Messages for Banda:

If you would like to leave Mr. Banda an encouraging message, an overdue thank you, or just to say hi, This is the place.

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• Randy Gentry

• I think what makes Mr. Banda so special is that he truely cares for his kids. And that's what he called us, "His Kids". His passion for music and his passion for the kids were always so high. Some people think he had a funny way of showing it, but I think the more he picked on you meant he liked you more. Well maybe not always. lol
  Having Mr. Banda in my life made a huge impact on who I became as a leader, as a worker, as a husband and a father. I had a chance to visit Banda at the hospital when he had his brain surgery to remove the clot. It was then he told me that he was proud of me. I have to say that probably meant more coming from him then anyone else. Mr. Banda thank you for being you and for allowing us to know you. Take care and always remember there are hundreds and hundreds of people who feel the same or a similar way as I do. God Bless.

  May 27, 2009 at 12:20am · Like 

• Diane Hickok Leuders

• Mr. Banda...you were the teacher that drove me crazy, embarrassed me thoroughly, made me cry, and inspired me, taught me more than just about band, and made me want to come to school every day. I hope that my son has the same opportunity to have a teacher like you in his future. You guys (Lockett, Unger, and Banda) were such a great team...and there just aren't words to tell you all how much I appreciate having you as teachers...you guys were so passionate it changed me...Thank you!!!

       Jami Spacek Bryce

• As an educator, 1st of students and now of teachers (yes, I know can you believe they let me teach teachers stuff...ha ha) I hope I inspire all of them like you have all of us. I hope that in the 5 years I taught one student, at least one grows up and thinks, "I am the way I am because of Miss Spacek." Or for a teacher to think, " I know how to integrate technology and keep my students engaged because of Jami Spacek." That's what we are all saying to you, Mr. Banda.

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  Tina Houck Armstrong

• Mr Banda I got you as a freshman in HS after having a band director that told me I will never be good enough for one of his bands. I am very greatful that you took the time and patience to work with me and all the rest of us "BORO kids. It took us four years but we finally got our DIVISION I across the board.
  
  THANK YOU!!!!!!!

  July 3, 2009 at 4:04pm · Like

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  Tina Houck Armstrong

• I was Tina Houck back then. I played the Alto Sax waa never really good at it but you were encouraging just the same.
  I graduated in 1986
  Thanks,...See More

  July 4, 2009 at 5:15pm · Like

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  Solomon Banda Jr

• tina!, now i remember. remember when i took over, i finally got angry with the band because of your marching mobility. we still made the 1st division with you marching. you were very loyal and that really impressed me. i remember your family, your dad...See More

  July 4, 2009 at 7:55pm · Like

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  Becca Gillespie

• Mr Banda... I think one of my most proudest moments was when we got our Division I... I played the bells.. I wasn't very good at reading music but had a good ear..I called you on a Thursday night around midnight to get you to sing "Wabash Cannonball" t...See More

  July 5, 2009 at 1:36am · Like

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  Solomon Banda Jr

• hi becca, yes i remember you and your dad. he got me out of trouble with my van when it would get stuck or when it wouldn't start. had to bring me all the way from corpus one time. after you graduated you eventually ended up in port lavaca running a s...See More

  July 5, 2009 at 9:56am · Like

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  Rick Morales

• Mr. Banda, Where do I begin. The most important thing that I can say is thank you for introducing music to me. I started with you and ended with you. I remember the band trips that we took and treasure every minute of it. The one thing that I remember was when we were coming back from Lake Charles, you had told some of us that you thought about leaving Woodsboro. The Jr's at that time were very sad because we did not want to finish our last year with someone else. Thank you for staying one more year. I love music and have introduced it to my children which in turn they love it also. I just pray that they will a teacher like you.

   

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  Solomon Banda Jr

• hey rick, thank you for your comments and i really enjoyed teaching at woodsbor. the kids were great and so were the parents. i took pleasanton as a challenge and because my parents were in bad health. i was 30 miles into san antonio from there. they p...See More

  July 9, 2009 at 4:59pm · Like

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  Tammy Zabala

• hi, it's me Tammy, i stumbled across this fan club and thought it was an awesome idea. U were an awesome teacher I really enjoyed having u as an instructor for both band and applied music, well, i'll have u no that my eldest son is 12 and he is in band now he plays alto sax, I just hope he hangs in there as long as I did and has as much fun as we did..thanks for being a great teacher!!

  July 16, 2009 at 5:10pm · Like

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• David Feuerbacher

• Menudo as often as possible...

  August 21, 2009 at 10:38pm · Like

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  Heather Pastrana

• Mr Banda, You were an awesome teacher. I remember that I looked forward to going to school because of Band. You encouraged us to do our best. I always got the feeling that you truely enjoyed teaching and being with us. My favorite memory is the fir...See More

  September 4, 2009 at 5:48pm · Like

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  Beverly Hetrick

• Happy Birthday Mr. Banda, Hope all is well with you are yours. I think your sister is the choir director at my parents church. She and my mother spend a lot of time together learning new music. Sounds fun, right? Happy Birthday again.

