Hey Band Parents,
This might be your Freshman year as a McMinnville High School band parent, and now that you’re in the groove of Tuesday and Thursday’s you’re starting to wonder, “what comes next?” We wondered the same thing when we were new band parents. This letter is for you. And if this is your Senior year and you already know how fantastic it is to have a child in the band, I hope you’ll keep reading too.
First, let’s get some basics out there. There are a lot of new terms that you’re getting used too. Like, what’s a front ensemble? That’s the keyboards and percussion instruments that usually get placed up front because they don’t “march”. Why does everyone keep talking about the battery? This isn’t a D-cell, it’s the marching percussion line, including the snare drums, quad drums and bass drums. And why are my students so obsessed with their drill and coordinates? That’s the band term for choreography, and it’s the coordinate on the field, and the route they take to get there during the music. The most important thing for you be concerned about is the “call time”, which is the time that your student needs to arrive prior to a concert or event.
Friday Night Lights
The band’s first job is to support the school and community. Yep, we’re talking football! When the Grizzlie’s play at home, the band will be there. On Friday nights, call time is well before kick-off, usually an hour or more. The band meets at the band room to take everything down 17th Street to Wortman Stadium. All of the instruments, show props, music stands, etc. get rolled down the street. The band usually plays the national anthem and the fight song at the start of the game and performs on the field at half time. During the game, the band sits in the upper level on the north side of the home bleachers, behind the student section. There is usually some extra room next to the band. This is your official invitation to come join the band parents, socialize, cheer for the band, and of course watch the football game.
How do I help? First, make sure your student is on time. Then, since you’re already there, stick around and help us get the equipment down 17th Street. Next, come down to the North end of the home bleachers right after half time, and help us get things back to the band room. This is especially true on nights prior to a competition, when we’ll be packing the trailers for the next morning. We need your help. Watch the Mac Band Parent Organization email for sign ups.
Competitions
Competitions are on Saturdays, and there are 4 of them. Call time is communicated just prior to the competition. From experience, I can tell you it’s early. Usually 6 or 6:30am. Students will come to the band room and load buses to ride to the competition. The band won’t return until 9pm or later. Saturday is an all-day thing. Usually students will bring their own breakfast for the bus, and then we feed them lunch and dinner at the competition. Competition information, including the performing schedule, is always posted at https://nwapa.net/ , but not until Thursday or Friday prior to the competition. The Northwest Association for Performing Arts has all the details, including when competitions are going to be streamed online so Grandma in the Midwest can watch. This information is the best kept secret!
So, other than an early start and a late return, here’s what happens on competition days. The band travels with buses and 2 equipment trailers. Each band is assigned a location for their “camp.” A team of parent volunteers leaves early with the trailers to get to the competition and set up camp. We set up the big outdoor event tents for shelter, get the benches set up and get instruments off the trailers. We assemble the show props and get everything ready. All of this happens while the band is travelling on the bus. Camp has to be ready when the buses arrive.
Generally, the students will perform once in the morning, during the preliminary rounds. The bands are usually grouped by ensemble size (number of kids in the band). And, the show runs like clockwork. In fact, if a band causes a delay by being late, or stays on the field too long which can delay the next band, they are going to lose points. We always know what time the band will perform for prelims. It’s on the schedule from NWAPA. The band goes out to warm-up before performing, and parents help move their props into staging. Parents also help move the band on and off the field. After performing, the band comes back to camp to rest. The students are encouraged to go back to the competition and watch and cheer for the other schools. We will have lunch, and there is downtime.
Sometime in the early afternoon the results of the preliminary round will be posted to NWAPA’s website and the band will be given their final competition time. Again, bands are grouped by ensemble size, and are given a performance time based on their score in the preliminary round. The assigned time will depend on whether we perform, and then have dinner, or eat first, and then perform. Either way, we feed the band. After their performance is over the band will return all of the instruments and props to camp. Then they’ll go back to watch other schools perform, and wait for the awards ceremony. We use this time to break down the props and start loading the trailers. We attend the awards ceremony, and then after awards we take down the tents and pack up camp to come home. The trailers and the buses pull out at around the same time. If you’re at the competition when the buses leave, you can take your student home, after they’ve helped pack up camp. Normal school activity rules apply, meaning you can only take your student, unless arrangements were made in advance with the school office, and you have to sign them out to take them home.
Your student will wear their chant shirt on the day of competition to go under their uniform. They need to have layered clothes to wear when they aren’t in uniform. We prefer if they don’t eat in their band uniform… then they don’t accidentally get chili or mustard down the front of it. They should also bring a water bottle, some comfortable shoes for when they’re not performing, snacks, and an activity to stay busy during downtime. Usually a small backpack is good for keeping their gear together and organized. Admittedly, camp looks a little like their room… total chaos. Having a bag to keep it all together is a big help in preventing lost items. Don’t bring things of great value, because camp is unattended while we’re out performing.
So, do you want the insider tips? Most competitions have a paid entry fee, and also sell a printed program for an additional fee. You need to purchase an armband to enter and enjoy the show. Parent volunteers that sign up in advance get an armband provided by the band.
Wear your band gear (T-shirts, hat, jackets, etc.) and show your support for the band. And, while you are wearing our gear, remember you also represent the band. Cheer for other schools, tell them how great their show is, and don’t complain or criticize the other groups. Band parents stick together, regardless of school affiliation. Don’t embarrass our program. If you embarrass the school, the band can also lose points from their competition score. Those are the rules.
How do I help? It takes a parent army to support competitions. Literally, “We’re with the band!” We set up camp, we assemble props, we move equipment, we cook and serve 2 meals, we cheer, and we have a great time! If you can’t spend the whole day, that’s okay. You can sign up for a time slot to help with specific tasks. The Mac Band Parent Organization weekly email will give you the link for sign ups. We really need your help for competitions. Whether you stay the day or come for a specific time, you’ll need your school district background check completed to volunteer or hang out in camp.
This is your invitation to come join the band parent volunteers in camp. You’ll want a place to sit and rest, so bring a camp chair. Dress in layers, and be prepared for rain. It is fall in Oregon, and it can get a little damp on competition days. We are outside all day, and the show must go on. Bring a water bottle, some snacks, and something to entertain yourself. If you like to read, bring a book. Bring a board game to share. There usually isn’t time to assemble a complete puzzle, because we’re busy.
Competition is a lot of fun, and helping out is a great way to support the band!
Community Show
At the end of the season, the band puts on a final performance of their show in McMinnville. This is usually in November. We still need your help at call time to get everything down 17th Street to Wortman Stadium (and back after the performance.)
This is a great time for families, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, friends, neighbors, church groups, the whole community to come and see the final performance of the show. There’s no admission fee! This night is all about the band! So, spread the word early, and invite everyone you know. Afterwards we recognize the Seniors, and there’s time for one last group photo with props. You can come down on the field and take individual photos with the props and with friends. It’s the last time you’ll see them in uniform… until next season!
Wait, There’s More?
Well, yeah! Of course there is more. The McMinnville High School bands perform in winter concerts in December. And, in December we start winter season. While we don’t have a lot of details yet, many instrumental band members join Winter Guard, and compete (indoors!!) through the winter months. There may also be a Winter Percussion group (and you don’t have to be part of the battery or front ensemble to be a winter percussion member.) And then in January, be sure to support Swingin’ On A Star, which is the McMinnville Music Booster’s primary fundraiser. Buy a dinner ticket and come enjoy an evening of truly world class music, or buy a balcony seat, and just come for the show. Either way, performing groups from all McMinnville schools, elementary, middle and high school are on stage. It’s an amazing night… and we need you and the community to support music in our schools. The band plays during basketball season, and then in the spring it’s parade season. Join us for our high school + 8th grade barbeque at Alien Days where we reveal next year’s show. Then… that’s a wrap until August, when we do it all again.