The SPIRIT of Great Oak 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHAT CLASS SHOULD I SIGN UP FOR? All Freshman Brass, Color Guard, Woodwinds & Percussion sign up for Intermediate Band A & B

Should an advanced 9th Grader Sign up for an Intermediate or Adv. course? Intermediate: All 9th and 10th Graders are automatically in the Int. Ensemble. The UC and Cal State Universities want to see students in a progression of courses over their high school career.

Can a Freshman be in the Jazz Ensemble or Concert Band? Yes. The Intermediate Jazz Ensemble (4th Period) is made up of 9th and 10th Graders, while the Concert Band is open to all 9th-12th Graders as a traditional concert band offered during the class day. When you audition, be sure to indicate what ensemble you are auditioning for.

What can I do now to begin preparing for Auditions? Woodwinds, Brass, & Mallet Percussion: practice your major scales (C, F, Bb, Eb, Ab & Db); the chromatic scale (to show your range); foot timing for wind players; & warm-up exercises (mallets). Percussion (Drumline): practice your rudiments, exercises, and foot timing. Color Guard (Flag Team): practice dance and flag warm up exercises. Learn them at camp! Jazz Ensembles: in addition to the info. listed above (woodwinds, brass, etc..) practice the blues scales and improvisation skills (e.g., 12 Bar Blues Solo).

Can a freshman be in the Marching Band & The Concert or Jazz Ensembles? Yes. The 7th Period Marching Band Class is a class that takes place after the normal school day schedule (only 6 periods in the school day). The 7th period class provides flexibility to add an additional elective, e.g. concert or jazz ensemble.

Can I be in Multiple Ensembles? Yes. We have several students that are in both The Spirit of Great Oak and another ensemble (e.g. The Jazz Ensemble). But, remember you will need to audition for all ensembles you want to take part in. Jazz Auditions will take place on the same days as the “The Spirit of Great Oak” auditions (see below), but will be at an earlier time (4:00-5:30 PM).

How do the classes count toward Graduation? Freshman Year: Fine Arts or Elective. Sophomore Year: Fine Arts, Elective or P.E. (Marching) Junior Year: Fine Arts, Elective or P.E. (Marching) Sr. Year: Fine, Arts, Elective or IB (I.B. SL Group).

Can I fit Marching Band in my schedule? Yes. Band & Guard members are given a great opportunity to take 7 courses (the normal school day only has 6 courses) so you can fit in Band. Not only that, you are given PE Credit your Soph., Jr. and Sr. Year for the Marching Band (Fall Semester)

What is the Rehearsal Schedule for Marching Band? Marching Band is the “Sport of the Arts.” A student should not be in The Spirit of Great Oak if they can not commit to practices or Competitions. Below is our rehearsal schedule:

♪ Tuesdays & Thursdays: 6:00-9:00 PM ♪ Monday & Wednesday: 2:45-3:30 PM ♪ Fridays: Football Games and/or Rehearsal; Saturday Competitions (Oct./Nov) ♪ December Parade(s)

Do members need to be at the summer camps? Yes. It is expected that every member of the SPIRIT Band & Guard will be involved in our critical time of

learning. 90% of the members who arrive to campus late, or do not attend summer camp, are overwhelmed with getting “caught up” with the rest of the group, and typically can’t catch up.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

The Spirit of Great Oak in Paris, France 2015-16 The Spirit of Great Oak in London & Scotland, 2018-19

AUDITIONS  

April 22nd & 24th; April 29th May 1st (6:00-8:00 PM);  Friday May 3rd is a performance: “Kindness Matters,” Rally in the GOHS Stadium (Time TBA) 

 ● All Routines will be provided and taught by the Director and the Coaching Staff ● The Concert Band and Jazz Ensemble Clinics & Auditions will be on the same days (as above), but from 4:00-5:30 PM.

