Hey, Band! Welcome to Stratford High School s Award-Winning Band and Color Guard. This is your introduction to the inner workings of the experience called Band. Communication The band during the year has a lot of moving parts and communication is key. We have many different ways to get the latest information to our band family. Here are some websites you need to bookmark. You will reference them many times and they are used throughout the year. Website: https://stratfordband.com/!! This website is your one-stop shop for band information. You will find Band and Color Guard calendars, forms, contacts, FAQs, directions, etc. Whew! You need this site!! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/241266949226897/ This page is used to communicate schedule changes, last minute reminders, photos, party updates, etc. Whew! You need this page. Charms: https://stratfordband.com/new-student-info/charms/ This is the vehicle by which the Director sends direct group emails. Remind: Band: Text @stratfor to 81010 to join the Stratford Band Remind. You can't complain about not being informed if you don't have this app! Color Guard: Text @sparths173 to 81010 to join the Stratford Band Color Guard remind. For more information on the Stratford Band please check out our website!!!!! https://stratfordband.com/
Marching Season Marching season schedule goes from summer (late-july/early-august) through the end of the football season. This could even include Thanksgiving (unfortunately the football team hasn t made it that far in the playoffs since becoming 6A). It is broken into the following parts: Summer Band Rehearsals: Check the website for the rehearsal schedule. https://stratfordband.com/ It is very important to attend these rehearsals because this is where the band members learn the routine for the season and bond with their band family. It is critical that they bring a large thermos of water, comfortable shoes, sunscreen, and wear a white t-shirt. (Hat and sunglasses are optional) Band Rush: Usually the first week of August (on a Saturday). This is an important day. The kids are fitted for their band and color guard uniform. Alterations are done if necessary. This is the opportunity to pay fees, get band t-shirts, order band merchandise, join Band Boosters, purchase Outback dinner tickets (more on this below), and sign up for volunteer opportunities. The parents usually attend with new students. Outback Dinner: On the last day of rehearsals, we have an Outback dinner, a band performance and our first Band Booster meeting in the school cafeteria after rehearsals. You will be amazed at how much your student has learned in the summer rehearsals. You can buy tickets at Band Rush. School Starts Rehearsals Schedule Monday through Thursday 4-6pm. The students have time after school to get a snack at one of the restaurants across Dairy Ashford, attend tutorials or meet with teachers each day in the time between school dismissal and rehearsal beginning. They will still need the thermos of water, comfortable shoes, and wear a white t-shirt. Football Games The band only plays at Varsity football games. The schedule will be on the calendar on the band website. Usually the students stay at school and hang out with friends before the games. The students also get snacks after their halftime performance during the game chips, cookies, crackers and apples (LOVE THE APPLES!!). At the beginning of the season, the students wear khaki shorts and a band t-shirt (purchased at Band Rush). In the middle of the season, they will switch to their band uniforms.
Pep Rally: On the day of the football games, the band wears band t-shirt and shorts. The band will be dismissed from their classes, gather at the band hall and go to the gym where the pep rally is held. Parents are welcome to attend! Home games: Played at Tully Stadium. The band gathers usually around 5 to get dressed and get their instruments. They march over to the stadium about 6pm. Chaperones and Pit Crew go over with the band as well. Away games: The band meets after school, gets dressed, eats a meal provided by band family/ies, loads the buses and goes to the opponent s stadium. Frequently the away games within the district are played at Tully Stadium. The band returns to school about 10:30-10:45 from the away games. The students ride the bus to and from the game. Parents do not pick their student up at the game to take them home unless there are special circumstances and they have notified the directors in advance. Chaperones ride the bus to/from the game. Band Parties: After home games, the band gathers at the home of one of the students for a party usually until 12:00am. Parents are always welcome, each class brings something and the officers stay to help cleanup. Marching Competition Band Extravaganza: A SBISD event with the 4 High schools and their feeder middle schools to showcase the schools programs and the High Schools competition marching programs. Battle at the Berry: An Area event for the High Schools to perform their marching programs and get critical feedback prior to the UIL Competition. UIL Marching Competition: In October, the band has UIL marching competitions. These are on 2 Saturdays in October. Stratford competes against other 6A schools in our region. The competitions are usually at the Berry Center. The band meets at Stratford and goes by bus to the Berry Center. The schedule will depend on the competition schedule. The directors will let you know the schedule.
The Individual Musician Private Lessons: There are many opportunities for the student musician to excel on their individual instrument. Each instrument has private lesson teacher (approved by the district) available for hire. Contact your directors for the private lesson instructor's contact information. Region Band: While this competition is optional for band members, it is highly recommended if your student is interested in being placed in the Honor Band during concert season. UIL Solo & Ensemble Competition: This competition is for the Individual solo and ensemble performances and is usually in February. All students are required to participate and fees are included in the band fees paid at Band Rush. Spring trip: Spring trip is usually around March/April. The band stays in-state (i.e. Dallas, San Antonio) every other year. The other years, they go out of state (i.e. Colorado, Florida). This trip is optional and has fees associated with it. You can sell fundraising items to reduce the amount you will owe. Concert Season Bands: At the end of Marching season, the students will audition for Concert, Symphonic, Honor Bands using the region audition music. Placement in these band will affect their schedule and after school practices for the spring semester. Winter Concert: The band will perform a winter concert in December in the auditorium. You can see Symphonic, Honor Band and Jazz Band. Spring Concert: The band usually has a Spring Concert in March in the auditorium to showcase their UIL competition music. UIL Concert and Sight Reading Contest: In April, The Symphonic (Concert band students will be included with the Symphonic band on an individual basis) and Honor Bands will participate in the concert and sight-reading competition usually held at one of the Cy-Fair schools.
