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Welcome to the 2007 - 2008 Parkway West High School Band Program Handbook
for Students and Parents
Table
of Contents
Topic
Chapter Letter from the Director
1 The Parkway West Band Program
2 Color Guard
3 Winter Guard
4 Parkway West Band Booster
Organization
5 Band Camp
6 Band Buddies
7 Competitions & Performances
8 Roadies
9 Attendance Policies
10 Health Forms
11 Band Uniforms
12 Optional Attire
13 Costs & Fundraising
14 Individual Fundraising
14 General Fundraising
14 Estimated Costs
15 Schedule (2007-2008)
16 Band Member Expectations
17 Appendix
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1 . W e l c o m e
t o t h e
P a r k w a y W
e s t H i g h
S c h o o l B a
n d ! Band
is a family.
It is a microcosm of the larger community in which we live. Each member
has a unique role that only they can fill and when someone is absent, we
notice. There is safety in numbers – we need each other to perform at
our best. Unlike some sports teams, band has no “bench.” Everyone
plays. And, there is no defense…only offense. This activity demands
accountability. It insists on uniformity. It requires persistent, focused
practice, both at school and at home. All bands have the desire for
greatness, but not all are willing to do the work. A friend of mine often
says, “how bad do you want it?” It’s easy to answer this question
with words, but the challenge is to answer with actions.
After all, an empty barrel makes the most noise. One
of our most important resources in our journey towards excellence is TIME.
Despite our perception of it, the passing of time remains constant. People
who appreciate the value of time and act accordingly can look back with no
regrets. We will discuss “activity management” as a way of making
better choices with what we
focus on and how we use our
time. Many people are spread too thin – too many activities, not enough
time to do many of them very well. Kids need “time on task” to achieve
excellence and learn what the process teaches them about discipline,
teamwork and commitment. It just takes practice. The real issue is finding
a balance between the number of activities and the quality of the
experience. By
far, the most important resource we have is PEOPLE. These students, whose
lives we shape, need and deserve our consistency and attention. The
opportunities to make a difference in their lives by being involved with
their band program are limitless! It requires a sharing of the
responsibility and willingness to speak up as advocates for what’s in
their best interests. Not to mention, it simply can’t be done without a
LOT of parents who help! We are always looking for people to step forward
and accept new responsibilities that benefit the kids. So, if you’ve
been waiting…wait no more! Being involved as a parent strengthens the
bond with the kids and gives a close-up view of the real work these kids
do to make the band great. Speaking
of teaching young adults, my philosophy of teaching is pretty simple: play
well and have fun. I’m not interested in becoming a factory that cranks
out kids who want to make their career in music. If individuals choose
this, it needs to be a decision that they own. My goal is to give them the
best possible experience as members of the Parkway West Band. And, in
doing so, they will learn very important life skills that will increase
their available opportunities and guide them to make good choices. My
greatest achievements are kids who discover their true purpose in life and
pursue it with passion. It
won’t be long until our days will be packed with activity again! For
those days, we need to be reminded of the reason for it all - the big
picture: being involved in a fun activity that equips students with skills
they will use for a lifetime. Welcome to the family! Musically
yours, Ben
Pyatt 2 . T h e
P a r k w a y W e s t B
a n d P r o g r a m A
basic philosophy of the Parkway West Band department is to maintain a
balance of quality in all three areas of the program: concert, jazz and
marching. The performing ensembles at West include: Wind Ensemble,
Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, Marching Band and a sports pep band. Parkway
West High School offers a variety of band experiences to suit each
student’s special talents. During the first semester, the Symphonic
Band is comprised of three sections: percussion, non-marching wind
players, and marching band wind players. In the spring semester, the two
wind classes merge to form one large band class. Members of the Marching
Band perform at home football games, pep rallies, various parades and
competitions. The students also perform as members of Sons of the Desert
(SODS), the sports pep band, to enhance school spirit and generate
enthusiasm at selected home basketball games. There
are distinct advantages to having separate wind and percussion classes.
