WELCOME TO BAND AT GREEN HOPE HIGH SCHOOL!
Whether you are in one of the curricular band classes, an extra-curricular ensemble, or are a member of the Marching Band, the experiences you have will provide memories that last your lifetime. The time you invest with the Green Hope Band Program will provide you with an opportunity to mature as a musician, a performer, a student, and a person. Welcome to the Green Hope Band… we are glad you are a Falcon!
SURVIVING BAND CAMP
Produced by our own GHMB students! This video details everything you need to succeed at Band Camp.
MEMBER EXPECTATIONS
Being a band member is a rewarding experience providing life-long memories. You are going to learn many important life lessons through participation in the band. Make sure you understand how the band operates and the importance of adhering to the expectations.
Professionalism
- All equipment should be handled with care and respect and stored in an organized and professional manner.
- Equipment and instruments are to be stacked or lined up neatly in rows and unified as directed by student leaders. Touch only your own instrument.
- Never leave your instrument unattended… especially on the ground or on the bleachers.
- Musicians never play their instruments in public unless it is organized. We all play or we don’t play!
- We clean up after ourselves. We leave a place better than how we found it, both on and off campus.
- No “PDA” (public display of affection). The most allowed is holding hands.
- No profane or inappropriate language.
- We use our inside voices when inside other schools.
- We are respectful and supportive of performers from other schools.
- We remain seated and quiet while watching other groups during a performance. Every group is deserving of a standing ovation and our applause. As audience members, it is generally considered rude to have conversations or use electronic devices during a performance.
- We always look presentable and wear appropriate attire.
- We do not goof off or horseplay in public.
- We always move as a group in two lines. People from outside of our group should not “break rank.” If someone tries to break rank, the closest student leader should politely ask them once to go around.
- When in formation, students are quiet and orderly.
- If we are in uniform, we follow the awards protocol. We stand during awards and clap politely for other groups as well as our group. We show respect and support for all other performers. There is no excess and unprofessional celebratory behavior, just as there is no unprofessional behavior if we do not “win.”
Respect
CHAPERONES: The instructions they give are an extension of the director. Use “sir” and “ma’am” and show appreciation to them for giving their time and energy for you. Do not let them move equipment and props if you are not doing anything. This is your ensemble, not theirs.
THE STAFF: Their expertise is crucial to our success. Listen and apply their feedback. Respect their decisions, even if you don’t understand or agree at the time. Never take instructional corrections personally. The staff is here to help you grow and become better – as a musician, a student, and a person.
STUDENT LEADERS: The hierarchy of student leadership is also vital to our success and the normal operations of our program. If you feel that someone is out of line, do not take matters into your own hands; follow the chain of command.
Section leaders —> Captains —> Drum Majors
OTHER MEMBERS: Any team activity requires support among its members. Be kind to one another. Encourage your fellow team members to do their best for their own sake and for the success of the group. Compliment their improvements and keep them motivated when they seem they feel they just can’t go any farther.
THE PROGRAM & OUR SCHOOL: You are an advocate and representative for the director, the program, Green Hope High School, the Town of Cary, and sometimes even our state. This tremendous responsibility should not be taken lightly.
OTHER SCHOOLS: We will demonstrate good sportsmanship by supporting other schools and groups, encouraging them, and celebrating their successes.
YOURSELF: Behaving in a professional way means you take yourself and your organization seriously. Taking yourself seriously allows for mutual respect with others.
Nutrition and Health
HYDRATE: Drink plenty of water throughout the season. Bring a water bottle to every rehearsal and competition.
PHYSICAL FITNESS: Stretch before and after rehearsal.
NUTRITION: Members take care of themselves by practicing proper nutrition. Do not skip meals before rehearsals. Avoid sodas, fruit juices, and dairy products before rehearsals (especially camp days) and performances.
ILLNESS PREVENTION: Do not share water bottles. This helps prevent the spread of colds and viruses.
