2013 Marching Band Thread

[Gina]

Do you pay band fees? If so, how much and what does it cover?

We do. It helps offset the costs that the district doesn't fund. The family's costs are $217 per student. This covers the basics of show writing, bus fees for football games and contests, color guard costumes ( the band costumes are now ten years old) maintenance on school owned instruments, props, etc. Our band really has some significant needs now (number of students has outgrown the bandhall which is showing it's age and needs uniform and instrument replacement) and these fees could go higher in the future.

Our band is 190 strong and has had straight superiors since the 1980s. If we had more $$ (isn't that the way it is about everything), they could do so much more.

Just wondering what others do and what kind of support the district and outside sources help...

That's right about where our fees are as well. Freshman year was a good chunk higher, for the stuff like garment bags, water jugs, etc. that goes through all 4 years. Well, theoretically -- I think my DS has spent his hard-earned money on two more water jugs, to replace ones he has lost or broken.

I'm really kind of surprised our fees aren't higher -- Between the shiny custom 18-wheeler, the U-Haul trucks for props and such, and the something like 9 buses it takes to transport the band and CG anywhere, I would think those costs alone would make our fees higher. Not to mention the stuff like uniforms, food at away games, competition fees, etc.! I know they do make a lot by hosting several big band and CG competitions, and do some smaller fundraisers throughout the year, but I don't see how it's enough. I have no idea if the district kicks in anything.


Pembo ~ How neat to have all three kids in the same concert! And congrats to your oldest on the solo!

 

[Katy Belle]

Do you pay band fees? If so, how much and what does it cover?

We do. It helps offset the costs that the district doesn't fund. The family's costs are $217 per student. This covers the basics of show writing, bus fees for football games and contests, color guard costumes ( the band costumes are now ten years old) maintenance on school owned instruments, props, etc. Our band really has some significant needs now (number of students has outgrown the bandhall which is showing it's age and needs uniform and instrument replacement) and these fees could go higher in the future.

Our band is 190 strong and has had straight superiors since the 1980s. If we had more $$ (isn't that the way it is about everything), they could do so much more.

Just wondering what others do and what kind of support the district and outside sources help...

We do pay band fees, but it covers different things than yours do. Ours run about $150-200, depending on the kid. Ours cover show shirt, polo, shoes, food at contests, and I don't remember what else! It will all be spelled out again in August when it comes due!

Our Band Boosters have the concession stand for the whole football season. We make about $17,000 from that. That pays for writing the drill, some fees at contests, instrument maintenance, uniforms, extra bus fees not paid by the school,semi costs, etc. Every parent is required to work at least 2 shifts in the concession stand.

Our band, including Color Guard is about 140.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

I'm amazed at reading these posts. We have no fees, are bused to competitions on yellow school buses owned by the Board of Ed, only have about 50 kids in band/guard total and had a hard time raising $50,000 to get the kids to DC this weekend. Guard uniforms for last year's baNd season consisted of a tshirt and leggings, and they had to purchase their own shoes, gloves, etc. They are all told to bring their own money to competitions as they are not fed. And for DC the Guard is wearing jackets that match the band's uniforms, black tanks, black capri leggings and black sneakers.

Part of me is glad that I don't have the pressures of raising/putting out huge sums of money and yet part of me wishes she were involved with an "organization" like the ones you all mention.

Maybe in college...

 

[klj27]

I love hearing about everyone's band experiences!

This year I will have a senior in the color guard and a freshman playing euphonium. He just switched from trumpet three months ago. My daughter is excited that she made weapon line this year, in addition to flag.

We have known our show for a few months and I am so excited about it. We are registered for grand nationals and I am in charge of organizing the trip.

 

[marcyinPA]

On non-trip years, the student's quota is $125. This helps offset the cost of buses for football games and other incidentals throughout the year. The band also takes a cut of every item sold for fundraisers. That money goes into the general fund. So, if my son sells a $6 pizza, $2 goes into his quota account, and maybe $1 goes into the general fund (not sure how much the cut is on that particular sale....)