 

Note: All Music & Visual routines will be provided and taught by the coaches  

PERFORMANCE DATES TO SAVE ON YOUR CALENDAR  

♪ June 10th-14th Summer Band & Guard Camp #1 (8:30-11:30 AM & 6-9 PM) ♪ Wednesday July 3rd Star Spangled Parade Rehearsal (8:30-11:30 AM) ♪ Thursday July 4th (Star Spangled Parade in Old Town Temecula) ♪ Monday July 29th -thru Saturday August 3rd, Summer Spirit Camp II (8:30-11:30 AM & 6-9 PM) ♪ Friday Aug. 23 Varsity Football Game vs San Jacinto (Sat. 8:30 AM Rehearsal) ♪ Friday September 6 Varsity Football Game vs Shadow Hills HS (Sat. 8:30 AM Rehearsal) ♪ Fri-Sat. Sept. 28th-29th Camp Weekend (6-9 PM; 8-11:30 AM, respectively) ♪ Thursday Oct. 3rd Varsity Football Game vs TVHS (Sat. 8:30 AM Rehearsal) ♪ Saturday Oct. 5th WBA Competition (Vista Murrieta HS) ♪ Friday Oct. 11th Varsity Football Game vs MMHS (Homecoming) ♪ Saturday Oct. 12th Homecoming Dance (SOGO Boosters Provide Security) ♪ Saturday Oct. 19th WBA Competition (Riverside City College Big Orange Classic I) ♪ Friday Oct. 25th Varsity Football Game vs VMHS (Senior Night) ♪ Saturday Oct. 26th SCSBOA Competition (Irvine, CA) ♪ Saturday Nov. 2nd SCSBOA Lester Oaks Competition (Riverside, CA Ramona High School) ♪ Saturday Nov. 9th SCSBOA Competition (Riverside, CA Ramona High School) ♪ Sat. Nov. 16th SCSBOA 5A Championships (Site TBA) ♪ Friday Nov. 29th The Temecula Electric Light Parade ♪ Friday Dec. 6th “Spirit Spectacular” (GOHS PAC) 

    

  

What uniform should we have, or be prepared for performances?  

The Spirit of Great Oak will be premiering new marching band uniforms in the Fall of 2019. We will need to do uniform fittings (using the current uniform sizes as models) at the end of auditions and in the first summer (June) camp.  

All Marching Band & DrumLine students will want to order the following for the base layer of their uniform (in red):  

Men’s cut: https://www.amazon.com/Lavento-Compression-Baselayer-Long-Sleeve-Running/dp/B01N21O8B5/ref=sr_1_4?keyw

ords=long%2Bsleeve%2Bdryfit&qid=1552360209&s=gateway&sr=8-4&th=1  

Women’s Cut:https://www.amazon.com/Lavento-Compression-Performance-Crewneck-Long-Sleeve/dp/B01NCVL59I/ref=sr_1_6?k

eywords=long%2Bsleeve%2Bdryfit&qid=1552360331&s=gateway&sr=8-6&th=1  

Only the top layer is necessary, but students may also want to order the leggings, as well, for purposes of modesty   when changing on the bus (at competitions).  The Great Oak Color Guard and Winter Guard(s) will continue to have their own costuming each season and will be fitted for a new costume in Summer Camp II that represents the theme of the show(s).   The Great Oak DrumLine will wear the new marching band uniform in the Fall of 2019. The Winter DrumLine(s) will have new costuming for the winter season that represents the theme of their show(s).   The Great Oak Jazz Ensemble(s) and Symphonic Band will wear concert black on black: a button down black dress shirt or blouse, with black slacks or a black skirt (knee length or lower), with black stockings and dress shoes. 

 STAY IN THE LOOP OF COMMUNICATION WITH THESE RESOURCES 

 The Spirit of Great Oak website:  http://www.spiritofgreatoak.com/  

The SOGO Band Boosters website: http://www.spiritofgreatoakbandboosters.org/  

Join our Facebook Pages: SOGO 2020 (specific to the fall and the 2019-20 year) The Spirit of Great Oak (open to any and all, especially Alums) The Great Oak DrumLine The Great Oak Color Guard 

 

Sign up for Remind 101: