Marching Band Manual

Seating Auditions

There is no audition for musicians to gain entry to the Pennsbury Marching Band. It is a requirement that all students participating in the Pennsbury Marching Band must be enrolled in Symphonic Winds, Concert Band, or Ninth Grade Band. We do require all students to take a "seating audition." This audition determines which part each student will play. Students’ strengths and weaknesses are assessed, and they are placed on the part where they will be able to contribute most significantly to the band. It is very important to realize that 1st parts are less important than 2nd and 3rd parts, and the ensemble is seated accordingly. Seating auditions will usually be held ON THE FIRST DAY OF BAND CAMP. All required marching band music will be memorized. The PMEA All-District pieces will be used for the seating auditions and these do not have to be memorized-but it helps!

Attendance

Attendance at all rehearsals and performances is mandatory. Students who are present for school and absent from band will place their band membership in jeopardy. Unexcused absence from a rehearsal is unacceptable and will be dealt with very severely with possible dismissal from the Marching Band. It is important to understand that a note from a parent does not constitute an automatic excuse from a band function. A parental note simply provides Mr. Mazzeo with the information needed to determine whether the request for an absence will be accepted or denied. Parents, please note that the penalties for attendance infractions are not automatically ignored upon the receipt of a request. If a request does not contain sufficient information to be accepted, the request will be denied. In other words "John Doe will be absent today" is unacceptable.

Unexcused absence from a performance may result in immediate removal from the band.

Attendance problems for the entire season must be communicated in writing from the parents to Mr. Mazzeo (fmazzeo@pennsbury.k12.pa.us) prior to Monday, June 25th, 2007.

Acceptable excuses:

Illness of the student (with doctor’s note)
Death in the immediate family
Weddings, Bar or Bat Mitzvah in the immediate family
Students may be excused from a practice (not from performance) for college visitation with sufficient notice given to the Director.

Unacceptable excuses:

Work
Recreational travel (i.e. weekend at the shore, family trips, concerts, sporting events)
Visiting siblings in college (this includes moving them in to their dorms, etc.)
Driving lessons
Celebrations (i.e. birthday parties, anniversary parties, family picnics, etc.)
Private lessons; students are strongly encouraged to study privately, but not during a marching band rehearsal.

Missed Rehearsal Procedure

UNEXCUSED ABSENCES ALWAYS RESULT IN DISCIPLINARY ACTION. ABSENCES ARE ONLY APPROVED PRIOR TO THE MISSED REHEARSAL.

If your name is on the absentee bulletin, you are excused.
If you sign in late, you must be at practice.
If you sign out of school early, or go home ill when school ends, please have your parents call Mr. Mazzeo at (215) 949-6700 x 70874 before rehearsal, which begins promptly at 2:30 pm Students should not call "Officers" to relay messages to staff and this will be an unexcused absence.
If you have a conflict in school (missed class work, detention, etc.), it is your responsibility to inform Mr. Mazzeo before the date in question. Students remaining for class work must bring a pass from that teacher, noting the time the student left the classroom after it has been cleared with Mr. Mazzeo before the absence.
Officers are not permitted to excuse anyone. They are not legally responsible for the band members.

The minimum penalty for an unexcused missed rehearsal is removal from a performance.

The maximum penalty for an unexcused missed rehearsal is removal from the Marching Band.

Discipline

The Pennsbury Marching Band is an extension of school. All Pennsbury Marching Band Members will adhere to the Student Conduct Policy for all Pennsbury Marching Band activities, rehearsals and performances as well as the rules established in this handbook. Any violation of these rules could result in dismissal from the Pennsbury Marching Band. If, at anytime the director feels uncomfortable taking responsibility for a student, the student will be dismissed from the Pennsbury Marching Band at the discretion of the Director.

Please note:

Friday home games may include a practice after school. Students have a dinner break, and they may be allowed to go to Burger King or 7-Eleven during this break.

There is usually an extended rehearsal at some point during the week of a band festival. You will be notified by the Wednesday prior to the festival.

The standard Spring commitment is usually two to four rehearsals and two Memorial Day Parades.

Everyone must attend the Memorial Day Parades and the practices that take place before them. Students who miss the Spring portion of the Marching Band commitment will not be recorded as a member of the band for that year, and they will not receive their annual award at the June Band Banquet.

Equipment use

The students of the Pennsbury Marching Band have the opportunity to use a lot of expensive equipment. Any damage that occurs to a piece of equipment that is more extensive than normal wear-and-tear will be charged to the individual in the form of a student obligation. In the event that an item that is not assigned to a specific student is lost, the entire section will share the cost of the replacement equally.

Concert Band/Lessons

All playing members of the Marching Band are required to register for the appropriate curricular instrumental ensemble: Ninth Grade Band, Concert Band, Symphonic Winds, or Orchestra and attend the required amount of lessons per quarter.

HELPFUL & HEALTHY INFO FOR ALL BAND MEMBERS!

The following section is intended to help parents prepare for some of the most common situations that occur during a marching band season.

Do not eat less than 2 Hours before Practice or a Performance if at all possible.
Drink PLENTY of water during practices especially during the summer. IF you are going to drink "SPORT DRINKS" or OJ, I suggest you chill them & MIX them half with water to get the full benefit from them & it gets into your system faster, with preventative measures for your tooth enamel. You can also put ice cubes in an extra container, knowing it will melt during the day at band camp, to use to dilute & keep the drink cold from another container with just the "Sport Drink" by afternoon or just use it for cold drinking water.
Do Not bring anything with Mayo for Sandwiches in heat even in a cooler! Bananas are a good source of protein! Do NOT eat or Drink Dairy products before practice! Avoid Soda if possible especially after performances. Eat Healthy & Sensibly! Small amounts of chips or Salted nuts, especially Almonds, are good when you have been perspiring a lot to replace salt & are good protein! Bring plenty of water & don’t eat heavily before coming to practice! Oranges, apples, grapes or any fruit are great for Sugar/energy or Energy Bars!
Do wear SUNSCREEN, which is Non —Greasy & sweat proof for "Sports" & strictly for the face if when applying to your face or it will come down in your eyes & sting when sweating. Bring extra! Apply at least 30 minutes before coming to band camp. Hats are OK as long as they are secure & don’t interfere with routine work for practice. Keep your hair pulled back & out of your face!
Try to avoid "Strong or Scented Products" as they will attract bees as does colorful clothing! Wear Light colors, to help with the heat!

Sensible foods

In addition to avoiding a delivered hot meal, students should avoid foods that contain products that will easily spoil. Tuna and egg salad, for example, do not keep well during band camp. Mayonnaise generally does not keep well enough for band camp sandwiches.

Water bottle

Students must have a large water jug with them for band camp. This jug will be left on the sidelines and frequent water breaks will be given. Water containers should be labeled with the student’s name. Again, please note that water breaks do not take the place of coming properly hydrated to band camp.

Preparation for practice and performance days

Water and food breaks are scheduled with the assumption that all students arrive well fed and hydrated. In the majority of cases of weakness, the medical staff determines that the student failed to eat or drink properly before the event. Please be certain that everyone arrives having recently consumed no less than one gallon of water. This is most important in warmer weather.

Another frequent problem is lack of rest. Students are expected to arrive rested and ready to work. It is highly irresponsible to schedule a sleep-over or party the night before a performance or a long rehearsal. Please deny students permission to participate in late night activities that could have a negative effect on the entire band. Social events are encouraged on nights that do not precede a band event.

Parent Section