Mini Camp
Wondering what to expect for your kids at mini camp? Expect your kids will be nervous, unsure and excited. Oh, and expect them to come back exhausted and maybe a bit tan (or burnt depending on if they applied sunscreen well enough)
The purpose of Mini Band Camp is to learn the foundations and basics of marching band. Also, it is an opportunity for the incoming freshmen to become familiar with the school, the students, and how high school band is run. Students will learn marching basics, the beloved “clap, clap” and get to know other students and staff in their sections. It is completely normal for the kids to feel overwhelmed and worried they won’t “get it”. But the great thing is, with as much practice as they will get, they will be professionals in no time!
The Clap Clap exercise is for body coordination. Marching Band is so much more than just playing an instrument or throwing flags, and they use Clap Clap as a way to introduce some basic dance terminology to the students and to get them used to moving their bodies in specific ways. So when they learn their drill (coordinates and movements on the field), their bodies will be ready for these movements.
Now for a few do’s and don’ts for mini camp (and pre/band/post camp)
Rudy is too cool for sunscreen or a hat. Don’t be a Rudy. (bring and apply lots of sunscreen, chapstick with SPF too) You will see lots of “booney” hats. You can find them on Amazon for every price point. Highly recommend them
Wondering what to expect for your kids at mini camp? Expect your kids will be nervous, unsure and excited. Oh, and expect them to come back exhausted and maybe a bit tan (or burnt depending on if they applied sunscreen well enough)
The purpose of Mini Band Camp is to learn the foundations and basics of marching band. Also, it is an opportunity for the incoming freshmen to become familiar with the school, the students, and how high school band is run. Students will learn marching basics, the beloved “clap, clap” and get to know other students and staff in their sections. It is completely normal for the kids to feel overwhelmed and worried they won’t “get it”. But the great thing is, with as much practice as they will get, they will be professionals in no time!
The Clap Clap exercise is for body coordination. Marching Band is so much more than just playing an instrument or throwing flags, and they use Clap Clap as a way to introduce some basic dance terminology to the students and to get them used to moving their bodies in specific ways. So when they learn their drill (coordinates and movements on the field), their bodies will be ready for these movements.
Now for a few do’s and don’ts for mini camp (and pre/band/post camp)
Rudy is too cool for sunscreen or a hat. Don’t be a Rudy. (bring and apply lots of sunscreen, chapstick with SPF too) You will see lots of “booney” hats. You can find them on Amazon for every price point. Highly recommend them
Martha brings her cute little Starbucks tumbler to drink out of. Don’t be a Martha. Bring at least a 64 oz water jug. Load it up with ice/water. Drink often, refill and repeat.
Cecil wants to wear his Crocs. Running/athletic shoes/socks are mandatory. Don’t be Cecil (even if they are marching band themed Crocs) No flip flops, sandals...don’t even think about it.
One final I hope more obvious essential:
When my oldest began band, I had no idea what some of these band terms meant, having not been a band kid myself. So I thought I would leave you with a few definitions that might help.
Marching Band Glossary:
Auxiliary: Another term for the Guard.
Battery: Marching Band percussion section that carries drums and marches; is comprised of snare drums, bass drums, and tenors (see Tenors).
Bibs: Black overall type pants.
Brass: Trumpets, Mellophones, Horns, Euphoniums, Baritones, Trombones, Sousaphones and Tubas. All the shiny instruments that don’t have reeds.
Dots/Dot book: A small notebook utilized by marching bands in order to aid the learning of formations on the field. The little book they keep all the crazy scribbles about the marching band steps, looks like secret code.
Drill: Is the actual choreography of the show. It involves development of the patterns in which the band will march while playing the show music. The drill is written with each band member represented by a specific dot. If a band member is not available for a show, it creates a hole where the dot is and affects the visual aspect of the performance. Each dot is essential to each performance!
Drum Major(s): Student conductor(s) who direct the marching band as it plays.
Drumline: The entire percussion section of the Marching Band; includes both the PIT and the Battery.
Gauntlet: The cuff that is placed at the bottom of uniform sleeves.
Guard: A group of students who add color and style to marching band performances with flags and other props. Also known as Auxiliary, the term originally used for the flag/rifle carriers who stood at the front of a marching show. Evolved into modern color guard when dance and decorative flags were added.
Marimba: Percussion instrument; a type of xylophone.
Mellophone: Marching french horn.
Metronome: Devise which adulates and visually represents the tempo or steady beat. Can be purchased at music stores or added to electronic devices using an app. Think tick, tick, tick, tick.
Percussion: Any striking instrument, not just drums.
Pit: Marching band percussion section (percussion instrument team) that does not march (plays on the sidelines), comprised of instruments such as tympani, marimbas, gongs, etc.
Pit Crew: Parents who help move percussion equipment out to the field for competition.
Plume: Feather adornment worn on the Shako with the marching band uniform.
Quads: set of 4 connected drums carried by member of the battery
Section Leader: Appointed by the band directors to be in charge of his/her section of the band.
Shako: Hat worn during competition.
Sousaphone: Another term for the Tuba.
Tenors: Set of 5-6 connected drums carried by members of the Battery.
Winds: Flutes, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon and Saxophone.
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