INJURY: Should a student acquire an injury or illness with in the season we will do our best to accommodate them within the show. If it is a long-term injury we may have to pull them out of certain parts of the show. We will do our best to work around these types of situations but there is the risk that you may not end up in the entire show.
Rehearsal Expectations
Members PRACTICE individually at home. We REHEARSE together. Do your part to contribute to the group by working outside of rehearsal on the things that you need to in order to perform them at or above standard.
• All members sign up for a committee and complete responsibilities as delegated by the committee chair.
ATTIRE: Members are expected to come to rehearsal in proper attire. Rehearsal attire consists of comfortable and athletic clothing (no excessively baggy clothing and NO JEANS) and athletic sneakers with socks. Marching band members wear white shirts on visual days (normally Mondays). Long hair needs to be pulled back. Visible jewelry is not allowed. Guard members and some brass members are required to have gloves. Because our practice areas are normally very visible, following school dress code is also important. Always wear appropriate length shorts and shirts that do not expose midriffs, stomachs, ribs, or nipples, etc.
• Members are prepared to begin rehearsing at the designated start time of each rehearsal.
Members are present and participating in organized warm-up activities at the moment they begin.
Plan to get to rehearsal in time to begin any necessary stretching and set up before rehearsal
starts. “To be early is to be on time. To be on time is to be late.”
• Members do what they need to do to be mentally prepared for rehearsal as well as physically prepared. This means there is no goofing off or horseplaying right before rehearsal begins.
• Members are prepared for rehearsal with all items necessary for an efficient rehearsal, i.e. personal equipment, dotbook, instrument with all necessary supplies, sticks/mallets, music (in a binder with sheet protectors), pencil, etc. Failure to do such will result in limited participation in rehearsals.
PAY ATTENTION: Members should stay quiet and alert during rehearsal. When any person of authority is talking, all other talking should cease. Do not talk unless otherwise instructed to help someone around you or an instructor is talking to you.
• Members respect the rehearsal protocol/process. There is no talking or moving at the position of attention and there is no talking during a rep. The position of attention is a position of focus and discipline. Likewise, any time you are marching or in a rep, you uphold a level of discipline. Always use proper marching technique and strive to look and sound your best.
• Members are expected to be working at all times during rehearsal whether it be self-directed or with an instructor. The only exception will be designated breaks.
• ALL members are responsible for putting equipment away at the end of each rehearsal.
DISMISSAL: Rehearsals END at the time listed in the calendar. This does not necessarily mean that students will be able to leave directly at that time. NO student should ever leave a rehearsal without checking out with their section leader or committee chair as appropriate. If every member helps with clean-up, then EVERY member gets to leave earlier.
• Members make arrangements to make-up anything that was missed due to an absence. This will be done prior to the next rehearsal.
• There is to be NO food in any rehearsal area outside of scheduled breaks. Members take note of areas where no food item is ever allowed, such as the fine arts hallway, band room, main gym, and other areas designated by the staff.
• Members leave cellular phones and other devices off during all rehearsals and performances unless otherwise specified by an instructor.
• Members leave their personal lives outside of rehearsal. If you had a bad day, do not take it out on your fellow group members.
Trip Expectations
Members follow school rules at all times. All trips are sanctioned events sponsored by Green Hope High School. This means that all school policies (GHHS and WCPSS student/parent handbooks and rules, Green Hope Band handbook) are enforced on said trips, and participants (students, staff, and parents/volunteers) are held to the rules and regulations outlined in each. Any behavior that takes place on a trip that violates school policy must be communicated with school administration immediately following the events. Administration will determine proper disciplinary action.
• Members are required to travel with the band to the competition. Students are expected to travel with the band home from the competition. This encourages team bonding and allows for all students to complete unloading and clean-up responsibilities upon return to the school. Parents requesting an exception to the travel policy may request to take their students home from the event only by submitting a transportation exception form (reference Transportation Exception Form from website) at least one week in advance. The student is allowed to leave when the rest of the students are loading the buses or other transportation to return home. The student is required to find another student to complete unloading and clean-up responsibilities on his/her behalf.
