Cobb County Schools Music Department

Pep bands are not to be provided at athletic events (except football).  Special permission may be granted. See the Supervisor of Music for rationale.
 

Marching Bands

A. Safety and First Aid: Some very tragic incidents have occurred around the state during marching rehearsals. Safety of the students is unquestionably the most important aspect of marching band. Request a set of materials on this topic from the Supervisor of Music prior to camp or summer rehearsals.

B. Performances:

1. Football Games: In addition to the usual activities and responsibilities, please be aware of the following:

a. Chaperones and bus drivers must have tickets. The host school provides tickets to the Principal of the visiting school. Each region establishes the number of tickets to be provided. Chaperones and bus drivers are to be provided these.

b. Be sure to make an orderly entrance into the stadium, marching unless unfeasible. The band should not leave until the game is over. If leaving with the crowd rather than playing chasers, the exit should also be orderly.

c. Remember the “Star Spangled Banner”. Start rehearsing it early in summer rehearsals. More of the audience is attentive to this difficult selection than to anything the band will play.

d. If the band members take a break after the half, instruments should be carried to the bleachers in cases. Spectators run through the band seating area damaging instruments lying exposed on the bleachers. Another solution to this problem is to split each section in half for a break in two shifts. This also leaves a group to play for the 3rd quarter touchdowns.

e. Home band must assume responsibility for saving seats for the visiting band, using student guards if necessary. Bands incur terrible PR if people who came early to get a seat have to move when the band arrives.

2. Parades: To be performed free for civic and non-profit organizations with the sponsor providing transportation if necessary.

A small fee is charged to private firms, who must also provide transportation, and the fee is passed on to the local band fund. If a fee is to be charged, clear this with the Principal and Supervisor. For “duty” parades, a rotation record is kept in the county office. Notify the Supervisor of Music of all parades your band participates in so that credit may be given in the rotation. Several communities have annual parades involving the bands in those communities. This has been effect of exempting those bands from the county-wide “duty” events.

3. Festival or Contest: May be entered with the approval of the Principal. Please notify the Supervisor of Music of all festivals or contests in which you enter. Cobb County regulations limit participation in marching contests to three (Cobb County Exhibition does not count). A limit of one school day per year may be missed for band activities. Exception to the one-day regulation may be granted if invited to participate in prestigious events such as MENC, Mid-West, etc. Contact Supervisor of Music for details.

4. Band Camp is run by several schools in August. Check with the Supervisor during the spring or earlier if you want to start one. A great deal of planning will be necessary.

C. Auxiliary Units:

1. Working Relationships – Marching Band, Auxiliary Units, School Administration

The statements below reflect conditions as they should exist and do exist in those marching bands programs recognized as successful.

a. Marching bands and auxiliary units function as unified components of a total production rather than separate units appearing on the same bill. (All other statements are aimed at facilitating this objective.)

b. Decisions concerning solos and feature numbers for any individual or group are based on the contribution of such a selection to the total show from standpoints of effective presentation of the music and audience appeal. The opposing condition to this is one of traditionally devoting a certain amount of time to drill team feature, featuring tuba section one a year, etc. Students can not obtain audience acclaim if the production is aimed at satisfying the normal and understanding desire of participants to be “out front” rather than being aimed at the audience.

c. Band directors and auxiliary unit sponsors plan the shows together with the band director having final say on such matters. Although permissible, it is not necessary for all units to be “on stage” during the entire show. Care must be exercised to have all units focusing the audience’s attention on the desired point at any given time rather than permitting each unit to compete for the audience with the flashiest business. Again, presentation of the music should determine the visual effect presented by band and auxiliary units.

d. A uniform code of conduct for rehearsals, games, and trips exists for band and auxiliary units.

e. Band directors have adequate input into the principal’s decisions on (1) what auxiliary units will be included, and (2) whom to name as auxiliary unit sponsors.

f. Band directors and auxiliary unit sponsors are involved in tryouts, uniform design, and other such matters pertaining to auxiliary units.

g. Patrons of auxiliary units are included in the same booster organization with band parents.

h. If an auxiliary unit has a constitution, it is clear of conflict with any of these statements and with the ongoing procedures of the total marching band.

i. All auxiliary units are involved in all performances and trips by the total marching band. Marching band auxiliary unit instruction is prohibited by QBE from meeting during the school day for credit.
 

j. If judges are used to choose the leadership or membership in a auxiliary un

it, the judges must be approved by the band director. Car should be taken to avoid any personal ties between judges and students or judges and sponsors.

2. Marching Band Auxiliary Unit Sponsor

The Supplement for this position may be paid to one person or divided equally between two or more according to units for which responsible. If an unequal division of this supplement is necessitated by uneven division of the responsibility, the amount paid to each sponsor is to be determined by the Principal, the Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources, and the Supervisor of Music.