The Unofficial Guide for New Marching Band Parents Hickory Ridge High School Band Boosters 7321 Raging Ridge Road P.O. Box 602 Harrisburg, NC 28075
Marching Band 101 A guide for new band parents (and veterans, too). This Booklet is the product of former new band parents who spent a good bit of time in our freshman year in various stages of confusion. In the many hours spent watching practices, picking up our kids and going to competitions we have all felt confused, lost and totally bewildered at one time or another. We hope this document will help ease you through the transition from freshman band parent to veteran band parent. For most of us (parents and students alike), the transition from middle school band programs to high school band programs is huge, especially in marching band. The increased expectations come with greater rewards in terms of your student s accomplishments and the pride you will have in watching their accomplishments. This document is our attempt to share with you some of the finer points of making the most of your freshman year as a band parent. The Marching Band program is supported by a parent-run organization the Hickory Ridge High School Band Boosters (HRHSBB). By having a student in the band program at Hickory Ridge, you are automatically a part of the band booster organization. Parents volunteer their time in order to help provide your students with an enjoyable and rewarding band experience. Please join us on the first Thursday of each month as it is your opportunity to voice your opinions, hear about how you can get more involved and most importantly get to know other parents too. We welcome all new parents and look forward to getting to know you and your students! What is Marching Band Camp? Marching Band Mini-Camp is a smaller, shorter version of the regular Band Camp. This is a very important camp, especially for new members. Students learn the fundamentals of marching and music, and use the time to prepare for both the fall marching season and the Harrisburg July 4 th Parade. In addition, attendance at the camp lets Mr. White know you are committed to marching band before the drill is written, meaning there is an accurate number of students included in the drill. Band camp is conducted in August during the two weeks prior to the start of school. (Specific dates will be given by Mr. White) The staff and students work very hard for about 8 hours a day, five days a week. The scheduled start and stop times may vary from day to day. Mr. White will update the schedules on his school calendar, please check it often as times and dates change. www.cabarrus.k12.nc.us/page/7870 During camp, students learn the music and the marching routine for the fall show. It is a great deal of driving, so we encourage you to carpool with other parents. Parents are asked to donate snacks such as fruit, cereal bars, and Gatorade to help keep the kids hydrated and full of energy. Your student is responsible for having a completed medical and travel forms signed by a parent before starting band camp. The kids get quite a workout. Be prepared for running laps and plenty of sweating. It s an experience most of the kids love to hate. Dress appropriately white t-shirts (suggested that you have 5), shorts, comfortable sneakers, hat,
sunglasses, and sunscreen. Bring a 1 gallon labeled water container unlimited refills are available throughout the day water is your best friend. Band camp culminates with a Family Preview Night on the last Friday for the band families. It s great fun to come out and see how far the kids have come in just two weeks. A booster meeting will be scheduled that evening so you can meet other band parents, the staff, and the booster organization. There is another major benefit of camp when your freshman marching band student arrives for the first day of high school, he or she will already be a part of a well-respected group and will have a whole new group of friends (across all grades) to help with the transition into high school. Help Needed During marching season, the students need many hands behind the scenes to make their show successful. As your student enters high school, this is one of the few opportunities you may have to stay involved with their activities. They realize very quickly that Marching Band doesn t happen without a lot of parental support. The boosters will be looking for parents to: Provide snacks during band camp. Help distribute water to band members during football games and competitions as a Chaperone. Help get equipment on and off the field during half-time shows and competitions as the Roadies. Help with uniform fittings and alteration. Chaperone trips to competitions. Any other special talents or skills you have to offer the program! (sewing, business connections for snacks, food and drink etc.) You are also encourage to be on a committee; Fundraising, Alterations, Marketing, Chaperone, Roadie, etc. You can assist with all football games and/or competitions as a roadie or chaperone, head up a single fundraiser or help with all of them, help with measurement and alteration of marching band uniforms and/or take measurements for spring formals, or donate time, snacks and/or supplies for band camp there are so many opportunities to get involved. Please see a Board Member with questions or to volunteer. Marching Band Season The Marching Band season starts as band camp ends. Practice continues after school during the week. Each week, Mr. White will have a set practice schedule which is given out at the beginning of band season (note that it is subject to change) or can be viewed on the website. Football Games The band performs their show at half-time of all home football games (Friday evenings), as well as playing in the stands during the game. The band has a roped off section in the stands and many of the band parents sit together near the band a great opportunity to get to know other parents. The band will also travel to away games with occasionally just a smaller pep band performing. Parents are encouraged to fill out the necessary forms to assist as Chaperones. We also sell donuts as a fundraiser at the end of home football games, so parents are asked to volunteer at the start of 4 th quarter. Competitions The Marching Band competes against other high school bands on most Saturdays in the fall beginning in August and running through the middle of October. Most of the competitions are local and one or two
