Things you need to know about Competition Days (what we lovingly refer to as BANDTOBER)
Band and guard members eat only when they are NOT in uniform. For times on the competition schedule that note they are to wear their competition show shirt, they are typically allowed to purchase items at the concession stand. You are also welcome to purchase concession items for them during this time. However, when they are in uniform, they cannot eat or drink anything other than water.
Marching competitions have different formats and different time lengths. While most marching competitions take place on a Saturday, the UIL Marching competition will take place on a Tuesday evening. At UIL, judges will rate bands based on set criteria. The ratings from each range from the lowest rating of a five (V), to the highest rating of a one (I). At those competitions, it is possible for everyone who competes to earn a one. However, at most other competitions, bands are not only given a score but are ranked.
Bands of America (BOA) Championships are the premier marching band events in the nation. These competitions consistently host a higher caliber of bands than other competitions. Because of this, these competitions utilize a preliminary and finals. During preliminaries, bands are ranked per classification (determined by school enrollment for grades 10 - 12). The highest scoring 12 bands, regardless of classification, move on to finals. At finals, bands are ranked and the highest ranking band is awarded grand champion. Bands are also awarded Outstanding Music Performance, Outstanding Visual Performance, and Outstanding General Effect. Because BOA utilizes Prelims and Finals, the daily schedule is quite long, ending with the presentation of awards at 10:45 pm.
After conclusion of awards, you are welcome to join the celebration near the stands or on the field (should the directors take them there). Please join the cheering and take all the pictures you like. However, should the band gather for their PRIDE chant or to hear from the directors, we ask that you respect that time by giving them space. Please do not stand close to the drum majors and captains while they conduct the PRIDE chant with the band.
After every game and competition (including our return from Midland this weekend), students MUST properly turn in their uniforms. Depending on the number of volunteers we have checking the uniforms for proper hanging, the process of 48 guard and almost 200 band members turning in their uniforms can take awhile. Please either join the volunteers to help expedite this process or be patient as you wait. We ask that you do not tell your child to tell the volunteer that they need to hurry up because you are waiting. Thanks in advance for your continued support and flexibility!
Students are encouraged to bring a pillow and blanket on long trips! They can also pack snacks. Please know that, per the directors, any electronic device that provides audio will be permitted ONLY WITH HEADPHONES.
Competition Day Send-offs
Send-offs are a tradition at Johnson High School of cheering for the students as the buses pass us on 967. We bring signs, including the infamous "big head" signs, to show our students support as they head to the competition. We stand along the road and enthusiastically cheer as the band passes by, and the students enjoy seeing everyone. The location and time will be given to everyone as soon as we know the departure schedule for the band, so watch social media and the GroupMe texts to know where to be next Saturday.
Upcoming Volunteer Opportunites
Uniform Washing Crew
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4DA5AD2EAAFFC61-uniform5
Game Day and Competition Day Support
This Week & Save These Dates
October 3
Band & Guard Rehearsal (5 - 8 p.m. @ JHS)
October 4
Band & Guard Rehearsal (5 - 8 p.m. @ JHS)
Band Booster Executive Board Meeting (6:30 - 8:30 p.m. @ JHS Band Hall)
THURSDAY, October 6
Band & Guard Rehearsal (7 a.m. @ JHS)
JHS vs. Austin High School (7 p.m. @ Shelton Stadium)
Pink-out Game
FRIDAY, October 7
Student Holiday/Staff Work Day
Band & Guard Rehearsal (5 - 7 p.m. @ JHS)
*Yes, even though this is a student holiday, we will have practice! We have BOA Midland tomorrow!
October 8
Bands of America (BOA) Midland (@ Astound Broadband Stadium)
West TX Regional Championship
Prelim Performance time: 4 p.m.
MONDAY, October 10
Band & Guard Rehearsal (5 - 8 p.m. @ JHS)
*Yes, even though this is a student holiday, we will have practice! We have UIL tomorrow!
