Terminology

– A – 

– B – 

Back lot – Area on southeast edge of school property where the semi-trailer and golf cart are parked.

Bandos – Performance shoes. For other performance wear, see Bibbers, Performance Shirt, Plume, and Shako.

Band Olympics – At the end of the July Band Camp, the band members break up into teams and compete in activities curated by that year's student events coordinator. 

Batterie – Mobile drum-line in a marching band. Often includes snares, tenor drums, bass drums, and cymbals. Contrast with Pit, the non-mobile percussion instruments.

BB&T (Home of the Florida Panthers) – Parents’ fundraising opportunities where we work the concession stands to make money toward our performer’s annual fairshare or other payments; aka FLA-Live

Bibbers – Pants worn for performances. For other performance wear, see Bandos, Performance Shirt, Plume, and Shako.

BOA (Bands of America) – The group that sponsors and hosts national marching band competitions.

– C – 

Call Time – Marching Band reporting time for inspection prior to an event

Charms – Previously "CutTime." Web application where parents can log in to see your performer’s financials and sign up for available volunteer opportunities. 

Choreo – Choreography that students learn to perform during the show. Not just their physical location on the field. Includes things such as hand and leg movements, kneeling, etc.  Compare to Drill.

Connex – Container boxes used for band storage on the northeast edge of the main parking lot.

Colorguard – Teams of performers who perform choreographed dances and routines with various equipment to enhance and interpret the music of a marching band or drum and bugle corps show.

Cut-Time – Previously "Charms." Web application where parents can log in to see your performer’s financials and sign up for available volunteer opportunities. 

– D – 

DCI (Drum Corps International) – The nonprofit organization that is the governing, oversight and sanctioning body for North American drum and bugle corps, whose members are under 22 years of age. There are DCI groups around the country. They typically perform during the summer months.

Dots / Dots Book – A digital or small paper notebook utilized by students in order to aid the learning of their drill (formations on the field). 

Drill  – Student movement around the field to create formations during a performance. Learning drill is usually aided by paper or digital Dots / Dot Book. Refers to their location. Compare to Choreo.

Drumline – Marching percussion instruments (Snare drum, Bass drums, Tenor drums, and Cymbals), See Percussion 

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– F – 

FMBC (Florida Marching Band Championships) – The group that sponsors and hosts state marching band competitions.

FLA-Live (Home of the Florida Panthers) – Parents’ fundraising opportunities where we work the concession stands to make money toward our performer’s annual fairshare or other payments; aka BB&T

FFCC (Florida Federation of Colorguards Circuit) – A group that sponsors and hosts winter season colorguard competitions.

– G – H – 

– I – 

Indoor Percussion – Competitive marching ensemble made up of Battery and Pit percussion instruments. Typically competes indoors in the Winter Season (Jan-April), in venues such as gymnasiums.

Indoor Winds – Competitive marching ensemble typically made up of only Wind Instruments. Typically competes indoors in the Winter Season (Jan-April), in venues such as gymnasiums. While PVHS does not currently have an indoor winds group, there are outside indoor winds groups that students can join if interested, such as Stryke Winds.

Invitational – Competition for marching bands. Typically hosted by a high school. The invitational we host is known as the “Striking Cobra Invitational.”

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– L –

Low Brass – The family of brass instruments consisting of trombones, euphoniums and baritones, and tubas.

– M – 

Mellophones – A brass instrument typically pitched in the key of F.

– N – O – 

– P – 

Pass-off – A test of an individual student's ability to play a piece of music (almost always) from memory for marching band; similar to a Playing Test performed in a concert ensemble.

Percussion – The section of the band that is made up of Drums, Cymbals, Marimba, Xylophone, and Gongs (as well as other auxiliary percussion). 

Performance Shirt – The actual uniform shirt worn for performances. For other performance wear, see Bandos, Bibbers, Plume, and Shako.

Pit – Non-marching percussion instruments (i.e. instruments that cannot be moved easily during a performance, such as xylophones, so stay in one place once wheeled onto the field). See Percussion.

Playing Test – A test of an individual student's ability to play a piece of music from sheet music for a concert ensemble.

Plume – The long decorative feather that goes on the shako. For other performance wear, see Bandos, Bibbers, Performance Shirt, and Shako.

– Q – 

– R – 

Reeds – A wind instrument with a single or double reed.

– S – 

Sectionals – Practice periods where marching band members are split into various groups ("sections") by instrument type, each with its own student leader. At a marching band practice, some time will usually be spent practicing as a whole group, and some time will be spent splitting into these groups to practice separately. PVHS marching band 2024 instrument sections include fliccolos (flute & piccolo), low brass, mellophones, percussion (pit and battery), reeds (saxophones & clarinets), and trumpets. See Battery, Low Brass, Fliccolos, Mellophones, Percussion, Pit, Reeds, Trumpets

SFWGA (South Florida Winter Guard Association) – The group that sponsors and hosts indoor winter guard competitions.

Shako – Hats worn for performances. For other performance wear, see Bandos, Bibbers, Performance Shirt, and Plume.

Show Shirts  – T-shirt that represents the current show for the season.

Sousaphone – Brass instrument wrapped around body, often known as a tuba, but the tuba family include other instruments such as the contrabass (a tuba that rests on the player's shoulder rather than wrapping around their body). 

– T – 

Trumpets – A brass instrument commonly used in classical and jazz ensembles.

– U – 

– V –

VIPS/Raptor - Software systems used by the PBCSD to do background checks on volunteers that work with students and to track volunteer hours. Registration can be done by visiting the PVHS office during normal operation hours. See more info about volunteering with the PBCSD.

– W – 

WGI (Winter Guard International) – The governing body that sanctions championship events for color guard, percussion ensembles and indoor marching bands.

Winds, or Wind Instruments  Wind instruments are typically grouped into two families: Brass instruments (horns/mellophones, baritones, trumpets, trombones, euphoniums, and tubas/sousaphones), and Woodwind instruments (recorders, flutes, piccolos, oboes, clarinets, saxophones, and bassoons)

Winter Guard – Competitive program that consists of student dance and flag/rifle/saber performance. Marching band members who typically play an instrument in the fall are welcome to tryout for winter colorguard.

Winter Season – The season following the fall marching band season. Winter season goes from January to April and is when Indoor Winds, Indoor Percussion and Winter Guard compete.

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