Welcome to the Grissom High School Band Family!

Freshman Parent Orientation Meeting May 26, 2015

Why are We Here Tonight?Provide an overview of the Grissom High School Band Program and answer any questions you may have Key Topics • What is the Grissom Band Program?

➢Band Overview ➢The Importance of Band ➢Time Commitment ➢Band Camps and Marching Season Schedules ➢Uniforms

• Costs of the Program • Staying Connected • How You Can Help and Get Involved? • Band Trips

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Please Ask Questions as We Go!

What is the Grissom Tiger Band?Marching Season – We require all students to participate in marching band their first year Two Marching Bands

• Football Band ➢ All marching band members (includes Contest Band) ➢ Attends all football games, performs pre-game show at home games, and attends

at least one marching contest • Contest Band

➢ Students who auditioned and were selected to participate in all marching competitions

➢ Performs at pre-game, Halftime, and Marching contests Color Guard

• Auditions are in May preceded by clinics • Two Color Guard Camps – early June and early July • Students who play an instrument in band and tryout for Color Guard must

remain a playing member of the band in order to participate in Color Guard, otherwise they can not remain in Color Guard

Percussion • Periodic sectionals throughout the summer. Dates are on the calendar. • Week long camp in June and July • Contest Band percussion may have additional sectionals prior to the

percussion camps

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What is the Grissom Tiger Band?Concert Bands

• Three bands - Each increases in the level of difficulty of music as you progress through them

➢ Concert Band ➢ Symphonic II Band ➢ Symphonic I Band

• Performs for the MPA Competition and possibly other symphonic competitions, also performs 2-3 concerts every year

Jazz Bands • Two jazz bands – A and B • A Jazz Band is for upperclassmen already enrolled at Grissom and have

auditioned • Incoming Freshmen playing saxophone, trumpet, or trombone may sign up

for the B Jazz Band • Rhythm section instruments (piano, guitar, bass, and drums) must submit an

audition recording • Audition information is found on the band’s website under Future Band

Members • Both Jazz Bands perform 2-3 concerts at the school each year • Jazz Bands do not normally practice after school, but DO have community

performances and out of town festivals and competitions they are invited to throughout the year

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What is the Grissom Tiger Band?A nationally recognized Band Program for:

• High standards of performance • Quality of experience given to its members

A gold standard program for other band programs across the country to model themselves after A program that prides itself on a tradition of excellence

• Numerous awards and national recognitions for marching, concert, and jazz bands • Students in band are scholars, athletes, SGA members, and Honor Society members • Many graduates receive band and/or academic related scholarships and continue in

band programs at college A program where your child will

• Gain immense self-confidence • Have a sense of pride in their work ethic and achieving the high standards set by the

Directors • Be accepted and know they are part of something Great! • Understand the importance of teamwork and camaraderie to achieve success • Have fun and gain numerous life skills in the process • Have a leg up on their peers the first day of school by already having “instant” friends

in all grades from band camp

5The Best Experience at Grissom

The Importance of BandBand teaches important life skills – Dedication, Generosity, Teamwork, Communication, Trust, Responsibility, Accountability, Time Management, Respect, Discipline Academic Excellence • Band Students are usually top scholars at their schools • They average 62 points higher on SAT tests

Studies show direct correlation between music and academic and personal achievement Requires students to shift from a “Me” focus to an “Us” focus for each rehearsal and performance Band builds positive self-worth

6Band is So Good! Band is Good for You!

How Much Time Does It Take?Marching Rehearsals

• Contest Band - Tuesday and Thursday, 6:00 – 8:30pm – From the beginning of school through the last marching contest in October

• Football Band – Rehearses Tuesdays Only from 6:00 – 7:00pm until the last rehearsal is announced. Usually in September.

• Wednesday afternoons (Contest Band only) when a Thursday game is scheduled: 3:30 - 5:30pm • Game Days – after school 3:30 p.m.-4:15 p.m. in the back parking lot of the school • Percussion (Contest Band only) will have an extra rehearsal on Monday evenings from 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Subject to change. • Color Guard will have an extra rehearsal on Monday evenings from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Football games - the full marching band attends all home varsity football games and most of the away games. These are on Friday and occasionally Thursday night. Marching Contests - We will go to 2 marching contests on a Saturday in late September and usually early October (Dates TBA)

• Only the Contest Band will perform at these • The football band members will attend at least one of these. If it is overnight, only the contest band will participate.