  October 16, 2009 at 9:45am · Like

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  Christina Ledwig

• Mr Banda, You probably won't remember me, but I wanted to thank you for giving me a chance, when I entered band in the eight grade, even though I was so far behind everyone else. Thank you so much for that, and so much more. God Bless!!

  November 4, 2009 at 10:57pm · Like

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  Stella Abila Mr. Banda,
  I know you won't remember me, but I hope you remember my brother,
  Isaac Jaramillo. Sorry if the name brings back some headaches.LOL.
  I just want to say thank-you for all you taught him. Although, he missed his audition for the Marine Corps Band because it was on the same day as band contest, he never regretted it. Being a member of the WHS BAND was more important to him. That is how much he loved playing for you. Thank you for all the wonderful things you did for the band at Woodsboro and all the awesome performances y

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• Ok, if you remember a saying of Banda post it here.

   

   

  Daniel Rodriguez

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• You have to learn something new everyday, if not it is time for you to hang it up.

• May 26, 2009 at 6:51pm · Like

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  Christopher Wilson

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• I remember during marching season he said "Magel, stand still before I nail your pecker to the ground with a 10 cent nail!" I thought it was funny.

  May 26, 2009 at 9:06pm · Like

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  Randy Gentry

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• I always remember this one when he yelled at someone saying "It is an E, an E!!! Like EEEEEEDIOT!!"

  May 27, 2009 at 12:21am · Like

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  Jennie Mocek

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• I know he said at least a million times... "sh*$ or get OFF THE POT!"

• May 27, 2009 at 8:48am · Like

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  Annette McLaurin

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• This is more of a nickname than it is a saying, but he always called me "the hemorrhoid kid" because I was a pain in his butt, which was true most of the time.

  May 27, 2009 at 10:28am · Like

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  Norsiah Castellanos

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• i remember he used to say "that was good, now make it good-er!"

  May 27, 2009 at 7:38pm · Lik

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• Jami Spacek Bryce

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• I remember he always called himself a hypocrite! lol At least he was honest! :)

• June 3, 2009 at 6:55pm · Like

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  Jami Spacek Bryce

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• and that saying is sooooo true!

  June 3, 2009 at 6:56pm · Like

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• Mary Tinsley Jette

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• I remember our exchange student from Japan. When he arrived at the San Antonio Airport, he introduced himself. Solomon said that he couldn't understand him, so he would just call him Taco. It stuck. I don't even remember Taco's real name now. I think it was Takeshi Matsui. But Taco loved it, and everyone to include all the Rotarians called him Taco the entire year.

  June 10, 2009 at 8:25pm · Like

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  Lauren Denver-Potter

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• "IDIOTS!!!" and called alot of the guys messing around in the back of the bandhall the "Armpits"

  June 29, 2009 at 9:55pm · Like

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  Kristen Galaway Hopper

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• I do remember the baton being thrown on several occasions and one time a chair...but we deserved it. We were BAD! ;) He liked to tell us we were bad too! But, when I think back on the years I had him, I smile! :) I know my brother, Phillip, thought alot of him.

  July 2, 2009 at 6:36pm · Like · 1

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  Bo Montalvo

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• That's so true jennifer,the baton throwing and tha damn chewing tabacco,and him telling you to play after he had just put his spit all on your mouth piece...classis

  July 3, 2009 at 4:17pm · Like

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  Rick Morales

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• I have to say the samething that Jennifer, Kristen, and Bo said. Matter of fact, I think I still have some bumps on my head because of the baton.

  July 8, 2009 at 11:50pm · Like

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  Belinda Garza

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• Ricky, you guys have me laughing hysterically! I definitely remember him rubbing his head ALOT. Do you think he could of had more hair if we just would of got it right the first time? He's gotta know we loved him.

• July 15, 2009 at 9:03pm · Like

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  Jennifer Allen

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• I remember the first summer he came to teach in Pleasanton how he called the Pacesetters the "Pacemakers"

  July 16, 2009 at 10:15pm · Like

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  David Feuerbacher

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• "Oh Really"."Thats Marvelous"
  "Don't smell it. Eat it"

  August 21, 2009 at 10:26pm · Like

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  Maurice O'Neill

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• We were planning a band outing for the end of the year. This was either '74 or '75 at Falfurrias. Someone suggested going to Padre Island and Banda said, "I don't like the beach because I always get sand in my Schlitz." I told him not to drink beer at the beach, then, and he said, "I wasn't talking about beer!"

  September 21, 2009 at 1:45am · Like

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  Bert Minten

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• One I remember - Your going bald in HIGH SCHOOL!

  September 21, 2009 at 12:26pm · Like

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  Diane Houck-Merritt

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• I so remember the baton throwing and on more than one occassion being asked "Houck did you forget to brush your hair this morning?" I couldn't help it if i had unruly hair!!!! LOL

  October 2, 2009 at 8:31am · Like

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  Maurice O'Neill

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• While tuning the flutes, Banda would use the first line of the warm-up chorale and look at two notes on the tuner. We would giggle each time he would tell a player she was flat, giggle a little more when he would say, "sharp." Then he told Denise she was sharp on one and flat on the other, and we all just lost it!

• a'll put on!!!!!!!