2019 SUMMER BAND INFORMATION
Sunday, August 18th
Check-in / Move-in
10:00am - 5:00pm - Check-in - All Members
Students may check in anytime during this time period. The check in process generally
takes about 45 minutes. Students are encouraged to also use this time to move into housing
facilities if need be.
6:30pm - Mandatory meeting with all members
You will receive a detailed daily schedule when you check-in
Monday, August 19th - Saturday, August 24th
SOSA 2019 Summer Band
Brass, Woodwind, and Percussion students who are officially enrolled at UTSA and plan to audition for membership report to Preseason Training in August. Auxiliary students who have successfully completed the Evaluation process over the summer also report to Preseason Training to begin rehearsals for the season.
What do I do when I arrive for Summer Band/Preseason Training?
Report to the second floor lobby of the UTSA Music Building for check-in. Please note that the report date may vary depending on your instrument and/or membership status, i.e.(new, returning, or leadership). All members will report on Sunday, August 18th, starting at 10:00 AM for registration.
Do I need to audition for the Marching Band?
The “Spirit of San Antonio” currently serves as a non-audition marching ensemble as we continue in our growth over the next few years. However, we strongly encourage students to look over and be comfortable with the materials in the assessment packet. The assessment packets include materials used during the season and will be used to asses individuals when placing parts amongst the ensemble.
UTSA Athletic Band Assessment Packets are available for download - HERE
UTSA Athletic Band Percussion Packet is available for download - HERE
Why do you have a Summer Band/Preseason Training session?
College Bands are noted for excellence in performance. Texas College Bands are noted as being models for College Bands all across the country. To achieve this excellence, we must be able to execute the fundamentals of marching and playing at a very high level. Because we learn and perform different halftime shows throughout the season, everyone must be able to learn and polish a new show quickly and efficiently.Preseason Training provides all Marching Band members, new and returning, the opportunity to get into shape physically, mentally, and musically so that we can work together to produce exciting performances.The emphasis is on fundamentals, but we will also be learning music and drill maneuvers for the season ahead. The quality of our Summer Session has a lot to do with the success of our season.
I heard that the Summer Band/Preseason Training session is pretty tough.
We will approach this important training period very seriously. It is intense and we work under strict time limits. Summer Band is designed to train our members for the season ahead. We work hard during rehearsals, but you will enjoy the camaraderie and satisfaction that comes from working hard to accomplish something worthwhile.Thousands of college band performers go through this same training period all across the nation each August. We believe that you will find the training session to be carefully planned and extremely efficient. We promise to do everything possible to make your experience informative and rewarding.
What will the schedule for Summer Band be like?
The normal daily schedule for Preseason Training is as follows:
Keep in mind that this is only a sample schedule. You will be given a detailed daily schedule when you register for training. We make every effort to use this time in a productive and efficient manner.
1. 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Drill (Rehearsal Field)
2. 12:00 pm - 01:30 pm Lunch
3. 01:30 pm - 04:30 pm Music Rehearsals
4. 04:30 pm - 06:30 pm Dinner
5. 06:30 pm - 10:00 pm Drill (Rehearsal Field)
What if I have to attend Orientation and Registration during the Training Session?
We will excuse you from rehearsal when you have something important to do regarding orientation and/or registration. All you need to do is advise the staff that you must leave and when you will be back. We do not want to keep you from conducting important business.Please remember that it is your responsibility to catch-up and practice anything that you miss while away from rehearsal.
What about medical appointments?
You will be excused from rehearsal for important medical appointments, but please make every effort to schedule these so as not to interfere with Preseason Training.
What about meals during Preseason Training?
You must provide your own meals during Preseason Training. There are many fast food and family-style restaurants to be found in the area around campus. Many students also bring breakfast items to be eaten in their residence hall or apartments.
Due to the extremely rigorous physical activity involved in our training sessions, all students are CAUTIONED against missing regular nutritious meals. It is IMPERATIVE that you eat well balanced meals three times a day.
What about going through sorority/fraternity rush?
If you wish to go through sorority/fraternity rush, you may certainly do so. However, if you are a first-semester freshman, it is not recommended that you try to do too much your first term in college.
Being in The UTSA SOSA and a sorority or fraternity will place a lot of demands on your time; some of that time should be devoted to studying! Some students are able to do both, but you should weigh the pros and cons carefully.If you decide to go through rush during our Preseason Training Session, you will be responsible for keeping up with everything that is taught in rehearsals that you miss, and you will be evaluated on the same standards as those who attended all rehearsals.
Where will I stay during the Summer Band/Preseason Training session?
If you live in campus housing, you will be able to move into your residence hall starting on Friday, August 16th. Please remember that you will move into a residence hall ONLY if you have secured a room for the fall semester and registered for a SOSA class. The UTSA Band Office does not provide housing. You must secure your own contract for housing through the UTSA Housing Office. Membership in The Roadrunner Bands DOES NOT guarantee you a residence hall room. It is a common misconception that UTSA has special rooms available for marching band members. THIS IS NOT TRUE! If you have not yet applied for housing through the UTSA Housing Office, do so immediately. Do not call the Band Office for this information, we cannot help. We can only provide early check in to students who have made their own arrangements for University housing and are registered for a SOSA class. You will need to call your on-campus housing facility and inform them you are an incoming or returning member of the marching band. Please take care of this ASAP. The housing facilities work respectfully with the marching band to allow us early move-in. For housing contact info please click -HERE
If you live in off campus housing, those arrangements are left to you.
Be sure to communicate with your landlord and/or roommates.
