THE OFFICIAL MADISON CENTRAL HAND BOOK

Congratulations on joining the Madison Central Marching Band.  The Madison Central Marching Band is perhaps the single  most visible activity at Madison Central High School and each year is cheered on through out the state by thousands people!  The Madison Central Band is also one of the very most successful organizations in the high school and is acknowleged across the state and nation as one of the elite visual and musical arts orginizations. As a part of the Madison Central Band program, your performance opportunities will be limited only by your work ethic and your personal drive.

The Madison Central Band Program would like to welcome all incoming new students. We are very delighted enthused that you have decided to join our program and you have made the monumental choice to become part of our tradition of musical and acadmic excellence. As the upperclassmen, we have decided to provide you with a guide that will be of help during the next four or five seasons. The season begins with band camp. To ensure your comfort and safety, we have provided below a list of items you need to bring each day of camp.

Band Camp Supply List

_Large Water Container -Be sure to bring a jug that is insulated, that way it stays cold. When lunch break comes around, you’ll be able to fill it back up with ice and water. MAKE SURE YOU BRING A THERMOUS OR WATER JUG. A single bottle or water is not enough! Due to health regulations, you may not share water with other students!

_ Lunch/ Lunch Money -Lunch will be provided for you by the Madison County Schools and is served at no cost. You are not required to eat the lunch served. You can pack your own lunch, or have someone bring you lunch. Also, if you want more you must bring it from home. Dinner is served by the Madison Central Band Boosters and will be $5.00. Again, you may bring you own, although every effort is made to have nutritious and generically appealing food. Menus can be obtained from the band boosters.

_ Sun Screen -The UV rays are very intense on the blacktop. Please bring sunscreen with a higher SPF than 15. Do NOT bring tanning oil. -If you wear a spaghetti strap shirt, you must bring a t-shirt to put on over it, in case you start to burn.

_Chapstick -SPF Chapstick is a luxury in the hot sun. Brass players tend to develop, dry, burned, and split lips. Some reed players have the same problem.

_ Aloe Gel/ Aloe Lotion -If you are sunburned, aloe lotion or gel will help sooth the burn. _ Bug Spray -There are wasps, bees, mosquitoes and other insects. Bug spray is necessary to repel them.

_EpiPen/ Inhaler -If you’re allergic to any type of stings, make sure to have your Epipen with you at practices. Your case or a bag with your belongings is a good place. -There are numerous people that have asthma. If you are one of them, it’s crucial for you to pack your inhaler in your case or bag with belongings in it. Never share an inhaler with another student.

_ Sunglasses -You are allowed to wear them and might consider wearing another pair.

_ Hat/ Visor -wearing a cap, visors, or hat, is a great idea to keep cool and to help keep the sun out of your face.

_ Hair Ties/ Bobby Pins -You will not be allowed to fidget with your hair on the field. It’s best to pull your hair back with hair ties and secure it with bobby pins so that it doesn’t blow or fall in your face. Plus, it keeps you cool. Also, bring extra incase one breaks. This applies to guys as well as girls. If you can’t see, you must pin your hair up or get your hair cut.

_ Knee Pads -Depending on the drill and the body written, you’ll probably be required to be on your knees. Without knee pads, the asphalt will burn, and cause abrasions.

_Ace Bandages/ Braces -If you have joint problems, or our prone to injury, it would be a good idea to wrap the joints up and prevent further injury.

_ Tennis or Athletic Shoes -It is mandatory that you wear tennis shoes. Marching Band is an athletic activity, so it’s important to have shoes that will support your ankles and arches. You will be moving constantly. No flip flops, Sperry’s, flats, TOMS, Crocs, or boots on the field. The shoes need to be laced tightly. Nursing shoes are cheap and work great for drill.

_Towel or Blanket - For comfortable breaks, you may bring a towel or blanket to sit on.

_Extra Socks -Your socks could get wet from sweat or rain. It is comfortable to have a dry pair to put on and will prevent blisters from developing in between your toes.

_Comfortable Clothes -For outside rehearsals wear comfortable clothing. Light colored shorts and t-shirts are the best. Jeans are NOT recommended for flexibility and comfort reasons. Black is simply not comfortable During lunch and sectionals, you will find it’s much more comfortable to wear sweats and/or a hoodie to . The clothes you march in will be sweaty and smelly and uncomfortable during the indoor time. This time is also good to have flip flops, or socks. You’ll find yourself wanting to walk around with out shoes on. Please remember that Madison Central is a coeducational educational institution, not your home or the pool.  No Bare midriffs are allowed and gentleman must wear shirts. You may not wear clothing that advertises alcohol, drug, or tobacco products, or that disparages another ethnic or cultural group. NO HALTER TOPS, TUBE TOPS, OR BATHING SUITS.

_ Your Instrument/ Instrument accessories. Always bring your instrument and have extra reeds, and valve oil. There may be some to use from the program, but it’s best to provide your own. If you use a school instrument, that will be provided for you. -If you have a metronome or tuner, it is a good idea to bring them with you to rehearsals. You will be able to tune yourself. During down time, you’ll be able to work things out at your own tempo.

_Binders-You must bring a three-ring folder or binder with pockets to band camp every day. You will put plastic page protectors in your binder and then place your drill in the page protectors. You may keep your music in the pockets of the Binder. This is essential, and every student MUST have his or her own binder. No sharing on the field this year.

_Pencils/Pens/Highlighters -During indoor rehearsals it is imperative that you have a pencil on your stand. This will be the first time that the directors have heard the music from a band and there will be a lot of changes. You’ll have to pencil them in.

-Highlighters or pens are essential to setting drill. When you get your drill book, you’ll need to go ahead and mark your spot so that you know where it is when we set it. Doing so will help speed up the drill setting process. *Most of these items are a must through band camp, but you will still need most of them during regular after school rehearsals.

Expectations

The Madison Central Marching Band’s goal is to work together and achieve the highest placement we can in KMEA state finals. As a member of the program, you will be held at the same level of standards and expectations as the upperclassmen.

Attendance

-ATTENDANCE IS EXTEMELY IMPORTANT. MISSING REHEARSAL NOT ONLY HINDERS YOU INDIVIDUALLY BUT MAKES LEARNING MORE DIFFICULT FOR ALL OTHER STUDENTS. DO NOT MISS EXCEPT FOR THE MOST EXTREME EMERGANCIES. -During practices the band moves forward. Drill is set, body is placed in the show, music is changed and directions are given at the end of every practice. If you are not in attendance, you will fall behind the band. Although we all work together, there will not be a whole lot of time to inform you on what you missed from the previous practice.

-Absence or tardiness is excused for only the most serious of emergencies. In the occurrence of this, please provide a note the next day. If you are aware that you will not be attending a practice or will be tardy, notify a band director or a field commander.

-There are multiple people in band that have their driver’s license. In the event of needing a ride, notify an upperclassmen and they will more than likely be able to provide with a ride. You can also carpool with a neighbor who is in band, or find another family member to drive you. Having no transportation is an excuse, but there are usually ways to get around it.

-Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each rehearsal by the field commanders.

-ALSO you must NEVER leave the rehearsal area unless you get permission from one of the Directors (not the staff or section leaders). IF you do leave, then for safety and protection issues, you must be accompanied by a staff member or parent!

_LEAVING CAMPUS -Mr. Barton, Mr. Jaggie, Mr. Evans, Mr. Fowler, and Mrs. Bell are all legally liable for all students during band camp, band rehearsals, or competition days. YOU MAY NEVER LEAVE CAMPUS WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF ONE DIRECTOR. LEAVING CAMPUS WITHOUT PERFMISSION MAY RESULT IN SUSPENSION OR DISMISSAL FROM THE BAND PROGRAM.

Attitude

-When the hot sun is beating down on you and your face is starting to burn, you didn’t have much sleep the previous night, you keep having to run back to set, tension begins to build. It’s only natural to become aggravated, worn out, and testy. -If this “Marching Band Fever” strikes you, just calm down, take a deep breath, and tell yourself it will all work out.

-Please don’t make comments like, “Oh my gosh! I hate this”, “This is so stupid”, or “I don’t want to do this anymore!”. They bring everyone’s mental state down, cause others to be aggravated, and will start unnecessary drama between band members.

-Negative feelings towards someone else will ultimately cause embarrassment to yourself and the person with whom you are in conflict. This can only cause hurt for yourself and the group. Remember to treat EVERYONE on the field just as you want to be treated-at all times.

-Drama will not be accepted on the field or off the field. This includes websites such as: Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, Formspring, YouTube, or personal blogs. (This could be considered internet bullying and may even results in criminal prosecution) -If you feel the need to express your feelings, put them in a personal journal or talk to a section leader, field commander, or director. -Your attitude needs to be that one of positivity, and enthusiasm. You can motivate someone else that is having a bad day with just a smile. -Re-enforcing positive energy is a great way to lead by example.

Be Open to Constructive Criticism

-Everyone makes mistakes every once and a while. Marching band is an activity where your mistakes will be corrected. Everyone has to look uniform and the drill has to be clean. This means that everyone has to be directly on his or her spot. Everyone also has to have the same marching style. If you appear to be wrong, the staff will correct you. Sometimes, they will call your name out over the speaker. This doesn’t mean they’re angry, or that you’re not doing well, just that the problem needs to be fixed

-If you happen to get called out, it’s okay-don’t take it personally. We all make mistakes and we understand what it’s like to be called out. Sure it’s embarrassing and you may think everyone is thinking you’re dumb, but they don’t. Most people are too concentrated on themselves to notice when someone else is called out. -Sometimes your section leader or field commander will correct you. When they do, don’t think they’re picking on you. They are trying to save you from the embarrassment of being called out over the speaker. -We all work together and understand constructive criticism. No one wants you to feel uncomfortable, but we do need everything to look the best it can.

Be Prepared to Occasionally Stay A Bit Later

-Although the scheduled time may say 6:00, occasionally rehearsals do run over. Be patient. An extra ten minutes will be beneficial in the long run. -IF rehearsal time is over and the band is still practicing you must stay until the directors dismiss you. -It’s common for your section leader to hold a section meeting after practice. These could run about five to minutes long. During these meetings, your section leader will inform you on what they noticed during practice, as in, what sets need to be worked on, what music needs to be performed more cleanly, or they may even run a few fundamentals that the section has a hard time with. Most section meetings are to let your section know they did a good job and to keep it up. -If you aren’t able to stay later, or have to leave early during a practice, notify your section leader, a field commander, or a director.

Health

Like any athlete, your health is very important. Especially during band camp, it is important to eat three meals a day. Breakfast will jump start your metabolism, Lunch will give you energy for the rest of the day, and Dinner will provide you with more hearty foods which will fill you up and give you strength to make it through the night practices.

-Try not to consume a whole lot of soda or other carbonated/sugary drinks. Water is essential. Powerade and Gatorade will provide your body with electrolytes, so it is a good idea to intake those drinks as well.

-It is important to not share water with anyone. Doing so could spread illness.

-Try to avoid greasy, salty foods. They will slow you down and could even dehydrate you. They will also lie heavily on your stomach and won’t digest in time to run around on the hot asphalt. That would result in an upset stomach and inability to perform strongly.

-If you pack your lunch during band camp, be sure to pack healthy, but filling lunches. Once school starts, try to choose the healthiest lunch offered in the line, if you eat the school lunch. It is very important to eat lunch during school, that way you will have plenty of energy to make it through the afternoon practice. You may also want to bring a snack to eat before practice. Freshman lunches are generally early.

-Getting a good night sleep is a must. You should try to get at least 8 hours of sleep a night. This will provide you with enough energy to carry you through the band camp days. Once school starts, you’ll find that balancing band a school work will be a challenge. As long as you have enough sleep, everything will be okay. Just remember that we don’t have practice Wednesday. So, Wednesdays are good sleep days!

-Endurance is the key to making it through a marching band show. Most shows run around 8 to 10 minutes. That means constant movement. You need to be physically fit so that you can march the entire show, while using air to play.

-Conditioning will be included as part of your band camp experience, but once school starts, the afternoon practices will not allow enough time for the entire band to run laps. Along with constantly moving during practice, you should work on endurance after practice by running on the track, or going home and doing exercises on your own. -In the past, horse play has resulted in injuries. Therefore, it will not be tolerated.

Memorize your Music

-Marching bands don’t stands to hold their music during a show. So, one of the most important things to do is memorize your music. You have to set exact measures to exact sets so you have to know every aspect to your music. -

There may be playing tests within your section and you will have show that you have your music memorized. -If you’re having a hard time memorizing it, ask an upperclassman to help you. We have some tricks up our sleeve.

Band Boosters

Our band boosters work very hard to provide the band with everything it needs. They are usually there during band camp, practices, football games and competitions. More than most of their time is dedicated to the Madison Central Band program.

-The band boosters are  are volunteering and sacrificing their own time to give you what you need to succeed.  All band boosters are there to support you and watch you succeed. Please be courteous and respectful to all of them at all times.  A smile and thank you occassionally is very appropriate.

Individual Practice and Preparation

-Rehearsal time is not individual practice time. You must take your instrument home and practice. The marching music will be difficult and there will be things that you haven’t had to perform before within it.

-The band will not stop what it’s doing in order to accommodate your inability to play. We aren’t trying to be mean, we just don’t have time to wait.

-Practicing on your own time will allow you take the music at the correct tempo.

Fatigue

-Anything worthwhile demands efforts. Our rehearsal are tiring because they are physically and mentally demanding. You might be extremely tired want to shut down. You’ll notice that you won’t be performing as well as you did at the previous practice and you’ll become frustrated with yourself. View these challenges as opportunities to become mentally and physically stronger.

- Expect the staff members and section leaders to notice when you’re getting tired. They will push you to stay strong. When the staff members are pushing you to work harder, just remember that they’re there to help you. They want you to do the very best you can. They are just trying to motivate you. Take it with a grain of salt.

-Pull yourself up and remind yourself that you only have X amount of time remaining. This will help you to just keep pushing through. Don’t however keep saying “We still have X amount of time.” That will bring you down and make the practice seem completely drawn out.

-During the week you will be tired from competitions and you will wonder if you’ll ever catch up on sleep. Of course you will! Remember, you can get extra sleep on the way to competitions, on the way back, and on Wednesdays.

Competitions

-On competition mornings, the band will arrive to school around 8 a.m. to practice. The morning practices are usually done on the football field. This will give you a chance to become familiar with your placement in the form and the way the turf feels under your feet.

-These practices are also fast paced and could be stressful. The directors and staff members are trying to make last minute adjustments before the big performance. -You will be antsy to get on the road, socialize with your friends, and perform. That mind set will make the practice feel extremely long. Just keep pushing yourself to stay with int. Focus your adrenaline on the morning practice. An energized practice in the morning helps with having an energized performance later in the day. -After practice the band is given some down time to eat and socialize before the bus ride. It’s a good idea to pack a nutritious meal so that you have a lot of energy throughout the day. Energy drinks aren’t a good idea however. They are sugary and will cause you to become cranky as the day goes on.

-Take advantage of this down time to relax, lie down, listen to your iPod or MP3 player. You need to start de-cluttering your mind.

-During this time, it’s also important to double check all of your bags. Make sure that your instrument is on the truck or with you, your shoes are in your bag, you have plenty of bobby pins and hairspray, your reeds aren’t broken, you have your mouthpiece, etc. Once you are on the road, the bus will not turn around just because you forgot something.

-The bus ride to a competition is fun. When the bus is leaving the school parking lot, the band usually starts a pep chant. You will learn it during band camp. Remember when you arrive at a regional or state competition YOU are an ambassador for Madison Central High School, and your city and county. Many people will form their impression of our community just by your behavior and attitude.

-Although the bus is a great time to joke around with your friends, it’s important to make time to think about your drill and music.

-When we get to our destination, the band is expected to act mature and professionally. -When you see other bands, be courteous to them. Rude remarks or mean looks will not be tolerated. Remember all students in all bands work hard and sacrifice their time. They deserve your respect, not matter what your opinion is of their performance or show.

-Schools provide the band with rooms to change into our uniforms with. Be respectful of their property. You are personally liable for any damage. -When dressing, it is important to dress quickly. The band is on a tight schedule and everyone needs to be ready around the same time.

-After dressing, the band warms up. Focus on your responsibility and resist the urge to look around. -The warm up time is crucial to your performance. Think only about your show.

-Before we go on the field, we pray. This is not mandatory but you are welcome to participate. Then, we form a block to enter the field -At most competitions, the bands have to walk a bit before reaching the field. During this time breathe in and out at a controlled tempo. This will help to get your blood flowing and relax your mind. -While performing, stay mentally engaged.

-After the performance the band moves onto the track and forms a block. There, we watch the band on the field. You must remain quiet and at parade rest. -We also form a block when we are finding out the placements. Clap for other bands, but do not clap for our band. When our name is called we will be called to attention. This happens during preliminaries and finals.

-Following preliminaries, the band returns to the busses and eats a meal. This is a wonderful time to get some rest and socialize. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU GET REST!

-After the meal, we will begin to warm up and travel to the field the same way as mentioned before.

-If the band wins Grand Champion in the final competition, we perform an encore (a final run through of the show. If it's late, we may do this standing still.  These are exciting and fun for both you and our supporters!

-After the encore, the band returns to the busses to change into street clothes.

-We will get on the bus and go back to school. -

When we get back to school, we  ALL have to help unload the truck.

Fast Paced Practices

-We only have three months to put an entire show on the field and perfect it. This means that our practices have to be intense and fast paced. -Expect to work very hard. You will have to run back to each set and repeat it multiple times. These are called repetitions, During “reps”, work harder on each sequence.  Make each rep a personal challenge to get better! If everyone does so, you won’t have to do them as many times and you can move on to something else and sometimes way more exciting!

Football Games

-Football games are more relaxed performances in the sense of the band not being judged. The performances are still important.

-All Football games are on Fridays and all competitions are on Saturdays. That means that the football games are our practice runs.

-We will have practice before football games for about an hour and a half. These practices are usually just to warm up, practice some fundamentals and check a few problem areas.

-After these practices, the band is released to dinner. The dinner break will be about an hour or and hour and a half. You’ll then have to come back to school. -When you arrive back at school you’ll be expected to change into full uniform and warm up with the band. -The band must sit together in the bleachers. There we will play our pep band music, which you will learn from an upperclassman.

-After the first quarter, the band will travel to a hill across from the football field to warm up and rehearse some of the marching music.

-During warm up, you will become distracted by the game. If you become distracted, you will easily lose track of what the band is doing and you will be lost. -After warming up, the band will form a circle and pray. During this time, you will need to remove your hat.

-After the prayer is done, the band moves to the field. We form a block to march on the field. Sometimes we will have to wait on the dance team. But, be prepared to move out as soon as they’re off the field. Due to time constraints we have to be on and off the field or else the football team may be penalized.

-The band is usually given third quarter off. You most remain in the band area and stay in full uniform This is pretty much just a bathroom and food break. -If your friends want to talk to you, they are more than welcome to come into the band area during third quarter and talk with you.

What Can You Gain From Band?

During your time in the Madison Central Marching Band, you will gain a lot different things that will stay with you throughout your life. Madison Central Band members can be found in all professions and are currently representing our program at such institutions as Julliard, Harvard, Stanford Medical School, and The U. S. Naval Acadamy.  All of our students form life long bonds with other members! By being a member of the Madison Central Band you will gain the following characteristics at a level unknown to most high School Students.

_Confidence

_Esprit de corps

_Family Atmosphere

_Friendships

_Goals

_Leadership

_Maturity

_Memories

_Opportunity

_Pride

_Responsibility

_Self-Discipline

_Team Work

_Work Ethic

Editors Note: This hand book was prepared by Madison Central Students Wesley Belknap (Senior, Flute) Derek Wilson (Sophomore, Saxophone) and Julia Wildman (Junior French Horn).