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Can you tell me about the band classes at FHS? All students participate in marching band in the fall semester. This ends at the conclusion of football season (approximately 14 weeks). After marching season, the FHS Band divides into four groups for the concert season. All of the concert groups rehearse during 1st block of the day and compete in the spring. The difference between the groups is the difficulty level of the music they perform. The division allows for more individualized instruction and keeps the student progressing at his or her own level. Jazz Band is also available to all members of the FHS Band who play a standard jazz instrument. It is an academic class that meets during the school day. Can I get all the classes I need and still be in band? Fayetteville’s seven-class schedule will allow you to take a maximum of 28 classes in your high school career. The credits earned in band all count toward the graduation requirement. PLEASE NOTE: you can be in band for four years in high school and get everything you need to graduate! How much time does band take? There is some extra time required for rehearsals and performances. However, it is not nearly the time commitment some people make it out to be. In fact, if you compare it to other band programs or other types of school activities, you will be surprised at how little extra time is actually required. During the fall, students in the competitive marching band rehearse at 7:15 AM on "A" Days. On "B" days, the competitive band rehearses during 2nd period (8:50-10:20). This is required for everyone in the competitive band. Students who ride a bus and cannot get to school before 7:15 must find alternate transportation to school on "A" days. With 200 people in the competitive band, we usually have someone willing to pick up a student and give them a ride to school. Students who are in the non-competitive band only have rehearsals during 1st period on "A" days (8:50-10:20). The do not rehearse before school. Competitive band members also practice on Tuesday nights during football season, and we have summer practices before the first day of school (beginning near the end of July). Marching season generally runs 13-14 weeks out of the 36 weeks of the school year. A few extra rehearsals are called during concert season. Many band members continue private lessons outside of school time, but this is optional, although highly recommended. Band does require extra commitment, but as with anything worthwhile, the more you invest, the more you get out of the program. Remember that anything done well takes an investment of time. Won't band hurt my grades? Often, people are concerned about their grades if they are in high school band. In every graduating class since 1994, FHS Band seniors had an average GPA that was considerably higher than the class average. For example, in 2023, the average GPA of the band was 3.8. Each year, FHS Band students score considerably higher than average on the ACT and SAT tests. Over the past 10 years, at least 2 FHS Band students have obtained a perfect score on the ACT. Over the past several years, we have had numerous National Merit Finalists in the band. Band members tend to be better students academically. It would appear that participating in band actually helps students with their grades. How much does the band perform? The marching band will typically perform at all home football games and at 4 or 5 competitions or other events. After marching season ends, concerts are presented during the second semester. Students have the opportunity to perform in honor bands such as All-Region, All-State, and Solo and Ensemble Contest. Every year, the band takes a trip with at least one special trip every four years. In the past, the band has performed in the Tournament of Roses Parade, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Hollywood Christmas Parade, the Magic Kingdom Parade at Disney World, and the Fiesta Bowl in Phoenix, Arizona, and the Philadelplhia Thanksgiving Day Parade. The FHS Wind Ensemeble has also performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City. What can you tell me about the band competitions? The Fayetteville High School Band has rightfully earned a reputation for presenting outstanding performances, and we compete with some of the very best bands in the nation. We do not compete to “win” because we know we cannot control the outcome of any contest. We can only control our performances and make every effort to make those performances be the very best we can do on that day. Competitions are intense times, yet some of the greatest memories created in your band career will come from those days, because you will be with a group of people that are all giving their very best to succeed together. What do I need to be successful in band? Often, incoming 9th graders think they might not be able to succeed in high school band because of the high level of excellence in our performances. We understand how important it is to you not to fail. Regardless of your ability, be assured that you can be a real contributor to the success of the band next year. The director and the entire instructional staff, as well as the veteran band members, are all going to do everything possible to make your band experience both enjoyable and successful. If I'm in band, does that mean I cannot be in other things? We have students who are involved in every activity in the school. Obviously, band does not eliminate these activities. We post our schedule and our expectations on our band website. If a student is worried that there may be a conflict, they should check out the band schedule and determine if there is a conflict before enrolling. If the sponsor or coach is willing to work with us, (and most of them are), we will do everything we can within reason to make it work so the student does not have to give up something that they want to do. The directors would be happy to help you if you have any questions. If you really want to be in the band, we will work hard to make it work. What's in it for me? Being a member of the FHS Band is an experience that will provide you with memories that you will treasure for the rest of your life. You will learn things about yourself that you couldn’t learn any other way – about your ability to work together as a