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Titan Pride Update, End of Marching Season edition

Well……we’ve almost made it. The kids did a marvelous job at Odessa last week and came home on cloud nine. This week we are hungrier than ever and excited to end our season with a bang.

Saturday – small change of plans
Due to some scheduling conflicts with some students, we will be unable to participate in the Indoor Percussion Competition this weekend, so the itinerary has changed to reflect ALL band members arriving at school around 8:45am to be ready in the stadium for a 9am rehearsal.
Here is the updated itinerary:

RSVP for the Banquet
The banquet is rapidly approaching and we need to turn in numbers to the caterer. Please RSVP for the banquet THIS weekend.
It is Monday, November 3rd beginning at 6:30pm at the Bordner (more details to follow next week)
Seniors!!!!! Please send a baby picture and a recent photo to Michelle Krause ASAP for the slide show
Please click on this link to RSVP for the banquet:
Band Banquet RSVP

Band Fees
There are still 20 students with outstanding balances for their band fees. Last week I sent home an invoice in an attempt to wrap this up by yesterday (Wednesday). Please take care of this ASAP so that we may close the books on this marching season.

Concert Season
Begins MONDAY! Have your concert instrument in good shape and ready to play Monday during class. All students should come ready with their instrument (and all necessary supplies) and a PENCIL for every rehearsal.

Symphonic Band Chair Test
All members of the Symphonic Band will be taking a seating test the week of November 3rd. The music for the test is hanging on the windows in front of the Ensemble Room. Please prepare for this test.

Concert Band Chair Test
All members of the Concert Band (3rd Hour) will be taking a seating test the week of November 3rd. The music for the test will be handed out next week. Please prepare for this test.

Percussion Class
Beginning Monday, it is expected that all percussionists in 2nd Hour will have the following in class every day: complete stick/mallet bag, black music binder, and stick pad

All District Band
Participants auditioning for All District Band will have a "screening" audition with Mr. Thurmond or Mr. Harrel during the week of November 3rd that they must pass in order to continue on to the actual audition.
The auditions themselves will take place on Saturday, November 8th at Liberty High School. Times are different for each student and will be posted sometime next week.
Transportation to the auditions is NOT provided, therefore, parents will need to transport their student to/from the audition. If a student needs to drive him/herself (students cannot ride with other students), there will need to be administrative approval through the office.

Concert Uniforms
All females at this time should have their uniform skirt and blouse. If alterations are needed, please see to it that this occurs before our winter concert
All males at this time should have taken home a tuxedo coat, pants, and cummerbund. Boys will need to purchase their own tuxedo shirt and bow tie at a local department store or online. Please make sure this is done before our winter concert.

Winter Concert
Our Winter Band Concert will be on Monday, December 8th in the PAC at LSWHS. Attendance and participation in this concert is required, please block out this date on your calendar at this time to prevent conflicts.
6pm Concert – Concert Band and Percussion Ensemble
7:30pm Concert – Symphonic Band and Titan Jazz Band

Jazz Band
Titan Jazz Band will begin on Tuesday, November 11. Rehearsals will be every Tuesday and Thursday from 2:30-3:15.
For the first session (winter concert), anyone interested in participating in jazz band is welcome.
In January, there will be an audition for the contest jazz band. This select band will compete throughout the spring at several area jazz festivals.
For more information, please contact the Titan Jazz director, Shawn Harrel, at shawn.harrel@leesummit.k12.mo.us

Clifton D. Thurmond

UCM Festival of Champions.doc

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Marching Band Parents – UCM

Marching Band Parents,

We hope to see you at the UCM Festival of Champions on Saturday, October 25th. The drumline and guard will be leaving a couple of hours before the rest of the band. That means our parent helpers will be divided between UCM and LSW. Please consider helping out Saturday if you have time. The biggest need for help will be loading the band trailer at LSW around 10:00 AM. They will load at the field. If you plan to carpool with the drumline, they will leave around 7:30 AM.

We have attached a campus map to help you get around. The band’s campsite will be in student lot #50. Lot #50 is southwest of James C. Kirkpatrick Library. The library’s address is 601 S. Missouri Street, Warrensburg, MO. The designated spectator parking for the field performance is at the UCM Multipurpose Building (500 S. Washington Street) across the street from the stadium. Hopefully, you can find closer parking to the campsite if you plan to hang out with the band.

