Banding Together For Our 'Stangs

WE WERE A SILVER AWARD WINNER AT REGIONALS Last Year!!!


IMPORTANT INFO: Did you know the Props and Pit Adult Crews effect the grades and scores and evaluations that the Marching Mustangs receive? That is why we need parents in uniform to help us. The more parents who help, the better chance we have of getting a better grade! Some parents come with the express intent of only watching the Band, and others don't really help other adult crews get stuff done because they didn't sign up for that. The faster it gets done, the more quickly the Band can get ready and practice and get acclimatized and not be rushed or made nervous by lateness. The students are VERY AWARE of the time constraints. (Yes, of course, Mr. Woods, Ms. Wedow, and the Color Guard will be there!!!)


Announcements




IMPORTANT: In case of emergency, a small wardrobe nicety would really help get our Mustang group of adults and children together quickly. It would be superlative if all Chaperones wore a red polo, or borrowed their kid's Mustang Polo, or wear some kind of Red Mustang or Munster Shirt, and black pants so the students can readily identify us. Always keep your list of students and adults riding on your bus with you in case of emergency.


WHAT TO BRING TO COMPETITION: Money if you want to buy food or souvenir or drink, etc., or pack a meal yourself, blanket or coat or raingear depending on weather, binoculars if you want to see up close. Students are NOT ALLOWED off grounds. Book to read on bus or music to listen to on bus (to be left on bus on embarkment at competition if you are a student {adult may carry what they want.}) Camera or video cameras are allowed for adults. Yes, kids should be fed after the performance; so they should have a packed meal or money and usually the kids like to have a blanket with them.

WHAT EXACTLY IS ISSMA MARCHING BAND COMPETITION: The Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA) is the governing body of the Indiana State Marching Band competition. For a band to make it to state finals in its class, they must first get a gold rating at a District competition and move on to a Regional competition. There is a north and south regional competition for each class. Of the bands that have made it this far, the five top scoring bands from the north and south will move on to State Finals at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana, making a total of ten bands in each class. Class A is the largest schools, while Class D is the smallest schools.

As of 2006, Northrop High School's "Big Orange Pride" (Fort Wayne) holds the record for the most state finals appearances, making it into state finals 27 times overall. Ben Davis holds the record for most state championship appearances with 24 consecutive (1975-1998), 30 overall appearances in the state championship for Class A. The Class D band, Pride of Paoli (Paoli) is the record holder for state championships with 15.(info from Wikipedia.)

Munster is a Class B band.


They get graded on music, individual music,
visual, individual visual, and general effect
music and visual.

Here is the breakdown of scores-

Music-Ensemble 20 points
Music-Individual-20 points
Add these 2 scores together for the total music
score

Music Effect-20 points
Visual Effect- 20 points
Add these 2 together for total effect score

Visual ensemble- 20 points
Visual individual- 20 points
Take the average of these 2 for the total visual
score

"Costumes" have nothing to do with the score
except for effect but they are not mentioned
specifically.


Last year Class B winners: I have to find out.


Now, a Public Service Announcement:
Dial: Cell phone *77, if unmarked car attempts to pull you over, or any car attempts to pull you over in an undesirable area!


Event Calendar[/FONT]--
Go to: http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pZIjzbh8F7obljZL2Hfm7BQ


THE THANK YOU SECTION
Many, many thanks to all the Chaps/Prop Workers of all competitions! Everyone was helping with everything, carrying first aid kits, uniforms, loading, unloading, feathering helmets, giving out water, props, pit, feeding kids on the bus snacks! Thanks a million! We got loaded up and left on time and everything ran so smoothly with your help!


[B]PROCEDURE: SIGN IN ON THE SIGN-IN SHEET, CHECK WITH ELLY TO SEE IF YOU ARE IN CHARGE OF FIRST AID, CHECK TO SEE IF YOUR NAME IS ON A STUDENT LIST (List of students riding the bus), THEN THE LIST IS FOR YOU, CHECK TO SEE IF YOU WILL BE PUT IN CHARGE OF BUS SNACKS FOR THE RIDE HOME

ASSIGNMENTS:
View: http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pZIjzbh8F7obljZL2Hfm7BQ

CHAPS RIDING ON THE BUS (who also will do Props on the field) are:




CHAPS MEETING US THERE (who also will do Props on the field --if needed) are:





Chaps, Props, and Pits did extremely WELL! Thank you all, a billion thanks!!! The Band couldn't have done without all of you!!!!!!!!!



THANKS A MILLION!!! EVERYONE please check in at the competition if you can work Props or Pit, if you ride there in your own vehicles.

