Welcome, students and parents! 2015 CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING WARRIORS AND COLOR GUARD Thursday, May 7 th 2015 7PM
GOALS FOR THE EVENING Inform students and parents about the 2015 CHS Marching Warriors and Color Guard. Connect the veteran members of our ensemble to the new members this includes parents and guardians. Generate excitement about what we have in store for 2015!
OUR ENSEMBLE/PROGRAM One of the largest student groups at CHS. We estimate about 100 students in the 2015 group. An active performing ensemble in the Grand Junction community football games, parades, competitions, CHS homecoming events. Competitive Every year we perform in numerous competitions and attend the state marching festival on the front range.
WHY MARCHING BAND? Students instantly have a network of other students that they connect with at CHS. They have a place to belong. Gives students a way to get involved at CHS and be involved in our school community. A busy kid is a happy kid. Kids stay active in marching band. In marching band, every kid plays at all times. We can t bench students. On most athletic teams, there are only 10-15 students playing at one time.
WHY MARCHING BAND? (FOR THE PARENTS) Trust that your student is in a positive, hard-working, and friendly environment. Your kid is most likely too busy to be getting in trouble. (most of the time..) We ALWAYS need volunteers (more info soon ) Many parents say that marching band, though it is busy, is their favorite time of year, because it is the most involved they can get with their student. You don t really have the chance to get as involved with your student in math class, student senate, etc.
WHO CAN JOIN? Anyone who is willing to work hard, push themselves, commit to our calendar, and have a positive attitude is willing to join. There are three different parts of our ensemble: Winds (Woodwinds and Brass) Percussion (Front Ensemble [ pit ] and battery) Colorguard (Flags, Rifles, Sabres, etc.)
WHO CAN JOIN? Brass/Woodwinds No Audition Necessary Prior experience on your instrument is required marching band is not the time to learn how to play an instrument while learning how to march. There will be memorization assignments required throughout the summer/fall for brass and woodwinds. In addition to learning music, these students also learn all aspects of marching and movement while playing.
WHO CAN JOIN? Percussion Clinic/Audition: Wed 5/13 (5-7PM) Katie Stiles Percussion Instructor Students will do a clinic/audition in order to determine which part of our percussion section they will join. No student will be turned away from the percussion section, but the more advanced students will be given more advance parts. We may reach out to a few wind players to learn percussion in order to help fill out our percussion section. There will be memorization assignments required throughout the summer/fall for percussion students. In addition to learning music, these students also learn all aspects of marching and movement while playing.
WHO CAN JOIN? Colorguard Clinic/Auditions: Fri 5/8 (3:30-5:30PM) Francisco Castaneda Color Guard Instructor Students will do a clinic/audition in order to determine which part of our color guard they will join. There will be fundamental checks and routine memorization tests required throughout the summer/fall for color guard. These students also learn all aspects of movement/dance while spinning equipment.
ATHLETICISM Many people do not know how hard it is to perform with the marching band. Every day in marching band we work on cardio and strength training in order to perform our show! 3 years of band =.5 P.E. credit at CHS. In general, students who are willing to push themselves are successful in marching band. Though you may not be in the best physical shape right now, if you work hard and commit to pushing yourself, you will be fine! Here is a short video about the athleticism of marching band: https://youtu.be/iup8o-kyok0
EVERY MEMBER COUNTS The success of our ensemble depends upon the accountability and commitment of every member. Imagine a high school sports team, and putting every member of the freshman team, the junior varsity, and varsity teams together, with no second string players. That is what the marching band does every year. Every event that the marching band has is required, and is for a grade. This includes all rehearsals, all performances, all sectionals, etc. These policies are implemented in order to create the best ensemble possible and the best experience for every kid.
CALENDAR Please find our calendar in the handbook. Some weekend rehearsal times are not yet finalized due to the school calendar not yet being finalized. These times will be published soon. Summer Rehearsals: Please mark these in your calendar. If students are in town, they are expected to attend. If students are out of town, they must let their section leader and Mr. Ford know, and then meet with their section leader to make up what they missed. Band Camp: REQUIRED for all members. Please reach out to me if there are any questions. This is where the majority of our teaching occurs (53 rehearsal hours this equates to 5 weeks of school rehearsals)
ABSENCES I understand absences will occur. However, I cannot excuse absences due to work, babysitting, birthday parties, vacations, etc. The calendar is published in advance in order for you to plan these dates. I cannot excuse students who are pulled from rehearsals due to bad grades. For excusable absences (dentist/doctor, weddings, illness, etc.), Mr. Ford must hear from the parent/guardian (not the student!) a week in advance. If an emergency arises, I need to hear from a parent/guardian.
FEES Like all activities, we must pay for supplies/staff every year in order to make our season possible. The fees that we assess each year are only a small portion of what the season actually costs. We have numerous fundraising options available to help offset the fees for the marching band/color guard. No family will be turned away due to finances, however fundraising efforts must be clearly shown if you are unable to pay the fees outright.
FEES $40 Band Camp fee $15 uniform fee $15 class fee These three fees are paid when you submit your $70 deposit by 6/1. $40 instrumental rental fee (only if you need a marching inst.) $10 glove fee (winds only) $40 shoe fee (only if you need new shoes) $25 show design fee $250 state trip fee These fees are paid to Central High School during the fall semester. Total Possible Fees: $435
FYI.. To put it into perspective, the fees that you pay are only what each student is charged for their marching band season (band camp, uniform, instrument/equipment, state trip) However the marching band season is easily much more expensive than what the students are charged. -Music: $3,000 -Drill: $3,250 -Staff: $6,000 -Props: $7,000 -New Equipment: $5,000 Show Design: Almost $25,000 we only charge a $25 design fee. -Band Camp Fees Total $6,000 and we only collect $40 per student. (100 students x $40 = $4,000)
FUNDRAISING We have a lot of options, and these fundraisers benefit the general fund of the program (to help offset costs that fees don t cover), as well as go directly toward student accounts to cover individual fees. Bingo Monday nights 10 credits per shift worked We need students and parents to work every week. Country Jam June 18 th 21 st 4 hour shift - $20 8 Hour Shift - $50 March-a-Thon the date will be set soon Money earned depends on amount of pledges received Scrip Cards Benefits general fund. Read about Scrip Cards in the handbook.
PARENT/GUARDIAN INVOLVEMENT Our season is possible only with parent/guardian help. It doesn t also have to be parent/guardian. Aunts/uncles, family friends, older siblings, etc. can volunteer. Help does NOT have to be assisting at events. We need help behind the scenes, too. Building props Cooking meals for events we host Serving meals at band camp Getting corporate sponsorships Fitting Uniforms Pit/prop crew Fundraising Bingo
CONTRACTS DUE JUNE 1 ST Our show every year is a show written specifically for Central High School. Drill is custom, and music is custom. The deadline to reserve your spot in marching band is June 1 st. Reserving your spot means: Turning in student/parent contract and info sheet Turning in $70 deposit for band camp/class fee/uniform deposit. After June 1 st, you will be removed from the marching band class and will NOT have a spot in the show. We will have options to keep you as an alternate, band manager, etc. but you will not have a spot in the show at that point in time. This system is in place to ensure every student in the band is successful.
THE SHOW
2015 CHS MARCHING WARRIORS New World
Dvorak New World Symphony Patrick Cassidy Vide Cor Meum The show tells the journey across the sea from one world to another. Loosely based on the exploration that discovered America. Numerous props will be used to promote this theme. Tarps at the corner of the field as well as a tarp in the middle. Sail props portraying the masts of a ship that will be moved throughout the show.