Message from Dr. Obado
I hope you are all having an amazing summer! As the temps increase I hope you are all staying cool! This newsletter serves as a list of action items and information you need before we start the 2023-2024 band season. I'll send another update in July before summer band rehearsals begin!
2023-2024 MARCHING BAND GUIDE: CLICK HERE for everything you need to know about marching band in Allen ISD.
TO-DO LIST: Scroll below for a list of things you need to do prior to Summer Band.
ALLEN BAND BOOSTER ASSOCIATION: Scroll below for announcements from our amazing booster organization.
PRIVATE LESSON TEACHERS: All band students are encouraged to take private lessons in order to improve their individual playing skills. While directors are skilled instructors on the various instruments in the band, there is simply no substitute for private instruction received from someone who is considered to be a professional performer on a particular instrument. We are extremely fortunate in Allen to have numerous professional private lesson teachers available to help students reach their full performance potential. If you are interested in your son/daughter taking lessons, please call or email any of the teachers on the list above and get a spot reserved. Many of the teachers are teaching this summer at Allen High School, but you can reserve a teacher for lessons in the Fall if summer lessons are not possible. You should contact a teacher right away if you are interested in lessons as their teaching studios may fill up fast.
CLICK HERE to access the 2023-2024 list of private lesson teachers available for students now. This list can also be found at the Allen High School Band website (www.allenband.com).
PRE-UIL PARTICIPATION FORM (PHYSICALS) DUE AT FIRST REHEARSAL: All students must print out, complete, and submit this form to your first day of summer band rehearsal. Students will be sent home if they do not arrive with the paperwork. We will not accept these forms scanned via e-mail. The physicals must be dated after May 1, 2023. All students will need to get a physical. Click here for Pre-UIL Participation Form.
AISD ATHLETICS & BAND:The band has an amazing relationship with AISD Athletics. AISD believes in allowing students the opportunity to participate in all activities. Students that have AISD tryouts during summer band rehearsals or AISD football players that have practice during summer band rehearsals will be allowed to go to all of your tryouts/practices during the summer. If you have AISD Athletic conflicts, please e-mail Dr. Obado at philip.obado@allenisd.org.
FRESHMAN SOCIAL: The annual SLT/Freshman Social at Pinstack will be Monday, July 24, 5:30-7:30 pm. This is a fun night of games, food and activities for Student Leadership and Freshman to bond. Tickets are $27 online till July 14. $35 at the door day of the event. For more information and to purchase tickets visit www.allenband.com/ps. Questions, email Tracy at publicrelations@allenband.com.
If you are looking for more information about the band (including a full 2023-2024 calendar) and everything we have to offer, please go to our website, www.allenband.com.
Allen High School/Lowery Freshman Center Band Staff
- Dr. Philip Obado, Director of Bands, Allen ISD
- Dr. Steven Knight, Associate Director of Bands & Marching Band Director
- Joshua Blankenship, Director of Bands, Lowery Freshman Center
- Miles Locke, Percussion Director & Assistant Band Director
- Andrew Camp, Colorguard Director & Assistant Band Director
- Alex Baczewski, Assistant Band Director & Jazz Studies Director
- Neil Hicks, Assistant Band Director (LFC)
- Jeremy Rohr, Assistant Band Director
- Susan Fulk, Performing Arts Administrative Assistant
SUMMER BAND: TO-DO LIST
KNOW THE SUMMER BAND SCHEDULE
- July 17-19 Percussion Camp: @ AHS
- July 17-20 Guard Camp: @ Curtis MS
- July 18 SLT Camp: @ AHS - Student Leadership Team (SLT) only (Band Council, Section Leaders, Squad Leaders, and Quartermasters)
- July 24-28 Full Band Camp Week 1: (7am-3:30pm: Band @ AHS/Guard at Curtis MS)
- July 29 Uniform Fitting: @ AHS - Band & Percussion Only
- July 31 Full Band Week 2: 7am-3:30pm
- Aug 1-Aug 3 Full Band Week 2: 5pm-8pm
- Aug 4 Band Pictures & Rehearsal: 3pm-8pm
- Aug 5 Full Band Saturday rehearsal: 8am-12pm
- Aug 7 Full Band Week 3: 7am-12pm & Back to School Bash (time TBA)
- Aug 8-9 Full Band Week 3: 5pm-8pm
ACCESS YOUR MUSIC & BUY FLIP FOLDER & LYRE: All students are required to print your own music and put in your own flip folder prior to the first summer band rehearsal. You can purchase a flip folder and lyre from Music and Arts here in Allen.
- CLICK HERE to start printing out 23-24 Music.
PRE-UIL PARTICIPATION FORM (PHYSICALS) DUE AT FIRST REHEARSAL: All new and returning students must print out, complete, and submit this form to your first day of summer band rehearsal. Students will be sent home if they do not arrive with the paperwork. We will not accept these forms scanned via e-mail. All students will need to get a physical dated after May 1, 2023. Click here for Pre-UIL Participation Form.
SUMMER BAND NECESSITIES: What do you need to bring to summer band? Click here for a list of things you need.
REQUIRED FEES & BAND REGISTRATION (was May 23rd): If you missed registration on May 23rd, you can pay for fees and let us know your sizing by CLICKING HERE. We may not be able to order your contest show and traditional show uniform parts by the first performance if you haven't registered at this point.
