11.15.24
Hello Dragon Band Students, Parents and Families,
Another marching season has come and gone! We’ve got tonight’s playoff game and any thereafter but aside from that, we can put a bow on this one and call it done! Now it’s on to Holiday Concert Music, TMEA Auditions and Winter Concert Music.
Jolesch Photography has photos available for order for anyone interested: Photos from UIL SMBC
WOW!!
The marching season would not be successful without the incredible support of parents at home, volunteers who sew, distribute meals, load and unload trucks countless times, drive trucks and their student(s) to and from all of our stuff, chaperone all the events, organize volunteers and supporters both here and on the road, work concessions, work bingo, work spirit wear, collect sponsorships and everything else in between that simply gets done! It’s a lot! The students are the number one reason the group is successful and all of the families and supporters are right up there with them! Thank you, thank you, thank you moms and dads and family members, for making this season one to remember!!
All the major things The Dragon Band has done in the last couple of years:
March 2023 Disney World - two full ensembles
November 2023 BOA Grand Nationals - Finalists
December 2023 Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic - Saxophone Choir and Clarinet Choir
June 2024 London Band Week - multiple concert and marching performances
September 2024 Wind Ensemble named National Winner in the Mark of Excellence Contest
AND
BOTH of our marching bands earning first divisions at UIL Region Marching Contest this year
AND
Three years running of BOA San Antonio and UIL SMBC Finals. That’s 7 of the most difficult marching band contests in the country, counting Grand Nationals last year, and the students have nailed all 7!! Wow, that’s phenomenal!!!
So what are the next “big deal” things? Get Ready…
April 2025 Winterguard to Dayton, Ohio for WGI
November 2025 BOA GN - Indianapolis, Indiana
Each year representatives from the Tournament of Roses - The Rose Parade - come to BOA GN and select an ensemble to be invited to perform in the Rose Parade. This is how our band was selected in 2013. We then went to the Rose Parade in December 2014, marching the parade on New Year's Day 2015.
We will once again put our name in the hat to be considered for selection to the parade and I will also apply through the regular application process for the parade. Should we be selected we would travel in December 2026 and perform on New Year’s Day 2027
It doesn’t mean we’re going, but we will apply and notify the selection committee of our interest at Grand Nationals
Next Week’s Rehearsals
Tue 11/19 Wind Symphony combine with Percussion 7:30-8:30am
Thu 11/21 Symphonic Band combine with Percussion 7:30-8:30am
Friday, November 15th, Playoff Game #1 vs. Lake Travis @ Reeves
8:00am Run through “Good Golly Miss Molly” with Dragonettes and run through “Sweet Caroline”
9:00am School begins
4:20pm School ends, eat dinner
4:50pm Get in uniform
5:20pm Inspection
5:35pm On the practice field ready to load buses
5:45pm Load and depart for Reeves
6:15pm Arrive, move into the stands
7:00pm Game begins
8:15pm (approx) Halftime, “Good Golly Miss Molly” for Dragonettes, play “Sweet Caroline”
10:00pm (approx) Game ends, load buses and depart
10:30pm (approx) Store things properly, go home!
TMEA Region Orchestra Auditions
Monday, November 18th, Westwood High School
Only select students who have already signed up for this event will attend
Students arrive by 5:30pm, auditions begin at 6pm
TMEA Region Band Sign Ups
Monday and Tuesday in all band classes
All of our students in Wind Ensemble, Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band will sign up
Select students from Concert Band (JV) will sign up
Entry fee is $20, cash or check payable to RRHS Band
The event is Friday-Saturday December 13th and 14th
More details about the event to come
Spring Semester Band Auditions
December 4th, 5th and 6th in all band classes
All woodwind, brass and percussion students will audition for their spot in our 5 concert ensembles for the Spring Semester
Audition Material is selected from this year’s TMEA Region Etudes
Flute - etude 3 m13-first note of m41
Oboe - etude 1 m9-end
Clarinet - etude 2 m18-27
Bass Clarinet - etude 1 m1-18
Bassoon - etude 1 m9-18
Contrabassoon - etude 3 m1-27
Saxophone - etude 2 m9-beat 1 of m20
Trumpet - etude 3 m1-beat 1 of m21
Horn - etude 1 m1-13
Tenor Trombone - etude 3 m1-beat 1 of m10
Bass Trombone - etude 3 m33-beat 1 of m56
Euphonium - etude 1 m1-15
Tuba - etude m47-end
Round Rock ISD Chapter of Texas Future Music Educators
The RRISD Chapter of TFME will have our first meeting on Wednesday, November 20 at 5:00 pm, virtually.
