🥁 The Weekly Downbeat: Lanier Longhorn Band Newsletter

September 14, 2026 | Issue #011

Band family, it is important to read the Director’s Newsletter and Weekly Downbeat! These two sources are the best place to start when you have questions and will save you and others time in trying to find answers. We pull together all the information into one place so you don’t have to search for answers.

🤘It’s GAME WEEK! And there’s a lot going on this week for the Longhorn Marching Band. We have our first away game and the GAMBC Clinic! Be sure to read the full newsletter for all the details!

📍Below are LMB’s upcoming important dates. Be sure to check the full calendar on BoosterHub for all the upcoming activities and times.

**Full calendar

Tuesday, 9/15 - Stadium Rehearsal 6:00-8:30pm, Color Guard will practice at 5:00 pm before the stadium rehearsal.

Friday, 9/18 - DLD; Away Game @ Lambert High School

Saturday, 9/19 - GA Marching Band Collective - Required CLINIC (schedule below)

Friday, 9/25 - 8th Grade Night @ The Ranch

Monday, 9/28 - Stadium Rehearsal 6:00-8:30pm

🎺FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, Lanier Longhorns vs Lambert Longhorns! The Lanier Longhorns will hit the road to play the Lambert Longhorns on Friday, September 18th! The game theme is Gold Out!  

Below is the Game Day Schedule:

*Eat before you report to school. If staying after school, please wait in the band HALLWAY or outside the band hallway entrance. You will not have access to the band room until 4:00pm. If there is a pre-order, we will share the link as soon as we receive it!

4:00pm Report Time for Equipment Crew + Percussion

4:30pm Report Time for All

Students put out instruments to load trailers. Equipment Crew load the props/equipment.

5:15pm In Commons with your section (circle up)

5:35pm Uniform Inspection (Inspection includes - show shirt, uniform, water bottle, flip folder with stand tunes, instrument if not on trailer.)

5:45pm Final Announcements + Dismissal to Busses

6:30pm Approx. Arrival at Lambert HS

7:30pm Kickoff

When game ends: Return to Lanier HS - Pack up, put uniform away, clean, then dismiss. Leave trailers loaded for GAMBC clinic the following day!

🎶GAMBC Clinic on September 19th! Saturday, September 19th the Lanier Longhorn Marching Band will attend a Georgia Marching Band Collective (GAMBC) Clinic at Grayson High School where they will perform the full show and receive on the spot critique and feedback.  

This clinic should be treated like a competition! All students should attend as this is a required event for the LMB. Below is the Clinic Day Schedule:

8:00am Report Time - Double check trailers, suit up.

9:00am Depart LHS

10:00am Arrive at Grayson HS

12:30pm Meal Time

2:30pm Warm Up

3:30pm Clinic

5:30pm Depart

6:30pm Approx. Arrival back at LHS - Unload, clean, dismiss

🤝Volunteer Slots for this week’s game and clinic are live on BoosterHub!  Since this is an away game, volunteer slots are for Chaperones and Pit Crew. Be sure to visit BoosterHub and sign up today. We appreciate our volunteers and everyone is welcome to volunteer whenever you can. However, in order to receive free game admission, you MUST sign up on BoosterHub. The band has to submit our list of volunteers to the front gate at every game.

Chaperones:

• Please report to the Band Room by 5:00 PM
• Jack Kelly (Game Day Liaison) will distribute the Chaperone Lanyards.
• Be sure to return your lanyard to Jack at the end of the game as we reuse them each week.

Pit Crew (Trailer Drivers, Pit Crew Movers, Gator Drivers):

• Your contact is Ryan Butts, COO.
• Report Time is 5:00 pm.
• Check In with Ryan to receive your Lanyard and details on moving gear.

Volunteers, if you arrive and are not sure where to go or who you're looking for, check with someone wearing a Lanyard. The LBBA Board members will all be wearing lanyards and are happy to help and answer any questions!

Thank you so much for volunteering for our Band!

🚩Color Guard, Are you interested in learning more about Winter Guard? Guard will have an informational Winter Guard meeting @ 5:15 PM on September 15th. This is ONLY for people who are interested but did not attend the previous meeting. 

🫵We Need Your Help! 8th Grade Night is approaching and we anticipate having 150 8th Graders! You read that right! 150 8th Graders will join the Lanier Longhorn band in the stands on Friday, September 25th!

