1

MarchingBandHandbook TableofContents 2 Philosophy ContactInformationStaffandBandBoosterOfficers 3 20132014Calendar 4 AttendancePolicy 5 BandCamp MorningRehearsals 6 Grades 7 StudentExpectations StudentLeaders InstrumentsandMusic 8 FrontEnsemble ColorGuard ParentExpectationsandOpportunities 9 UniformPolicy 1013 MarchingBandCommands

WhyonEarthdowedothis? Theactofcreatingforthesakeofartisticexpressionandemotionalfulfillmentisoneof thegreatestdifferencesbetweenhumansandallotherlivingspeciesontheplanet.Asoneof thearts,musicdefinesourcultureandmakesushuman.Toplayorsingmusicistoactively participateincultureratherthanpassivelyconsumeit.Theactofcreatingmusicallowsthe performertomakesomethingbeautifulforthemselves,evenifnooneelselistenstoit.The potentialforindividualsenseofachievementandfulfillmentisstaggering.Everyperson deservesthechancetobeamusician. Marchingbandpresentsstudentsauniqueopportunitytoplaymusicinalargegroup whileperformingamultimediapresentationintheformofahalftimeshow.Thesuccessor failureofeachgroupperformancedependsontheindividualperformanceofeverymemberin thegroup.Becausethemarchingbandperformsatallhomefootballgamesandcommunity parades,italsorepresentsthepublicfaceoftheschoolsmusicprogramtothecommunityat large.Wemustthereforestrivetopresentourverybestmusicalandvisualperformanceat eachopportunity. ContactInformation Headdirector,email,workphone,etc. Assistantdirector,email,workphone,etc. Percussiondirector,email,workphone,etc. Colorguarddirector,email,workphone,etc. Bandboosterofficers,titles,acceptableemailaddressesandphonenumbers,etc.

Event Drumline/ColorGuardAuditions SummerCamp UniformFittings UniformFeesdue MorningRehearsalsbegin HomeGame PepAssembly HomeGameHomecoming BoosterMeeting JohnstonInvitational HomeGame MarchingContest Valleyfest BoosterMeeting HomeGame StateMarchingContest/MidIowaMarchingContest HomeGame

20132014Schedule Location

Date

Time

AttendanceandPunctuality Asuccessfulmarchingbanddependsoneverymemberattendingeveryrehearsal. Whenpeoplearemissing,theentiregroupsuffers.Althoughmuchofmarchingbandrehearsal takesplaceoutsideofnormalschoolhours,theserehearsalsareconsideredpartoftheregular bandcourseandwillfollowregularschoolattendancepolicies.Theattendancepolicyappliesto schooldayrehearsals,summerrehearsals,bandcamp,footballgames,andcompetitions. Allbandmembersareexpectedtoarriveearlytoallrehearsalsandperformances.Band membersshouldassembletheirinstrumentsandwarmupontheirownbeforerehearsal starts,inorderforthefullensembletobegingrouprehearsalpromptly.Usually,studentsfind thattheymustarriveatrehearsalatleastfifteenminutesearlyinordertodoso,althoughthe drumline,frontensemble,andcolorguardareoftenexpectedtoarriveasearlyasthirtyminutes beforerehearsalbegins(thepercussionandcolorguardinstructorswillprovidespecific informationregardingexpectedcalltimes).Studentswhoarrivelateorwhodonotarriveintime towarmupontheirownwillbestrugglingtocatchuptothosewhoarriveontime,andwilllimit theprogressoftheentiregroupbydoingso. Therearethreedifferenttypesofabsences: EmergencyExcusedAbsences illnesses/injuries,familyemergencies,transportationissues Youmustprovidedocumentationfortheseatthenextrehearsal. Transportationissuesareexcusedprovidedthattheydonotbecomearecurring patternofirregularattendanceortardiness. PlannedExcusedAbsences class/athleticteamrequirements,doctor/dentistappointments,religiousholidays, legalobligations,collegevisits Pleasenotifythedirectornolaterthansevendayspriortotheplannedabsence (emailorwrittennotesonly,please). Footballplayersandcheerleadersarewelcometomarch,providedtheycan attendallrehearsalsandcompetitions.However,theycannotbesoloorfeatured playersbecausetheywillmissallfootballgameperformances. Unexcusedabsences anynonemergencyabsencenotclearedwiththedirectorinadvance Studentswithtoomanyunexcusedabsencesmaybeaskednottoperform,ormaybe askedtoplaytheirmusiconthesidelinebutnotmarchinformation,dependingontheneedsof thegroup.Studentleaderswithmorethanoneunexcusedabsenceortoomanyabsences overallmayberemovedfromtheirleadershippositionatthedirectorsdiscretion.

