VALLEY BANDS 101
From the Valley Band Boosters
OUR MISSION
The Valley Band Boosters provide visibility, communication and support for band students and the band programs at Valley High School and Valley Southwoods with resources that ensure growth and development for all students. We want to enlighten, excite and educate our students through participation in music!
Financial support provided through the Valley Band Boosters is intended to facilitate high standards of excellence in the band programs by helping to cover supplemental expenses of band activities at Valley High School and Valley Southwoods.
Budget and expense details are reviewed at Band Parent Meetings.
ADMINISTRATIVE
All students are required to fill out a health form (valleybands.org/downloads/medicalform.pdf). This form is a school requirement and serves as a signed document permitting medical treatment if it becomes necessary.
CONCERT BAND
There are three concert bands: Symphony Band and Concert Ensemble at VHS and Valley Southwoods Band. Concert bands form the core of the band experience for a student and provide an opportunity to mature as a musician.
Concert band performances are scheduled throughout the year. Please see the Valley High School calendar, Valley Southwoods calendar or check our website, www.valleybands.org, for concert dates and times.
Concert band uniforms are provided for an annual fee of $50. Students will be notified of fitting times. Concert uniforms go home with students, and students dress at home prior to concert performances. The two options are a tuxedo with black socks and black dress shoes, or a dress with black closed-toe shoes.
All-State Band Auditions are held in the fall. Because each school is limited on the number of students that can be sent to auditions (usually at Indianola High School), there is an in-school audition process prior to All-State auditions. Students must provide their own transportation to auditions. It is a tremendous honor to be selected.
Perry Band Olympics is a solo and ensemble contest in February. Many students perform solos and duets – and may be asked to perform in ensemble. Participation has traditionally been mandatory. Students select their own music and sign up for a performance time once the piece has been approved by their director. Students contact and pay their own accompanist (a list of accompanists will be posted in the band hall). A bus is provided, or students can arrange their own transportation to this event.
Adventureland Band Contest is an all-band contest held in the late spring at alternate locations depending on the year (not at Adventureland!)
All-Iowa Concert Band Festival is an all-band contest held in the spring.
The Spring Awards Concert (aka Spring Fling Wing Ding) is the end-of-the-year awards ceremony and senior celebration featuring both concert band and jazz band performances. Students are asked to wear dress casual clothes.
Directors will provide more information about these events as they approach.
MARCHING BAND
The Valley Marchmasters are the most public face of the band program. Marching band rehearsals are held at the end of the school year, and Band Camp occurs in August. Students need to bring water bottles and sunscreen, wear tennis or running shoes and dress for hot weather. Practices are outside, and weather can take a toll on your students’ instrument as can dents or dings – be prepared.
Early bird morning practices are held during fall mornings and present widely varied temperatures – students need to dress accordingly. Afterward, freshmen walk up the hill to Southwoods and sophomores through seniors drive themselves or ride the shuttle bus to Valley. If your student is riding the shuttle bus, the directors need to be notified so they can provide identifying information to the WDMCS Transportation Department.
Marching band uniforms are fit during the summer. The uniform fee for Marchmasters is $50. First-year Marchmasters also pay a $40 fee for uniform shoes. Color Guard uniforms are ordered by the directors each year. Color Guard members purchase shoes and makeup as directed by the Color Guard staff. As with any fees, if a student/family is unable to afford the uniform fee or purchase of shoes and makeup, please speak with your director. There is financial assistance available.
For home football game performances, Marchmasters change into their uniforms outside at the stadium by the Marchmasters trailer. Students are to arrive with long black socks, white T-shirt and black shorts or leggings/long underwear to wear under the uniform (depending on weather). Long hair must be secured off the student’s neck. Dyed hair may color the shakos (hats) so plan accordingly. No jewelry or nail polish is allowed during marching season. Naturally, any religious dress requirements will be accommodated. Please speak with your director. NO EATING ONCE IN UNIFORM.
Students warm up in the grassy area behind Jordan Creek Elementary. The band plays a pre-game show and then sits in the designated bleachers (south end) until the half-time performance. Students are released after their uniforms are put away after the half-time performance is completed.
The Marchmasters perform in the Homecoming Parade wearing Valley Bands spirit wear. Meeting time and location is announced to students during Homecoming Week.
Marchmasters Senior Night is celebrated during the last home football game (typically at halftime). Parents join their senior student in recognition of their participation in Marchmasters. More information about Senior Night will be communicated to senior parents as the event approaches.
The Marchmasters participate in several competitions each year (see the calendar at valleybands.org for details). Attending a competition is the best way to watch your student perform and hear the performance (good for recording) since marching competitions are focused on the band. A typical schedule includes the Johnston Invitational, an overnight or all-day out-of-town competition, a judged exhibition performance at Valleyfest, state competition at Waukee (where professional pictures are taken) and Mid-Iowa Championships at Ankeny.
The week of state competition is “decorate your band students’ lockers week.” Parents typically use streamers, posters, photos, and candy (no nuts or latex balloons) to decorate their student’s band locker. The Band Boosters will be available to provide locker combinations and numbers. This event celebrates the efforts of the band during the season and encourages the band to obtain a top ranking at state – the Marchmasters are proud of our streak of consecutive top rankings at state competition starting in 1962!
JAZZ BAND
The jazz program at Valley presents an opportunity to play an exciting library of music while learning improvisation and general proficiency with an instrument. Jazz bands are smaller and more intimate than the other bands in the program and provide the opportunity to form close friendships with other students. The Band Boosters help support jazz programs at Valley and Valley Southwoods. Jazz Band participants are preselected in the spring by audition.
One of the highlight performances of the year is Jazz in the Hall in November, an evening of music, food and drink that features all the high school jazz bands. Each jazz band also performs at various contests and clinics throughout the year.
VOLUNTEERING AND FUNDRAISING
It is so valuable to the band and your student that ALL parents are involved; there are so many volunteering opportunities. Some employers offer matching funds for volunteer hours worked. Please check with your employer.
The majority of the band budget comes from the Band Boosters. We encourage you to check your employer’s matching gifts programs. The Valley Band Boosters are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Donations can be given online at valleybands.org
Checks can be mailed to:
Valley Band Boosters
3775 EP True Parkway, #268
West Des Moines, IA 50265.
Funds are also generated through fundraisers, apparel sales, and Valleyfest. Our current fundraisers include:
Valleyfest is our main fundraiser and volunteering opportunity. This all-day marching band competition draws bands from all over the state and the Midwest. Money raised supports concert band and jazz band as well as marching band. ALL band students and parents are expected to volunteer for at least one shift. While the Valley does not compete, the Marchmasters perform in exhibition as the final band of the evening prior to awards ceremony. Valleyfest occurs the second Saturday in October each year.
Band Buttons
Marchmaster and Jazz photos are taken and made into buttons for parents and family to show off their student. Marchmaster buttons will be sold in August and Jazz buttons in the fall.
Band Apparel
T-shirts, sweatshirts, jackets, yard signs and other items will be available via an online store several times a year (links will be emailed to band families). Items will be shipped directly to the purchaser. Valleyfest apparel can also be ordered online. Apparel purchases through the Valley Band Boosters are one of the best ways to support the Valley Bands program and your student.
We are ALWAYS looking for fundraising opportunities so please share any ideas you have at treasurer@valleybands.org or president@valleybands.org!!