Welcome to the YHS Bands!

A character education program within itself, the YHS Band experience is centered around three key components: musicianship, citizenship, and friendship. Through these, and the magic of music making, we strive to build community and musical excellence!

MUSICIANSHIP

We take great pride in our tradition of musical excellence and service! Daily classes include Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, and weekly pull-out lessons. Jazz Band rehearses one evening a week, with a weekly sectional. Pep Band fires up the crowd at Varsity Football games, and Chamber ensembles rehearse after school. Major ensembles compete in regional festivals, and students shine at the NYSSMA Solo Festival. Highlights include our Winter and Spring Concerts; the Swing Dance Concert (students explore Jazz, improvisation, musical icons, and the pop culture of the Swing Era, learn to dance, and present a full community Swing Dance!); “Bandapalooza” (our district-wide band festival); and musical enrichment with local clinicians.

CITIZENSHIP

A pillar of the YHS Band program is character education; finding ways to make our community better through musical outreach, peer-leadership, and expressing gratitude are all lessons learned in the YHS Band Room. Highlights include: musically honoring our Veterans and First Responders, visiting with local nursing homes and children with special needs, hosting our community at our Swing Dance Concert, hosting 500+ students at our annual district-wide band festival, supporting our music programs through community fundraisers, using part of our fundraising to sponsor a needy child at holiday time, fostering a strong peer-tutoring program and a very active student executive board.

FRIENDSHIP

We strive to create a welcoming and supportive community for all students! Through team-building activities, social events, and the shared joy of making music together, we cultivate a true sense of Family within the Band and across our Music Department. Students form friendships, build leadership skills, and learn teamwork, dedication, and school spirit. Highlights include annual apple picking and ice skating outings, pep rallies, and celebrations. We also strengthen connections through mentoring and shared traditions that keep our community close-knit. Above all, we celebrate the countless “bandtastic” memories that make our program a place where everyone belongs and feels proud to share their talents!

YHS BAND UPDATE #9

Nov 3, 2025

Dear YHS Band Students and Parents,

Welcome to November! Amazingly, here we are in the final week of quarter #1, and the holiday season (and concert season!) are also close at hand. Please read on for important reminders.

HALLOWEEN COSTUME CONTEST

Such a fun YHS Band tradition! Winners from each class receive half of my citrus order.

AREA ALL-STATE CONGRATS!

Congratulations to our YHS Music students who represented Yorktown as members of Area All-State last week; honor ensembles made up of the best student musicians in the county.

Bravo to YHS Band students Gillian Grabowski (horn), Zach Rindone (clarinet), Vincent Cassetta (trombone), and Selma Lyons, Tali Lyons, Devin Robinson and Ryan Sandhop (trumpets) on a beautiful concert performance!

WINTER CONCERT REMINDERS

Our YHS Band Winter Concert will take place Tuesday, December 9th at 7pm in the YHS auditorium. Students will be asked to arrive by 6:30pm (Jazz Band at 5:45pm) for sound check.

As outlined in our Band Handbook from September, Students are asked to wear “Concert Black,” which is all black professional, dressy attire.

To Ladies: Black dressy shirt. No sleeveless shirts or spaghetti straps. Appropriate necklines, please. Black dressy pants or skirt (below the knee when you sit down, please) and black dress shoes.

To Gentlemen: Black dressy button-down long-sleeved shirt with a collar. Black dress pants. Black dress shoes. Black socks.

EVENTS THIS WEEK:

VIDEO ASSESSMENT #1

This week! Each student will be filmed individually at their lesson and receive verbal and written feedback. Instructions on how to prepare were reviewed in class and are available on Classroom.

This is the culminating assignment for the skills we have been building for the past 9 weeks. Thank you for supporting your student in their 15 minute per day practice habit!

TRI-TOWNS SYMPHONY REHEARSAL ~ TUES. 11/4 p.9

For those involved in this honors ensemble, please attend this rehearsal with Ms. Ryan.

GUIDED PRACTICE / JAZZ BAND SECTIONALS

Offered weekly and hosted by our YHS Band elders (thank you!). Students who lead or attend a session receive 1 point of extra credit. Sessions are held period 9, unless noted otherwise. I am also always available for help by appointment.

Monday 11/3

JB Sax p.10, JB Rhythm p.10

Tuesday 11/4

JB Trombone

Wednesday 11/5

JB Trumpet

Thursday 11/6

Friday 11/7

JB Rhythm

PERIOD “0” JAZZ JAM!

Please join me before school (from 7:10…or whenever you get off the bus… until the first bell) to practice improvising. Help yourself develop your skills and a plan for success!

JAZZ BAND IS THURSDAY 11/6

Music, recordings, and HW are all available on Dashboard. Please arrive by 6:50 so we can be warmed up and tuned to start promptly at 7:00. Thanks!

YHS BAND MERCH – DUE FRI 11/7!

Last call for order forms and $! Form attached.

For those who asked about sweatpant approximate inseams: S=29.5, M=31, L=31.5, XL=32

YHS Band Merch Mega Order Form 2025 (1)Download

CITRUS SALE ~ TRUCK ORDERS DUE THIS WED. 11/5

Thank you for participating in our sale – which benefits everyone! And, thank you for remembering to place your orders on the websites below.

YHS Concert Band online store: https://shop.floridaindianrivergroves.com/ecommerce/837673

YHS Wind Ensemble online store: https://shop.floridaindianrivergroves.com/ecommerce/498649

Ordering info is attached.

PLEASE SAVE THESE CITRUS DATES!

  1. Wednesday, November 5th is the order deadline for truck delivery to YHS
  2. Sunday, December 13th is the order deadline for USPS mail-order delivery to your home/customers’ homes (shipping fees apply)
  3. Thursday, December 11th 2:30-6:30PM is FRUIT DELIVERY DAY. In-person pre-orders will be delivered by truck to YHS. Students are responsible for picking up their entire order and delivering to their customers. Parent and student volunteers will be needed all day (7am-7pm) to help unload and sort our orders.

NOVEMBER LESSON SCHEDULE

Is attached, FYI.

APPLYING TO MUSIC SCHOOLS PRESENTATION – 11/9/25

Is your student interested in studying music in college? This informative online presentation is being hosted by The Juilliard School, Eastman School of Music, and Ithaca College School of Music, Theatre, and Dance. The link to register is here.

LOCAL MUSIC OPPORTUNITIES

Westchester Symphonic Winds Concert Sunday 11/9 at 3pm Tarrytown Music Hall

This is an excellent professional wind ensemble, and this particular concert features a trumpet soloist. Free tickets are available for students. E-mail me for more info.

ITHACA COLLEGE WOODWIND DAY 11/15/25

Ithaca WW Day 2025 image.png

Opportunities for lessons and ensembles at Hoff Barthelson Music School

https://www.westchesteryouthwinds.org

Thank you for your support! Hope that everyone enjoyed a fun Halloween!

Musically Yours,

Ms. Kluga

Our Next Event:

YHS Band Lesson Schedule - OCTOBER 25