Glossary

Glossary

• Athletic Shoes shoe that would normally be used for a sport or activity. In order of preference: Running shoes, then cross-trainers, then last, court shoes; Shoes with mesh panels allow the foot to breathe and dry out; All-leather or all man-made leather-like material is discouraged because the feet will stay damp.  Blisters are much more likely when a student is wearing socks that do not completely eliminate contact with the shoe, or wearing shoes with all-leather or man-made materials that don’t allow the foot to breathe and dry.

• Attendance “The best musicians we have are the ones that show up.”  Attendance is the foundation for excellence, personal respect, and pride in an organization.  A student’s presence, or lack thereof, will positively or negatively impact their grades, seating, band assignment, or eligibility to perform.  This is the footing for personal development, ensemble development, and positive approach to one’s work.  Poor attendance will result in field reassignment.  “The first step in being ‘great’ is ‘being there'." "Early is on time, on time is late."

• Audition All students are welcome to participate in the Northern Bands.  In order to most appropriately meet the needs of most students and provide well-balanced instrumentation, many ensembles have an audition requirement for some or all instruments.  In addition to playing ability, eligibility in ensembles will be influenced by history of participation, history of attendance, and instrumentation needs. Any student with skills on an instrument is welcome to play in the marching band, but an audition may be necessary to determine part assignment or placement in the color guard or drum line.

• Band council Representation that initiates and/or assists with projects benefitting the band program or the community.  Students are expected to attend meetings approximately once each month to organize events for the band.  At least one officer must attend each Booster meeting

• Band Festival An adjudicated, rated performance for the full concert bands run by MSBOA.  These are required performances.  Bands that earn “First Division” ratings at district band festival qualify for state band festival.  March and May.

• Band-o-gram A couple times each year the marching band plays-for-donations around town on the days of big college football games.  Each marching band student is expected to participate in Band-o-grams.  We always need parent volunteers to help drive the kids.

• Band Office This is the office between the band and choir room.  This office is not accessible from the main hallway.  You must enter the band (or choir) room to reach it.  Students may not be in this office without prior permission.

• Band Booster Essential component to any successful band program. Parents, family members, and friends of the band program to help the band program run smoothly.  Support for our programs can be expressed by your mere presence at an occasional meeting… and your help would be nice, as well!

• Band officer One of four positions on the band council: President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary

• Binder A music folder for percussion marching band students.  Students must bring folder to all practices and performances 

• Black socks Any time a student wears a concert of marching uniform in band, they will need to wear a pair of black socks.  Socks must be calf-length.

• “Black” Black.  Not black with stripes, not black with sparkles, not Navy, not brown, not charcoal.  Black.  Not “used to be black.”  Black.  Any word that is appended to the word “black” nullifies the use of that sock, belt, or pair of pants as part of the band uniform.

• Cell phone Not to be used during instructional time.  Band room policy is first 5 minutes, last 5 minutes of class.

• Chips Field markers.  On the first day of camp, students are issued issued discs of different colors to be used as aids in learning field positions.  Students are responsible for returning these chips and the clip at the end of the season.

• Color guard Students in the marching band that enhance the visual component of the marching band with flags, dance and other equipment. These students are expected to be members of a band class.  Members that are not keeping up with their flag work may be required to march performances at “right shoulder” until they catch up on the routines.  This group is re-auditioned each year.  Prior attendance and participation may impact future auditions.

• Competition A “ranked” performance where the band or participants earn “places.”  There will be designated a “First Place” band.  This is in contrast to “Festivals” where every band can earn the highest rating.

• Concert bands (plural) Any or all of the band-class bands

• Deadline Point after which further submissions may not be accepted, including registrations, payments, fundraising materials and assignments

• District 3 Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association divides the state into 16 regions or “districts” for local maintenance and administration.  District 3 runs along I-69, west to Davison, north into the thumb east to Lake Huron.

• Dropbox (Band office) This is the place where fundraiser money and travel payments are deposited.  This is a locked box in the BAND OFFICE DOOR.  Due to problems with “chain of custody” issues, do not drop off money in the PHN front office.

• Drum Major Student leader responsible for conducting the marching band and ensuring the prompt beginning of rehearsals.  Drum Majors will also assist with some instruction.  See also “Field Commander.”  As with all students that pursue positions of leadership within the band, they are held to a higher standard of effort and attendance.

• Drum Line Auditioned section of the marching band.  Students get assigned to snare, tenors, bass drum, cymbals, or “pit”.  This assignment is only for marching band and not for band classes, and lasts only the fall season.  No student is “cut.” Students that do not know their part will be asked to march their spot in the show but may be required to not play until parts are learned.  Part placement may be reassigned with little warning based upon attendance and/or individual progress/performance.

• Festival A “rated” (not “ranked”) adjudicated performance usually sponsored by the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Festival.  Performances are to be judged on their own merit, not in comparison with any others, with all performances capable of earning the highest rankings.  Those performances earning the highest ranking (“First Division,” “One” {Roman Numeral One “I”}), qualify for State Festival (if offered).   Festival gives written feedback and grades covering Tone, Intonation, Rhythm, Technique, and Interpretation.

• Field Commander Depending upon the arrangement of student leaders, “Field Commanders” are drum majors for the marching band, but usually have less seniority or experience in that position.  Field commanders may also include color guard captains or other student leaders.

• First Division The highest rating in an MSBOA festival performance; mostly A’s on the rating sheet.