WHO TO CONTACT FOR PROPS AND CHAP INFO AND SIGNING UP TO WORK:
Chaps--contact me. (email address at bottom of this informational page)
Props--contact me. (email address at bottom of this informational page)

If any of the above-volunteered Chaps knows of some other adult in the Band who would like to be their Chaperone Buddy, just send me an e-mail and I will add the person to the list. Just tell me you are buddies and I will make every effort possible to assign you to the same bus.


Chaperones: There will be three(3) buses. We need 4 chaperones per bus! Ain't that great news! 12 Chaperones per competition!!

Also, we do need some strong people to help with the PROPS that the Marching Band is going to use during competition. Apparently these things can be unruly, so some strong men would really help! Pit Crew loads and unloads the trailer and then wheels a cart with equipment (ladders, props) on the field. Also, Pit Crew/chaperones help by carrying big props that don't go on the cart and Flag Crew's stuff, if needed. Pit Crew and Chaps have a uniform of black pants and red polo shirt. IF you have white shoes, then please wear them.


THE DUTIES: Chaperones usually help with the loading/unloading, even if not assigned as pit crew because the faster we get the stuff unloaded, the faster the Band can practice and get their act together - if we have a bunch of people, we can make a line and unload/load very fast. Chaperones read off the seating assignments on the bus to make sure the students are there (they don't have to sit in assigned seats, though). Ask the bus driver if she or he wants to tell the students to sit down if they stand during transit. (Personally, I like when the bus driver does it, after all, it is her bus.) Chaperones keep track of where the students are. Chaperones will also be in charge of carrying the first aid kits; so must stay near the students in case aid is necessary. It would be most excellent if Chaps would also wear black pants and red polos or red shirts that mention Munster or Mustangs, as then adults would be more clearly identified by the students and other adults! In an emergency, much time would be saved with this small wardrobe nicety.

Don't forget that once we get back to MHS after competition, things need to be unloaded, too; too often there are only 3 or 4 people left to unload. Please help. If anyone reading this is out in the parking lot waiting for their student, come on out and help, please, so everyone can go home!!!!!!!



Marching Season Stats 2007:

Cancelled September 15
@ Kankakee Valley Cancelled, Cancelled

September 22 @ Twin Lakes--Third Place!! We placed!!! YIPPEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

September 29 @ Lewis Cass--We got a GOLD!!!!!! Wow!

October 13 @ Lafayette Jefferson WE earned SILVER!!!!!!! YES!!!!!

Marching Season STATS 2008:

September 27 @ Twin Lakes --

October 4 @ ISSMA District Marching - Lewis Cass --

October 18 @ ISSMA Regional Marching - Chesterton --

October 25 @ ISSMA State Finals - RCA Dome in Indianapolis --


MARKET DAY INFO: You may order on line at www.marketday.com or pick up an order form from WWMS or MHS main offices or in the Band Room at MHS. This is another easy way to help raise funds for the band program and the food is good too!

Meetings

Aren't they on the 2nd Tuesday of each month, 7 p.m. in the Band Room of MHS???????


YES, THE MEETINGS ARE HELD ON THE 2ND TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH UNLESS OTHERWISE INFORMED OR NOTED on the Munster Band Backers Information Page!!!!


General Information
We help our Band and have fun doing it!!
Come sit in the Band Parents' Section at the Football games and Basketball games!!!!!
Small entrance fee charged at some contests and football games and basketball games.

Come watch the contests!!! Chaperones get a free pass -- WHEN CHAPERONES ARE NEEDED and Are Officially signed in with the Chaperone Chairperson!!!!! Chaperones get points with the MBB!!!

PLEASE SIGN IN TO BE AWARDED POINTS WHEN CHAPERONING. DON'T FORGET!!!

What we do is we stay around our Band. We help load and unload the trailer or bus. Some of us ride on the bus. We can help pass out uniforms, hats, feathers. We help do anything asked of us by the Band members or the Backers or the Directors. We put together and bring Props on and off the field during competition. We help with the Pit Crew if we have the uniform. When they march to do the show, we go in the stands and cheer for them and clap for them if we are not needed on the field! We just keep a watchful eye over our Band, overall......


Join Us
Please do! A small monetary fee is charged to be a member; of course, money goes to help the Band!!!

THANKS EVERYONE FOR VOLUNTEERING


Contact Us
Officers at your beck and call!!! Their e-mail address is the following: munsterbandbackers@yahoo.com

Below is the Chaperone/Prop Chairwoman's email address!!!!!!!
PLEASE e-mail me to volunteer to Chaperone; Subject line should read: Re: MBB Chaperone

If no reply is given in two days, please make sure you put the subject line in, because your message might have been spammed out!


Email Us
mvp219@comcast.net (Chaps and Props)


Or

munsterbandbackers@yahoo.com (You will get a MBB Officer)



Related links

Munster Band Backers Page (MBB)

Another Band Blog by ME, Under Construction

2007 Marching Band Music