New Band Parent Survival Guide
Here are a few items we’ve collected to help you become a bit more familiar with the many new experiences you’ll be exposed to throughout the High School Band year. Most are taken from the collective memory of some of the veteran parents, and are offered here in the hope they can answer some of your questions…..perhaps before they even come to mind.
Our Number One Advice
Ask questions. Lots of questions. The other literature you’ve received or will receive lists an array of phone numbers. Whether it’s one of the adult band leaders, a chairperson of one of the many booster committees, or a Band Booster Board Representative for your student’s grade level, you’ll find plenty of friendly folks anxious to talk about band and answer any of your questions.
Mr. Royer can be reached through the school, via email (larry_royer@l-spioneers.org). Mr. Royer’s email address is larry_royer@l-spioneers.org. Kathy Fritz, President of the Band Boosters, can be reached at her email address (ftginc.verizon.net).
Practice
Many times at the end of practice, the band will go through the entire field show, or as much as they have learned to date. Coming 15 minutes early for pick-up can give you a good idea of what the show looks like, and how much the band has accomplished to date. It’s a great way to stay in touch with the work your student musicians are doing each night.
Rain and Mud are a Uniform’s Worst Enemy
There are times when field conditions are so sloppy that the band will perform in alternate uniforms…..meaning nice blue jeans and their band t-shirt. This doesn’t happen often, but it could come up. We’ve also performed in this same uniform if we had a competition the next day, and weather was threatening on Friday night.
Uniform Expectations
The Handbook is the best source for information on this subject. You and your son or daughter should understand that the official T-Shirt is to be worn underneath the uniform. On warm evenings, the band members may be allowed to remove their uniform tops. If everyone wears their official band T-Shirt, we’ll continue to maintain a uniform dress.
Some other tips:
-It’s important to hang these uniforms up after use.
-The raincoats are an important part of the formula for keeping warm, but sometimes aren’t enough. Having a warm sweatshirt or fleece around is a good idea on cold nights.
-White socks are encouraged. Again, it’s part of the uniform look.
-Here’s one taken from years of experience with these uniforms: white undergarments are strongly recommended. Need we say more?
-White Band Shoes can be made to look like new by using an old toothbrush and a little “Soft Scrub” and water.
Football Games
The home team’s band plays the pre-game. That means that about 20 minutes or so before kick-off, the band will begin their performance. Away games….we play at half time. In the past, if a special on-field event like Homecoming ceremonies occupy half time, we switch this order with the visiting school. And if we only play a partial show to make room for these kinds of on-field events, many times the band will perform the entire show following the conclusion of the home game. This is at the discretion of the band director.
Directions to the away games will be posted in a designated area in or around the band room in the High School. Some have been included with this packet of information, as well.
Competition Items
Most Friday/Saturday Football Game performances are fairly standard affairs. Competition routines, however, can change from one performance to another! You’ll need to help your son or daughter stay on top of the changing schedule.
Practices on Competition Day
Generally the band will hold a sizable pre-event practice at the high school on the day of the competition. Band members may be asked to show up for a mid-morning or early afternoon practice on days when we don’t take the field in competition until 9PM. Most times the Band Boosters will provide a meal for them, and that’s where your help may be needed. If your student has any special dietary needs, please let us know in advance. Preparation, serving, clean-up are all part of the work we do to help get our musicians fed and on their way. So if you get a call from a committee looking for contributions of food items or muscle power, please do your part! Better yet, save them the call…and volunteer today.
Competition Organization Membership
Lampeter-Strasburg belongs to the “Tournament of Bands” (TOB) association. We participate in a number (but not all) of their weekend competitions. These competitions are organized by clustering bands with similar numbers of members into “conferences.” We are in “Group 4.” These competitions can be day-long affairs. But generally they are “run by the clock,” and TOB will give us a very good idea when our conference should begin our portion of the competition. In fact, at some of the larger competitions, the crowd is emptied from the stadium, and a new audience is admitted to the stands. It’s great to watch your entire conference compete, but watch out for those competitions that clear the stands after every conference!
Competition Attendance
Because of our strong support, historically the spectator stands at LS competitions have been a sea of blue and white. The band definitely sees the parents in the stands, and appreciates your support. But be careful. Contain your enthusiasm to times we aren’t actually playing. One time judges actually commented that they couldn’t hear our band perform above the parent’s applause/cheers. That wasn’t a very proud moment in Booster Club history, for sure.
Chaperones
Want a free bus ride and admission to a competition? Sign up to be a chaperone! Check out the committee line up, and give the committee chairs a call.
Candy-Grams
The schools that host these competitions almost always set up a stand to sell “candy-grams.” A Hershey bar, a bag of Skittles, or a pack of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are typical “candy-grams,” available for purchase. Many times these stands also sell cut flowers. Most of these items sell for $1. For your dollar, they’ll give you a sticker for you to write your child’s name, school and a short message. Stick it on the candy bar, or the base of the flower….and give it back to the people in the booth. They’ll collect them by school, and your gift of encouragement will be delivered to your son or daughter. They generally, if not always, get their candy-grams delivered after they have competed. They are very popular items, a great way to help out our fellow booster clubs, and kids love to get them.
ACC Competition
ACC stands for Atlantic Coast Championship. It’s the end of the year championship competition that is somewhat like the Super Bowl for TOB. It's held at Lackawana County Stadium in Wilkes-Barre. That's a multi level stadium with artificial turf. Depending on our placement in this multi-band competition, we may be in for a very early Saturday or Sunday morning departure, or a very late arrival home on one of those evenings!
Other Assorted Notes:
Senior Recognition Night
Following the band season (usually sometime in November), we hold this night to recognize the Senior members of the Marching Band, and their parents. But this night isn’t just for Seniors. All band members and their families are strongly encouraged to attend this night of fun, food and memories. So don’t let your freshman tell you that night’s “only for Seniors.” It’s definitely not. And as parent’s, you really need to experience several of these nights….because tradition has it that you’ll be asked to construct a poster of childhood (band) memories for your Senior when the time comes, as well as finding that one “special” photo from their childhood that you’d like to share with everyone in the auditorium. So get a taste of the evening this year, then start browsing through your photo albums and making notes. And before we forget to mention the entertainment provided by the parents….it truly is unforgettable! Please make plans to attend!
Tag Day
Set aside Saturday, September 9th for this annual tradition at L-S. Tag Day is an annual fund-raising effort where our entire band, in uniform, spreads out across the school district, requesting monetary support for the band. In return for their generous support, we invite the community to a special “Tag Day Appreciation Night Performance” at the High School football field. It used to be an all-morning affair, followed by lunch, and then band practice until late afternoon. But, realizing that we weren’t completely covering the entire school district with only a morning effort, our “Tag Day” collection has expanded to an all day affair.
On a volunteer note: Band members are generally paired in groups of 2….with a few groups in each adult volunteer’s car. This is one of the largest groups of parent volunteers we need for a single day event during the year. Please consider donating your time (and car!) to escort our students to their assigned areas, and supervising their activities for the day. Help make this massive undertaking and organization of volunteers and band members a reality.
Band Student Handbook
Have you seen your son or daughter’s Student Handbook? They have one…and it’s loaded with other important information you really need to know about. Please read through the handbook as soon as you can.
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