2014 Marching Band thread

[marcyinPA]

We thought band was over on 11/1 when we had our last scheduled football game- the big rival game. Our team lost- and ended with a mediocre season. Then we found out that we were headed to - as my kids call them- the loser playoffs. Great. Had a game last Saturday. Of course- they won. Great again. (Not really- lol). Final game is the Friday night. This is a terribly busy time for a lot of the kids because many are also in theatre and this week and next are tech weeks. So they, my son included, are going from long theatre practices to band and football playoffs.

Anyway- they had a good run. The band sounded great all season. Concert band will start after Christmas break. We will be finding out soon where the band will be headed on the next big trip. Band parent meeting tonight.

 

[Mickeyluver37]

Our football team did win last week and advanced to the playoffs. First round of the playoffs was last night against our next-town over rivals and we won!

The marching band was really into the game for two reasons. For the most part, they really do like the football team. Secondly, USBands National Championship is next week. Our band performs at noon, and the awards do not start until 12:30am! If we didn't have a playoff game, the band was going to stay the entire evening to wait for the awards. Since the football team won, the band will leave after they perform to get back home and play at the playoff game.

Your school must be our direct competition- are you currently in 2nd place? DD's school goes on right before at 11:40. It's been a great season, and the school that beat us in States is going on last- but we beat them at a regular competition last week, so it's been a close race. I'm sure you've seen the schedule by now, but they broke up the awards by group, so their awards are actually now at 2:00. Our band director decided over the weekend that rather than have our kids leaving the school at 4 am, they would go up Friday and get hotels for the kids. The kids are pretty excited!!! I am sad- I will be missing DD's final performance- but we have a 2 week old, and it's just too far and too cold! DH and the other boys will be heading up there.

Because of Nationals and getting a hotel, the band won't be at the first playoff game, and next week would be an away game, so chances are this is their last performance unless the football team makes it to states.

 

[lovegrumpy]

Any of your guys kids plan on doing DCI this summer? My son just went to Carolina Crowns first camp of the season.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Your school must be our direct competition- are you currently in 2nd place?

We were second place in our state... in 3A (not 3 Open). This was the only competition all year we did as a 3 Open band.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Concert band will start after Christmas break.

Your school doesn't do concert band in the fall? Our concert band and marching band are separate. In our school, concert band is a class during a normal class period.

 

[K and K's Mommy]

Any of your guys kids plan on doing DCI this summer? My son just went to Carolina Crowns first camp of the season.

My son would love to do this, but he is a saxophone and has no interest in learning a new instrument. His section leader is learning mellophone, so she can try out.

We had a great season. Our goal was BOA Grand National Finals, and we made it. We got 12th, but we'll take that! It was fun, but exhausting week.

 

[MouseLover]

Ours does marching band in fall and concert band in spring.


My DD would love to do dci or wgi but neither are available here

 

[Happy Snowman]

Ours does marching band in fall and concert band in spring.


My DD would love to do dci or wgi but neither are available here

Most kids that do DCI go to the band. They travel all summer so it doesn't really matter where the band is.

Our kids are woodwind players so no DCI. They have several friends that are in various corps though. They all say it's the best thing ever!!

 

[lovegrumpy]

Ours does marching band in fall and concert band in spring.


My DD would love to do dci or wgi but neither are available here[/QUOTE

Yep my son has to travel down to SC to do it. Its a 5hr drive so its not to bad. If he would have done the one he really wanted we would have had to fly him there every month if he would have made it.

 

[marcyinPA]

Your school doesn't do concert band in the fall? Our concert band and marching band are separate. In our school, concert band is a class during a normal class period.

If you are in band, you are in both marching and concert. Band is a class in and of itself. They aren't separate. It's a first block class.

Have you ever been to one of our Spring concerts? I highly recommend going to one. They are amazing. They always hold them on two nights, and they hold them in Memorial Gym because the stage in the auditorium is not big enough to hold the band. People who don't even have kids in band go- it's that good!

 

[bittybabygrower]

I just wanted to say, my daughter's college band performed at the BOA and she was so impressed by all the bands there! Good job to all!!

 

[MouseLover]

All-Region tryouts are today.

Anybody else? Good luck everybody!

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Hi everyone! Been a while since I've been here. Hoping you could provide some assistance. As you may remember, my daughter (color guard) graduated last year but I've stayed on to help with the Band. A full overhaul is being done with the program and I will be the Secretary. We are also going to be creating a new website. So I was wondering if you could assist me. Would anyone care to share their school's website? We're trying to pull together a bunch of ideas and I know there must be some awesome websites out there. I want to make sure we cover all our bases (page for the students, parents, fundraising page, correspondence/notices, etc.) Also can you give me a rundown of any great fundraisers you have used (we're in NJ) and, particularly, any online fundraisers that you have done that have helped. We're going to take another look at Amazon to see how that could help.

Anything you could share would be greatly appreciated! And good luck to all of you who are participating in a Winter/indoor season!

 

[Monykalyn]

http://kgab.me/Kickapoo_Bands/Kickapoo_Band.html

hope this goes through-if not it is Kickapoo Golden arrow band in springfield mo.
We don't have winter competition season but she does have pep band for home basketball games.
Since fundraising is our business i am not sure I should say much LOL! But our band has done cookie dough, chocolate, magazines etc - all the usual.

And I just have to brag a bit on my middle kid-not marching band yet but she was chosen for 7th grade honor band and got 1's at her solo fest! She plays flute.

