Congratulations and welcome! You are a member of the Sandalwood High School Band and Guard program, a musical organization whose purpose is to serve YOU. Our program is dedicated to fostering a love for music and performance in students of all skill levels. Through practice, teamwork, and a commitment to excellence, we aim to cultivate not only exceptional musicians but also well-rounded individuals by teaching you to be critical thinkers, life long learners and hold your own standard of excellence. This program has earned numerous awards including marching band championships, superior ratings at concert festivals, and hold state medals within our indoor percussion and winter guard programs. By joining you become part of an organization that, has a tradition of success, service, and fun. The future success and reputation of the band also depends on YOU. Have pride in your organization and its ideals, for you are now a part of what is truly a unique experience.

 

Our word for the Sandalwood Band and Guard program this past year, was accountability. As a band family, it is important to be reliable and hold yourself accountable to meeting the expectations that your peers, teachers, and family have for you. This is shown through honoring your commitments, showing up prepared, and being engaged. It is these qualities that lead to success, not only in band but also in life.

 

Only about 2% of band members go on to a career in music, but in a national survey of former band students conducted by the Music Educators National Conference, 96% of them credit the lessons learned by taking part in band in high school and/or college to their successes in life. As a part of this organization, you will hopefully gain the tools to help you be successful now and in the future. Along with that perspective, the average career batting average for MLB Hall of Fame position players is approximately .303. That means there’s a “failure” rate of about 70% — you’re not getting a hit nearly three out of every ten times at bat. In most school districts, a passing grade requires 70% or higher, while earning an A typically requires 90% or higher. Unlike academics, however, band is one of the few subjects where 100% accuracy matters: the right notes, the correct formations, and full attention to performance quality are all essential — if any of these slip, the overall performance suffers. Now that’s true accountability.

 

I am very excited and honored that you have decided to join the Sandalwood Band and Guard program. I sincerely hope that, years from now, you will look back on this experience as among the best memories of you life. The only way to make that happen is to jump in and take the bull by the horns! This handbook has been created to help you to be able to do just that. I think that this manual will be almost as valuable to you as you are to the band. I look forward to working with you.