Frequently Asked Questions
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Parents - Read through the Parent Tips from the Music Boosters here
WHO CAN JOIN MARCHING BAND?
Any student who will be enrolled in band in grades 9-12. Since marching band is an extra-curricular activity, students may elect to participate only in the Concert Band class if they desire.
The majority of band students who are not involved in a fall sport do join Marching Band.
A number of students are able to participate in both a fall sport and Marching Band when the schedules for each activity do not come in conflict.
CAN YOU GIVE US THREE GOOD REASONS TO JOIN MARCHING BAND?
1.Music Education. The band learns over 30 selections each fall. The music covers a wide variety of styles that students enjoy playing and must be learned quickly. Consequently, the band members ability to read and perform music is challenged and improved.
2.Satisfaction. The Marching Band will perform over twelve times in a three-month period. Each performance is accompanied by the immediate audience feedback that makes a musical performance so satisfying to any musician. Compare that schedule with the few opportunities you get to perform with Concert Band during the entire school year and you begin to understand why our band members enjoy the Marching Band!
3.Fun. The Marching Band is the most popular activity for high school students, involving better than one out of every ten students at the High School. In addition to the musical satisfaction and education received, band members gain increased social contact with their friends in Marching Band
I SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON SCHOOLWORK. WON'T THIS ACTIVITY AFFECT MY GRADES?
It has been our experience that band members in Marching Band actually get better grades during the fall than band members not in Marching Band, because they tend to budget their time more wisely. Over seventy-five percent of our band members make the Honor Roll!
I AM CONCERNED ABOUT LEARNING TO MARCH & PLAY AT THE SAME TIME.
WILL I BE ABLE TO DO THIS?
Most new Marching Band members share this concern. This is why we ask all new members to attend a three-day practice session where they will learn everything they need to know to march as well as the "veterans." Students are taught the fundamentals of marching on the first day of the orientation. Instruments are added on the second day.
WE HAVE PLANNED A VACATION IN AUGUST. CAN I MISS SOME OF THE REHEARSALS AND STILL PARTICIPATE?
Yes. Obviously, it is to the band members’ advantage to attend all of the summer rehearsals to learn the music and the marching for the shows that we will be performing in the fall. However, students can make up the work missed with the help of their friends and rank leaders.
Please contact Mr. Leskowicz with specific questions on vacation absences.
CAN OBOE AND BASS CLARINET PLAYERS JOIN MARCHING BAND?
Yes. However, students who play oboe, bassoon, bass clarinet, or bari. saxophone in the concert bands perform on different instruments which are better suited for marching band. Students who have switched from flute, clarinet, or alto saxophone normally perform on those instruments for Marching Band. Others may perform in the percussion section on cymbals, bells, or bass drum, and some even learn how to play baritone or sousaphone! In addition, French Horn players use the school-owned mellophones, and the Tuba players use school-owned sousaphones.
HOW DO I JOIN?
Complete the online registration form found here.
Then report to the Band Room on the first day of New Member Orientation as indicated on the schedule listed here.