may be out of town. You will be asked to provide funds for your child s meals (approx. $10) at competition site. If you are not chaperoning for the competition, you will need to get your student to the school at call time and pick them up after the performance when we return to the school. Carpooling is encouraged once again. Uniforms Your student will be issued a marching uniform consisting of jacket, pants (called bibbers), shako (head covering please don t call it a hat) and gloves. Guard uniforms are issued as well. Students must pay an additional fee for their own shoes and any additional gloves but may use money earned in fundraising to offset this cost. Each student also needs to provide black socks. The shoes and gloves will belong to the student. If lost, there will be a replacement charge. Reminder that all uniforms are property of Hickory Ridge Bands and must be cleaned and returned at end of season. Shoes and formals can be purchased through fundraising. Extra gloves cannot. Fundraising All Fundraising money is credited to your student s CHARMS account. (CHARMS is the account management program for student funds) There are two types of Student Accounts in the band program: Student Commitment Account and Student Trip Account. The Student Commitment Account can be used to pay off individual student s Commitment Fees for Marching Band, Winter Guard, Winter Percussion, and Required Band related equipment, for example Marching Band Shoes, and Concert Formal Wear. Please note that Classroom fees CANNOT be paid from this account. The Student Trip Account is used only for individual student s Band Trip Fees. This account can be used to pay for the 8th Grade Band Trip and the High School Band Trip. PLEASE NOTE: When you sign up to participate in a fundraising opportunity, you will sign in and designate where your funds should be allocated trip or commitment. Each child is registered with a CHARMS account by the Band Booster Treasurer. Once your fundraising earnings are posted in CHARMS to either your student s Commitment Account or Trip Account, they CANNOT be moved. All Fundraising money is credited to your student s Commitment or Trip account. Please visit Mr. White s faculty page on the Hickory Ridge High School web site for a link to CHARMS. Other than Fundraising - Payments options accepted are cash and checks. Questions should be discussed with the Hickory Ridge High School Band Booster Treasurer. All Marching fees must be current before student can participate in other band related ensembles. Fundraising opportunities for offsetting Commitment fees, Trip costs and to provide money for the general fund are available. The General Fund is the account that supplements the operating costs of the Band. Without the General Fund, the Band cannot function successfully. The General Fund is monies earned specifically to offset other expenses of the band programs. A budget is developed and approved by the Board to account for revenues and their use. All fees are used for band related expenses such as music licenses, band staff fees, competition fees, travel expenses for attending competitions, uniform cleaning, etc. This budget is presented at a Band Booster General Meeting for approval by the members. Fundraising activities are strictly voluntary and not a condition of your student s participation in any of the music
programs. However, understand your Commitment Fees only partially cover the expenses incurred in running our outstanding Hickory Ridge Bands Program. Please try to participate as much as you can in any of opportunities that support our Program. Emails will come out regularly as volunteer opportunities arise, so check your email often spots are filled on a first response basis. If you are not receiving emails, please contact the Band Booster Secretary. PNC Amphitheater We provide volunteers to work concert events. We primarily serve alcohol. You must be TEAM trained to work at the Amphitheater. You also must be at least 21 to work these events. Earnings vary depending on concert. TEAM Training Classes will be announced as they become available. Attire: You must wear black shorts and closed toed shoes. PNC will provide you with a shirt for the event that will then be turned back in that night before you leave. Helpful Hints to save you time, gas and grief Mr. White, the staff and the booster organization want this to be a positive experience for all the students and their families. Here are some helpful hints (learned from our own experiences): o BEST Way to communicate with Mr. White for questions is AFTER rehearsal, or anytime via email (that way he can respond at any time). o Hold your child responsible for being prepared. The first time they forget something will likely be the last. They really do learn to be resourceful when they have to be. o If you are early, you are on time. If you are on time, you are late. If you are late, get ready for push-ups. This means that students are expected to arrive for scheduled practice about 15 minutes early so they are in position and ready to rehearse at the scheduled start time. If start time is 6:00 p.m., plan to arrive by 5:45 p.m. o When you pick up your child from practice, it is recommended that you try to be there early: o First, you ll get to see the band run through their program. o Second, you can listen to the dismissal. There are usually announcements about what is new and what has changed. Also a great opportunity to meet other parents. o Mr. White and the instruction staff try very hard to end practice at the scheduled time. Occasionally practice may run over. Please be patient.it s usually for a very good reason. o Network Take the opportunity to meet other parents (after practice, at games & competitions, fundraising activities, etc.). This is how we all met each other. It is also the best way to get helpful hints on band parenting from others. o Be prepared to cheer! The band loves it when they have their own cheering section at games and competitions. o Don t hesitate to ask any of the veteran band parents or HRHSBB Board Members. We ve all been there and no question is a dumb question. o Black Socks, Black Socks, Black Socks
HRHSBB Board Members 2017-2018 President- Greg Lilly Vice President of Operations- Treasurer- Theresa Alexander Secretary- Tricia Heffner Fundraising- Kent Shuford Marketing/Public Relations- Tricia Malmut Head Chaperone- Sherry Lilly Head Roadie- Maria Romeo