We are planning a surprise trip to Orlando (more than just Disney this year ) and oldest will miss the first week of band camp...she said it wouldn't be a problem (was talking to her about vague, general vacation plans) as it should mostly be fundamentals, getting the music etc. Just hate for her to miss any of her senior year band camp at all...

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Would anyone care to share their school's website?

This is our parent booster club's website, and not the official band website. It's also used for jazz/concer choir and the chorus program

http://www.svmusicconnection.org

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Thank you both for sharing. I will definitely take look! We are hoping to bolster parent participation, as well as community participation, so our website will be key in letting everyone know about us and what we do. Unfortunately band is not well-regarded in our area. It's sort of the forgotten activity. Our indoor budget is zero. Our marching budget comes from the athletic department. And our marching band uniforms are at least 15-20 years old. And we are from a somewhat economically disadvantaged area, so we need to find a way to be more self-sufficient and self-sustaining. Our band director is energetic and excited and wants to make this happen. And I'd love to see the program grow and thrive in the next few years.

ETA: And we are not allowed any of the concessions at football games, etc. as they is the domain of the cheerleaders. We have also been able to get approval to host any events at our school. It really is an uphill battle but one we are determined to win.

 

[Monykalyn]

Thank you both for sharing. I will definitely take look! We are hoping to bolster parent participation, as well as community participation, so our website will be key in letting everyone know about us and what we do. Unfortunately band is not well-regarded in our area. It's sort of the forgotten activity. Our indoor budget is zero. Our marching budget comes from the athletic department. And our marching band uniforms are at least 15-20 years old. And we are from a somewhat economically disadvantaged area, so we need to find a way to be more self-sufficient and self-sustaining. Our band director is energetic and excited and wants to make this happen. And I'd love to see the program grow and thrive in the next few years.

ETA: And we are not allowed any of the concessions at football games, etc. as they is the domain of the cheerleaders. We have also been able to get approval to host any events at our school. It really is an uphill battle but one we are determined to win.

Our Band leader encourages the band kids, boosters and parents to sign up for his text alerts (it was done through twitter although you do not need a twitter account to receive the alerts). Incredibly helpful in reminders about competitions, fundraisers etc.

Have you looked into crowdfundraising sites? that way relatives from farther away can contribute and hopefully raise some funds! One thing we found (business standpoint) is food items tend to do better in less advantaged areas (everyone has a buck or 2 for a chocolate bar but not $16 or more for magazines or candles). I'd also consider putting on the site about how beneficial music is to students (tend to have higher GPA's, better graduation rates etc-lots and lots of info out there) to engage community and show how beneficial band is.

Good luck!!

 

[PrincessKsMom]

I noticed the link on your Band page for Paypal donations. I think that's a wonderful idea and will be bringing that to the attention of the Director. I will also look into maybe a GoFundMe or similar page. Mostly it's just suggestions. We are somewhat restricted in what we can do because we need final approval from the Board of Education. It's a big political mess at times and they won't allow certain things. For instance, we are not allowed to sell chocolate bars/candy on school grounds, during school hours. It's against their healthy eating policies, although they do have Snapple machines in the cafeteria and yet when the cheerleaders do it, it is somehow overlooked. I hate politics, particularly when it pertains to trying to do something positive for the kids. And if and until we ever get a parent-run boosters club together, we are restricted. Someone mentioned doing it that way in the past and we were shot down. Everything must be run through the school.

Thanks again for all your helpful comments and suggestions. I could use all the help I can get.

 

[Monykalyn]

... For instance, we are not allowed to sell chocolate bars/candy on school grounds, during school hours. It's against their healthy eating policies, although they do have Snapple machines in the cafeteria and yet when the cheerleaders do it, it is somehow overlooked. I hate politics, particularly when it pertains to trying to do something positive for the kids. And if and until we ever get a parent-run boosters club together, we are restricted. Someone mentioned doing it that way in the past and we were shot down. Everything must be run through the school.

Thanks again for all your helpful comments and suggestions. I could use all the help I can get.

Our school district adopted an even stricter policy than the national guidelines-no "competing foods on campus" There are exceptions for 1 fundraiser per semester. For things that require food selling the parents take it to their place of work (tip-night shift people LOVE chocolate fundraisers LOL-said somewhat in jest but at our hospital the night nurses and staff will usually go through a box per night). Also I *may* have seen kids carrying chocolate cases up the stands full and back down empty at football games (even though the people who run concessions don't allow this ) When groups are competing for funds...

As an RD the "competing foods" thing infuriates me-100 cal snack pack of doritos or oreos "chips" is not in any way, shape or form of higher nutritional value than a dark chocolate bar!! arrgghhh! slapping "whole wheat" and "low fat" on a hot dog does not equate good nutrition-but enough soapbox outrage LOL.

Our band kids also hold a large garage sale with donated items every year - every little bit helps.
Does your band require a band fee? ours varies depending on success of fundraisers (each kid who raises funds gets that accredited to their account-that way those who don't bother to raise money aren't carried by the ones who do). Any businesses in the area who would do a "sponsorship" of the band in return for being featured on website, any promotions, recognized at the games etc? I do fundraising for charities as well so just putting out randomly what pops into my head

 

[PrincessKsMom]

I completely understand the soapbox outrage, as you can tell. We do have a fee, usually around $250 each for marching band and then indoor. We have also had the kids go out and try to get sponsors for themselves, but will be looking to the community for sponsorship. I don't think there's much we can do for this season, since it's over in April, but if we can get a good head start for next marching band season, that would be amazing. And I really do appreciate all your suggestions. I have lists upon lists of suggestions, thoughts, etc.