FAQS

Who is a part of the marching band?

  • Everyone is a part of the program and participates fully! Everyone automatically gets a spot on the field, participates at every football game and every competition. There are auditions for Varsity vs. JV spots in marching band, but everyone participates fully no matter what band you’re a part of.

Varsity vs. JV spots

  • There are auditions the first week of marching band on specific marching skills. We combine that score with the May audition for band placements, as well as passing off marching music over the summer via recording. Just like the football team we have a Varsity band and JV band. They perform together, but the JV students do not perform at competitions. Those students assist with props, and other performance enhancements. JV students have the opportunity all year long to get into a Varsity spot by taking it from a current Varsity member, or filling a role for someone who gets injured or becomes ineligible.

  • JV and Varsity only applies to brass and woodwinds, not percussion or guard. Every percussionist and guard member participates on the field.

Is marching band required?

  • Yes. Marching band is a required curriculum in the state of Texas and LISD. In order to receive credit for band you must do marching band. That being said, marching band is every student’s favorite time of year!

I am a double reed player (bassoon and oboe), what instrument do I play?

  • All double reed students get to pick what instrument they want to play during marching season. We ask that you reach out to us for advice, and talk to your lesson teachers for their opinion. We tend to encourage those students to play saxophone, baritone, or color guard, as those instruments are the easiest transfer for those students and where most of our double reed students participate.

What kind of credit do I get for band?

  • All students receive PE AND Fine Arts credit for band. So you’ll never have to take another PE or FA course for the rest of your high school career.

Band fees are too expensive, we can’t afford it…

  • There are fees associated to band, which covers the cost of travel, food for all events, extra staff members and clinicians, as well as your uniform parts and enhancements. However, the band has payment plans and scholarships we can offer you. No child should choose to not be a part of this because of finances, we ALWAYS find a way to help families and make it work!

I play mellophone, tuba, bass clarinet, and euphonium and don’t own a marching instrument…

  • Don’t worry! We rent all those instruments to you at the start of the summer so you can begin practicing on those new instruments. If anyone needs to rent any instrument, we have plenty available! Contact Mr. Swiren for details… michael.swiren@leanderisd.org

 

LET’S DISPEL SOME MYTHS AND RUMORS ABOUT BAND!!!

The LHS Band Practices too much and I don’t have enough time…

  • The LHS Band follows the same standards and guidelines as all activities on campus, including all sports, fine arts organizations, and clubs. We are limited to 8-hours a week, but don’t even do that. Marching band is all after school, and you’ll never be asked to rehearse before school with our organization during the fall.

 

I’m in IB/AP classes and it’s not going to give me enough time…

  • The LHS Band makes up over 25% of all AP/IB students. The organization provides regular time and attention for students to maintain great academic standing, and the advantage of being in this program is that you have students that have experience in all parts of the academic portions of our school. Our passing rate during marching season (busiest time of year) is 96%. We have student to student tutorials, teacher tutorials, and band study days. The directors are always willing to compromise with great communication!

Marching band is WAY too hard, there’s no way I can do it…

  • WRONG! Just like anything, marching band will be new, but we go VERY slow in the beginning to make sure all freshmen are on the same page as the other students. It’s a long process, but the staff and student leaders are excellent teachers. Every single person in the program was once brand new! We vary the experience to the students’ ability level. You’ll be great!

Marching band takes up every weekend in the fall…

  • WRONG! We do 4 to 5 competitions on Saturday’s from late September to early November. All students are required to attend Friday night football games during the fall, but other than those responsibilities, that is it!

 

I want to join other clubs/organizations/athletics so I can’t do band…

  • WRONG! Band works with every single activity on campus besides Varsity Football, Varsity Volleyball, and Blue Belles. Lucky for you, none of those organizations have freshmen in them their first year. So contact Mr. Sirna and your counselor so we can work with your schedule and get you into the classes you want! Everything is possible!