2013 Marching Band Thread

[beavismom]

Thanks so much, beavismom! My daughter talked to her band director today (all three directors follow the kids from elementary through high school...really cool!) and he told her to call him later this summer after the instruments have been serviced. He'll hook her up.

No problem! That is what this thread is for.

 

[PizzieDuster]

Can I join? My daughter is an incoming freshman in September and is color guard (tall flags). She's part of the band right?

 

[Pembo]

We have pay to play here, $400 per kid, payable to the school district. The band sees none of it. Technically it covers the cost of busing to football games and contests. We go on the yellow school buses. Our band camp fee is $50 that covers meals for the week. $30 for shoes and $2 for gloves when needed.

Our director is at the elementary building for part of his day teaching beginners and at the high school for band block and one study hall. The choir director teaches music theory and music appreciation.

If there is a hole in the hs band, it might be filled by an 8th grader. 8th graders are also asked to be banner carriers, otherwise it's hs only.

And welcome Pizzieduster, flag moms welcome.

 

[beavismom]

Can I join? My daughter is an incoming freshman in September and is color guard (tall flags). She's part of the band right?

You bet you can! Color guard is absolutely part of the band (even if some directors don't think so).

 

[beavismom]

Our Fair Share payment varies from year to year depending on the needs of the band, but last year was about $650. This is in addition to uniform and trip costs.

No middle schoolers in our group. We marched around 250 last year and the kids have to audition for a marching spot. Auditions cover marching and music so you have to be able to do both. Freshmen can, and do, earn spots. Those that don't work with the props. We are growing even larger next year, so it is possible that some won't make it on the field (although I think they will try to find something for everyone).

 

[momof1princess]

i hadn't even thought about posting our band fees...ours are REALLY cheap, compared to everyone else's on here. we pay $150.00 for DD15, and that includes her uniform rental, 2 dry cleanings per marching season and bus transportation to and from all away games and competitions (school district pays NONE of the band's transportation fees-it is paid for by band fees and concession sales-we run both concession stands at each home football game.). we buy our own band shoes and gloves, and the kids get a lunch break to go home to eat during band camp. they all bring their own water, or the band director supplies coolers of ice water they can get in a styrofoam cup.

my boss, whose DD14 marches for another school in the same county, pays $400.00 per year in band fees. however, their band is more than twice the size of ours (MUCH larger school), and they don't have the concession income that we do-the school took one of the concession stands away from the band boosters and gave it to the athletic boosters.

that is something we always watch out for when we go to another school - who is running the concession stand. we always buy at the stand run by the band boosters. i guess it's a solidarity thing around here, because the school district pays transportation fees for the sports teams and cheerleaders, but won't pay for the band.

 

[marcyinPA]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qgilB7ZDjc

This is the You Tube link to our field show for last football season. It was homecoming, so the season was still young. My DS's girlfriend is the head majorette- the one in all white

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Wow Marcy, phenomenal. We have about 50 kids total including guard. We look nothing like that. As I've said before, band isn't a big thing where we are. It used to be. We even had our own corp, The Bayonne Bridgemen. They regrouped a few years ago but it's nothing like it was in the 70's and early 80's.

 

[Katy Belle]

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!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qgilB7ZDjc

This is the You Tube link to our field show for last football season. It was homecoming, so the season was still young. My DS's girlfriend is the head majorette- the one in all white

Wow! Your band looks about twice the size of ours! We have about 140, that is counting guard, pit, shadows that don't march, etc. Your band looks awesome!

Here is ours, not this year, but 2011/2012 school year. Start at about 1:30.

Our Directors all kind of teach band all day. The main Director teaches grades 11-12, then he goes to other schools to help. The Assistant teaches grades 9-10 and then goes to other schools. Middle schools each have a director that teaches 3 separate classes, grades 6,7,8. One middle school has an Assistant Director too. All 5 of those people are at all the morning rehearsals, band camp, evening rehearsals, every football game, both home and away, and all contests. They work sooooo many hours.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Wow! Your band looks about twice the size of ours! We have about 140, that is counting guard, pit, shadows that don't march, etc. Your band looks awesome!

Here is ours, not this year, but 2011/2012 school year. Start at about 1:30.

Our Directors all kind of teach band all day. The main Director teaches grades 11-12, then he goes to other schools to help. The Assistant teaches grades 9-10 and then goes to other schools. Middle schools each have a director that teaches 3 separate classes, grades 6,7,8. One middle school has an Assistant Director too. All 5 of those people are at all the morning rehearsals, band camp, evening rehearsals, every football game, both home and away, and all contests. They work sooooo many hours.

Katy, no link.

