CCISD PRE-UIL MARCHING CONTEST

The CCISD Pre-UIL Marching Contest is our first opportunity to see the Charger Band perform in a contest setting. It is a dress rehearsal for all the CCISD bands to kick the contest season.

There is no admission fee.

The evening’s performance schedule is as follows:

6:45 PM – Clear Springs
7:00 PM – Clear Falls
7:15 PM – Clear Creek
7:30 PM – Clear Brook
7:45 PM – Clear Lake

Location/Schedule:
Tuesday, October 3

3:45 PM – Rehearsal
4:45 PM – Load Truck, Change into Full Uniform, Dinner
5:45 PM – Line up in Band Hall
5:55 PM – Depart CSHS
6:45 PM – Perform
7:00 PM – Load Truck
7:30 PM – Depart Challenger Columbia Stadium
7:40 PM – Arrive CSHS, Unload Truck, Check in uniform
8:15 PM – All students picked up

Challenger Columbia Stadium
1955 W Nasa Blvd, Webster, TX 77598 (map)

Please come and support the band and encourage any other friends/family to come as it is always more enjoyable for the students to perform at a contest with a large cheering section. Family and friends can show their support by cheering louder than any other band’s supporters. We should hear an especially loud cheer both when they announce our band at the beginning of our performance and at the conclusion of our performance. Applause is also needed after solos, section features, and big musical or visual moments. This is not like concert season. A lot of applause is highly encouraged.

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HOW TO WEAR YOUR UNIFORM

What To Do In Uniform:
  • Walk in pairs (e.g. when going to the restroom)
  • Double knot shoes
  • Always wear full uniform (unless instructed by director)
  • Gloves, shakos, and jacket must be put on or taken off when instructed to do so by directors
What Not To Do In Uniform:
  • No running in uniform
  • No eating in uniform (except 3rd quarter snack or where authorized by directors)
  • No inappropriate language
  • No jewelry (e.g. earrings, necklaces, bracelets, watches, etc…)
  • No bandanas or thick headbands
  • No sunglasses (unless authorized by directors)
What Should Be In Hat Box:
  • Shako
  • Gloves
  • Flip folder
  • Lyre
  • Nothing else is permitted in the hat box, especially food of any kind.
Gloves:
  • When not being worn gloves should be in pants pocket.  Gloves should be put in hat box for transport.
Shakos (band hat):

To wear your shako correctly,

  • Place two fingers flat on your nose and pull the brim down until the brim touches your fingers.
  • If you wear glasses, pull the brim down until the brim touches the top of your glasses.
  • Adjust string inside so that the shako touches the top of your ears
  • Adjust chin strap so that it fits securely underneath chin at all times while wearing shako.
  • Forehead must not be visible.

When not wearing shako,

  • Put in hat box.
  • If hat box is not available then place shako in front of you, right side up, with brim facing forward, and chin strap pulled behind.
  • Shako should never be upside down.
  • When carrying shako, you must carry in the left hand with 3 fingers over brim and thumb and pinky underneath.
  • Never carry shako upside down or use it as a bucket to carry other items.
Bibbers:
  • Lightweight properly fitting athletic shorts must be worn underneath the pants (not thick or oversized).
  • Bibbers are either completely on or completely off as instructed by directors.
  • Suspenders should be up over the shoulders.
  • Bibbers should always be zipped.
  • Pants should fit with a very tailored look (not baggy or loose).
  • Suspenders should be tightened enough so that the crotch of the pants is in the correct position.
  • Hem of pants should be adjusted so that the pants touch the top of the shoe without a break in the crease.
  • Students should never ever under any circumstance take the suspenders off, unzip the pants, and roll down the top of the bibbers so that they are around the waist.
  • When not worn, bibbers must be properly placed on a hanger (creases matching) and in the garment bag.
Jackets:
  • Jackets are completely on or completely off as instructed by directors.
  • Students should never walk around with their uniform unzipped.
  • Jackets must be fully zipped.  The one exception is that jackets must be halfway unzipped during uniform inspection so that we can check to make sure students have the correct t-shirt on underneath their jackets.  Jackets must be zipped before students leave the band hall.
  • When not wearing jacket it must be on a hanger in garment bag or folded correctly and placed on top of the shako.
  • Your uniform should never touch the ground.  The one exception will be that pit and tubas will turn their jackets inside out and then fold them and place on the ground when instructed.
  • When carrying shako and folded uniform, place folded uniform on left forearm underneath shako (use shako to hold jacket in place).  This is how we will enter the stands at football games.
Hair:
  • Long hair must be tied back when not wearing shakos.
  • When wearing shakos, all hair must be up inside the shako.
  • Hair must not extend below the top of the jacket’s collar.
  • Hair must not cover ears.
  • Bangs must not be visible under the brim.  This should be checked before game day.
  • All students (male and female) whose hair is not short, must use thin black hair ties, thin black headband, bobby pins, and/or hair spray to keep their hair up inside their shako.  Alternatively, students can get a hair cut.
  • No excessive makeup, extreme hairstyles as determined by the director, or any other decorations that may detract from uniformity are allowed.

