Adjudicator is a person who judges the marching show, awards points, and determines placements. Judges are in both the press box and on the field. Some judges move through and around the band as they perform.

All-State Band is sponsored by the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA). Students first audition at the District Level.  Students scoring well enough must also pass through the Region Level and then the Area Level before reaching the State Level. Students selected for the All-State Honor Band perform concerts in Lila Cockrell Theater in downtown San Antonio at the annual TMEA convention in mid-February. See www.tmea.org for audition music and requirements.

Alternate Uniform is used by the marching band members for more casual performances held earlier in the marching band season.

Band Banquet is held every spring to honor all band members for their accomplishments during the school year.  It is also a final farewell to our graduating seniors.  All band members and their families invited to attend this memorable event.

Band includes Concert band, Symphonic band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Marching Band, Colorguard, and Drumline.  All bands require an audition. Sometime we march around, sometime we sit down - it's all BAND!

Band Fee is the term used to describe the cost associated with the marching band. It is determined as a part of the Raider Band program budget each year.

Band Council consists of the Band Officers who are the student leaders of the band.  The band council is determined at the end of each school year to serve during the next year. Student leadership positions include: Drum Majors (3), Guard Captains (2), President, Vice-President, Secretary/Treasurer, Librarians (2), Historian, Spirit Rep, Uniform Manager, Loading Crew Manager, Section Captains, and Class Reps (4).

Band Office Phone is 397-5975 .   When the directors are out of the office, voicemail can be used to leave a message.  They will return calls as soon as possible.

Battery consists of the marching members of the Drumline. Instruments include snares, tenors (quads), bass drums and cymbals.

Bibbers are the black "overall" style pants worn as part of the uniform. Band Members are issued their bibbers each year, but are stored the uniform room. Bibbers are hemmed by volunteer “uniform moms” to proper fitting specifications. The hem of the pants will lightly touch the top of the Dinkles WITHOUT causing a "break" in the front crease of the Bibbers.

BOA stands for Bands of America which is a private organization that provides opportunities for performance, learning and excellence through music education. It holds regional events, including one at the Alamodome, each year for marching bands.  The Grand Nationals championship is held each year in Indianapolis , Indiana .   See also www.bands.org

Boosters is a non-profit organization for supporting for the Taft Raider Band program.  Members are band parents that provide support, including chaperoning events; fitting and repairing uniforms; working in concessions stands and other fundraising events; moving equipment on and off the field/stage, offering enthusiastic support; and otherwise doing what we can to enhance the students' band experience. The non-profit organization has officers who are elected yearly. Parent meetings are usually held on the 1^st Tuesday of each month at 7:30 pm unless otherwise announced in advance.

Booster Account is funded by booster fundraising activities. The money is used by the band directors to pay expenses of the band program not funded by the school system.

Brass instruments are the Trumpets, Mellophones, Horns, Euphoniums, Baritones, Trombones, Sousaphones and Tubas.

CHARMS is a database system popular with music educators to make organization and tracking of administrative information easier which frees them up to do the important work -- Teaching Music!  CHARMS is used to track a wide variety of information from uniform assignments, to fundraising accounts, to personal contact information.  Parent assistance is needed to keep the information current via a link on the website.

Chaperones are adults commonly referred to as "Band Moms and Band Dads". Chaperones are needed for football games, marching band competitions and other trips. Chaperones are organized by the Head Chaperone and must be familiar with all School and Band Rules and Regulations. Chaperones for major trips are chosen from those with the most experience during marching season.

Color Guard is an athletic ensemble that provides visual impact in a challenging activity that combines the use of flags, rifles, and sabers, with dancing and marching. Members of the Guard are also members of the Raider Marching Band. After football season guard members move their performances inside to perform on the gym floor during the winter season.  See also Winter Guard.

DCI stands for Drum Corp International - the highest level of competitive marching arts - "Professional Marching Band." DCI corps are made up of students up to age 21 who spend the summer traveling and competing against other corps in shows across the country.  See also www.dci.org

Dinkles are the black, shiny marching shoes worn by all members of the band, except the Cymbal Line and Guard members. Named for the Funky Winkerbean Band Director character -- Harry Dinkle.

Dots are the specific places on the field for each member's location during the marching show. Marching Band Members can have as many as 100 Dots to learn for one show.

Drill is the marching formations as they appear on the marching field.

Drumline: Not just a movie! All of the percussionists in the marching band - battery and pit. After football season the members of the Drumline move their performance inside to perform on gym floors during the Winterline Season.

Drum Majors are the student leaders chosen by audition to conduct the band during marching season competitions and serve as its highest ranking student leaders.

Farris is one of two NISD stadiums. Farris stadium is located near FM-1604 and Bandera Road .  TRB performs here during football games and marching competitions at this stadium during September and October.

Fundraising is the activities to raise money to support the individual student band account and/or General band account. These projects include (but are not limited to) Case of Coke Sales, Cookie Dough Sales, NISD Concessions, Spaghetti Dinner, Pampered Chef Sales, TMEA Convention, etc.

Guard is a nickname for Colorguard.

Gus refers to Gustafson Stadium.  It is part of NISD’s Hardin Athletic Complex located near I-410 and Culebra.  The band performs here during football games and marching competitions during September and October.

Marching Band is a "co-curricular" activity composed of the musicians and the colorguard performing demanding and entertaining shows for football games and marching competitions throughout southwest Texas .  It brings excitement to the football field in a treat for the senses combining music with other performing arts.

Note-Worthy Messages are occasional (as needed) email announcements and reminders of current activities. All Band Members and Parents should have an email address on file. To assure that you are getting the most update information possible, send an email to webmaster@taftraiderband.org and ask how to be added to the Note-Worthy subscription list or signup online HERE.

