Marching Band Parent Guide

This guide is an informal document put together by the GNHS Music Boosters.  

It is meant to be an introduction to band for overwhelmed parents and busy teens.  Information is subject to change so please check the Charms Office Assistant Website at https://www.charmsoffice.com

Marching Knights Schedule 2021

June Camp June 8th, 16th, 23rd, 30th

Drumline Camp July 17th, 19th, 21st

Colorguard Camp July 22nd, 23rd, 24th, Aug 2nd, 3rd 

Band Camp July 25th - 30th

Night Rehearsal August 10th

Night Rehearsal August 17th

Band Pictures & Summer Days Parade August 21st

Football Game August 27th 

Night Rehearsal September 11th

Knights Marching Tournament September 12th

Football Game September 17th

Night Rehearsal September 22nd

Football Game September 24th

Band-O-Rama / Night Rehearsal October 1st

Prospect Knight of Champions October 2nd

Football Game (Homecoming) October 8th

Marengo Marching Band Competition October 10th

Night Rehearsal October 19th

Football Game October 22nd

Illinois Marching Band Championships October 23rd

Grayslake Memorial Day Parade May 30th

SCHEDULE OUTLINE BY MONTH

July 

• Leadership days, New Member Days and Colorguard Camp and Drumline Camp 

(week before band camp)

• Uniform Fittings 

• Payment collected for marching shoes, gloves, water/food, and additional attire. 

• Band Camp (last week in July)

August 

• Grayslake Summer Days Parade – Pep Band Polo and black dress pants.  If a student does not have marching shoes yet, black shoes with laces are acceptable.

• Night rehearsals

• Marching Season Starts – Mostly Friday Night Games, Saturday or Sunday competitions

• Fundraisers – information concerning booster and student fundraisers will be sent via email. Booster fundraiser profits go into the Booster general account for supporting music activities and program needs. Student fundraiser profits go into the student account of the individual participating in the fundraiser and do not benefit the band or Boosters.  (See “AND HOW TO PAY FOR IT” section.)

September

• Football performances continue. 

• Jazz Band Auditions (extra-curricular)

• GNHS hosts the Marching Knights Festival.  

• Night Rehearsals

• Fundraisers continue (updates sent via email)

October

• Football performances continue.  There are a total of 4 to 5 home games.  Marching season continues if the football team makes the playoffs.

• Night Rehearsals

• Band-O-Rama – on the football field. Bands from North, Milburn, GMS, and Palombi perform.

• Prospect Knight of Champions competition

• Marengo Marching Band Competition

• Illinois Marching Band Championships competition

• Auditions and chair placement for all students.

• Fundraisers continue (updates sent via email)

BAND CAMP 

Band Camp is the last week in July/first week of August.  It is important that all band members attend and it is strongly recommended.  Not only is it a time for the kids to bond and become a team but the basics of the show are outlined and marching skills are taught and reinforced.  If a child cannot go to band camp, please contact Candace Edstrand and/or Laura Bertermann as soon as possible.  If it is at all possible, your child needs to be there.

• Sunday – Friday:  Band members work hard from the moment they arrive.  During the heat of the day, rehearsals are indoors to learn the music.  Otherwise, the kids are on the field, learning drill.  Parent chaperones are on the field with the kids, helping throughout the day.  Kids should bring their own bottles of water.  Whenever the band is on the field, medical staff is on duty in case any issues arise.  All chaperones must be fingerprinted and have a background check through D127.   Two afternoon trips are included in the price of camp. One afternoon students will have lunch and bowl at Lakes Bowl in Round Lake. Another afternoon will be spent at Dave and Busters in Vernon Hills for lunch and games.  The week culminates in a performance on Friday night.  Family and friends are encouraged to attend and see all the hard work that went into the week.

MARCHING SEASON

• Attire:  Black Gloves (Exceptions:  Drum Majors – White Gloves, Drumline – None), Long black socks (Not ankle), clean marching shoes, uniform.

• Hair:  All hair must be off the collar and under the hat.  This means pony-tails and bobby pins even for the boys.  At competition performances the band is expected to look uniform so this practice is re-enforced at all performances.   Parents are needed to help get hair done and do uniform checks.

• Music (memorized)

  • Memory tests are periodically scheduled during band class in group settings.

  • Students will always have an opportunity to redo tests.

• Game Performances

  • Games are a graded activity.  If you have a conflict, contact Dr. E prior to that day.  The more notice, the better.