Symphonic/Concert Rehearsal – begins after football season through the beginning of May • Symphonic I Tuesday and Thursday after school from 3:30-5:30. • Symphonic II Monday from 3:30 – 5:30 and Thursday evening (2nd semester only) from 6:30-8:30 . • Concert Band Wednesday from 3:30-5:30.

Please note: All rehearsals and performances are required attendance. Failure to do so results in a failing grade for the 9 weeks in which the infraction occurs. Band in high school is a performance based class!

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Spring/Summer Camp ScheduleAll Summer Marching Band Rehearsals - REQUIRED ATTENDANCE

• Rookie Camp: May 26-29 - 8am-12pm.

• Color Guard Camp #1: May 26-29 - 8am-3pm

• Color Guard Camp #2: June 22-26 - 8am-3pm

• Contest Percussion Camp: June 22-26 - 8am-3pm (extra sectionals will be scheduled and announced)

• Contest Band Percussion Mini-Camp: July 20-21st

• Uniform Fittings: July 21-23 – More info to be announced

• Pre-Camp: July 22-24 - 8am-12pm.

• Band Camp: July 27-31 ➢ 8am-12pm – Football Band ➢ 1:30-4pm – Contest Band ➢ 6-9pm – Contest Band

Grissom Band Family Picnic/Preview Show - July 31 at 6:00pm

• In the parking lot where the marching band rehearses

• We plan to do a catered BBQ meal – more info to follow in July.

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Marching Season RehearsalsAll After School Marching Band Rehearsals - REQUIRED

ATTENDANCE

• School Begins: August 4 ➢Evening marching rehearsals begin - August 3

• Color Guard - Mondays - 6-9pm • *Percussion - Mondays - 5-8pm (time subject to change) • **Contest Band - Tuesday and Thursdays 6-8:30pm • Football Band - Tuesdays 6-7pm until last rehearsal announced. Usually early September.

• All Marching Band - Game days - 3:30pm - 4:15pm

* Percussion Front Ensemble (Pit) rehearsal times may vary

** If we have Thursday night games, Contest band will rehearse Wednesday after school 3:30-5:30pm

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How Much Does it Cost? – FeesBand (Base) - $525.00 with payments due on the following schedule

• May – Rookie Camp – Please submit your initial $50 Band Fee now

• July – Pre-Camp – Remainder of $250 due no later than Uniform fitting (Must be paid by the uniform fitting to receive the band polo shirt)

• November 1st - $115 • March 1st - $110

Color Guard Only - $390 • July – Uniform fitting - $290 must be paid • November 1st - $100

Food/Transportation Charges: $75 Total; THESE PAYMENTS ARE NOT FEE EXEMPT; ALL BAND STUDENTS PAY

• $25 – Away games and Meals – Due September 1st • $25 – Transportation Fee – Due November 1st • $25 – Transportation Fee – Due March 1st

Miscellaneous Costs – Other expenses will occur throughout the school year • Typical expenses include marching shoes, gloves, fees for special events and performances

• These are usually minor in value ($20-$40) and infrequent

Total Fee Costs • Band Students - $600 + Misc. (Base, Food/Transportation) • Color Guard Students - $440 + Misc. (Color Guard Fee, Food/Transportation)

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How Much Does it Cost? – FeesInstrument Rental - Annual total of $225

• $75/Semester (Summer, Fall, and Spring) • Applies to percussionist or if you rent any other instruments from the GBPA • Contest Band Percussionist rent all three semesters; Others may only rent one or two semesters • All must fill out and sign the rental agreement form when you rent the instrument

Band Fee Payments • You can wait for the due dates to pay the full amounts due, but we encourage you to make

payments each month leading up to the deadlines • During the Summer, please send payments to the GBPA PO Box

➢ GBPA, P.O. 4335, Huntsville, AL 35815 • During the School Year – Two Additional Options to submit payments

➢ Pay using PayPal through Charms - a small processing fee will be added. ➢ Place in the Treasurer’s Box in the Bandroom

• Put payment in a Sealed Envelope • Clearly mark with your Student’s name and what the check is for

• We will be enforcing a 20% late payment fee for all payment amounts received after the stated deadlines

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Please pay your fees in a timely manner - We are happy to work out a payment plan!

