Marching Band Methods

1
Marching Band Methods
PROJECT

• A System for BAND CAMP!

DATE
CLASS
FEB. 22, 2012
MUSIC 266
2
The Purpose of Band Camp....

• Most vital weeks of the year!
• Sets the tone for the program and the entire year
  - keep this in mind as you get your first job...
• Determine your needs and what you want to get
  accomplished. What are your goals?
• If you can get the school, the students, and the
  parents to buy in and have FUN with band camp,
  you are well on your way!

3
Goals!

• TEACHING THE SYSTEM!!
• Fundamentals of Music and Movement. Establish
  your FOUNDATION!
• Learn the Show, part of the show, good marching,
  what will be set at the end of camp?
• Establishing good rehearsals, consistency, and
  standards of excellence
• Dont forget the details - Stand tunes? National
  Anthem? Fight Song? Parade music/sequence?
  Cadences? Traditions?
• This is a chance to bring the band together - to
  re-establish the good habits of the past, build
  up your emerging student leaders, welcome the new
  members into the band, raise the bar for your
  program.
• Camp can also be fun - break it up with some
  social activities. Let your band get to know each
  other. Structure recreation and team-building.

4
Band Camp at School?

• Pros - Use of facilities, No extra costs, Easier
  to get part time staff, Parent help
• Cons - Students leave, not as much bonding,
  absence for appointments, work, Nutrition

5
Band Camp Away?

• Can be at a College, Church Camp, Team Building
  Camp, Other organized facility
• Pros - Esprit dcorps, No disruptions and
  complete focus, Can get more done,Better
  Facilities, Social Activities, Everyone eats
• Cons - , Extra staff that needs to commit to
  the whole time, Chaperones, Medical Staff,
  Transportation

6
Organize to Optimize!

• Organization is the key to your success!
• Have everything mapped out including Notes for
  your first meeting, Seating assignments for
  indoor rehearsal, Marching Blocks for outside,
  schedules for everyone, music ready, drill ready,
  lesson plans for each instructional episode, a
  plan for leadership, a plan for staff, a plan for
  parent volunteers, facility reservations, meals,
  transportation, EVERYTHING!!! Wing it and DIE....

7
Organize Printed Schedules

• EVERYBODY gets a copy
• Every minute is scheduled and accounted for
• Allow time for set up, tear down, transport
• Intelligently schedule Indoor/Outdoor rehearsals,
  downtime, and recreation time
• Include Schedule in a Pre-Camp Summer Newsletter

8
Organize Equipment

• DOES IT ALL WORK??(Check this months in advance)
• Check all electronics - Dr. Beat, PA System,
  Tuners, Batteries, Boom Boxes for Auxiliary
• Is all the drill and music copied and placed in
  labeled folders? Extras on hand?
• CYA - Medical forms, releases, allergies, first
  aid, signed syllabus/handbook, expectations

9
Organize Equipment

• Field - Is is painted? Correctly??? Ladders
  working? Podium Death Traps? Do you have yard
  line markers? Are you using marked zero points or
  idiot sticks?
• Working TV/DVD to show band examples of good
  marching
• Also show band pyware drill with music
• Sunscreen?
• Water? Schedule water breaks!!!!
• Does the guard have silks, poles, weights,
  tape/velcro, music?

10
Communication

• Summer Newsletter with Schedule!
• Have a website and listserv (separate for parents
  and students
• Order any transportation before the spring term
  is over
• Have facilities reserved in the winter
• Remind Athletic Director, Football Coach,
  Principal

11
Communication

• Band Boosters - Have Summer meetings, Schedule
  fundraisers, make arrangements for chaperones,
  establish your pit and equipment crews, use them
  effectively!
• Meet with incoming freshmen in the spring. Have
  a freshmen welcome with parents in the summer.
  Recruit your butt off with your feeder program -
  be visible and know the names of the students
  coming in.

12
Instructional Staff

• Make sure duties and expectations are clear to
  you staff - camp duties, season duties
• Need Percussion and Guard
• Caption Heads appropriate to size of the band -
  ex. Woodwinds, Brass, Front Ensemble, Visual
  Tech, Music Tech, Arranger, Guard choreographer,
  Dance instructor, Drill Writer
• Make sure you are able to pay who you hire.
• Approve all hires through your school district
  and principal and make sure they have background
  checks.
• Use the local universities for staff and caption
  heads
• Use alumni in the area who may be majoring in
  music or in the college band
• Have shirts and other equipment ready for the
  staff before they get to camp
• Staff needs constant supervision and established
  meeting times with you.

13
Detailed Camp Schedule Assignment

• Read and Study Pages 188 - 191 of your book.
• Create a detailed schedule for your bands camp
  as shown in the book. Every minute has to be
  accounted for. Every lesson and activity needs
  to be listed. Your schedule should have a logical
  flow and variance from day 1 to day 5. Schedules
  will be graded on detail, clarity, organization,
  logic, and completeness.
• Create the schedule for your last week of camp
  only (5 days) - I need a new schedule each day.
  Indicate goals for the day at the top of each
  schedule.
• Create a separate document What To Bring To Band
  Camp and Rules, Guidelines, and Expectations for
  Band Camp.
• Your Camps will be held at your school.
• Due Feb 28th

14
Homework

• Detailed Schedule - Due Feb 28th
• Read p.188 - 191, and Chapter 8 (except for drill
  design portion)