team to achieve a common goal and to see a project through to its completion. You’ll have close to 300 friends when school starts to make that transition to high school easier. You’ll have more fun than you could ever imagine. You’ll have the opportunity to go places and do things and go places that other groups in school only dream about. Can you tell me about the band classes at FHS? All students participate in marching band in the fall semester. This ends at the conclusion of football season (approximately 14 weeks). After marching season, the FHS Band divides into five groups for the concert season. All of the concert groups rehearse during 1st block of the day and compete in the spring. The difference between the groups is the difficulty level of the music they perform. The division allows for more individualized instruction and keeps the student progressing at his or her own level. Jazz Band is also available to all members of the FHS Band who play a standard jazz instrument. It is an academic class that meets during the school day. Can my child be in band and still get all the classes for graduation? Fayetteville’s seven-class schedule will allow you to take a maximum of 28 classes in your high school career. The credits earned in band all count toward the graduation requirement. PLEASE NOTE: you can be in band for four years in high school and get everything you need to graduate! How much time will my child invest in band? There is some extra time required for rehearsals and performances. However, it is not nearly the time commitment some people make it out to be. In fact, if you compare it to other band programs or other types of school activities, you will be surprised at how little extra time is actually required. During the fall, students in the competitive marching band rehearse at 7:15 AM on "A" Days. On "B" days, the competitive band rehearses during 2nd period (8:50-10:20). This is required for everyone in the competitive band. Students who ride a bus and cannot get to school before 7:15 must find alternate transportation to school on "A" days. With 200 people in the competitive band, we usually have someone willing to pick up a student and give them a ride to school. Students who are in the non-competitive band only have rehearsals during 1st period on "A" days (8:50-10:20). The do not rehearse before school. Competitive band members also practice on Tuesday nights during football season, and we have summer practices before the first day of school (beginning near the end of July). Marching season generally runs 13-14 weeks out of the 36 weeks of the school year. A few extra rehearsals are called during concert season. Many band members continue private lessons outside of school time, but this is optional, although highly recommended. Band does require some extra commitment, but as with anything worthwhile, the more you invest, the more you get out of the program. Remember that anything done well takes an investment of time. We feel this is an important concept for teens to learn. How much time do parents invest in band? This comes down to how much you have to invest, and how involved you want to be. We have many things you can do, from assisting with uniforms, meals, and equipment to chaperoning on trips for football games, contests, and overnight trips. Yes, you may also devote time to transporting your child to and from rehearsals and other events, but with a band program as large as ours, carpools can be arranged fairly easily. We even can help you find other band families that live in your neighborhood. Check the booster FAQ and the booster pages for more ways to get involved. How do I help my child be successful in band? First of all, be supportive – very few things can be as destructive to a child’s success in the program, and thereby jeopardize the success of the entire program, as a parent who does not support what a child is doing. Now that doesn’t mean you have necessarily be at every performance cheering the band on (although you may find following the band is addictive and will become a highlight of your week if you just try it), but by all means don’t take a negative approach to your child attending rehearsals and performances. Yes, having a child in band may mean making some sacrifices – just as it does if they are taking dance, or karate, or piano lessons, or tennis lessons, or riding lessons, or playing a sport, or just about anything else. But they won’t be children long, and the time they have to do these things that will enrich their lives will fast get away. Don’t become an enabler – if they want to miss a practice or (even worse!) a performance, make sure you don’t make it easy for them to bail out on the commitment they have made. Once we start, it gets easier and easier to let our responsibilities slide, and this is definitely not a road we want our children headed down. What happens if my child misses a rehearsal? When one person is missing during marching practice, the problem is amplified many times over. It is simply impossible to learn to march a show if there are "holes" instead of bodies on the practice field. Those students who are at practice can't figure out where to go because the people their drill relates to are missing and the people who are missing don't know where to go when they return. Everybody loses. The purpose of concert band rehearsals is to learn everyone else’s part and to fit them together for a true ensemble experience. If your child is missing, we cannot fit all of the parts together. If your child MUST miss rehearsal or part of a rehearsal, you need to explain this to a director as soon as possible. This does not automatically excuse you from the rehearsal. We will deal with these on an individual basis. Read the next topic and you will see why it is so important to be at every scheduled rehearsal! What do you mean by "the show"? The FHS Band has two marching shows that we do at each football game. The “contest show" is the performance the competitive marching band spends hours and hours perfecting for marching competitions. The competitive band also performs "the contest show" during half time at football games. The contest show is around 8 minutes long and consists of several different segments. Often there will be a concept or thematic thread that will run through “the contest show” that will be “played