Please e-mail Mary Grigsby (marygrigsby at gmail dot com) with a headcount if you plan to eat lunch and dinner with the band (do not include your LSW band student in the count). We are having pizza for lunch and steaks for dinner. The cost is $7 per meal for adults and $5 for middle school age kids and younger. If you have special dietary needs, please give Mary a call at 816-785-5215. Food may be available for “Walk-ins” on Saturday after the band and those that e-mailed Mary have been served.

There is an admission charge to watch the performance from the stands. The charge will be $13 for general admission and $5 for the Drumline/Guard performance only. Children 6 years old and under are free. Printed programs will be available for $3. The tickets are good for the prelims and the finals.

Please harass your kids Saturday morning to make certain that they leave the house with everything they need. We ran out of spare shoes this weekend because so many of the young folks did not bring their shoes. If you have a section leader in your family, you might help them create an equipment checklist for their section (instruments, mouth pieces, reeds, sticks, shoes, shoes, shoes, etc.). If you know of alumni that have old LSW band shoes that are in good shape, we could use some more spares (particularly larger sizes – 11+).

If you have pictures to share for the banquet, please send them to Maddison Krause on a USB drive by Tuesday (10-21) or call Michelle Krause at 816-536-3067. Seniors– Michelle needs your baby picture and your senior or current picture by Friday. You can email them to Michelle at 4krauses@att.net or deliver a copy to Maddison. If you are taking a copy to Maddison please deliver it by Wednesday (no school on Thursday and Friday).

Thank you,

Scott McMilian

LSW at UCM Campus Map.pdf

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New Uniforms Unveiled Last Night

With lots of help from a great group of parent and student volunteers, we were able to get our new uniforms off a UPS truck and onto the field in a few hours! We weren’t even slowed down by a little rain.IMG_4524

IMG_4526Band members put in a few extra hours “on the clock” to get fitted for the new uniforms. Irons and ironing boards circled the band room so we could get the pants and sleeves creased and looking sharp.

Thanks to the support of the LSW administration, LSW Music Parents and the LSR7 school district, we’re excited to start the next chapter in the Titan Pride Bands with our new uniforms from FJM!

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Band Senior Night Logistics

Hello Senior Band Families,

Here is the plan for TOMORROW night’s ballgame and Senior Night Festivities:

All band members will need to report to the band room no later than 5:30 to get into uniform.
Parents (or those escorting their senior band member in the presentation of seniors), need to meet underneath the score board in the NORTH endzone on the track at 6:10pm.
Someone asked how parents should be dressed. I will leave that up to you, although it seems every year some are dressed up for the event and others are not.
At 6:15 (or thereabouts) each senior and his/her parents (escorts) will be announced and recognized. They will walk down the track in front of the home bleachers and stand in line to be recognized.
Note: this ceremony is WITH all band, colorguard, dance, cheer, and football seniors. We will be organizing you in alphabetical order.

Have a great Thursday!

Clifton D. Thurmond

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Marching Band Parents: Help Needed

Marching Band Parents,

Thank you to all of the parents that have helped place equipment on the field. We need even more volunteers for Friday and the upcoming games and marching competitions.

We need around 15 volunteers to help move equipment onto the field just before the performance. It is a great way to get closer to the band and away from the noise of the stands. Most of the jobs do not require heavy lifting.

We will also have written directions (some with pictures!) for most of the jobs. Please meet us over at the band bleachers near the start of the game to find a job. We will also need lots of help with uniforms after the game Friday.

The kids will be receiving information this week on their new uniforms and turning in their old ones. They will turn in their old uniforms after the game. All students should plan on staying for a while after the game as they pack up their uniforms.

Thank you to all of the parents that avoid parking in the driveway near the band room after games. It is safer for the kids and it is a lot easier to move equipment back to the band room when the driveway is clear.

Scott McMilian

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Updated information for parade and game this week!

