2020-2021 Announcement – Kearney Bands

August 26, 2020
Announcements

Football Game

We have our first football game on Friday at UNK! We meet at the UNK Fine Arts Building (you can find a UNK Map here). Students need to be ready to go at 6:00 pm. We warm up outside the UNK FAB, give instructions, and then we march over to the field. The game starts at 7pm and we stay to the end of the game. We are usually done around 10pm. Transportation is not provided for students.

We will be wearing our full uniform for this game so please make sure you student has all parts of the uniform (shoes and gloves have been handed out), including BLACK socks and form fitting undergarments (we all change in public so having some clothes other than underwear is a must).

Some different things this year because of COVID:

We are asking that students with cars change in the parking lot and keep their stuff in their cars. We can only have 85 people in the UNK Concert Hall and we would like to reserve that for students who don’t drive and won’t have a car.
MUST have a VOUCHER that was given to your student today (Wednesday) in class. The voucher is not good for admission but rather allows you to purchase a ticket. Each student is given 4 vouchers to be used for IMMEDIATE FAMILY members only (parents, step parents, siblings, grand parents only).
All students and fans will be required to wear a mask the whole time at the game (the exception will be when playing/performing).

KHS Issued Bell covers will need to be worn at all times.
The band will be spreading out in the stands to keep more socially distant.
No third quarter break but a plain, dry (not sticky in any way!) granola bar will be allowed for a snack.
Students will need to bring a water bottle

Senior Night

September 4th has been designated as Senior/Parents night. We are looking for a volunteer that would be willing to help organize this. It would involve getting flowers for the parents, organizing the list of names, and helping order everyone on the field before the football game. If you would like to help, please let Mr. LeFeber know asap!

Marching Contests for this fall

With a strong desire to help give these kids a safe yet meaningful marching experience we are planning to attend the following events this fall. While we want everyone there every time, we understand this year is not normal. If, for whatever reason, your student will NOT be able to attend please fill out this form.

September 26th – Columbus Marching Contest – time TBD
October 3rd – Aurora Band Invitational – time TBD
October 24th – End of season event at Kearney High School – details TBD

Some of the protocols that we will have in place for travel

50% capacity on the buses with masks mandatory
No food stops, everyone must bring a sack lunch
No mixing with other bands or spectators, we will try to stay as our group only in order to minimize contact
The following is what to expect from the contest hosts
- Rather than the usual 15 minute time intervals we will use 20 minute time intervals.
- No on field judging and local judges only.
  - The number of judges will be cut from 8 to 4 or 5.
  - Judges will be spread out in the press box and stands and record comments for the bands.
  - No out of state judges will be hired this year.
- Protocols related to spectators will also be followed. Specifically social distancing and capacity requirements.
- Participant capacity will be 10 bands or less.
  - This allows for more spacing within the parking lots for busses and band assembly.
- Bands will be required to sit together if they wish to enter the stadium to watch other bands.
- No parades

Finally, an essential piece to this puzzle is transportation. With only 50% capacity on the busses we are going to have to rely on parents to drive their student(s) to the event. It must be a parent driving and there is no carpooling allowed. For the sake of this season we are asking as many folks as possible to drive their child to the two out of town events. If you would be willing to help out in this way please fill out the required form.

Itineraries

Anytime we travel there will be an itinerary posted to help folks know what is going on.

This is all dependent on positive news on the COVID front and plans can change at any time. Please check your email often. Thanks so much for all you do. Looking forward to a great year!

Nathan LeFeber

Hello Beautiful Bridal & Formal Wear

KW Elite Keller Williams

Yanda’s Music

Stonebridge Insurance & Wealth Management

Trius Federal Credit Union

Kearney Massage & Day Spa

Kearney Bearcat Boosters

Town & Country Bank

Baer Studios

Stelling Brass & Winds

When I hear people asking how do we fix the education system, I tell them we need to do the opposite of what is happening, cutting budgets by cutting music programs… Nothing could be stupider than removing the ability for the left and right brains to function. Ask a CEO what they are looking for in an employee and they say they need people who understand teamwork, people who are disciplined, people who understand the big picture. You know what they need? They need musicians.