  • Call time is usually around 5:30 or 6:00

  • The band performs at pre-game and half-time.  In between, the band plays pep-band music from the stands.  

  • The band is dismissed after the half-time performance once they have returned their uniform. The section leaders are required to stay and perform during the 4th quarter at select games.

• Competitions

  • Marching Knights Festival – Exhibition (non-competition but judged for GNHS as hosts) 

  • Prospect Knight of Champions (Mount Prospect, IL) 

  • Marengo Marching Band Competition (Marengo, IL)

  • The Marching Band Championships at University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign, IL)

• Night Rehearsals – There are generally night rehearsals before our competitions.   The times and days are on the marching schedule and are partly dependent upon when the field is free.  

• Marching Band practices during the school day.  

• PE Exemption – TBD  

MARCHING KNIGHTS FESTIVAL

We host a Marching Festival every fall and it is the Boosters biggest fundraiser.  

Many volunteers are needed!  Generally, we run two shifts from 12:00pm – 2:00 pm 

and 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm.  Volunteers guide visiting bands, sell tickets, provide crowd control (keep people from entering/leaving the bleachers during performances), concessions, parking, etc.  It is a big endeavor but a really fun day for all. We appreciate all parents volunteering to help. (See more information under Volunteer Opportunities.)

THE MUSIC PASS  

The music pass is sold by the Boosters and is a band fundraiser.  When you purchase a pass, the money goes directly back to the music program. In addition, the pass provides your immediate family entrance to the band and jazz concerts, as well as the choir concerts. If you purchase tickets at the door the evening of the concert, the money goes directly to District 127. (Note:  This is for concert season only, it does not get you into the football games, musical or the Marching Knight Festival.)

COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH BAND 

The Music Boosters require all payments to be received in a payment envelope. Dr. E will have envelopes in the band room for your convenience.   If you are sending in a payment using your own envelope, please have the following information on the front of the envelope: student name, name of activity/items for payment to be applied, and the total amount in the envelope. Checks or money orders only please- NO CASH 

• Approximate Pricing Guide

  • Band Camp:  $215 

  • Marching Shoes (pay in July):  $30

  • Black Gloves (pay in July):  $3

  • Food and Water: (pay in July): $25

  • Pep-Band Polo:  $20     

    • These will be sold at fittings and through the spirit wear web store.

  • Concert Attire – TBD

  • Band Trip:  Approximately $2000.  The band goes on a trip every other year, alternating Disney and a different performance opportunity.  The trips are booked through a tour company and include travel, hotel, most meals and tickets to activities.  These are optional trips.  Remember that the student fundraisers can be used for these trips to help pay individual fees.  The payments are made in installments. 

  • District 127 Band Fee:  $25 each semester, collected through the school and can be paid at the North web store.  This is a fee that is paid to North for your student to take concert band.  This is a course fee implemented by the district.  The band program does not benefit directly from this fund but the money does go into the General Fund, which does help the music department pay for various items.  

AND HOW TO PAY FOR IT

• Payment installments can be scheduled as needed by contacting the Music Boosters.  

• Student Fundraisers – All product fundraisers offered through the Boosters are for each individual student’s account.  The product fundraisers do not benefit the band.  They only benefit the students who participate in the fundraisers. The Music Booster treasurer keeps track of each student’s profit from the sales and students can use this money toward band expenses as well as trips. The student account money cannot be used for any initial trip deposit.

• Students’ profits are allowed to accumulate in their “band” account. Should a child quit band, move or graduate, any money in the account is forfeited back into the general band account. No refunds can be given, however funds can be transferred to a younger sibling that is currently enrolled within the following school year. 

• If a student has outstanding fees and has not responded to invoices sent from the Boosters, fundraising money will be transferred to cover past due amounts. 

• Any students with past due balances will not be able to secure a spot on a trip until their account is current. Any money collected for a trip deposit will first be applied to past due balances.

MUSIC BOOSTERS VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES  

There are a variety of ways to get involved.  Parents who wish to chaperone an event must be fingerprinted by D127.  For more details regarding the fingerprinting process, contact the GNHS Music Booster email, gnhsmusicboosters@d127.org .  Fingerprinting is done through the District Office on Lake Street.  You only need to be fingerprinted once through the district during your volunteering time at North.

To sign up for volunteering opportunities, look for emails from the boosters with links to SignUpGenius for the event you are volunteering for. All volunteer signups are through SignupGenius - so you can save signups in your calendar and get email reminders.

• Football Games 

  • Pit Crew – Help the front-line bring equipment out to the field, set up the podium and ladders for the pre-game performance and the half-time performance.  Pit parents also will also help pass out water after the pre-game.  

  • Water parents – As the kids come off the field from their half-time show, they are given water as they head to their seats.  In addition, we give them water throughout the game.  

  • Hair and Uniform Check.  Parents in the band room at call time to help students get ready.  We help get hair off the collar; do double checks for uniform issues and help as needed.

  • Band Tailgating –The Boosters feed the kids (only one game) before the game in the grassy area outside of the band room.  We will need parents to help with set up, helping to pass out food and clean up.
    
    

• Parade Help – During the parade we need parents to walk along with the band and hand out water bottles.  We need at least 10-15 parents.  This may not take place due to COVID restrictions.

• Chaperones – We need 8-10 parents to ride buses with the band for any away competition.  

• The Marching Knights Festival hosted at GNHS – This is the band’s biggest fundraiser.  We invite bands from the area to compete.  It generally runs from about 11am to 4pm including setup and clean up.  We have about 100 volunteer time slots to fill.  

You will see many emails about this in the beginning of the year.  It is a fabulously fun day and a great chance to give back to the band for all they do for our children.  Here’s a list of the volunteer jobs:

• Concessions:  The Athletic Boosters open the concession stand for us and provide leaders.  We need to have 8-10 volunteers for each shift.

• Band Warm-Up Area & Pit Warm-Up Area:  We need one parent in each area to monitor time and provide a consistent presence.  (3 total per shift)

• Parking Lot:  Direct student buses & equipment buses for visiting bands.  (2 per shift)

• Volunteer Table:  Table near front gate for volunteers to check in.  (1-2 per shift)

• Ticket Sales:  Sell tickets to get in.  (2-4 per shift)

• Parent Band Guides:  Walk with and assist the band/front line from when they arrive at GNHS until they perform. This requires the ability to walk throughout the campus with the band. (4-6 for every band)

• Shout-Out Sales:  Table near the front gate to sell shout-outs.  (2-4 per shift)

• Runners:  Run shout-outs from sale table to press box. (4-6 per shift)  

• Rope Holders:  One person on each side of the bleachers blocks access during performances. (2 per shift)

• Videographer:  Videotapes band performances from top of press box. 

• Gate Monitors:  We need people to monitor the visitor gate, the pit entrance gate and the band entrance gate in the back.  (3 per shift)

PARENT COMMUNICATION – HOW TO FIND OUT WHAT IS HAPPENING 

Let’s be honest, our children are not the best at bringing home information.   As you can see, there is a lot going on with the North Band Programs.  We have several ways to communicate information to parents.

• Charms Office Assistant: This website (https://www.charmsoffice.com) is for students and parents to access forms, calendars, information, volunteering sign up and more!  This is your first stop to find information.

  • Charms can be a bit difficult to log into and work with. Please see this Youtube video for a walkthrough.

• Facebook Photos Page:  GNHS Band Photos (This is a closed group.  Send a request to be added.)  Parents and students post photos and videos of performances.

• Parent email loop:  The music boosters will send emails with information of upcoming date reminders, call times, product fundraisers and messages from Dr. E. These messages come from Charms so it’s ESSENTIAL that you have registered on the site to receive these important messages.

• Just an FYI: D127 has a very strong spam filter on their computers.  Once a staff employee has responded to your email, future emails will get through.  If you contact Dr. E or Mrs. B and don’t hear back, try calling and leaving a voicemail message that you sent an email.  In addition, if you put your student’s name in the subject line, it will be easier for them to spot it in the SPAM folder.

Contact Info:

Candace Edstrand (Director):  cedstrand@d127.org 847-986-3100 x 5549

Laura Bertermann (Assistant Director): lbertermann@d127.org 847-986-3108

Michelle Ruotolo (Colorguard Instructor):  mruotolo@d127.org

Brittany Thomas (Colorguard Instructor): bthomas@d127.org

Dan Bertermann (Drumline Instructor):  dbertermann@d127.org

Sam Gutsmiedl (Drumline Instructor): sgutsmiedl@d127.org

Music Boosters Board:  gnhsmusicBoosters@d127.org