ONE WEEK AWAY!

Director’s Newsletter: August 8, 2026

I hope you didn’t panic when your Remind and Google Classroom notifications didn’t light up on Monday with this newsletter!  Due to our final vacation before band camp,here it is on a Wednesday.  However, this is a big deal because BAND CAMP FOR EVERYONE BEGINS NEXT WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12!!!

Fill Out and Bring In Those Forms!

I thank all of those who have already filled out the online Annual Information Update and returned their Member Handbook Acknowledgement and their Interscholastic Code of Conduct.  Pep Band members, please make sure to print one each per student, and bring them to our first rehearsal August 12.  

IF WE DO NOT HAVE THE ONLINE ANNUAL UPDATE FILLED OUT AND PAPER FORMS RETURNED, WE MUST SEND YOU HOME UNTIL THEY ARE COMPLETE.

These gives us additional important information, such as emergency contact numbers.  So far, only 39 of 82 band families have filled it out!

• Annual Information Update - online Google Form to fill out and submit

• Member Handbook Acknowledgement - physical form to print, sign, and bring in

• Interscholastic Code of Conduct - physical form to print, fill out, and bring in

Make Sure You Know the Drill! (Literally and Figuratively)

If you have any questions, look in these places first!  Most likely you’ll find the answer. Remember, we no longer bulk email any of our information.

• Our Website - literally, it’s all here

• Our Information Network - how to subscribe to the Google Classrooms, Remind streams, and the all-important Google Calendars!

• Competition Band Calendar for web viewing

• Pep/Parade Band Calendar for web viewing

• Marching Indian Member Handbook - the definitive resource for marching band

Be Camp Ready!

Please remember, mini camp days (August 12 and 13, 2-6 PM, as well as August 28, 11 AM until the end of the first game) are REQUIRED ATTENDANCE FOR ALL MEMBERS OF THE BAND.  If you cannot attend, you may not be able to be part of the band this year.

During mini camp, we will all learn and review basics of physical marching, as well as learn all the music and routines we use during the football games.  In full Competition Band Camp, we will focus on putting our music and routines into form as we learn our field show drill.  You need to be sure that you come prepared for each and every rehearsal.  Here are some checklists you can use so you’re ready to be awesome!

Everyone:

• Comfortable clothes (school dress code appropriate!) that you can move in easily.  We recommend shorts because it will be hot!

• Close-toe, laced sneakers or marching shoes are absolutely necessary to avoid foot injuries from marching movement.  Here is the “no thank you” list for footwear:

  • No Crocs/water shoes

  • No open-toe shoes/sandals/flip flops

  • No shoes without a solid, supported back (no straps for heel)

  • No loose shoes without a way to secure the top (boat shoes/loafers/Vans)

  • No boots or large/heavy footwear unless medically necessary

If your footwear is like those on the “no thank you” list, you may have to have someone bring appropriate shoes to you before you can participate!

• BIG BOTTLE OF WATER.  Hydration is the key to marching band awesomeness! You will have time to refill at the filtered water fountains on breaks.

• Sunscreen is absolutely essential.  We will be outside learning how to march, despite the sun and heat.

• Hat or headcover, and/or sports sunglasses that cannot easily fly off, to keep the sun off your head.

• Gatorade and a salty snack to keep the electrolytes and body in balance as necessary.

Color Guard members:

• Practice flag

• Any equipment/weapons you bring home to practice with between rehearsals

• Empty piercings, or piercings approved by the staff. Studs are always the best option!

• Jewelry and accessories at home - in general, this is the safest way to not break or lose anything

• Way to hold long hair back from your face, if applicable (tie, bandanna, etc.)

Musicians:

• Pencil - just like in concert band, this is your best friend learning music!

• Sheet music, with your name on it - don’t lose it or leave it home, you will want your own marked copies as we work through everything!

• Instrument and any accessories needed - reeds, oil, mouthpiece, straps, etc.

Important Percussion Note: regardless of the instrument you have been assigned, please come with a standard pair of drumsticks to every rehearsal.  You will be working on basic sticking technique and rudiments in addition to your parts!

Band is a physical thing!  Be prepared!

Last week I talked about the physical demands of the competition band.  While not quite as grueling, pep band does take some physical fitness to make it more fun!

• Endurance - pep band performers do need to be able to perform in parades that generally range between 1-3 miles in length, in all kinds of weather; from the cold of Veterans Day in November through the 80+ humid degrees in Orlando.    I recommend a walking or jogging regimen before band camp begins in August, depending on the member’s participation level:

  • Pep/parade band members: be able to walk a mile at or under 15 minutes 

  • Competition band members: be able to walk a mile at or under 14 minutes 

They should start slow, and work their length and pace up over the next month.

• Arms and shoulders - wind players and guard members do a lot holding their shoulders up and arms out the entire time we perform.  Shoulder presses and push-ups are recommended for this.

• Back and core - this is important for everyone, but especially for the drummers carrying their instruments on harnesses (basses, quints, and snares).  Those instruments place up to 45 pounds of extra weight in front of the player, off of their center of gravity!  Working the upper and lower back, as well as abs, can make this go from unbearable to easy.

• Heat acclamation - while it is always safety first, the fact is, we may be out in the August sun for hours at a time.  The camp hours are the only chance we get to use both the practice field and the main field to prepare the band before the first game at the end of the month.  Being used to the heat, and especially hydrating before going out in the heat, will help members have a better experience.

Make it Easier, Practice Before our Practices!

There is one thing about high school band -- and high school in general -- that may take some getting used to for our younger students.  That thing is homework, even for marching band!  If you want to get a head start on our pep band and parade tunes, please make sure you are subscribed to the Pep and Parade Google Classroom.  Once there, you can download all the songs in the Stands/Pep Music section of the Classwork.  Can’t wait to see you all on August 12!

Did you miss the Trip Commitment Meeting?

No worries! All of the information from the meeting, including our full presentation, is available here at the 2027 Orlando Trip Google Classroom.  If that link isn’t working for you, go to classroom.google.com, click the + in the upper-right, choose “Join class”, and use the code vtlsuuz5.  If that doesn’t work, please reach out to me!

The trip registration window will be open through September 30, but registering this month will allow families to make smaller payments over more months. Sorry, eighth graders are not allowed to attend the trip.  That was an administrative decision, not our own.

Important Calendar Updates

In case you have not heard, we unfortunately had to cancel hosting our own competition this year.  As a result, we are instead competing at Brick Township on Saturday, September 26.  Additionally, it was also announced that NJ States for our group will now be held at Barnegat HS, instead of TRHS East.  The Google Calendar is all updated. It has also been enhanced; the locations are set so Google Maps will bring up each address for away football games and competitions!

That's it!  As always, do your best, and have fun! GO SOUTH!

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