Posted on by admin.

Game Day Checklist – FULL UNIFORM – NEW INFORMATION

Please make sure that you have the following items with you for all Football games that require the Full Uniform.  We will have a uniform inspection in the band hall before departing for the game to check for all of these items except some instruments (see below).  Students missing items will either need to purchase new items or will be sent home.

Full uniform = Black band jacket, black band bibbers (pants), plain calf-length black socks, black band shoes, black gloves (winds only), blue band shirt with white horse head on back of neck worn under uniform.

What should be brought to school in school-issued tote bag and taken home after the game:
  • Instrument (flute, clarinet)
  • Lyre
  • Flip Folder
  • Black Band Shoes
  • Calf-Length Black Socks
  • Blue moisture-wicking shirt with horse head logo on back of neck
  • Gloves (woodwinds & brass)
  • Hat box with shako inside
  • Black shorts with black belt (in case of rain)
  • School-issued garment bag
  • Empty blue band water jug
What should be loaded on truck:
  • Instrument (except flutes and clarinets) and instrument accessories (e.g. reeds, valve oil, sticks, harnesses, etc….)
  • Lyre
What you need for uniform inspection:

Please be fully dressed in the full uniform for uniform inspection.

  • Flutes and Clarinets inside tote bag
  • Flip folder (containing ALL stand tunes in order) Do NOT load this on the truck.
  • Blue half gallon water jug purchased at Equipment Night
  • Black band tote bag – checked out to you for season
  • Black band garment bag – checked out to you for season
  • Uniform hangers
  • Marching uniform jacket (checkout AFTER dinner)
  • Marching uniform pants (checkout AFTER dinner)
  • Blue sweat-wicking t-shirt with horse head on the back
  • Plain calf length black socks
  • Black band shoes
  • Hat box
  • Shako (that is the band hat) inside hat box inside tote bag
  • Black band gloves
  • Black shorts (in case it rains)
  • Plain black leather or faux-leather belt [NO bling] (in case it rains)
  • Longer hair tied back with plain THIN/SKINNY BLACK hair tie
What you cannot have:

This is not a comprehensive list, only a list of the most common items that students bring that they are not allowed to have.

  • No jewelry such as earrings, necklaces, bracelets, wristwatches, anklets, etc…
  • No thick/wide or colored headbands (students may wear a THIN/SKINNY BLACK headband to keep there bangs out of their face)
  • No Sunglasses
  • Phones must remain out of sight at all times

Posted on by admin.

GAME 3 vs. Creek – SENIOR NIGHT

Schedule/Location:
Friday, September 29

3:00 Rehearsal
4:00 Load Truck/Eat Dinner/Change into full uniform
4:45 Chaperone Meeting outside Band Hall
5:00 Inspection in the Band Hall
5:15 Depart CSHS
5:50 Arrive Veterans Memorial Stadium
6:15 Senior Night begins
7:00 Kickoff
10:00 Depart Veterans Memorial Stadium
10:20 Arrive CSHS
10:50 Band Hall closes/last student picked up

Veterans Memorial Stadium
2305 E Main St, League City, TX 77573 (map)

This will be our first performance wearing our full uniform.  Please make sure that you read the new game day checklist below BEFORE Friday or you will be very stressed.

