Pride of Taylor Bulldog Band Marching Band Handbook 2013 John Gardner, Director of Bands Audie Ash, Principal
Taylor County High School Bands Marching Band Handbook 2013-2014 Preface This handbook has been written for the band members, guard members, and parents with the intention of providing a groundwork to make this band perform at the superior level for the 2013 season. This is a reference for every band member to understand how our band program functions. Principles of the band Everybody gets it. We don t move on in rehearsal until we sound how we want to sound. Wednesday sectionals are a time where we can practice with one another and have individualized instruction so that we can all play at the same level. You are one group. You will be a high-performing group of people. See below for what you will achieve this year. We are a group that puts on their best show. There are no individuals in the band. Your problem is everyone else s problem. You are needed in this group. Objectives We will earn straight superiors at state MPA s October 26. October 19, we are going to the Ocala Marching Band Festival. November 9, we are going to the Wiregrass Marching Music Regional Championship. At Ocala, there will be about six bands in our class. At both of these events, we will place top 2 overall in our class (class A), and in the following captions: Best Auxiliary Best Percussion Best Music Best Visual Performance Best General Effect You are one group. Best Drum Major Best Overall Band Performance Attendance policy In order to make the band work, you will need to be here every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon from 3:10-5:30, and when scheduled, Wednesday from 3-4. The band that goes on the field is the band that is here Tuesday and Thursday. Excused absences are Drill team (from 3-4), Little Women (ending 9/26), work (if you already have a job), and any other academic event already discussed.
Band members are required to attend all rehearsals and performances. As a cocurricular course, rehearsals and performances outside of class time are part of the education process. Absences affect not only the individual who is absent but also the entire ensemble. An absence necessitates repeating educational instruction when the student returns, as well as eliminating the opportunity to develop blend, balance, and precision with the other students in the ensemble. Students must be on time for all band functions. Learning to be early (on time) now will establish a life skill that is crucial to success. Excused absence from rehearsal: Band members will not be excused from rehearsals except in cases of extreme emergency or illness. In case of illness, parents/students are required to call the band office as early as possible. Appointments, meetings, homework, and vacations, etc., will not be valid excuses for missing a rehearsal. If you anticipate an unavoidable absence from rehearsal, please submit a conflict form to the Director at least one week prior to the intended absence. Note, simply turning in a conflict form does not guarantee an excused absence. The Band Director must sign your conflict form before the absence is excused. Also, if a student already has a job, and can t avoid a schedule conflict, they are excused from Tuesday rehearsal. Any school or academic functions that can t be avoided are excused. Two excused absences in one week will result in that student not marching in the proceeding Friday s game. Unexcused absence from rehearsal: Any student receiving an unexcused absence from rehearsal will lose points from their participation grade. The only way to receive an excused absence is to submit a conflict form, and have it signed by the Band Director. If you miss a rehearsal and it is unexcused, you cannot march in the next game. Tardy to rehearsal/performance: Members of the leadership council will always take attendance promptly at the beginning of a rehearsal or performance. A student arriving later will lose points towards their participation grade. Any student arriving more than 10 minutes late for a football game performance will lose their third-quarter. If you re late to rehearsal, you lose your 3 rd quarter break. Absence from performance: Performances are our major exam grades. Any absence that is not brought to the Director s attention for approval prior to the performance will be considered unexcused. Unexcused absences count as an F for that major exam grade. If you anticipate an unavoidable absence from a performance, please submit a conflict form to the Director at least one week prior to the intended absence. Any excuse given the week of a performance (with the exception of emergencies) will result in the student receiving a C for that performance grade. Additionally, absences may result in the student losing the opportunity to perform.
