2016-17 Tucson High School Marching Band Ensembles Handbook Lucy Huestis, Director Dean Moore, Assistant Director
Forward Welcome to the Tucson High Band Program, home of the Marching 100!! You have decided to join a band with a proud history. Here you will learn not just music, but self-discipline, responsibility, and teamwork; you will develop a solid work ethic; you will learn to organize your time and motivate yourself and others while you gain leadership skills. Your creativity will flourish and your self-esteem will grow. The pride that you will share with this group will leave you with many life-long memories and life-long friends. It is our intention that the band will be a highlight of your high school career. Read through this handbook. Each of the rules and policies has been designed to not only ensure the safety of each member, but to assist in the success of the band. These policies were established for one purpose: not to inconvenience any one member, but to create a common agreement from which all members can best accomplish the goals of the entire organization. Exceptions to the rules only serve to breed a general feeling of discontent, confusion, and disorganization within the band. You as an individual can make this an enjoyable and productive activity by following these policies. Participation in band calls for mental and physical demands to be met. You will not be asked to do anything that is beyond reason or outside your capabilities as high school students. Only by hard work can the group achieve our high standards, raise them, and be our best. It starts now, not a week before the first festival. -Lucy Huestis Director of Bands Tucson High Magnet School Dean Moore Assistant Band Director Percussion Instructor/Drill design Table of Contents: Forward 2 2016 2017 THS Marching 100 Band Staff 3 The Chain of Command...3 Physical Demands of Today s Marching Ensembles...4 The Arizona Sunshine/Opt out Policy..4 Attendance Policy...5 Band Camp/Tuesday Night Practices..5 A Typical Football Game Day.6 The Band Room (E104)...7 Lockers 7 School-owned Instruments...7 Citizenship 8 Smart Phones, Mobile Devices, ipods & Music Players.8 Substance Abuse, Hazing & Bullying.8
2015 2016 THS Marching 100 Band Staff: THS Band Faculty Director: Lucy Huestis Assistant Director: Dean Moore Adult Professional Staff (subject to change) Percussion Instructor: Dean Moore Color Guard Instructor: Kerry Hodgkinson Drum Majors Meranda Romero Emily Drum Katie Walls Section Leaders/Captains Woodwind Captain: Gaby Parra Brass Captain: Rickey Calderon Percussion Captain: Anthony Silva Tenors section Leader: Michael Diaz Bass Drums section Leader: Roque Canchola Front Ensemble Sectional Leader: Ayleen Barajas-Chavez Flute Section Leaders: Ana Murrieta & Sofia Parra Clarinet Section Leaders: Gaby Parra & Ernesto Denogean Saxophone Section Leader: Gabriel Garcia Trombone Section Leader: April Flores Trumpet Section Leaders: Javier Casarez FHN/Mello Section Leader: Ricardo Calderon Baritone Section Leader: Alexander Frieden Tuba Section Leader: Carlos Frisby Drill Coordinator Raquel Stevens Equipment Staff TBA The Chain of Command: As in any large group of individuals, there will be far too many tasks and responsibilities for any one person to handle by themselves including the Band Director. For this reason, we must all follow the chain of command when we have a question or concern. This includes email. Always seek to address an issue at your own level of the chain first. The Chain of Command Band Director Assistant Director Adult Professional Staff Adult Volunteer Staff Drum Majors Section Leaders/Captains Returning Members New Members
If your issue cannot be resolved at the level you occupy in the chain then proceed up the chain one level at a time, until your question or concern is addressed. In order to address the Band Director, you will need to bring a Drum Major with you, to show that you have first used the chain. Physical Demands of Today s Marching Ensembles Make no mistake, Marching Band is sport and artistry rolled into one. You will need to participate in some physical conditioning as part of your regular marching band rehearsal. Our half-time show is almost nine minutes of non-stop movement and sound. One member even described it as: like running the 100-yard dash while holding your breath, over and over again. For your safety and the safety of others, you will need enough strength and flexibility in your muscles and joints to exert yourself in rehearsal and performance without injury or mishap. You will need enough aerobic capacity to keep up with the tempo of music and movement in the show without compromising your sound quality, even when fatigued. Part of our group preparation for these demands includes a series of light calisthenics and stretches, as well as a group jog around the track. We begin with a single lap at Band Camp, adding a half-lap (1/8 th mile) at the beginning of each month. Members with a documented medical condition that