July 14th, 2017 Hello Lambkins! We have a very exciting year ahead of us! I hope summer has treated you well. It is now time to look ahead towards marching band and (for many of you) our music department trip to Australia over spring break! It s sure to be a great year! Our Marching and Pep Band assistant, Mr. Ecker is back for more, and both he and I are excited for what promises to be a fun and challenging halftime show! PARENTS & STUDENTS: Read through this letter first, then complete the following google form. This is a very important action that needs to be completed as soon as possible to assist with our preparations for this school year. The link is case-sensitive so be careful typing in http://bit.ly/2va2blv Mandatory Band Camp 2017 Purple Regiment Band Camp Dates: August 7th 11th All FCHS Band students who selected Marching band as their Auxiliary Ensemble are required to attend the Marching Band camp. This is when we will complete percussion auditions (for drum line placement only), teach our marching fundamentals, check-out marching instruments and learn a lot of music for the upcoming season. A comprehensive daily schedule appears in this packet. Percussion Auditions There is limited instrumentation for marching percussion (we usually take 3-5 snares, 4-6 bass drums, 2-3 cymbals, 2-4 tenor drums, and sometimes incorporate sideline percussion). All percussion students, including veterans must audition for instrument placement. Audition music can be found at the following link: http://bit.ly/2snb3eo. Please be ready to audition on August 7 th. All percussionists should prepare the first three sections (Eights, Bucks, and Short Timing. Those wishing to audition for center snare should also prepare ABC). Marching Attire All new band members will need to purchase our band polo shirt and hat (returning members can use last year s shirt and hat). The cost is $45 for both the shirt and hat. Replacement costs are $30 for a shirt and $15 for a hat. NEW THIS YEAR: ALL students must pay your marching band uniform cost directly to the school bookkeeper. Do not bring a check to Mr. Miles at band camp. All students must furnish their own black pants, black socks and SOLID black shoes. These are to be worn to every performance. Regular Concert Attire Having a uniform is a requirement for all students that participate in any performing ensemble at FCHS. For the 2017-2018 school year, we will be measuring all students during their assigned check in period so that uniforms come in on time. All incoming freshmen must be measured for a new uniform on August 9 th during check in. If you are an incoming freshman, you can skip ahead to the next page now. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors will need new concert attire in the following two cases: 1. The student is moving to a new ensemble that requires a different uniform. 2. The student has outgrown his/her uniform. Sinfonietta Orchestra, Concert Orchestra, Intermediate Band, Concert Band, Signori (Men s Choir), Anima (Women s Choir), and Cansone (Mixed Choir) all use the same uniform. It will be the uniform that we used during the 2016-2017 year. If your uniform from last year still fits and you are in one of these ensembles for 2017-2018, you do not need to be measured. Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Band, Canta Bella, and A Cappella all use the same uniform. It will be the same uniform we used during the 2016-2017 school year. If your uniform from last year still fits and you are already in one of these ensembles, then you do not need to be measured. If your uniform does not fit, or you are moving up into one of these ensembles, then you will need to be measured for a new uniform.
Fitting Schedule: August 9 th, 8:00 10:00 AM or NOON 2:00 PM: ALL Freshmen MUST be measured! See you then! August 10 th, 8:00 10:00 AM or NOON 2:00 PM: ALL Freshmen MUST be measured! See you then! August 11 th, 8:00 10:00 AM or NOON 2:00 PM: Sophomores that are changing ensembles or have grown out of their uniform August 14 th, 8:00 10:00 AM or NOON 2:00 PM: Juniors and seniors that are changing ensembles or have grown out of their uniform SCHOOL INSTRUMENT USE: Students, you know that you ve eaten Cheetos or hot dogs, taken a sip of soda and then played your instrument. If you want to do that to your own instrument, go ahead it s gross and I really hope you ll clean your own instrument at home. If you use a school instrument you are going to have to get it professionally cleaned! Some of you will use small instruments that cost less to clean; some of you play large instruments or even use multiple instruments that will cost you more. You need to plan ahead for these expenses! You can fundraise for these expenses or pay out of pocket. Instruments can be cleaned at Boomer Music (223-2424). Please contact Mr. Miles or Boomer Music to determine the costs of cleaning your students instrument. We do not have a large budget for replacing instruments. The same foods and sugars that can damage your teeth destroy our instruments. Therefore, every school instrument needs to be professionally