out” on the field as the show unfolds. Watching a FHS Marching Band show is kind of like watching a three ring circus - there is more going on than you can possibly keep up with. At any given time, there may be flags, rifles, sabers and dancers, in addition to the horn line, drum line and front ensemble! Often, we will use "props" in our production, if the concept calls for it, to help the show come to life. After the presentation of the contest show, studetns in the non-competitive and join the rest of the band on the field for a performance that includes ALL members. The contest show comes together a little at a time, week by week. During rehearsals at the beginning of the season the band learns several new "sets" each day. "Sets" are designed by the drill writer with a computer, which then produces charts and a “coordinate sheet” for each band member. These documents are accessed through an app called UDB (Ulitmate Drill Book). The coordinate sheets tell each student where they should be standing at certain points in the music and how many steps it will take them to get to that point from the last point. A "set" is made when band students form up as indicated on their "coordinate sheets". You can see now why it is SO important not to miss a marching practice! The show is made up of many chunks (different parts of the show). It is nothing short of awesome to watch our kids put it all together on the field How will being in band affect my child's grades? Often, people are concerned about their grades if they are in high school band. In every graduating class since 1994, FHS Band seniors had an average GPA that was considerably higher than the class average. For example, in 2023, the average GPA of the band was 3.8. Each year, FHS Band students score considerably higher than average on the ACT and SAT tests. Over the past 10 years, at least 2 FHS Band students have obtained a perfect score on the ACT. Over the past several years, we have had numerous National Merit Finalists in the band. Band members tend to be better students academically. It would appear that participating in band actually helps students with their grades. The organizational skills and thought processes we focus on in band helps students organize their time in order to be able to take care of homework, other activities, and some social life as well. Time management is critical and is easier for some students to learn than for others. There are no simple tricks to making it work. The secret, if there is one, is to think ahead and stay caught up. Make sure your child has a calendar or planner of some sort and that he/she writes down all assignments, test dates, due dates and deadlines as the teachers make them available. If they use the band calendar that is distributed at the beginning of the school year, the rehearsals, game and contest dates will be in their planner as well. Conflicts should show up well in advance. Help your child make a plan to work through schedule conflicts. Help your child learn to "work smart" and be efficient. We often waste what we have the most of, so students need to understand that during marching season, they will need to manage their time very wisely. Make every minute count. There will be chunks of time available for homework in your child's day if he or she will make it a habit to look for them. A few minutes during lunch...between classes...if a teacher finishes a class a few minutes early...in the car on the way home...while you are waiting for your ride to arrive. A few minutes here and there add up. Take advantage of it. What do I need to know about contests? A band contest is an opportunity for bands to perform their marching shows or concert pieces in front of a panel of judges who offer critique to help them improve their performance and skills. We obtain valuable feedback about our progress as individuals and as a program. Although we never "live or die" by any one judge's or any panel's opinion of our performance, it is important that we learn the value of giving maximum effort and standing by the results as our best possible effort that day. This pushes us to do amazing things and learn that we're capable of doing so more than we thought we could do - not a bad lesson for young adults to learn. More importantly, it is a chance to perform for an audience that is specifically there to enjoy the efforts of bands that are striving to achieve excellence. The Fayetteville Band has rightfully earned a reputation for presenting outstanding performances, and we compete with some of the very best bands in the nation. We do not compete to “win” because we know we cannot control the outcome of any contest. We can only control our performances and make every effort to make those performances be the very best we can do on that day. Competitions are intense times, yet some of the greatest memories band students have will come from those days. Parents play a large role on competition days. There is so much to be done that there is no way the band performs successfully without tremendous support from the parents. Making certain everything needed gets to the performance, everything set up, students fed at the right time, water made available before and after performances – these and many other tasks are accomplished by very supportive parents. Even if you are not on duty in those ways, a prime responsibility is to take your place in the audience. Our parents have a reputation for being some of the most supportive of any at a competition – not just of our own band, because that’s easy and natural, but also of the other bands performing. Every band works hard to achieve their level of excellence, and deserves to be cheered and applauded and to receive a standing ovation from everyone in the audience, because what marching bands do today is nothing short of miraculous. So the expectation is that our parents will give their support to every band that performs. Even though there are some parents from other schools that act as if their support for another band is disloyal to their own child’s band, that is not the stance we want our parents to take. How often does the band perform? The marching band will typically perform at all home football games and at 4 or 5 competitions or other events. After marching season ends, concerts are presented during the second semester. Students have the opportunity