Marching Band Survival Guide

Tips and guidelines to help a new member of the Amador Valley Marching Band and Color Guard

Table of Contents

Introduction ...... 1 Band Do’s and Don’ts ...... 2 What You Need to Succeed ...... 4 Mapping It Out ...... 5 Drink Up and Eat Up ...... 6 Decoding the Drum Majors ...... 8 The Field is Alive with the Sound of Music ...... 12 Looking the Part ...... 15 Colorguard ...... 16 Cool and Calm at Competitions ...... 18 What Does Band Mean to You? ...... 20 Age Old Advice ...... 22 Mr. Grantham Favorites ...... 24 FAQ ...... 25 Glossary ...... 27

Thank you to all the Amador Band members, past and present, who contributed to this guide. Your help was greatly appreciated!

Tess Kenny April, 2014

The first step, the first set, the first show, the first season--all milestones that make marching band an experience to remember.

While all new members of band deserve to experience these adventures on their own, they also deserve a bit of guidance. Sometimes, a new experience can be daunting. You don’t know what is going to happen, who you are going to meet, or how much you will learn. Although everyone jumps into this program with some level of uncertainty and excitement, you also take a leap of faith, hoping you will do your best and work harder than ever. This book will help you take that leap of faith knowing the ins and outs of band, and what it takes to succeed. Whether you want to know all about band camp, or the exhilaration of your first competition, this book will help you take your first step, know your first set, perform your first show, and love your first season.

Band Do’s

 Use please and thank you. (This will get you far not only in band, but in life)  Be confident--everyone is just as nervous as you are!  Don't worry about looking dorky at practice; the sunburns aren't worth it.  Try your hardest--that is all anyone expects.  Show up on time and ready to go.  Have a good attitude!  Relax and have fun! (If you aren’t having fun, it isn’t worth it!)  Try new things (band council, winter percussion/guard, drum major, honor bands, or wind ensemble); you get what you give!  Play loud (especially if you play clarinet!)  Wear thick-soled sports shoes.  Always ask questions, even if you think it's a dumb question. More often than not, someone will have the same one!  Always pay attention to staff when they are giving advice and directions.  Listen to your section leader.  Come with a smile!  Be a good sport!

Band Don’ts

 Do not wear white socks to band practice!  If you have two instruments, do not use your concert instrument for marching band!  Do not wear shoes without support! The turf burns right through.  Don't argue with upperclassmen (even if you think they're wrong). There's a difference between suggesting something and questioning their judgment. Make sure to find the balance.  Do not wear jeans to band practice.

 Do not lock your knees for a long period of time while you are standing.  Don’t walk into your house without shaking out the turf in your shoes.

 Do not expect your parents to be responsible for your equipment or schedule. You need to be on top of things—it is your activity!  Do not be late. And remember, to be early is to be on time.

What You Need to Succeed

 Always have a hat, even if you feel like you're too cool for one. It’s good to have the option.  People do faint! It is not a myth!  Bring a towel to cover your instrument on hot days!  You have probably heard that it gets hot during band camp. The temperature is regularly over 100o, so be prepared.  Even at the smallest chance of rain, bring extra clothes and a rain jacket.  Even in the summer, bring layers in case it gets cold. It will get cold once the sun goes down.  Sunscreen!  Always bring a pencil. Better yet, bring a bunch of pencils for those who forget; you will make many friends!  Later in the season, bring gloves.  Sunglasses!  A band binder with all of your warm-ups and music.  Chapstick!  Extra reeds or valve oil.

Mapping it Out

Sometimes you may need some guidance getting around Amador’s campus, so this map can be your key to being where you need to be at all times.

Drink up

 YOU MUST HAVE WATER.

 GET A WATER COOLER—at least ½ gallon size.

 Do not drink too much water at one time. Space it out so that you don’t feel sick during practice.

 During the breaks that are given to you, drink water even if you don’t feel like you need to. Hydration is key!

 Bring iced water--it will melt throughout the day and become a refreshing drink in the afternoon.