Interest Form link: https://forms.gle/8Prx7USgfXGDypEg6
Tri-M Music Honor Society
What is it? It's the only national honor society for musicians.
What requirements do I need to join? Must be in 10th grade or above, and have a 4.0 in music (90+ average), and at least a 3.0 (85+ average) in other academic subjects.
How do I join? Fill out this application
Austin Youth Wind Ensemble
This ensemble is designed to be an honor band that rehearses weekly on Sunday afternoons, with a performance in late April
Auditions for membership will be conducted via video submission based on the performance requirements outlined in the audition packets
Open for woodwind, brass, percussion student instrumentalists currently enrolled as 9th-12th graders in the greater Austin area
Performers must be enrolled in their school’s band program to participate
Attendance is mandatory, though scheduling conflicts may be discussed with Dr. Lebrias via email: mikelebrias@utexas.edu
Upon selection, each member will be assessed a $150 participation fee, which will cover sectional instructors, a commemorative T-shirt, sheet music purchasing & rental, as well as other associated expenses
Region Listening Schedule
Each week the V winds and select JV winds will perform TMEA Region Etude selections for a director
The region etudes are divided into 4 parts, or “cuts” and 1 cut is performed each week
Region listenings generally happen on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
Students can find the schedule here!
Grades
Students must remain academically eligible to participate in football games and marching contest performances and all TMEA activities. Should a student become ineligible they will still practice with the group during band class and in some cases, outside of the school day.
There are two types of official grade reporting - IPR (Interim Progress Report) and Report Card. We are required to go by these official methods to determine eligibility.
The main thing to remember is - ALL STUDENTS - PASS YOUR CLASSES TO REMAIN ELIGIBLE
Attendance
Look ahead at the rehearsal and event schedule and plan your appointments and tutorial help around it
The band's calendar is on dragonband.com
Attendance at rehearsals and events is mandatory unless otherwise specified
Absences due to sickness are excused with notification from a parent if the student has a fever, is vomiting or cannot otherwise get out of bed
Absences due to prolonged sickness/injury are excused with a doctor's note
Who do I email? Mr. Mobley for Varsity Marching Band and Wind Ensemble and Wind Symphony, Ms. Benford for Junior Varsity Marching Band and Symphonic Band and Ms. Bouhadana for Concert Band, Mr. Hammack for all Percussion and Mrs. Stone for all Color Guard.
Absences that are not excused-birthdays, completing homework, test preparation, pop concerts, parties, vacations, weekend getaways
Upcoming Special Dates and Events
Fri 11.15 Playoff Game #1
Mon 11.18 TMEA Region Orchestra Auditions, Westwood HS, 6pm, select students only
Tue 11.19 Band Booster Meeting, Band Hall, 7pm
Sat 11.23 Playoff Game - Tentative
Mon-Fri 11.25-11.29 Thanksgiving Break
Tue 12.3 Holiday Concert, 6:30pm RRISD Hartfield PAC
Fri-Sat 12/6-7 TMEA Region Orchestra Clinic and Concert, details TBA, select students only
Fri-Sat 12/13-14 TMEA Region Band Auditions, Cedar Ridge HS, times TBA
Thu 12/19 Last Day of Fall Semester
Tue 1/7 First Day of Spring Semester
Sat 1/11 TMEA Area Auditions, Duncanville (Dallas), details TBA, select students only
Thank You Everyone,
David Mobley
Band Director, Round Rock High School
201 Deepwood Drive, Round Rock, TX 78681
512-464-6028
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This email and any files transmitted with it are subject to the laws and policies regulating confidentiality related to communications with and/or of Round Rock Independent School District's parents, students, and personnel; and, therefore, could be considered confidential. The contents of this transmission are intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom this e-mail is addressed. Improper copying or dissemination of this e-mail to individuals other than those permitted to receive same by law and policy may result in legal action. If you are not one of the named recipients or otherwise have reason to believe that you have received this message in error, please notify the RRISD Office of Legal Services at (512) 464-5000
