Scribd
Upload
92 views2 pages

Handout 3

The document discusses band culture and traditions at Pflugerville ISD. It outlines the many events throughout the school year that build band culture, including marching band activities in the fall, holiday performances in winter, and spring concerts. Community involvement is important, with students participating in community service projects. The band is well-regarded within the community and school district. Creating a positive band culture requires listening to students and community, allowing excellence in both performance and culture.

Uploaded by

api-285213532
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
92 views2 pages

Handout 3

The document discusses band culture and traditions at Pflugerville ISD. It outlines the many events throughout the school year that build band culture, including marching band activities in the fall, holiday performances in winter, and spring concerts. Community involvement is important, with students participating in community service projects. The band is well-regarded within the community and school district. Creating a positive band culture requires listening to students and community, allowing excellence in both performance and culture.

Uploaded by

api-285213532
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

Band

Culture: Its Not All About the Contest!

Garth Gundersen, Luis Chico Portillo, Vanessa Gonzalez (Pflugerville ISD)



What Events are planned in a school year that addresses Band Culture?
We have grown up with constant attention being paid to proper rehearsal etiquette,
and because of it, we can upgrade our playing level of the rehearsals and concerts.
Why dont we carry those same concepts into the other aspects of band? This would
likely upgrade the entire band family atmosphere and create a better experience for
everyone involved, including you.
The Joy of Inspired Teaching, Tim Lautzenheiser, 1993

Thoughts on Band Traditions/Culture and Timelines:
! Fall Marching Preview and BBQ (May)
! PfISD Band Leadership Camp (July)
! Hawk Band Night and Parent Marching Exhibition (August)
! JV and Varsity Marching Band (Fall)
! The Wiggalo (September through December)
! Middle School Band Night (September)
! Halloween Party and Trunk-or-Treat (October)
! Veterans Day events (November)
! Pflugerville Holiday Stroll (December)
! The Polar Express (December)
! Alumni Dinner (December)
! Teacher Appreciation Luncheon (The Day Before Spring Break)
! Combined HS/MS Percussion Concert (April)
! Duetschen Pfest Parade (May)
! Senior Recognition Concert: The Echo Never Fades (May)
! Band Banquet: Senior Slide Show (May)

How do your Students view your Band Program? (Video Presentation)


How is your Band thought of within the Local Community?
The Hawk Band Wings is a community outreach group composed of 10-20 students
usually who go out into the community and participate in both music and non-music
community service events. The Pflugerville Community has always been supportive
of the band by buying fundraiser goods, sponsoring our march-a-thons, buying our
signs when we needed to go to Chicago and cheering us on at games and
competitions. Within the past year, we have done 10 separate community service
projects from cleaning the park, to playing out instruments for nursing home
residents, to making dinner for the firemen. It is amazing to see how the community
reacts as we do these simple acts of kindness and we hope that every kid
understands that without the community cheering us on at a game, it would just be
another practice. We are adding the position, the Hawk Band Wings Coordinator,
into a Band Council position so it will always be student-led and will be a part of our
band culture.

Band Culture Presentation, p. 2



How does the School District and Community view your Band Program?
Perceived cultures for middle school and high school band programs
Safe/ Unsafe
Happy/Unhappy
Organized/Disorganized
Proud/Shame
Excellence/Mediocrity
Goals of the band program
The Journey: To create that what is positive!
To provide an environment that is socially acceptable where learning
can take place
To build or maintain a program of large number of students who desire
a positive culture
To support the other band programs in our district and area
Opportunities
Band involvement for Civic Events
Veterans Day programs
4th of July events
Texas Independence day programs
Grand Openings
By request performances
Parent political contributions
Parental Teams are formed (Boosters)
Band parents are generally your school leaders (PTO, project
graduation, CIP committees, etc.)
Power in parental numbers (bond package votes, school board policy,
district committees, TMEA support)

Key Points to Creating a Culture that will last (beyond your years)
1. Listen to your community and listen to your students.
2. Best Idea Wins, Period.
3. Allow the collective voice to manifest itself in a band of excellence,
Discipline, Kindness, and Togetherness.
4. Band Culture comes from the students and community. Know the
community that you teach in and meet the needs of that community.
5. Excellence in Band Culture leads to excellence in Band Performance

How Does your Band Live? Have you every stopped to think that much of your band
time is spent not rehearsing music? In many ways, band is like a big family, so it is
important to look at that first question and really examine it, for the band experience
will have an impact on your entire life
The Joy of Inspired Teaching, Time Lautzenheiser, 1993

You might also like