 

[Gina]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qgilB7ZDjc

This is the You Tube link to our field show for last football season. It was homecoming, so the season was still young. My DS's girlfriend is the head majorette- the one in all white

They were awesome, Marcy!! Really looked and sounded great.

This is from our State contest last year. This past season's was my least favorite so far... I like the beginning, the end is okay, but the rest of it is completely forgettable. We needed a much flashier, dramatic show for State... But I'm not the band director, lol.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_guBt2kwug&feature=youtube_gdata_player


This one, for anyone truly bored, lol, is our show from my son's Freshman year. This was my favorite show... To this day the music stays with me. Loved this show!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Vq4HHV7iv4&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

[FlightlessDuck]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qgilB7ZDjc

This is the You Tube link to our field show for last football season. It was homecoming, so the season was still young. My DS's girlfriend is the head majorette- the one in all white

I always loved the bagpipe corp back when I was in Liberty. That was my favorite part of the band.

 

[marcyinPA]

They were awesome, Marcy!! Really looked and sounded great.

This is from our State contest last year. This past season's was my least favorite so far... I like the beginning, the end is okay, but the rest of it is completely forgettable. We needed a much flashier, dramatic show for State... But I'm not the band director, lol.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_guBt2kwug&feature=youtube_gdata_player


This one, for anyone truly bored, lol, is our show from my son's Freshman year. This was my favorite show... To this day the music stays with me. Loved this show!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Vq4HHV7iv4&feature=youtube_gdata_player

For some reason, the first link would not play for me. I watched the second one, though. They are awesome!! I love how in sync they are at all times! That is not easy to do!! Thanks for sharing! I love seeing how different the bands all are!!

 

[nuke]

No fee for my son's high school band. We only have to buy the shoes freshman year and if they are good shape every year that's it.

 

[sm4987]

Our fees are $380 per kid plus $40 for shoes if the kids need them. My daughter will be a freshman this year and so we have to pay for those but my son who is a senior doesn't need new shoes (thank goodness)! Then they are going to BOA in St. Louis and that is another $350. Whew.......... Well I hope they raise some money through fundraising otherwise it's totally out of our pockets. The way it's set up only fundraising money can be used for the trip, the rest is considered school fees and has to totally come from the parents.

Mini band camp starts next week and my kids area very excited. New drill writer, new music writer, I can't wait to see what becomes of it all!

 

[Pembo]

Who's kids marched in a Memorial Day parade today?

And the band director invited any alumni to march with the band as well. Last year the parade committee told the band they didn't have to wear uniforms because it is always so hot (90 last year at 10 am). Today it was 50 at step-off. lol

 

[Priorityonecb]

So far, our fees are the highest here. This year ours is $975, plus $55 if she needs shoes (she does). That covers everything except spending money/half of food on their trips. Our band association provides their breakfasts while on the road as well as feeding them dinner each night of band camp. We have several fundrasers we can use towards our fees (and some that got to the general band fund).

We personally hate fundraisers, so we just pay out of pocket. Some of our band kids use the schools instruments and that is also included in that fee. DD has several trumpets of her own so she uses her own.

 

[basketrn]

So far, our fees are the highest here. This year ours is $975, plus $55 if she needs shoes (she does). That covers everything except spending money/half of food on their trips. Our band association provides their breakfasts while on the road as well as feeding them dinner each night of band camp. We have several fundrasers we can use towards our fees (and some that got to the general band fund).

We personally hate fundraisers, so we just pay out of pocket. Some of our band kids use the schools instruments and that is also included in that fee. DD has several trumpets of her own so she uses her own.

This was around what we paid last year. Not sure what are fees will be like this year. They haven't sent home that info yet. Although I think if our kids need shoes, there only 40 bucks...but can't remember.

We HATE fundraisers too. The only fundraiser we ever participate in is the shop with scrip program. That's the get a % if you buy gift cards through them. We buy our weekly gas & grocery cards (and disney cards when we do a trip). It adds up quickly.

 

[marcyinPA]

Who's kids marched in a Memorial Day parade today?

And the band director invited any alumni to march with the band as well. Last year the parade committee told the band they didn't have to wear uniforms because it is always so hot (90 last year at 10 am). Today it was 50 at step-off. lol

We did. It was our band's turn. The three HS's in town alternate each year, so my DS was able to do it as a freshman and a senior. They marched from school to the cemetery where the ceremony takes place, and then back to school. They turned in their uniforms then, and had a pig roast. It was a nice parade day- low 70's. Very sad seeing my DS in his uniform for the last time.

 

[Gina]

So far, our fees are the highest here. This year ours is $975, plus $55 if she needs shoes (she does).