to perform in honor bands such as All-Region, All-State, and Solo and Ensemble Contest. Every year, the band takes a trip with at least one special trip every three years. In the past, the band has performed in the Tournament of Roses Parade, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Hollywood Christmas Parade, the Magic Kingdom Parade at Disney World, and the Fiesta Bowl in Phoenix, Arizona, and the Philadelplhia Thanksgiving Day Parade. The FHS Wind Ensemeble has also performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Please explain the terms horn line, drum line, front ensemble (or pit), and guard. Simply put, the horn line is all the students who perform on brass and woodwind instruments in the marching band – the flutes, clarinets, bass clarinets, saxophones, trumpets, mellohones (French horns), trombones, baritones (or euphoniums – used interchangeably) and sousaphones (the tuba player’s marching instrument). The drum line is made up of the percussionists that march, carrying their instruments – snare drums, tenors (five drums - one person) and bass drums. The “front ensemble” is made up of the stationary percussion instruments and the students that play them. The front ensemble is a critical element of the band. These instruments form up on the sideline at the 50 yard line facing the audience. Although the pit members don't march, they move from instrument to instrument along the sideline. The "Front Crew" is made up of parents who volunteer to help move the pit instruments. The Front Crew moves the equipment to the field and helps to position the vast array of instruments along the sideline. They watch the show from the track area and then help to quickly clear the instruments away after the show. We could not function as a band without the help of the Front Crew. You are more than welcome to join this awesome group of volunteers. The color guard are the visual performance ensemble, using dance-type movement, flags, rifles, and sabers to visually portray the music being performed by the band. How do I know when to pick my child up after an event? The staff tries very hard to end rehearsals on schedule, or very nearly so. This is not an exact science, and sometimes it takes a few minutes extra to bring adequate closure to the rehearsal. At any rate, after rehearsal the students have to put away equipment and get their stuff ready to go home, so to make it easy on yourself, allow 10-15 minutes after the announced end of rehearsal before you would expect them to be ready to get in the car. You are also welcome to come early to watch the band rehearse. How does the weather affect rehearsals and performances? Rehearsals are never canceled due to inclement weather. We will not usually rehearse outdoors in the rain, unless it is just drizzle or intermittent light rain. In the event of steady rain, we will rehearse indoors and go out at the first opportunity. Students should dress for the weather, whether hot or cold. Not having the proper attire is not a satisfactory reason for having a poor rehearsal. Students should wear comfortable shoes (preferably low-topped athletic shoes) and socks for rehearsals. This is important in that the style of marching step we use requires that the foot and ankle be permitted to move freely. Caps and sun block are recommended. There will always be water at rehearsal, and in extreme cases of cold or heat the rehearsal format may be altered, but the rehearsals are never canceled. Very rarely a marching competition will be canceled due to rain. If it is raining on a competition day, we will still load up and travel to the site unless we are notified that the competition has been canceled. We will then assess the weather and our chances of presenting a creditable performance after arrival. Students will not be asked to stand or sit for lengthy periods in the rain – if we can find no other shelter we will return to the buses. For home football games, a rainy Friday night can be a pain, but we generally wait in the band room to see how the rain is going to develop. If it is possible by halftime to go out and perform and remain for the rest of the game we will – if not, we will decide to dismiss when it becomes apparent that we will not be able to perform. In the event of light rain, we might issue ponchos and try to wait it out in the stadium, leaving the woodwind instruments either in cases or indoors. In the very rare event that we get information that conclusively points to canceling a performance far enough in advance, announcements will be sent through the band listserv and the band website (fayettevilleband.com), as well as posted on Facebook and Instagram. What do I need to know about band trips? In the past, the band has performed in the Tournament of Roses Parade, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Hollywood Christmas Parade, the Magic Kingdom Parade at Disney World, and the Fiesta Bowl in Phoenix, Arizona, and the Philadelplhia Thanksgiving Day Parade. The FHS Wind Ensemeble has also performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City. The Band Director determines the trip location and makes all travel plans for the major trips. Trips are usually planned at least a year in advance. Participation in band trips is not optional. We do expect everyone to go. With that in mind, we provide many fund raising opportunities so that students can raise the necessary funds. Band parents act as chaperones for band trips. Chaperoning a band trip is GREAT fun, but there are many responsibilities involved. Chaperones must be prepared to be "on duty" long hours, be willing to be responsible for a group of young people they may or may not know ahead of time, and be willing to be surrogate parent, nurse, policeman and travel guide all in one. Plus, chaperones are expected to pay their way just like the students. Although you will be exhausted when you return, chaperones have just as much fun as the kids. Each band student and chaperone is expected to pay his or her own way to participate in band trips. We organize the trip and work up a budget well in advance and the cost of the trip is broken down into "manageable" payments due at intervals throughout the year. The band boosters works hard to organize opportunities for the band members to raise money to help pay for their trips, but ultimately, the expense