One of the primary advantages is the ability to offer more specialized
instruction to meet the unique musical needs of the winds and percussion
students. All of the Symphonic Band sections focus on fundamentals, while
also working on concert band music (or music from the marching band show),
pep band music, and chamber music. These ensembles perform music of the
highest quality emphasizing good fundamental tone production,
musicianship, and interpretation of various styles. Members of these
groups are eligible to audition and participate with the orchestra, the
jazz band, and with various small ensembles. Concerts are given
throughout the school year. 3 . C o l o r
G u a r d The
Color Guard is an outstanding group of students who perform with the
Marching Band using flags, rifles, sabers, various props, as well as dance
and body movement. This dedicated section of the Marching Band makes an
enormous contribution to the visual impact of the show and helps interpret
the music visually. Students
are invited to try out for Color Guard in the spring. After final
selections are made, rehearsals are held twice weekly for the remainder of
the school year to acquaint the student with equipment handling and dance
basics. Color Guard rehearsals will be scheduled during June and
July. Color Guard members are also required to attend Band Camp,
during which they will practice each weekday morning and afternoon.
Practices during the school year are daily from 3:30pm - 5:30pm.
Additional practices may be scheduled. The Color Guard participates
in all the performances of the Marching Band. Color
Guard members are responsible for purchasing their rifles, and those
individuals who make the saber line must also purchase sabers. Parental
involvement is always needed in sewing, repairing and cleaning show flags,
uniforms, uniform accessory and prop accessory maintenance and
distribution, and spirit support! 4 . W i n t e r
G u a r d Parkway
West High School’s Winter Guard program was greatly expanded in 1995
when the group began participating in two competitive circuits,
Mid-Continent Color Guard Association and Winter Guard International. The
Winter Guard performs an intense and difficult show and travels around the
Midwest to various Winter Guard competitions. In 1997, the guard
placed 2nd of 25 at the WGI-Mid America Regional in Tulsa,
Oklahoma and won first place at the MCCGA Championships. The Guard
received third place in the 1998 MCCGA Championships, second place in the
1999 and was a finalist at the WGI Gateway Regional in 2001. During the
2001-2002 school year, the Guard won the WGI Gateway Regional as well as
two local circuit shows, took 10th place at the WGI Mideast
Regional (the largest in the country) and 2nd place in the
MCCGA Championships. At the WGI World Championships held in Dayton,
Ohio, the Guard placed 14th in the nation. In 2007, the Winter
Guard had a great season and has worked hard to bring in new members.
Their dedication in the spring will pay great dividends when the fall
marching band season begins again! 5. The
Parkway West Band Booster
Organization, Inc. The
Parkway West Band Booster Organization is a volunteer parent group whose
purpose is to provide parent volunteers and help with fundraising efforts
to support our children’s participation in the Parkway West Band
(including the Marching Band, Color Guard, Winter Guard, Jazz Band, and
Concert Bands). It takes a great deal of energy, ideas and organization
each year to meet all the needs of the program. As parents of
students involved with the West Band program, we are in a wonderful
position to offer the assistance that is needed. There is always
plenty of room for more band families to join in the active support of the
bands! The Band Boosters hold parent meetings, during the year, to
answer parent questions regarding the band program. This is
particularly helpful to our new band parents. Meetings for this year
will start at 7:00 pm in the band room. The
Band Booster officers and board, elected annually, meet each month with
Mr. Pyatt, to coordinate activities in support of the band program. The
board prepares and posts information on the website for open access and is
designed to provide timely information regarding the band program. From
time to time you will receive developing band information via our parent
phone chain. The website, www.parkwaywestband.com,
is updated regularly and provides a broader range of interface where
families access current information that is updated such as announcements,
calendar content, photographs and event reminders. Get involved with the Parkway West Band Boosters! Come share in the excitement, fun and hard work
that make the Parkway West Band Program a success. 6
. B a n d C
a m p In
order to present the highest quality marching program possible, students
begin practicing during the summer. Band camp begins July 16th
and continues daily until school begins. Students are REQUIRED
to be in attendance daily, Monday through Friday. The full band camp
schedule, also provided on the Parkway West Band Boosters website, is as
follows:
July 16-20 (Monday-Friday)
8:00am-11:30am, 1:00pm-4:30pm
July 23-27 (Monday-Friday)
8:00am-11:30am, 1:00pm-4:30pm