Expectations (Class and Rehearsal) In order for band to work, rules must be honored and followed. We are one group and we must function as one group. These rules must be followed in order to achieve our weekly and seasonal objectives. There will be a schedule for each week and class period/rehearsal posted at all times, with clear intentions for each section time that we have. Class starts four minutes after the bell rings. This is the time to handle valve oil, get reeds, lyre, pencils, and anything else you need. Interruptions of rehearsal will not serve us. Rehearsal begins at 3:10. If you are not here, you are considered tardy. Rehearsal does not get interrupted. In order to have an orderly, focused, productive rehearsal, if you have a question, raise your hand. We are playing a big game and we re here to achieve something. You need to be present and focused. This also means there is no cell phone use in class. There is no talking when the director is talking. When the director is on the podium, class and rehearsal begins. Any student violating this expectation will have their parents called. If the teacher Is still interrupted by a student, that student will have referrals written. If interruptions continue, that student will lose their privilege to march in the next game. Only those authorized to play an instrument are allowed to play that instrument. This includes the percussion equipment. Some instruments are owned by the school, and some are owned by other members. Percussion equipment is property of the school and the percussion section is authorized to use them Battery needs to leave their equipment in its designated place in the corner of the room. There is no food, drink, or gum in the band room, even before games. This prevents stains on the carpets, or worse, on instruments. After each class, and rehearsal, the entire band room needs to be clear of belongings. Marching shoes, socks, garment bags, and any other belongings cannot stay in the band room overnight. Instruments Some members rent an instrument from the school. The fee for doing this is $5/month. This will be collected the first Monday of each month, beginning October 1. Reeds, flip-folders, lyres, and other needed items can be bought through the band director. You will need to buy three reeds. When you get down to one, you need to buy more, so that you are prepared. All school-owned instruments must be checked out through the band director by filling out an instrument rental agreement. Once issued, the instrument becomes the responsibility of the student for proper care, maintenance, and protection from damage or theft. Students using school owned instruments will be responsible for and charged for any damages to the instruments. In other words, take care of your instrument.
Games We will stay until the game or compeitition ends. Our job is to support the football team and play music for the crowd. No one is dismissed early. As we get dressed, stay in the band room. There are announcements being made that everyone needs to hear, and we need to stay organized and collected. You need to be alert and watching the director to know what stand tunes we re playing, and when we re playing. There also may be a hats on cue at the end of the game. We need to do this as a group. This will happen right when the games ends to prepare for the Alma Mater. When halftime is over, we will set our equipment down in the stands as a group, next to our uniform jackets and shakos. After everyone has done this, we have 3 rd quarter break. Usually, you will have until 5:00 remain in the 3 rd quarter for break. General policies There is no playing of instruments when not playing a stand tune, warming up, or on the field. It makes us look unprofessional. Only current band members are allowed in the band section. After our halftime show, we kneel at the front sideline and watch the visiting band s show. Please do not make gestures, point, or make any comments that may be construed as rude, or taken the wrong way. We want to support the band and be great with them. Of course, there is no use of tobacco, alcohol, or drugs while you are in any way associated with the band or the school. We stand as a group during the game. 3 rd quarter is your break to sit. If you encounter problems with your uniform (lost articles or buttons, tears, broken seams, etc.), you should immediately report this to the Uniform Manager. Students MUST also travel back to TCHS on provided transportation, UNLESS The parent may sign out a student by turning in a signed note to the director no less than ONE DAY PRIOR TO THE EVENT. No last minute notes will be honored. Students may only leave with the immediate parent or guardian. No brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, grandparents, neighbors, etc. While in uniform We will not use profanity, or be involved in any PDA. This means that bus language needs to kept at a PG level. We will leave the field and the band room knowing that we re professional and that others see us as a professional group of people. We represent Taylor County High School, Mr. Ash, Mrs. Beshears, the band parents and boosters, and all of Taylor County.
Some policies for uniforms: No hair ornaments, or head coverings of any kind. During games, there are times when our shakos are off. Hair must be kept out of the face and pulled back if necessary. Uniforms must be either hung or on your body. Never on the floor or a chair. No wrinkles. We want to look as uniform and sharp as possible, and these policies make this happen! When wearing the uniform: Always have it buttoned and zipped up Gloves white and shoes clean. Either the TCHS Band T-shirt or Polo must be worn Anyone committing two infractions in one game will lose their 3 rd quarter break. Trips Please respect the needs of your fellow band members to rest on late returns. Some of our band members work the mornings following performances. While out of town students will not ride in any private automobiles without permission from the director and having a parent or guardian sign them out. Each student is responsible to see that his or her equipment is loaded at the departure point, after the performance, and unloaded upon return and stored properly. Section leaders will make sure all instruments are loaded before departing. Student Accounts Each student in the TCHS Band Program may maintain a trip account through the Band Boosters. Some of you owe $75. We will pay this in 2 installments October 2, and November 4. Students may add money to their trip account through fundraising efforts or make a direct deposit to the Band Booster Treasurer. This money may only be used for paying band fees or trip payments. In the event of a trip year, students must pay their band fee before they will be allowed to use their trip account money for trip payments. Once a student graduates or leaves the band program, any remaining funds in his/her trip account will be deposited back into the general fund. By law students are unable to receive this amount back, so get it back before you graduate! I may not notice it. If a graduating student has a younger sibling in the TCHS band program they may transfer their money to the sibling s account.