would prevent participation in the laps may participate in alternate conditioning exercises on the field while the jogging takes place. Please remember that this moderate physical conditioning is necessary to prevent injury and to produce an acceptable sound outdoors. Please seek alternate conditioning only if absolutely necessary. You will be surprised at what you can do if you just keep trying. Nutrition You will need to be responsible for feeding and hydrating your body regularly. Do not start a diet or weightloss program during Band Season, unless under the direction of a physician that understands the physical demands of today s marching band activity. It is not only expected that each member eat a good meal before arriving at band practice or band class at the start of the school day, it is required for your safety and the safety of others. The Arizona Sunshine Sun exposure, particularly in the Arizona desert climate, is no joke. Unless it is already dark when you arrive to an outdoor band rehearsal, you must apply sunscreen before band. Regardless of your skin type or desire to tan, an SPF of 30 or greater is recommended. Hats, although prohibited inside the school buildings, are a MUST for outdoor band rehearsals. Keeping your head protected from the direct sunrays will not only help you feel better during rehearsal, it will also enable you to follow the drum-majors more easily. Sunglasses are also recommended, both for comfort and safety. Lastly, all band members are responsible for bringing their own hydration to rehearsal. During Band Camp, the Boosters provide refill stations. Individual water-bottles save valuable rehearsal time and will make a difference to your health & comfort during rehearsal.
The Opt Out Policy You need to know the difference between, this is really hard, I m really tired, my body hurts and I think I m in trouble I may have hurt something, I m dizzy or dehydrated, something s wrong. If you are feeling sick, or injured, or in danger of hurting yourself by continuing, please opt out and seek shade and hydration off the practice field. After a minimum of 5-minutes seated in the shade and hydrating, you are expected to see if you can stand up. After another 5-minutes of standing-recovery, you are expected to either return to field rehearsal, or acknowledge the fact that you are not physically able to continue rehearsal, and go to the school nurse (during the school day), or have your parent/guardian come and take you home. Attendance Policy: More than any other activity, Marching Band depends on regular attendance. Individuals depend on each other in so many ways, just to be able to get through musical material and push ahead in the field-show drill. When one person is absent, the entire group must bear the weight of positioning on the field that is harder to read, as well as an unreliable sound. All of this confusion costs the band precious rehearsal time during the absence, and again following the absence when the returning band member must be brought up to speed. Think about this the next time you are considering arriving late to band. For this reason, attendance at all rehearsals, camps and performances is mandatory. The only excused absences are due to illness or a death in the family. Band is a class and every band activity is a graded activity. Participation points will be part of every student s grade. Missing practices or performances will result in a student s grade being lowered. The band packet includes every practice, rehearsal, game, parade, and concert. Please put these dates in your family calendar and be sure that your families understand that your grade in band depends on your participation. Examples of UNEXCUSED absences: Anybody s Birthday Party Work/Job (You have the band schedule for the whole season months in advance; your boss needs to understand that until you graduate, school comes first.) Concert Tickets (Even the Band Director has to pass up concert tickets during Band Season). Family Vacation During the School Year (Your education is way more important during this time.) Didn t have a ride (Ask another band member or take the bus.) Seeing a Teacher for extra help during band rehearsal (plan ahead!) Other conflicts, such as other THS or TUSD events will be handled individually on a case-by-case basis, with absolutely no influence from past scenarios with other students, and with no bearing on future students in similar scenarios. *****************Please use the GOOGLE CALENDAR and PLAN AHEAD!!!!******************* Band Camp: Because the Marching 100 is expected to perform very early in the school year (even before the start of classes in 2011!), members must learn all of their marching fundamentals, how to stand, how to play their instruments correctly, most of their field-show music, the National Anthem, the School Song(s), get fitted for uniforms, and memorize everything all at Band Camp. *A typical full-day camp schedule looks something like this: 7:30AM- Band Facility Open