Eat up

 Always eat a healthy meal with a lot of protein before any band practice. Practice in the sun with an empty stomach could easily tire you out and make you feel fatigued.  If you bring snacks, either bring a lot or hide them, because people will take them from you!  Try an organized potluck with your friends! They are super fun and an easy way to get a good mixture of food.  Breakfast:  Foods that include a lot of proteins, grains, fruits or vegetables.  Lunch:  You may not want to eat TOO much at lunch or else you will feel sick.  You can choose to go off campus to eat lunch, but know that you have a limited time to rest and take a break.  Eat things like protein bars or trail mix that will keep you energized for the rest of the day.  DO NOT DRINK SODA!  Dinner:  The same tips that were mentioned for lunch apply to dinner.  You typically have a longer break at dinner time, and you can choose to go home.  Use this time to eat a good, healthy meal.  Rest! The evenings are when you get tired, and you need all the energy you can get.

Decoding the Drum Majors

You are used to sitting down and watching the conductor, but marching at the same time is a whole new skill. As long as you take a step each time the drum majors finish moving in a direction, you can stay on time. The diagrams on the following pages will give you a preview of what you will be seeing on the field.

The Field is Alive with the Sound of Music

 Do not wait to start learning your music! Sooner is always better than later—start over the summer, before band camp.  Always, always, always have your dot book!  “Your dot book is your life.”  Always have your dot book filled out and up-to-date.  Have the page number, number of counts for that set, your dot, and a copy of your music for that set in your dot book-- STORE IT IN A PLACE WHERE IT WON’T GET RUINED OR LOST.  Practice at home! Marking time with your music will really benefit you.  Write your sets and step outs in your music. This will not only help your marching, but your playing, too.  DO NOT leave memorizing the football game music to the last minute! These seem easy to memorize but starting earlier rather than later is highly recommended.  Playing in front of your section leaders may seem scary at first, but they just want to help you. Be confident and have fun.  You can do your playing tests with a buddy. This makes the situation less stressful.  Separate the music into sections. This makes memorizing easier to accomplish and less overwhelming.

Drill tells you where your dot (place on the field) is at all times. Below is an example of a page of drill showing everyone’s dots.

Marking your music is an important part of marching band. Below is an example of how your entire music binder should look.

Looking the Part

A large part of band is not only playing and marching your best, but looking your best. The band uniforms unify us and make us look like “the sea of purple” that we really are. Below is an example of what you will be wearing throughout your time in the band program.

Here are some things you will want to remember regarding your uniform:  Keep your hair out of your face and off the back of your neck. (This applies to girls AND boys!)  Put the gauntlets together before you give them back to the people collecting them.  Be respectful to the band. Do not swear, show any personal displays of affection, or run while in uniform.

A Day in the Life of A Colorguard Member

Tuesday/Thursday:

After school, most people stay and walk to either Safeway or Subway. Some stay in the band room to hang out or work on homework, and some go home to prepare for practice. If you stay at school, always remember to bring your practice bag which should include:

 Water  Snacks  Money  A change of clothes (no jeans!)  Gym shoes  Sunscreen  Gloves

On Tuesdays, practice starts at 5. On Thursdays, practice starts at 6. Most Saturday practices are from 10 A.M. to 6 P.M. with a lunch break.

 Tuesday practices are always with the band, and Mr. Grantham, the band director, values punctuality, so always be at attendance block by 4:54 or earlier.  The colorguard runs a lap with the band, and then heads to the band room. (If you are late, you have to run an extra lap.)  They then move to the band room for warm-up, where they stretch and dance.  After warm-up, they may work in the band room or move to the field with the band, depending on the day’s schedule.  The schedule will always be taped on the whiteboard before practice. 16

 Most days, after stretching and warm-up, the guard either learns or reviews work before going out to the field to join the band.  In the beginning of the season, the guard joins the band on the field to learn drill.  At the end of the season, they review or clean drill.  The guard always ends practices with a full run of the show.  Remember to bring a jacket and pants for the evenings, as it gets cold.  On Thursdays, guard practice starts in the band room.  Saturday practices are like Tuesday practices, except they are much longer.  During the lunch break on Saturdays, people bring lunches or walk to buy lunch.  Saturdays are usually very sunny--bring lots of sunscreen!

Colorguard may be challenging in the beginning, but it is worth the experience in the end!

