Dear SPHS Instrumental Music Parents,
Welcome! As a parent of an Instrumental Music Program student, you are automatically part of the SPHS Music Boosters. The music program is among the most exciting and active groups on campus!
Here are a few things we’d like you to know:
- TEACHING TEAM: New in 2024-25, Mr. Tim Orindgreff will be your students’ Director of the Jazz Band, Concert Band, and Symphonic Band; Dr. Walter Simonsen will be their Director of the Marching Band & Color Guard, Winter Line, and Winter Guard; and Mr. Padrón will be their Director of the Advanced Orchestra.
- BAND CAMP: Attendance at Band Camp is mandatory for students who will participate in Band and Color Guard. It is held on the SPHS campus during the last two full weeks of the summer before school starts. Students should bring water, sunscreen and a hat as it is very hot on the field. Students, especially first-year students, are taught the basics of marching and movement, and the Band and Color Guard begin to learn the field show that will be performed at home football games and in competitions during the fall season. Students who cannot attend must email the band directors Dr. Simonsen & Mr. Orindgreff to let them know.
- PRACTICES: Band and Color Guard have rehearsals on Tuesday afternoons (3:45pm–5:30pm), Wednesday evenings (5:00–6:00 pm sectionals; 6:00–9:00pm), and Thursday afternoons (3:45pm–5:30pm), starting the first full week of school through to Thanksgiving break. There are usually three Saturday practices during the first month of school. These after-school and weekend practices are in addition to the Band and Color Guard classes that meet during their scheduled periods during the school day.
- CREDITS: Enrollment in band fulfills fine arts requirements as well as PE requirements (for the fall only), as long as the student is not concurrently enrolled in a sport. College admission officers have said that music participation also looks impressive on college applications, especially if enrolled all four years!
- SATURDAY COMPETITIONS: In the fall, the Marching Band & Color Guard competes against other high school marching bands at various locations in Southern California. The hours depend on the competition and the time we are expected to perform. Parent chaperones are needed to serve lunch to the band and assist in moving pit instruments for the field show. Links to chaperone signups will be distributed- chaperoning is a great way to stay involved in your students’ lives and get a chance to observe their hard work and talent up close!
- FALL CHAMPIONSHIPS TRIP: The Marching Band and Color Guard will travel to the Fresno area in mid-November to compete in the Western Band Association Championships, the capstone of our season. This will be an overnight trip that spans Fri, Nov. 22 through Sun, Nov. 24. Students will be assessed a separate trip fee to cover the cost of bus transportation, lodging, and some meals. More information will be provided about the trip as the time nears. Several parent chaperones are needed for this trip and spaces will be assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis– please email sphsmusicboosters@gmail.com if you are interested!
- PARENT CONTRIBUTION: We ask parents to contribute towards a portion of their students’ costs in the program each year. The requested contribution for the 2024-25 year is $260 for Marching Band students and $350 for Color Guard students. These fees cover the costs of meals, uniform cleaning, rehearsal t-shirts, rehearsal shorts, and field show t-shirts, and partially defray additional costs of running the program, including competition fees, field show design, instrument repairs, equipment transport, licensing fees, etc. Information about how to submit these fees will be sent home with students in the first week of school. Families can offset these costs by volunteering to work at Bingo; please attend the Parent Info session on 6:30pm on Fri, Aug. 9, 2024 to learn more, or email sphsmusicboosters@gmail.com. If needed, you may pay your fees in installments- please email treasurer@sphsmusicboosters.com to inquire for arrangements. No student is denied participation in any Instrumental Music Program activity because of an inability to pay fees. If your student needs a waiver, please email the band directors Dr. Simonsen & Mr. Orindgreff to make arrangements.
- SPHS MUSIC BOOSTERS: When your child is enrolled in the Instrumental Music Program, you are automatically part of the SPHS Music Boosters, a parent group that fundraises to support the music program at SPHS. Music Boosters is distinct from the Tiger Boosters that supports athletics & general extracurricular offerings at the high school. Music Boosters is run by parents just like you. The annual fee/contribution we request from families covers less than a third of the costs of maintaining a high-quality and competitive music program like what we have at SPHS. We cannot sustain the Instrumental Music Program without your help! Music Boosters hopes all families get involved- there are many opportunities to volunteer, including staffing the concession snack stand at football games, chaperoning competitions, Spaghetti Dinner Night in February, and monthly Bingo. It takes many hands to keep our program strong and to support the hard work that the kids put into the program. You can learn more about volunteer opportunities here.
- NO-SWEAT DONATION: Student fees cover only ~25% of the funds needed to run the program. We rely on parent volunteer work to raise most of the remainder, through fundraisers like Bingo, Snack Stand, Spaghetti Dinner Night, etc. We strongly encourage all music families to volunteer, and/or make donations to support SPHS Instrumental Music programs. A $260 donation is suggested for families who do not plan to volunteer with the program.
- SPRING SEMESTER: Concert and Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, and the Advanced Orchestra rehearse in class year-round. They perform in a Winter Concert in December and a Spring concert in May. Attendance at the concerts is expected.
- SPRING TRIP: The bands, orchestra, and jazz band take a Spring Trip to perform in a competitive music festival with other high schools across the nation. Past Spring Trip destinations include San Francisco, Hawaii, Seattle, and New York. Student and parent input will be sought to determine this year’s Spring Trip destination. Costs for the Spring Trip will be announced when the destination is decided. Costs may also be offset by volunteering to work at Bingo.
- WINTER LINE/PERCUSSION LINE: Winter Line is an ensemble of students playing battery and pit instruments. The students work hard and have lots of fun competing with other local high school ensembles in judged performances. Winter Line is an excellent complement to the fall Marching Band program for those who play in the battery and front ensemble, and these students are highly encouraged to participate. However, Winter Line is open to ALL students, and many have joined who have no experience with percussion instruments. Winter Line is a great opportunity to explore your inner percussionist! Students begin practicing in January with two weeknight practices and some Saturday practices. Competitions typically take place on Saturdays in March and April.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, please check out our website and/or email us at sphsmusicboosters@gmail.com. We’re looking forward to an amazing year together!
2024-25 SPHS Music Boosters Board (sphsmusicboosters@gmail.com)
- Betty Hong, president
- Cristian Ovalle , co-VP
- Charles Thompson, co-VP
- Aerin Kim, co-secretary
- Frances Rentmeester, co-secretary
- Mark Matlock, treasurer
FOR MORE INFORMATION, please check out our website below, or email us at sphsmusicboosters@gmail.com. We’re looking forward to an amazing year together!
For the latest on all things happening with the Tiger Band & Guard, click here to subscribe to our Calendar, the Band app, and our social media feeds.