This category is for old articles that have been archived.
Play-a-thon preparations are well underway! There are plenty of great opportunities for volunteers to participate in this super fun event for our bands—from donating snacks or supplies, to chaperoning for a couple of hours, or helping with dinner. Take a look at our sign-up genius to find the best way you can help us make this important fundraiser a big success.
Thank you for your support! If you have any questions about how you can help, contact Tammy Lewis at ctclewis@gmail.com.
Find out what’s coming up and what goes on behind the scene in the band program at the Friends of Cleveland Bands meetings. Board meetings are welcome to all! (Our next meeting is October 14. Always check the calendar for dates and updates.) Can’t make a meeting? Complete meeting minutes are available on the Band website.
Play-a-thon preparations are well underway! There are plenty of great opportunities for volunteers to participate in this super fun event for our bands—from donating snacks or supplies, to chaperoning for a couple of hours, or helping with dinner.
Take a look at our sign-up site to find the best way you can help us make this important fundraiser a big success. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0448abad29a3fa7-cleveland2
Thanks for your support! If you have any questions about how you can help, contact Tammy Lewis at ctclewis@gmail.com.
At 3:30 pm on October 4, 2019, one hundred and seventy-plus Cleveland High School students will descend on the school auditorium for the fifth annual CHS Bands Play-a-thon (https://www.gofundme.com/f/chsbandsplayathon2019). For eight hours, musicians from six different school bands will play music like many of them have never played before, all to raise much-needed dollars to fund this vital program for one more school year. It’s incredibly hard work, but the kids know what’s at stake. (It is also a total blast! The kids may grumble going into it, but by the end of the evening they are energized and proud!)
As you probably know, the Play-a-thon is our biggest and most important fundraiser of the year and continues to be the primary source of operating expenses for the entire CHS band/music program. The CHS Band program receives no direct funding from the school district. It’s no exaggeration to say that your donations are what keep this program running. Money raised at the Play-a-thon supports all aspects of our program and covers a variety of costs:
Some high schools institute a mandatory fee for band of $100 or more per student, in addition to instrument rental fees charged by the district. Mr. Riler and the Friends of Cleveland Bands feel strongly that access should be available to all. This is why we ask friends and family to support the program with donations that are meaningful and appropriate to them. We do not want to limit any student’s ability to participate!
Our fundraising site is online and open for donations now. Please direct friends and family to the CHS Play-a-thon GoFundMe page, where they will be inspired by the amazing video from Funnelbox that outlines what goes on in the band room and why it is so important. Just make sure to remind them to include the name of the student on behalf of whom they are donating.
Students in the CHS music program learn more than just how to be great musicians; they learn discipline, teamwork, and leadership—skills that will help them throughout their lives and their careers. Many studies show that music improves performance in other subjects like math and science. Yet funding for music and the arts in our schools remains sorely missing. Your donation will ensure that our kids continue to benefit from this invaluable program.
Thank you for your support!
Brian Richardson
Debbie Wager
chsbands.playathon@gmail.com
Friends of Cleveland Bands
This year’s Play-a-thon takes place on Friday, October 4th, 2019. This is our biggest fundraising event of the year and it’s a lot of fun.
Here’s how it works: At 3:30 pm on October 4th, ALL band students will converge on the band room and stay—and play—until midnight. Bands will play in rotation, giving students a chance to rehearse, jam and have fun—all of which is live-streamed starting around 6:00 pm until the lights go out around midnight. (Don’t worry, there will be plenty of food, movies to watch, and games to play to keep students energized and happy when they’re not playing music.)
It’s a long night, but it’s a great bonding experience and the kids love it. This fundraiser is simple, educational, but also extremely effective. Last year the kids brought in over $30,000. Not bad for a night of fun!
Students will officially kick off the Play-a-thon on September 18th. At that time a GoFundMe web page goes live and 100% tax-deductible contributions will start coming in. The GoFundMe page will be active throughout the Play-a-thon period.
