Students in the North band program thrive on the support of parents, other family members, and North band alumni. Parent support for the North band program is expressed through the many activities of the Band Boosters. The mission of the BHSN Band Boosters is to advocate for the value of music education and provide volunteer and essential financial support for students and directors in the band program. Our values are youth development, inclusiveness, artistry, and success! Parents and guardians of current band musicians are all automatically members of the Band Booster family. Alumni and their families are also welcome to join.

Below are descriptions of many of the activities carried out by the Bloomington North Band Boosters on behalf of the band program, individual students and their families, and the community. All these activities require parent volunteer effort. See the Boosters-Fundraising and Boosters-Volunteers pages for more! We need everyone's help!

Meetings

All band parents are members of the North Band Boosters and encouraged to attend monthly band booster meetings. Meetings are at the school, usually in the band room. Minutes (in PDF) are posted to the website after they are approved. Dates are announced via email and the website calendar.

Directory

Each fall the Band Boosters prepares a directory of all students in the band program with contact information for both students and parents. For new families, information for the directory is collected at the band pitch-in on the day of marching band mini-camp and at the start of school.

Website

This website is run by volunteers. Anyone that would like to learn how, help, or take over at some point should contact the current administrator. Photos and videos can be submitted by anyone, but if you have an interest and ability in photography, consider becoming a regular contributor!

Parent Pitch-In

The Pitch-In dinner is the first Band Booster event of the school year. It is typically held on a Saturday in August within two weeks of the beginning of school. Families of ALL band students - jazz, concert, and marching bands - are invited to this informal event. Parents may pay annual booster dues ($25/family), sign up for the band email list and grocery card program, learn about band volunteer opportunities, purchase and order spiritwear, and more. Everyone is invited to a potluck buffet, which ends with the introduction of Band Booster officers, special instructions for marching band parents, and a preview performance by the marching band.

Concessions

Volunteers raise money for the band program by making and serving items such as snow cones, lemonade, and sandwiches at home football games. Shifts are generally scheduled for the first half and second half of the game. We also do concessions for the annual ISSMA Solo and Ensemble Competition, which is held at North, and for the Bloomington Jazz Festival, which is held at North every other year.

March-A-Thon

The first annual March-a-thon was held in August 2011. Marching Band members attempt to raise $250 each by asking for donations from friends, relatives, and the public.

Swing Dance

Our first Spring Fling Swing Dance was held in 2012, and everyone had a fabulous time! North jazz bands and combos play big band music, fancy drinks and desserts are offered for sale, and attendees of all ages dance the night away.