To Prospective New Members of
the Wando Band, and to their parentsÉ
ÒTwo roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel bothÉÓ How curious are the familiar stanzas of the Robert Frost poem.
We have been band parents for 10 continuous years, with seven years to go before our last of our four children finishes the Wando High School band program. And we could not be happier. What a powerful and awesome experience the band program is for our children and, unexpectedly, for us the parents as well! We would like to invite you to join us. DonÕt hesitate with the decision. You will be thankful you did.
It took us our first year to understand what the Wando Band program was all about and how we could find our place in it as new parents who knew nearly nothing about music or band. At first we had questions. What was this thing that took so much of our first daughterÕs time? When would she come home from band? Why does she want to practice her flute so much? We certainly understand now and realize how incredibly blessed our children and family are, strengthened together through music and the activities leading to it through the Wando Band. Having had private schooling in the family for three generations, we have not experienced anything that compares to the Wando Band program academically, socially and musically at any tuition price.
You may already know that Wando is not just an ordinarily good high school. This is Wando High School, one of the highest ranked schools in the United States, with a band program that has earned state and national accolades, awards and honors. You must also know there are plenty of good high school band programs if you are looking for an average education and experience for your child. However, to be in a program of the highest quality is an honor and a golden opportunity for all of our children. And while it is a commitment with concomitant expectations, to be a parent helping the program is simply a no-brainer.
As a new Wando Band parent, you can expect your child to work hard starting in the summer. Your child will sweat and march, complain of sore muscles, laugh and play, but at the end of the each day, will set the alarm early to do it all over again the next day on the Wando band field. Camaraderie on the marching field follows quickly on the heals of new friendships that emerge on the field, in the water tent and at sectional practices. As soon as marching band ends in the fall, symphonic band starts and continues through the spring semester. Concerts that rival the musical literature and performances of a professional symphony are performed for parents and the Mount Pleasant community at regular intervals to showcase their skills, talent, and hard work. They are the first to come and the last to leave. Band practice starts in July, practice more hours than the football team can count, and play literally until the last day of school at graduation. And they cannot get enough.
As a new Wando Band parent, you should expect to be involved too! Parents who thought they would watch from the sideline are in the middle of the action. Literally, your child may be the one expressing their hearts through the music or dancing the most elegant musical interpretation in the guard, but in every sense of the word, you will also be in the band as an integral member of the program. This year alone we band parents served thousands of cups of water in the scorching heat. We built props for the marching program, chaperoned 22 trips, purchased instruments, provide logistics and labor, and raised more than a quarter of a million dollars to support the program under the direction of our world-class music educators, directors, staff and facilities.
As a band parent, you will have the opportunity to add your unique skills and knowledge to the band family. You will get to be with your child, learn all of their names, help them to succeed and be with the best group of parents on the face of the planet. While the Wando Band program does not have much money, parents more than make up for what is needed by the students and the directors to achieve their vision for the program. You can do this too. Start slowly or jump in with both feet immediately. Once you do, we believe you too will get hooked on band program, understanding its intrinsic values as the music touches your soul. Not only will you be glad you did, you will wonder how you did not already know the wonder and joy of being a parent in the Wando Band.
Together we have laughed, cried, loved and been elated to the limits of human capacity when we saw our first child, a kid who was paralyzed with fear as a rising 9th grader, smiling with pride as a medal was hung around her neck at the SC state band championship. She had grown in every way that matters. She had learned the value of hard work, of being on time, the love of music, the reward of practice, the capacity to think clearly, to maintain herself physically and to communicate with her peers and the thousands of people in audiences over her four years in the Wando Band program. She was in the honors courses. She took calculus. She worked hard and succeeded in other academic subjects. But nothing on earth prepared her for college and life like her experiences in the band program.
She (and our family) took the one less traveled by. And that has made all the difference.
Mary Ruth and Chris Starr
Co-presidents, Wando Band Boosters, 2007-08
Laurie &
Eddie White
Welcome to the world that is the Wando High School Band program. You and your child will leave with a better understanding of teamwork, commitment and achievement. A very unique opportunity is awaiting for you to become involved in something bigger than yourself. It is a growth experience for all! The level of support the Charleston County administrators, Wando administrators, staff, students, parents, and the Mount Pleasant community show help create the fuel that it takes to power each facet of this nationally recognized music education program. It also is much fun for those lucky to become involved.
Scott Rush, Sean McGrew, Lanie Radecke and the rest of the WHS band staff have assembled a team that is unselfish and strong. This synergy allows everyone to grow and contribute to the making of a program that shapes lives and affects character in such a positive way. It has a way of sticking with you.
At first you probably will not be sure if you can give the time, energy or dollars that powers this creative process. Then you witness the effort that your child gives in the first few days at rookie camp. What starts with uncertainty, hard work and sweat turns them into a proud member of the band. A few weeks later the magic starts to happen. The program grows and memories are made. You have the bug too!
Our son is a sophomore trumpet player. His circle of friends share a common goal of achievement and the pursuit of excellence in their life and studies. This is a direct reflection of WandoÕs Band program. Become involved and give your child the opportunity to feel this sense of connectivity and teamwork. They will notice your efforts. We are proud to support music education as an integral part of learning as you will be too.
Eddie and Laurie White
President-elect Wando Band Boosters 2007-2008
Mary
Ruth Starr
Welcome
to the Wando Band Family! When
your child joins the Wando Band they join a family and a large one at
that! The Starrs joined this
wonderful family over seven years ago and the rewards are continuing to surpass
all our expectations. We have 4
daughters and they all have and will have a Wando Band experience. Our oldest daughter came into the band
a scared, shy young lady and we as parents were overwhelmed with the amount of
time that was consumed in band by our daughter. But as time went on we were bitten by the band bugÉby the
Band Family. We discovered friends
who were all there to support their kids and ALL the young people involved in
the band program. We helped build
props, sell cheesecakes, chaperone bus trips, sew flags, and numerous other
jobs. Our shy daughter found a
group of friends, who would support her in a large school. The band room became a haven for
socialization and life lessons in responsibility and commitment. Our shy
daughter grew up in the band program, became involved in leadership and in her
senior year was one of the drum majors, leading the band in practice,
competitions and events.
Our
next daughter discovered a love of percussion. She also found a group to nurture her, to help her grow into
the independent, responsible senior she is today.
Our
3rd daughter is a freshman and was privileged to follow the band to Chicago and
perform at the Midwest Clinic that only a select few youth will ever get the
opportunity to experience. She is
maturing and growing before our eyes in this band family that is here for her.
Our
youngest daughter is ready to start middle school, where she will find an
instrument and grow with it and learn the rewards of practice, commitment and
before we know it, the rewards of the Wando Band Family.
We
have three of the most talented and committed teachers as leaders of the Wando
Band Program. Scott Rush, Sean
McGrew and Lanie Radecke, are at Wando for these incredible young people and
share their love of music daily.
We
are so blessed to have found such a family and wish that everyone could
experience the gifts of the Wando Band Family. You will find the financial
commitments you are asked to make so your child can be a part of the Wando Band
Family will be the best money you have ever spent. These lessons they will learn while in band are priceless
and they will mold your child into the adults they will soon become.
You
will soon discover your place in this Family, your lifelong friends that you as
parents will make and the young lives that you will watch before your eyes grow
and become members of the Wando Band.
Welcome
to the Family and I canÕt wait to meet each and every one of you in the months
to come!
Mary Ruth Starr
Band Booster Co-President, 2007-2008