Kennedale High School Wildcat Band Color Guard Audition and Membership Information for Fall 2017

Kennedale High School Wildcat Band Color Guard Audition and Membership Information for Fall 2017 The Kennedale High School Band has a group of students that are members of the group who are known as the Color Guard. The color guard is a group that represents the visual representation of the music and adds General Effect to the marching band show. The color guard enhances the show through the use of equipment such as flags, rifles, and sabers and the performance of dance is utilized as well. These students are members of the Wildcat Marching Band and must be enrolled in the regular school day band color guard class for the Fall 2017 semester in order to maintain membership in the group. MEMBERSHIP The color guard is an integral part of the marching band. With the size of our band program, I encourage our woodwind players to consider being in guard. For a small band program, we will need all of our brass and percussion players on their instruments in order for us to be successful at our area competitions. All flute, oboe, bassoon, and clarinet players are encouraged to consider participating in the color guard. Students who are not in band may also be in color guard with the band director s approval. Students outside the band program (non- band, non-instrumentalists) are welcome to audition for this group. All interested students will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Non- current band students who wish to audition for the color guard should visit with Mr. Oktay to make sure they understand the commitment before they audition for the guard. Proof of past grade history will be required. A copy of the auditioner s latest Six-weeks report card is to be submitted for review before the tryout date. Also recommendations of character will be required from the student s current classroom teachers. Athletic Conflicts With the skill set needed to maintain the level of abilities required to be a contributing members of the color guard, some fall athletic and group events do conflict with being a member of the KHS Color Guard. Students will not be allowed to be a member of the KHS Color Guard if they are expecting to also be members of: The KHS Cheer Squad, The KHS Fall Tennis Team, the KHS Volleyball Team, the KHS Football Team, the KHS Drill Team, the KHS Cross Country Team. These groups often have practices at the same time as the color Guard and these conflicts of time and commitment have proven to be a major challenge to overcome for all parties, and often mar the effectiveness of the groups involved. Other conflicts with our rehearsal times and performance dates should be discussed in advance with the band directors ASAP, such as: Weddings, Vacations, and non-school related events. REHEARSAL and PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS Color guard members will have many extra rehearsals outside of the regular school day, and some may be separate of the full marching band, and they may also may have individual competitions outside of our marching contests. The competitiveness of modern color guard requires them to have many requirements above that of an instrumentalist. Some of these are (but not limited to): each member will buy and own their own uniform, shoes, warm-up suit, rehearsal clothing, duffle bag, and electrical tape for maintaining their flag, and several band and color guard T-shirts. Each student will pay an instructor s fee (if there is not one on the KISD classroom teacher staff). I am informing perspective members of these extra requirements and fees to keep you informed so there are no surprises for you. Required Practice attire for color guard is: Tennis shoes, socks, appropriate length shorts or warm-up pants, and a T- shirt. The shorts must be of an appropriate length, they should not be denim (blue jean). Tank tops and mid-drift shirts

