Legacy High School Bands Dr. Curtis J. Melton, Director 150 W. Deer Springs Way, North Las Vegas, NV 89084 702-799-1777, ext. 4040 meltocj@nv.ccsd.net Dear 2018-19 Legacy High School Band and Color Guard Parents & Students: To begin with, WELCOME to the Legacy High School Band and Color Guard program!!! My name is Dr. Curtis Melton, and I am so incredibly proud of this band program. This band program has done incredible things in the last 5 years I ve been here. The bands have received Superior Ratings at band festivals every single year for the last 5 years, huge success and admiration from others on the field for marching band, and we continue to grow and raise the bar of excellence with all we do; whether it s our concert, marching, jazz, or our color guard programs. I am so proud of these students for their endless hard work, dedication, and enthusiasm. This band has become an icon at Legacy and has put our school on the map. For those of you who are brand new to Legacy High School either as an incoming freshman or a returning member to the band, believe me, this organization is very worth it, and you will have experiences that will stick with you for the rest of your lives. The band and guard program is really like no other organization on campus. This letter has been sent to you to inform you about the happenings and important information for this fast-approaching fall season. Band camp (in other words, marching band training ) is rapidly approaching us here in about 3 short months, so I would like to re-announce the info for Legacy Band Camp! On the next couple of pages and at the end of this mailer, is the information for the Legacy High School Marching Band Camp! BAND CAMP IS REQUIRED OF EVERY MEMBER OF THE LEGACY BANDS AND COLORGUARD. Every member means all students in the Intermediate Band AND Advanced Band AND Guard and then EVERYONE is in Marching Band together. Band camp is where the students learn the music for the field show, the pep music they will play throughout marching band season (and the whole year), and where they will learn the basics of marching, and even begin learning the field show drill spots. We have two performances before the school year begins, so band camp gets us ready for those as well as our engagements through the season. Color Guard learns their flag and equipment basics, as well as all the routines they will be doing to the pep music, fight song, and also the marching band show where the bulk of their work will be focused. And along with the band, they learn marching basics.
THE TEN IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT BAND CAMP!! 1) Band camp is required of all band students to have spot written for them in the 2018 field show. If the student does not attend band camp, they will not have a spot in the field show and not have an active part in the marching band for the fall semester and will be an alternate in the marching band. 2) Most of you have had many months of notice on band camp dates and times (all students in their bandrooms at Cram, Johnston, Findlay, and Legacy were given these dates back in January of 2018). In other words this for most of you, should not be the first time you have heard of the band camp dates and how it is a required event to attend. 3) Remember too that there are NO band commitments from when school gets out on May 24 th, nothing throughout June, and most of July so you all get a solid TWO MONTHS OFF from school and from band commitments. Two months is plenty of time to fit in summer family vacations, etc. 4) You can all do this! Plus, band camp is really fun. We have themed days and competitions throughout those weeks along with what we are doing to get ready for the upcoming season. 5) ******IMPORTANT Please schedule family trips, vacations, and other conflicts around these weeks before school starts. Keep in mind that this band camp schedule has been released well before any fall sport schedule. If you have any questions, please speak to me. 6) Work, babysitting, vacations, and other excuses like these are not excused to miss band camp rehearsals. Please work these kinds of conflicts out ahead of time. 7) Missing any significant part of camp due to non-school related activities, can affect the member s standing in the ensemble. (You may be named an alternate and not have a spot in the show). 8) If there is an extenuating circumstance for band camp that absolutely cannot be worked out at this time, please contact me NOW with the details. But if at all possible, please work everything out to be at band camp it will once again, be a blast! 9) **LEGACY HS SPORTS PARTICIPANTS ALSO IMPORTANT: If you play a fall sport, please email me with your sports schedule or bring it to band camp the first day so that we can work out when you can be in both your sport and band. It is VERY possible to do both your sport and band without any penalty in band, you CAN participate in both
activities! School sports are considered school-related activities, therefore, your standing in the band will not be affected if you miss parts of rehearsals for sports practices. Just be sure to communicate with Dr. Melton ahead of time on any and all conflicts. 10) Transportation to and from rehearsals is the responsibility of the student and parent; however, on the dinner breaks that are in the schedule during camp, the band room will remain open for students to stay and hang out if they wish. **See the end of this mailer for the BAND CAMP CALENDAR, showing the band camp rehearsal schedule AND the first week of school schedule. If there are any questions about these dates and times let me know! BAND/COLORGUARD YEARLY FEES The next item I would like to discuss is the 2018-19 Legacy Band/Guard Fee. These fees are required of every member of the band and color guard as these fees really get us started. It pays for the custom band t-shirts that each student will receive at band camp, music throughout the year the students will play, show entry fees, bus transportation costs, and of course other items that we will need to get throughout the year to benefit the students. In the event that money is or becomes an issue within your family, PLEASE, still be in the band/guard, and make sure you attend band camp. I will work out any type of payment plan to accommodate you and your family s needs. No one will be denied participation because of money. The band fee due of every member this year is again $110.00. Cash or money order are the only types of payment accepted OR you may pay online at the Legacy HS Webstore the school website is http://legacyhigh.net and then click on Pay Online on the main page. ****For all NEW members to the Legacy Bands (includes ALL freshmen, new marchers to the Legacy Bands, or returning members who need new marching dress shoes) the fee is $140.00. The extra $30.00 pays for the required black marching dress shoes the students wear with the marching band uniform. The money if you can, is due by Friday, August 3 rd. (If you cannot meet the deadline, PLEASE, contact me and we will work out an alternative payment plan! I want all who wish to be in band to be able to participate!) The first year for any new marching band member is the most costly, but please be assured that I want everyone with the desire to participate! Please don t let the fee be a deterrent I will work with you.
SCHOOL-OWNED INSTRUMENTS/RENTALS For band members who need an instrument Legacy has a limited supply of school-owned instruments available to check out. The band owns SOME flutes, clarinets, saxophones, trumpets, and trombones. We also do own the big instruments like tubas, baritones, drums, etc. If you need an instrument please contact Dr. Melton as soon as you possibly can, so it can be seen if there is an available instrument for you, and it can be reserved. There are not a ton though, so instruments are first-come-first serve. If there is no instrument available in our inventory for you or if you prefer you may rent, or rent-to-own, an instrument through one of the many educational instrument shops in town. More information can be obtained through Dr. Melton as to where to go for an instrument. Either way be sure to have an instrument squared away for yourself by July 30 th! If you have questions please ask! PERCUSSIONISTS coming into the band should own a pair of snare drumsticks, a pair of yarn mallets for mallet playing, and a pair of timpani mallets. If there are any questions let me know. TUESDAY WEEKLY EVENING REHEARSALS Once band camp is over and the school year begins, throughout the course of the marching band season, regular, required weekly Tuesday night rehearsals for the band students will be in place throughout the season from 6:00-8:30pm every Tuesday evening. The first weekly Tuesday Evening Rehearsal will start with the first week of school, on Tuesday, August 14 th, and then continue every Tuesday evening through the end of the marching band season. These rehearsals are where we will really be able to dig in to learn, coordinate, and clean the marching band show. If there are any questions about Tuesday evening rehearsals, please let me know! (Again, bring me your sports schedules if you play a sport, so we can review any potential conflicts on Tuesday evenings). These rehearsals are required and part of your grade in band, and I will work with sports participants on potential time conflicts, as long as there is sufficient notice on any conflict with a sport. COLORGUARD-SPECIFIC ANNOUNCEMENTS 1) Color Guard members after band camp ends and once the school year begins, have required Tuesday AND Thursday Night Rehearsals. Your first Tuesday
evening rehearsal will start with the first week of school, on Tuesday, August 14 th, and your first Thursday evening rehearsal will start on Thursday, August 16 th. You will have TWO weekly evening rehearsals: Tuesdays from 5:00-8:30pm, and Thursdays from 4:00-8:00pm. These rehearsals are to facilitate learning the guard choreography, and learning the drill. Tuesday nights will be partially with the band Thursday nights will be without the band for a strictly guard rehearsal. BOTH WEEKLY EVENING REHEARSALS ARE REQUIRED OF EVERY COLOR GUARD MEMBER. 2) ALL GUARD MEMBERS you also are responsible for the $140.00 program fee if you need to have a payment plan in place to cover the fees I will do that with you! Don t let the fee be a deterrent to joining this organization. 3) If you have any questions about guard practices and what is expected please let me (Dr. Melton) know! We are all incredibly excited for the future of the guard program. FINAL THOUGHTS I just want to say that words cannot describe my excitement for the coming year! I know I gave everyone a lot of information at once, but band camp is only three short months away! If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to give me a call at the band office (702-799-1777, ext. 4040) or send me an email at meltocj@nv.ccsd.net. Email is the preferred method of contact as that will be checked constantly throughout the summer. Be ready for band camp all the marching (which can be done by all, even while playing, yes it can be done!), and the 2018 Section Competitions and Drill Down Championships!!! (If you don t know what a drill down is, believe me it is FUN!) I look forward to seeing everyone on July 23 rd for Percussion and Guard members, and July 30 th for ALL members, for an incredible year and the continuing of great traditions that we have already started at Legacy High School with the band program, and the beginning of new ones. Have a restful, fun, and safe summer vacation. Welcome to our Legacy Band Family!! Sincerely, Dr. Curtis J. Melton Director of Bands Legacy High School 702-799-1777, ext. 4040 meltocj@nv.ccsd.net P.S. Look for a SECOND band/guard mailer to arrive in early-july with reminders and such about band camp and other items.
