Memorial Day
All Wayland Public School Bands march for the Memorial
Day parade (May 31 this year). At the middle school, concert band and symphonic
band march together to make a marching band of just under 100
musicians!!!
The parade steps off from the middle school at 11:00 AM
of the Monday on which Memorial Day is celebrated. Students
should be at the middle school, in concert dress, by
10:00.
WHAT ABOUT RAIN??? If it rains, we will have a
ceremony in the middle school gym. All bands should report
rain or shine. Meanwhile, do a little anti-rain dance! Call
is still 10:00 for all bands (ms & hs).
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Dress
Parade dress is black long pants (no capris, shorts or
skirts - skirts are VERY dangerous in the wind!) and a white
shirt (tucked in), something with a collar - no tee-shirts - polo shirt
is OK, short sleeves is OK, no print or pictures, please. We
prefer white shoes, but whatever sneakers or comfortable
shoes you have are fine. No platform shoes or sandles or
flip-flops - athletic shoes are safest and most
comfortable.
If it looks like we might march & it is COLD,
add more layers. Still aim for white on top, but add a white
turtleneck, sweater or sweatshirt. If you don't have
something white & warm, wear the lightest colored warm
thing you have. Warm is more important than perfect black /
white - we don't want any sicknesses! If it is HOT,
we still where long pants (short sleeved shirts are OK), no
capris or shorts or skirts. You get hot when you play
soccer, right? Marching band is also a sport & if it is
hot out, you will be hot, but you will survive! :-)
"But", you might say, "What about fainting?! I've heard that people faint in marching band when it is too hot!" Answer: It isn't the heat that causes the fainting (unless we are up into the 100 degree temps and you get heat stroke), fainting is caused by one of three things:
- The student didn't eat breakfast, so the body has no fuel.
- The student isn't healthy right now.
- The student "locked up" the knees and stood too long that way. We won't be standing still at attention long enough to cause this to happen.
I've marched in parades on hot days in all black with long pants and long sleeves and I didn't faint. I was hot, but proud!! |
WMS Marching Band
Our marching band season begins the week after our spring
concet.
On this page you will find information about the
following topics:
Marching rehearsals - flex and after school
We begin in the caf, and we either march there or go
outside.
Wednesday, May 19, is a required after school
rehearsal for everyone, including those not marching in the
parade. It will be our only full rehearsal. All students
should come to flex rehearsals, even if you will not be
marching in the parade; learning about marching band is part
of our curriculum because it is such an important part of
band history!
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Marching workshops
As often as possible, come during your study halls or
after school. See schedule below.
There are two marching band workshops where we will do some exam prep and learn about John Philip Sousa.
Marching Contest
Our Marching Band Contest is optional (but does count as enrichment). It is Tuesday, May 25, after school, 2:30-3:00 (Jazz Band will be 3:00-3:30). Come and challenge your thinking and marching!!
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Other Reminders
MEMORIAL DAY: Monday, May 31 (be here at
10:00)
If you have to miss the parade, be sure to bring
in a note from home (or have your parents email me) and get
the make-up done quickly so you can get your year-end awards at the
breakfast and so you can get full credit on your report
card!
Exams run from May 10 & end on June 4
(No skill licks this term!)
Band Awards Breakfast is Wednesday, June 9, 6:30 -
7:45 AM. This is a family affair: the jazz band plays, we
have breakfast together and I present all of the year end
awards. All band members receive something! Please plan on
joining us. Parents, please email
me if you can help and I will forward your email to our
breakfast coordinators. (And thanks!)
Rehearsals do not end after the Parade - we
continue to the end of the year and work on sight-reading.
We rehearse until the last flex day & have sight-reading
sessions (let me know if there is something particular that
you would like us to play). Students should come to four of the
five or six sight-reading rehearsals; everyone must come to the last rehearsal. If you have a study hall when
the other band is rehearsing, you may come at that time, if
you wish (ex: if you are in 6th grade and have a orange
study hall, you could come to a symphonic band rehearsal on
E day)
Usual flex rehearsals:
- CB - A&B day rehearsals is orange for 7/8th
- SB - C day rehearsal is red for 6th
- SB - E day rehearsal is orange for 6th
The last workshop is the week of May 10. Everyone needs to come to two of the Marching Band workshops and do the Sousa work. Plan ahead.
No gradeouts this term, but be ready for your show-off exam!
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