WILLIAMSTOWN HIGH SCHOOL
MARCHING BAND
Schedule
Band booster meetings are held year-round on the second Thursday of each month at 7 pm. in the band room. These are open to all parents of students in any of the bands at WHS.
June – This month is usually free from any scheduled events. (Only possibility is graduation). It helps to encourage your student to practice their music for the show and to check their instruments for any repairs needed before July. New junior high members will start receiving marching band music during the last week or so of school and also start learning some basic marching.
July – Pre-band camp is usually the second full week. Rehearsals are divided into sectionals, including the color guard. On Friday of the week, the full band rehearses. Band camp is usually the third full week, from Sunday afternoon to Thursday evening, including a performance. After band camp, daily rehearsals start, generally Monday through Thursday. The students will order their white gloves and shoes at band camp. At some point during this month, they will also be fitted for their uniform.
August – During this month, the band will have a group picture taken for the football program. The first parade for the band is at the Parkersburg Homecoming. Once school starts, rehearsals will be on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 3:30 pm. to 5:30 pm. The first football game is generally the last Friday of the month and there is a “Meet the Team Night” the day or two beforehand. Tag Day is held this month. (Students go door-to-door asking for donations and distributing tags for people to display.)
September – Football games continue on Friday nights. The boosters have had a pizza booth at the Sternwheel Festival at the Williamstown Boat Ramp. A concert in the park is this month as well. The first competition is usually the Oil and Gas Festival in Tyler County. This includes a parade in the afternoon followed by the field competition in the evening. Other competition possibilities include the Marietta Band-o-rama.
October – Football games continue on Friday nights. Our Festival of Bands is usually on the first Saturday of the month. For Homecoming, the band marches in the afternoon parade and at the game. Other competition possibilities include the Black Walnut Festival in Spencer and Governor’s Cup in Summersville. Competitions usually wrap up by the end of the month.
November – Depending on the football team’s record, games on Fridays or Saturdays may continue.
December – Football games may or may not still be going on. Possible Christmas parades would be in Williamstown and/or Parkersburg. The winter band concert will be this month.
January – April – Usually this time is spent concentrating on concert band, Solo and Ensemble competition, ratings festival, All State band auditions, etc.
May – Spring concert is this month. There is a band banquet that is for all band members and special recognition is given to the seniors. The Memorial Day parade is usually on the holiday itself. The band also plays at the high school graduation.
Pre-Band Camp Rehearsals
These are divided into sectionals and a schedule will be given to you. In the past, the percussion section and the color guard have practiced everyday. The first full band rehearsal is on Friday of that week. It really helps to have your student practice the music as much as possible beforehand. These are held in the band room.
Band Camp
In the past, this has been held at Cedar Lakes in Ripley, WV. You will be given a packing list, but here are some additional suggested items to bring:
Sunburn treatment lotion/ointment
Lots of extra socks – Feet sweat or get wet from rain, so dry socks come in handy
Band-aids for blisters on hands or feet.
Blistex for brass players
Snacks are usually allowed, but sending a bunch of junk food can lead to stomach upset. Some students who share a cabin will combine all their food into a common stash. Others don’t.
Schedules and packing lists will be available for students. A medical paper will need completed and notarized for each student. (Notary may be available at camp or you can have it done beforehand).
Band camp ends with a performance of the show as they have learned it thus far. The students really learn how to work together as a group and have pride in what they’re doing. Seniors will be recognized at the Thursday performance. They will receive their band t-shirt that is specific for that year’s show.
Band Boosters
This group is one that you will definitely want to get involved with as your student starts marching band. Officers are elected in April for the year and meetings are held year-round on the second Thursday of each month at 7 pm. in the band room.
Volunteer opportunities are many! You could:
Help on the Pit Crew with the equipment, trailer, and instruments. Set up and tear down the equipment on the field for performances.
Drive the trailer to away games and competitions.
Work in the band concession stand at home football games – taking orders, cooking beforehand, shopping for food/supplies, serving food.
Help with the tailgate parties that are sometimes held for the band at away football games and competitions.
Work with the uniforms – alterations, taking them to the dry cleaner, putting them back in garment bags.
Heading up band fund-raisers, which are held through out the year. Past fund-raisers have included fruit, cookie dough, Gold Cards, knives, candy bars, spring plant sale, etc.
Helping at the Festival of Bands – concessions, assisting bands, programs, parking, etc.
Chaperoning at Band Camp and on the busses for away games and competitions.
Uniforms and Equipment
The playing members of the band wear the following items:
hat with white plume (kept in hat box with their name on it)
uniform jacket (wear t-shirt under it/warmer clothes in winter)
uniform pants (wear shorts under them/warmer clothes in winter)
white socks (you provide)
white band shoes (you will need white shoe polish for these and keep them in garment bag)
gloves (you will buy 2 pairs; 1 for games and 1 to keep nice for competitions. Keep in garment bag or hat box.
raincoat (these are fairly new, quilted raincoats)
Each student will buy a garment bag that has their name embroidered on it. Unless otherwise instructed, uniforms should be kept in the instrument room at the band room. The Band Boosters take care of dry cleaning the uniforms, but each student is responsible for cleaning their shoes, socks, and gloves as needed. Please remind your student not to keep valuables, dirty clothes, trash, or food in the garment bags. If money is an issue, please contact Mr. Staats and arrangements can be made for your student.
On some occasions, the band wears their polo shirts and khaki pants. If your student doesn’t already have a band polo shirt, please see Mr. Staats about purchasing one. The students provide their own khaki pants.
The band provides quite a bit of equipment and uniforms. Things such as school-owned instruments (especially pit percussion items), color guard equipment, raincoats, uniforms, the dots (used to learn marching maneuvers and are expensive to replace), music stands, etc. are to be treated carefully. Please ask your student to respect these items. They represent tax dollars and lots of hard work by band boosters doing fund-raisers.
Expenses
Other items that you will/may need to supply are:
White shoe polish – It can be helpful to have 1 bottle at home and 1 bottle for the band room.
instant hand/feet warmers – These come in handy later in the season and are available at sporting good stores, camping stores, or Walmart.
instrument supplies – Examples include reeds, polishing cloths, valve oil, flip folder, lyre, etc.
Some trips will require a sack lunch; others will have a meal provided (i.e. tailgate party). The band may also stop for a meal on the way, so your child will need money for that, too. You can get this information from either your child or the blackboard in the band room, usually a day or two before the event.
If anyone has any financial concerns, please contact Mr. Staats and something will be worked out for you.