Band Alerts

The Ridgeline High School Marching Band uses a smartphone app called "BAND" to communicate with both parents and students. There are two different communities in the BAND App - one for parents and one for students. We do this so that parents are not bothered by frequent schedule, practice, and homework messages that are sent to students. Parents are sent relevant messages such as last-minute changes in schedules, arrival, and departure ETAs, upcoming event information, and so on. Parent messages will also be communicated over the GroupMe App.

Sometimes the BAND App and GroupMe App are the ONLY way certain messages are conveyed. Installing the BAND App is REQUIRED for all band members and the BAND App and GroupMe App are HIGHLY recommended for all parents.

Additional information regarding the Band App can be found on the Connect with the Band page on this website.

Band Fees

These are mandatory fees that are collected from every band member. These fees are to help pay for travel (hotels and meals when we travel), bus rentals, competition entry fees, band camp, leadership training, and a host of other expenses that a band must face.

There is a fee payment schedule set up with deadlines for each payment. You can find the due dates on the calendar. Please note that the first payment (registration fee) is due during the spring and summer and must be paid or a marching spot cannot be offered. In addition, the guard will have their own fees related to equipment and costumes. The directors and Booster Board work year-round to not only keep these fees as low as possible by working with vendors, but also by organizing ways to help defray the costs through fundraising and corporate sponsorship. At an individual level, students and their parents have the opportunity to work concessions at USU football and basketball games, and various fundraising opportunities to earn money for their band fees.

Band/Guard Officers

These are student-elected student leaders who help run the guard, the band, and the different band sections. For the band, there is a president, vice-president, section leaders, historians, and secretaries. The guard has captains, lieutenants, and a social coordinator/historian. Drum majors are also officers, but they are selected by audition. Elections and auditions are held each spring for the upcoming year.

Battery

Also known as the drumline. These are the percussionists who march.

Booster Club Board

The band booster club board is made up of several volunteers elected by the booster club to serve for a predetermined amount of time to help run the band organization. The list of who is currently on the board can be found on the website under the Booster Club Board Members page. We strive to keep emails short and to the point, but there is a lot of information for a band this size, so please take the time to read these communications or at least save them so you have them for future reference. Please do not hesitate to contact any board member with your questions. We are happy to help you navigate all that is band and guard.

Booster Club and Meetings

As a band parent, you are part of the Booster Club. We highly encourage you to attend the monthly Booster meetings. We will always notify you of upcoming meetings through email, the BAND App, and the GroupMe App. This is where the majority of questions are answered and a lot of information can be learned in a short amount of time.

Buses/Busing/Shuttles

For band travel, the band arranges regular school buses to and from competitions and local events. In the case of longer travel, the band will hire travel coaches.

Chaperoning

Please consider chaperoning for the band. We need chaperones for buses to and from competitions and local events. We also need chaperones on our big trips. Watch for emails about chaperoning opportunities.

Color Guard

This talented group of dancers and flag/rifle/saber spinners is an intricate part of the marching band. They are a vital visual part of any show. During marching season, the color guard is always included when we say “band.” When the marching season is over, they have their own calendar of winter guard-only events.

Corporate Donations/Sponsorship

Ridgeline High School Marching Band actively seeks corporate donations to help offset the expenses of the band program. The band has 501(c)(3) status. Your company may offer matching funds as well as volunteer hour matching. If you or your company would like to make a donation to the band, please email the Booster Club President found on our Booster Club Board Members page.

Dots/Dot Books

Dots are the specific points of each individual person in the show at any given moment. A dot book is a spiral-bound 3x5 or 4x6 index card book in which students write all their sets. Students will need to put a shoestring through their spiral so they can wear them around their necks while marching and have a mechanical pencil handy to make notes in their books when learning their drill and formations.

Drill

Collective dots make up a set. The drill is the series of sets that make up the complete show.

Drumline

Also known as the battery. These are the percussionists who march.

Drum Majors

Student conductors/leaders for the marching band when they are on and off the field. The squad is made up of a head drum major and one or more assistants. Drum major auditions are held in the spring. Drum majors are selected by student vote and director determination.

Food Crew

These volunteers take care of the enormous job of making sure our kids don’t go hungry during band camp or when they are away at competitions. This is not mandatory but is offered as a convenience for the kids (nearly all band/guard students participate). You are, of course, welcome to send food with your child or even bring them a meal during dinner time. Students are not allowed to leave campus or the competitions during food breaks. Students are not allowed to eat at the game or while in uniform.

Food Crew also takes care of feeding the band when they are traveling overnight and occasionally at events far from home. Food costs for the overnight trips are covered in the band fees; however, you are always welcome to send additional meal money and/or snacks with your student if you feel this is necessary.

Fundamentals

The marching basics (posture, body carriage, marching technique, step size, etc.) that the directors teach and the students will apply to the marching show.

Marching Band

The Marching Band is comprised of everyone in the band and color guard.

Pit/Front Ensemble

These are the front-line percussionists in the show, and even though they do not march on the field they do rehearse on the same schedule as the drumline and play an integral part in the band’s overall performance and production.

Pit Crew

This fantastic crew of parent volunteers is responsible for the loading and unloading of all the instruments from the truck. They oversee getting the large pit instruments onto the field. They also help with the building and management of props and other items we use on the field.

Section Leader

These are student-elected student leaders who help run the sections.

Sectionals

A rehearsal for a single and specific section.

Sets

A set refers to the collective dots of individual marching show participants. It’s the collective picture, if you will, that the band makes at any given time in the show.

The Show

The marching competition show. The show is how we compete at marching competitions in addition to entertaining at halftime of the football games.

Show Shirt

Every year a t-shirt is designed with the name of the current year’s show.

UMEA

Utah Music Educators Association. This is the governing body for the school-sponsored music programs and marching band competitions in Utah. More information can be seen online at https://www.umea.us.

Uniforms

It is important that parents understand that school-issued uniforms are school property and replacement for loss or damage will be the responsibility of the parent.

Marching Band Uniforms: These are school-issued and are fitted during summer band by our uniform crew. This is a fun time to get to know some band parents and some kids. Sewing & ironing skills are not required, jobs can be taught on the spot. Marching uniforms stay at school. They never go home, not even the gauntlets, except for end-of-year dry cleaning which is the responsibility of the student/parents.

Volunteering

Yes and yes! We have so many fun and wonderful opportunities for you to help the band. Please keep an eye on your emails for volunteer opportunities. This organization is well run, but it takes a lot of willing hands and hearts to make it all work. Opportunities are wide-ranging from helping to build props and load trucks to helping put together goodie bags for the students. We need uniform fitting help in the summer, chaperoning help, spirit committee help, merchandising help, pit crew help, food crew help, concessions help, and help on a one-time basis periodically. Our booster board is elected every spring, so please watch for opportunities to submit your name to serve there as well. There is sure to be something that fits your time and talent.

Website

https://sites.google.com/ccsdut.org/ridgelineband. This website is our public internet presence. Here you will find links to necessary and important information. Chances are if you need to know something it’s somewhere on the website. If you cannot find an answer, contact one of the booster board members. We’ve all had questions and we are all happy to help you.

WGI

Winter Guard International. This is the contest circuit for guard once the marching season is complete (see Winter Guard). Similar to the BOA contests (See BOA), the guard will compete at the local and regional levels throughout the spring.

Winter Guard

For the color guard, “Winter” means mid-November through mid-March, and this is when Winter Guard takes place. These are color guard-only contests. The color guard will start auditions for Winter Guard fairly soon after marching season ends, and will begin regular rehearsals for their contest season. The Winter Guard will rehearse 2-3 times a week for up to three hours each.