Blog Posts

Ventura County Honor Band

12/31/2019

By now, those who registered for an audition time should have received an e-mail from someone in charge of auditions for VCHB. The audition times are posted on the VCHB website in sections. Make sure you note your audition time, as well as allow yourself time to get to the audition site, park, warm up, etc.

This next section only applies after your audition, and if you earn a spot:
Those of you who earn a spot in the VCHB will need to pay a County Honor Band Fee of $40. Each school that has students representing in the ensemble must submit one check to the honor band. Do not write a separate check to the honor band. You have two options of payment: 1) Go to our web store on this website, and pay online, or 2) Write a check payable to Simi Valley Music Boosters, or provide cash in an envelop with your name on it, and leave it in the white box inside of the instrumental music room. Our booster treasurer will then make one check to be delivered to the honor band.

Winter Break

12/15/2019

With finals this week, we want to make sure everyone is ending the semester on a good note. Please make sure to take your personal belongings home over the break. This includes anything that may be stored on or under the stage in the MPR. As you know the building will not be occupied, which means it will likely be very cold, causing instruments to "freeze." By taking equipment home, ensures it will be in a much more temperate environment, and allows you to practice if you have the time to play a few notes. Everyone is strong encouraged to practice here and there over the break. With our first festivals being a little earlier than last year, it will be important for us to hit the ground running when we return in January. All of the groups have worked hard this semester, so make sure to enjoy your time off, listen to some new music, enjoy the company of your friends and family, and perform a little concert for your loved ones.

There is a possibility music will be posted on this website for each ensemble. As new sheet music arrives we will try to post up a recording so that you can follow along. We will not be checking email over the break, but emails may be sent out from instructional staff.

Marching Band End of the Season Finish

11/27/2019

The marching band finished their season at the Western Band Association (WBA) Championships this past weekend. After their prelims performance the group earned 10th place overall in a very competitive 3A division. Their placement qualified them for grand championship finals the next day, where they placed 12th overall. Throughout the weekend, there were over 40+ marching bands from throughout the western region of states competing between the 1A/2A/3A divisions. Earning a finals spot in WBA Championships is no easy feat, and it took a lot of hard work and practice to get there.

This was also the marching band's first overnight trip in several years, and earning a spot in finals was a nice bonus to cap off such a memorable and historical weekend.

11/15/19: Playoff Football Game Itinerary

11/10/2019

Due to this game occurring the night before a field tournament we are going to support our team for the first half of the game, and then we will be packing up and heading home for the evening. We have a longer travel day the next morning, and the show will end later than this past weekend. Our football coach has been notified of this as well.

Pre- Game Rehearsal
3:30-3:50PM: Visual Basics/Warm Up on basketball courts
3:50-4:00PM: Move into the stadium
4:00-4:15PM: Music Warm Up
4:15-4:45PM: Full Ensemble
4:45-4:55PM: Full Run Through
5:00PM: Rehearsal is dismissed (move props and equipment to track/end zone).

Football Game Schedule
6:00PM: Call Time/Change into uniform
6:15PM: Sectionals
6:40PM: Move to pick up football team for half time
7:00PM: Kick off
8:00PM: Half Time
8:15PM: Approximate end of half time; move all equipment out of stadium to storage areas, change, and go home or to Big Z.

Butterbraid

10/22/2019

We have officially started our Fall Butterbraid Pastries Fundraiser. Since we started World's Finest Chocolate Fundraising a few weeks ago, we wanted to put this off a little longer. The due date on the form says 10/28/19; however, we are going to extend the date until November 4, 2019, with a delivery date for the following Friday, November 15, 2019, just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday. Hard copies of these forms can be picked up in the music room.