Director’s Notes: Sept. 20-26, 2026

And off we go! With marching band’s competitive season in full-swing, there is a lot going on over the next several weeks. Starting with this week: Bands of America Week!

But First, Thank You:

Thank you to everyone that showed up on Saturday to make the Copper Thunder’s first show day a successful one! If this was your first show with us, I hope you see now why the students work as hard as they do and why it takes a village to run the program. So: Thank you to everyone that showed up, volunteered, cheered our kids on in the stands, and waited up late at Cienega to help unload prop trucks and pick up kids. A few special shout-outs:

• Thank you to those of you that recognized our power-supply problem to the electronics Saturday morning and had it solved before call-time Saturday afternoon. We had TWO band dads donate UPS battery back-ups for the band to use Saturday night and it literally made all the difference and gave the kids (and staff) peace of mind going into the show.
• Thank you to the uniform parents that have sewn fabric, sized kids and sorted their shirts on short notice, helped track down missing shoes, and everything else that I’m sure you’ve handled without me having to be involved.
• Thank you to those of you that have built props, repaired props, work-shopped getting that huge TV put together in under 2 minutes, loaded trucks, unloaded trucks, and drove trucks.
• Thank you to those of you that have cooked for and fed our kids, kept them safe during rehearsals, and nursed when they weren’t feeling well.
• There are so many others to thank and I’m sure I’m forgetting people. Please forgive me; it is not intentional.

Next Booster Meeting: Monday, Sept. 21 @ 5:30 pm in the choir room

• We’ll be talking through all things BOA. Please feel free to attend if you have questions or want to see how you can help.

Weekly Rehearsal Agenda:

Monday- normal 0 hour rehearsal, 6-9 PM rehearsal (Guard/Perc starting at 5:30 for warm-up)

• We are asking all students to try to bring headphones, earbuds, or (PREFERABLY) ear-plugs to rehearsals this week so we can simulate the same echo/sound delay they’ll hear at NAU this weekend in the dome.
• Students will also be rehearsing in shakos and plumes to simulate that aspect of the performance.
• If you are helping with field crew this weekend at BOA, please attend rehearsal this Monday from 8:30-9:00 to get one last run at fielding/exiting.

Tuesday- normal 0 hour rehearsal (Bailey out of office Noon-4:30 pm)

Wednesday- normal 0 hour rehearsal

Thursday- normal 0 hour rehearsal; sectionals: 4-6 PM

• Plan is to shorten rehearsal to do one, final logistics meeting with the students and begin pre-loading equipment.
• The choir concert that was postponed last week has been moved to this night. If you child is in choir, they will be dismissed early to go get ready. We will need to be sure we are done with any pre-loading prior to choir’s call time so we are out of their way for the concert.
• Andrada/Empire Students: can bring their BOA over-night luggage with them to this rehearsal and store it in the band room, if this is easier on your family than trying to get it to Cienega with them on Friday afternoon.

Friday- 0 hour: Loading percussion trailer and box truck; Help is always appreciated if you/your student is available.

• BOA itinerary is as follows:

Ticket Information for spectators: Can be found on the last website update.

Student Check-Out Process:

As we are approaching competition days, here’s a reminder of the band’s student check-out policy on show days:

Students may be checked-out to a legal parent/guardian, only if:

1- Check-out must occur at the Cienega Band buses; we will not release a student in a stadium, parking lot, college/high school campus. You must meet or follow your student back to the bus to check them out.

2- Check-out happens only at the completion of awards at the end of the night. Watching other bands perform, participating in awards, and the final debrief at the end of the night are all part of the educational process. Students miss valuable self-reflection and teaching moments if they miss the end of events. Requests for early leave must be in writing and approved by the directors the week prior to performance.

3- Students not returning to Cienega on the bus must have their uniform/garment bag inspected and approved by a band parent prior to dismissal. They must also designate another student to turn their uniform back in upon return.

We are going to need a lot of help unloading trucks and trailers when we return to Cienega on Sunday morning due to the number of students checking out from Flagstaff. Please consider helping out if possible!

Next Home Game: October 2, 2026

• Students in town on the day of the game are expected to attend.
• Students out-of-town on pre-planned fall break vacations are excused
• Especially because we are getting so few football game performances this season, it is important that students attend if possible.
• There will be no fall break rehearsals leading up to the game day. We will communicate other details when we know them for certain.

Buckle up… here we go! – Bailey