BandCamp Campisfivedayslong(MondaythroughFriday).Thefirstthreedaysofcampwilltake placefrom1pmuntil8:30pm,witha30minutedinnerbreak,andthelasttwodayswilltake placefrom8amuntil4:30pm,witha30minutelunchbreak.Studentsareresponsiblefor bringingtheirownmealstoeatduringbreak.Eachdaywillbeginwithmarching fundamentalsdrillsforallbandmembers(includingfrontensemblepersonnel),followedby musicrehearsalineitherfullensembleorsectionalsettingsasneeded,andendingwithdrill instructionafterthedinner/lunchbreak.Studentleaderswillassistdirectorswithconducting sectionalswhennecessary.Duringthisweek,allstudentswillbefittedfortheiruniforms. ****Topreventheatrelatedinjuries,allstudentsshouldplantowearcomfortable clothingandshoes,bringawaterbottle,andwearsunscreenifnecessary.Parent volunteerswillbeonstandbyatoutdoorrehearsalstoassiststudentsincaseofemergencies, butwewouldratheravoidthemaltogether. Duringcamp,thebandwilllearnmostofthedrillfortheseason.Asthebandlearnsa setofdrill,itwillalsomemorizethemusicthataccompaniesit.Ifyoumisscamp,youwillbe behindfortheentireseason,andyouwilllimittheperformanceoftheentiregroup.Makeevery possibleefforttoattendallfivedaysofcamp,andtobepresentforallhoursofinstructioneach day. Ifyouplantomarchwiththedrumlineorcolorguard,youmustplantoattendallfivedays ofcamp,oryouwillnotbeallowedtomarchwiththosesections. MorningRehearsals RegularmarchingbandrehearsalsareMondaythroughFriday,78:30am,andThursday evenings79pm.Allrehearsalswillbeoutsideunlessthereisinclementweather(cold temperaturesdonotcountunlessinstrumentsareindangerofcrackingorfreezing).The drumline,frontensemble,andcolorguardshouldbegintheirgroupwarmupsnolaterthan fifteenminutespriortorehearsal.Allrehearsalswillbeginwithmusicsectionalsforwoodwinds, brass,percussion,andcolorguard,tofocusonthespecificneedsofeachsection.Field commanderswilltakeattendancewhiledirectorsworkwithsections.Studentleadersmay assistwithsectionalsiftherearenotenoughstaffpresenttoleadeachsectioneffectively,orif largersectionsneedtosplitoffintosmallergroups.Ifnecessary,partofsectionaltimemaybe spentinfullensemblemusicrehearsal,withoutmarching.Musicsectionalswillbefollowedby marchingfundamentalsdrillstoemphasizemovesandtechniquesusedintheshow. Dependingonstudentneeds,thesedrillsmaybemarchingonly,ormarchingandplaying.Next willbearunofalldrilllearneduptothatpoint,followedbythelearningofnewdrillorpolishingof previouslylearneddrill.Allrehearsalswillendwitharunthroughoftheentireshowlearnedto thatpoint,includinggettingonandoffthefield.

