2017-18 DGN Jazz Band Course Rosters

Thank you to all the students who expressed an interest in jazz band course enrollment, and auditioned for placement. We appreciate the time and energy that you invested in preparing the audition materials.

Our first class/rehearsal will be Wednesday, August 30, at 7:00 AM.

Click HERE for the 2017-18 Jazz Lab Band and Jazz Ensemble Class Lists.

Important Reminders and Updates for the Week of 8/28

Greetings DGN Band Families!

We have a busy week ahead and thought it would be a good idea to share some reminders and more details about our schedule. Thank you for taking the time to read through what is admittedly a long post!







Monday 8/28

No extra band events. Just a great day of music making in all band classes!

Tuesday 8/29

Drumline

Regular Rehearsal 6:30 – 8:30 pm

Color Guard

OPTIONAL but encouraged rehearsal for NU Band Day – 4:45 – 5:15pm*

Regular Rehearsal 5:30 – 8:30 pm

NOTE – Please refer to the email from Mrs. Zaragoza about your uniform dress rehearsal.

*This optional rehearsal is a revised change since your email from Mrs. Zaragoza.

Wednesday 8/30

Color Guard

OPTIONAL but encouraged rehearsal for NU Band Day – 4:45 – 6:45pm*

*This optional rehearsal is a revised change since your email from Mrs. Zaragoza.

Thursday 8/31

All Band Families
Open House! We look forward to saying hello to all our band families throughout the evening. Please refer to schedules sent by DGN for more information about the evening’s schedule.

Full Marching Band (with Drumline and Color Guard)
Because of Open House we need to modify our schedule:

5:15 pm (revised time – 15 minutes later than usual) – Rehearsal begins on Carstens Field with everything you need for the evening (music, instruments, banners, flags, water bottles, etc.)

8:55 – Rehearsal ends – Rehearsal is extended due to Band Room being used for Open House

Friday 9/1

Marching Band
It’s Game Day! (and a 1:30 early school dismissal day)

Students are encouraged but not required to wear their tie-dye MB t-shirt during the school day as a show of school spirit.

Students should also bring the following with them in the morning so they are sure to have everything they need for the game later in the evening:

• Black full length socks (not ankle socks)
• Black Marching Band shoes
• A fresh, clean t-shirt to wear under the uniform – NOT the t-shirt they wore during the day. NOT their tie-dye MB t-shirt (needs to be clean for Saturday morning)
• Athletic-type shorts – lightweight to be worn under uniform
• This season’s black Marching Band cap.
• Deodorant/Antiperspirant – Consider leaving this in your uniform bag (and having another one at home for daily use!)
• OPTIONAL but highly encouraged - Dryer sheets in a zip-lock bag to place in arms of uniform coat after the performance

**Students without these important uniform parts may not be able to perform (but will be required to attend and assist throughout the evening).

Schedule for the Game:
4:30 pm Band Room opens
5:00 pm Call time – Change into full uniform (MB caps tucked in shakos)
5:30 pm Rehearsal start on EAST field in full uniform with instruments, music, etc.
6:25 pm Seniors move to track and meet families for photos and introductions
6:30 pm Report to Fieldhouse – use washrooms, get water
7:00 pm Parade the Track
7:25 pm PREGAME
7:35 pm – KICKOFF!!
8:30 pm (approx.) – HALFTIME
10:00 pm (approx.) – POSTGAME

**Color Guard students have received a detailed pre-game schedule in a previous email from Mrs. Zaragoza.

We hope to see ALL of our DGN families at the game to cheer on our Trojan Football Team, Cheerleaders, Athenas and BAND!!

Saturday 9/2

Marching Band – Northwestern Band Day

Details regarding this event were emailed home several weeks ago. Here are some reminders:

Overview of Field Trip:

Date of Trip: Saturday, September 2, 2017
Report Time / Change: 7:45 AM
Load Buses: 8:00 AM
Departure:  8:15 AM (8:16 AM… Diesel fumes… don’t be late!)
Arrive NU: 9:45 AM
Check In: 10:00 AM
Rehearsal: 10:15 AM – 12:15 PM
Find Seats / Food: 12:30 PM
Pregame  (must be in seats): 2:00 PM
Kick-OfF: 2:30 PM
Halftime: 3:45 PM (approx.)
3^rd Qtr. Depart NU: 4:30 PM (approx.)
Return: 5:30 PM (approx.)

Details:
 When you load the bus students should be wearing/carrying the following:

• Wearing Marching Band pants, black socks, black MB shoes
• Wearing Gym Shorts under pants
• Carrying Coat and Gauntlets in Garment bag
• Carrying Shako box with shako
• White gloves (can be in pocket of uniform)
• Wearing THIS YEAR’s Marching Band T-Shirt (CLEAN!)
• Wearing THIS YEAR’s Marching Band Cap

We know several families have purchased tickets on their own and plan to attend the game to cheer on the Wildcats. Please note that Northwestern has some new, very specific security procedures in place particularly applying to a “clear bag policy”. Please visit the following website for more information:

http://www.nusports.com/sports/2016/8/18/clear-bag-policy.aspx?id=619

 More Game Day information can be found here:

http://www.nusports.com/sports/2015/3/18/football_gameday_info.aspx

Thank you again for taking the time to read through all of these details. We are excited about the way our school year is so quickly up and running! We look forward to working with your students and seeing you at our events throughout the year!

 Sincerely,
-Bill Miller and Brayer Teague

Jazz audition call-backs ...

The following students are asked to arrive at 7 AM on Tuesday, August 29th, for jazz call-back auditions. Woodwind and Brass players should have their instrument and be prepared to play any of the materials that were a part of the original audition. Percussionists should have sticks, brushes, and be prepared to play various 'grooves' in a variety of tempi.

Emily Bollinger

Gavin Harker

Ben Heppner

Parker Holdaway

Emilija Irvin

Matt Isenman

Justin Koblich

Cady Murphy

Jonathan Orjala  

Eli Pfotenhauer

Rachel Rios

Final Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Lab Band rosters will be posted on Tuesday, August 29th by 6 PM. The first class session for each band will be on Wednesday, August 30th, at 7 AM.

    

Congrats Mr. & Ms. Rivera!

The DGN Band extends congratulations to Marching Band Staff member Mr. Alex Rivera, and former DGN Color Guard Coach Ms. Emily Rivera, on the birth of their son, Evan Alexander Rivera!

Band Camp Showcase 2017

Congratulations to the members of the 2017 Trojan Marching Band on a terrific preview performance at this evening's Band Camp Showcase!

Band Camp Showcase Details / Ice Cream Coupon!

Family and friends of the DGN Band will not want to miss tonight's "Band Camp Showcase" performance, held on the WEST practice field at 6:30 PM. The band's performance and marching demonstration is expected to last approximately 45 minutes.

Spectators are encouraged to bring a folding chair or blanket to sit on as there are no bleachers at the West field.

Parking on the west side of the building is extremely limited, and the lot off of Prince St. will likely be filled to capacity earlier in the evening. Those who cannot walk longer distances may be dropped off near the field, and then cars should proceed to the Main St. lot on the east side of the building. Allow at least 5 minutes to walk from the Main St. lot back to the West field. 

Following the Band Camp Showcase, families are invited to socialize at Every Day's A Sundae in downtown Downers Grove. A mobile coupon is included here. No need to print; you may simply show this coupon on your phone to redeem the "BOGO" offer.

Schedule for Tuesday, August 15:

8 AM - 1 PM: Full Band Practice

1 PM - 4:30 PM: BREAK

4:30 PM - 6:30 PM: Full Band Practice

NOTE: Students who are ordering NEW shoes will be sized at the beginning of the 4:30 PM practice today. We have moved this up 1-hour from the originally published time of 5:30 PM.

6:30 PM: Band Camp Showcase on West Field

7:30 PM: Optional Ice Cream Social at Every Day's A Sundae.

There is NO band practice of any kind scheduled for Wednesday.

After today, the band's next major practice is Thursday (August 17) 5 PM - 8:30 PM. This is our normal Thursday night rehearsal time-frame moving forward.

Tuesday Schedule for Marching Band

Tomorrow is our last day of Band Camp 2017!  As a reminder, here is the Tuesday, August 15 schedule for the DGN Trojan Marching Band:
8 AM: Full Band Practice Begins

1:00 PM: Practice Ends (note that this is one hour later than other Band Camp days)

1 - 4:30 PM: BREAK

4:30 PM: Rehearsal Continues. Band members report in BAND SHIRT & BALL CAP, wearing shorts and gym shoes.

6:30 PM: BAND CAMP SHOWCASE performance for friends/family on WEST field.

7:30 PM: Showcase Ends. Optional Ice Cream Social at Every Day's A Sundae.

Important Update - Uniforms / Monday Practice Schedule

Please read this update carefully:

Thank you to our AMAZING parent volunteers for their time and energy today. Simply put, we could not have accomplished what we did without you!! 

There are 24 students (of 207) that we did not process today for one reason, or another.  Most of those students did come to campus today (thank you!), and left with our permission. We need to get these remaining 24 students into uniforms on MONDAY of this week (August 14). 

