Band Parent Helpful Tips - Especially for New Band Parents

AHS BAND INFO—“Unofficial” New Band Student / Parent Tips
(Lisa polland wrote this up several years ago-still useful. I just updated it)
FOOTBALL GAMES - HOME, and possibily a few AWAY.
(BE SURE YOU TAKE YOUR UNIFORM HOME IF YOU HAVE LEFT IT AT SCHOOL!!!! YOU WILL BE VERY UNHAPPY IF YOU CAN'T GET INTO THE SCHOOL TO GET THE UNIFORM AT 5 OR 6 OCLOCK.)
**parents are responsible to transport their student to and from Greenway for HOME games

**report to the front of Fort Hill High School by the band equipment trailer (to your right as you face FHHS)

**Student will need to be dressed and in the warm up arc by 6 PM (or other announced time)—pre-game (band on field for Star Spangled Banner) usually starts around 6:30 pm and game at 7:00 PM

**Dressed (for band performances) = standard blue t-shirt with some type of plain white or very light-colored shorts (which won’t show through the white uniform pants); white socks and white band shoes (clean!); then the uniform…top, pants, white gloves ready to wear at performance time, usually buttoned under the shoulder trim. FYI—hats (“shakoes”) live at all times in the band trailer—turn in after each performance! Don't forget gloves!

**make sure you bring appropriate clothing to wear when you remove your uniform

**bring your band garment bag—members usually remove their uniforms after the game, NEATLY hang them back up with pants creased and tops zipped, and turn them in to the trailer crew for storage—or—take them home with you, especially if you need the uniform dry cleaned. PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE STAFF whether to store the uniform or take home.

**the band shoes used to come with a shoe bag that hung off the hanger, but I'm unsure if that happened this year—get a watertight plastic bag for shoes that can go inside the garment bag and not get the uniform dirty

**bring flip folders with National Anthem and stands tunes

HELPFUL HINT: Do not use wire hangers for band uniforms! Put them on nice, heavy duty men’s suit hangers so they don’t collapse and slide off during transport.

HELPFUL HINT #2: Bring something to cover the seats in the bleachers—arrive early enough to take (non-valuable) possessions into the stands in the band area or have your parent do this (i.e. blanket, backpack with clothes, jacket, etc.)

DO NOT EAT OR DRINK ANYTHING BUT WATER IN THESE UNIFORMS!!!!!!

DO NOT SIT DOWN ON THE GROUND!



COMPETITION DAYS

The band will compete on approximately 7 Saturdays and 1 Sunday, this fall in our TOB (Tournament of Bands) Chapter 13 circuit and in the USSBA. These competitions are MANDATORY for all band/guard members barring major illnesses or difficulties. DO NOT MISS ANY PERFORMANCE WITHOUT CONTACTING MR. JACKSON 301-777-2567. Mr. Jackson publishes a weekly competition schedule, usually between Monday and Wednesday, and places it in your mailbox. He will specify details of the Saturday schedule including practice time, load up time, departure time, performance time and tentative return time. Remember—competitions are rain or shine or snow or mud—the only thing that stops them is lightning.

The band practices for a period of time on Saturdays prior to departure for competitions (usually 1-3 hours). Take water for this practice. Parents are responsible to transport their student to the practice location (either AHS or Greenway) at the time listed on the weekly competition schedule—usually mid to late morning. The student should arrive with everything s/he will need until return late that night, including food, snacks, drinks, extra clothing if needed, sunscreen, money for snacks at the competition site or for meals en route, jackets, etc. The student will practice and travel in regular clothes and dress in the uniform at the competition site. Again, the students should wear a t-shirt (usually the standard blue) and a pair of shorts so s/he can change comfortably out in the open—like a field! Bring your uniform, shoes, gloves, etc., if they are at home. I recommend an extra set of band gloves and an extra set of socks, for sure.

The Band Booster organization pays for bus transportation (sometimes school busses and sometimes charters) for students to the out-of-town competitions with the appropriate chaperones. The band also takes the large and small trailers to transport equipment and uniforms. You will need to give the band a written note if you wish to have your child drive back from a competition with your family. Plan for your child to ride the band busses 99.9% of the time—it’s part of the experience (Lisa’s opinion). Parents travel to competitions in their own vehicles but are not required to attend—the students are supervised by staff and adults. We encourage you to attend whenever practical—it’s fun! Dawn Hartlaub will be selling competition tickets at the drop-off time if parents/family are attending. Please buy them from our Booster group because we get to keep the proceeds. Many competitions have websites that will help you plan driving directions and Mr. Jackson will sometimes have directions on his weekly schedule. I will also send links and directions by e-mail sometimes.

Regarding food—veteran band students recommend a Sheetz run on competition day. Many band families run into Sheetz on the way to Saturday drop-off, buy an MTO, drinks and snacks and they’re set for food en route. The band often stops for fast food-type dinner if the competition is later in the evening (watch the weekly schedule). So, you are usually thinking about lunch, snacks and dinner $$ when s/he departs in the morning.

If one is available, you may wish to send a cell phone with your child on competition days so that s/he can call you en route for an estimated time of arrival. I also suggest late night car pools whenever possible. Return times are often 12-1 AM.

Finally, if we qualify for Atlantic Coast Championships we will compete this year on Sunday (11/1).

And if the football team goes to State, we will be there too, at M&T Stadium.



Helpful links:

www.tob.org (official TOB site with schedules, official scores and rankings for marching band)

www.tob-info.net (unofficial site—usually posts scores faster)

www.bluewaveband.org (a good site from another TOB band—use TOB scores area)

www.eteamz.active.com/bigbluereview/ (really scary football site for Allegany—gives exact FB schedule)

You can always call the Band Office 301-777-2567 with any questions—leave a message if you get the machine.

The Band Booster Officers '09-'10
Donna Monteleone-President 301-722-1296
Dawn Hartlaub-1st VP 301-722-4779
Kathy Levitas-2nd VP 301-722-4386
Carla Diehl-Treasurer 301-759-3673
Jeanne Bowers-Secretary 301-729-9228
They are happy to answer any questions or they can refer questions to the appropriate staff member.