Grades Inordertoperformwell,allstudentsmustmemorizetheirmusic.Thisincludes expressivequalitiessuchasarticulations,dynamics,andtempochanges.Thebandlearns sectionsofmusicsimultaneouslywiththecorrespondingsectionsofdrill.Therewillbenoflip foldersduringdrillrehearsalatanytime,althoughstudentsarewelcometokeepacopyofthe musicwiththemduringrehearsalasareferenceorareminder.Studentswhochoosetokeepa copyoftheirmusicduringdrillrehearsalshouldsecuretheirmusicsothattheydonothaveto carryitintheirhandsastheymarch. Allstudentswillneedtodemonstrateproficiencyonalloftheshowmusic.Theywillbe assessedonsegmentsofeachmovementduringtheirlessonsthroughouttheseason. Proficiencyontheshowmusicincludesbeingabletoplayallelementsofthemusicwell, includingtechnicalandexpressivetechniques.Studentswillreceivegradesona04pointscale (4meaningexcellent/highlyproficient)foreachmovementintheshow.Drumlineandcolor guardstudentswillhaveadditionalrequirementssuchasuniformstickheight,timing,andother elementsnecessarytoasuccessfulperformance.Thesestudentswillbeassessedbythe percussionandcolorguardinstructorsonthesame04pointscale,andmaybeassessed duringsectionalrehearsalsasnecessary.

StudentExpectations Inordertocreateeffectiverehearsalsandoutstandingperformances,allstudentsmust respecttheirdirectors,studentleaders,andfellowmusicians.Whilemarchingbandismeantto beanenjoyableandfulfillingactivity,itrequiresagreatdealoffocusinordertoachievesuccess. Allstudentsareexpectedtoarriveontimeforallrehearsalsandperformances,andnottoleave earlywithoutthepermissionofthedirector.Studentsshouldleaveanydistractingitemssuchas cellphonesorotherdigitaldevicesintheircarsorlockers,andkeeptalkingtoaminimumduring rehearsals.Duringfootballgamesandmarchingcompetitions,allstudentsmustfollowstaff instructionsatalltimes.Failuretodosocancausethefootballteamtoincurapenaltyorcan hurtthebandsrankingatcompetition,neitherofwhichisgoodforthebandortheschool.Atall times,marchingbandstudentsshouldbeexemplaryambassadorsforboththemusicprogram andtheschool. StudentLeaders Studentleadersareexpectedtoassistthestaffinavarietyofways.Theirfirstgoalisto berolemodelsfortheirsectiontheydonotarrivelate,leaveearly,skiprehearsalsor performances,ordisruptrehearsals.Theyarealwayspreparedforrehearsalandhave everythingtheywillneedforthedayswork,fromsparereedstoapersonalwaterbottle. Becausestrongstudentleadersaresoimportanttothesuccessofmarchingband,thedirector willcarefullychooseallstudentleaders,givingpreferencetoseniors.Studentsuggestionswill betakenintoconsideration. Fieldcommandersareexpectedtotakeattendanceandconductthebandwheneveritis marchingorplayingshowmusic(includingindoors).Sectionleadersareexpectedtohelp othersintheirsectionwithcheckingdrillpositionsandotheraspectsoflearningdrill.Section leadersmayalsobeaskedtoassistthestaffandfieldcommanderswithtakingattendance, movingequipment,andotherminortasksasneeded.Occasionally,studentleadersmayassist staffwithsectionalrehearsals,especiallywhenthebandsplitsintospecificinstrumentsections. InstrumentsandMusic Allstudentsareexpectedtotakecareoftheirinstruments,keepinstrumentsproperly functioning,andpracticetheirpartsoutsideofclasstime.Reedplayersshouldkeepextrareeds onhandincaseonebreaks.Brassplayersshouldmakesuretheirvalvesorslidesareproperly cleanedandoiledbeforerehearsal.Windplayersmaynothandleorplaypercussion instruments,unlessspecificallyaskedtohelpmoveaspecificpieceofpercussionequipment. Eachstudentisresponsibleforkeepingtrackofhisorherownmusicandcoordinatesheets.All coordinatesheetsareonthebandwebsiteandallthemusicpartsareinSmartMusic(notsureif thelastoneisdoablebutIknowCentennialkeepsthecoordinatesheetsontheirwebsite)ifyou loseyoursheetsoryourmusic,printnewcopiesathomebeforecomingtorehearsal.Donot botheryourbandstafforstudentleadersbymakingthemdoitforyou. Haveallofthefollowingforeveryrehearsal:sharpenedpencilwitheraser,copyofshow music,coordinatesheets,instrument,reeds/mouthpiece/mallets/sticks.

