Fee sheet 2010-11
The Marching Band is a competition quality field show ensemble. It includes winds, percussion, and color guard. We perform at Marching Band Competitions, Parades, and Home Football Games. Band members are required to attend Band Camp in the summer, rehearse at Zero Period, and some Tuesday and Thursday afternoons during the Marching Band season.
All students must have an emergency medical form on file with us before they can travel with the band. Please click the link to print a copy of the form and return it to the Band Room. AHSband-emergencycareandhealthform
Welcome to the AHS Marching Patriots!
Director – Gregory P. Thomas
Assistant Director & Visual Coordinator - Craig Jennings
Assistant – Donna Robertson
Color Guard Instructors – Jillian Powers
Drum Majors – Madeline Sandridge, Elaine Golden, Laura Sisman
Guard Captain - Alison Bevard, Christine Scott
Drum Captains – Bryant Davis, JT Miccuci
The Band
The AHS Marching Patriots are a 100% volunteer competition-quality Marching Band. We have a total of approximately 75 members which includes winds, percussion, color guard, and drum majors. This puts us in the AA - AAA class in competition. Our goals, in order of importance are as follows:
1.) To provide a superb musical and artistic experience for every one of our members so as to make a meaningful contribution to their lives in terms of ability, character, and esprit de corps.
2.) To translate this experience into a high quality, competitive field show that demonstrates our superiority in musicianship, showmanship, and marching, which result in superior ratings at competition.
3.) To add our unique energy and skills to AHS sporting events, including halftime shows and pep band performances.
Marching Band Practices
Marching Band officially begins on the first day of Band Camp, August 9, 2010 at 1 pm. Thereafter, we will practice Monday thru Friday of the following two weeks from 1 - 10 pm with the color guard, drum line, and leadership reporting one hour earlier at 12 noon. On Monday August 24th, we will practice from 6p.m. - 9p.m. only. When school starts, we will practice daily during ZERO period staring at 7:45a.m. sharp, and Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 4 – 6 pm. There will be no morning practices on Tuesdays or on Fridays of home games. All practices are mandatory. Please do not ask to be excused from practice early or to arrive late. Your attendance record at rehearsals is the single most vital part of our preparation, grade, and our success! Being late to, or cutting rehearsals is a slap in the face to the band and to our musical ambitions. You need to start and finish the season understanding the principle and prepare yourself for any sacrifices it requires. Please head the following guidelines:
Excused Absences include: 1.) Illnesses attested to by parental note
2.) Family emergencies attested to by parental note
3.) Special circumstances only with the prior approval of the director (ex. Driver’s Ed: “Behind the Wheel”).
Practice Objectives
Our objectives during rehearsals are to memorize the assigned music (or color guard routines), master the marching techniques and master the marching band drill. It is an extremely challenging and rewarding venture.
Your Responsibility
This is your band. It is your task to work together to make it succeed. Enthusiasm, energy, and cooperation make us stronger. Negativity and cynicism erode our strength. Above all, subscribe to the following music ethic:
1.) Make your top priority the execution of the composer’s intent.
2.) Commit to improving your playing ability.
3.) Approach each rehearsal seriously. Music is only fun when it is done well. Music done poorly is torture for performers, audiences, and band directors.
Performances
Like any other musical performance, our marching band performances are the target of all of our preparation. Unlike other musical performances, the correct execution of our show can not take place unless every single individual is present. All competitive performances are absolutely mandatory attendance, without exception. There are three types of performances in which we participate:
1.) Marching Band Competitions – Highly competitive events that feature performances by high schools that take marching band seriously. Schools are ranked by place and receive evaluations of Superior, Excellent, Good, Fair.
2.) Half Time Shows at AHS home football games – Home football games are required performance events for all Marching Band members. We perform our competition field show during half time. This gives us a chance to entertain our home town audience and enhance our reputation as a performing unit.
On the Friday’s of home football games, our schedule is as follows:
4:00 pm – Rehearsal begins (tardies will be assessed)
5:30 pm – Students are dismissed to dinner arranged by the Boosters (see top of page for options and prices). Students may not leave school grounds without special permission of the Director.
6:00 pm – Students report to the band room to change into band uniforms. Drum line and color guard begin first. Pit, Drum Majors, and Winds follow.
6:30 pm – Students assemble in formation outside the band room in pre-game line up. Inspection is conducted by Drum Majors and designees. We march to the football field in cadence.
7:00 pm - Enter the field at the correct time for the National Anthem (Star Spangled Banner). We then march to the end of the field for the fight song (Notre Dame March) and the introduction of the team. After this, we march to our section of the stands and take our assigned spots for Pep Band. At halftime, we give our performance and return to the stands. During the third quarter, students may sit with their parents, but all students must return to the Marching Patriots with instruments for the last quarter.
9:30 pm - At the conclusion of the game, we march out in cadence and return to the band room. We hang our uniforms up and pack up our equipment properly, followed by a brief band meeting and a formal room inspection and dismissal. Only band members and helping parents are allowed in the band room at this time! Except with special permission of the director, no band member may be dismissed from a performance until these events are concluded.
3.) Pep Band – During football games, we perform our stand tunes, conducted by our “Pep Major(s).” These songs are kept in your flip folders and do not need to be memorized, but do need to be learned.
Pep Band
Each Musician is responsible for having their own flip folder with pep band tunes in order at all practices and football game performances. Section Leaders will check each player’s music periodically.
Band Leadership
This band relies greatly on student leaders who are dedicated to the improvement of the group. All students are expected and required to gracefully accept leadership from the student leaders of the Band.
Drum Majors: the highest ranking student leaders and are responsible to the director for every facet of the show. Drum Majors conduct rehearsals and performances, teach drill, and marching moves, and instill pride and discipline.
Color Guard Captains: responsible to the director and the Guard sponsor for every facet of their section’s performance. They are in charge during rehearsals when the director or sponsors are not present. They have primary creative and compositional input into the Guard’s performance.
Section Leaders: responsible for the overall performance and effectiveness of band members, instilling section pride. Section leaders must be very aggressive about helping their section learn the show.
Uniforms
Band uniforms are kept in the uniform room during performances. Only members of the Band Parent Uniform Committee are permitted in this room. Students will be fitted during band camp for their jacket and trousers. It is each student’s responsibility to have the necessary hemming done. No material may be cut from the uniform during hemming. Uniforms are distributed before performances in an orderly fashion, and students place them back on the hangers correctly and hand them back in to be stored after each performance.
A full uniform for an Albemarle Marching Patriot performance includes the following:
1.) Your assigned jacket, trousers, neck piece, and hat.
2.) Black socks
3.) Shined marching shoes. Each student is responsible for purchasing their own approved marching shoes. (Students without “Drillmasters” or an equivalent that has been approved by the director will be fitted ruing band camp).
4.) No jewelry except post earrings or jewelry appropriate to the color guard costume.
5.) Approved color guard outfit, correct shoes, make-up scheme, and no dangling jewelry.
Fees and Responsibilities
1.) Required Marching Band Fee $50 - Includes uniform rental, cleaning, t-shirt, drinks for football games and competitions, bagels for competitions, etc. This fee must be paid before uniforms are issued.
