Week of September 20

 

Football Pep Band

Our next football pep band performance is this coming Friday, September 24th.  This is a required, graded performance unless a school-related game/match/meet/etc. conflicts. See this page for more information on pep band conflicts. 

Each game is at Titan Stadium and students must provide their own transportation to and from the stadium. Students should be at Titan no later than 45 minutes before the game time. We will begin playing approximately 30 minutes before game time. We will play pregame at all three games and halftime on October 8th. When we play halftime, students may sit in the student section during the first half but should be back down on the track with two minutes left on the clock before halftime to prepare for the second performance. After we are done with our performance, students should pack up their equipment and either take it to the trailer to be taken back to West or take it home. Please note that instruments will be left on the trailer until Monday.

The uniform for these games is West or blue and white gear or the student section theme, with considerations taken for the weather.

Final Uniform Fitting Dates

All students enrolled in band must be fitted for a marching band uniform and men (and women upon request) will also be fitted for a concert tuxedo.  We have ONE FINAL FITTING on this coming Wednesday, September 22nd rom 3:30-5:00. There will be no further opportunities to be fit for a uniform after these three dates. Please make sure that your student is fit so that they can be a part of the performances!

You may come at any point during the window and the fitting should take 15 minutes or less.  Fittings will be in the auditorium lobby.  Please enter door #33 off of Eagle Street.

In order to make this afternoon run smoothly, we will need 5-6 parents and 5-6 students to help move students through the fitting process.  No experience is necessary!  We will meet at 3:15 to briefly show everyone how to fit students properly and assign volunteers to the various tasks.  If you are willing to help out our students, please take a moment to visit our Volunteer Sign-Up page to contribute to your student’s success! If you are not available for the full time, no problem -- any time is helpful!

Volunteers

With a large band program comes the need for parent help in many areas at various points throughout the year. All parents and guardians of band students are part of the Oshkosh West Band Parent Organization. Like any support organization, success is dependent on the participation and contributions of its members. We are proud to have an extremely active Band Parent Organization. The group is parent-run and has two main focuses: raising funds to support student activities and assisting with tasks such as uniform fitting, distribution and collection, meal distribution for parades and many other tasks throughout the year.

The events that we need assistance with the most at this point is the uniform fitting afternoon, but we will also need help with the holiday parades and at other points throughout the year. Please take a moment to visit our Volunteer Sign-Up page to contribute to your student’s success!

Current Fundraiser

Last week, we kicked off the first fundraiser of the year: Caramel Crisp's Best.Cookies.Ever!

Every student can benefit from this fundraiser, as we will all be traveling at least once with the bands this year. Many students are traveling to Orlando in March and everyone will travel to Milwaukee to perform at a concert competition in May (cost will be $50-$75, depending on student voting outcomes in November — more info to come!).

Please take a look at the linked brochure! Some highlights are listed below.

Important Information:

  • Start Date: September 13, 2021

  • Orders and Payments Due By: October 4, 2021

  • Pick-Up: Tentatively October 20, 2021, from 3:30-4:30 in the Kimbal Auditorium Lobby (please see note in brochure)

  • Profit: 25%

  • Catalog: Click Here! (also available in class)

  • Order Form: Click Here! (also available in class)

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.  

ALL woodwind and brass students will need a Korg TM-60 Metronome/Tuner with 1/4“ jack and Peterson TP3 Contact Microphone or similar 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.  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.

The school offers two options to assist families in acquiring these items.  First, students wishing to purchase the combo can receive a discount if purchased through the school for $30.  Students can also purchase the two components separately as replacements.  Second, students may rent the combo from the school for the year for $20.  This includes batteries for the duration of the year.  Students will be responsible for returning the combo in good working condition. 

Families wishing to participate in either program must purchase through the band website. There, you can either pay by credit/debit card or choose to pay in person by cash or check. (If paying by cash or check, disregard the processing fee.) 

A complete list of required items for each instrument can be found on this page on our website.  We have a graded supply check today (September 20th).

Oshkosh West Bands