A Message of THanks

A MESSAGE OF THANKS 2021
Dear parents, students, and community members:
Last year provided a lot of challenges, but I think it also afforded all of us an opportunity to recalibrate and refocus on the priorities in each of our lives. The Thanksgiving season serves as a strong reminder that we have much to be thankful for in our lives and in the De Soto Bands. As our program continues to develop and additional opportunities are provided to our students, we thank those that make it possible!
Our Board of Education
A sincere thanks are extended to our De Soto Board of Education. The support provided to the De Soto Band program has allowed the continued development of our programs for our membership. Our open dialogues focus on the role of music as part of a complete curriculum offering and the value of music education in our school and community. As we continue to develop the instrumental music program at De Soto, I am thankful to our Board of Education members for their continued dialogue and support of the De Soto Bands.
Community support of the arts remains strong!
From a community vantage point, we must be thankful for local leaders who are solid supporters of music in our schools; they realize music education offers heightened performance in all aspects of life and they are outspoken advocates of music education. Evidenced by the many local businesses that donate to fund scholarships, equipment, and music purchases and the passage of the previous bond issue to build a wonderful performing arts center.
Thanks to the consistent support of our fundraising efforts, we have once again been able to provide all of the De Soto Bands with access to Soundtrap, a digital audio workstation. This month the DHS Jazz Bands began working in Soundtrap to create their tracks for the Holiday Album. Soundtrap provides us the opportunity to provide our students with instruction on a variety of topics from audio production and mastering to live looping and mastering. Community members, organizations, and businesses are sponsoring our efforts to provide incredible opportunities for our students! Thank you to ALL that provide services, aid, and financial support so that we can continue to provide for our program.
Music as a Core Subject
From a national perspective, we must be thankful that the arts are written into federal law as part of the CORE curriculum for every school in the Every Student Succeeds Act. Students have a right to a well-rounded education that includes MUSIC as a core class.
Our Business Sponsors
Many thanks to multiple businesses, community members, and donors that give their time, money, and services in support of the De Soto Bands. Thanks to our sponsors we are able to provide all of our band members with additional opportunities like Soundtrap, the Composition Contest, and the two music festivals that are hosted here at De Soto! These offerings enrich our music programs and allow us to provide experiences to
Our De Soto Band Parents and Families
Personally, I want to give a heartfelt THANK YOU, to all of the parents and families that have shown support this year! From band camp and Parent Preview to the Glow Show and beyond your keen interest, loyal support, and active participation are the essential elements of our successful past, our exciting present, and our promising future. Each year, dozens of parents reach out asking how they can best support our efforts with the De Soto Bands, and each year dozens of families provide much-needed support. From physical labor to working behind the scenes to help provide for a kid in need, our parents are consistently one of a kind!
Our De Soto Band Members
Collectively, we must extend thanks to the young men and women who spend countless hours in the learning, rehearsing, and performing of music. It is a privilege and an honor to work with the finest students here at De Soto. These music makers of today are preparing to be the leaders of tomorrow. The great thing about teaching band is that in any of my band classes, I have such an incredible mix of students from varied backgrounds and experiences. I have students that are top of their class sitting next to students that struggle in every class. Students from different backgrounds all come together for an hour to make music. We want students to continue to find their spot, take a seat, and enjoy music at De Soto. More importantly, we want our students who have benefited from our program to go out into the world with a music background. These students will be our greatest advocates as they enter their adult lives with an appreciation of the arts.
Yes, music does make a difference, and we are thankful for each and every student that has chosen to join their fellow musicians as part of our musical family. The disciplines learned in music classes reinforce a standard of excellence that is required for success in all of life. As we approach the halfway point of our academic year, I extend a sincere vote of thanks to everyone who has made it possible for our music program to thrive and prosper. Your investment of time, effort, and energy is the key to our success.

With most sincere gratitude,

Darrell Boyer
Director of Bands
​De Soto #73 Schools