cleaned every 2 years so that it can be maintained in good working order for future generations of students. If you plan on using a school instrument for all 4 years of high school, then you should plan on having it cleaned after both your sophomore and senior years. Any student who is not returning to band must also have their instrument cleaned before returning it (along with the receipt from the cleaning). If you damage a school instrument you will pay to have it repaired. Mr. Miles will only pay for regular wear and tear but this does not include dents, brass rot, broken solders, or drumheads that break during the season from over-playing. Our marching drumheads should last at least a full year. Please note that we have a limited number of school-owned instruments. In the event that we do not have enough instruments Mr. Miles will: o Seek out additional instruments from other schools OR Provide a separate mouthpiece for each student that needs to share an instrument. 2017 Marching Band Performance Schedule *Friday, September 1 st 6:30 pm Call Time 7:00 pm Game Time 9:30pm Expected End Time *Thursday, September 7 th 5:30 pm Call Time 6:00 pm Game Time 8:30pm Expected End Time *Thursday, September 14 th 5:30 pm Call Time 6:00 pm Game Time 8:30pm Expected End Time *Thursday, September 21 st 5:30 pm Call Time 6:00 pm Game Time 8:30pm Expected End Time *Wednesday, September 27 th 6:00 pm Call Time Approx. 1 Hour Homecoming Bonfire Performance #Friday, September 29 th 6:00 pm Call Time 7:00 pm Game Time 9:30pm Expected End Time @Thursday, October 26 th 5:30 pm Call Time 6:00 pm Game Time 8:30pm Expected End Time *Playoff Game(s) - TBD * Musical performance only (no field marching, full uniform performance in the stands only) # Performance where we will march a partial halftime show and recognize our band seniors. @ Performance where we will march our entire halftime show. Please Note: All performances take place at French Field on the campus of Rocky Mountain High School.
Marching Band Camp Schedule Monday, August 7th 8:00 am 10:30 am All Returning Band Veterans report / Leadership Session 9:30 am 12:00 pm NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION & Full Band Meeting (no instruments needed) 12:00 pm 2:00 pm LUNCH in sections (Bring a sack lunch, meet and get to know the others in your section) 2:00 pm 3:30 pm FULL BAND MEETING & Warm-Up s (instruments required / percussion will meet in section for audition preparations) 3:30 pm 5:00 pm Percussion Auditions Tuesday, August 8th 9:30 am 11:30 am Brass Instruments Sectional 1:00 pm 3:00 pm Woodwind Instruments Sectional Wednesday, August 9th (Freshmen students last name A-J must go to student registration at 8am) 9:30 am 11:30 am Brass Instruments Sectional (woodwind players should go to concert attire fitting) 1:00 pm 3:00 pm Woodwind Instruments Sectional (brass/percussion players should go to concert attire fitting) Thursday, August 10th (Freshmen students last name K-Z must go to student registration at 8am) 9:30 am 11:30 am Brass Instruments Sectional (woodwind players should go to concert attire fitting) 1:00 pm 3:00 pm Woodwind Instruments Sectional (brass/percussion players should go to concert attire fitting) 3:00 pm 5:00 pm Afternoon break 5:00 pm 7:00 pm FULL BAND MUSIC REHEARSAL (with percussion) Friday, August 11th (All sophomore students must go to registration at 8am) 9:30 am 11:30 am FULL BAND MUSIC REHEARSAL (no percussion) 1:00 pm 3:00 pm FULL BAND MUSIC REHEARSAL (with percussion) 3:00 pm 7:00 pm afternoon & dinner break 7:00 pm 8:30 pm FULL BAND MUSIC REHEARSAL (with percussion) I cannot stress enough how important it is that you stay hydrated at camp (even when we are indoors)! Bring water and wear hats & sunblock to every outdoor session! There will be getting to know you activities and other Band Olympics throughout the camp. Please welcome them with full enthusiasm as they will not only give you a welcomed chop-break but will help you in making new friends and building connections. When you walk down the halls on the first day of school you should see a ton of people you already know! WHAT TO BRING TO CAMP: Water Bottle/Sun Glasses/Sun Screen/Hat Your instrument in good, working order (valves and slides oiled and greased) A pencil * Flip Folder (see below) # Percussionists are required to furnish earplugs (see below)