End Of Year Band Banquet: In May we have the end of year band banquet. This is organized by the Senior Class and their parents. Awards, recognitions, dinner, slide show, skit, games, dancing...in other words, loads of fun. Parents are welcome. Senior Awards and End of Year Concert: Competition is finished for the year and the Winter Guard, Symphonic, Honor and Jazz Bands gather for one last performance. The seniors are recognized and Band Booster Scholarships are awarded. Running for the Arts: The SBISD Running for the Arts is usually held the 1 st Saturday in May. The band is required to play at this event. This is an opportunity to raise money for the Arts in SBISD. Color Guard/Drum line auditions: In May, we have auditions for Color Guard and Drum Line. Drum Major, Officer Drum Line Auditions: Band students can audition for leadership positions in the band, also held in May. Fees All fees go into a Band/Color Guard Activity Fund and cover costs including marching show music/drill/design, competition fees, uniforms, uniform cleaning and repairs, UIL Solo & Ensemble fees and accompanist. Check out our Band Handbook! https://stratfordband.com/general-information/band-handbookand-information/ Stratford Band Boosters The Stratford Band Boosters is a 501(c)3 organization and donations are tax deductible. Donations pay for uniforms, equipment, clinician fees, scholarships, drum major camp, middle school night, senior recognitions, show props, director expenses, food and beverages. The elected officers of the Band Boosters are as follows, President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Membership, Parent Fundraising, Student Fundraising and Parliamentarian. Standing Committees include the following, Color Guard, Mums, Publicity, Spirit, Uniforms, Webmaster
Volunteer Opportunities There are many volunteer opportunities. Sign up early. They fill up quickly. Pit crew: Help with the band with equipment at all games. If you sign up for this, you need to commit to attend all games (away and home). If interested, please contact the Band Booster Pit Chief. Chaperones for Games: Help chaperone the kids at the games. A list will be sent out at the beginning of the year so you can sign up for the games you want. If interested, please contact the Band Booster Chaperone Chair. Game Food/Drinks: Provide snacks/water for the band for the games. A Sign-up Genius will be sent out for you to sign up for the games. Banquet: Help with the Outback Banquet and End of Year Band Banquet. Responsibilities include Planning, Catering Coordination, Decorations, Check-in, Set Up, Take Down, Chaperones (end of year) Mum Central: There are lots of opportunities to help with this. A family volunteers their house for all the mum making. You can work during the week or on weekends. You help in any aspect of mum making. No experience or crafting talent necessary. This is a GREAT way to meet other band parents. Lots of fun. This is the Band s main fundraiser during the year. If interested, please contact the Mum Queen. Band rush: Help with Band Rush at the beginning of the year. We especially need help with alterations if you have some sewing skills. If interested, please contact the Band Booster Membership Chair. Scholarship committee: Reviews senior scholarship applications and award scholarship. If interested in heading up this committee, please contact the Band Booster President. A Sign-up Genius will be sent out after the Spring Concert for committee member volunteers. Hospitality: After our concerts we host a reception in the cafeteria. We d like a volunteer to coordinate this effort. If interested contact the Booster President for more information.
Band Terms Bigs & Littles Each Junior and Senior (Big) has a Freshman or Sophomore (Little) as a partner. Each week they give each other small gifts at the games. They alternate weeks so the Bigs give the 1 st game and the Littles give the next one. The gifts are small. They can include candy, small toys or random objects. They exchange information about what things they like. Hey, Band! This greeting calls the band to attention. You will hear it a lot. Middle School Night football game where middle school students attend with the band. Concert Band Band class that focuses on music fundamentals that will enable the musician to move on to Symphonic Band. By audition. Symphonic Band Junior Varsity Band. By audition. Honor Band - Varsity Band. By audition. Jazz Band- Band members have the opportunity to participate in this band after marching season and before the End of Year Concert. By audition. Full Orchestra Select members of the Stratford Band participate with the Stratford Orchestra. By audition. Playhouse Orchestra - Select members of the Stratford Band participate with the Stratford Playhouse Orchestra. By audition. Mums - The Homecoming Mum is a decidedly Texan thing and Stratford High School is no different. The SHS Band has been making and selling mums for as long as most of us can remember and it is or largest fundraiser. Harvey struck a horrible blow to Mum Central (the name for the Host house) and destroyed most of our supplies. Mum Central my have a different look this year, but the band will be making mums. Tamales This is another, very delicious, fundraiser for the band. Color Guard This part of the band consists of musicians and non-musicians who perform with flags, rifles and props during the marching season and compete against other color guards in flag, rifle and sword choreographed routines during Winter Guard Season. No experience is needed to audition at the end of each school year. Loading crew Band members who help load the instruments and equipment for games and performances.