WAYLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL BANDS

Memorial Day

All Wayland Public School Bands march for the Memorial Day parade. At the middle school, concert band and symphonic band march together to make a marching band of about 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 three bands (elem, ms & hs).

Dress

Parade dress is black long pants (no capris, shorts or skirts - skirts are VERY dangerous in the wind!) and a white shirt, 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.

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:

• Flex rehearsal procedures
• Workshop info
• Workshop schedule
• Other important info

Flex rehearsals

We begin in the caf, and we either march there or go outside.Wednesday, May 13, 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 schoo. (The marching contest counts as a enrichment if you need it). See schedule below. There are two marching band workshops.

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Other Reminders

MEMORIAL DAY: Monday, May 25 (be here at 10:00)

Skill licks should be done by May 8.

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 have begin May 11 & end on June 65

Band Awards Breakfast is Wednesday, June 10, 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. 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 do. Students should come to five of the six/seven 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 11 and everything is due the week before that.
Plan ahead to get skill licks, scales & rudiments done early!

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