Director: Brandon PsenickaDistrict Coordinator: Dr. Nina Prasso Board of Education Work Session

November 10, 2009

A marching band is a group of performers that consists of instrumental musicians and a color guard who perform and incorporate marching and movement with their musical performance.

Marching Bands serve the purpose of providing entertainment during sporting events, going to competitions, and performing at parades and other community events.

Community service/parades: ◦ Homecoming Parade◦ Memorial Day Parade◦ Belmont Stakes Parade

School spirit and support:◦ Performs the Star Spangled Banner, Fight Song, and Pep Music at home

football games◦ Shows school colors in the hallway at GCHS◦ Performs at the Pep Rally◦ Represents Garden City throughout the country

Competitions:◦ Compete with other high school marching bands from the tri-state area◦ Perform at New York State Field Band Conference Championships in the Carrier

Dome at Syracuse University

Motor Development:

Students must have full control of their bodies from head to toe:

Marching in step

Playing music / Dancing / Spinning a flag

Getting from Point A to Point B in an exact amount of steps that are evenly spaced and timed with the music

Spatial relationships between students and other marchers

Student conducting

Musical: Playing music from memory Connecting to a theme and conveying the emotion

and story of the theme to the audience Listen, feel, and watch tempos over large spaces

◦ Connect with other players◦ Creates internal sense of pulse and rhythm

Wide contrasting styles of music◦ Jazz◦ Classical◦ Ballads◦ Broadway◦ Pop / Classic Rock◦ Contemporary

Team: - “The Ultimate Team Sport”

No “bench” – Everyone must contribute at all times No cuts or JV – All skills and talents are welcomed and

used Every member must play and move the exact same way

◦ Any change from person to person impacts the full ensemble

Effective communication◦ Student leaders help members of their sections refine music and

get to the proper spots in the drill◦ Learn to describe and portray abstract thoughts both musically and

visually

Other◦ Develops self and group pride and a sense of community ◦ Time management skills

Winds:

Flute, Clarinet, Alto Sax, Tenor Sax, Baritone Sax, Trumpet, Mellophone, Trombone, Baritone, Tuba◦ Provide the melody and harmony for the music

Color Guard:

Dancers with colorfully patterned flags on 6’ poles◦ Dance, spin, and toss flags or other equipment in a

choreographed routine to provide visual interest and help portray the story of the music and show

Marching Percussion (Battery):

Tenor Drum – 5 pitched drums

Snare Drum – made special with Kevlar to project sound

Bass Drums – 4 Pitched drums each carried by individual students. The music is written so all 4 players sound as one big part◦ Drives and holds the tempos

◦ Provides rhythmic interest to the music

Pit Percussion:

Bells, Xylophone, Vibraphone, Concert Bass Drum, Toms, Chimes, Tambourine, etc.◦ Supports the melodies in the Winds and provides “color” to the

music

Drum Majors:

Student conductors on the field◦ Start, stop, and establish tempos within all the music

◦ Calls out commands and instructions to the ensemble

Student Staff:

Top members from each section of the Marching Band◦ Helps with instructing music in student run sectionals

◦ Helps with drill on the field

◦ Acts as role models on and off the field

◦ Helps make day to day decisions during the season as it relates to the program

◦ Helps keep music and uniforms organized for their section

◦ Helps set up the field for each practice

Director

Assistant Director

Assistant to the Director

Drum Line

Pit Percussion

Color Guard

Assistant Color Guard

Drill Instructor

All shows work under the rules and regulations of the New York Field Band Conference

The criteria established to discern “competitive potential“ includes the following:

1. School Population K—12 (4000 being the dividing point separating largeschools and small schools).

2. History of past scoring (using score averages from the past two seasons andChampionships).

3. Staff: size, experience and past success.4. Size of unit: winds, percussion, auxiliary.5. Age and experience of members.

Most competitions are hosted by high schools◦ Bands compete against other schools in their class

Bands are scored by 6 Judges

◦ General Effect Visual

◦ Ensemble Visual

◦ Field Visual

◦ General Effect Music

◦ Ensemble Music

◦ Field Music

After the students perform they sit in the bleachers and observe other bands. During this time they support the other programs and assess their performance. They also compare themselves to other bands to see what can be improved upon in their own performance.

Band Camp

August 26 – 28 , 31 and September 1 1:00 – 9:00

September 2 3:00 – 9:00

Fall Rehearsals

Every Wednesday and Thursday from 5:50 – 8:30 in September and October

Six Saturday rehearsals from 10:00 – 3:00

Most days after school small groups of students will stay and work on individual parts

Winter Rehearsals

4 – 5 winter rehearsals, two hours each, working with the Color Guard and Percussionists

Spring Rehearsals

5 - 6 spring rehearsals, two and a half hours to work with next season’s marching band. Teach the rookies how to march and/or spin a flag. Also start on the music so the students can memorize it over the summer.

The “current” Marching Band rehearses 2- 3 hours for Memorial Day and Belmont Stakes Parades

September 2 (Part of Camp) Parent Show September 10 3:00 – 5:00 Football Game September 17 3:00-5:00 Football Game September 26 9:00 – 10:00 Sachem Competition September 27 8:00 – 4:00 Brentwood Competition October 4 8:30 – 4:00 Huntington Competition October 10 1:00 – 5:00 Football Game Competition October 24 9:00 – 12:00 Homecoming parade October 24 1:00 – 4:30 Homecoming football game October 24 4:30 – 10:00 Mineola Competition October 31 – Nov 1 Weekend NYSFBC Championship

Syracuse

May 8:00 - 12:00 Memorial Day Parade June 6:30 – 9:30 Belmont Stakes Parade