BUS EXPECTATIONS: When on the bus, students follow the instructions of the driver and other adults. Bus lists will be posted prior to each trip. Students may not change buses without the approval of the logistics chair.
Students sit in a seat facing forward, feet on the floor, and speak in a normal tone of voice so as to not distract the driver.
Food and other items may only be consumed on the bus with approval of the driver and chaperones. Water is only drink allowed on the buses.
Students may not hang body parts or throw things out of bus windows.
Students are responsible for picking up their trash and leaving the bus cleaner than they found it.
Students thank the driver when entering and exiting the bus.
No co-ed or couples seating on overnight or late evening bus trips.
OVERNIGHT TRIPS
Rooming lists are posted prior to the trip. Students may not change rooms without the approval of the logistics chair.
For overnight trips, students are to stay in a student room. Exceptions to this rule may be granted by the director.
The director communicates a set curfew each night. The chaperones enforce this time with hallway and room checks as necessary. Students who violate curfew rules will face disciplinary action consistent with their actions.
No fraternization between genders will take place inside of a hotel room. Any visiting between genders will take place in the hotel lobby with adult supervision.
No congregation of large groups of students inside a single hotel room unless a specific situation has been approved and is supervised by a chaperone or staff.
Students may not leave the premises of the hotel unless in an extenuating circumstance (ex. injury or illness that requires medical care).
The only adult allowed in a student hotel room is a chaperone or the band director.
Tips for Success
COMMITMENT
Commit to giving 100%, 100% of the time. Expect to work hard. There is no first-string and second-string, and when one person gets tired we cannot send another player in as a substitute. Everyone is performing all of the time. We are only as strong as our weakest member.
EFFICIENCY
Make efficient use of our rehearsal time. Take notes in the music of changes, things to practice, and suggested improvements during rehearsal. Listen even when the director may not be talking directly to your section, as it may apply to you later in the music.
SUPPORT
Stay positive and offer and accept help! Everyone is going to have some form of critique offered to him or her. Please understand that this is how we all grow. If you are experienced at a task, please offer assistance when the instructor has asked for you to do so. We are going to get better by helping each other.
TEAM
Always do what is best for the group. We are a team and we must work together. Take responsibility for your actions and learn from your mistakes. Apologize when you know you are wrong and mean it.
CONFIDENCE
Have full faith in yourself and your capabilities. Everyone will be learning new things and facing new challenges. Do not doubt yourself for one moment. People are going to learn at different rates; try your best not to compare yourself to others. Even if you are picking up on something quickly or know the task that is being asked of you, allow yourself to take it to the next step. (Consistency, performance, technique). Don’t let someone else have more faith in you than you have in yourself.
PRACTICE
Practice! If you are struggling with a task, don’t be upset. Keep working on it. Growth and improvement speak volumes over those who are naturally gifted but don’t push themselves to the next level!
Rehearse as you want to perform. Anything that happens in rehearsal will likely happen in performance. Constantly work to improve your performance ability.
OPPORTUNITY
Take every opportunity to watch other groups perform. They are doing the same thing that you are and you will learn a lot from watching them (both good and bad). While at a competition at another school, spend as much time watching as possible. Use scheduled breaks to take care of restroom and concession needs.
WINNING
Winning isn’t everything. Competition certainly motivates us, but your primary motivation should be the desire to improve. As long as we get better with each performance, we stay in competition with ourselves.
Intrinsic motivation is much more powerful and rewarding than the extrinsic motivation to win a trophy. The performance of others should never determine the quality of your own performance. During awards ceremonies, be proud of our group and our school no matter what the results and if you agree or disagree. You should not cheer any louder for winning first place than for placing last.
