Uniform Info

Students are responsible for providing the following items and wearing or bringing them to all home football games and competitions. The total cost of these items will vary, but they should be available for $100 or less. If obtaining these items presents a financial hardship, please contact a staff member or consider applying for an MMA scholarship to cover the cost.

• Shoes a.k.a. Dinkles:  Wind and percussion members wear a specific pair of black marching shoes called Dinkles. Information on how to order them will be provided via Slack over the summer.  The anticipated cost of this is around $45. There will be an opportunity at the full team meeting in June to see if any of the band’s available used pairs will work. Members are encouraged to consider passing along gently-used Dinkles when they are done with the program and/or outgrow them. Many members also wear their Dinkles for band and chorus concerts. 

• Socks: These need to be tall, solid black socks (crew style with no logos or stripes). Consider having extras, including a set to keep in the uniform bag if the first pair gets wet. These may also be used for concerts. Examples: Target (men’s, women’s), Walmart (men’s, women’s)

• Shorts and/or leggings: Everyone needs a pair of black compression-style black shorts or leggings to wear under their uniforms. These can be worn under another pair of shorts or pants until it is time to change. Sweatpants, joggers, and jeans are not allowed. Examples: Kohl’s (boy’s, men’s), Target (girl’s, women’s), Walmart (boy’s, men’s, junior's, women’s) 

• Shirt: Players need a black, short-sleeved shirt to wear under the uniform. Most students prefer a tight-fitting shirt made of a breathable material. Students are also allowed to wear show shirts from previous seasons. A long-sleeved black shirt can be worn when the weather cools. No turtlenecks, please.

• Hair items: Hair needs to be pulled up and fit under the shako. Players supply their own hair ties, scrunchies, bobby pins, etc. 

Students will be fitted for uniforms during summer rehearsals and/or band camp. Uniform pieces will be assigned based on section. They are kept in uniform bags and shako bins supplied by the band and stored in the uniform room. 

• Bibbers (black pants with suspenders): These zip in the front and have snaps to adjust the hem length. Members should wait to put on shoes after they put on their bibbers,  so the snaps don’t come undone. There is a pocket at the top for members to keep personal items, such as money for concessions at games and competitions.

• Jacket: These are worn over the bibbers and zip in the back.  Some members of battery percussion will wear their jackets over their drum racks. Every effort will be made to provide a better-fitting jacket for photos.

• Gauntlets: Each wind member will receive one of each color to wear over the coordinating sleeve. These are stored in the assigned shako bin.

• Shako (hat): Wind and battery percussion members are assigned a shako. These are worn low (two fingers between eyebrows and brim). Wind players wear the strap under the chin. Battery percussion members wear it between the nose and mouth. Members share a shako bin, with each person assigned a side of the bin for their items.

• Plumes (fluffy black feathers): Prior to performing, a plume is attached to each shako and sometimes a long feather. Members are not to touch the plumes to avoid damaging them.

• Gloves: Wind members receive black gloves to wear while performing. The tips will be cut for flute and clarinet players. Gloves should be folded together and stored in the shako bin along with the gauntlets.

• Raincoat: In the case of rain, long coats will be provided to each member. These are not individually assigned. Instead, each player will have a chance at the uniform fittings to see which size will fit best over their uniform. These are returned after being used. They are not taken home.

• Polo shirt: Wind and percussion members are provided with a polo shirt to wear for the Memorial Day parade. This shirt is typically worn over a white shirt or tank top and paired with jeans and sneakers. It is distributed right before the parade and collected at the end. 

• Do

  1. Hang up or fold jackets when they aren’t being worn. Place them on a clean surface like a seat or shako bin.

  2. When hanging the uniform, fold the pants along the creases. Then, place the jacket over the hanger and hook the top hook. The zipper side of the jacket faces the zipper of the bag. 

  3. Leave your uniform bag unzipped and/or the shako bin open if things are wet or sweaty. 

  4. Ask a chaperone to clean off the stands or place a cover if you see tree sap. 

  5. Keep all of your uniform parts organized and together.

  6. Make sure a uniform parent knows if there is an issue, spill, or damage to a uniform.

  7. Carry your shako upright. 

• Don’t

  • Sit on the ground or a dirty surface. 

  • Set your jacket on the ground.  be set on the ground (always on a seat or on top of a shako bin).

  • Carry the shako upside down or by the strap. 

  • Touch the plume or feather. 

  • Alter the uniform in any way. If there is an issue, tell a uniform parent.

  • Put tape, stickers, pins, or other items on the uniform. Uniform parents will assist seniors with securing their sashes on Senior Night as well as members wishing to wear a pink ribbon for Pink Out.

What do I need to bring to every performance?

Make sure you have the following: 

• Dinkle/band shoes (If there is room on the uniform carts, students may be able to leave these in their uniform bags.)

• Solid black crew socks

• Black compression/bike shorts or leggings 

• Black shirt

• Hair supplies to ensure hair is able to be put up inside the shako (hat).

When and where do members change into their uniforms?

Wind and percussion members can expect to put on their uniforms outside for both home games and competitions. There are no private areas for changing, so everyone needs to arrive wearing their black shorts and shirts. Other clothing can be worn over these until it is time to get dressed in uniform, but these need to be the base layer. 

Will we have competition tops and shako covers this year?

Great question! The short answer is we don’t know yet. Stay tuned for a final decision. For those who are new, the wind and percussion members wore custom tops to match the theme of the show for each competition in former seasons. 

Can I take the uniform home? 

Uniforms are stored at the high school in the uniform room. No uniforms are allowed off of school property except when transported with the band equipment to and from performances. The only exception to this is for members who want to take senior photos in their uniform. Arrangements need to be made for this well in advance. 

What if I forgot something? 

See a band parent if you need to borrow something. A limited number of socks and Dinkles are kept on the carts. If borrowing a pair of Dinkles, you will trade those for the shoes you are wearing until you bring them back. 

Who wears what parts of the uniform again?

• Wind players: Bibbers, jacket, gauntlets, shako with plume, and gloves

• Battery percussion: Bibbers, jacket, shako with plume

• Front ensemble: Bibbers and jacket

• Guard: Seasonal uniforms tied to the theme of the show

Who are the “uniform parents,” and how do I get in touch with them?

When we refer to “uniform parents,” we are usually talking about the ones who are there to help at performances. Hilary Hunt is the lead uniform parent for the 2025-2026 season, with Lisa Haines assisting. Use Slack to send a direct message to Hilary and Lisa with any questions or concerns. 

If I’m interested in helping out with uniforms, who should I contact? 

Volunteers are needed to help with uniforms before, during, and after the season. Everyone from one-time helpers to season-long uniform parents is welcome. New volunteers will be given clear directions and assistance with no expectation or pressure to continue involvement. If you are interested in helping out in any way, please reach out to Hilary Hunt by sending a direct message in Slack.