of the band trip is the responsibility of the student and the parent. Chaperone selection is the responsibility of the band directors. What happens after marching season ends? Some people think that everything is over at the end of marching season, but nothing could be further from the truth. Auditions for All Region and All-State are in January and February. Several of our students are usually selected to both of these groups and the all region performances are in January with the All State performance in February. In March, our students have the opportunity to perform at Solo and Ensemble Festival. Concerts are presented in April and May and the Jazz Band has 2 – 3 performances during the spring semester. Some members of the Color Guard participate in Winter Guard activities during the spring semester with indoor contests in January – March. How much does it cost for my child to be in band? Unlike many programs, there is no fee to participate in the band program in Fayetteville. There are minimal fees for uniform maintenance, school owned instrument fees, and each student must own their own pair of band shoes. There are a few more additional charges for Color Guard members. For a detailed list of fees, go to our band website. Since we do require students to travel, many opportunities will be provided so that students can earn money for their trip account. The Band Boosters also fundraise to provide funds for the Fayetteville Band. This money is used to supplement the school budget, which is inadequate for a band this size. Why does the band need so much money? Just like with any family, it takes a lot of money to keep things "up and running." While the band receives money from the school system, there is still not enough to accommodate and provide for a band this size. Yes, we could operate a band with only the funds provided from these sources, but it would not be the same band we have come to love and respect - the kind of band opportunity we want for our children -- or the kind of program that could keep pace with other schools in our area. That is why it is so important for students and parents to help with fundraising activities that benefit the band program. What's in it for me? You’ll have the opportunity to spend quality time with your child and over two hundred other outstanding young Americans. The chance to see our young people at their very best may be the number one thing parents get from their child’s involvement in band. Who are the Fayetteville Band Boosters? The Fayetteville Band Booster Club is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to help promote instrumental music in the Fayetteville school system and to help ensure that the instrumental music department maintains the highest possible degree of efficiency. Membership is open and free to any band member, alumni, parent, or other person interested in the progress and development of the Fayetteville Band program. What role do the Band Boosters play in the FHS band program? The Boosters assist the band in activities beneficial to the future of the band program. They lend moral support to the general instrumental music program in Fayetteville, and provide for the Fayetteville Band members those things over and above that which is provided by the school system. They provide awards and assist in the planning of various fund raising activities. Additionally, the Band Booster Club serves as a means of communication between parents of performing members and other interested parties. There are many different ways the Boosters achieve these goals, through group and individual efforts. Many times this involves physical work, such as helping build props, move equipment, and carry out improvements on the band semi-trailer and other equipment. Sometimes it is intellectual activity – many great ideas that have improved the way the band program operates have come from Booster brainstorming sessions. And sometimes, the best thing Boosters do is just being there and being available during band events, because things come up that aren’t anticipated and someone has to step up and solve a problem. What kind of things do the Band Boosters do? Band Boosters have a wide array of responsibilities which include the following: Uniform Coordinator: fitting and issuing uniforms is the prime responsibility, along with overseeing the check in process after each game and assisting with uniform problems that come up during the season. Color Guard Coordinator: usually a parent of a member of the color guard who assists the Guard staff with equipment, water at performances, helping the guard members get ready for performance, and other details particular to the fall guard. Winter Guard Coordinator: Basically the same responsibilities as the Color Guard Coordinator, just for the Winter Guard. Front Crew Coordinator: this group of energetic volunteers moves the sideline percussion equipment to and from performances and assists in setting up the instruments on the front sidelines for the actual performance. Truck Crew Coordinator: although the students are primarily responsible for the loading and unloading of equipment, it is important that some adults are around to watch and lend a hand when needed. In addition, the truck coordinator is responsible for locating driver(s) and a tractor to pull the trailer and ensuring that everything is scheduled and in order each time the marching band travels. Hospitality coordinator: this person coordinates providing water, soft drinks, hot chocolate, etc. for the band at football game performances. The FHS Boosters also need chairman for various committees including U of A football parking, U of A men’s basketball parking, Razorback Stadium seatback installation, and publicity. How can I get involved? The band boosters have general meetings four times each year. The Executive committee also meets several times to prepare for the general meetings. The scheduled meeting dates are usually available on the booster section of fayettevilleband.com. Attending meetings of the Fayetteville Band Boosters is one of the best ways to get involved. How is the best way to know about the Boosters, fundraisers, and news about the band? The FHS Band List Serv is without a doubt the best way to stay informed. To join the list serv, send an email to Bill Schreckhise at schreckw@uark.edu. back to the Home page |