Pit is nickname for the section composed of those percussion musicians who play the stationary instruments in front of the marching field and do not march during the performances.   Pit instruments include the marimba, vibraphones, keyboards, electronic instruments, etc.

Region Band is a group students can audition for that is sponsored by the Texas Music Educators Association. Placing high enough in this ensemble can lead to eligibility to audition for All-State Texas Honors Band.

Retreat is the awards ceremony at marching competitions. Usually involves the Drum Majors and Guard Captains from all competing bands along the sideline of the field for the presentation of awards.  Depending on the venue, the retreat sometimes includes a pageantry display where all of the competing bands march side by side into the stadium and line up the field for the presentation of awards.

Roadies are the dedicated parents who transport the band equipment, including props and Pit instruments, to and from each performance as well as on and off the field for football game halftime shows and marching band competitions.  The roadies also transport the larger instruments to concerts away from the Taft HS.

Sectionals are special practices for band members who play the same instrument (e.g. clarinet, flute, etc). Sectionals provide members of each section the opportunity to practice their own music or routines.

Show Shirt or Band Tee Shirt is provided to each band member at the beginning of marching season.  The show shirt is designed each year based on the theme of the competition show. Show shirts are worn to show pride in the band and as a casual uniform as necessary. Family members and students can purchase additional shirts at reasonable prices. These are great for competitions!  

SmartMusic is an internet based subscription service to assist student musicians in the learning and assessment of music assignments. SmartMusic requires a small yearly fee. SmartMusic is recommended for all Brass and Woodwind players.

Spaghetti Dinner is a major annual fundraiser for the band which is prepared by boosters in the Taft cafeteria and the band “serenades” the patrons.  Students sell tickets for approximately 2 weeks before the dinner to raise funds for the band.

Student Account is an account of the funds paid and/or raised by each band member. Students start with a negative balance equal to the total of all required band fees. Payments may be made in cash, checks or PayPal.   Student accounts can be used to save money for the out-of-state trip taken during spring break during odd-numbered years.  Because of the non-profit status of the Band Booster association, monies in student accounts from fundraising activities cannot be refunded.

Student’s Profit is part of certain fundraising projects that are designated for the individual student to earn money for their student account. Due to our non-profit status, specific rules must be followed. In these activities the Band Boosters act merely as the distributor (middle man) for the fundraising products. Students/Parents take orders and collect monies from their customers. Customers’ checks must be made out to the Student/Parent (seller).  One check from the student’s parent, made out to the Taft Raider Band, is turned in to the White Box along with the product order form that covers all of the student’s customer orders.

Summer Band practices are held in August for returning members and new members.  Emphasis is on the basics of playing and marching and give new members a chance to see what things are like so they are not so intimidated when school starts.

TCGC stands for the Texas Color Guard circuit - a non-profit organization that serves as the governing body for Winter Guard and Indoor Drumline activities. See also www.texascolorguardcircuit.org

TECA stands for the Texas Educational Colorguard Association - a non-profit organization that serves as the governing body for Winter Guard and Indoor Drumline activities. See also www.teca.org

TMEA stands for the Texas Music Educators Association, the state professional association for music teachers with a membership of over 9,000 school music educators.  TMEA sponsors the All-State bands which perform at the annual TMEA convention held in the HB Gonzales Convention Center in downtown San Antonio every February.  For more than a decade, the Raider Band Boosters have assisted TMEA with their 4 day convention, in return for a large payment into the booster account!

TRB is the Taft Raider Band!

Uniforms are a symbol of the TRB to be worn with Pride, Honor and Dedication. Uniforms are kept at the school and never taken home. Each student is responsible for returning each part of their uniform to the garment bag and placing the bag on the garment racks in the band hall. The uniform includes accessories, gloves, gauntlets, shoes and socks. Band hats and plumes are kept in separate boxes.  All band members pay a yearly band fee that includes uniform cleaning fee. Show Shirts and black shorts must be worn under the bibbers.

USSBA is the U.S. Scholastic Band Association which provides high school band programs with a competitive circuit featuring the best adjudicators from across the continent.  The USSBA boasts membership of over 700 participating high school marching bands. Each year, bands are offered festival opportunities as well as invitations to compete at major Regional Championships and the US Scholastic Band Championship.  See also www.yea.org/ussba

White Box is the Lock Box for payments and correspondence to the treasurer.  It is located in the A-1 Band Hall outside the band directors’ office. Money for almost anything can be turned in to the White Box -- yes, it's white!  Please use a small envelope (available by the White box) and label who it is from and what it is for, to eliminate any confusion. For almost everything we do checks should be made out to:  Taft Raider Band.

Winter Drumline is a post-marching season activity that allows percussionists to perform throughout the winter. They perform a show on the local regional and national level indoors on gym floors similar to that of the winter guard. Students are not required to participate although there are members that play other instruments that perform with the winter drum line as well. Additional fees do apply for participation.   See also Drumline, www.texasclorguardcircuit.org and www.teca.org

Winter Guard is a post-marching-season activity for color guard members held during the winter/spring semesters, December-April. The winter guard competes against other color guards on a local, regional, and state basis. The guard learns a new show routine that is performed to an artist’s recorded music instead of the band. They perform on a tarp in gymnasiums. Color guard members are not required to participate in Winter Guard. Anyone is eligible to join, even if they did not participate in Color Guard during marching band season. This is an excellent opportunity for guard members to strengthen their dance movement and equipment skills. There are additional fees assessed and other fundraising for participation in the Winter Guard season. See also Color Guard, www.tcgc.org, and www.teca.org

Woodwinds are the Flutes, Oboe, Bassoon, Clarinets, Bass Clarinets, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone and Baritone Saxophone.

WWW .TaftRaiderBand.Org is the only official website for the Taft Raider Band program!