Marching Band – Summer Uniform

All Students Must Have for Marching Band: ➢WHITE tennis shoes - For ALL marching band students for

rehearsals and Summer Uniform (Must have by Pre-Camp)

➢Khaki shorts - purchased by each member, NOT short shorts

➢Band Polo shirt – First shirt is covered within the band fees. Additional shirts or replacements will cost around $25-30. (The remainding $250 payment at uniform fitting night or through your June and July payment, must be made before a student is given a band polo shirt to wear at our first performance.)

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Marching Band – Uniform FittingsSummer Uniform Fitting – July 21-23

➢Please submit your initial $50 Rookie Camp Fee now. The remainder of the $250 fee payment must be paid by uniform fitting. It is encouraged to make periodic payments toward that amount through the summer leading up to uniform fitting. More details on Fees chart.

➢Student gets fitted for their marching uniform ➢Buy marching shoes at fitting ➢Buy socks, gloves, etc. ➢Get your initial information loaded into Charms if it needs updating ➢We ask that each family bring in a donation of 2 cases of water

• If you haven’t done so prior to that time please bring it on your fitting night

➢Sign up for volunteer opportunities

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Key Contact InformationBand Directors • Bandroom telephone – 256-881-1075 • Bill Connell – llennoc1@aol.com • Theo Vernon – jtvjazz2@me.com

GHS Band Parent Association (GBPA) Board • President – Kennedy Edwards, president@grissomband.org • 1st Vice President – Karen Peterson, vp1@grissomband.org • 2nd Vice President – Dan Detrick, vp2@grissomband.org • Treasurer – Debbie Searcy, treasurers@grissomband.org • Treasurer – Bill Ward, treasurers@grissomband.org • Secretary – Paula Clawson, secretary@grissomband.org

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Stay Connected to the BandCHARMS – Your lifeline to the Band!

Grissom Band Webpage – www.grissomband.com

Grissom Band Facebook • www.facebook.com/GrissomHighSchoolBand • Search for “Grissom High School Band”

Grissom Band Group Text Service - A MUST to stay connected!! • One of the Directors’ primary means to communicate with the students and parents • Notifications, instructions, links to important info, arrival/departure times, etc. • Text this message @ghsb1516 to this number 81010 • You will need to add your name when you receive the reply • Please have your students register as well. We will show them how to do this at Rookie

Camp. • Each section has this system set up for section announcements as well. We will give

that information out at Rookie Camp • You can not reply to these texts • We will not inundate you with texts!!

GBPA Monthly Parent Meetings

Get Involved!!15

CHARMS – Your Lifeline to the Band!Charms (www.charmsoffice.com) online database where you can get and

track :

• Calendar

➢ALL band rehearsals, major events, and meetings are on the Charms calendar for the entire year and next summer

➢Sync the Charms calendar to your smartphone or other calendar

• Instructions are on the band website under the Parents tab – Charms

• This is a lifesaver!!

• Financial obligations to the band

• Email Band Directors

• Student forms

• Handouts

• Band handbook16

CHARMS – Your Lifeline to the Band!It is VERY IMPORTANT we have your CORRECT contact information in

Charms

• Two emails you check frequently

• Phone numbers and mailing addresses

• Please ensure this info is correct for EACH Student and Parent

Trouble logging into your Charms account? - Contact one of the board members for help

All 8th graders will be included in the Grissom Charms account soon

We will be adding all students to the proper band class and updating fees

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This is our primary means of communication for mass emails and our newsletter – Otherwise you

will have to depend on your student for information…… and that can be RISKY!

Band Parent MeetingsGeneral meetings of the GHS Band Parents Association are held the 4th

Monday of each month during the school year

Time: 7:00 p.m.