Cool and Calm at Competitions

 Competitions are not only exhilarating, but also fun at the same time, so enjoy every moment and listen to Mr. Grantham when he says, “Hearts on fire, minds on ice.”  Just a few tips that will help you get through the night: o Wear warm clothes under your uniforms; it gets cold while you wait to perform and during awards. o Rest in the break between the morning practice and the competition. The rest will benefit you in the long run! o For the wind instruments, blow warm air through your instrument to keep it warmed up and in tune. o Take a deep breath before you perform; just stay calm and be confident in yourself and your abilities!  For each competition, Mr. Grantham puts a detailed itinerary on the calendar, such as the one on the following page, so make sure to look at it closely.

What does band mean to you?

“What does band mean to me? If you boil it down to it down to its core, band means improvement. I have never thought of myself as a high level player and yet I found that there is much more than just skill needed to excel in band.”--Nicole Tsuno, Trumpet

“To me, band is where all my friends “I would say that band, for

are. It's how I met all my closest me, is the community. The

friends. Whenever I walk into the best thing about it is that you

band room, I am surrounded by have 300 instant friends the

familiar faces and a familiar second you walk onto

environment.”-Jane Wu, Flute campus, and you keep those friends the rest of the year and sometimes even longer. “For me, band is the opportunity to The saying is ‘once a band learn about yourself through hard geek always a band work. It’s the opportunity to meet a geek.’”John Malchar, whole group of amazing friends, every Trumpet. one being different from the next. It's the opportunity to push past any “Band, to me, means boundaries that you had set for happiness. It means a yourself. It's the opportunity to gain positive group of people who so many memories, bonds, and accept you for who you are, experiences that you will take with and make you feel included. you for the rest of your life. Band has It's where people can forget allowed me to grow so much as a about all the superficial stuff person. It has taught me the outcome and just hang out with others of hard work and dedication.”-Lauren who like to play Epps, Clarinet. instruments.”-Kieran Gates, Clarinet.

Band is my home away from home; it's a place I can go to let go of all the things that happened in my day. If I have a bad day and I go to band, I can forget all the things people might have said to me or the bad grade I got on a test, and I can focus on putting hard work into my marching technique and music. There's just something really special about band, especially on competition days. Everybody has lots of fun at section unity and then we zero in and compete with a focus and unity that you can just feel... it's really great. Also, seeing the freshmen and lowerclassmen improve their marching over the course of the year is so much fun. There might be times when band seems like it's too much work for not enough reward, but the reward of a fantastic WBA Champs weekend and the time you spend with the new friends you make is indescribable. You get out of band what you put into it, and if you take it seriously and put in the amount of work Grantham asks of you, you'll get something absolutely wonderful—Austin Kim, Clarinet

Age old Advice

 “First, you need to be teachable. Second, you need to be able to take constructive criticism well. It was definitely difficult as a freshman, because you do get called out a lot for a multitude of skills, all of which you are learning at the same time! But thirdly, if you apply what you are told and figure out what works best for you, you are able to succeed in band.”-Nicole Tsuno.  “When applying sunscreen, make sure to get the back of your neck, your ears, and ankles. People usually forget those areas, and they end up getting really bad sunburns there.”-Vy Thai, Clarinet.  “The learning curve is designed for mistakes! Don't worry about not completely understanding how to write drill or not perfecting slides by the end of band camp. You won't be the only one! You will continue to learn as the season progresses!”-Lauren Epps, Clarinet.  “I suggest being generally motivated for practice. Band is a lot more enjoyable when you look forward to practice. Practice can be tedious, but there are a lot of good things to be excited for. Whether you look forward to the next gush, cookies after practice, or a nice long shower when you get home... Find something to motivate you to get through practice.”-Shari Nishijima, Color guard.  “To all the freshmen - no matter how much work practices might seem to be, don't give up! The bonds and memories you'll make will be more than amazing, as long as you are willing to put effort into it.”-Jane Wu, Flute.  “Band is like a second family, and it will become yours if you let it.”-Courtney Cavanaugh, Alto Sax.  “A super important tip is eat a good breakfast before practice. The first day of band camp (my freshman year), I only had some strawberries and promptly proceeded to faint on the field.”-Jenna Bovaird, Drum Major

 “Everyone in band is very outgoing and approachable, so don't be afraid to say ‘hi’ or to ask any questions!”-Michelle Ho, Clarinet  “Try to get out of your social bubble and meet as many new people as possible. Especially get close to everyone else in your section because you guys will be spending lots of time together, whether it's being excited about the show or complaining about the heat. Finally, upperclassmen love giving advice to underclassmen and are not as scary as they may seem.”-Cynthia Chen, Flute.  “Wear hats that go down to cover your neck; it’s better to look like a lame fisherman than get a sunburn.”-Judy Kong, Clarinet.  “Try to get involved as much as possible, because it really does make the experience a lot more fun. Go all out on the spirit days and try out for band council because it’s pretty cool seeing all the behind-the-scenes of band.”-Annie Cai, Clarinet.