On trip years, our kids have to fundraise and/or pay directly for the trip fee. The trip is always optional, but most kids usually go. For the Rose Parade, the cost is approx $2700 per student. The yearly fee of $125 is worked into that figure.

At the beginning of each year, we only pay a $10 drycleaning fee for the uniforms, plus whatever else they might need and don't have (gloves, black shoes, a band t-shirt, garment bag). Usually you only have to pay for the shirt and garment bag freshman year (assuming they last all 4 years) and the gloves as needed, and shoes if they outgrow.

 

[klj27]

We pay $400 for basic band fees, $35 for shoes and $25 to use the schools instrument. (The last part is such a deal.). I also paid $280 for fall guard and at least another $300 for winter.

 

[marcyinPA]

Does your band director/assistant director also teach classes? Just curious on this. Our district is set up so that band directors are full fledged teachers. Our assistant is actually the head of the fine arts department at our school. They teach elective classes open to the entire student population (music theory, music history, intro to piano). Seems that they have really intense jobs- band in and of itself- at least a band as large and as busy as ours- is a full time job. To have classes and stuff on top of that- wow!

 

[momof1princess]

we had our end-of-the-year band concert last night, and it was awesome! our symphonic band and jazz band (composed of members of the symphonic band) both performed, and they were amazing! it was very emotional to say goodbye to our seniors, and our band director got pretty choked up when they presented their gift to him, but everyone had a great time. can't wait for marching season to roll back around!

 

[PlutosFriend]

I'll join in. My son just finished his freshman year playing trumpet in the marching band. Looking forward to a great season ahead!

 

[Southernmiss]

Does your band director/assistant director also teach classes? Just curious on this. Our district is set up so that band directors are full fledged teachers. Our assistant is actually the head of the fine arts department at our school. They teach elective classes open to the entire student population (music theory, music history, intro to piano). Seems that they have really intense jobs- band in and of itself- at least a band as large and as busy as ours- is a full time job. To have classes and stuff on top of that- wow!

No extra teaching by our band director and assistant. They have enough with directing and teaching the 190 students in band!

Our middle school's directors also come up to assist at the high school after school and during the summers.

Today, DS said he would not play his instrument in class (second to last day of school) as his director was taking off to go play golf. I thought good for him! I know he gives way above and beyond to the kids what he gets in pay or recognition and will be working a lot this summer.

 

[marcyinPA]

No extra teaching by our band director and assistant. They have enough with directing and teaching the 190 students in band!

Our middle school's directors also come up to assist at the high school after school and during the summers.

Today, DS said he would not play his instrument in class (second to last day of school) as his director was taking off to go play golf. I thought good for him! I know he gives way above and beyond to the kids what he gets in pay or recognition and will be working a lot this summer.

Our band for the next school year is 330! I have no idea how they direct band, orchestra, and the select band, do all the summer stuff, work every weekend (football games, parades, concerts), plan huge trips, teach elective classes, head a department, and still remain standing upright!? I think they get paid very well--well, at least I hope so! They are saints!!

 

[Southernmiss]

Our band for the next school year is 330! I have no idea how they direct band, orchestra, and the select band, do all the summer stuff, work every weekend (football games, parades, concerts), plan huge trips, teach elective classes, head a department, and still remain standing upright!? I think they get paid very well--well, at least I hope so! They are saints!!

Wow! 330 how do they all march on the field at the same time? Sometimes our band looks like it takes up a lot of the field.

 

[marcyinPA]

Wow! 330 how do they all march on the field at the same time? Sometimes our band looks like it takes up a lot of the field.

I'll let you know! The biggest band in my DS18's four years was 275 Even at that, they span from goal to goal and side line to side line. We don't do the type of shows that most of you all do though. I mean, we do shows, but they are not choreographed "showy" shows. We move around the field, but in a more military-style way.

The biggest question for next year, according to the band director, is how are they all going to fit in the band room, which was built to hold 300!!