FrontEnsemble Manyofthefrontensembleinstrumentsarefragileandexpensive.Ifyoudonotplay theseinstrumentsineithermarchingbandorconcertband,youarenotallowedtotouchthem unlessspecificallyaskedtohelpmoveequipment.Nonpercussionistsassistingwithequipment movingshouldbetrainedintheproperwaytomovetheseinstrumentstoavoiddamagingthem. Noonemaytouchthespeakersystemormicrophoneswhohasnotbeenspecially trainedinhowtodoso.Thisincludesallpercussionists. ColorGuard Colorguardisanexpensivebutworthwhilepartofthemarchingband.Becausetheflags areexpensive,itisimportanttotakegoodcareofthem.Silksshouldnottouchthepavement,to preventripsontheroughsurface(grassissoftandthereforeokay).Otheraccessoriessuchas riflesshouldbetakencareoftoavoidsplitsandotherdamage.Theflagcaptainshouldtake inventoryofallequipmentattheendofeachrehearsalandperformance,topreventlosing anythingduringtheseason.Otherguardmembersmayassistwiththisasneeded.Thisis especiallyimportantwhenthebandtravelstocompetitionsandanyotheroffsiteperformances. ParentExpectationsandOpportunities Nobandprogramissuccessfulwithoutextensiveparentalsupport.Thestaffthankyou inadvanceforencouragingyourchildsinterestinmusic,andinthislargescalecooperative learningactivitywecallmarchingband.Weunderstandthatmanyofyouleadbusylivesfullof obligations,andwerespectthat.However,ifyourschedulepermits,therearemany opportunitiesforyoutobecomeinvolvedinyourchildsmusiceducation: Organizingandcarryingoutfundraisingevents Chaperoningmarchingcompetitionsandotherbandtrips Fittingstudentsformarchinguniforms Movingfrontensembleequipmentonandoffthefield(requiressomebrieftraining) Packingandunpackingtheequipmenttruckatoffsiteperformances Assistingcolorguardmemberswithmakeupandhairbeforeperformances Standbyfirstaidhelpatsummerrehearsalsandcamp

Ifyouhaveanyspecialskillsorexperiencethatmightbehelpful,feelfreetocontacttheband stafforthebandboosters.Wewouldbehappytohaveyoujoinus.

UniformPolicy Themarchingbanduniformsarethefirstthingpeopleseewhenweperform.As ambassadorstothecommunity,itisimportantthatwelookourbest.Inordertokeepour uniformslookingtheirbest,pleaseabidebythefollowingguidelines: Keepyouruniformcleanatalltimes,foryourownhealthandthatofthestudentwhowill wearitnextyear. Neverstoreflutes,drumsticks,orothernonuniformitemsinthegarmentbagwiththe uniform. Whenyoureportforaperformance,youmustweartheentireuniformuntilyouare dismissed,includingthejacketandhat. Nosneakersordressshoesonlyblackuniformshoes. Alwayswearblackdresssockstallenoughtocovertheankles. Alwayswearatshirtwithsleevesunderneaththejacket.Donotwearatanktoporother sleevelessshirt,asthejacketwillimmediatelyabsorballofyoursweat. Longunderwearmaybewornunderneaththejacketorpantsduringcoldweather. Neverwearjeansunderyouruniformpantsyes,wecanseethem. Allhairshouldbeoffthecollar. Nojewelryofanykindduringperformances,includingearrings. Nomakeupofanykind,includingglitter,tokeeptheuniformcleanandtokeepfaces lookinguniform.Colorguardwillhaveseparateguidelinesformakeup. Anylostordamageduniformpartsmustbereplacedbythestudent. ReplacementCosts Jacket Pants Shoes Hat

