RSVP for Band Camp 2026

Hello Band Students and Parents!

***All students:  Please fill out this form to confirm your status for band camp.** I would appreciate you doing so as soon as possible, or at least by August 1.  Since I know not everyone checks their email regularly over the summer, PLEASE ask others you know in band if they received this email.  If you are receiving this email but have decided not to continue with band this year (and I hope that’s not the case), please indicate in the form above so that I can remove you from our mailings and update my rosters accordingly.

I am in the process of writing our first halftime show that we will learn at band camp and need an accurate headcount in order to make sure that the music and drill do not have any big gaps in them.

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We are quickly approaching our annual Band Camp!  I hope you are as excited as I am to be reunited with your fellow banditos and kick off another great year of band at Hockinson High School!  Our year gets off to a quick start!  Our first performance is at our first home football game on September 4, followed by Husky Band Day in Seattle on September 12 (more information to follow about this)!  Band Camp will get us on our way to being ready for these events, as well as the 4 other home football games (9/18, 9/25, 10/9, and 10/16)!

As a reminder, band camp runs Monday thru Friday, August 10-14, from 9 AM to 4 PM.  ALL DRUMMERS:  Your extra drumline day is Saturday, August 8, from 9 AM to 4 PM.

Please remember to bring the following items to each day of camp (including the first day):

• Marching/pep band instrument
• Pencil
• 3 ring binder with at least 10 clear sheet protectors
• Instrument lyre and flip folder with at least 20 flip folder pages (Percussionists:  Get your flip folder pages but wait to purchase your lyre until after August 8 when you know your instrument assignment)
  • Many schools in our area have band camp the same week as us and many music stores run out of these items quickly.  The sooner you get your lyre and flip folder, the better.  I also recommend you bring your instrument with you if possible to try the lyre on your instrument, as some lyres can be slightly too big or small.
• Water bottle (we will have cold water and Gatorade for you to fill your bottles with throughout the day)
• Closed-toe shoes without heels.  No sandals, flip flops, or any open-toe shoes.
• Sunscreen
• Lunch

School Instruments:  If you need to use a school instrument (marching or concert), please make sure you indicate that in your RSVP information so that I can have an instrument ready for you.  Please remember to bring your own accessories (reeds, neck straps, etc.).  Rental agreements will be emailed for parents and students to fill out, and the office should be open the week after band camp to accept your $125 annual rental fee (checks made out to Hockinson High School).  Returning students who are keeping their instrument from last year will still fill out a new rental agreement.  If you are using a school instrument, please show up a little before the start of band camp with a parent to take care of the paperwork and instrument checkout.  I will also be available in the afternoon on August 7 in the band room if you would like to pick your instrument up early.

Pep Band Music:  Both new and returning students have quite a bit of pep band music to learn in the span of one week.  We have many pieces from last year, but a lot of new pieces as well. If you would like to listen to recordings of some of these pieces, you can use this document.  We will have paper copies of all music available for you when you arrive.

Uniform Fitting:  All students will be fitted for marching uniforms at camp, as well as those in the Wind Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, and Jazz Band who need to be fitted/re-fitted for tuxedos and dresses.  Marching uniform parts will be ordered on the last day of camp, and if you miss that deadline you may have to pay more later on to get your items shipped to you in time and not as part of the larger, discounted group order.  Watch your email for a message from our Hockinson Music Boosters with more information on uniforms for the year.  If you cannot attend camp, there may be some steps you will still have to take in order to get your uniform parts assembled and fitted by the first game.  Should you have further questions about uniforms, please email hockinsonmusicboosters@gmail.com.

Fall Sports:  Fall sports begin on the first day of school (football on August 19), per WIAA regulations.  Anything planned by coaches or teams at this point is purely optional. I point this out because every year there are some conflicts with workouts or other unofficial athletic events.  The school has directed fall coaches to not ask band students to do anything for fall sports during the week of band camp.  I purposefully put band camp this week in August so that it will not affect sports tryouts or your number of required practices to play in your first game. I am more than happy to speak with coaches if you would like me to.

Wind Ensemble Auditions:  Any students planning on auditioning (or re-auditioning) for vacant seats in Wind Ensemble should plan on staying after band camp on TUESDAY to do the live audition portion with me (2 of your 12 major scales drawn at random, sightreading).  The two recorded pieces should be submitted to me by Tuesday evening as well.  While your audition will take about 5 minutes to do, please be ready to wait in line up to an hour depending on how many choose to audition.  More information on Wind Ensemble auditions can be found here (ignore the deadline dates). Current openings include flute, clarinet, bassoon, alto sax, bari sax, trumpet, French horn, and trombone.  Please be prepared and remember that simply auditioning for Wind Ensemble does not guarantee you a spot in the group.

Second Jazz Band:  After a large turnout for Jazz Band auditions, I am excited to announce that we will be starting a second Jazz Band this fall for the first time in almost 20 years!  The group will be under my supervision but led by Riley Lyons, a 2018 HHS grad who recently finished up his Master’s Degree in music at Bard College Conservatory of Music!  Check out some of his recent work here, or relive the glory days with me on recordings like this!