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

With the conclusion of the Glow Show, another marching season comes to an end. That means 70% of our band just finished their first competitive season. After a year away from competition the Dragon Pride put on an incredible show for friends and family in Culwell Stadium last night.  Pictures DO NOT do this experience justice.  It was a great time bonding for our larger band family. Band members played football and catch while waiting for the sunset, family and community members sat and talked about the year. It gave me time to reflect on our season and our program overall.

Like all bands, our band has had our share of quarantines and COVID restrictions and challenges. With all the negative talk about the work that is being done in public schools, I have to say that I am consistently impressed and motivated by the work ethic and drive of the students I witness on a daily basis. They are focused and determined to grow and improve.  As I have said in the past, nobody outside our program knows where we started or how far we have come outside of our program. Our focus is, and always will be on the growth and development of every musician.

Thanks to the following people for their tremendous support of the De Soto Bands over this season!

-Jennifer Kidwell and Connie Bryant for spending numerous nights volunteering in the concession stands!

-Joe Noskay who worked every home Varsity game on the grill making some delicious burgers and hotdogs.  I'm looking forward to next year with the introduction of the Dragon Burger!

-A big shout out to First State Community Bank and the volunteers that worked the Senior Night Football game. FSCB is a tremendous supporter of our school and community and a proud supporter of the De Soto Bands.

-A big thank you to the Cook family for providing drinks for our band members and assisting the band at Park Hills with a side by side and trailer. 

Band truly is an incredible experience. Our students come to us from all walks of life and take part in almost every other sport or activity at DHS. We have students involved in Football, Cross Country, Soccer, Basketball, Volleyball, Dance Team, Cheer, Softball, Choir, Art, Drama, Academic Team, Robotics, and FBLA.  These students spend countless hours in service of our school and community splitting their time between the variety of activities that they are involved with. The band means something different to each of our members, but it is a family for everyone.

I’m proud of our band family and I am looking forward to sitting down and making music with you all!

​Mr. Boyer

Good evening De Soto Band Family,

Currently the forecast for the mid afternoon Homecoming Parade is not favorable for the Marching Band. If the forecast holds, the HS Marching Band will not be marching in the DHS Homecoming Parade due to the potential damage to equipment.

Students and families will be notified tomorrow morning after we check the weather. If the band is not marching in the parade students should go home after school. The band room will reopen at 5pm for band members to prepare for the Homecoming game.

​-Mr. Boyer

A solid start to the season.

It had been 700 days since the Dragon Pride Marching Band had last competed. We have endured an incredible few years. Despite the setbacks and obstacles, the DPMB put on an incredible performance yesterday at Farmington scoring a 59.3 and earning 6th place. 

Yesterday was an incredible learning experience for all of our band members. For over 70% of our marchers, this was their very first time at a competition. So many little firsts, nerves, and glitches were worked out.

I'm incredibly proud of the massive growth that our band has demonstrated already this year and I'm excited for the potential our students have.

We have lots to work on this week including adding Mars and the closing chorale.  We can do this!

Let's GO BAND!

Calendar Dates for the Fall Semester
No Contact Week (Dead Week)

• All Activities (non athletics) No Contact Dead Period – July 10th – July 18th
  • During this time there will be no contact between band staff and students.  If you have questions during this time, please consult with student leadership or email and we will respond July 19th.

Full Band Camp
August 2-6 (2pm-9pm)
August 9-13 (2pm-9pm)

• This is our required camp in preparation of our Fall Marching Season.  Students will learn how to march, set drill, and we will begin working on our competitive show as well as learning tunes for our Friday night Football games.  Students should bring a packed meal as we will have a dinner break at 5pm each day.

