Welcome to Music

We're gearing up for another year of great music and performances at Amador! Our state- and nationally-recognized ensembles include concert bands, string orchestras, jazz bands, choirs, winter guard and percussion groups and a 300+ member marching band and color guard. Some groups practice during the school day as scheduled classes while others such as marching band require attendance after school on weeknights and weekends.

We look forward to sharing the fruits of our hard work as you support your students at concerts, practices and competitions. 

We also need your financial and volunteer support. The success of the music program depends upon an ongoing partnership between the directors and Amador Friends of Music (AFM), a nonprofit organization of families and friends dedicated to supporting our music program. 

In a typical year, your donations to AFM are needed to fund over two dozen additional staff members and music coaches who assist the directors. AFM donations also cover instruments, classroom supplies, out-of-town competitions and more. Some years we have additional expenses when ensembles are invited to perform out-of-state, including at Carnegie Hall in New York, the Midwest Clinic in Chicago, and the Fiesta Bowl Parade in Arizona.

Each year we calculate costs for each ensemble, divide by students participating and determine a suggested tax-deductible donation. Precise amounts for these "asks" are determined in the spring, when budgets are finalized. NEW for 2022-2023: The marching band "ask" is divided into two parts, with the first part collected in Spring 2022 to align with expenses. All remaining "asks" are collected during the school year, starting at fall registration. 

As a public school, we guarantee access to all students who want to participate in the music program, regardless of financial contribution. This model only works if most of our families donate.

Parent volunteers also help to plan, budget, raise funds and staff events such as the Campana Jazz Festival, CMEA festival and the BandCake Breakfast (our annual fundraiser). Throughout the year, we need ushers for concerts, chaperones for competitions, cooks to prepare and serve food, builders to create and move props... and leaders to help organize our efforts! 

To keep our community strong, please do your part to support your student's participation. We ask three things of each family: