General Information
This page contains a number of useful items of information:
Concert Attire
The following dress code is in effect for all performances by the Bloomington North Concert and Jazz Bands during the 2005-2006 school year. Make sure that you look nice and that you are comfortable in the items you choose.
Symphonic Band/Wind Ensemble
Ladies: All black---long black dress or black skirt and black dress blouse, black dress shoes and nylons.
Men: Black dress pants, black shoes and socks, and please purchase a white tux shirt. Formalwear Unlimited, located at 1000 N. Walnut St., has a system of measuring and ordering you a slightly used tux shirt at a reasonable price, but do visit them at least ten days in advance. Other tux stores in town also deal in used tuxedo shirts. The shirts are thoroughly cleaned, pressed, and packaged like new, and have met State Board of Health standards for resale.
Concert/Advanced Concert Bands
Ladies: Black skirt or nice black dress pants, black dress shoes with nylons, and a white blouse (no extra colors or decor on the white blouse).
Men: Black dress pants (no jeans), black shoes and socks, and a long-sleeved white dress shirt with a collar (the school will provide a long black necktie at the performances).
Advanced/Studio/Intermediate Jazz Bands (Jazz 1,2,3)
Ladies: Nice dressy outfit and shoes.
Men: Dress pants, jacket, shirt and tie, and dress shoes.
Beginning Jazz Band (Jazz 4)
Ladies: Nice dressy outfit and shoes.
Men: Dress shirt and tie, dress pants and nice shoes (no tennis shoes).
Band Letters
Band letters are earned based on credits:
- 5 Credits = Numerals
- 10 Credits = "B" Letter
- 20 Credits = Instrument Pin (sophomores or older)
- 30 Credits = Senior Videotape (or DVD soon!)
Credits are earned as follows:
- 1 per semester in a band course
- 4 per marching season (5 if perfect attendance)
- 1-2 for participation in Basketball Band (based on number of games attended)
- 1 for every 6 hours of volunteer work (Hilly 100, Jazz Festival, Solo and Ensemble Contest, etc.)
- 1/3 credit per Solo & Ensemble event
- 1/3 credit for filling in with a band at a concert or festival or performing at a volunteer community event
- 1 for marching in the Bloomington 4th of July Parade
- 1 for playing in the pit orchestra for school musicals
- 1 for playing with the Bloomington North Symphony Orchestra
Private Lessons
The following are private instructors who have contacted the band directors at Bloomington North. They are listed here as a service to the students and instructors but are not endorsed by the band program. Rates are negotiable between students and instructors. (Click on the name to send email.)
Please let us know if any of these entries are out of date or if any new entries should be added.
| Flute: | ||
| Nicole Burroughs | 339-0373 | |
|
Oboe: | ||
| Nancy Hass | 334-0234 | |
|
Bassoon: | ||
| Catherine Marchese | 339-3848 | |
|
Clarinet: | ||
| Jenifer Petkus | ||
|
Saxophone & Jazz: | ||
| Morgan Price | 391-4683 | |
|
Trumpet & Jazz: | ||
| Nick Volz | ||
|
Classical Trumpet: | ||
| Kim Stephans | ||
|
Horn: | ||
| Nathan Stowe | ||
|
Trombone: | ||
| Nate Sutton | ||
|
Euphonium and Tuba: | ||
| Mark Burroughs | (423) 306-6850 | |
|
Percussion: | ||
| David Scimonelli | (937) 231-9485 | |
Hints for Marching Band Parents
- Come to as many Marching Band contests as you can. It's fascinating to see the band and the show evolve. Great friendships are forged in the bleachers, too.
- Marching band practices sometime run late and your student often won't be ready to leave until 15 minutes after practice. Perfection takes time.
- When picking up your child, bring a good book and some water.
- The ISU contest in Terre Haute is a good place to see the band because the bleachers are tall. Watching from a high vantage point brings a whole new perspective.
- Don't worry if the bus is late returning from a band contest---arrival times are always estimates.
- When waiting for the Marching Band to get back, park in the parking lot closest to the band room. Don't park in the circle drive, the buses have to pull in there.
- Come early to pick up your student from MB practice and watch the last few minutes. It's a good time to see what they are working on and to meet other parents.
- Saturday itineraries and maps to contest sites are available every week---usually by Thursday. Be sure to ask your student to bring one home.
- Throughout the year, the band boosters will have apparel and souvenirs for sale. This benefits all band programs.
Glossary of BHSN Band Terms
Auxiliary - see Guard.
Band camp - a week of intense daily Marching Band practice; Monday-Friday. SEND WATER w/ your students, and try to get them to slather on the sun screen.
Battery - Marching Band percussion section that carries drums and marches; is comprised of snare drums, bass drums, and quads (see Quads).
Bibbers - Marching Band pants; part of the standard uniform; provided by the band.
