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WAYLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL BANDS

Marching Band for Memorial Day

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Memorial Day drummer

All Wayland Public School Bands march for the Memorial Day parade (May 30 this year). At the middle school, concert band and symphonic band march together to make a marching band of just under 100 musicians!!!

The parade steps off from the middle school at 11:00 AM of the Monday on which Memorial Day is celebrated. Students should be at the middle school, in concert dress, by 10:00.

WHAT ABOUT RAIN??? If it rains, we will have a ceremony in the middle school gym. All bands should report rain or shine. Meanwhile, do a little anti-rain dance! Call is still 10:00 for all bands (ms & hs).

Dress drummer

Parade dress is black long pants (no capris, shorts or skirts - skirts are VERY dangerous in the wind!) and our new red WMS Band shirt (tucked in). We prefer white shoes, but whatever sneakers or comfortable shoes you have are fine. No platform shoes or sandles or flip-flops - athletic shoes are safest and most comfortable.  Try to avoid the (really cool) brightly colored shoes - I think they will draw the eye and we try to keep everyone looking the same (uniform!)

If it looks like we might march & it is COLD, add more layers. Try adding something under the red shirt. Warm is more important than perfect black / red - we don't want any sicknesses! If it is HOT, we still where long pants, no capris or shorts or skirts. You get hot when you play soccer, right? Marching band is also a sport & if it is hot out, you will be hot, but you will survive! :-)

"But", you might say, "What about fainting?! I've heard that people faint in marching band when it is too hot!"  Answer: It isn't the heat that causes the fainting (unless we are up into the 100 degree temps and you get heat stroke), fainting is caused by one of three things:

  1. The student didn't eat breakfast, so the body has no fuel.
  2. The student isn't healthy right now.
  3. The student "locked up" the knees and stood too long that way.  We won't be standing still at attention long enough to cause this to happen.

I've marched in parades on hot days in all black with long pants and long sleeves and I didn't faint.  I was hot, but proud!!

WMS Marching Band drummer

Our marching band season begins the week after our spring concet.

On this page you will find information about the following topics:

Marching rehearsals - flex and after school drummer

We begin in the caf, and we either march there or go outside.

Wednesday, May 18, is a required after school rehearsal for everyone, including those not marching in the parade. It will be our only full rehearsal. All students should come to flex rehearsals, even if you will not be marching in the parade; learning about marching band is part of our curriculum because it is such an important part of band history!

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Marching workshops  drummer

As often as possible, come during your study halls or after school. See schedule below. There are two marching band workshops where we will do some exam prep and learn about John Philip Sousa.

 

Marching Contest  drummer

Our Marching Band Contest is optional (but does count as enrichment).  It is Tuesday, May 24, after school, 2:30-3:00 (Jazz Band will be 3:00-3:30).  Come and challenge your thinking and marching!!

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Other Reminders drummer

MEMORIAL DAY: Monday, May 30 (be here at 10:00)

If you have to miss the parade, be sure to bring in a note from home (or have your parents email me) and get the make-up done quickly so you can get your year-end awards at the breakfast and so you can get full credit on your report card!

Exams run from May 9 & end on June 2

Skill licks are due by May 20, but get them done early!

Band Awards Breakfast is Wednesday, June 8, 6:30 - 7:45 AM. This is a family affair: the jazz band plays, we have breakfast together and I present all of the year end awards. All band members receive something! Please plan on joining us. Parents, please email me if you can help and I will forward your email to our breakfast coordinators. (And thanks!)

Rehearsals do not end after the Parade - we continue to the end of the year and work on sight-reading. We rehearse until the last flex day & have sight-reading sessions (let me know if there is something particular that you would like us to play). Students should come to four of the five or six sight-reading rehearsals; everyone must come to the last rehearsal. If you have a study hall when the other band is rehearsing, you may come at that time, if you wish (ex: if you are in 6th grade and have a orange study hall, you could come to a symphonic band rehearsal on E day)

Usual flex rehearsals:

  • CB - A&B day rehearsals is orange for 7/8th
  • SB - C day rehearsal is red for 6th
  • SB - E day rehearsal is orange for 6th

 

The last workshop is the week of May 20.  Everyone needs to come to two of the workshops this term. Plan ahead. Gradeouts are due by May 20, and start now getting ready for your show-off exam!

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