Do you have to be in concert program during the day to join Marching Band (or Color Guard, Winter Guard, Winter Percussion, etc...)?
Your student is strongly encouraged to join the curricular Concert Band programs. We understand that with the STEM Academies, increasing graduation requirements and other educational opportunities at the P-CEP, it is not always possible to fit music programs in a student's school schedule. Contact one of the directors if you are experiencing an issue fitting a Concert Band class into your schedule.
The Marching Band spends a lot of time in rehearsal. Won't my student's grades suffer?
This is a common concern among new parents. The reality is the students' grades are usually higher during the marching season than they are after. The kids learn to manage their time, and the older students help look after the younger ones. The average grade point average of band students is consistently higher than the P-CEP population as a whole.
In addition, as an extracurricular activity the marching band falls under the athletic eligibility rules. The band directors monitor student’s grades to ensure they are permitted to continue to participate and will intervene if there is a problem, though the need rarely arises.
My eighth grader wants to join Marching Band, but he is already involved in other activities in the spring that prevent him/her from attending rehearsals or other events at the high school. Does that mean he can't join?
We firmly believe students should experience and enjoy their final months of middle school. Continue to participate in your activities and join us at the end of those seasons. Contact our New Member Representative or one of our directors (listed on the contacts page) to let them know your situation and they'll hold a spot open for your student.
I see that rehearsals for marching band have already started - is it too late to join?
It depends on how far we are into the season, but the answer is usually we can still work the student into the program. This is a fairly common question in September right after school begins. We can certainly invite your student to join us at that time.
How do I join the marching band?
Officially, once the marching band budget has been approved, the boosters will release a participation agreement that includes the fee schedule and rules for participating. Your student may not participate in any performance or travel with the band unless the agreement and other necessary paperwork has been signed and turned in.
Unofficially, come to rehearsal! Let our directors know of your student’s desire to learn more about the program and they will greet them and invite them to participate. Parents are encouraged to contact our New Member Representative (listed on the contacts page)to get more information about the program.
We didn't know about the summer practices before we scheduled our vacation - do we need to cancel our plans?
Certainly not - enjoy your family time! All we ask is that if your student is in town that s/he attend rehearsals. We cover a lot of ground at each practice and we don't want your student to fall too far behind. We also don't want anyone to get hurt because they didn't know where they were supposed to be and get run into by another marcher.
My student told me they reworked a show segment they just spent a week learning - why do they keep changing things?
This is the nature of a competitive marching program. In fact, the show will keep changing right up to the last performance. This can sometimes be frustrating for a new marcher, but they learn to adjust to it fairly quickly. In some cases the directors are reacting to comments from judges. In any case, the directors will continually tweak the show so the kids can enjoy the best performance possible.
My student is having a hard time with Marching Band and is thinking of quitting. What should I tell him/her?
There is no doubt that there will be some tough times marching for a highly competitive marching band. Overall, the good far outweighs the bad. Like any endeavor worth pursuing in life, there will be some difficult times to be endured in order to achieve success.
Keep in mind the payoff toward the end of the season is huge. Being a part of a team that executes at a high level front of hundreds or thousands is an experience that cannot be replicated and will never be forgotten. Encourage your student to stick with it - it will be worth it!
You should also encourage your student to talk to the directors. They may be able to assist with any specific issues or explain why they are doing what they are doing. There is a purpose behind their actions.
All that being said, it is surprisingly difficult to get the students to go home at the end of rehearsal. Even during an all day rehearsal on Saturday, they are charged up and having fun.
I see there is a performance on the day of my student's homecoming dance. Can s/he skip the performance to go to homecoming?
No, every marcher needs to be at every performance. The directors will clear the schedule the day of one of the homecoming dances every year to ensure everyone has the opportunity to participate. All the band students will attend the same homecoming regardless of which is their home school.
When are the competitions?
Competitions take place on Saturday afternoons or evenings. The dates are posted on the calendar when they are scheduled.
There are no competitions or rehearsals on Sundays.
My student has a new manicure and nice jewelry. Why does it have to be removed before the marching band performance? Is purple hair ok? What about at rehearsals?
The uniform is more than the physical components like the jacket and pants. The goal of the uniform is to present the band visually as a single cohesive unit. Painted nails, rings, or anything else that can draw attention to an individual marcher breaks that visual element. To ensure that consistent appearance, students must remove all nail polish and jewelry. The only exception to this rule is the band necklace students receive at band camp.
This requirement for uniformity also applies to hair - for both boys and girls. Hair should be a natural color and should not be visible when wearing the shakos (the marching hat). Long hair, for both boys and girls, must be pinned up to keep it from showing under the rim.
The kids are welcome to have jewelry and painted nails during rehearsals, including band camp.