are not appropriate. Students should be able to maintain full coverage of their torso during motion. Students who are not dressed appropriately for practice or auditions may not be allowed to participate. Attendance, performance, and behavior requirements throughout the year for these students will be the same as for all band members; however, the financial requirements for being a member of this group are higher than that of the regular band student. Students selected to the Guard must be enrolled in the corresponding first period band class for the fall semester of 2017. If a student cannot be enrolled in first period due to schedule conflict, or any other reason, they will not be allowed to stay on as a member of the color guard. The guard will practice 8 hours a week after school with the HS Marching Band, and in separate practices. The KHS Band Color Guard is required to perform with the KHS Marching Band at all Marching Band Performances per the KHS Band Calendar of events posted at the beginning of every semester. These are performances such as: Pep Rallies on and off the KHS Campus, Varsity Football Games, Marching Band Competitions, Marching Band Parades and all public performances in the Fall of 2017 and the Spring of 2018. The color guard may compete in independent color guard competitions in the fall, separate from the marching band, and attendance will be required at such performance opportunities. PHYSICAL COMMITMENT Students should understand that because of the nature of color guard, they should be in good physical condition and consider this an athletic endeavor. Students must demonstrate and possess minimum standards and abilities in: dance, foot and motion timing, balance, as well as athletic conditioning for running and tumbling. There are also inherent minor to major bumps, bruises, and scrapes that come along with the job when spinning a flag, rifle, or saber. FINANCIAL COMMITMENT The color guard students will need to purchase their own uniform, shoes, and pay a fee to offset the cost of hiring our color guard instructor. It is the desire of the band director and Kennedale ISD to keep the financial requirements for ALL band students as low as possible. The line of communication is always open between the director and our parents and, whenever possible, we will give advanced notice about any needs that the program may have. We have included below a list of fees and estimated costs to the student for being a member of the Kennedale Band Color Guard. If students are returning members of the KHS Guard, they may not need to purchase some of these items again if the directors decide to use the same items for the next year. The color guard will have a color guard instructor for most of the season. The color guard instructor is a specialist with color guard and educational skills hired by the Kennedale Band Director to work with our guard for the fall marching season until November. This instructor will teach each member the skills necessary to work with a flag, rifle; he/she will teach the students the basics of modern dance through warm-ups and routines; and she will write and teach the routine for the marching show. Any questions, concerns by parents about the color guard should be directed to the band director. All payments will be made to the Kennedale Band Booster Club (KBBC). Anticipated Fees for Fall 2017: Guard only Fees Band Member Fees covered by guard payments Instructor s Fee $50.00` Sports Drink Fee $20 Warm-up Pants and Jacket $100.00* Band Pep T-Shirt $18.00* Uniform and Shoes $136.00 Band Show T-Shirt $18.00 Color Guard T-Shirt $18.00

Total EST. Fees $360.00 *Returning members may not need a new warm-up jacket or pants or Pep Shirt The Payment Schedule of these Fees by the Color Guard Members is listed below. Full payment of all guard fees will need to be paid by October 1st, 2017 Guard Fees Payment Schedule: April 24, 2017 Deposit at Auditions 1 st payment $25 May 25, 2017 2 nd Payment $75 June 24, 2017 3 rd Payment $75 July 28, 2017 4 th Payment $75 August 25, 2017 5 th Payment $55 September 29, 2017 6 th Payment $55 There will be opportunities for our students to Fund Raise some of these monies by participating in fundraising events. Any fundraised monies will be applied to the final August and September payments. Again, we will do all we can to keep the costs to the student to a minimum. All payments are NON-Refundable (after a candidate is selected to the group). If a student quits the color guard during the season, and monies paid to date are non-refundable. Students are expected to make payments per the schedule as listed above. Non-payment of fees may result in: loss of performer status, loss of member eligibility, loss of eligibility to participate in band functions, or KBBC events. AUDITION INFORMATION Auditions for the 2017 Kennedale High School Wildcat Marching Band Color Guard will be held on Monday, April 24th 2016 from 4:30pm to 6:00pm in the KHS Band Hall (in the back part of the Performing Arts Center). This audition is closed to the public. Only the candidates and judges will be present in the audition room. Results of the audition are announced at the conclusion of the auditions. At the discretion of the band directors, no other student will be allowed to audition for the guard for the 2017 season unless they are a new student to KHS entering in the summer or fall of 2017. All students auditioning for the color guard shall pay $25.00 (cash or check) to the KHS Band Booster Club at the time of the audition. This deposit will be held in the student s name toward their fees. If the student is not selected a member of the color guard... their money will be returned to them at the conclusion of the audition. If a student has paid their deposit, has been selected to the guard, and drops out of the group for any reason, this deposit, and any other monies paid to date, will be forfeited and become assets of the Kennedale Band Booster Club. No refunds will be made to the student or their parents after 7pm on the audition date. At the audition of the candidates on April 24th, we will select students based not only on their performance of the flag routine, but also on their ability to demonstrate that that they can maintain a steady tempo with the their feet, their ability to demonstrate that that they can maintain a steady tempo with the their body movement, demonstrate good balance and body carriage, and our evaluation of their past history and performance in the KJHS or KHS Band program. Past academic ineligibility and current teacher recommendations will be considered as part of the audition process as well. Our guard is a competitive group, and we must follow the UIL eligibility guidelines for performances for competitions. Students should have had a history of good academic grades in order to be a qualified candidate for this auxiliary group. Membership in the KHS Color Guard or Winter Guard in the past year is no guarantee for making the group for the upcoming season.