8:00AM- Full Band in E104: Attendance & General Meeting/present day s schedule. 8:45AM- Full Band to Field for Physical Training & Marching Fundamentals. ***Hydration & Shade Breaks Throughout*** 11:30AM- Lunch Break (on site. No one leaves campus during band camp) 12:30PM- Full Band in E104: Attendance & Short Meeting 1:30PM- Sectionals 2:30PM- Full Band in E104; percussion in Ramada; Guard in gym 4:15PM- Full Band with Guard @ ramada for chunking rehearsal. 5:00PM- Dismissal 5:15PM- Staff Meeting 6:00PM- Band Facility Closed What to bring to band camp: Your instrument and all accessories (reeds, neck-strap, sticks, mouthpiece, valve oil, etc ) All of Your Music (printed from the band website www.tucsonhighbands.org members page) Wear light athletic type clothing. No jeans, flip-flops, or heavy jackets. Be smart in the sun. Athletic type shoes. Water container (full), and possible Sports drink & snack for off the field. Sack-lunch (no refrigeration) or minimum $3 to purchase lunch from boosters. Inhaler if you have asthma, and any necessary medical supplies that may be a part of your lifestyle. These will be kept with the Band Nurse. A mechanical pencil & a three-ring binder with 30 clear sheet protectors inside. Tuesday night practices Mandatory for all members of band and color guard, starting Aug. 9 and ending Nov. 8. 3:30-5: Sectionals 5-6PM: Dinner break. Get to know the band, make smart choices, eat a healthy meal. 6-9 PM: Physical conditioning and marching rehearsal on practice field and main field. A Typical Football game day: Bring show shirt, marching shoes, black socks, athletic shorts to school. After school: Practice on field, eat (bring $3-$4) at band concession stand, change 5 PM: away game board busses 6 PM: Home game meet at Badger to tune, warm up, parade block, march into stadium @6:45: National Anthem. Tunnel for our team. 7 PM game starts. No food or drinks except water while in uniform. Visits to bathroom only in groups of 3. @6 minutes before halftime warm up for half time show (home game). At away game go to home side to watch other band. Meet & Greet other band. After game: Parade block and march back to Badger. Game ball awarded. Students return instruments and uniforms. Check out with section leader. Parents wait outside band room. Dismissal for home games @10 PM. Away games will dismiss later. The Band Room (E104): This is our home away from home. The work we do in this space is meaningful and important to all of us. Treat our Band Room with respect. There is absolutely no food or drink ever allowed in the band room! This is not just a guideline we try to follow, it is the law 100% of the time. Plain water is allowed for hydration purposes. Even the Band Director adheres to this.
The band room is off limits to non band members. Friends and family should wait outside the band room if you are in the band room. Do not invite your friends to hang out in the band room or use the band room as a hall way. Once we open the room to non members, we start to see vandalism and theft. Please see a director about possible exceptions. We do not deface, tag, carve, mutilate or otherwise intentionally damage any part of the band room or its contents. This includes the inside and outside of the band lockers. Vandalism will not be tolerated, and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the discipline code on the very first offense. Many of the repairs & renovations in this facility were done by the band members themselves. If you want to express something to the world, do it through an amazing performance. Two areas of the band room are restricted to those students who a required to keep equipment in those areas: The percussion storage room and the color guard room. Only color guard members use the guard room and only percussion members use the percussion room. The only exception might be during period 2 or 6 band classes for sectional use. Percussion and guard equipment is off limits to anyone not in these groups. Lockers: Tucson High is a locker-free campus for safety reasons. The only reason we have storage lockers for band, is that band members would have too much school stuff to physically carry around all day if we didn t. The student s band locker is for BAND INSTRUMENTS AND ACCESSORIES ONLY during school. During the first week of classes all band students with instrumental storage needs will be issued lockers and locks. Due to the size of the Band Program and limited space, students who play the flute or clarinet are required to share. You may not bring in your own lock. The school combination locks are keyed for emergencies. Never trade lockers with another student. You will be held accountable for its contents regardless of the trade. If you are having a problem with the locker you have been assigned, speak to the staff about it. During after school Band Practice, when the instrument is out and in use, students should secure their personal belongings in their locker and lock the lock! Over the years, we have had a few