Mr. Grantham’s Favorites

 Hearts on fire, minds on ice.  Before sound comes silence, and before silence comes stillness.  Calm, cool, and collected.  Knock Knock, Who’s there? Interrupting Cow, Interrupt— MOOOOOOOOO!  Float the top note.  To be early is to be on time, to be on time is to be late, and to be late is unacceptable.  ARTICULATION!  Breathe, Touch!  Work smarter, not harder!  Do you have everything you need to be successful for the day?  Show, not tell.  Flip the switch.  We before me.  Take care of those around you.  Say kind words; do kind things.

FAQ

 "What is a drum major/captain/section leader/field assistant?" o The drum major is the highest leadership position a student can have in the band. These three students conduct the band during a show. o The brass and woodwind captains are the heads of the wind sections in the band. These two people are an extra set of eyes for Mr. Grantham on the field, and they are a great asset if you have questions. The captains usually lead and stand in front of the band during awards at competitions. o The section leaders are the students who lead each group of instruments in the band. Each section has 1-4 section leaders who help you throughout the season. These people are the ones you are typically the closest to and most involved with. o Field assistants are, in essence, the right-hand men (or women) of the section leaders. They help clear up drill disputes and give advice and motivation to the section where the number of section leaders might be lacking.  "I'm involved with other activities during the band season. Will I be able to be a part of that activity AND band?" o This is a really good question, and I have personal experience in this area. I am a competitive dancer and accommodating both band and dance was very doable. As long as you ask Mr. Grantham, he will tell you that participating in both activities is okay as long as you spend an equal amount of time in both. o From another perspective, Nicole Tsuno said, “From my personal experience, doing band and something else (like a sport) isn't impossible. What it comes down to is how organized you are. Make sure you are in 25

communication with Mr. Grantham and always have him informed.”  Dylan French said, “I remember that when I was a freshman. I was nervous that my soccer schedule would make band a super stressful time, but Mr. Grantham is extremely nice and fair about the other activities we are involved in.  "How long is band camp/band season?" o The band season typically spans from band camp in August to championships in November.  “Will I be able to balance my schoolwork and band?” o Of course! As long as you manage your time and keep in mind that you have to do your work ahead of time before Tuesday practices, you will be fine! Actually, people tend to have better grades during marching band season because they are more aware of managing their schedules.  “Is it difficult to memorize all of the music?” o Memorizing music can seem pretty scary when you first receive the many pages of notes in August, but if you set a schedule for yourself and memorize sections little by little, the process becomes less daunting. o Try to find patterns in your music! At least some parts will have a repeating theme throughout the songs, so it is possible that if you memorize one part, you actually are memorizing several.

Glossary Attendance block  Before each practice, football game, or competition, this is the area where Mr. Grantham and the drum majors will: o Take attendance o Talk about the goal of the day o Talk about the schedule for the day Attendance block takes place on the P.E. numbers. Each member is assigned his or her own number for the season.

Backwards marching  To march backwards, use your platforms. o This includes the front part of your foot (your toes and the ball of your foot.)  Never let your heels touch the ground. This reduces your chance of tripping, hurting yourself, and falling, and allows for smooth strides.  Just like marching forward, lift up your body, keep your legs straight, and push from your supporting foot.

Band ten hut  Your attention position o To achieve this, stand with your heels together and toes apart at about 60°, put your hands into fists and put them by your hips, then lift your elbows and keep them behind you.

Dress  To make sure everybody is in the form properly, in the right spot.  Check your cover side-to-side and front-to-back in between sets.  You can also check your spacing and whether you are in your correct dot.  One you are done, go to the set position and await further direction.

· Dress set dress  This is a command that allows you to dress in between sets.