July 30-Aug. 3 (Monday-Friday) 8:00am-11:30am, 1:00pm-4:30pm
Aug. 6-7 (Monday-Tuesday) 8:00am-11:30am,
1:00pm-4:30pm Students
should wear lightweight casual clothing and comfortable shoes with laces. They
should bring a thermos of ice water everyday to practice. Marchers
need to remember their own special needs such as sunscreen, hats, etc. There
is more to band Camp than just hard work. Planned events such as an
ice-cream social and swim party are some of the group’s summer
activities. Attendance
at Band Camp is perhaps the most important contributor to the success of
the Marching Band later in the fall. Unlike some sports, there is no
“bench” in band – EVERYONE participates, all the time. Each
individual has a unique job to do. Marching band members have to play all
the right notes & rhythms, with the correct style, musical
interpretation and dynamic, they have to be at the right place on the
field at the right time, while marching in step, with proper instrument
carriage, posture and marching style, for an entire 8 minute show! When
someone is missing, it hurts the rest of the group. The hours spent during
band camp is precious – without 100% attendance, we spend the rest of
the season trying to catch up. It is very difficult to “make up” time
missed during band camp. Please schedule vacations and student work
schedules at times other than band camp so your student will not be
behind. During
Band Camp, we typically spend the mornings outside learning drill
formations and working on marching fundamentals. In the afternoons, we are
usually inside working on music. Depending on the needs of the kids, we
may also decide to work outside in the afternoons. The staff closely
monitors heat advisory and heat index information and will be following
the same procedures and precautions as the athletic teams to protect the
students’ health and safety. Students will be given frequent water
breaks to ensure hydration. 7
. B a n d B
u d d i e s Mr.
Pyatt will choose a returning band member as a band buddy for each new
marcher entering the program. The returning member and new member will get
together during the summer, to get to know each other, practice music and
marching, talk about Band Camp. The Band Buddy system helps new
marchers become more comfortable with the expectations of Marching Band,
reduces anxiety about the activity and eases the transition into high
school. 8
. C o m p e t i t i o n s &
P e r f o r m a n c e s Marchers
MUST attend all competitions
and performances. The students usually travel to Band competitions by
bus. When the event is in the St. Louis area they travel by school
bus. When the event is farther away charter buses with bathrooms are
used. Non-school buses are paid for by the Band Boosters. Students
must bring money for their own meals, usually fast food. Snacks and
soda may be brought along on the bus. All trips are well supervised
and chaperoned. For an event such as a bowl game, or other major trip
the students typically travel by air under an economical group fare. Some
events require the parents to provide student transportation, such as the
Mozingo Percussion Competition, All-Suburban, or All-State events. Parents
attend competitions and performances and travel to them in individual cars
or carpool with other parents. Tickets for most events are pre-sold
through a Band Board member. You will receive information regarding
tickets and other specifics before each event. 9 . R o a d i e s ! The
equipment needed for the marching band, pit (percussion), and guard during
Marching Band season requires a lot of help in setting up and positioning. Props
and set pieces are also built for each year’s show. Just getting all the
equipment to the field and back is a major effort. Students do a great
deal of this themselves, but it does require a crew of parents that can be
depended on for each performance. The roadies also transport the equipment
when the band travels. If you are skilled mechanically, have any
construction skills, or just want to help, the roadies are always looking
for “a few good parents.” No experience is necessary, just a
willingness to dive in and help! 1 0 . A
t t e n d a n c e P o l
i c i e s A
schedule will be set for each month that includes the times of the
after-school practices as well as the sectional practices. The commitment
which students make to the Marching Band for the fall must be a serious
one. Due to the nature of the activity, it is essential that every
band member be in full attendance for all rehearsals and performances. Please
see Chapter 6 regarding band camp attendance. Routine medical and dental
appointments should be scheduled around rehearsal times. Be
advised that all students must meet the Missouri State High School
Activities Association academic eligibility standards in order to
participate. 1
1 . H e a l t h
F o r m s The
administration requires that all Band and Color Guard students have a
physical examination, and that the standard health form be kept on file
with the school nurse. Any physical examination performed after
February 2007 will be acceptable. Students should have their
completed form turned in to Mr. Pyatt by the first day of Band Camp, July
16, 2007. The
