Taft Raider Band
Homepage of the Award Winning W.H. Taft Raider Band!
We are going to relentlessly chase perfection knowing full well we will not catch it because nothing is perfect, but we will continue to chase it because in the process we will catch excellence. We are not remotely interested in just being good. We will make it happen!
INTRODUCING our 2019 Field production, "carmen"
Carmen is based on the PBS kids show and the 1996 video game, "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?" Featuring music from Bizet's Carmen Suites, selections from the James Bond series, The Incredibles, and Mission Impossible, we will answer the question, can we find Carmen Sandiego?
Weekly Email:
Week 3 of School -- 9/9/19-9/13/19 --
Thanks for another great week! This last Thursday’s show was a dramatic improvement on our first performance of the year and a heartbreaking game! As we enter our third week of school, we have another Thursday game against Clark coming up, region jazz auditions for jazz ensemble members, and another Friday PM rehearsal. This week we will be debuting our ballad on the field as well as our moving door props. Additionally, we will be doing letterman jacket fittings for upperclassmen (any student who has completed at least 1 full year in the Taft Band program) at 5PM on Wednesday in the Band Hall. As always, we have lots going on- so please look at the week below carefully.
Here is the schedule for the week:
MONDAY -- Leadership Meeting, PM Rehearsal till 7:35 PM
8:15 am -- Leadership Meeting -- Band Hall 1
1st Period -- Wind Ensemble
2nd Period -- Symphonic Band
3rd Period -- Concert Band
4th Period -- Instrumental Ensemble
7th Period -- Jazz Ensemble
8th Period -- Guard/Music Theory
4:35 -- Tracking to practice field
7:35 -- Rehearsal ends -- no tracking
TUESDAY -- PM Rehearsal with Dance Team - Shake it Off
Before School -- Go to Tutorials
1st Period -- Wind Ensemble
2nd Period -- Symphonic Band
3rd Period -- Concert Band
4th Period -- Instrumental Ensemble
7th Period -- Jazz Ensemble
8th Period -- Guard/Music Theory
4:35 -- Tracking to practice field
7:05 -- Rehearsal ends -- no tracking
WEDNESDAY -- Letterman Jacket Fittings
Before school --future tutorials with whatever classes you need
1st Period -- Wind Ensemble
2nd Period -- Symphonic Band
3rd Period -- Concert Band
4th Period -- Instrumental Ensemble
7th Period -- Jazz Ensemble
8th Period -- Guard/Music Theory
5:00 pm -- Letterman Jacket Fittings in BH1
THURSDAY -- Pep Rally, Home Game VS. Clark
7:00 am -- Band Hall Opens
7:45 am -- Pep Rally Call time in BH1 - warm-up. Wear SHOW SHIRT and JEANS.
8:10 am -- Pep Rally Starts
1st Period -- Wind Ensemble
2nd Period -- Symphonic Band
3rd Period -- Concert Band
4th Period -- Instrumental Ensemble
7th Period -- Jazz Ensemble
8th Period -- Guard/Music Theory
4:35 pm -- Run through Rehearsal - Meet in horn arcs (SHOW SHIRT, black band shorts, long black socks, marching shoes). Pit pushes out. Low instruments take cases to the band pad to load.
4:55 pm - Band Rehearsal ends -- leave equipment to load/go eat food!
5:25 pm -- Get dressed/show hair/student led inspection
5:50 pm - Depart
6:30 pm - Arrive at Ferris Stadium (Visitors Side)
6:45 pm - Band students warm-up/tune in stands
7:00 pm - Football Game starts
10:00ish - Game ends
10:30ish - Arrive, put uniform away, check out with leaders/uniform crew, dismissal
FRIDAY - PM Rehearsal Day / Closer Pass-Off Deadline
Before School - Go to Tutorials
1st Period -- Wind Ensemble
2nd Period -- Symphonic Band
3rd Period -- Concert Band
4th Period -- Instrumental Ensemble
7th Period -- Jazz Ensemble
8th Period -- Guard/Music Theory
4:35 -- Tracking to practice field
7:05 -- Rehearsal ends -- no tracking
SATURDAY - Region Jazz Auditions
8:00 am -- Jazz Students meet at Clark HS for check-in and warm-up. **All jazz students auditioning must bring $25 cash with them in case they make area and need to pay the area recording fee.
Let's have a GREAT week!
Greg Mills
Director of Bands
Taft High School
TMEA Region 29 Band Division Chairman
210-397-5976
TRB Calendar
(Calendar may change depending on need)You can subscribe to this calendar on your phone. Any date and times that are added to the calendar will automatically update to your phone. Subscribing is free.You can also use the following link for any calendar program that supports the iCal format: www.google.com/calendar/ical/webmaster%40taftraiderband.org/public/basic.ics
Upcoming Events:
- Football Game - (9/12 Taft vs. Clark @ Farris Stadium)
- Region Jazz Auditions - (9/14)
- Taft/Comm Arts Open House - (9/18)
- Dripping Springs Drumline Contest - (9/21)
- Football Game/Middle School Night - (9/21 - Taft vs. Brennan @ Farris Stadium)
***STUDENTS: Make sure you are passing off your music! The deadline for the closer is on September 13th so work ahead and use your metronomes!!! Eat healthy, hydrate and wear a ball cap at all rehearsals! Pass everything off now so you can march the football performances. Be ready to work and have fun! Students will need LONG ALL BLACK SOCKS for each performance so please have those ready for Thursday.
***PARENTS AND STUDENTS: Even though we have a Thursday game, all students are expected to be in school at and PM rehearsal on Friday. Please plan ahead for this. We are in need of any water bottle donations (example-24 packs) If you can pick up a pack next time you are at Costco, Sam's, HEB, please bring them by the band hall so we can use them for meals, contests, etc. Please VOLUNTEER with Roadies or Chaperones. In order to do so, you must clear a background check. Go to the band website for under the volunteer tab for information. Please participate. Please start using the google calendar for up to date TRB happenings. You can sync the calendar to your smartphone by clicking the +google button at the bottom right of the calendar at www.taftraiderband.org
2020 D.C. Spring Trip Info:
TaftHS_DC20.ppt