AUDITON AND WORKSHOP INFORMATION There will be a few workshops held either at the KJHS gymnasium before the auditions. Attendance at these workshops is necessary in order to audition for the group. Absences must be cleared in advance with Mr. Oktay in order to be excused. Dates and times are listed below. Students will be instructed in the basics of flag fundamentals. They will also be taught a simple flag routine to music. Our color guard workshop schedule to prepare the students for auditions is as follows: 1. Monday, April 10, 2017 from 4:00pm 6:00pm at the KJHS Gym 2. Tuesday, April 11, 2017 from 4:00pm 6:00pm at the KJHS Gym 3. Monday, April 17, 2017 from 4:00pm 6:00pm at the KJHS Gym 4. Tuesday, April 18, 2017 from 4:00pm-6:00pm at the KJHS Gym 5. AUDITIONS: Monday, April 24, 2017 from 4:30pm 6:00pm at the KHS Band Hall Auditions: Monday, April 24, 2017 4:30p, 6:00p, at the High School Band Hall / PAC. The Candidates will pay a $25 deposit at the time of the Audition. Payment should be in CASH or Check made payable to the KBBC (Kennedale Band Booster Club). Students will not be allowed to audition without the deposit, four teacher recommendations, a copy of their most recent report card, and parent signatures page all turned in ahead of the time of the auditions. CONTINUED MEMBERSHIP EXPECTATIONS Proper ability, work ethic, attitude, and grade performance must still be maintained in order to continue membership in this group. The group is evaluated weekly for each performance, and if a student is deficient in their skills or the routing for that week s performance, they may be required to sit out for that performance or assist the band in other capacities so that they a contributing member of the group. Attendance at the Color Guard Summer Workshop dates in June and in July is required in order for a student to maintain positive membership in this group. In July, during the Summer Band Activities, alternate performers will be selected from the guard. These alternates are full time Color Guard Members, but may not be full time performers in the competition show. Alternates are designated for many reasons, such as but not limited to: Lack of attendance to rehearsals/performances, inability to demonstrate skills needed to be a contributing performer in the group for that week s performance, lack of ability to maintain school grades in order to maintain eligibility. These alternates will be asked to shadow primary performers in the show in order to improve on their performance. Should a member have school conflicts such as, but not limited to: involvement in another club or organization, sport, or fine arts activity, their placement in the show will be reviewed and handled on a case-by-case basis. In Closing: Parents and students should feel free to contact the band director with any questions. Mr. Erol Oktay may be reached at KHS (817)-563-8035 or at oktaye@kisdtx.net Please return the deposit and attached parent permission form with appropriate signatures. This form must be signed and returned to the band director before a student is allowed to audition for the color guard. Thank you for your time and interest in the KHS Band Color Guard. Erol K. Oktay Director of Bands Kennedale High School 817-563-8035 oktaye@kisdtx.net

Color Guard Applicant: (Please Print) Kennedale High School Wildcat Band Color Guard Parent Permission Form Fall 2017 I have read the information contained in the Fall 2017 Kennedale High School Wildcat Band Color Guard Audition and Membership Information Letter and the KHS Band s Summer Band Handout 2017. I understand the time, discipline, and financial commitment necessary for me to be a member of this group. Should I be selected to be a member of the color guard, I will strive for excellence within the Kennedale Band as a member of the color guard. STUDENT SIGNATURE DATE I have read the information contained in the Fall 2016 Kennedale High School Wildcat Band Color Guard Audition and Membership Information Letter and the KHS Band s Summer Band Handout 2017. I understand the time, discipline, and financial commitment necessary for my child to be a member and maintain membership of this group. My child will adhere to the rehearsal schedules, payment schedules, and performance schedules as set forth by the KHS Band Directors and Kennedale Band Booster Club. Should my child be selected to be a member of the color guard, I will support them in this endeavor. I understand that my initial payment of $25 is non-refundable upon my child being selected as a member of the color guard. Parent Name (PRINT): PARENT SIGNATURE DATE Parent Phone #(s) This Signature Page is to be returned to the KHS Band Director by the Audition Date in order for the student to be allowed to audition for the KHS Band Color Guard.