7/19/24 - Marching Band Updates

Hello Everyone,

Hope everyone's summer is going well and enjoying some time off! Please see below for some important updates and reminders for the upcoming season. 

Physicals and Activities Registration

Please remember to register and submit your activities/athletic physical before the start of camp! Directions and additional information can be found HERE. 

Sectionals

Thank you to those who have attended sectionals so far! Our caption heads have been excited to hear about the progress students have been making over the last two sectionals. If you have not yet been able to attend, please plan on being at the last sectional on August 7th from 3-5 pm! Every note we learn now is time saved putting the whole show together at Band Camp!

Drillmasters, Flip Folders, and Lyres

This is a friendly reminder to new members and any applicable others to purchase drillmasters, flip folders, and lyres. Links for all three can be found HERE. Flip Folders and Lyres are only applicable to wind players, and drill masters are applicable to all marching members (excluding colorguard). If you have questions, please reach out to a section leader regarding instrument specifics. 

Colorguard Camp

Colorguard camp runs from July 29th to August 2nd, 8 am-5 pm! Congrats on the hard work you've already put in guard. See you again soon! Please reach out to Cologuard leadership or Kasey for additional information if needed.

Percussion Camp

Percussion camp starts August 7th (10 am-5 pm—THIS IS A CHANGE) and 8-9th from 10 am-4 pm! If you need help with music or have questions, please reach out to a section leader or Patrick for additional information. 

Leadership Camp

Leadership camp is August 9th, 10 am-4 pm. This is required for all on the leadership team. Percussion leadership will split time between percussion camp this day. 

First Day of Band Camp

Band camp for ALL members starts August 12th at 8am! We'll send reminders of what to bring closer to the day.

Calendar Final Check

Please make sure to double check your calendars with the continuously updated calendar in the handbook before the season starts to avoid as many conflicts as possible. If you need to miss due to an unavoidable conflict, please make sure a section leader knows ahead of time so we can plan for the absence. If any changes are made on our end we will send them out via email to make sure everyone is aware. 

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Eric Rothacker

Music Teacher & Band Director

5/31/24 - Marching Band Updates

Hello Everyone,

It was so great to see so many of you on day one of the season earlier this week! The band is going to sound incredible this season, and we're excited to work with every one of you. Please see below for some reminders/updates regarding the season!

UW-Whitewater DCI Performance Tickets (Last Call)

We have the amazing opportunity to provide students and families with some FREE tickets to the DCI Whitewater Classic this year on 7/6/24 @ 7 pm (the Location of the State Championships!). If you are interested/available, please fill out this Google form no later than June 1st! We will notify you of the exact ticket location as soon as the organization lets us know. Seats will likely be in the same area as the stands. 

Drums on Parade does not have free tickets available for our group but has the convenience of being at the high school stadium on 6/29/24 @ 7 pm.

Show Shirts & Additional Show Spirit Shirts

If you'd like to purchase additional grayscale show spirit shirts to support your student in the crowd at competitions, to have extra, or just support the program as a whole, please head to THIS LINK for instructions on how to order! Yard signs to support the program are also available. All proceeds go directly back into the marching band program and benefit students! Orders will be given to students in the first week of band camp. Please ensure all orders are in by June 7th at 12 pm so we can ensure we have time for an order of this size to arrive. 

Summer Sectional Dates 

Wind players, we'll be having summer sectionals with caption head staff over the summer to get everyone up to speed on the music as fast as possible. There will be three for woodwinds and brass over the summer. It is an expectation that you attend unless you have a previously planned unavoidable event on that day/time. Attendance will be taken by section leaders/staff.

All sectionals will take place at the high school and the dates and times are as follows:

June 26, 3-5 pm

July 10, 3-5 pm (Woodwinds Only)

July 17, 3-5 pm (Brass Only)

August 7, 3-5 pm

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5/24/24 - Marching Band Updates

Hello everyone,

Please see below for a couple of reminders about the upcoming season!

May 29th Student Welcome Meeting

We're looking forward to seeing students on May 29 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. for our welcome event! This is a great way to help you get acclimated to the people in the group, including your section leaders and leadership! Please bring your instrument and some water. If your student is feeling anxious or nervous about the first meeting, we'll take great care of them! Everyone in the program started where they are right now. 

Schedule for Welcome Event 5/29:

4-4:30 pm: Welcome, instrument check out, music hand out. Meet in the band room and move to Fireman's Park as applicable. Please bring some water in case it is a little hot. 

4:30-5:30 pm: Music read-through! (New members no need to worry about sight reading, most of us will be new to the music as well!) Meet your section!

5:30 pm: Dismissal

Show Shirts & Additional Show Spirit Shirts

If you'd like to purchase additional grayscale show spirit shirts to support your student in the crowd at competitions, to have extra, or just to support the program as a whole, please head to THIS LINK for instructions on how to order! Yard signs to support the program are also available. All proceeds go directly back into the marching band program and benefit students! Orders will be given to students in the first week of band camp. Please ensure all orders are in by June 7th at 12 pm so we can ensure we have time for an order of this size to arrive. 

Band App for Student Communication

Please make sure you join the band app so your section leaders can more easily reach out to you, and you can ask questions and connect with current students! The link to join is below

https://band.us/n/adad07h545PbB

UW-Whitewater DCI Performance Tickets

We have the amazing opportunity to provide students and families with some FREE tickets to the DCI Whitewater Classic this year on 7/6/24 @ 7 pm (Location of State Championships!). If you are interested/available, please fill out this Google form no later than May 31st! We will notify you of the exact ticket location as soon as the organization lets us know. Seats will likely be in the same area as the stands. 

Drums on Parade does not have free tickets available for our group, but has the convenience of being at the high school stadium 6/29/24 @ 7 pm.

Eric Rothacker

Music Teacher & Band Director

Middleton High School

608-829-9683

erothacker@mcpasd.k12.wi.us