Mike Huckabee

Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.

Albert Einstein

It is in Apple’s DNA that technology alone is not enough – it’s technology married with liberal arts, married with the humanities, that yields us the results that make our hearts sing.

Steve Jobs

In my own philanthropy and business endeavors, I have seen the critical role that the arts play in stimulating creativity and in developing vital communities… the arts have a crucial impact on our economy and are an important catalyst for learning, discovery, and achievement in our country.

Paul G. Allen

The life of the arts, far from being an interruption, a distraction, in the life of the nation, is close to the center of a nation’s purpose – and is a test to the quality of a nation’s civilization.

President John F. Kennedy

In every successful business…there is one budget line that never gets cut. It’s called ‘Product Development’ – and it’s the key to any company’s future growth. Music education is critical to the product development of this nation’s most important resource – our children.

John Sykes

During the Gulf War, the few opportunities I had for relaxation I always listened to music, and it brought me great peace of mind. I have shared my love of music with people throughout this world, while listening to the drums and special instruments of the Far East, Middle East, Africa, the Caribbean, and the Far North, and all of this started with the music appreciation course that I was taught in a third-grade elementary class in Princeton, New Jersey. What a tragedy it would be if we lived in a world where music was not taught to children.

General H. Norman Schwarzkopf

Music is exciting. It is thrilling to be sitting in a group of musicians playing the same piece of music. You are part of a great, powerful, vibrant entity. And nothing beats the feeling you get when you’ve practiced a difficult section over and over and finally get it right. Music is important. It says things your heart can’t say any other way, and in a language everyone speaks. Music crosses borders, turns smiles into frowns, and vice versa. These observations are shared with a hope: that, when schools cut back on music classes, they really think about what they’re doing – and don’t take music for granted.

Dan Rather

The things I learned from my experience in music in school are discipline, perseverance, dependability, composure, courage and pride in results… Not a bad preparation for the workforce!

Gregory Anrig

Music is an essential part of everything we do. Like puppetry, music has an abstract quality which speaks to a worldwide audience in a wonderful way that nourishes the soul.

Jim Henson

Should we not be putting all our emphasis on reading, writing and math? The ‘back-to-basics curricula,’ while it has merit, ignores the most urgent void in our present system – absence of self-discipline. The arts, inspiring – indeed requiring – self-discipline, may be more ‘basic’ to our nation’s survival than traditional credit courses. Presently, we are spending 29 times more on science than on the arts, and the result so far is worldwide intellectual embarrassment.

Paul Harvey

It [music education] is terribly important, extremely important — because when you are a child, you are in a receptive age… In high schools, public schools — that’s where they must have the best influence, the first influence, which will go through their whole life.

Eugene Ormandy

It is our job, as parents, educators, and friends, to see that our young people have the opportunity to attain the thorough education that will prepare them for the future. Much of that education takes place in the classroom. We must encourage our youngsters in such pursuits as music education. In addition to learning the valuable lesson that it takes hard work to achieve success, no matter what the arena, music education can provide students with a strong sense of determination, improved communication skills, and a host of other qualities essential for successful living.

Edward H. Rensi

A grounding in the arts will help our children to see; to bring a uniquely human perspective to science and technology. In short, it will help them as they grow smarter to also grow wiser.

Robert E. Allen

Some people think music education is a privilege, but I think it’s essential to being human.

Jewel

Arts Education aids students in skills needed in the workplace: flexibility, the ability to solve problems and communicate; the ability to learn new skills, to be creative and innovative, and to strive for excellence.

Joseph M. Calahan

Football Game

Senior Night

Marching Contests for this fall

Itineraries

Nathan LeFeber

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