Dot  Your position on the field.

· Halt  When you stop marching in between sets OR  When your dot is the same in multiple sets—this means you don’t move dots!  You ALWAYS halt with your right foot unless you are otherwise instructed.  On your last step before you halt, plant your foot into the ground and end in your usual first position stance.

· Hash mark  There are two hash marks on a field: front and back.  These represent 28 steps off the sideline.  Refer to the field map for a visual of the hash marks. Note: High school hash marks are four 8-to-5 strides closer to each sideline than college hash marks.

Heel-toe  This is the basic technique any band member uses when they march.  Just remember, when marching forward, to: o Flex the foot that is taking a step. o Imagine you are lifting up in your body as you march. o Push off from the foot that is not stepping out. o Keep your legs straight.  Above all else, listen and learn from your section leaders, the upperclassmen, and the staff: they only want you to get better.

Mark Time  A method of marching in place while playing your music at the same time. o This allows you to practice your show while you aren’t on the field.

Parade rest  During competitions throughout the awards, this is the way you stand while you wait for each award to be announced. o To achieve this, stand in second position, or just take a step out from your first position so that your legs are apart. Clasp your hands in front of you and let them rest. o If you don’t understand, make sure to pay close attention to your section leaders at band camp!

Pit (also known as “Front Ensemble”)  The section in front of the band that consists of various percussion instruments that a person cannot march with.  Solos, if there are any, are usually performed in the pit.

Up in four, down in four  When you are warming up before a practice or a competition, this is an exercise the band does to get ready to march and feel lifted. o This exercise consists of several parts that include balancing on one foot while staying completely still with your upper body. . These actions will train you how to move with your lower body while you stay motionless on top, a skill you need when marching.  Listen closely at band camp as the staff teaches you this exercise because it will be used throughout the entire season.

Set (as a marching position)  A position that shows the staff that you are ready to move on, to rehearse, and to learn. o To achieve this, put one hand in a fist, lay your other hand over the top, then pull your hands up to be even with your nose, and don’t forget to hold your elbows out! Make sure you look like this . Really pay attention when your section leaders teach you this position, because IT IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT IN BAND! . This represents your instrument being in playing position. . Set can also be when your instrument is with you, and it is in playing position.

Set (in music)  A certain number of measures of music with the marching that is associated with them.  A chunk is a set, or group of sets.

Sliding for winds:  This consists of forwards or backwards marching, but in a different direction other than straight forwards or backwards. o You will use sliding a lot because most sets do not contain straight forward or backward motion.  To slide, your feet will go in the direction of your travel while your upper body stays twisted to the front. o To achieve this, start your twist from your hips. o You should twist about halfway with just your hips. o The rest of your twist is from your torso, and your shoulders should be flat to the front.

Sliding for drumline:  To crab step, you need to put your left foot in the front when going right, and when going left, you keep your right foot in the front.  While crab stepping, keep both feet parallel to the front and don't move your hips at all; keep them parallel as well.  Like backwards marching, stay on the balls of your feet and don't roll back on your heels.  Make sure to engage your core to keep your balance and keep your upper body still the whole time.  Also, make sure that your pathway is straight and not curved up or down. Keep a straight line while marching.

Stab  While marching, this is when you point your foot, stop yourself from moving, and end with your second foot meeting the other in first position.

Step Out  When you take a step in the direction of your next dot while marking time to represent each of your sets and your direction changes. o This helps you get used to playing music and marching at the same time.

Step size  When you are marching, there is always a specific distance that you must travel in each step. o 8 to 5 stride . This means that for every 5 yards, or in between every yard line, you must take 8 steps.  This is the stride you most often use, but you can also use 16 to 5, 16 steps per every 5 yards, or 4 to 5, 4 steps per every 5 yards.

Travel uniform  When you go to attendance block or on the buses before a competition, this is what you wear: your band shirt, bib pants, black socks, and marching shoes. You carry your jacket in your garment bag.

Your stance  Whenever you are rehearsing or in a halt, you will be standing in FIRST POSITION (unless otherwise instructed.) o To achieve this, put your feet together, then spread them apart at 60° angles, or just make sure they look like this

For those select few of you who have never seen a football field, below is what we mean when we say the yard line, end zone, or goal posts, plus some marching terms you will need to know.