10

MarchingCommands ElementsofProperPosture weightofthebodyisintheheelsandthesolesofthefeet toesfaceforwardandpointstraightaheadyoushouldbeabletowigglethem legsarestraight,butthekneesareslightlybent hipsareslightlytuckedunder backisstraight shouldersarebackandrelaxed neckisstraightandlong chinisslightlyup eyeslookstraightahead ParadeRestArelaxedyetuniformrestingposition.Whenyoumove,steptherightfootoutone 8to5step.Keepgoodposturebutwiththeheadtiltedslightlydown,eyeslookingaboutafootin frontofyourtoes.Toesshouldremainpointingstraightahead.Membersofeachinstrument sectionshouldallholdtheirinstrumentstheexactsameway.Althoughthisisarestingposition, thereshouldnotbeanytalkingormoving. Band pa RADE Rest (Move) 1 2 3 4 1 AttentionFromparaderest,snaptherightfootintotheleftfootandraiseyourheadand instrument,creatingauniformstandingpositioninwhichyouarereadytoplayormove immediately.Postureshouldbeperfectfromthetoestothehead.Everyoneshouldholdtheir instrumentinbothhands.Membersofeachinstrumentsectionshouldholdtheirinstrumentsthe sameway,includingtheheightoftheinstrumentinrelationtothebody.Thereshouldnotbeany talkingormoving. Band ten HUT (Move) 1 2 3 4 HornsUpSnapyourinstrumentupfromholdingpositiontoplayingpositioninaquick,precise movement.Membersofeachinstrumentsectionshouldallholdtheirinstrumentstheexact sameway,andshouldmovefromholdingpositiontoplayingpositionusingthesamemovement. Postureshouldbeperfectfromthetoestothehead. Band Horns UP (Move) 1 2 3 4

11

HornsDownSnapyourinstrumentdownfromplayingpositionintoholdingpositionwhile keepingtherestofyourbodyatattention.Membersofeachinstrumentsectionshouldallhold theirinstrumentstheexactsameway,andshouldmovefromplayingpositiontoholdingposition usingthesamemovement.Postureshouldbeperfectfromthetoestothehead. Band Horns DOWN (Move) 1 2 3 4 MarkTimeMoveyourheelsintempowiththemusic,orthetempodesignatedbythefield commander.Themovementisveryslight,sothatthekneesonlyslightlybendandtheheelonly slightlyraisesabovetheground.Theheelsshouldseesawbackandforth,sothatwhenone heelgoesuptheothergoesdowntotaptheground,andthentheheelsswitch.Ballsofthefeet alwaysremainontheground.Toesremainpointedforward.Postureshouldbeperfectfromthe toestothehead. Mark Time MARK (raisel.heel) (leftheelhit) (rightheelhit) 1 2 3 4 1 2 ForwardMarchBeginmarchingwithasmoothglidestep.Oncount4,straightenyourlegsand pushontheballofyourrightfoot,propellingyourbodyforward.Ontheoffbeatorandofcount 4,theleftfootmovesforwardwiththetoeraisedupandtheheeldownlowenoughtojustclear theground.Oncount1,theleftheelstepswhilethelefttoeremainspointedupata45degree angle,astherightheelraisesupandtherighttoesaredown,essentiallymirroringthe movementoftheleftfoot.Ontheoffbeatorandofcount1,therightfootmovesforwardwith thetoeraisedupandtheheeldownlowenoughtojustcleartheground,whilethelefttoescome downandtheleftheelremainsdown.Oncount2,therightheelstepswhiletherighttoe remainspointedupata45degreeangle,astheleftheelraisesupandthelefttoesaredown, againmirroringthemovementoftherightfoot.Postureshouldbeperfectfromthetoestothe head.Toesshouldremainpointingforward,orinthedirectionofthemovement. FORward MARCH (pushright) (leftheelhit) (rightheelhit) 1 2 3 4 1 2 BackwardMarchMarchbackwardsontheballsofthefeet.Donotraiseyourheelsoffthe groundanyhigherthanabsolutelynecessary,tomaintainbalanceandgoodposture.Oncount 4,stepasyouwouldnormallydoforarightstepinforwardmarch,butdonotletyourrightheel comedown.Pushofftheballofyourrightfoot,andoncount1takeastepbackwiththeballof yourleftfoot,keepingbothheelsofftheground.Oncount2takeastepbackwiththeballofyour rightfoot. BACK MARCH READy Move(pushright)(leftstep) (rightstep) 1 2 3 4 1 2