Students who solicit the most donations may win a valuable gift certificate to a local music store!
Curious about what we are fundraising for? Check out the 2019-20 budget on our fundraising page ».
Please watch this space for more Play-a-thon details and how you can help out with this fun event.
Newsletter: Please subscribe now to continue receiving the newsletter. (Once subscribed, you can change your preferences or unsubscribe at any time.) You MUST subscribe to receive future newsletters.
Calendar of Events: A paper copy of the calendar was sent home with students last week. This calendar is subject to change but gives you a good idea of some of the upcoming events. It can also be found here »
Student Handbook: What am I required to wear to concerts? What supplies do I need if I play the flute? How will I be graded? You can find answers to these questions and more in the Student Handbook. Please make sure you’ve read through it with your band student. Even if your student is not new to the band program, you will find helpful information. Please take a look here »
The Cleveland High School Wind Symphony will continue to have tuxedos and formal dresses as our concert attire. These outfits, once purchased, will belong to you.
We will measure for new members and anyone who needs a new piece of a tux in early September. Anyone who is absent will need to coordinate with Mr. Riler ASAP. All current members should try on their concert attire by the end of the first week of school to be sure everything still fits. One can still go to Mr. Formal on 1103 SE 7th Ave to get individual pieces or be fitted for a tux, if they miss the measuring date.
TUXEDOS (Wind Symphony & Jazz Ensemble)
Tuxedos will be coming from Mr. Formal.
They will include the following:
This complete outfit will be: $155.00
You can use School Pay to pay online—please provide Mr. Riler a receipt so he can release the tux to your child. OR please make checks payable to: “Cleveland High School”
If you need financial assistance, please contact Mr. Riler via email. There will be partial assistance for those that need it.
DRESSES (Wind Symphony)
Full length black dresses will be ordered from Tuxedo Wholesaler Company. New members will be measured during class in early September, and dresses will be ordered using a chart provided by the company. Please plan on having to hem the dress, as they are delivered long. These dresses will be a poly knit blend and machine washable.
If you need a seamstress, I have found someone who is willing to hem the dresses for $10. She will come to the band room to measure and pin the dresses. This would be a separate payment, please do not include it with the dress fee.
This outfit will be: $63.00
You can use School Pay to pay online—please provide Mr. Riler a receipt so he can release the tux to your child. OR please make checks payable to: “Cleveland High School”
If you need financial assistance, please contact Mr. Riler via email. There will be partial assistance for those who need it.
Registration is now open for a limited time! We are excited to announce that the Cleveland High School Band will be returning to Los Angeles/Disneyland to participate in a 4 Day Performing Arts Tour, taking place March 19-22, 2020!
We have been working with Educational Discovery Tours to design a trip that will not only be a fun, milestone opportunity for our students, but also a solid educational program designed to support the goals of our band program.
Our students will be participating in college-level educational music programs during their tour and will have the opportunity to perform publicly during their tour. More specifically your son/daughter will participate in a backstage workshop with a Disney Music Professional, and perform publicly in Disneyland in front of an international audience, amongst other activities.
Our students will also experience the many highlights that the region has to offer: Los Angeles, Hollywood, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, California Adventure, and Medieval Times to name a few.
ALL students in Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Percussion, and Wind Symphony are in the CHS PEP BAND and MARCHING BAND.
Our first gig is Friday, September 13th, at the football game against Wilson HS.
Back to School Mini Band Camp is a great opportunity for the band to get acquainted and start working on pep band songs before school starts.
Here is the schedule:
Mon, Aug 19: Leadership meeting 9:00 am–12:00 pm
Mon, Aug 19: Drumline rehearsal 2:00 pm–4:00 pm
Tue, Aug 20: Mini Camp (freshmen only) 9:00 am–12:00 pm
Wed, Aug 21: Mini Camp (all band members) 9:00 am–12:00 pm