Place: GHS Band Room or Auditorium (1st and last meetings of the year are sometimes held in the auditorium)

No meetings in December, May, June, or July.

First regular monthly meeting of 2015 will be held August 24 – Mark your calendars!

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Your best way to get the latest news, meet other band parents, and communicate with

the board and the directors

How Can I Get Involved and Help Out?The Best Way – Join a Committee!!

• Band Banquet Lori Smith • Chaperones Tania Cowart • Color Guard Robyn Swaim • Concerts Suzanne Norris • Fruit Sales Scott and Amy Anton • Historian Clayton Newkirk • Hospitality Kontina Tate • Newsletter Shari Bahder • Publicity Larissa Chastain • Scrip Bill McMahan • Spirit Wear Michelle Sammarco • Stadium Setup VACANT • Transportation Crista Meeks • Truck Crew Cameron Grace • Uniforms Anna Grace and Beverly Olmstead • VBC Coordinator Melanie Griffin • Ways and Means VACANT • Webmaster Theo Vernon

Help out where needed Volunteer for fundraisers throughout the year

19We Want You to be a Part of This Family!

Fundraising and Volunteer OpportunitiesScrip

Scrip is band bucks for you, your family and friends!! Similar to gift cards that you purchase in specific amounts for certain restaurants or merchants. A portion of your purchase is returned to the band and a portion of that is credited to your students band account. You get $1 worth of gift cards/coupons for every $1 you pay. See “Scrip Merchants” on GBPA website http://www.grissomband.com/uploads/2/1/7/3/21739038/brand_category_report.pdf Contact: Bill McMahan at scrip@grissomband.org / cell-256.527.9454 This is truly a Super EASY way to raise money and is a WIN/WIN for the band and you!!

Fruit Sales Our single largest and most important fundraiser 4 fruit sales; 1 @ month from November through February Large number of opportunities for parents and students both to work these sales GBPA will credit $5 per hour for each hour worked by a student or parent to the student’s band account Contact: Scott and Amy Anton at fruitsales@grissomband.org

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Fundraising and Volunteer Opportunities Von Braun Center (VBC) Concessions

Parents and students age 16 and up can work concessions for events at the VBC. Students and parents working these events can earn $5 an hour in credits back to the students band account. Contact: Melanie Griffin at vbc@grissomband.org

Spirit Wear - Grissom Band wear – sweatshirts, t-shirts, etc. Contact: Michelle Sammarco at spirit@grissomband.org

Publix Partners - An easy way to help the band ! Use your Publix Partners keychain card every time you shop at Publix and a portion of the cost

will be given to the GHS Tiger Band

Amazon - Another easy way to help support GHS Tiger Band! Do your Amazon shopping through the Amazon Smile program to have a portion of your cost

go toward the band. Shop at https://smile.amazon.com/ch/63-0867861

Fundraisers Throughout the Year We plan to do several more fundraisers throughout the year big and small We would love your help on these! These funds help to offset band related expenses and to support the

operating budget of the band program that fees alone will not cover

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Oh the Places You Will Go!

In recent years the Grissom Tiger Band has performed at: • Washington, DC • Chicago • New Orleans • Hollywood • Savannah

2016 – Hawaii – November 20-27 • Some of the Trip Highlights:

➢ Honor the 75th Anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attacks ➢ The band will perform in two memorial concerts and parade ➢ Visit the USS Arizona Memorial for a wreath laying ceremony ➢ Tour Pearl Harbor and the USS Missouri ➢ Tour the North Shore, the Dole Plantation Farm, and participate in a Luau

Dinner

• Costs – current estimate ~$2,600/person based on a four person room and ~150 people attend

• Lots more info available on the band website! • Register with Gateway through the link

on the band website

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Band is so Good! Band is Good for You!

Justin Beiber was never in marching band.

He went to jail! Coincidence? Don’t Beliebe It!

Don’t end up like Beiber. Join the Grissom Band!

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Thank you all for coming out this evening! We hope we have answered some of your

questions about the GHS Tiger Band!

Please do not hesitate to contact the band directors or board members if you have

other questions.

www.grissomband.com

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