Hello YHS Band Parents and Students,
Welcome to the 2025-2026 school year! Each week, I will send an e-mail to keep you informed of YHS Band events. Please feel free to e-mail me back with questions. I am so very excited to work with your students!
Here are some reminders as we get set up for our year:
SUPPORT THE FIRST NIGHTERS!
As the Huskers are to YHS athletics, the First Nighters are to our Performing Arts programs. Their sponsorship form and spirit-wear info are attached. Please consider joining, volunteering, and purchasing some awesome merch!
If you are receiving this e-mail, thank you for registering at www.yhsbands.com. This is my primary method of communication for e-mail updates (for families), and lesson/event text reminders (for students). Please be sure to respond “OK” to the set-up verifications (phone and e-mail), as they may have ended up in your spam folder.
FYI – the phone number your student will receive my text messages from is: 914-685-5464
Our band tech is provided by the very hard work of student webmasters Devin Robinson (’26), Miles Fallon (’27), Amy Cross (’28), and head webmaster Joe Menduni (YHS class of 2014). Thanks guys!
PARENT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
You will also receive periodic e-mails from our Band Aid Core Helpers (BACH) parent organization ([email protected]) informing you of ways that you can volunteer at our events. If you are interested, there are many ways you can be involved!
MUSICAL ACCESSORIES
Please see the attached list of musical accessories needed to be successful in Band. Accessories are due this week.
FRESHMAN WELCOME DAY
Many thanks to our awesome team of student leaders for hosting this annual event! Our freshmen students were welcomed to their first day at YHS with snacks, tech help, and plenty of smiles.
PEP BAND THANKS!
Great job to our YHS Band students for their enthusiastic musical support at Friday’s home opener! We love being part of the Husker Family! Special shout out to our trumpet and snare drum quartet for beautifully performing our National Anthem.
Thank you to the parents who so generously sent in snacks for our Pep Band to enjoy – they were very appreciated!
TAG SALE FUNDRAISER
Our annual Music Boosters Tag Sale is a fun fundraiser and community building event! Please save your stuff to donate. Our sale is Saturday 10/18 from 9am-2pm at YHS. We will be accepting donations on Friday 10/17 from 2:30-7pm. Tell your friends and neighbors! Parent and student volunteers are needed to make this event a success. Look for an e-mail in the coming weeks to find out how you can help.
EVENTS THIS WEEK
Wednesday 9/10: Pep Band Rehearsal – 1:45-3:00pm in the Band Room
Bring your instrument and charged cell phone. Music and snacks will be provided. Late buses are available at 3:30. Join us to play some fun pop music, enjoy snacks (because Band = Food), and enjoy time together.
Thursday 9/11:
· Music Boosters Tag Sale Parent Planning Meeting @ 6pm – For any parents interested in getting involved, please join us!
· YHS Back to School Night @ 7pm – see you there!
Sunday 9/14: Apple Picking at Wilken’s Farm
Our annual Band “spirit” outing; a social opportunity for students to have fun together outside of rehearsal.
Report Time: Meet AT WILKEN’S at 10:00am. Wear your YHS Band polo.
End Time: Approximately 12:00 noon
COST: $17 cash (includes a half-peck of apples, apple cider, 1 cider doughnut, and priceless band memories 🙂
RSVP: Please bring in $17 cash and sign up in the Band Room by Thursday 9/11.
Thank you to WE VP Selma Lyons (‘26) and CB VP Jayden Capello (’27) for organizing this year’s trip!
JAZZ BAND AUDITIONS
Auditions will take place Wednesday 9/17 from 1:40 – 3:00 in the Band room. Requirements and sign-ups will be available in the Band room. Weekly rehearsals will begin Thursday 9/25, 6:50-8:30pm. Returning Jazz Band students do not need to audition.
SEPTEMBER LESSON SCHEDULE
Is attached. Lesson info will be reviewed this week in class.
YOU SHOULD HEAR YOUR STUDENT MAKING MUSIC AT HOME
Building muscle memory, and daily practice habits, are important to your success. The expectation is that students will find time each day to work on assigned skills. Busy students are welcome to use the school practice rooms during a free period, or after school daily until 2:45. Treat practicing your instrument as a musical break in your daily routine!
ATTACHED FLYERS
For your review – some interesting musical opportunities for our students!
THANK YOU!
I know this was a bunch of information, thank you for your time and attention. E-mail me with any questions. I look forward to seeing many of you at our Back-to-School night!
Musically Yours,
Ms. Kluga