We are seeking donations for pregame snacks to feed our future Marchers! We need donations of prepackaged chips, crackers, granola bars and cookies! Please see the below list of donations needed by section assigned:

• Seniors - prepacked chips
• Juniors - prepacked crackers, pretzels, etc
• Sophomores - granola bars
• Freshmen - prepacked snack pack cookies

👉For easy purchase, you can select from our Amazon Wish List! Or deliver items to the school following practice Monday or Tuesday of next week.

✒️From the Booster Corner… The fifth and final Marching Band invoice for the season will be sent out in October! Please log into BoosterHub to review your Marcher’s account and check for any remaining outstanding balances. If you need assistance or wish to discuss payment options, please reach out to the Booster Board at LanierBandHelp@gmail.com.

The band offers many fundraising opportunities throughout the year to help with dues payments.  We encourage all students and families to explore our active fundraising opportunities to help cover outstanding balances:

• Charleston Wrap Fundraiser: A great seasonal option to share with family and friends.
• RaiseRight (Ongoing): Earn money toward your account through everyday gift card purchases.
• Arena (Ongoing): An ongoing fundraising option available throughout the season.
• Gwinnett Stripers (Ongoing): An ongoing fundraising option available throughout the season.

Important Note for Seniors: Senior families must address and resolve any outstanding balances as soon as possible to ensure account settlement prior to end-of-season events and graduation planning.

🌟Be sure to enjoy some City Barbeque on September 17th and support the band!  The Lanier Band is holding an ALL Day Spirit Day at City Barbeque.  Go for lunch.  Go for dinner.  Or go for both and enjoy your favorite barbeque with all the side fixin’s!  If you don’t want to dine-in, don’t worry, they offer carry out as well.  Be sure to present the attached flyer, either in person or on your phone (carry out enter code GIVE when checking out) and 20% of order will be donated to the band! This is a delicious and easy way to support the band!

📢Charleston Wrap Fundraiser is Underway!  If you have not signed up, please see the attachment and sign up today.   With over 2,500 gift ideas – including Fall, Halloween and Thanksgiving decor – there’s something for everyone.  Be sure to share with your family and friends!  Fundraising is a great way to support the band program and help keep dues low.

❗We have Opportunities Available Now to Volunteer with the Gwinnett Stripers at upcoming games.  Gwinnett Stripers is seeking volunteers to work concessions for their home stand.  We have open positions for:

• 9/16 - 8:30 am Matinee
• 9/18 - 5:00 pm
• 9/19 - 4:00 pm
• 10/3 - TBD (likely am)

Shifts are normally 5-6 hours and a portion of funds earned go to help pay your student’s band dues. If you, your child, or any additional family members or friends (ages 16+) are available to work concessions please contact Melanie Busch at melanieb_04@yahoo.com or text 404-604-6121.

👀Did You Know…  Students can receive Community Service Hours for graduation, college applications and club requirements through the band program?  Students can visit this  online form to record volunteering for service hours, such as chair duty, mentor lessons, service projects, etc.  If a student logs 50 hours of community service they will be eligible for a seal on their diploma.  If a student logs 100+ hours of Community Service they will get a gold cord to wear at graduation along with their diploma seal.  More info on the school website here! 

📆 Due to the weather, the last Parent’s Night Out was canceled so be sure to join us in October!  The October Parent’s Night Out will be our last PNO before it goes on hiatus due to the busy holiday season!  It’s been great these past several months spending time and hanging out with our awesome parents!  All the laughter and conversation has truly built a strong band community!  We can’t wait to see everyone there!

📅 Saturday, October 17th

🕖 7:00–9:30 PM

📍 Downtown Sugar Hill

📸 Core Memories Incoming!

If you haven’t checked out the Lanier Band’s Google photo album you're missing out!  There are some awesome photos of kiddos all throughout band camp uploaded.  These are definitely core memories.  Be sure to check the album out and if you have any photos add them to the album.

Everyone is invited to take and share photos of the kids throughout the 2026-2027 school year.  Be sure to save the link and share your favorite photos so everyone can enjoy seeing the students and all their achievements all year long.  The album is open to all winds, percussion, guard, staff, parents/guardians and friends of the band.

• 📸 2026-2027 Lanier Band Google Album

❓ Got Questions? Contact Us!

• LanierBandHelp@Gmail.com