Varsity Band Home Football and Basketball Expectations

Each year the Varsity Band will play 4-6 football games, 1-2 soccer games, 6-10 basketball games, and usually 1 hockey game.  Most of these events will be performed in Full Uniform (white socks, white shoes, marching bibbers, jacket w/ 2 cords, hat (shako) and plume). unless specified otherwise.  All Varsity Band students are expected to attend the events.  PERIOD.  If something is up, you must email the directors BEFORE the event.  (aflygt@cps.edu, sveren@cps.edu) 

Uniform Information: each student in CB1, VB, and SB will be assigned a Lane Tech Marching Band Uniform.  It is your responsibility to maintain and care for the entire kit.  Students must wash marching band uniforms in cold water on a gentle cycle and hang them to dry.  Please remove the cords before hand!  When you graduate or leave band, students are to dry-clean the entire uniform before they are returned as part of their final.  Uniforms are to be stored at home and can be brought to school for performances.  We have Z-Racks and special places to hold them the day of a performance.  They are not to be shoved into your band locker!  Varsity Band students will have "inspections" at certain games for credit.   Please wear lightweight shorts and/or maybe a form fitting shirt underneath.  Students will not wear PANTS or JEANS underneath their uniform.   If your uniform is smelly or something doesn't seem right, talk to Mr. Flygt.  Cleaning will help and it is fine to spray your uniform with Febreeze.  In the rare instance, Mr. Flygt has been able to offer a deeper cleanse through the use of sage and specific traditional remedies.  Some of the students that wore these before have some bad mojo!  

Football Games: any band student can attend a football game!  Sometimes we play a single away game as well.  Here is the timeline for most Football Games:

• school ends. students are free to go home or hang in the band room.  it is open!  students go an eat somewhere or sometimes bring food back and eat in the band room.

• BY 5:45 pm students ARE IN FULL-UNIFORM with their instrument.  if students have unifom quesitons or needs, they must be addressed BEFORE this time.

• BY 5:50  pm students are sitting in a chair and listening to announcements, inspirational speeches, mantras, and last minute reminders from directors.

• AROUND 6 pm we leave to go outside for our pregame activities.

• This next period of time can be tricky based on many factors.  Eventually we are IN the stadium.

• We play before the game (multiple songs) and then 1 song each between 1st and 2nd quarter.  At half-time we play as many tunes as possible and then leave.

• When we leave, we ALL meet together outside of the stadium near the sidewalk by the locker room steps, line up in formation, wait for everyone, and then march back to J or another door to get in to the band room.  Drumline calls cadences! Please do not clump up! 

• We get back in to the band room, put our things away, and then leave out Door J.

• It is safe to say most games we are leaving the band room between 9:15 pm - 9:30 pm.

• If you need to leave the game BEFORE that period, you must bring all your stuff with you.  Once we are outside at 6 pm, no one can go back inside with you until 9 pm.  There are many factors to this.  We cannot let students back in the building wthout supervision.

Basketball Games:

• for 5 pm Varsity Games be in GYM 1 ready by 4:30 pm.  we play in the BAND NEST which is entered from the 3rd floor.

• we will be wearing pep band t shirts, Lane Marching Jackets, or a Lane Tech themed shirt.  You cannot wear random things.

• mr. flygt will specify uniform guidance for champs/flags at a later time.

• we play before the game and depending on other factors this may be a long time or a short time.  We play between each quarter and at half-time.  if things are going late we will leave but please plan on staying til the end of the game.  Typically we are leaving the band room around 6:30 pm

Joining Flag Corps or Majorettes (Champerettes)

Each year our Varsity Band has around 12-14 Flag Corps members and 12-14 Majorette members enrolled in the course. The teams are co-ed and open to students grades 9-12.  Tryouts occur during the end of January/beginning of February over the span of three days. Teams are selected by Mr. Flygt and current team captains.  We also take 2-4 students to be our drum majors.  Students MUST have space in their schedule to take Marching Band as a class.  Usually we don't take RISING seniors and occasionally we take RISING freshmen if they were in LTAC.  

*sometimes we have more students and sometimes we have less students.  it depends on the year! 

Lane Tech Flag Corps Fee: uniform and flag essentials provided by band program.  all other accessories (warm-up, bag, hoodie) covered individually.

Lane Tech Majorette Fee: uniform and baton provided by band program.  other accessories (warm-up, bag, tights, shoes) covered individually.

IN A PERFECT YEAR EVERYONE GETS A MARCHING BAND SHIRT AS WELL

Rules and Expectations

As a flag or champerette member, it's essential to establish rules that promote teamwork, discipline, and excellence. 

Here are the key rules: 

1) Attendance: Members must attend all practices and performances unless excused in advance. 

2) Punctuality: Arrive on time to all events; tardiness may impact routines/positions. 

3) Respect: Treat fellow members, instructors, and competitors with respect; fostering a positive environment is crucial. 

4) Practice: Dedicate time to individual practice; improvement is essential for the team’s success. 

5) Uniform: Wear uniforms properly and maintain them. 

6) Leadership: As captain, I will lead by example, maintaining a positive attitude and encouraging everyone.   As a member of any team I will contribute to the overall positive experience and be supportive of my captain.  

7) Communication: As captain, I will lead by example.  Keep open lines of communication and address conflicts promptly.   As a member of any team, I will understand that communication between a team can at times be tricky and will do the best to adress specific 

8) Commitment: As captain and/or member, I will demonstrate dedication to the team and uphold team values both on and off the field.

The duties for a Champerette Assistant Captain:

- Assisting the captain in leading the team during rehearsals, performances, and events.

- Organizing and supervising the majorettes' warm-up and stretching exercises before performances.

- Coordinating with the team to ensure all necessary equipment is in good working order.

- Helping to plan and coordinate team activities, such as competitions, parades, and community outreach events.

- Assisting with the development and implementation of team rules and expectations.

- Providing guidance and support to junior team members in terms of performance, technique, and time management.

- Potentially Assisting in the selection of music and choreography for future performances.

- Maintaining the team's performance area, equipment, and facilities.

- Participating in meetings and discussions with the captain and other team leaders.

1 assistant captain will tryout for the position with our rubric.  this student will perform choreo for the Captain and Mr. Flygt.  The other assistant captain will be voted on by the members and elected sometime in April/May

The single HEAD captain will be selected by Mr. Flygt and outgoing captains.  It will be a discussion and rely on concrete evidence: attendance at events, attendance at school, and overall contributions towards Varsity Band.

FLAG CAPTAINS: will be selected after a discussion between Mr. Flygt and outgoing captains occurs.  We will rely on concrete evidence: attendance at events, attendance at school, and overall contributions towards Varsity Band.  Students are selected in February/May.  

*we have a different leadership model for Champerettes.  2-3 Flag Captains and 3 Champerette Captains (1 Head, 2 AC)

ATTENTION INCOMING 7th and 9th Graders with experience in Band: 

Welcome to Lane Tech!  We look forward to meeting you all! Please reach out to both directors if you have previous experience and are interested in joining band! You can reach us at aflygt@cps.edu and sveren@cps.edu. 

Audition Guidelines If you have previous experience with a band instrument, please submit a video audition through a parent’s email address.  If it is possible to audition in person we will make it happen.  Videos should be labeled with the student’s full name (First and Last), they should be continuous (not broken up into several videos), and should contain the following:

1. A solo piece/band piece of your choice that demonstrates your playing ability

2. Play up and down two scales of your choice (two-octaves if possible)

3. A one-octave chromatic scale (if possible)

*Videos should be emailed to both aflygt@cps.edu  (Mr. Flygt) and sveren@cps.edu (Mr. Veren)

Please feel free to reach out with any questions!

*Percussion: follow the guidelines above.  We would love to see you play mallets and snare drum.  Specifically, if you only play mallets we would like to hear you play numbers 1-3 above.  If you only play snare drum, we would still like you to learn the scales above before the audition (for example #2: Bb Major and F Major as well as #3: a 1-octave Bb chromatic scale).  Knowledge of scales will be a large factor of your placement.  Email Mr. Flygt (aflygt@cps.edu) and he will help you.  Studying percussion at Lane Tech will involve explorations of all instruments.  If you play drumset, please be able to demonstrate a few different grooves (rock, funk, swing, latin).  We will spot check some reading skills and any rudiments you may know.