Here is some updated information pertaining to our remaining events for this week:

1. Homecoming Parade, Thursday

  • You will need to come to school that day in your khaki shorts, tennis shoes, hat and blue uniform shirt for the parade as this is our uniform
  • We will leave on a bus during 6th hour
  • We will be near or in First Baptist Church from 1:45 – 3:00pm rehearsing our show music
  • The parade will begin at 3:30pm, head NORTH on Main then circle back SOUTH on Douglas.
  • Students who would like to participate in the parade in another activity as well will be released from the band about halfway through the parade to go back and join their float for the remainder of the parade
  • All band students will return to the school on a bus and need to be picked up AROUND 4:15 or 4:30

2. Homecoming Football Game, Friday

  • Call time with correct clothing for underneath a uniform and black marching shoes with gloves will be 5:30 for all
  • Our show will be performed AFTER the game due to halftime royalty stuff
  • AFTER we perform our show, all band members will be checking in their uniform (neatly folded). This will be explained to them prior to the game. This process should run smoothly if all participate efficiently.
  • Pick up time for Friday night should probably be 10 or later
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Titan Pride Update, week of September 29th

Wow! October is already here, as is fall (my favorite season). Here is the information for next week (HOMECOMING WEEK!)

Monday, September 29th
COOKIE DOUGH ORDERS ARE DUE!!!!!!!!!!
If your student never came home with information, that is because they chose not to participate. The order forms and brochures have been available to them in the band room for two weeks.

Tuesday, September 30th
Drumline rehearsal begins at 5pm
Full band rehearsal begins at 6:30pm

Thursday, October 2nd
Homecoming Parade (3:30pm start)
We will escort the band to downtown LS for the parade via bus. The parade starts at 3:30pm (families are encouraged to attend). We will take a bus back to LSW by 4:15 or so and students will need to be picked up at that time.
Note: If your child is involved in another activity that will be having a float in the parade and your student would like to participate in that float as well, we expect them to march half of the parade with the band and then ride the other float the second half of the parade. We will be wearing khaki shorts, navy uniform tee shirt, tennis shoes, and socks, as well as our ball cap.

Friday, October 3rd
Homecoming Football Game
Call time will be 5:30pm as we will be wearing our full band uniform (old uniform)
Game time is 7pm
Halftime is around 7:45pm. We will line the field at halftime to be a part of the royalty festivities, but will not march our show until AFTER the game. This means a couple of things:

  • We hope you will stick around after the game, and encourage others to do so, to support the band in their performance
  • Student dismissal time from the game will be later than normal, we will have them stay in contact by text

Future Items of reference:

  • Bronco Invitational (October 11) – we have our performance times, but I’m still putting together a schedule of events for the day. Tentatively plan on your child arriving at West at 11am and returning to West around 7:15pm
  • Symphony Orchestra CHANGE – Mr. Mosier has decided NOT to have the full symphony perform on the Fall Concert, therefore, those students will have that evening off.
  • We could have a home game on October 24th and/or 31st. Please be ready for this.

All-District Band Auditions
Those students wishing to audition for All-District Band were to have a recording to me by today (Thursday, Sep 25). Dr Sharp has graciously agreed to cover the cost of their audition this year, however, if a student cancels their audition, doesn’t show up, or is not allowed to go due to lack of preparation, they will need to pay back the audition fee. They will have a screening audition with Mr. Thurmond the week of November 3rd

Band Banquet
At the end of our competitive marching season, we traditionally celebrate with a season-ending banquet. This year’s banquet is tentatively scheduled for Monday night, November 3rd. Be looking for more information pertaining to information, cost, RSVP for non-students, etc. in the near future.

Have a great weekend!

Clifton D. Thurmond

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Titan Pride Update, week of September 15th

Competition season is quickly approaching (1st one is next week!). This coming week is super busy, so make sure to read through this carefully. Feel free to respond with questions as needed.

Tuesday
Sectionals (brass and woodwinds only)
6:45am
Drumline Sectional
5:00pm
Full Band Rehearsal
6:30-8:30pm

Wednesday
Dig for the Cure Volleyball Match
6:00pm call time in band room.
Game will be outside in the stadium, weather permitting
We will be wearing, once again, our khaki shorts/tee shirt outfit weather permitting
Students SHOULD be finished around 8:00pm
Parents are encouraged to attend this WONDERFUL event honoring those who have been afflicted with, are recovering from, have survived, or have passed away due to cancer.

