Everything students and families most commonly ask about joining band, how lessons work, what marching band involves, and what it takes to succeed in the program.
For students and families new to the Hewlett band program
The ideal entry point is 4th grade, when all students in the district have the opportunity to select an instrument and begin in the elementary band program. Students continue through 5th grade, Woodmere Middle School, and into George W. Hewlett High School as part of a continuous sequence.
That said, it is not too late to start at the high school level if you have genuine interest and commitment. Speak directly with the band director — students who begin in high school with prior musical experience or strong dedication can find a home in the program.
The Hewlett band program is a full wind band, meaning it includes the complete range of woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments. These include:
Instrument selection at the elementary level is guided by the band teacher, who considers a student's physical characteristics, musical aptitude, and interest. If you have a preference, it is always worth expressing it.
For most instruments, families are responsible for providing or renting an instrument. Local music stores offer rental programs that include maintenance coverage, which is strongly recommended for younger students.
The district also maintains school-owned instruments that students may rent. Rental contracts are issued at the beginning of the school year and must be signed by a parent or legal guardian, who thereby accepts responsibility for any lost or damaged instruments. Storage rooms are provided at school for both student-owned and school-owned instruments, though security is not guaranteed. For student-owned instruments, it is strongly advised that you clearly label your case, copy and file your instrument's serial number, and list the instrument on your homeowner's insurance policy.
One important note on purchasing: we strongly discourage purchasing instruments from retailers that do not specialize in music or instrument sales. A cheap instrument purchased at a "box store" will be difficult to play, difficult to find parts for, and difficult to repair — and will ultimately cost more while providing a sub-standard experience. When in doubt, speak with the band director before making any purchase.
The Hewlett-Woodmere band program is a deliberately sequenced K–12 pathway:
Each stage builds on the previous one. Students who come through the full pathway arrive at the high school with years of ensemble experience and a strong musical foundation.
Yes. Per the Hewlett-Woodmere Music Department Performing Group Contract, each student participating in a performing ensemble must:
The decision to allow participation on any given day ultimately resides with the Principal and the Director of Art and Music Education. All students must also have their signed Music Department Guidelines on file with their music teacher before participating.
How pull-out lessons work and how they fit into the school day
Pull-out lessons are small-group instrumental lessons (typically 2–4 students of the same instrument) that take place during the regular school day. They are a core part of the band program at every level.
Students are pulled from a rotating schedule of academic classes so that no single subject is missed repeatedly. The rotation cycle is designed to distribute lesson time fairly across the school week. Students are responsible for making up any academic work missed during lessons — most teachers are very familiar with this arrangement and are supportive of it.
Students at the high school level are required to attend 3 to 5 lessons per quarter on a rotating schedule — the exact number varies by quarter. Lessons during lunch periods are generally 20–30 minutes in length, otherwise they are the full period, and take place in small groups of students on the same instrument.
Consistency is essential. Students are expected to attend every scheduled lesson and to arrive prepared — meaning they have practiced the assigned material since the previous session.
If you have a scheduled test, quiz, or significant class activity during your lesson time, communicate in advance. Per the course syllabus, in the event of a class conflict, you may attend a different lesson group during the same week — but only with the permission of both your music teacher and your classroom teacher for that period.
This requires planning ahead, not asking at the last minute. Students who manage this well develop a real skill in scheduling and communication that serves them well beyond high school.
Absolutely — private lessons are strongly encouraged for students who want to accelerate their development, prepare for NYSSMA, audition for All-County or All-State, or pursue music beyond the school setting. Private study supplements rather than replaces school lessons.
If you are looking for a private teacher recommendation for your instrument, speak with the band director. Building a relationship with a private teacher is one of the most effective ways to make significant progress.
Band is a credit-bearing course at George W. Hewlett High School and appears on your transcript like any other academic class. Concert Band and Wind Ensemble are both part of the official Course of Studies. Wind Ensemble is designated as an Honors-level course.
Band rehearsals take place during a regularly scheduled period in the school day. Pull-out lessons happen on a rotating basis. Concerts, marching band events, and other performances take place outside of the regular school day and are communicated well in advance through Schoology and ParentSquare.
The Big Blue Marching Band — what it is, who participates, and what to expect
Yes. The Course of Studies for both Concert Band and Wind Ensemble explicitly includes marching band participation as part of the course. Marching band is not a separate elective — it is a component of being in the high school band program.
This is consistent with how strong secondary programs operate. The marching tradition at Hewlett High dates back to at least 1970 and is part of what makes the program's identity distinct and community-facing.
Marching band is mostly a fall activity, beginning at the start of the school year and running through the autumn football season. The season typically includes:
Rehearsals during the school year for marching band occur during each class period. The specific schedule is communicated through Schoology and ParentSquare at the start of each year.
The Big Blue Marching Band is one of the most visible public faces of the school. Performances include coordinated marching formations, a prepared musical program, and — for halftime shows — a choreographed field show featuring the band alongside the color guard and dance team.
The marching band has performed at Disney's Magic Music Days as part of a quadrennial tradition, and has a documented history of parade success including a first-place finish at the New York City Columbus Day Parade. These are real competitive and public performances at a high level.
The school provides the marching band uniform and helps to facilitate the purchase of official marching band black shoes. Students are generally responsible for specific items such as black socks and any personal accessories specified by the director. A complete list of required personal items is provided at the start of the marching season.
Uniforms must be returned at the end of the season in clean condition. Lost or damaged uniform components may result in a replacement fee.
Yes, but in a modified way at the beginning of the school year. Varsity football players do not pariticpate in the Homecoming parade and field show, but they do march with the band on their respective instruments for the Memorial Day parade and any other performances, like Disney.
Junior varsity football players do not march in the Homecoming parade, but join the band for the Homecoming field show.
How band is assessed and what the program expects of its students
Band is a credit-bearing course graded on a points system across three specific categories:
Grades are updated weekly. Concert Band targets repertoire up to NYSSMA Level 4. Wind Ensemble is an Honors-weighted course targeting up to NYSSMA Level 6, and its Honors designation is reflected on your transcript accordingly.
Yes — concerts are mandatory. Per the Hewlett-Woodmere Music Department Performing Group Contract, students are required to attend all performances for every ensemble in which they are enrolled. A band concert is the culminating performance of weeks of preparation, and every student's participation is essential to the whole.
If a student is absent from a performance, they must give the ensemble teacher prior notice when possible, and they will be required to complete a makeup project. Missing a performance without an approved reason may put the student in jeopardy of being dismissed from the ensemble.
Only illness or a genuine family emergency will be considered an approved absence. A doctor's note is the only recognized excuse for missing a scheduled rehearsal or performance due to physical condition. All other absences are handled at the director's discretion.
Concert dates are communicated far in advance through Schoology and ParentSquare. Students and families should plan around them the same way they would plan around a final exam.
Standard concert dress for the Hewlett band program is as follows:
Dress requirements occasionally vary for specific performances or ensembles. Should a student need concert clothing, they may borrow from the school's wardrobe, which is cleaned after every use.
For marching band, uniforms are provided by the school. Students are generally responsible for personal items such as black dress shoes, black socks, and any accessories specified by the director. A complete personal items list is provided at the start of the marching season.
There is no single right answer, but a reasonable baseline for high school band students is 20–30 minutes of focused daily practice outside of school. Quality matters more than duration — 20 minutes of intentional, focused practice is worth more than an hour of running through material mindlessly.
Students preparing for NYSSMA solos, All-State auditions, or other competitive opportunities should expect to practice significantly more during those periods. The Band Lab's Practice Quest station is a good resource for structuring productive practice sessions.