  • Game Day Checklist (FULL UNIFORM) – read this to make sure you have everything.  Students missing items will either be required to purchase a new item or will be sent home.
  • Game Day Preparation, Procedures, & Expectations – read this so that you know what to and not to do. (e.g. – do not eat in the stands except for our 3rd quarter snacks or you will be suspended from the remaining football games.)

Posted on by admin.

MEET THE CHARGERS: TAKE 2

This is a community pep rally where all members of the community are invited to come and show their support for the Clear Springs Charger Band, Silverados, Cheerleaders, and Fall Athletes.

Schedule:

Wednesday, September 27

5:00 – Report to Band Hall for program photos
6:00 – Set up in Gym
6:30 – Event begins
7:30 – End of event
7:35 – Band Hall closed/all students picked up
Clear Springs High School – Competition Gym

What to wear:

Summer uniform: blue band shirt, black band shorts, black belt, black band shoes

Posted on by admin.

TMEA ALL-STATE & REGION ETUDES AVAILABLE

The high school region band process is very similar to the junior high region band process; however, there are two main differences.  The first is that there is a freshman only region band audition which takes place before the high school audition  and is for the purpose of earning a region band patch, points toward your letter jacket, and most importantly practice for the high school region auditions.  There is no performance for those who make the Freshman Region Band.  Freshmen may audition for freshman region, high school region, or both. The second main difference between junior high and high school is that the highest placing students at Region band will advance to the Area band auditions and then the highest placing students at Area will become Texas All-State musicians, a very prestigious and challenging honor to attain.  They will then have the privilege of performing with one of the All-State ensembles at the Texas Music Educators Association convention in San Antonio in February.

Though participation in the region band auditions is not required it is strongly encouraged as the whole process is a very educationally beneficial one.  In addition, the region band auditions are a major factor in determining a student’s placement for the second semester.   All Symphonic Band students will be tested on the Freshman cuts and all Wind Ensemble students will be tested on the entire etudes starting in September. Placement at the region audition in December will be a factor in second semester placement.

TMEA (Texas Music Educators Association) has posted the etude lists for the 2017-2018 All-State & Region Band auditions which can be viewed on TMEA’s website by clicking here.  For your convenience, we have also created packets with the etudes and performance guides available for download from CHARMS.  The

We highly recommend that everyone purchase the etude books as the same book is often used every year and these books are excellent practice tools after All-State auditions have ended and before next year’s etudes are announced.  The list of etude books can be found on TMEA’s website by clicking here.

All-State & Region Practice Recommendations

Do NOT immediately sit down and start playing through the etudes.  You will learn bad habits from doing this that will be hard to fix later.  Instead, break the etudes into small easily manageable sections, work through the steps below until successful and then play through the sections of music. (A section can be a couple of measures, one line, or maybe 2 lines, but do not do more than 2 lines at a time.)

  1. Read the Performance Guide
    • This can be found on TMEA’s website by clicking here or in the packets available for download from CHARMS
    • Read it again as you begin to learn and improve on the etudes
    • Pay special attention to anything written in red as this is official errata that should be marked/corrected in your music.  If your copy of the music reflects what is written in the errata, then you are most likely playing off of the current edition of the music.  Most errata are corrections from old editions of the books that private lesson teachers may have in their libraries.
  2. Practice small sections of the music at a time
    • Mark your phrases before you start practicing
    • Work on only one phrase at a time
    • Do not combine phrases until you can do each of the following
      • Play each phrase without stopping
      • Play each phrase with logical breaths
      • Play each phrase at the same tempo
  3. Attack the hard parts first!
    • These will be the sections that need the most time to work up
    • It is OK to go slower on these sections in the beginning
    • Is is NOT OK to play through the etude slowing down on the hard parts and speeding up on the easy ones.  Everything must be at the same tempo unless there is a ritardando or a tempo change that is marked
  4. Use a metronome
    • Seriously, use a metronome 100% of the time that you are practicing, and focus on completing the steps below, in-time with the metronome
    • Start slow, only get faster when you can complete all of the steps below successfully
    • Don’t get frustrated and turn the metronome off.  Keep it on and make yourself stay with it
    • If you can’t play it with the metronome, then you definitely can’t play it without one
  5. Determine the key of each section and practice the scale, scale in thirds, and arpeggios for that key.
    • A lot of times the key is in the title
    • If it is in a minor key, practice the scale, thirds, and arpeggios three times more than you would if it were a major key
    • Memorize the scale, thirds, and arpeggios
    • Be sure to play the full range of the etude
    • Practice with a metronome turned on
    • Practice both slowly while focusing on getting every note to sound the same, and fast while focusing on getting your fingers to be even
    • Make this a part of your daily routine every time you practice
    • If there are chromatic segments, practice the chromatic scale as well
  6. Count the rhythm with a metronome
    • Count as strongly as if you were playing (don’t whisper under your breathe)
    • Instrument should be in playing position
    • Finger/position your part as you count
    • Only continue when you have counted and fingered/positioned 100% successfully.
    • If there is a rhythm that you are not sure how to count, work on a different section until you have asked for help
    • Continue doing this two or three times a week until auditions are over
  7. Say note names with a metronome
    • Always do this under tempo since you won’t be able to do it as fast as counting or playing.  You may need to go as slow as 50, 60, or 70 beats per minute, but it will definitely pay off in the end
    • Say note names as strongly as if you were playing (don’t whisper under your breathe).  Practice until you get it right
    • Say flats and sharps (e.g. if you have a B-Flat, then say “B-Flat”)
    • Finger/position your part as you say the note names
    • Only continue when you have said the note names and fingered/positioned 100% successfully and in time with the metronome
  8. Play the part
    • Record yourself with an app that can playback the recording slower than it was performed (Audacity and Goldwave are good ones)
    • Listen to the recording at different speeds and analyze your performance
    • Did you stay with the metronome?
    • Did you play the correct rhythm?
    • Did you play the correct pitches?
    • If you are having trouble playing the correct rhythms, then spend more time counting.  If you are having trouble playing the correct pitches, then spend more time saying note names.
    • If you hate the way you sound, practice to sound better.
  9. Move on to next section or repeat this section at a faster tempo

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GAME 2 @ Spring Westfield

Schedule/Location:
Friday, September 22

3:00 PM Rehearsal
4:00 PM Load Truck, Eat Dinner, USE RESTROOM!!!! Change into Summer Uniform
4:40 PM Inspection in the Band Hall
5:00 PM (or as soon as we have buses) Depart CSHS
6:20 PM Arrive Leonard George Stadium
7:00 PM Kickoff
10:00 PM Depart Leonard George Stadium
11:00 PM Arrive at CSHS
11:20 Band Hall closes/last student picked up

 Leonard George Stadium/Spring High School
19428 N Freeway Service Dr, Spring, TX 77373 (map)

 In an effort to minimize stress and assure things go smoothly, we have created the following two articles which can be referred to throughout the season.  Please make sure that you read them for many questions will be answered in one or both.
  •  Game Day Preparation, Procedures, & Expectations– read this so that you know what to and not to do. (e.g. – do not eat in the stands except for our 3rd quarter snacks or you will be suspended from the remaining football games.)
  • Game Day Checklist (Summer Uniform) – read this to make sure you have everything.  Students missing items will either be required to purchase a new item or will be sent home.

Posted on by admin.

CCISD Honors the Heroes of Harvey at Home Opener

As the 2017 football season home games kick off this Friday, CCISD wishes to shine the Friday night lights on the Heroes of Harvey, the first responders, as well as a community that stepped up in awe-inspiring ways. As many were impacted by the storm and may be experiencing financial difficulty, the District is offering free admission to all fans, heroes and helpers.

Donations to the CCISD Cares fund will be accepted at the gates. The CCISD Cares fund is directly benefitting CCISD families impacted by the storm by providing help with basic needs from clothing and food to toiletries and cleaning supplies. Donations of new school shoes and/or socks for boys and girls, ages 3 to 18, will also be collected at the gates.

Posted on by Lester Williams.

Game Day Checklist (Summer Uniform)

Please make sure that you have the following items with you for all football games that require the summer uniform.  We will have a uniform inspection in the band hall before departing for the game to check for all of these items except some instruments (see below).  Students missing items will either need to purchase new items or will be sent home.

What should be loaded on truck:
  • Instrument (except flutes and clarinets) and instrument accessories (e.g. reeds, valve oil, sticks, harnesses, etc.)
  • Lyre
What you need for uniform inspection:

Please be fully dressed in the summer uniform for uniform inspection.

  • Flutes and Clarinets
  • Flip folder (containing ALL stand tunes in order) Do NOT load this on the truck.
  • Blue half gallon water jug purchased at Equipment Night
  • Blue band shirt
  • Black band shorts
  • Black band baseball cap
  • Black no show socks (NOT ankle socks)
  • Black band shoes
  • Plain black leather or faux-leather belt (NO bling)
  • Longer hair tied back with plain THIN/SKINNY BLACK hair tie
What you cannot have:

This is not a comprehensive list, only a list of the most common items that students bring that they are not allowed to have.

  • No jewelry such as earrings, necklaces, bracelets, wristwatches, anklets, etc…
  • No thick/wide or colored headbands (students may wear a THIN/SKINNY BLACK headband to keep their bangs out of their face)
  • No face paint or glitter
  • No Sunglasses
  • Phones must remain out of sight at all times

Posted on by admin.

GAME DAY PREPARATION, PROCEDURES, & EXPECTATIONS

Departure Preparation:
  • All instruments except Flutes and Clarinets go on the truck.
  • Do NOT load flip folder on truck. This is checked during uniform inspection.
  • Load truck BEFORE eating dinner
  • Dinner will be served in the cafeteria in front of the serving lines. You must have previously ordered dinner.
  • Clean up your own mess!!!!!!!
  • Change into uniform AFTER eating dinner.
  • We will have uniform inspection in the band hall before departure.  If you are missing an item get it taken care of before a director comes to check you so that you do not delay our departure or hold up your line for dismissal.
  • Have all items laid out in front of you in the same configuration as posted on the white board.  This will make inspection go a lot faster.
  • Students will be lined up in rows by grade level.  Seniors by parking lot wall, then juniors, sophomores, and freshmen by hallway wall.
Game Procedures and Behavior Expectations:
  • Please read the section in the Charger Band Handbook regarding expectations at football games.
  • Remember that parents, friends, relatives, etc. are not allowed to bring food or drink to a band student at any time before, during or after the game. Any violation of this may result in the student being excluded from the marching band for the remainder of the year. We will be providing an apple or a banana after halftime. Anyone with a medical condition requiring an alternate dietary need should have already contacted Mr. Williams.
  • Students must ask a chaperone for permission to go to the restroom.  A chaperone will accompany them to and from the restroom.
  • Students are expected to treat the chaperones and other parent volunteers with the utmost respect and appreciation. Anyone who does not adhere to this will face disciplinary action.
  • While it is our intent to have a good time and enjoy the atmosphere that comes with Texas high school football, we are there to do a job. Remember our purpose is to support the football team and represent the school and community with dignity and class as well as act as the premier spirit organization on campus.  We also have a job to do at halftime entertaining the crowd and providing excellent support for the drill team during their performance. We are very confident we will succeed. With this in mind, please refrain from visiting with your child or bringing family members in to the band to see them. This goes for younger siblings of the band members as well.  You are welcome to sit next to the band if space permits.
Post-Game Procedures:
  • We will send a REMIND message as soon as we leave the stadium letting those know who aren’t at the game what time to pick their child up from CSHS.  Please plan to be there no later than five minutes after our anticipated arrival time.  Do not park in drive lanes or against the curb.  If you see someone parking in these areas, please ask them politely to move as they will be in the way and delay the buses and truck from being unloaded.  The band parking lot will have plenty of free parking spaces.  
  • When we arrive at school each student is responsible for getting his or her instrument off of the truck and back into their assigned locker (or for pit, the pit room). Students who leave instruments on the truck will face disciplinary action the following week.
  • Once your instrument and uniform (when applicable) are put away, you are free to leave. Remember to take your belongings with you.  This includes but is not limited to your water jug, shako, gloves, shoes, garment bag, tote bag, undergarments and instrument.

Posted on by admin.