Welcome to the BTWHS Band Family!

(this page updated 5/11/2023)

THINGS YOU NEED TO DO:

Please fill out this form: https://bit.ly/23rookie

Afterward please send Mr. Michael Young an email ([email protected]) and include the following information:

  • Student’s first & last name
  • Student’s district ID number
  • Parent/guardian first and last name
  • Parent/guardian phone number

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW:

Rehearsals/Camps

Please make yourself aware of all rehearsals and camps planned over the summer:

If your student is in the section required for a session and the student is in town, they should be present at that session. We plan camps and rehearsals to be efficient – we can’t be GREAT if we have to reteach folks that didn’t want to stop napping/gaming/hanging out to come to camp!

Online presence

Fees

There is a monetary obligation to participating in the program. You can get all the info you need about fees and payments on our fee page here:

*link coming after board approves 23-24 fees*

SUMMER:

Prepare For Rehearsals

Wear:

Students should always wear comfortable athletic clothing during summer rehearsals, whether we’re scheduled to be outside or not. They may end up rehearsing outside due to limited indoor space. Please take note of the following recommendations:

  • light-colored, short-sleeved shirts made of breathable material
  • light-colored shorts/leggings made of breathable material
  • athletic shoes ONLY
  • hat – something with a wide edge so you’ll have some shade
  • sunscreen – please apply at least 30 min before you go outside and remember to reapply
  • sunglasses

Bring:

First 3 are *required, the rest are recommendations

  • *all the pieces of your instrument/equipment
  • *music with a pencil
  • *insulated, refillable water jug with your name on it
  • extra deodorant – this is not REQUIRED, but it’s good in case you want to make friends
  • cooling towel

Real talk about food & water:

Every. Student. Must. Eat. Well. And. Hydrate.

I’m not being sarcastic or funny. Every year someone thinks that the rules of biology do not apply to them and comes to practice having eaten half a pizza the night before and chugged a creamy coffee drink on the way to school for breakfast. This has never once turned out well. Ever. Not for the student or the adults that have to clean up after them.

Students should find a reasonable breakfast they can eat that will 1) fuel their body for rehearsal, and 2) not fight back in the heat and humidity. Oatmeal, peanut butter toast, fruit & veg smoothie, or whatever will get them through.

Students should start drinking water DAYS before camps. If they start once they get to practice it’s already too late and they’ll be operating at a deficiency.

What about bad weather?

We will not cancel a practice due to weather unless the district forces our hand. Rain or shine, we have plenty to work on indoors if we’re rained out.


Masterclasses

These are 2-hour sessions run by a local musician/instructor to focus on section-specific fundamentals. Sessions will take place in/around the bandroom. Every BTWHS student in town is expected to attend their section’s masterclasses. Bring everything you need for a successful rehearsal: instrument, equipment, music, pencil, etc.

DATES COMING SOON!


Music & Work Rehearsals: 

Every member of the BTWHS Marching Band in town and not sick is expected to attend all rehearsals.  There are only four – please try to plan around them! 

  • Tues, 6/06 5-7pm
  • Thur, 6/08 5-7pm
  • Tues, 6/13 5-7pm
  • Thur, 6/15 5-7pm
  • **Tues, 6/27 5-7pm (color guard only)
  • **Thur, 6/29 5-7pm (color guard only)

Volunteer Training Meetings:

Every adult (21 years or older only) that plans to chaperone, work in concessions to get their $50 concession fee waived, or work on the equipment crew is REQUIRED to attend one of the 3 scheduled training meetings in person. We’ll discuss expectations we have for volunteers and students, and then go over policies and procedures of signing up, where to report, clocking in, etc.

There are too many adults involved in our organization to explain this one-on-one. Please sign up for the meeting you plan to attend by clicking on the link next to that date and entering your name, cell #, and email address:

  • Friday, 8/11 6-7pm (at the end of rehearsal):
  • Saturday, 8/12 8:30-9:30am (during Saturday camp):
  • Tuesday, 8/14 6-7pm (at the end of rehearsal):

ONCE SCHOOL STARTS:

First Week of School:

 This is where things get really fun.  At this point every rehearsal is required of every marching band student.  Students’ attendance is reflected in a participation grade in their band class.  Unexcused absences will result in lower grades.

Students must bring a change of clothes (including shoes) for marching rehearsals.  They must bring an insulated water jug (similar to this one, preferably) to drink from that can be refilled at our water station.  We recommend sending sunscreen and a snack to eat between school letting out and practice beginning. EVERY STUDENT SHOULD EAT BREAKFAST AND LUNCH EVERY DAY OF REHEARSAL.

  • Day 1: Thu, 8/10 – 3:30-6:30PM
  • Day 2: Fri, 8/11 – 3:30-6:30PM
  • WE WILL HAVE OUR ONLY FULL BAND SATURDAY REHEARSAL THIS WEEK!
  • Day 4: Sat, 8/12, 8am-5pm Lunch will be provided

Second Week of School Through Mid-November:

Attendance policy is in full effect throughout the year! Marching rehearsals will continue until the 2nd week of November. We’ve moved to 2 longer rehearsals per week to try to allow room for appointments and whatnot. PLEASE schedule appointments on Mondays or Wednesdays to ensure your student is available for Tuesday/Thursday rehearsals.

  • Every Tuesday: 3:30 – 6PM
  • **Every Wednesday till Marching MPA: 3:30-5:00pm – color guard only
  • Every Thursday: 3:30 – 6PM
  • **Sat, 9/23 9am-5pm – color guard work & drill cleanup
  • **Sat, 9/30 9am-5pm – color guard work & drill cleanup
  • Marching MPA will be Saturday, 10/14. Please block out the entire day for now. We will not know our itinerary until they assign our performance time in mid-late September.

Food and water, again:

Say it with me again: Every. Student. Must. Eat. Well. And. Hydrate.

When a kid gets woozy at practice the first thing they’re asked is “What did you have for lunch?” and 90% of the time the answer is some variation of “Nothing, I don’t eat lunch.” “How much water have you been drinking today?” “I had a sip of Little Susie’s water earlier.”

School breakfasts and lunches at Booker T. are free for everyone. It’s not gourmet, but it beats getting a bloody nose or scraped knee from falling out trying to follow up a 7 hour day of school with 3 hours of strenuous activity out in the heat on an empty belly. An insulated, refillable water jug will pay for itself over and over again over the course of a marching season if you consider the cost of individual water bottles – or a trip to the ER for dehydration.

You can not run a car with an empty fuel tank!


HELPFUL THINGS TO KNOW:

Attendance = Grades

Band is a group sport. We rely on all members to be present at rehearsals and performances in order to be able to practice & perform accurately and efficiently. Football games, parades, and concerts will account for at least one test grade each – sometimes more. Rehearsal attendance is considered a daily participation grade.

We try to make our schedule far in advance and make it as predictable as possible so that you can make plans around it. Check our Google Calendar or the Charms Calendar (links above). As of May the Google Calendar is updated with rehearsals, camps, and football games all the way through mid-November.

THE THURSDAY RULE

If your student is absent from a Thursday rehearsal, they will not be allowed to march pregame OR halftime the following Friday night.

The Thursday rule is not punishment – it is in place to ensure all students remain safe on the football field. Any student that missed Thursday rehearsal will not know what changes were made on the field. It is safer to keep them on the sidelines during pregame and halftime. This is not a punishment! This is strictly a safety issue.

CLUBS/TUTORING/SPORTS

If your student is in a sport that practices the same time as band here is what we expect to happen:

The student (not their parents, their Nana, or their band director) should speak with Mr. Young and their other coach to make arrangements with BOTH to split practice time. We do this all the time and have never met a coach that will not allow it.

If your student has a club meeting, they need to 1) notify their section leader AND band director that they will be late, and 2) do their best to be changed out, stretched, warmed up, and wherever the band is rehearsing by 3:45.

If your student is in tutoring on a rehearsal day (we highly encourage tutoring for students that need assistance) they need to 1) notify their section leader AND band director that they will be late, and 2) bring a pass from their tutor when they report to the band room


Parades

There are usually 3 parades per year – since COVID that has fluctuated a little. Attendance is a grade for the Christmas parade, and there is also a test grade for wind/percussion students in January for attending either the Veteran’s Day parade or the MLK Day parade.

  1. Pensacola Christmas Parade: This is the only parade where we march as the BTWHS Band. We will most likely be in full marching uniforms but allow students to wear a festive holiday-themed hat and deocorate themselves and/or their instrument within reason. We will all meet downtown and a specific time and location that will go out closer to time via email.
  2. Veteran’s Day Parade: This is a community marching band made up of students from all local high schools. You will wear your full field uniform and meet downtown at a specific time and location that will go out closer to time via email.
    • All BTWHS wind/percussion students must participate in either this community marching band or the community marching band at the Martin Luther King, Jr. parade in January for a grade.
  3. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade: This is a community marching band made up of students from all local high schools. You will wear your full field uniform and meet downtown at a specific time and location that will go out closer to time via email.
    • All BTWHS wind/percussion students must participate in either this community marching band or the community marching band at the Veteran’s Day parade in November for a grade.

Football games

Students will report to the band room for all football games. Times will change based on game location but reporting to the band room will not.

On Fridays the band room will close between the last bell of the day and report time. All students must leave campus. You should decide with your student what they are expected to do: ride the bus home, walk to the mall with a friend, etc.

Wind & percussion students will need black socks. They’ll need tall black socks for their full field uniform and will need short black socks for their summer uniform. I recommend saving yourself some heartache and buying a large pack of each at Sam’s or BJ’s and dole them out one pair at a time.

Students will be dismissed from the band room well after the end of the football game. Please be patient. Please do not crowd the band room – it will smell like dozens of sweaty teenagers in there – waiting outside is HIGHLY recommended.


Uniforms

Summer uniforms (wind, percussion, guard, & majorettes)

  • Blue “I’m With The Band” shirt
    • All band students will receive a new band shirt every summer at no additional charge
    • Extra shirts may be purchased for $15 each
    • Students that report for a game without their band shirt will have to purchase a new one to be considered “in uniform”
  • Gray band shorts
    • All band students will receive a new pair of shorts every summer at no additional charge
    • Extra shorts may be purchased for $15 each
    • Students that report for a game without their band shorts will have to purchase a new one to be considered “in uniform”
  • Band ball cap
    • All band students will receive a new pair of shorts every summer at no additional charge
    • Extra ball caps may be purchased for $10 each
    • Students that report for a game without their ball cap will have to purchase a new one to be considered “in uniform”
  • Short black socks
    • You provide the socks!
  • Black marching shoes
    • Every wind/percussion student will receive one pair of marching shoes their first year in the program. You must order & pay for any new pairs after that.
    • Every colorguard/majorette student will purchase their own black uniform shoes based on instructions from their coach.

Alternate uniform (wind, percussion, guard, & majorettes)

  • Blue “I’m With The Band” shirt
  • Gray band track pants
    • Every band student will receive one pair of track pants their first year in the program. You must order & pay for any new pairs ($25 each) after that.
  • Blue band fleece
    • Every band student will receive one blue band fleece their first year in the program. You must order & pay for any new pairs ($30 each) after that.
  • Tall black socks: you must provide black socks
  • Black marching shoes
    • Every wind/percussion student will receive one pair of marching shoes their first year in the program. You must order & pay for ($45) any new pairs after that.
    • Every colorguard/majorette student will purchase their own black uniform shoes based on instructions from their coach.

Full marching uniform

COLORGUARD/MAJORETTE:

  • Field uniform, all parts
    • Included in your additional $150 guard/majorette fees
  • Short black socks
  • Jazz shoes

WIND/PERCUSSION:

  • Base layer: band shirt, band shorts, tall black socks
  • Top layer: bibbers, jacket
  • Ball cap
  • Marching shoes

Concert Black

All wind and percussion students will need a set of “concert black” clothes for concerts that will begin in December and run all the way through May. You must provide this. Here are your options:

TOPS:

  • Solid black long sleeve, button down, collared shirt
    • Solid black tie or bow tie
    • (optional) Festive holiday tie (for December)
    • (optional) Royal blue tie/bow tie (for jazz band)
  • Solid black dress blouse with sleeves
  • Solid black floor-length or ankle-length dress with sleeves

BOTTOMS:

  • Solid black dress pants
  • Solid black dress slacks
  • Solid black floor-length or ankle-length skirt
  • JEANS ARE NEVER CONCERT BLACK
    • Even dressy jeans
    • Even expensive jeans

SHOES:

  • Solid black dress shoes
  • CLEAN black marching shoes
  • Solid black dress flats with a closed toe
    • Please do not wear heels. There is a LOT of walking – sometimes very far and/or very fast – and we can not wait for someone that is teetering along in unreasonable shoes.