Band also has a combined health form/permission slip which must be notarized, an emergency contact & conduct form, and a
Health & Medication Informational form. These forms are maintained in
the band office and taken along on all trips. Please mail these
health forms to:
Parkway West High School
Mr. Ben Pyatt
14653 Clayton Road
Ballwin, MO 63011 Due: July 16,
2007 Please
note that these forms are required for students to participate in the
first day of Band Camp. Students who do not have this paperwork completed
cannot participate and will be sent home. 1
2 . B a n d U
n i f o r m s Marching
Band: The
Parkway School District provides trousers, jacket with baldric, a military
style hat with a removable plume, and gauntlets. Black shorts and a
black T-shirt are worn underneath the uniform. The hat, plume,
gauntlets, and sequined baldrics must be turned in to the uniform room at
the end of each performance. Jackets, trousers, gloves and shoes
should be carried in the student’s garment bag. Dry cleaning and
any mending should be done immediately to ensure the lasting proper care
of the garment. Uniforms should be dry cleaned after every
performance, and before turning in at the end of the season. (American
Cleaners at the corner of Clayton and Baxter offers a special rate for
band uniforms.) Replacement cost for a marching band uniform is $800. Symphonic
Band: Concert
tuxedos and dresses are provided for our young men and women to wear. The
men must provide a white tuxedo shirt, black bow tie, black shoes and
black socks. The women must provide black shoes and black hose. Please
take good care of the uniforms. They represent the Parkway West Band
and their condition is symbolic of the care and pride you have in
being a member. 1
3 . O p t i o n a l
A t t i r e Band
jacket: Most
freshmen and new students purchase a Band jacket that becomes home for all
the patches that are earned throughout their Band years. Orders are
taken during the first week of band camp to make sure the jackets arrive
before the cold weather. Students are encouraged to have their names
and/or instrument embroidered on the front as the jackets otherwise all
look alike. Spirit
Attire: This
is a term used to describe the sweatshirts and blue polo shirts worn by
the boosters to support our students with a “show of blue” when they
are performing. A high quality West Band sweatshirt, hats, bumper
stickers, yard signs, stadium seat cushions, and pins are also available. Spirit
Attire sales will happen throughout the school year. 1 4 . C o s t s
a n d F u n d R
a i s i n g The
costs of the band programs exceed the funding which is provided by the
Parkway School District. Expenses vary from year to year depending on the
trips, show design, and activities selected. While the district
provides most uniforms, some instruments and the core staff, significant
additional costs necessary to support our high quality program are covered
by the Band Boosters. Some of these additional costs include student
transportation, competition fees, equipment maintenance, clinicians, and
clerical expenses. A student fee is assessed to cover these needs. The
Booster organization works with Mr. Pyatt to establish a budget each year,
to determine the student assessment and to plan the fund raising
activities consistent with the budget and assessment. The
Parkway West Band Program depends heavily on the success of our fund
raisers. Many of our fund raisers are referred to as “individual”
fund raisers. The money collected by students on these fund raisers goes
directly into their student accounts to earn back money paid on their
student fee. Other fund raisers are referred to as “general” fund
raisers. These are parent sponsored fund raisers and the proceeds go into
the general band fund. While fund raising is absolutely necessary to the band program, a strong indirect benefit of our student /parent fund raising projects is the quality time and fellowship experienced together. Typical
Individual Fund Raising Sources 1. Magazine
Sale: This student fund raiser begins in
late July or early August. Students record names and addresses of family and
friends on special order forms. These forms are turned in for mailing to the
chairperson. A record of all student generated sales is kept and a
percentage goes into his/her account. The prices for the magazines are
generally very good. 2.
Entertainment Books: This coupon book for discounts
at restaurants and local businesses is
on sale during August through the beginning of September. A percentage of individual student sales go into the
student’s account. General
Fund Raising 1. Annual Arts & Crafts Fair: This highly acclaimed two-day event features over 200 juried crafters. Band parents and students work together setting up on Friday, manning the bakery booths, selling raffle tickets, working the concession stands, and cleaning up on Sunday evening. This event uses both West gyms as well as the cafeteria. The annual Arts and Crafts Fair attracts 10,000 plus attendees on Saturday and Sunday and is the largest single fund raiser for the band each year. This year’s craft fair is scheduled for October 6 & 7. All students and parents are expected to participate.
2. Trivia Night: The Parkway West Band Boosters
will sponsor a Trivia Night &
Silent Auction in the spring of 2008. This is a really fun night and a great
way to help support the band! 3. Corporate Sponsorships: The Parkway West Band Boosters graciously accepts corporate cash donations as well as contributions of certain goods and services. Examples have included truck rental, ice, copying and printing, space for props construction, audiovisual equipment, etc. 1 5 . 2 0 0 7 – 2
0 0 8 E s t i m a t e d C o s t s Annual
Student Fee
$480.00*
*Fee will be reduced by $200 with full participation in the craft
fair.
Band Band
Uniforms
Provided Dry
cleaning (special rate @ American Cleaners)
< $ 5.00 Shoes
$ 33.00 Gloves
$ 3.00 Garment
Bag
$
17.00 Band
“Show – Shirt”
Provided Band
Jacket (optional)
$ 63.00 & up Smart
Music Subscription & Microphone
$ 40.00 Percussion
Fee (Percussionists only)
$ 100.00 (covers sticks & mallets, drum heads, and small instruments) Color
Guard/Winter Guard Uniforms
To
be determined Shoes
$ 30.00 Rifles
$ 30.00 Sabers
$
75.00 Garment
Bag
$ 17.00 Color Guard Jacket (optional) $ 63.00 & up Parent
Spirit Items Booster Shirts $ 24.00 - $ 26. Logo
Cap
$ 11.00 Logo
Pin
$ 1.00 Luggage
Tag
$ 1.00 Car
Sticker
$ 1.00 Sweatshirts
$ 26.00 - $ 30.00 Yard
Sign
$ 16.00 Lanyard
$ 5.00 WMB
Charm Bracelet Link
$ 20.00 ‘Life
At Parkway West’ poster
$ 5.00 Annual
membership in WPO (which is tax deductible) includes free admission to all
home football and basketball games. Make
checks payable to: Parkway West Band Boosters. Please indicate on the check what the payment covers 1 6 . M a r c h i n g B a n d 2 0 0 7 – 2 0 0 8 S c h e d u l e ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- July 16-20
M-F
(8:00am-11:30am, 1:00pm-4:30pm)
Band Camp 23-27
M-F
(8:00am-11:30am, 1:00pm-4:30pm)
Band Camp 26
Th
Time & Location TBA
Pool Party! 30-31
M-T
(8:00am-11:30am, 1:00pm-4:30pm)
Band Camp August 1-3
W-F
(8:00am-11:30am, 1:00pm-4:30pm)
Band Camp 6-7
M-T
(8:00am-11:30am, 1:00pm-4:30pm)
Band Camp 7
T
6:00pm-8:00pm @ Practice Field
Ice Cream Social! 13
M
No After School Rehearsal
First
Day of School 14
T
3:30pm-5:30pm
After School Rehearsal 15 W No After School Rehearsal Leadership Workshop with Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser!
3:30pm-7:00pm @ Parkway Central
16
Th
3:30pm-5:30pm
After School Rehearsal 17
F
4:00pm (No After School
Rehearsal)
Pep Rally 20
M
7:00pm
West High Band Room
Band Booster Meeting 25
Sat
Time TBA
Home Football Game vs CBC 27
M
No After School Rehearsal
Short
A Day 30
Th
7:00pm-9:00pm
Open House 31
F
7:00pm
Home Football Game vs Poplar
Bluff September 3
M
No School
Labor Day 8
Sat
Time TBA
Mozingo Drumline Contest @
Lafayette HS 14
F
7:00pm
Home Football Game vs Rockwood
Summit 17
M
No After School Rehearsal
Short A Day 20
Th
Time TBA
Home Football Game vs Webster
Groves 22
Sat
Time & Location TBA
Possible Marching Band Contest 24
Mon
7:00
pm
Band Booster Meeting 29 |