"The Sound of Mobile"
"The Sound of Mobile"
*KEY TAKEAWAYS*
Subscribe to the Sound of Mobile Google Calendar.
Check Yayband.com weekly for updates and changes to the schedule.
There are LOTS of volunteer opportunities available in the upcoming weeks and months - signup genius links are active now.
Fall and what’s coming -
Football Home and Away games
YayBand Contest 10/11
Contests - MGM & Daphne - All-day events
8th-grade Middle School night - Home game date TBD
Halloween Concert
Christmas Concert
Restructuring of Band Parent Leadership -
Communications and volunteer coordinator chair (Julie Ouisy) - yayband.com reorganized from a parent standpoint; volunteer signups live for the fall
Concessions (Garrett Carter) - Band will run both home and visitor concessions for the first three home games.
Middle schoolers can volunteer as long as their parent is also volunteering - students cannot be dropped off
Elementary students or younger are NOT allowed to volunteer in concessions
High school students can volunteer without their parents
The band not running concessions on Homecoming and senior night will free up band parents to see their children perform. This is a great time to see the show during the season; the students have improved week after week.
Uniforms (Ronda Jackson)
There are two styles of uniform tops this year - dry fit and jackets.
Dry fit sizing was limited, and uniforms cannot be reordered at this time. Huge emphasis made to keep students accountable to keep up with their dry-fit tops, as well as all other components of their uniforms.
Uniform webpage on yayband.com under Marching Band is active with care tips, uniform layering, components, uniform database, and demerit system to hold students more accountable for taking better care of their uniform.
Bibbers and jackets are dry cleaned throughout the marching season.
Socks should be long, plain black socks. No ankle socks!
There is always help needed with the uniform.
Uniform racks are heavy - Ronda needs both men and women to volunteer as conditions are not always favorable to navigate the racks from point A to point B at some away games and contests.
Seamstresses needed! Contact Ronda to help with uniform needs.
Spring Benefit (Missy Ahren)
New fundraising event for the spring that will need sub-committee chairs to volunteer to help make it successful.
Anyone with business connections who is interested in becoming a sponsor, please reach out to Missy.
A Google form will be created and uploaded to YayBand to collect sponsorships for the YayBand Contest and the Spring Benefit.
YayBand (Courtney Perry & Julie Ouisy)
Website and volunteer links live
Several committee chairs have been assigned, but there are a few more left. Coordinators will be contacting parents who have signed up previously in the Spring, stating they can help.
Merchandising will be the same as last year, with a possible addition of another shirt design.
Airgrams and the spirit award are two large components of the event.
Volunteers for merchandising should be high-energy and engaging with fans who come to see bands.
Treasurer (Dana Neese)
Contact directly for cuttime concerns
Props (Crystal Couch)
Will need volunteers at home games and contests to manage the props and secure pieces before and after travel.
“I AM WITH THE BAND” shirt orders are due 9/3 for delivery on 9/16. Get yours now.
Student events (open)
Will need someone to help coordinate middle school night and Spring Awards Banquet
Dr. Beattie addressed some parent questions and concerns
Changes in the practice schedule due to “off weeks”
Monday/Tuesday practice afternoons change to Tuesday/Thursday due to the Labor Day holiday and virtual day
Sometimes, additional Thursday practice is held in preparation for a contest
Stay up to date on schedule changes by subscribing to the Google Calendar and checking weekly announcements posted on Sunday evenings in the MCPSS app and YayBand.com
Uniforms
Dry fit layering - undershirt, bibber, then new dri fit on top of both
Long black socks - no bare ankles should be seen when in marching band uniform
Marching shoes are the student’s responsibility
Marching band hat (shako) - stays at the school and does not go home with students
Gloves are issued to woodwind and brass players and are worn during performances
Dry fit - machine wash cold, hang dry to prevent shrinkage
Monday: bring dri fit back to school
Tuesday: count to see who brought theirs back
Demerit program for uniform in place for this year to reinforce uniform care and responsibility in uniformity
Take bibbers home - air dry
Do not machine wash bibbers - causes buckles to break
Band dry cleans bibbers and jackets throughout the season
Mark your calendars: We are marching in the Veterans’ Day parade downtown.
A meeting point downtown for students and volunteers will be announced closer to the event. Bus drivers are off that day.
Mr. Messer
If you do not have access to MCPSS rooms, contact Mr. Messer.
A video tutorial on how to activate push notifications on the app will be posted soon to help parents and students get instant notifications.
Our band fee processing website: CutTime
More info on video ads for our end zone Jumbotron coming soon!
Students will earn 50% profit, which will be applied toward their band fees. This helps promote local businesses and raise funds for the band.
Payments (cash or check) can be put in the lock-box on Dr. Beattie's office door or be mailed to the school.
The deadline for the football program advertisements has ended for the 2025 Football Season.
Use this link to fill out instrument details - make, model, serial number, locker number.
Weekly Practice
Once school begins, there is band practice in August EVERY MONDAY, TUESDAY & THURSDAY after school until 5:30 p.m.
In September & October, we practice EVERY MONDAY & TUESDAY after school until 5:30 p.m.
Please leave Thursdays open from September to October as we may call after-school rehearsals in preparation for contests (or if we are rained out on Tuesday). Section leaders may also schedule sectional rehearsals on Thursdays.
Jobs
Students who work are reminded that JOBS MAY NOT INTERFERE WITH BAND REHEARSALS AND PERFORMANCES. Dental, medical, and other appointments should be scheduled at times other than scheduled band rehearsals on Monday and Tuesday until 5:30 p.m. (and some Thursdays as announced). Unexcused absence from Tuesday afternoon rehearsal means you will not be allowed to attend the next football game. Excused absences from Tuesday afternoon rehearsal means you can attend the game, but you will not be able to march during halftime.
Band is a Year-Long Course
Students are required to participate in band both semesters. The only exceptions are an academic conflict for a course needed for graduation or participation on a Davidson athletic team. Students dropping out after the Fall semester for any other reason may not be eligible to participate the following year. Color guard members who play instruments must also perform in the Spring semester to be eligible to stay in band/color guard.
As a member of the Davidson High School Band, you are expected to march in two Mardi Gras parades (usually the Polka Dots and Stripers), unless you have a religious objection to Mardi Gras.