Thursday
Full Band Rehearsal
6:30-8:30pm

Saturday – Preview of Champions Marching Festival (ALL DAY)
Attached you will find a more detailed itinerary for the day. With this being our first competition, we will send home some useful information early next week so each student is prepared for the day.
All band members must report to LSWHS before 10:30am, as that is when the bus should depart.
The band will return to LSWHS around 10:00pm.
We will be performing twice that day. The PRELIMS performance will be at 1:15pm. The FINALS performance will be sometime between 6 and 9pm. Our performance time will be selected after PRELIMS awards.

(See attached file: Preview of Champions.doc)

Some Items on the horizon for you to keep in mind:

  • Boys have been sized for their tuxedo at this point. We will be taking a picture in the near future in our concert outfits (once the girls’ dresses arrive). This picture will be for the marketing of the Washington DC performance. This means boys will soon need to have their tuxedo shirt and bowtie secured. More info on that later. Stay tuned
  • The homecoming parade is Thursday, October 1st. This is an after-school parade. We will bus the kids downtown LS, march the parade, and then bus them back to the high school
  • If your child is a member of the Symphony Orchestra (your child will know the answer to this), he/she has an orchestra concert on Thursday, October 9th. Be looking for communication from Mr. Mosier on this.

Have a GREAT weekend and we will see you TONIGHT at the ballgame!

Go Titans!

Clifton D. Thurmond

Preview of Champions.doc

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Titan Pride Update, Week of September 1st

Hello there! You are receiving this week’s update a day early, mostly because a couple of items would be too late if I waited until tomorrow.

Rehearsal TONIGHT and Music Parents meeting TONIGHT
All marching band members are to be on the parking lot, ready to rehearse at 6:30pm. Several students have been showing up late recently and we’d like to eliminate that. My favorite quote to them about this is "On time is late!"
The first Music Parents meeting is TONIGHT from 7 to 8pm in the band room. This is a meeting for ANY/ALL parents of a student in the music program at LSWHS (not just officers). Please consider attending and getting involved in this wonderful support organization. There are several needs and opportunities for you available this year, and tonight is the night to get acquainted. Hope to see you all there!

Concert Season Uniform
ALL male members of the band (Percussion Class, Concert Band, and Symphonic Band) will be renting a tuxedo from us. This will be worn at every performance outside of marching band this year. Boys were given the tuxedo sizing form (attached to this email) and were told to have it back (completed) by tomorrow, Friday, with a check made payable to LSWHS for $22 or cash.
All female members of the band that are new to the program (Percussion Class, Concert Band, and Symphonic Band) will be purchasing a dress in hopes that is will fit for the duration of high school. These girls were given the dress information form (attached to this email) and were told to bring a check made payable to LSWHS for $80 or cash tomorrow, Friday. During class, some mothers will be here at school to help your daughter try on a dress so we can order the right size.

Marching Band Scheduling Update
We had a schedule swap occur for a rehearsal in October. We now have a rehearsal on Tuesday, October 7th, NOT Thursday, October 9th.
Here is an updated schedule, just in case.

Additional Performance
I apologize for the added event. I fully understand that some conflicts may be unavoidable and that is fine, please just communicate them to me via email.
The band has been asked to participate and perform in the annual Dig for the Cure volleyball match, which will be played OUTSIDE in Titan Stadium this year (interesting, huh?).
We will play at this game in a pep band format on Wednesday, September 17th. More details to follow as we grow closer.

NEXT WEEK

Sectionals
Brass and Woodwinds will meet again on Tuesday morning at 6:45AM.
Drumline will meet again on Tuesday evening at 5pm

Rehearsals
Again, we have a rehearsal at 6:30 on Tuesday and Thursday of next week.

ALL students should have ice cream social tickets in their possession at this time. We encourage them to sell all 10 tickets before next Friday. They are responsible for turning in the money AND any unsold tickets by this time.

Since we don’t have school Monday, please make note of having your son/daughter at school for sectionals Tuesday morning.

Have a great weekend!

Clifton D. Thurmond

LSW Dress Info.doc

LSW Tuxedo Sizing Form.doc

2014 MB Sched Aug 28.docx

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Band Tailgating @ 6pm Friday

The tailgating before the game has changed due to the game time change. Brent will have the grill out at 6PM. Bring your own food. Plates and utensils will be supplied.