 

[Gina]

I'll let you know! The biggest band in my DS18's four years was 275 Even at that, they span from goal to goal and side line to side line. We don't do the type of shows that most of you all do though. I mean, we do shows, but they are not choreographed "showy" shows. We move around the field, but in a more military-style way.

The biggest question for next year, according to the band director, is how are they all going to fit in the band room, which was built to hold 300!!

I love watching military-style bands... the precision is just amazing. I know I'm biased towards the Aggies anyway, but watching the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band march is as close to a religious experience as I get. Just so awesome!

Our band was at 300 last year, and I think they're expecting more for next year since the population for our town has grown so quickly and therefore the junior high's numbers have jumped as well.

The one thing I'm dreading about marching season is all the washing... Every parent is expected to be on one committee, so for the past three years I've been on the laundry committee. I can't help with contest registrations that are in the middle of the work day, and no *way* would I miss any football to man the concession stand!! So laundry it is. And there is a lot of it, LOL. And I'm amazed at how loooooong some of those bibs are -- I'm only 5' tall and have a hard time getting some of those back on the hangers without them hitting the ground!

If any of you would be willing, I would love to see some show videos from y'alls bands last year! One of the things I like best about the contests is getting to see all the different bands, different styles, different uniforms. Show off yours!

 

[K and K's Mommy]

If he wants to march, get with the high school he will be going to now. 8th graders are allowed to march with the high schools. It does depend on the high school's program, though. Class A bands like Avon, Carmel, and Homestead, don't need 8th graders, they have more than enough high schools. We didn't know when DS was an 8th grader and he really whished he had.

He is in 8th grade this year so he will be a freshman in August (or, I guess, in 4 school days!) Our HS does not march 8th graders. We are in Indy, and he will go to LN.

 

[Gina]

I have to say, I've never heard of junior high kids getting to march with the high school! With ours, most of the Freshmen don't even get to march. They're on props on the field if they're lucky, or just play in the stands and earn their stripes.

Edit: I'm at work, and posting on the fly -- sometimes when I go back and read stuff it doesn't sound like I intended it to sound! I did *not* mean that an 8th grader doesn't have the right to march with the high school band, or anything like that... I only meant I couldn't imagine that with our band because of sheer numbers and desire to be a part of it by the regular high schoolers. I think it's great if an 8th grader gets a taste of band life early!

 

[lovegrumpy]

We are paying $500 this year.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Do you pay band fees? If so, how much and what does it cover?

No. Students pay for the spring trip and have to fend for themselves for food at competitions. The parent group has a snack stand to raise money for uniform repairs and drycleaning. Instruments are usually owned by students, but there are some that the district owns. If instruments need to be replaced, that comes out of the district's budget (since it affects concert band, too). Not sure what happens if we need to buy new uniforms...

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I have to say, I've never heard of junior high kids getting to march with the high school! With ours, most of the Freshmen don't even get to march. They're on props on the field if they're lucky, or just play in the stands and earn their stripes.

A lot of the time, the middle school students in our school are in pit or honor guard. Actually, my son was a fifth grader his first year in honor guard (they were really short staffed that year). We don't do props. The previous band director did have some middle schoolers march, but the new director is cutting back on that. He wants 8th graders only, and he will put them in the pit. Although old students are grandfathered in.

The middle school itself doesn't have it's own marching band. The school I went to did. Of course, the middle school I went to was about of the high school my children are in.

 

[marcyinPA]

Our middle schools all have bands. We have marching and concert bands (all band kids do both), orchestra, and jazz band (by audition). All 6-8 graders are eligible to be involved if they play an instrument. We also have majorettes, color guard, rifles and flags at the MS level. They participate in the Music in the Parks program every spring. Our particular middle school makes it an overnight trip. It was $325 for my 8th grader to participate this year. We also have "real" uniforms with hats and all at the MS level.

Our music/arts programs are highly regarded in our district and always have been. We are VERY blessed that they have not been slashed, as neighboring districts have been threatening to slash the arts in their districts.