Schedule

·        Marching season starts on June 13, 2011 with rehearsals every Monday night throughout the summer.  Family vacations are excused absences. Marching season ends with State Competition at the end of October.  See the Marching Band Website for the complete Calendar of rehearsals, football games, parades and competitions.

      www.bvsd.org/schools/MonarchHigh/finearts/instrumental/marchingband/Pages/default.aspx

·        BAND CAMP IS VERY IMPORTANT.  This is when major work is done on the fall marching program. You should NOT plan vacation during these weeks:   August 1-5 and August 8-12, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

·        After school begins, there will be Monday & Wednesday rehearsals 6-9pm and Saturday rehearsal from 9am to 3pm.  Practice is what makes our award-winning band a success and a proud part of Monarch High School.  Students need to be at all practices.

·        The band plays at home football games.  If the football team goes to playoffs, the band will be there to provide pep music and encouragement.

·        “Call Time” is when students need to be ready to work.  Students should always arrive ten minutes before scheduled start time. Review the band calendar for times. 

Volunteers

·        Parent volunteers are an essential part of the season. We need you! There are many opportunities in a variety of areas.  Please find a way to help out. See the volunteer form for specific needs.

·        Volunteer in the uniform room on Monday nights, 6-7pm, during the summer and fall.  You’ll meet fun people and learn a lot more about the marching program while maintaining marching band uniforms.

·        Band students like to eat and parent volunteers are essential in feeding them. 

·        MHS Music Boosters meets the first Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the choir room.  Parents of ALL music students are welcome and encouraged to attend.  Music Boosters provides a significant amount of financial and volunteer support to the MHS music programs. 

Funding

·        Marching Band is fully funded by parent donations and fundraisers.

·        We depend on each family to make a $375 per student tax-deductible donation payable to the MHS Music Boosters to help cover the costs of marching band.   

·        Payment is due June 13th. A two payment option is available with the second payment due July 11. Please keep in mind we pay our instructors starting in June and other bills came due already beginning in February of this year.

·        A $75 instrument use & maintenance fee is due June 13 from each student using a school instrument including piccolo, baritone, tuba, drum/percussion, tenor and bari sax, and french horn.  A second instrument costs an additional $35.  Please make checks payable to Monarch High School.  This fee is required by MHS as indicated in the Course Description Guide.

·        There is a $15 cost for a required Band t-shirt. This is a one-time purchase that students will use multiple years and wear under their uniforms. All other uniform items are supplied and paid for by the Marching Band Budget.

·        Fundraising for Marching Band is an ongoing process.  There are only two fundraising efforts held during the season which complete the Marching Band Budget.  The Tag Day fundraiser on September 10 is mandatory for all students. Shop with Scrip gift cards can be purchased throughout the year to make your money work for you and us. 

Miscellaneous, yet important

·        Necessities for marching band rehearsals:  water, sunscreen, insect repellent, hats, and sneakers (no sandals). Dress appropriately to the weather. We will practice outdoors.

·        Band students are hard working and committed to being the best they can be in their performances. The harder we work during rehearsals, the better our performances will be.

·        Band students are united and look out for one another. Many band students feel that marching season is the best time of the year. 

·        School concerts have an admission fee and the proceeds go to the Music Department budgets.  This is one way of helping to offset costs and raise money.

·        Dependent upon good attendance, students can earn PE credit and an MHS letter for Marching Band participation

·        Communication is provided to parents via email and the Marching Band website. Critical last minute information will be posted to the website under “Last Minute News”. Make sure you are receiving email updates and checking the website regularly.     

www.bvsd.org/schools/MonarchHigh/finearts/instrumental/marchingband/Pages/default.aspx