* New students will want to get a flip-folder from Boomer Music in Fort Collins, Music and Arts in Loveland, or Main Street Music Academy in Windsor. The flip-folder is a black plastic device that holds clear plastic pages for your marching music. Make sure you tell them what instrument you play, as there are different shaped flip folders! You may also need a lyre to attach the folder to your instrument. You will want at least 25 pages to hold all of the music that will be passed out to you during the year. # Marching percussion instruments are very loud! You can cause permanent hearing loss by playing on these instruments without ear protection. This small purchase will protect a lifetime of hearing. If you do not furnish your own ear plugs you will not be allowed to perform. I recommend the Vic Firth VICEARPLUGL Ear Plugs that can be found on many websites and cost less than $20. It is incredibly important to stay hydrated during marching rehearsals. Please bring a large water bottle to every rehearsal. Don t forget to bring sunglasses, sun block and closed-toe shoes to all marching rehearsals. No flip flops! Percussion Auditions are only for your fall marching instrument. You will still play all of the concert percussion instruments during your regular band class. We will place you where we think you will best be able to contribute according to your demonstrated skills and all placements are final for the fall semester. When basketball pep band begins in January we may move people around to different instruments. MARCHING BAND ATTENDANCE POLICIES: Your marching band grade is based on participation and attendance so plan to attend every rehearsal! Football games are our concerts. Do not miss a performance! Missing a performance will significantly impact your grade! I have to work, or It s my/grandma s birthday, and I have tickets to a concert are not valid excuses for missing a game. Any request for an absence must be brought to Mr. Miles by phone or email at least 1 week in advance. If the absence is excused, you must still do make-up work to earn back the points that you missed. ATHLETES IN BAND: We have had athletes from every school sport in the bands! There are undoubtedly going to be some conflicts with sports schedules. We have a system in place that works for equal participation and all of our athletic coaches support it. However, it only works with communication. You must tell your coaches that you are in band and share your rehearsal schedule with them. As long as athletes are missing sports practice time and band practice time equally (50/50) you can participate in both activities. o EX: On Tuesday, September 5 th, we have band from 5-7pm. You have soccer practice scheduled from 3-5pm. Attend all of soccer, then change your clothes and get your instrument and come to band. You will come late this rehearsal and attend from 5:30 7pm. For the next band rehearsal on Wednesday, September 6 th, you will need to leave soccer at 4:30 so that you can change and make it to the full 5-7pm marching band rehearsal. This reflects a 50/50 effort. If you are part of an FCHS-sponsored sport team, make sure you give a copy of the rehearsal and performance schedule to your coach. If you will have conflicts with any practices, you must inform Mr. Miles at the start of the school year. OTHER ITEMS FOR THE START OF SCHOOL: Due to the high cost of copying you will only get one set of drill charts. You must bring these to each rehearsal! I highly recommend bringing a 3 ring binder with at least 15 clear plastic page protectors for your drill charts. All Symphonic Band students who play brass or woodwinds are required to have a tuner. All Symphonic Band and Concert Band students are required to audition for an honor band. Percussion students must provide their own mallets. These are very inexpensive compared to the cost of a wind instrument. If a specialty mallet is called for in the music I will provide it for you, but you must furnish your own general/everyday mallets. It is recommended that you write your name on your sticks, keep them in a stick bag, and carry the bag with you at all times. DO NOT leave sticks or stick bags in the percussion section or in the percussion cabinets. See the list on the next page for the required mallets:
o 1 pair of Concert Snare Sticks (General SD1 are fine. No plastic tips!) o 3 pair of Yarn Mallets (Soft, Medium, Hard) o 2 pair of Rubber Mallets (Soft, Hard) o 1 pair of Timpani Mallets (General) 2017 SCHEDULED FALL MARCHING BAND REHEARSALS: Tuesday, August 22 nd, 5-7pm Tuesday, September 19th, 5-7pm Monday, August 28 th, 5-7pm Monday, September 25th, 5-7pm Tuesday, September 5th, 5-7pm Wednesday, September 27th, 5-7pm (incudes bonfire) Monday, September 11th, 5-7pm Monday, October 2 nd, 5-7pm Tuesday, September 12th, 5-7pm Monday, October 9th, 5-7pm Monday, September 18th, 5-7pm Monday, October 16 th, 5-7pm Wednesday, October 25 th, 5-7pm If you have any questions you can reach me at: dmiles@psdschools.org. Have a great summer! Sincerely, David D. Miles Director of Bands, FCHS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Band students who are also members of SCHOOL SPONSORED teams: you must make sure that you are on time to at least half of these listed rehearsals. Detach and turn this form in to me as soon as you have spoken to your coach. BAND ATHLETES SCHEDULE Will be @ band on time Will be late to band due to sport Tuesday, August 22nd, 5-7pm Monday, August 28th, 5-7pm Tuesday, September 5th, 5-7pm Monday, September 11th, 5-7pm Tuesday, September 12th, 5-7pm Monday, September 18th, 5-7pm Tuesday, September 19th, 5-7pm Monday, September 25th, 5-7pm Wednesday, September 27th, 5-7pm Monday, October 2nd, 5-7pm Monday, October 9th, 5-7pm Monday, October 16th, 5-7pm Wednesday, October 25th, 5-7pm My school sport is: My coach s name is: