The official season begins tomorrow.  Pre-camp is traditionally the hardest week for the students (especially the newbies) as it focuses on learning so many basic things.  They are setting the foundation.  Band camp is also tons of work but they get free time in the evenings, they hang out with their friends, and have fun in addition to the hard work they are doing each day.  They also begin to see progress...how that drill starts to shape the show and they realize that they CAN march and play music at the same time.  I asked my son if he was going to enjoy marching band this year (it's his third year) and he said, "Yeah, in the end."  My point in sharing that is to show that all this hard work now definitely pays off in the end.  You will be able to see the show in its infancy on Friday, August 12 after band camp and you will be able to watch it morph throughout the season to its final finished product at Nationals in November.  It will change dramatically from the first home football game to each competition, and finally to State and even Nationals in Indy.   

​Notes about pre-camp:
​~ Runs Mon-Thurs from 8-4pm with an hour for lunch which is NOT provided.  Some older kids will go to local fast food
​locations while many others bring a sack lunch and stay at school.
~ Bring your dot book and a string to attach it to yourself, a pencil...etc
​~ Don't forget water, a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen

​Thinking ahead to BAND CAMP
​Information about band camp will eventually be posted jenisonbands.org under the "NEWS" section.  Your child should also bring the information home this week so ask for it if it doesn't find it's way to you.  Here are a couple items you may want to prepare ahead for...
​Extra socks - 2 pair/day in case your students feet get wet from dew, rain, sweat, etc.  Marching all day in wet socks is NOT a good idea (no one wants blisters on day 1)
​Khaki shorts for the Friday performance - Athletic shorts for the daily practices
​Large box fan (one per room so have your student and his/her roommate decide who will bring one)
​Extra deodorant or Gold Bond powder - hot summer days with constant motion can really irritate the inner thighs for some.  Either of the above can help. 

​Also, remember there is a BAND PICNIC Tuesday evening 8/2 @6pm at Hagar Park.  It's at the little cabin on the south side of the park near 28th Ave.  Hope to see you there!

We've made it through mini-camp, had a few weeks off, and now we begin the regular schedule of weekly practices.  For the month of July all rehearsals are mandatory for those who are in town, but students are excused if they are on vacation, at camp, etc.  Please just remember to have a parent communicate these absences to the band directors.  Rehearsals are every Monday and Tuesday from 6-9pm for all students (winds, percussion, and color guard).  Some groups have additional practices outside of this, your student should know when these practices are being held.  Here are a few things to be thinking about as we begin the season...

​1.  Outdoor practice:  It's a good idea for students to wear breathable clothing for their outdoor practices because it's HOT!  Athletic shorts instead of jean shorts are a good idea.  They will definitely want these for band camp so why not use them during the weeks leading up to it as well.  Also remember a gallon sized water jug, sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses.  They practice a lot on the asphalt parking lot and the turf...both radiate heat.  Good running shoes are also important.

​2.  Uniform fittings:  Over the next three weeks the students are assigned a day to come early (5-6pm) to get fitted for their marching band uniform.  The schedule for this can be found on the "NEWS" section of the band website but here's a link http://jenisonbands.org/news/ .  It is not necessary for a parent to attend with your student but you are welcome to if you'd like.  There is a charge for some items (like shoes, gloves, band t-shirt, shako box...) if your child does not already have these items.  This will either be charged to your credits or your student will bring home a slip of paper telling how much they owe. 

3. Items to purchase:  It's time to be thinking ahead to pre-camp (8/1-8/4) and band camp (8/8-8/12),  Your child will need a dot book (spiral bound 3x5 cards), a pencil, and a shoestring (to tie the dot book to them) by pre-camp.  Additionally, make sure your student has khaki shorts for the last day of band camp.  This is part of the uniform they wear for the community performance Friday evening. 

​Let's end with a couple definitons:
​The "winds" include students who play any instrument that you blow into...essentially everything except percussion.  During marching band, percussion is broken into two groups, the front ensemble which is located traditionally at the front of the field and remains stationary during the show, and the drum line which includes the bass drums, tenors, and snares.  The drum line also marches during the show.

​A "shako" is the hat that the students wear as part of their uniform.  The students will receive a shako (and the box to store it in) at their uniform fitting.  The plumes (feathery things) are handed out prior to performances and returned after for safe keeping. 
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