thefts from the band room while the group is down on the field practicing (yes, even with the doors locked). Be smart and secure your things. After band, your instrument & accessories go into the locker, and your personal items come out. Anyone found to be keeping alcohol, drugs, or weapons in their locker will be disciplined according to the full extent of the THS Discipline Code, reported to the police and then dismissed from the THS Band Programs indefinitely. School-Owned Instruments: If the instrument is not assigned to you, don t touch it. That includes all percussion equipment (especially the stuff that looks like toys), the piano, and school-owned lower brass instruments. When something breaks, not only does it take time to fix; it means that student may not have an instrument to play. In the end, all of that lost time with the instrument hurts the whole band. If you are interested in trying a new instrument, make an appointment at the end of the season to do so with a qualified teacher or coach. Those using school instruments (including drumline), will need to complete the appropriate form and be responsible for the proper care and maintenance of the instrument while it is in their custody. If you have an accident and break your school instrument, or accidentally damage someone else s instrument (school-owned or otherwise), please notify an adult staff-member immediately! Often a seemingly harmless ding can create a leak on a woodwind instrument, or freeze a valve on a brass instrument. Just take responsibility for your actions, and let us start addressing the problem while it is still easy to fix, and there isn t an audience waiting.
Citizenship On occasion, it will be necessary as a band to take part in community events and performances. W march in three parades: the Veteran s Day Parade, the Downtown Parade of Lights, and the Fiesta de los Vaqueros Rodeo Parade. In fact, Tucson High band was in the very first Rodeo Parade in 1925! It is important that we make every effort as individuals to participate in these performances, and give something back to our community. Smart Phones, Mobile Devices, ipods & Music Players: All phones, mobile devices, ipods & music players must be turned off and left in a bag. These items may not be out at any time during band rehearsal and may not be out on the field. Students who have tuners on their phones may use them to tune, but then must put them away so they are not a distraction. In cases when the director is going over scheduling information and the calendar, the group will be told when it is ok to use their available technology for the task. After which, everyone powers down, and devices are returned to bags. Substance Abuse, Hazing & Bullying There is no place in band for abusive behavior of any kind; be it abuse of self, of others, or of the program and our facility. If you have a problem with substance abuse, please talk with the staff, and seek help immediately. If you are found to be using or in possession of illegal controlled substances or alcohol whether on or off campus, with or without other band students, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the school discipline code, the police will be notified, and you will be dismissed from the THS Bands indefinitely. Not only are Hazing and Bullying both cruel & cowardly behaviors, they are also becoming increasingly dated. Nowadays, we demonstrate strength through positive leadership and by attracting people to our group instead of driving them away. Anyone involved in hazing or bullying in the band will be immediately pulled from the group until after a parent conference. If the abusive behavior continues, the bully will be removed from the band permanently. Social Media is everywhere. We all need to be aware of our actions on social media and how this can affect others and how we are perceived in the future. If you wouldn t say something to your mom, don t post it on social media. Think twice before posting something that might be hurtful or unkind. A Living Document As extensive as this handbook of procedures and norms has become over the years, there will still be occasions where circumstances will arise that fall outside the realm of the policies contained in this document. In those instances, we begin with the Tucson High Student Rights and Responsibilities document and work from there with the Band Director and appropriate school administration to resolve issues as they arise. For this reason, the Band Handbook is updated and edited each summer. Please be sure that you are referencing the most current version of the handbook when researching band policies. In the end, all of this is intended to help keep the band members focused on the task of making our band the best it can be for the membership, the THS student body, and the community. Welcome to the THS Band Program. Please contact us individually or through the band website: Lucy.huestis@tusd1.org Dean.moore@tusd1.org Kerryhodgkinson3@yahoo.com www.tucsonhighbands.org