LEGACY BAND FACEBOOK PAGE http://facebook.com/legacyhsbandandguard Get on Facebook and LIKE THIS PAGE!! ****Search for Legacy High School Band and Guard on Facebook and then Like the page and then you will be always up to date on information about the band program!! (Call times, performance attire, other announcements, etc.) It s the easiest way to stay informed about band and guard happenings.**** ANNOUNCEMENTS WILL BE POSTED TO THIS ALL SUMMER LIKE AND STAY CONNECTED! LEGACY BAND REMIND SERVICE Additionally pull out your cellphones and send a text message (see below): Text @legacyband to 81010. This is our FREE Remind101 texting service! I utilize this texting service to send out text message reminders to parents and students throughout the summer! Finally, IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO SIGN UP FOR BAND OR COLOR GUARD! If you know of others who are still on the fence about taking band or color guard next year, they still can!! Just encourage them to attend band camp! Attend band camp and be a part of it and then we can get them in with their counselor before school begins and get them into the classes. For guard members just attend band camp! No schedule changes will be necessary for you!
July/August 2018 Legacy HS Marching Band Camp Schedule Required of ALL Members (Intermediate Band & Advanced Band, & Color Guard) Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday July 22 July 23 July 24 July 25 July 26 July 27 July 28 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday July 29 July 30 10:00am-3:00pm July 31 August 1 EVERYONE(Woodwinds, 2 3 4 Freshmen, New Marchers to LHS, Student Leaders ONLY Freshmen, New Marchers to LHS, Student Leaders ONLY 5:00-8:00pm - EVERYONE (Woodwinds, Brass, Percussion, Guard) 8 4:15pm Report Time For EVERYONE FRESHMAN BBQ PERFORMANCE! **Ends around 5:45pm EVERYONE (Woodwinds, Brass, Percussion, Guard) EVERYONE (Woodwinds, Brass, Percussion, Guard) 5 6 7 14 6:00-8:30pm FIRST WEEKLY TUESDAY EVENING BAND REHEARSAL (Required) 9 10 5:00pm Report Time for EVERYONE - 2018 MARCHING BAND PREVIEW PERFORMANCE! Performance @ 6:00pm on Band Camp Field 11 12 13 FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR 2018-19! 6:20am Report Time for First Day of School Performance! **5:00pm-8:30pm Guard Rehearsal (Required) 15 16 4:00-8:00pm FIRST WEEKLY THURSDAY EVENING GUARD REHEARSAL (Required) 17 18 If there are any questions about this schedule contact Dr. Melton immediately meltocj@nv.ccsd.net 702-799-1777, ext. 4040 or contact him on the Legacy Bands Facebook Page! http://facebook.com/legacyhsbandandguard BAND CAMP IS REQUIRED OF ALL BAND MEMBERS IN THE LEGACY BANDS AND REQUIRED OF ALL COLOR GUARD MEMBERS. Please make sure you plan vacations, work schedules, etc. around these few weeks before school starts on August 13 th. Again if any questions let me know ASAP. I look forward to seeing everyone for a great 2018-19 school year!!