REQUIRED JACKET PURCHASE: All students in the Escadrille will be required to wear standard wet weather/cold weather jackets. Color Guard and Percussion will have their assigned attire (please address questions to Mr. Camp/Mr. Locke). Woodwinds, brass, and percussion will be required to wear one of the following for cold or wet weather:
- Senior Letterman Jacket
- Plain/Solid, Dark Navy jacket (hoodie, raincoat, etc). The color must be dark navy. You can purchase these on your own at any store (Target, Walmart, Amazon, etc). A HOOD is recommended.
- Approved Allen Band Field Jacket available for purchase from the Allen Band Booster Association (ABBA).
- Approved Percussion Jacket available for purchase from the Allen Band Booster Association.
SUMMER BAND 2023
Summer band rehearsals are a required and necessary part of the band program in AISD. These rehearsals will give us the opportunity to perform our best and learn as much as we can prior to the school year beginning. Scroll up to the previous section for the summer band schedule. Summer Band rehearsals will be at AHS.
MARCHING BAND ASSIGNMENTS & EVALUATIONS: Students will be evaluated by directors for their marching band assignment during the first full week of summer band rehearsals. The 2023-24 Band will split into the following assignments:
- Contest Show Team (will march Traditional show also): 284 Winds
- Alternate Team (will march Traditional show also): Approximately 40+ Winds
- Production Team (will march Traditional show also): Approximately 30 Winds
- Traditional Show Only Team: Approximately 135+ Winds.
Evaluations will be based on the following ciriteria:
- Attendance at all spring/summer events
- Individual skills will be assessed by band directors as students learn music, fundamentals, movement, and traditional show throughout the week. Directors will be responsible for a group of students each day and will score accordingly based on an announced rubric.
REQUIRED FRESHMAN PARENT/STUDENT MEETING (TUES. JULY 18 - 7pm): We have a required parent and student meeting in the AHS Band Hall on Tuesday, July 19th at 7pm (enter the PAC entrance). We will discuss summer band, the band calendar, and freshman basics. This meeting will have more detailed information than our spring freshman meeting.
TRAFFIC & PARKING @ AHS: We will have a drop off in front of the Performing Arts Center at AHS.
AISD ATHLETIC CONFLICTS: The band has an amazing relationship with AISD Athletics. AISD believes in allowing students the opportunity to participate in all activities. Students that have AISD tryouts during summer band rehearsals or AISD football players that have practice during summer band rehearsals will be allowed to go to all of your tryouts/practices during the summer. If you have AISD Athletic conflicts, please e-mail Dr. Obado at philip.obado@allenisd.org.
ALLEN BAND BOOSTER ASSOCIATION (ABBA)
Spirit Wear: Spirit wear is on sale online till June 23. This will guarantee a pick up of items on Uniform Day. This is a fundraiser to support the band and colorguard programs so please consider purchasing your spirit wear from ABBA. Members, login for membership pricing. All items will be available for purchase on Uniform Day July 29, except percussion and colorguard spirit wear. Purchase today at www.allenband.com/store. Questions, email Debbie at fundraising@allenband.com.
Pinstack SLT/Freshman Social: The annual SLT/Freshman Social at Pinstack will be Monday, July 24, 5:30-7:30 pm. This is a fun night of games, food and activities for Student Leadership and Freshman to bond. Tickets are $27 online till July 14. $35 at the door day of the event. For more information and to purchase tickets visit www.allenband.com/ps. Questions, email Tracy at publicrelations@allenband.com.
Volunteer Opportunities: There are plenty of volunteer opportunities waiting for you! Lots of options included traffic control, Back to Band Blowout, Fan Fest and more. Login and sign up at allenband.com/volunteers. July 1 all volunteers must complete and pass an Allen ISD Background Check. You can complete this at https://www.allenisd.org/Page/214. Questions, email Cindy at volunteers@allenband.com.
Dietary Questionnaire: To help us order meals for students with a dietary need, please fill out the 2023-24 Student Dietary Questionnaire. This needs to be completed every year.
ABBA Membership: Join ABBA today! Membership dues support the band and colorguard programs. There are lots of great benefits and perks to joining including awesome incentives. Learn more about becoming a member today, visit www.allenband.com/membership. Questions, email Dana at membership@allenband.com.
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WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SCHOOL STARTS UP?
MORNING REHEARSALS: We have morning rehearsals Monday-Friday from 7am-8:30am. LFC students will finish at 8:15am so they can shuttle to LFC, put equipment away, and get ready for the school day.
OCCASIONAL EVENING REHEARSALS: We have a few evening rehearsals scheduled in October. When an evening rehearsal is scheduled, we adjust our morning rehearsals that week. Evening October rehearsals will be scheduled soon.
FOOTBALL GAMES: We go to all home and away football games. Food is available for purchase at home games since it's too hard to go home after school. Food is provided on the way to every away game. Approved snacks are available during every football game after halftime. An itinerary is released one week prior to game.
BAND CONTESTS: Late September and October is band contest month! We travel to band contests on one Saturday in September and three Saturdays in October. We typically have a morning rehearsal and compete off-campus. Please see the calendar on the home page of www.allenband.com for a list marching contests. Itineraries are released at least one week prior to contest.
TWIB NOTES: TWIB stands for This Week In Band. The TWIB Notes are released every Sunday afternoon once school starts. The TWIB Notes are weekly announcements and are useful for getting organized and knowing what is going on. All of our itineraries are posted in the TWIB Notes (as well as www.allenband.com).