October 11
UIL Marching Contest (@ Burger Stadium)
Performance Time TBA
October 12
Panda Express Spirit Night Benefitting Johnson Jaguar Band (340 Old San Antonio Rd #110, Buda, TX 78610, USA)
All day. In person or online. Show the cashier the post from your phone. Online - PandaExpress.com or the App. Enter 339466 in the fundraiser code box
October 13
Band & Guard Rehearsal (7 a.m. @ JHS)
JHS vs. Bowie High School (7 p.m. @ Burger Activity Center)
October 15
Marching Clinic (REQUIRED) (8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. @ Shelton Stadium)
*It's important that all members attend. We will have hired a guest clinician to help the band prepare for upcoming competitions! p.s. parents are welcome to sit in stands and watch!
October 22
OPEN WEEKEND (yes, really! ;-)
October 29
Bands of America (BOA) Waco (@ Baylor University)
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From the director
Let’s take a second and enjoy celebrating the Jaguar Band's success this past Saturday at the Rocket Review! There were 33 Bands participating in this years Rocket Review which is the most in the contests 34 year history! We are happy to say that the Johnson Jaguar Band swept the 6A Division by placing 1st and winning all captions! They brought home the 6A Division 1st place trophy and the Outstanding Percussion and Outstanding Color Guard awards! Additionally, the Johnson Jaguar Band was crowned the 2022 Rocket Review Grand Champion!!! Way to go Jaguar Band! To say we are proud is an understatement.
Now, let’s take a look at what to expect this week! Please make sure everyone is looking at the calendar! Every football game this month is a Thursday game! This means that there will be days where the rehearsal schedule is swapped to accommodate these games. This week is one of those weeks! We have a Thursday night game this week; therefore, we move the afternoon practice to Friday. There is no school for the students on that day; however, we DO HAVE REHEARSAL from 5 - 7 p.m.! Make sure everyone is aware and plans accordingly. We leave early the very next morning (Saturday) to head to Midland for the BOA West Texas Regional! We must make this week's the best and most productive rehearsals to date! Attendance is mandatory and crucial to our success! We need everyone at every rehearsal!
Please note that we have our regularly scheduled Monday evening rehearsal on October 10, from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. Even though there is no school that day we have a very important rehearsal. UIL is on Tuesday October 11th.
You will receive a detailed schedule early this week that contains the Thursday night Football Game, the BOA Midland Regional and the UIL Marching Contest! We have a very busy week!!!
Let’s have a great week and remember that on today and any day: “It’s A Great Day To Be A Jaguar!”
We are rolling now! Shout out to our very first Front Ensemble Member of the Week Ethan Tibbits! Another contest and another strong finish. This week is a big one for us as we prepare for our first BOA regional of the season! We will have an audio engineer out on Tuesday to dial in all things electronic, including synths, DTX, mics, and soloists. Attendance is absolutely crucial this week so we can have the best performance of the year in Midland.
REHEARSAL ETIQUETTE
Please show up to rehearsal early to make sure we are set up ready to go when it starts. We can’t afford to lose any rehearsal time as we continue to perfect the show. If each student does their job, setup time doesn’t take long. This is the expectation and we need to continue to strive for quick moves and setups.
GRADES GRADES GRADES
Don’t let the next report card sneak up on you. It is essential that we have a 100% passing rate. I would hate for anyone to have to miss going to BOA Grand Nationals and PASIC.
PASIC - Percussive Arts Society International Convention
One of the cool things about Grand Nationals is that PASIC is held during the same weekend in the convention center across the street. I would love to take the percussion students to this convention at some point during our stay in Indianapolis. Typically this convention costs upwards of 3-4 hundred dollars for the 4 day pass. PAS has a deal for BOA Grand National competing bands to attend. The cost will be $30 per student! That is an incredible rate and an experience of a lifetime for these percussionists. This is not a mandatory thing but I would hope that each student would want to take it in. I will send out a google form to the students this week to gauge interest.
COMMUNICATION
Most communication for our band program goes out through Charms and Remind. Any Percussion specific info will be sent out via our Percussion Remind. I encourage all parents to sign up. This will hopefully keep you informed of upcoming percussion events, news, info, etc.
To sign up, simply text @jagsperc22 to the number 81010.
UPCOMING PERCUSSION SPECIFIC EVENTS
3/4/23 - JHS Percussion Ensemble Concert
QUESTIONS?