Monday's schedule originally had the band in practice from 8 AM - 12 PM. There was no afternoon or evening practice scheduled for Monday.  We are modifying the Monday schedule as follows:

8 AM - 10:30 AM: Full Marching Band Rehearsal
10:30 AM: All students who have been fitted for a uniform will be dismissed for the day. All students in need of a uniform will be asked to stay and complete the process. 

Note: because our inventory is now limited, students in need of a uniform should expect to stay until at least 12:30 or 1:00 PM. If you finish earlier, great! But please arrive on Monday knowing that you may need to stay later. 

PARENT VOLUNTEERS: Any of the volunteers who were with us Saturday, are familiar with our fitting process and are available from 10 AM - 12:00 noon, we would be appreciative of your additional time. If you are available, please send Mr. Miller an email on Sunday to confirm.

Marching Band Uniform Distribution is Tomorrow! (Saturday, August 12)

Greetings!

This is a reminder that we will do our Marching Band Uniform Distribution on Saturday, August 12th.

Schedule for distribution:

8 AM - Parent volunteers report for final set up and orientation
8:30 AM - Seniors A-J
9:15 AM - Seniors K-Z
10:00 AM - Juniors A-K
10:45 AM - Juniors L-Z
11:30 AM - Sophomores A-H
12:15 AM - Sophomores I-Z
1:00 PM - Lunch Break for Volunteers
1:45 – 2:45 PM - Freshman A-J
2:45 – 4:00 PM - Freshman K-Z

Note: Color Guard members may report at any time during the scheduled distribution to pay their fees and collect their t-shirt and ball cap.

**Students have been assigned to the time frames above to evenly distribute students throughout the day. Families are asked to adhere to this schedule unless there is an absolutely immovable schedule conflict. In those cases, if it is helpful to come to a different time frame, students may do so. We respectfully ask that families do not change their scheduled time simply for family convenience. Doing so would potentially run the risk of creating long, unnecessary wait times during certain parts of the day. Thank you in advance for adhering to the given schedule when at all possible.**

If for some chance we being to run significantly ahead or behind schedule, we will send out updates via our text messaging system outline in the Band Handbook.

What To Know About Arriving at Uniform Distribution

Students should wear lightweight gym-shorts and a t-shirt when they arrive for distribution.  Returning students who have marching band shoes that fit them should wear or bring those shoes so they can wear them during fitting. New students to the band will not have their shoes yet, and should wear athletic shoes for the fitting process.

At a minimum, students need to know and be able to share their height and weight. It would be even more helpful if they new their waist, inseam and chest sizes. This will greatly increase our ability to accurately fit students for uniforms.

If I need Marching Band Shoes When Do I Order Them?

Shoe orders will take place in the Band room on Tuesday, August 15, from 5:30 - 6:00 PM. No money is exchanged at that time. We simply size the student and place the order. 

When Do We Pay Our Marching Band Fees?

Fees should be paid on August 12 during Uniform Distribution in cash or, preferably, a check made payable to “DGN — BANDS.”

New members to the band will need to pay $75.00 ($25 for Color Guard), which will include the uniform shoes, the uniform T-shirt, hat, and the uniform usage fee.

Formers (who do not need new shoes) will need to pay $40.00 ($25 for Color Guard).

Section Theme Night

Congratulations to the Clarinet Section on their winning "Despicable Me" theme!

Mismatch Spirit Night Winners

A great show of spirit tonight! Congrats to our Spirit Night winners.

Band Camp 2017 - Section Color Night

There was tremendous energy, spirit, and work ethic at tonight's Band Camp practice. It's great to have the 200+ members of the Trojan Marching Band back on campus today! #WeAreDGN

Welcome to Camp!

Our 2017 Band Camp is off and running with New Members and Student Leaders this morning. We are looking forward to having the full Marching Band back in campus this afternoon!

Band Camp Starts Monday - Welcome Class of 2021!

The 2017 DGN Trojan Marching Band begins "camp" practices on the North High campus Monday, August 7! (8 - 12 for new students and Student Leaders; 1:30-3:30/6-9 for all band members.)

It was wonderful to greet the Class of 2021, and all new members to the Band, at this weekend's "Newcomer Party." Thanks to our Leadership Team hosts for creating a great event!

Color Guard & Percussion Mini Camps Underway!

Members of the Color Guard and Percussion Section reported for Mini Camp today. These dedicated students will practice 24 hours over a 3-day period in preparation for next week's Band Camp 2017. Thanks to these students for their hard work and dedication!

2017 Marching Band Leadership Team

Band Leaders Collaborate/Anticipate August 7

DGN Marching Band leaders are on campus today, working collaboratively to identify the traits of effective leadership, and practice implementation. These amazing students are looking forward to welcoming the full DGN Marching Band membership to campus on August 7th for Band Camp 2017.