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 #26

Mar 23, 2026

Dear YHS Band Students and Parents,

It’s the final week of Music In Our Schools Month – and it’s time for Bandapalooza!! We all look forward to celebrating our 600 YCSD Band students this Thursday 3/26 – details below!

EVENTS THIS WEEK:

MAKE TIME TO PRACTICE

It’s time to reinforce the practice habits we have been speaking about all year!! 

Step 1: Bring your instrument home
Step 2: Take it out of the case 🙂
Step 3: Practice! 

Weekly assignments are posted on Classroom and all materials are available on Dashboard.

DAILY: BRING HEADPHONES TO CLASS

We will be using some of our class time to study your individual NYSSMA Solo. Please pack headphones. Thanks!

MARCH LESSON CALENDAR ATTACHED

FYI

PERIOD “0” JAZZ JAM!

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

JB SECTIONALS

Your sectional this week will be with your group (Zoe’s group, Austin’s group, Devin’s group, and Rhythm Section). Please make sure you know when to attend.

STUDENT BANDAPALOOZA HELP NEEDED

-Logistic prep help is needed Mon, Tues, and Wed during your free periods, and p.9-10

-Set up help is needed Thursday 3/26 1:30-3:00pm

-Clean-up help is needed from 7:15-8:30pm

JAZZ BAND IS THURSDAY 3/26 THIS WEEK – BANDAPALOOZA PERFORMANCE!

Please wear your YHS Band or Orchestra polo, black pants and black shoes/socks. RHYTHM SECTION – please help set up your equipment after school p.9-10. ALL – please arrive by 4:30pm so you can be set up and tuned to start playing at 4:45.

BANDAPALOOZA XI – THIS THURSDAY 3/26!

We are so excited for this annual event! All band students grades 5-12 will participate.  There is a new two-concert format this year. Please see this letter from Dr. Hattar with important information.

Parent and student volunteers as well as food donations are needed to make this event a success. Please check out our Sign Up Genius for ways you can help. Thank you to Ms. Rindone for creating and managing our SUG!

BANDAPALOOZA DETAILS:

·      Tickets will be distributed this week in class – 2 tickets per student

·      Live stream links

o   Concert #1

o   Concert #2

·      JAZZ BAND please be set up and ready to play by 4:45.

·      CB & WE arrive by 4:30 – plan ahead, parking will be an issue. Report to your WU room. Be in your seat, warmed up, tuned and ready to play, by 4:50.

When you arrive, please put your cases and belongings in your warm up room. Please respect these classrooms – we are visitors.

CB WU Room: Husker Discovery

WE WU Room: Writing Center

CONCERT ATTIRE: YHS Band Polo, black pants, black socks, black shoes.

BRING: Folding music stand w/your name on it, water, your sports/activity jersey (see below).

**BRING YOUR YHS ATHLETICS / ACTIVITY JERSEYS TO BANDAPALOOZA**

Part of our Bandapalooza goal is to educate grade 5-8 students and their families about the many opportunities available at YHS; and that students still have time to participate in band.

If you are a member of a YHS sport or activity (Ex. robotics, science Olympiad, science research, DCo, tech crew, etc) please bring your uniform jersey, jacket, or t-shirt with you to your seat at Bandapalooza. Thank you!

YHS BAND SPRING DATE REMINDERS

Please mark your calendars!

3/26 (Thurs) @5pm  Bandapalooza – District Band Festival – 2 CONCERTS!     

4/14 (Tues) 6-9pm     WE rehearsal at Sleepy Hollow HS -PERMISSION SLIP ATTACHED

4/20-22 (Mon-Wed)   Wind Ensemble Festival Trip to Boston

4/27-5/1 (Mon-Fri)     ’26-‘27 Wind Ensemble Auditions

5/9 (Sat)                      YHS Concert Band, Orchestra, Choir Festival Trip to Six Flags NJ

5/12 (Tues) @7pm     YHS Spring Band Concert

5/25 (Mon) @10am   Memorial Day Parade and Annual YHS Band BBQ

5/29 (Fri)                    Jazz Band performs at Relay for Life (Evening)

5/29-30 (Fri-Sat)        Up-County NYSSMA Solo Festival @ Somers HS

6/25 (Thurs) 6:30pm Graduation (Wind Ensemble 26-27 students will perform)

CONCERT BAND FESTIVAL & TRIP TO SIX FLAGS – FINAL PAYMENT INFO

Itinerary details and paperwork for payment #2 coming soon.

LAST CALL FOR 2026 NYSSMA SOLO FESTIVAL INFORMATION

If you forgot your form/payment please bring them in tomorrow. Thanks!

LAST CALL FOR WIND ENSEMBLE AUDITIONS

If you forgot your form/payment please bring them in tomorrow. Thanks!

*Students currently in the ’25-’26 Wind Ensemble do not need to re-audition.  Please fill out and return the attached form and be sure your guidance counselor adds Wind Ensemble to your class schedule.*

MUSIC & DANCE OPPORTUNITIES

Flyers are attached for your review and listed below. Some interesting musical opportunities for our students!

·      Bennett Conservatory – Summer Jazz Institute

·      Summer Music Camps

·      Jazz Forum – Westchester’s premier Jazz club, located in Tarrytown, NY. Free tickets for students – use the code STFREE at checkout to redeem the tickets at www.jazzforumarts.org/events.

Please contact me with any questions and thank you for your help and support! 

Always Musically Yours, 

Ms. Kluga

Our Next Event:

YHS BANDS: BANDAPALOOZA XI

On Thursday, March 26th the YCSD Band Program will host our 11th Annual District Band Concert in the YHS Gym.  All band students grades 5-12...

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YHS Band Lesson Schedule - DECEMBER 25