The band room The band room will be kept neat and all belongings will be away from the center of the floor before we leave the room for both home games and away games. Everything has a place in this room. Having your belongings where they belong is part of being part of this group and it is part of your participation grade. Uniforms won t ever be on the floor. There are places around the room to hang up your uniform as you put it on, and take it off. After class, rehearsals, and games, all of your belongings need to be out of the band room. This includes shoes. In the future, you will have lockers to store items in. Drum Major is a student leader. Student Leadership Works closely with the band director in managing activities. You are the liaison between the band and the director. You have the final word in field directives Assists in teaching marching to other members of the band Sets the standard for discipline, bearing, and conduct for the members of the band to follow Adds to the overall showmanship of the band during performance with their own performance as the drum major Takes the band through warm-up exercises Makes sure rehearsals run smoothly and productively Your domain is marching and leading sections of rehearsal that are set by the director. Percussion Captain leading sectionals, making sure your section is prepared before games, managing all equipment. Guard / Majorette Captains & Wind Captain You are student leaders in your sections. Your job is to support and help those who need it. You do inspections before games. The wind captain is in charge of taking attendance during class, rehearsals, and games. Librarians Organizes and maintains the band library. Only these people can use the band library / copy machine.
Grades (half semester) 1. Daily Participation (class and rehearsals)..50% You will earn 100% participation points for doing the following: Being on time Having a pencil, valve oil, reeds, and everything you need. Being quiet during rehearsal Putting equipment back where it goes after rehearsal Not having food, drink, or gum in the band room Not using your cell phone in class Not playing someone else s instrument If these expectations are not followed, your daily participation grade will be dropped by a letter grade for each infraction. 2. Participation at games. 20% You will earn 100% participation points for doing the following: Being on time Being prepared and on time for inspection Not engaging in PDA in uniform Keeping your belongings together during 3 rd quarter break Not playing your instrument when the band isn t doing so Standing the during the game Staying in the stands Following all procedural expectations of the game. (In other words, doing what the group does.) 3. Playing tests.........30% You will be assessed at the end of the marching season. You will be asked to play excerpts from your part, and you will play Ab, Eb, Bb, F, C, and G major scales in one octave. You will be assessed on the following criteria: Expression Intonation and tone quality Technical accuracy
Lyrics to Memorize Taylor County High School Fight Song Washington and Lee Swing Whenever Taylor High comes on the line We re gonna win this game another time For Taylor High I yell, I yell, I yell For Taylor High I yell, I yell, I yell, I yell. We re gonna fight, fight, fight for every yard We re gonna circle in and hit that line real hard We re gonna roll those off the side, off the side Rah, Rah, Rah Hey! Taylor County High School Alma Mater Dear old High School We Love Her Our ideal and Pride We will hold up Her Standards Whatever may betide We will follow Her Colors. Flung out to the Sky. We will give our Hearts Devotion To ole Taylor High.
Eligibility As per TCSD grading policy, students must maintain a 2.0 cumulative grade point average to participate in extracurricular activities. Students who fall below this may not be allowed to attend band events. It is the policy of the Band Director that academics come first. Equipment Each student is responsible for having and maintaining the following: 1. Black Gateway marching shoes (available only through Band Boosters) 2. Black socks (higher than ankle length) 3. TCHS Band T-Shirt (available only through Band Boosters) 4. TCHS Band Polo Shirt (available only through Band Boosters) 5. White long-wrist gloves (available only through Band Boosters) 6. Tux Shirt wing-tip collar (available at Crossroads) 7. Black concert dress (available only through Band Boosters) 8. Closed-toes ladies dress shoes heels of no more than ½ inch Band Administration Directors of Bands, TCHS... John Gardner Guard Sponsor... Terri Clover