2018 SEASON SCHEDULE Fri, Aug. 24 Concert by Mirror Lake Free Admission-Bring a lawn chair Thu, Aug. 30 UConn vs. UCF at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field Sat, Sep. 1 UCMB Preview Show Sat, Sep. 15 UConn vs. Rhode Island (Band Day) at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field Sun, Sep. 16 Celebrate Mansfield Parade Sat, Sep. 22 UCMB Mini-camp Sat, Sep. 29 UConn vs. Cincinnati at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field Sun, Sep. 30 Collegiate Marching Band Festival in Allentown, PA Sat, Oct. 6 Family Weekend Showcase, Jorgensen Sat, Oct. 20 Exhibition- Southington High School Sun. Oct. 21 Homecoming Parade at UConn Sat, Oct. 27 UConn vs. UMass (Homecoming) at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field Sat, Nov. 3 US Bands New England Regional Championships, Danbury, CT Sat, Nov. 10 UConn vs. SMU at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field Sat, Nov. 24 UConn vs. Temple at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field TBA Bowl Game 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS 2018 Season Schedule 1 A Word From The Tower 3 Yearly UCMB Events 4 Mission Statement 11 UConn Band Program 12 UCMB Staff 14 Student Leadership 17 Instructional Leadership 17 Organizational Leadership 20 UCMB History 23 UCMB Procedures & Operation 25 Rehearsal 25 Drill Learning Procedure 26 Instrument Maintenance 27 The Uniform 28 Game Day 29 UCMB Standards 31 UConn Fight Song 34 The Alma Mater 35 Social Media 36 2 A WORD FROM THE TOWER A note to You, The UCMB has a rich history and a great reputation. Tremendous momentum from past success and achievement combined with high expectations helps propel the band each year to greater heights. Strong tradition, stable leadership, familiar events and activities, and well-refined procedures contribute to the expectation that each year’s band will achieve a high level of excellence. The fact that so much seems the same from year to year could give the impression that excellence and achievement will just happen, but that could not be farther from the truth. It will happen only if you make it happen. This year’s schedule looks much like last year, same uniforms, same instruments, same field, same music building. So what will make this year different? The answer, of course, is YOU. As a new member, you bring new energy and your expectations for the UCMB know no limits. You will have four (or more) years to enjoy the band and to contribute to making the band the best it can be. As a returning member, you have a new role in the band as a leader and a greater responsibility to move the band forward. You have to find a way to push beyond limits of the past showing our new members and your peers your best efforts and intentions. Though we do play different music and perform new drill, the true difference in the band is the individual member! Your directors will do their best to inspire, encourage, and motivate you to give your best efforts. But, it will come down to how much “heart” you and your colleagues bring to each rehearsal and performance. Are you willing to give your best every day, encourage those around you to do the same, and find joy and satisfaction in the struggle to achieve excellence? The answer to this question will determine our success. I am excited to see our new leaders lead, to see which of our returning members step up and inspire those around them, and to see our new members as they grow and take up the mantle as well. Over the years, this has been and will be again this year, the real cause of the success we will achieve. It will be the difference that makes this season special and great for each of you and for the UCMB. Enjoy this special opportunity to work together, bond with each other, and build special memories while we create a truly great band! TUP, David L. Mills, Director “I want U to be the U in UCMB!” 3 YEARLY UCMB EVENTS Summer “Break” June, July, early August) • UCMB Mini-Camps: Each Summer, three one-day mini-camps are held for the drumline/front ensemble, color guard, and wind section leaders. Percussionists are given an opportunity to work in their area of choice and prepare for an audition for a spot in the drumline. Having a chance to work on the audition materials with the other members of the line gives a player a chance to prepare well, see how their skills line up, and find their niche in the band. Brass and Woodwind players are invited to join their section leaders for training on basic pedagogy and section training procedures. • New Member Open House: Incoming band members (and parents!) are encouraged to spend a day seeing exactly how the UCMB operates, find out exactly what being in the band entails, meet their leaders and other members of their incoming class, and know exactly what will be happening from the first day on! The first day of UCMB Pre-season will be like “coming back” to the band and friends rather than that scary leap into “college”. • Membership and Housing Deadline: Usually by the third week of July, members need to return a housing/participation agreement to secure their dorm room (if on-campus) and to secure their place in the band. • UCMB Preseason: New Member/drumline/front ensemble /color guard weekend: New Members, percussion and guard move in on Saturday. Drumline and “pit” get right to work on show materials while new members get two days of training in marching and music that makes them ready to work with all the returning members and feel comfortable. New members check-in and move into their own dorm rooms on Saturday morning and at 1:30 parents and students meet for a welcome and intro session. Then, goodbyes are said and the fun begins! • UCMB Full Band Preseason: The rest of the band moves in and the entire band is brought together. Sections are formed, players meet, music begins—before dinner, much music has already been rehearsed. After dinner more rehearsal, then a parade across campus to Jorgensen Auditorium. • UCMB Convocation: THE OFFICIAL start of the UCMB year is Convocation. New members parade in while returning members play the fight song. Leaders and Officers are formally dressed to fit the importance of the occasion. Welcoming speeches from leaders, alumni, special guests, and the directors along with “slideshows” and video • New Member “Circle Ceremony:” On Thursday of Pre- 4 season, our new members have had six days of hard work and have bonded with our band. It is time to retire the pink new member tag and trade it for the white tag of the returning members. A simple but touching ceremony is held following the evening rehearsal. New members move out to the parking lot and hear from our historian about the heritage they are now a part of. Returning Members form a circle around the center of the field with one opening, all become quiet and the opening is marked with a light. New members in alphabetical order file onto the field and around the circle until all are just behind the circle. Words about significance of membership are said and the new members are invited to take the “Big Step” of coming into the circle of what is now “their band”. As their name is called they step into the circle. They shake the hand of the drum majors and the directors of the band; they are met by their “Big Buddy” with their official UCMB t-shirt and cap and a symbolic glow stick (“light is symbolic of leadership”). The Big Buddy places them in front of the Big Buddy’s spot in the circle. When are in place, more words of significance are spoken and the circle enlarges to allow space for all new members in one circle. The simple ceremony concludes with the singing of the alma mater, Old Connecticut, and a huge cheer welcomes all members of the UCMB. • Pre-Season Concert-by-the-Lake: On Friday of Preseason, the first public performance of the UCMB takes place beside Mirror Lake. Parents, alumni, and friends are invited to bring a blanket or chairs and lounge by the lake as the band reveals new show music and old popular and patriotic favorites. • Picture Day: On the Sunday at the end of Pre-season, formal pictures of the band are taken in full uniform. A picture of the full band, sections, and individuals are made. On alternate years the picture is taken in Rentschler Field or on the UConn Campus. Fall Semester • 1st Football Game: It’s SHOWTIME! The first football game is almost always Thursday night during the first week of classes! While this presents great challenges to the band to get the entire performance package together (Pregame, Halftime, Postgame and in-stands spirit pieces), it is a night of great excitement. Perhaps the greater challenges are the logistical ones of getting everyone in uniform and getting everyone to the bus and to the field in time! Students who have a late Thursday class may even have to arrange to miss that class, but everyone takes this in stride and the brand new UCMB takes the field with 22 min on the pre-game clock. The pre-game show begins with the Superman Fanfare from the top row in front of the scoreboard, Drumline feature, and Fight on Connecticut down the field in the big block C. 5 • UCMB Annual Preview Show: On the Saturday before Labor Day the UCMB puts in a full day’s work and then take the field at UConn’s Sherman Complex (field hockey and track field) for a show for parents, alumni, and friends.