The Hewlett band program's rules were developed by the students themselves — which means the expectations come from the community, not just from the director. Here is what the HHS Band Program holds itself to:
The program's philosophy — Purpose, Pride, and Passion — is not a slogan. It describes the standard of engagement that this community holds itself to every day, agreed upon by the students who are its members.
Understanding the program's performing groups and how students move through them
Concert Band is the foundational high school ensemble, open to all students who have demonstrated performance skills on a band instrument. It provides wind band performance opportunities through regular rehearsals and concerts and is appropriate for students at a range of experience levels. Concert Band targets repertoire up to NYSSMA Level 4. All band students begin high school in Concert Band.
Wind Ensemble is an Honors-weighted advanced performing ensemble composed of advanced instrumentalists. It is open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors only, and placement is based on an audition process as well as the need for balanced instrumentation. Wind Ensemble targets repertoire up to NYSSMA Level 6 and performs challenging literature including contemporary works and world premieres — such as the consortium commission of Symphony No. 1: A Ghost Story by Randall D. Standridge. The Wind Ensemble has earned NYSSMA Gold with Distinction ratings and has performed at Carnegie Hall.
These are not interchangeable groups. They are distinct tiers of a layered program, each with different repertoire, expectations, and opportunities.
Wind Ensemble is open to incoming sophomores, juniors, and seniors only. Placement is based on the results of an audition process, and the opportunity for placement is also dependent on the need for balanced instrumentation within the ensemble.
The syllabus defines the recommended qualifications for Wind Ensemble as:
Students who want to be considered should pursue strong NYSSMA ratings, demonstrate section leadership in Concert Band, and speak with the director about their goals well in advance of the audition process.
In addition to Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, and Marching Band, the high school music department offers:
Band students at Hewlett High operate inside a broader music department that includes orchestra, chorus, modern band, and a rich musical theater tradition. There are many ways to be involved.
NYSSMA — the New York State School Music Association — organizes solo and ensemble adjudication festivals at which students perform a prepared piece for a certified music judge and receive a rating and written evaluation. Levels range from 1 (introductory) to 6 (the most demanding).
Participation is strongly encouraged for all band students. Benefits include:
During the 2024–25 school year, 157 Hewlett students participated in NYSSMA, 30 auditioned for All-State, and 13 were selected for the New York All-State Festival. These are among the strongest numbers of any program in the region.
All-County is a Nassau County honor ensemble that selects the strongest players from across the region through a competitive audition process. Being selected for All-County is a significant distinction that reflects both individual ability and the strength of your school's program.
Eligibility and audition requirements are communicated through the director each year. Students interested in pursuing All-County should be working at NYSSMA Levels 5–6 and should discuss their goals with the director well in advance of audition season.
During 2024–25, more than 45 Hewlett students were selected for All-County ensembles — a number that reflects the collective strength of the program.
Everything else students and families commonly ask
All scheduling, event reminders, and real-time communication happen through the district's official tools:
This website is an enrichment and culture resource for the program — not a scheduling or logistics tool. For any time-sensitive or official information, always refer to Schoology and ParentSquare.
OOMPAH is the parent and community support organization for the Hewlett-Woodmere band program. It provides volunteer support, fundraising, and community advocacy that directly benefits the students in the program.
OOMPAH also administers memorial scholarships in honor of former music leaders, including the Kevin Bayen Music & Leadership Award and the Joe Sugar Memorial Scholarship. Parent involvement through OOMPAH is one of the most meaningful ways families can contribute to the program's long-term health.
More information is available through the district's official music pages or by speaking with the band director.
The best way to reach Director Anthony Santanastaso is through the school's official communication channels — email via the district system, or a message through Schoology or ParentSquare.
If you are a prospective student or family member who is not yet in the system, you can contact George W. Hewlett High School's main office to be directed to the music department.
No question is too small — if something is on your mind about the program, ask. The program's culture of openness and purpose means that genuine questions are always welcome.
The band director is happy to speak with students and families. Use the school's official communication channels or reach out through Schoology or ParentSquare.
Contact the Director →