• Flip Folio A music folder for non-percussion marching band students.  Students must bring folio to all practices and performances (see lyre)

• Fund raiser All students are expected to “help the cause”.  Part of the maturation process of both a student and a program is teaching students to make sure they have the habits of helping support those activities from which they are drawing benefit.  Student participants have a stake in the programs’ success and take advantage of opportunities through the use of equipment, music, or additional instruction (Sectional instructors).  Dividends are paid to those who invest.

• Gloves The first time they attend a marching performance, non-percussion students are issued their own pair of gloves.  The cost of these gloves is figured into the cost of camp.  Families will be required to replace them if they are lost, damaged, or become too small.

• Gum Has the potential to ruin your instrument, and should not be chewed during band.  Students that chew gum while using a school-provided instrument may be held accountable for the cost of cleaning the instrument.

• Graduation Cords These cords are awarded to students as an acknowledgment of their commitment and service to the band program.  Light blue cords are conferred upon band students that have an excellent record of participation over 8 semesters in the band program.  Light blue and silver cords are conferred upon band students that have an excellent record of participation over 4 years in the marching band

• Halftime show Marching band performance that takes place between 2nd and 3rd quarter of a football game.

• Lyre Equipment used by marching band members to attach a flip folio to an instrument or an arm.  Percussionists need 3-ring binders with plastic sleeves.

• Instrument Repair Table Equipment that needs to b e looked at goes on or in front of the wood table in the front right side of the room.  It must include a not saying what is wrong with it.  If it is a personal instrument, it must include student family name, address, parent phone number and a note indicating it is a private instrument.  Director must be informed.

• Marching band Non-required, non-graded ensemble; most visible part of the Northern Band program.  Students must attend band camp.  Varsity letter awarded after two successful years of participation (great attendance at both rehearsals and performances).  One semester of gym is waived for 4 years of successful and consistent participation.   Excellent attendance is assumed.

• Marching Shoes -  see “uniform shoes”

• MSBOA Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association.  Governing body for adjudicated festivals.

• Music Theory Labeling the musical things we hear.  Musical nomenclature.  Can and will be tested.

• A “One” See “First Division”

• Pregame show Marching band performance just prior to the beginning of a football game.

• Pencil (#2) A requirement of all students wishing to be successful.  Must be out and available at all rehearsals.

• Pep-band Between November and March, students in the band will play at some athletic events.  Every student in a band-class concert band is expected to participate in 2-3 each semester, on dates of their choice (several options given)

• Practice Necessary for success. It helps you become a better player. The rest of the band is counting on you to know your part.

• Rating “Grades” for performances at festivals.  “First Division ‘I’s’ {ones}” are awarded when the grades are primarily A’s.  All events could potentially earn a “One”.

• “Ready-to-go” All times listed on calendars are “ready-to-go” times--in contrast to “dropoff” times or “pulling into the parking lot” times.  The time listed for a rehearsal or a performance is the latest time that the student must be at the specific designated area with all materials out and “ready to go.” 

• Rehearsals All students are expected to show up at all rehearsals.  Evening rehearsals generally run from 6 PM to 9 PM (plus sectional time).  Afternoon rehearsal times generally run from 2:35 - 5:15 PM (plus sectional time).  Poor attendance will result in field reassignment. 

• Sectionals Students in marching band are expected to attend regularly scheduled full band rehearsals.  In addition, each section within the band may also be asked to attend additional highly-focused rehearsal times usually scheduled adjacent to main rehearsals.  Problems with sectional attendance may result in field or part re-assignment.

• Set sheets Sheet issued to every marching band student which describes where the student should be during every part of the shows.  Students are to have up-to-date versions at every marching rehearsal.  Copies are usually available online at phnbands.org.

• Shoes See “Uniform Shoes.”  Must be clean to march.

  • • See also “Athletic shoes.”  Must be worn to rehearsals

    • Shoes are not boots, boots are not shoes

    • Shoes are not sandals or flipflops, sandals or flipflops are not shoes, 

• “S and E” See “Solo and Ensemble Festival”

• Solo and Ensemble Students may choose to pay a small fee to perform in an adjudicated festival format either as a soloist or in a small ensemble Festival; a.k.a
  “S and E”.  Events that earn “First Division” rating at district festival qualify for state solo and ensemble festival.

• Student leader Elected and/or auditioned position of responsibility in the band: section leader, band officer.  Students are expected to operate in the best interests of the whole program.  Leadership status may be affected by attendance, participation, and personal comport.  Students leaders must be selected because of their track record of performance and participation.

• Summer Uniform Show T-shirt, Khaki (beige) shorts, white socks, light athletic shoes.  Show shirts must be tucked-in.

• Theory see “Music Theory”

• Uniform “Not changing in form or character; remaining the same in all cases and at all times” - Oxford English Dictionary.  Problems with uniforms may be dealt with up to three school days prior to a performance.  Uniform requirements are clearly stated.  Students are accountable to having all necessary parts.  Students may be asked to march front sideline if they are not in the correct uniform.

• Uniform shoes After the first time they attend marching band camp, students are issued their own pair of new marching shoes.  The cost of these shoes is figured into the cost of camp and amortized over a couple of years.  Families will be required to replace them if they are lost, damaged, or become too small.  These shoes are *not* dress shoes.

• Varsity Letter Students earn a Northern Varsity Letter for two successful years of participation (great attendance at both rehearsals and performances)

• Winter Drum Line Auditioned ensemble, not directly associated with the marching band or the concert band.  There is a fee to participate.  Non-percussion students may have the opportunity to participate in this group.  Cuts may be necessary based upon the number of participants.