Boys' bus - bus assigned as the boys' changing area for Marching Band trips; kids don't all follow this, many change out in the parking lots.
Caller - the nice person who calls you up and asks you to work at an event.
Caption awards - various awards a marching band can win at competitions, such as "Best Drum Major," "Best Drumline," "Best Auxiliary."
Chaperone - the wonderful parent who is willing to ride on a school bus all day with 75 high school kids; a lot of fun - a good way to meet other parents, be indirectly involved in your kid's life, and watch the work, determination and heart of the Marching Band.
Color guard - see Guard.
Commons - open area in the school between the Auditorium, the Gym, and the Cafeteria.
Concert bands - there are 4 concert bands; the beginning band is Concert Band, next is Advanced Concert, followed by Wind Ensemble and the top band, the Symphonic Band.
Directory - address, phone number and email address book for all band members and parents; usually available by the school's Open House in mid - September.
District, Marching Bands - first level of competition in the march to state championship (see State); Marching Band District takes place in early October and is almost always held at Columbus East High School; the next step after District is Regionals.
District, Concert Bands - first level of competition to state championship (see State); Concert Band District is held in early April at Bedford High School; there is no regional competition as there is in marching band; the top 16 bands in the state from Group 1 (the group indicates the difficulty of the music, not the size of the band or school) go on to compete in the state championship. North's Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble always compete in Group 1. The Symphonic Band often is able to go to State.
Drill - the steps and positions that make up the Marching Band show.
Drill book - the notebook that holds each individual student's drill for the Marching Band show.
Drum major(s) - Student conductor(s) who direct the marching band as it plays.
Drumline - the entire percussion section of the Marching Band; includes both the Pit and the Battery.
Flags - flags used by the Guard during a Marching Band show.
Gauntlets - sequined wrist and lower - arm covering; part of Marching Band uniform.
Girls' bus - bus assigned as the girls' changing area for Marching Band trips; kids don't all follow this, many change out in the parking lots.
Guard - a group of students who add color and style to marching-band performances with flags and other props.
Instructor - personnel hired to help out with various sections of the band, as in clarinet instructor or drumline instructor.
ISSMA - Indiana State School Music Association; high school bands are grouped into 4 classes: A, B, C, or D based on the size of the sophomore - senior class of the previous year. BHSN is usually in Class B..
Jazz bands - there are 4 jazz bands; the first year jazz band is Beginning Jazz, followed by Intermediate Jazz, next is Studio Jazz, and the top band is Advanced Jazz. These bands are also called by their numeric name Jazz 4 (Beginning Jazz), Jazz 3 (Intermediate), etc., with Jazz 1 as the top band.
Jet line - the kitchenette that serves both the cafeteria and hallway (opens on two sides), where we sell concessions for basketball games and other events.
Listserv - an email distribution list comprised of all band parents who have email addresses.
Pep Band - band that plays for the basketball games; a band student at North High School must be in either the Marching Band or the Pep Band.
Pit crew - parents and volunteers who help assemble the pit instruments, push them onto the field and set them up for competition, A.K.A. "Pit Parents."
Pit - Marching Band percussion section that does not march (plays on the sidelines), comprised of instruments such as tympani, xylophones, gongs, etc.
Plumes - the feathered portion of the Marching Band hats (very fragile); provided by band.
Podium - see Tower.
Quads - set of 4 connected drums carried by member of the battery.
Regionals - the competition that determines which marching bands will compete in the state finals (see District and State)
Rifles - fake rifles the Guard using in a Marching Band show. (They're heavy!)
Run - through - practicing the Marching Band show.
Sabers - fake swords the Guard using in a Marching Band show.
Sashes - sequined sashes worn across the chest; part of the Marching Band uniform; provided by band.
Section leader - band student who is in charge of a Marching Band instrument section; such as "alto sax section leader."
Shako - Marching Band hat.
Solo and Ensemble - ISSMA music competition for individuals and small music groups, for example "clarinet quartet" or "brass choir."
Spring trip - trip taken by one of the upper concert or jazz bands, often to some fun city that also has a band competition that weekend.
State - competition for state championship (see District and Regionals).
Student account - financial account that holds funds designated for the student; source of funds can be from fund - raising, parent/student payments, or scholarships.
Tower - raised platform upon which conductors stand.
Trailer - the back half of a semi-trailer truck; holds Marching Band uniforms and large instruments.
Tuxedo and tie - tuxedo jackets and ties are worn by the boys in the upper 2 concert bands; they are provided by the band for a small rental fee.
Uniform day - Saturday in late August in which all the Marching Band kids receive their uniforms.
Uniforming - getting dressed before a competition (see boys' bus and girls' bus); Uniform Day.
Winds - the non - percussion part of the band; any instrument that is played by blowing air.