an hour and features 190 musicians! Students are expected to stay for the entire concert and we encourage families to do the same!
Concert dress is as follows:
Please choose from the following items. Each item must be ALL-BLACK in a semi-formal style.
ALL-BLACK button-down shirt
ALL-BLACK polo shirt
ALL-BLACK sweater
ALL-BLACK blouse
ALL-BLACK dress
ALL-BLACK skirt
ALL-BLACK dress pants
Please pair long, calf-length ALL-BLACK socks, ALL-BLACK dress shoes, ALL-BLACK leggings, and/or ALL-BLACK hosiery as appropriate.
Please note that the following items do not fit in the dress code: t-shirts, hoodies, sweatpants, jeans, shorts of any kind, tennis shoes, crocs, flip-flops, sandals, or slides. Students dressed improperly will not be permitted to perform.
Families who need help acquiring any uniform item should contact the directors for assistance. We NEVER want students to miss an opportunity due to financial hardship. We can help with advance notice!
More information can be found here. Also, please take a look at this presentation for the dos and don’ts of “Concert Black” concert attire.
Band Uniform Fittings
Soon we will be setting a date to fit every West Band student with a marching band uniform. Stay tuned for updates. Many student and adult volunteers will be needed. More information coming soon.
Grading and Make-Up Procedures
Are you curious about how grades are determined? Click here for more information!
Do you have to miss a pep band performance? Students who have a school-related activity are excused from the pep band performance. Students missing for any other reason must make up the performance to gain the points. Students wishing to be excused for a school-related activity should fill out this form prior to the date of the performance.
Do you have to miss a concert or parade performance? All students missing a concert or parade performance for any reason must make up the performance to earn the points.
View make-up procedures here. Please contact Mr. Singer or Mr. Wilson with questions.
Performance Calendar
We have a great year full of a variety of performance opportunities planned for our students! Please check out this page on our website to subscribe to our band calendar or to view and print a PDF of the band events. When looking at the PDF calendar, please take note of the rightmost column which denotes which students are participating in the event.
Each performance is a demonstration of musical skills by the students. Since band is a class and performances are a part of the learning process as well as graded public demonstrations of skills learned, attendance and participation at each performance is expected, required, and graded. If a student must miss a performance, we do have opportunities for students to make-up the missed points. The procedures can be viewed on this page on our website.
Students who are participating in a school-related activity (game/match/meet/etc.) during a pep band performance are excused. This may include being on the team playing while we perform or on a team that has an away event during our performance. To be excused, students must fill out this form on our website prior to the beginning of the performance. We recommend filling out the form for all absences once the team calendar is released. Our athletic director states that performances supersede practices. The same is true the other way around — games/matches/meets/etc. supersede band practices. With that said, coaches aren't allowed to hold this against students in any way, especially by reducing playing time. If this is an issue, please let the director or Kel Van Sistine (athletic director) know and we can work it out with the coach.
When planning absences during the school year, please try to avoid performance dates so that your student has the opportunity to be a part of the full experience of a performance with their classmates.
Upcoming Events
Click on each event for more complete information!