August 24th
3pm- Weekly Percussion Rehearsals begin
6pm-9pm  Weekly Full Ensemble Rehearsals begin

August 25th
Weekly Color Guard practice begin

Required Performances for the Fall Semester
August 27th -Friday Night Football Home Opener
September 17th- Varsity Home Football
September 18th- Farmington Marching Invitational
September 25th- Sullivan Marching Competition
October 1st- Homecoming Parade and Football Game
October 9th- Bi-State Marching Competition (Potosi, MO)
October 15th- Varsity Home Football
October 16th- Park Hills Central Marching Competition
November 2nd- All District Band Auditions *
November 6th-All District Band Rehearsal and Concert *
November 6th- Veteran's Day Parade *
December 4th- All State Band Auditions **
December 4th- De Soto Christmas Parade **
January 6th- Girls Basketball Pep Band
January 9th- HS Dessert Auction and Concert ***
January 14th- Boys Basketball Pep Band

*Students auditioning and making All District will be earning credit for the Veteran's Day parade by performing with the All District Band.
**Students auditioning for the All State Band will be earning credit for the De Soto Christmas Parade.
*** The HS Dessert Auction begins at 3pm and will last approximately 3 hours.  This is the only concert performance that students are allowed to leave after they are finished with their performing with their ensemble.

Dear parents, students, and community members:

It has been said a million times this year, but this year has been like no other and the challenges we have faced and overcame will have a lasting impact on our program for years to come. This year, we have spent time reflecting on our program. Many questions were considered, but most importantly what do we need to adapt to not only survive, but thrive in the current conditions. Students identified areas of improvement and addressed adaptations that would have to take place, but the overwhelming response was that of gratitude. While it is easy to focus on the negative, the Thanksgiving season serves as a strong reminder that we have much to be thankful for in our music program.

As our program continues to develop and additional opportunities are provided to our students, we thank those that make it possible!

Our DHS Band Leadership
Shout out to our De Soto Bands Leadership team who have provided input, guidance, and support throughout this crazy Fall. I am constantly impressed by your own advocacy of the Fine Arts, yourselves, and your counterparts. Our student leaders serve as the backbone of our program and have been incredibly helpful in providing a consistent band experience to all incoming band members. From aiding instruction of our unwritten rules and customs, to helping tutor other members in music theory, our De Soto Bands Leadership team members have been a constant reminder of why I chose this profession.

Special recognition of our DHS Drum Majors, James Innes and Olivia Hartwell, for their incredible leadership this year. James and Olivia serve as President and Vice President respectively of our Tri-M Music Honor Society and editors of the De Soto Bands Directory. The De Soto Bands Directory is our weekly newsletter sent out to all DHS band members and interested community members. The De Soto Dragon Pride has had some of the finest student leaders and drum majors in the area, and this year's drum majors are no exception.

Composition Contest Supporters and Performers
This year with the COVID spring closure, our Spring Band Concert had to be canceled. I am thankful for each of the musicians from across the country who volunteered their time to make our winning composition performance a reality. Being able to offer our students the opportunity to learn to write music is an incredible experience in itself, but allowing them to get feedback from professional composers and then HEAR their piece takes it to a whole new level. A sincere thank you to all of the composers from across the country that volunteer some time to give our student composers feedback. It has always been my goal to provide students opportunities that were not afforded to me, and thanks in part to these professionals I am able to augment my music theory lessons to better serve our high achieving students!

Our Board of Education
A sincere thanks are extended to our De Soto Board of Education. We continue to enjoy an ongoing open dialogue focusing on the role of music as part of a complete curriculum offering. 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 been able to continue to offer our students collaborative music-making experiences, whether they are on campus or distance learning. This month the DHS Bands and Choirs were able to purchase Soundtrap for our DHS music students thanks to our fundraising efforts! Soundtrap is the first cloud-based audio recording platform to work across all operating systems, enabling users to co-create music anywhere in the world on any device. This digital audio workstation (DAW) affords 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 now includes MUSIC as a core class.

​
Personally, I want to give a heartfelt THANK YOU, to all of the parents and families that have shown support this year! 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!

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 gratitude,

Darrell Boyer, Ed. S.
Director of Bands
De Soto Schools #73

Tri-M Chapter 8124 Advisor
East Central District #7 Webmaster
Soundtrap Certified Expert

Facebook: /desotobands
Twitter: @DeSotoBands
www.desotobands.org

Looking for a way to support the bands?

We are looking for some crafty supporters to sew some specialized masks for band. For the safety of our students, staff, and community we are requiring that all band members wear masks during band camp when not playing their instruments.  These masks would allow students to wear their masks while playing, limiting the amount of times they need to adjust their mask. 

​If you are able and willing to help please comment below or contact Mr. Boyer.  The full plans are below.

An update for the Dragon Pride Marching Band.