12

HaltStopmarchingormarkingtime,andcometoacompletestopatattention.Thismove requiresthreecounts,inwhichtheleftfootsteps,therightfootsteps/stops,andtheleftfoot steps/stopsnexttotherightfoot.ItmayhelptothinktoyourselfReady,halt,stepnstop. Toesremainpointedforward.Postureshouldbeperfectfromthetoestothehead.The instrumentdoesnotmove. READy HALT (stepr.foot) (stepl.foot) 1 2 3 4 1 READy HALT step n stop RightTurnTurn90degreestotherightwhileeithermarchingormarkingtime.OnMOVE (count4)therightheelwillstepevenwiththeleftheelasthetoesturnright,sothattherightfoot isnowperpendiculartotheleftheel.Ontheoffbeatorandofthissamecount4,theentire body(startingfromthehips)snapstofacethesamedirectionastherighttoes,andtheleftfoot travelsacrossthebody.Onthenextcount1,theleftfootdoesanormalstepforward.Posture shouldremainperfectfromthetoestothehead. RIGHT turn ready MOVE (turnbody) (leftstep) 1 2 3 4 1 LeftTurnTurn90degreestotheleftwhileeithermarchingormarkingtime.OnMOVE(count 4)therightfootwillsteptogetherwiththeleftfoot.Ontheoffbeatorandofthissamecount4, theleftfootpivotsontheheeltobecomeperpendicularwiththerightfootandtheentirebody (startingfromthehips)snapstofacethesamedirectionasthelefttoes.Onthenextcount1, theleftfootdoesanormalstepforward.Postureshouldremainperfectfromthetoestothe head. LEFT turn ready MOVE (turnbody) (leftstep) 1 2 3 4 1 AboutFaceTurn180degreestofacetheoppositedirection.OnMOVE(count4)therightfoot extendsbutpivotsontheballofthefootratherthansteppingthroughtheheel.Atthesametime, pickyourleftfootup,sothatyourweightispressedagainsttheballofyourrightfoot.Trynotto raiseyourbodyupontheballofyourfootasyoudoso.Ontheoffbeatorandofthissame count4,thelefttoesandhipsleadtheentirebodytoturncompletelyaround.Onthenextcount 1,theleftfootstepsintheexactsamespotasitdidonthelastcount3.Postureshouldremain perfectfromthetoestothehead. aBOUT turn ready MOVE (pivot) (leftstep) 1 2 3 4 1

13

SlidesLeftandrightslideschangethedirectionofmovementwhilekeepingtheinstruments facingthesameway,usuallytowardsthehomesidestands. RightSlideTurn90degreestotherightwhileeithermarchingormarkingtime.OnMOVE (count4)therightheelwillstepevenwiththeleftheelasthetoesturnright,sothattherightfoot isnowperpendiculartotheleftheel.Ontheoffbeatorandofthissamecount4,thehipsturn 45degreestotheright,andtheleftfoottravelsacrossthebody.Theshouldersandinstrument remainmotionless,andcontinuetofacethefront.Onthenextcount1,theleftfootdoesa normalstepforward.Postureshouldremainperfectfromthetoestothehead. RIGHT SLIDE ready MOVE (turnbody) (leftstep) 1 2 3 4 1 LeftSlideTurn90degreestotheleftwhileeithermarchingormarkingtime.OnMOVE(count 4)therightfootwillsteptogetherwiththeleftfoot.Ontheoffbeatorandofthissamecount4, theleftfootpivotsontheheeltobecomeperpendicularwiththerightfoot,whilethehipsturn45 degreestotheleft.Theshouldersandinstrumentremainmotionless,andcontinuetofacethe front.Onthenextcount1,theleftfootdoesanormalstepforward.Postureshouldremain perfectfromthetoestothehead. LEFT SLIDE ready MOVE (turnbody) (leftstep) 1 2 3 4 1