What makes a successful competitive Marching Band

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What makes a successful competitive Marching Band?

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At Walkersville we are looking for a Marching
Band that

• Demonstrates the highest standards of musical and
  visual excellence
• Teaches students the values of excellence,
  pride, and commitment
• Constantly has a top ten presence in our
  competitive circuit

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3 Main Support Structures

• Community Support
• Strong Band Staff
• Finances

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Community Support

• Parents
• Sew Flags
• Chaperone on Field Trips
• Pit Crew
• Assist in Band Camp
• Assist in Fundraising

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Community Support cont.

• We need a Band Boosters that
• Organizes big fundraisers to benefit to entire
  group
• Organizes small fundraisers to benefit the
  individual student
• Act as advocates for marching band on the county
  level
• Assist Band Director in coordinating chaperones
  and pit crew for all shows
• Communicate with incoming freshmen families to
  assist them in getting acclimated to high school
  environment
• Assist Band Director in giving the students at
  WHS the quality program they deserve!!!

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Community Support cont.

• Businesses
• Financial Support
• Donated Materials
• Advertisement of Band Performances
• Assist in Fundraisers

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Community Support cont.

• Band Director Willing to volunteer time to a
  competitive marching band schedule
• (2004 season called for 256 hours of unpaid work)
• Band Staff Willing to do a quality job for well
  under minimum wage
• (In 2004 a field tech made 1,000. That roughly
  translated to 3.90 an hour. Next years drum Tech
  will make 700, that is about 2.80 an hour)
• School Administration Willing to work with
  competitive schedule as long as it does not
  interfere with the learning environment
• (In 2004 our students were excused from classes
  the Monday after our ACC performance)

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Qualities of a Strong Band Staff

• Experience teaching students in a competitive
  circuit
• Experience creating shows for schools that have
  already achieved our goals
• College and Drum Corp. experience, both teaching
  and performing

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Our Staff at Walkersville High School

• Has written drill and music for bands that have
  been the highest scoring band out of every band
  at ACCs (Lee Geissler, Frank Mahoney)
• Has several years experience teaching college and
  high school marching band (Kara Villanelli, Lee
  Geissler, Joe Villanelli, Dan Delong, Raul
  Raulenstein)
• Has marched in DCI Drum Corps (Dan Delong, Dave
  Shipley, Jeff Beck)
• Has taught bands that have scored 1 in their
  group and out scored
• bands 4 times their size (Kara Villanelli,
  Joe Villanelli)
• Has been drumline captain of drum corp. that has
  gone on to win the percussion trophy at DCI
  finals 2 years in a row (Dan Delong)
• Been members of top ten Marching Bands at ACCs
  (Dan McGill, Amy Phelps)

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Finances

• Proposed Budget for 2005 Marching Band Season
• Transportation 4,000
• Show Creation 8,500
• Staff Salaries 11,230
• Materials for Color Guard 2,000
• Equipment 2,000
• Registration Fees 30
• Truck Rental 800?
• Spirit Fund 1,000
• Spring Training program600
• Grand Total 30,160

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Finances cont.

• Possible out of budget expenses
• New Golf Cart - 4000
• Storage Shed - 700-1000
• Light Rental - 800?

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Finances cont.

• How Much does it cost per student to be in the
  marching Band?
• 600
• It is vital for the success of our program that
  every member and their family raise this amount!

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Where Do We Go From Here?

• Do we want to have a competitive marching band at
  Walkersville High School?
• If so, how can we all (teachers, parents, and
  students) work together to make this activity a
  reality?
• What can be done to make up for the financial
  losses of this year?
• What can we do to get the 2005 season off and
  running in the right direction?

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Thanks for a great 2004 season!

• Number 2 in the state of Maryland in Group 1
  competition
• Group 1 Chapter Champions
• Number 13 out of 65 bands at seasons end
• Moved from 13th place from 50th in 1 year!