CN Band Newsletter 09-08

Sep 8

5 min read

From the Director’s Desk

Week 4 Update & Announcements

What a Friday night we had! That was an amazing day at Clovis North to end the week last week. There really is something special about being able to play a game at your own school. It was a great day of Bronco Spirit all day long, featuring many wonderful events organized by our Activities Director, Ms. Rudolph. She did an outstanding job bringing different groups on campus together to spread Bronco cheer from sunup to sundown.

I hope everyone enjoyed their three-day weekend! We are now back at work, continuing to piece together the field show on the field as well as welcoming our GR Band and Color Guard members to our football game this Friday at Buchanan.

Bronco Star of the Week

Congratulations to Audra Noordmans for being named our Bronco Star of the Week for Week 3! Audra models our standards in so many ways.

She consistently comes prepared and gives her all during every performance. Watching her develop a stronger, more confident performance presence both in rehearsals and out on the field has been great. Keep up the amazing work!

📅 Calendar: Week at a Glance

Monday: NO SCHOOL
Tuesday: 6th/7th Period – Concert Band Day | After School – Marching Band Rehearsal (5:30 PM – 9:00 PM, Track Field). Parents, please join us at 8:30 PM to watch the remainder of rehearsal!
Wednesday: 6th/7th Period – Marching Band field 1, Part 2 music and drill rehearsal.
- Continue testing measures 30–77 Part 2 (Woodwinds & Brass).
Thursday: 6th/7th Period – Marching Band field 1, Parts 2 & 3 music and drill rehearsal.
Friday: 6th/7th Period – Pregame w/ GR, review Parts 1 and 2. Home football game vs. Madera (Kickoff at 7:30 PM).
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM – Learn Part 3, finish Part 2 testing, and begin Part 3 music pass-offs.

📅 Calendar Updates

Wind Ensemble National Festival Kickoff Meeting:
- Wednesday, September 9 at 5:30 PM (Band Room)
Tuesday Rehearsal Updates
- Beginning next week, Tuesday rehearsals on September 15 and 22 will be altered. Due to seeding of fields to prepare for the cold weather, rehearsal will be from 6th period until 5:30 PM. We will return to 5:30- 9 PM rehearsals on Tuesday Sept. 29
Marching Band Rehearsal Adjustment:
- Saturday, September 19 rehearsal time is changed from 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM to 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM to accommodate our jazz band members participating in the CUSD Jazz Night.
- The 5 members of the All-Star Band are dismissed from rehearsal at 3:30 PM, while remaining members must arrive at 5:30 PM.

📝 Reminders & Required Signatures

Please log into your Cuttime magic link, scroll down to the signatures section, and digitally sign the required documents listed below. Additionally, ensure you have completed the Fall Pledge Form on the CN Band website.

Each completed document counts as a class assignment.

Varsity Letter Application Acknowledgement
2026–2027 CN Band Handbook Acknowledgment
CUSD Field Trip Code of Conduct
Concert Etiquette
CUSD Code of Ethics

💳 Fall Pledge Form

Please complete the Fall Pledge Form. Your financial support is imperative to the success of our band program, and we ask each family to find a way to make a donation.

Deadline: Please complete the form by Friday, September 11.

CN FALL Pledge form...

🎺 Program Updates

Wind Ensemble

Congratulations to the members who earned a place in the CN Wind Ensemble! We are preparing for an incredible trip to perform at the Music for All National Concert Band Festival.

Additional Rehearsals: Check Cuttime events for added practice dates; the first is scheduled for November 11.
Parent & Student Meetings: A mandatory meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 9 at 5:30 PM.
Attire & Guidelines: Specific concert dress uniforms and travel guidelines will apply during the Indiana trip.

Winter Guard

Rosters for Varsity and JV Winter Guard will be announced shortly. Following announcements, a parent/student meeting for Varsity families will be held to plan for 2-3 WGI Regionals and the WGI World Championships in Dayton, Ohio. We are working diligently to keep travel costs as manageable as possible.

🎵 Music Tests & Pass-Offs

We are currently in the middle of our third pass-off, which covers the end of Part 2 of the field show. We fell slightly behind due to other rehearsal factors, but we will complete this pass-off over the next few days and begin our Part 3 pass-off this Saturday.

Please diligently work to retake tests as needed so your grade does not suffer.

Retake Policy: If a student does not pass, they will review material with their section leader and schedule a retake with Mr. Lesser or Mr. Vargas (before school, lunch, or after school).
Retake Frequency: Retakes are limited to once per day after adequate preparation.

💰 Fundraising & Upcoming Events

Football Parking – THIS FRIDAY

We need 8 volunteers to help with football parking this Friday at Buchanan for the game. This is an easy fundraiser that generates a great amount of funds in a short period of time. Please check Events on Cuttime to sign up!

Mattress Fundraiser – Saturday, October 3, 2026

Help spread the word by handing out referral forms available in the band room! Students receive direct personal bonuses for mattresses sold through their referral forms:

1 mattress = $50.00
2 mattresses = $100.00
3 mattresses = $150.00
4 mattresses = $200.00
5 mattresses = $250.00

Note: Students will be provided with a contact sheet today that must be returned this Friday.

Bronco Blitz – Tuesday, September 24

We will tour our 5 local elementary schools to share Bronco Spirit with future band members.

See the full schedule on Cuttime.

🤝 Parent Meetings

Wind Ensemble Parent Meeting: Wednesday, September 9 at 5:30 PM (Band Room)
General Parent Meeting: Tuesday, September 15 at 5:30 PM (Lecture Hall)

🎶 Fall Concert & Attire Guidelines

Mark your calendars! Our Fall Concert is scheduled for Wednesday, October 28. Students will need the following concert attire:

Gentlemen: Black suit or tuxedo, white long-sleeve dress shirt, black bow tie, black dress socks, black dress shoes (marching shoes acceptable). (Note: Wind Ensemble students will have distinct requirements announced soon).
Ladies: Black dress pants or slacks, black blouse or sweater, black stockings/socks, black dress shoes (flats).

📸 Picture Day

Picture Day this year will take place on Thursday, September 17, beginning at 12:30 PM in the CN Large Gym.

Kenny Gillman will once again capture great shots of our band. Each family will have the opportunity to purchase group, section, and individual pictures online following Picture Day.

Feed the Band

A parent lead group dedicated to supporting our marching band students by providing nutritious, home-cooked meals at marching band events, competitions, and long rehearsal days. Feeding a large group of students requires significant time, food, supplies, and financial resources, and we rely on the generosity of band families to make this possible.

Monetary donations from parents help cover the cost of groceries, cooking supplies, and meals so that our students can stay well-fed, energized, and focused on doing their best. Every contribution, large or small, directly supports our students and helps ensure that Feed the Band can continue providing meals throughout the marching band season.

Your financial support is an important part of keeping our band community strong and our students fueled for success!

🎶 Jazz Band

Greetings Jazz Families,

CN Jazz is going to start in high gear.

After our informational student meeting on the first day of school, I will audition students as needed. We need to rehearse for a concert that’s coming up!

Introducing, CUSD Jazz Night!

Saturday Sept 19^th 6:30 PM Clovis Unified PAC - All Clovis Unified High School Jazz Bands sharing a concert featuring Trumpet Artist Willie Murillo!

Tickets required...

Please spread the word and invite others so we can pack the house!

Our first CNEC (only) Jazz Concert is Monday November 9^th at 7:00 PM at the PAC.