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SHOW HAIR AND SHOW MAKEUP
If you haven't gotten it yet, please purchase the required RED/BLACK for eye shape. Some members tried to use regular lipstick and it melted on their faces.
RED team: for eye shape: Mabelline SuperStay Ink Crayon, #45
BLACK team: for eye shape: outline with BadGal waterproof pencil eyeliner; fill in with Maybelline Tattoo studio, 36H eye liner
ALL: lipstick is Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink, #20 Pioneer
In case you missed it, the latest edition of The Guardian has all of the information for competition hair and makeup you will need for this week's game and competition.
UNIFORMS:
10/6 Game Uniform: Same as last week: Tunics over unitards. After 1st quarter, change into competition costume, black jazz shoes, show hair up, show makeup.
10/8 Competition Uniform: Competition costume, black jazz shoes, show hair up, show makeup (shape and blue)
A common helpful point go keep in mind is that "competition hair" this year will be less gel and more hairspray. Please no slicked back, tight hair dos. Pull open braids to create height. Use bun makers (cut them if needed) to add height.
REMINDERS:
*Students MUST wear black no-show THIN socks with black jazz shoes. Wearing jazz shoes without socks not only makes them smell very bad, the shoes can give you blisters.
**Students without jazz shoes on performance day will NOT be allowed to perform! Make sure you have everything packed the night BEFORE game / competition day!
- Monday: blue
- Tuesday: grey
- Thursday: pink
- Friday: black
HOUSING UPDATE!
Below is the text of the 9/23 email:
Our housing contact emailed me yesterday to inform me that he was able to accommodate ALL of the extra rooms that our group requested at the students hotel, Wyndham West! So if you are receiving this email, then YOU HAVE A ROOM!
For those of you who indicated your willingness to share, please know that I did take you up on that offer and paired you up with someone else who also indicated a willingness to share.
Once I receive the final housing information from our contact, we will send you the information and method in which you can pay for your room.
Friendly reminder that ALL BAND AND GUARD students must stay in rooms with other band and guard students. They will not stay in rooms with parents.
Fly a Flag
Join the Johnson Jaguar Band Boosters!
Subscribe to Fly a Flag! Show your National Pride AND support the Johnson High School Band! The Johnson Band Boosters are offering a US Flag Subscription service! For national holidays a 3’ x 5’ flag on a pole will be placed in your front yard. The flags will be installed at least one day before the holiday and will be removed after the holiday (length of display will vary depending on when the holiday occurs). A one-year subscription to the Fly A Flag Program is $52. At this time, this service is only being offered in the Johnson High School attendance zone.
SHOP!
Amazon Smile: Support the Johnson Jaguar Band & Guard by shopping at Amazon Smile!Scrip Gift Cards: Shop gift cards from 750+ top brands like Amazon, HEB, Starbucks, Walmart, Home Depot and the band program earns on things you buy!
Sponsorships: Visit our website to find ways to support and sponsor the Johnson Jaguar Band & Guard.
Corporate Sponsorship: Corporate sponsorships are a fantastic way for local businesses to support the Jaguar Band AND raise awareness about your company in our community. . There are several different levels of sponsorship available each with its own unique incentives. Download our brochure or click on the image to explore the various tax-deductible options available.
Staying Informed
Staying Informed! The Jaguar Band strives to keep everyone informed about our events and increase the opportunity to answer questions and create conversations with our community. This year, you will be able to find out information not only in our Newsletter and on our Band Calendar, but we will also be sharing them on our Johnson Band website events page and as events on our Facebook page. Our events on Facebook will be used as a primary source for updates and reminders. Don't forget to use your section GroupMe's as a quick and effective way to get your questions answered!
Stay Connected!
- Save our website -www.johnsonbands.com
- Find copies of our Jaguar Band Newsletters at: https://www.johnsonbands.com/newsletter
- Sync to the Band Google Calendar: https://www.johnsonbands.com/calendar
- Sign up for 2022 Remind - Instructions here https://www.johnsonbands.com/get-connected
- Like our Facebook Page https://www.johnsonbands.com/get-connected
- Get Connected: Remind App, JHS Band Calendar, Photos & Newsletters. We're also on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube!
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JOHNSON HIGH SCHOOL JAGUAR BAND
