Summer Band

Equipment Pick-up

Do you need to borrow an instrument? Pick-up will be arranged by the Director, Tait Krogstad by email at Tait.Krogstad@tsd.org. Usually, instruments will be send home with students at the end of the Spring Marching training before June 1st. Uniforms and other related items are usually given directly to the students at the Summer Marching Camp in July.

Summer Marching Band

Marching Band usually begins the last part of July. The band members spend a few days re-learning "the basics" and refining them together. They also have a variety of breaks to play games, have some water fun, and time for them to get to know each other and their section leaders. We typically start rehearsals outdoors during the summer band to take advatage of the cool morning hours spent working on marching and the show drill. Lunch break and the afternoon music rehearsal will be inside the school building.​ 

Please note, when communication says practice starts at 8:00 am, that means students are at the school with their instruments and ready to begin rehearsal at 8:00 am. Warm up time starts about 10 minutes before practice.  Plan to be at BHS NO LATER than 7:40 am. Drum Majors and upperclassmen will be available to show the students where to go. The goal is to be ready for practice at the scheduled time.

Remember - “To be early means you are on time. To be on time means you are late."

The weeks before school starts, practice will switch to the evening, as teachers have to be at school for professional development during the day. That schedule of practices will be posted on the SportsYou app as well as the BHS Music Calendar.

If your child is unable to make any practice or performance for any reason, an email should be sent to Mr. Krogstad, at Tait.Krogstad@tsd.org and they should also tell their section leader(s). Attendance will be taken after school begins because this IS a class for a grade at TSD. All band members are expected to be present for all instruction, and stay until all the equipment is put away after practice.

 ​Don’t Forget These Items

It is best practice for students to keep their band items packed in ther bag so there is no running around in the morning trying to find a hat or their music, etc!  Make sure your student has the following when they walk out the door for camp:

• • Instrument and any necessary parts (reeds, neck strap, etc.)

  • 40oz Water jug (filled with ¾ ice, and the rest with water)

  • Small Snack (the kids will have short breaks during the day and are encouraged to bring a snack)

  • Sack Lunch

  • Deodorant - The kids get sweaty and may need to reapply during the day. This will help everyone’s noses!

  • Hat & Sunglasses

  • Athletic shoes and socks (NO flip flops, Crocs, sandals, etc)

  • Light colored athletic clothing (dri fit shirts are great for pulling sweat away from body)

  • Sunscreen (apply at home but bring with them to reapply as needed)

  • A lyre for your instrument (this holds your music for football games) AND flip folder to hold your music - You can buy these at any local music store or Amazon

  • NOTE: Registration in Big Teams is required for students in Marching Band. The physical portion is NOT required for Marching Band. When we qualify for state with travel and optional hotel stay, the information contained in these forms is required. Information regarding Big Teams will be given out by the Director in August.

The Heat is ON!

One way to get a good start each morning is to drink water! You should try to increase drinking extra water in the week leading up to summer band. And aim to drink at least 8 oz of water before leaving the house before practice. Students need to drink lots of water after they come home too, and this will help them to be ready for the next day.

Summer practice can be a difficult time. It’s miserably hot, the instruments are heavy, and learning to march and play at the same time is challenging. As freshmen, some of the kids struggle and worry that they will never be able to do this. It is hard for us parents to see them come home dejected on some days. A few kids are natural marchers and “get it” from the beginning, but the majority feel like they have two left feet.  You can help your kids by encouraging them to hang in there and keep trying. We promise, it is worth the hard work. Working toward a common goal through adverse conditions helps bond a group together. They will soon start to feel like one big family and some of the friendships your kids are about to make will last through high school and beyond.

We have heard it all!

It’s too hot.
I don’t want to get up that early.
I don’t understand what the band director wants me to do.
I’ll never be able to march AND play.
None of my friends are here and I don’t know these kids.

Hang in there, and encourage your kids to do the same. Cheer them on for the first week or so and it will start to get easier.

We highly recommend NO DAIRY products for breakfast (No milk, yogurt, cheese, etc.).  Dairy + exercising in the heat can cause an upset stomach. It will be HOT outside, and our Music Rooms do not have A/C at BHS. 

Section Communication and Socializing

In addition to what the Boosters and Mr. Krogstad sends out, the kids like to communicate among themselves too. Section leaders generally text reminders and for two-way communication with their sections. 

This is also a good time to mention that many of the sections like to get together to hang out and bond as a section. Some go to lunch at a restaurant, some go to an upper classman’s house, and some go to parks.  It can be nerve-wracking to send your freshman off with kids they (and you!) don’t know yet, and sometimes without direct adult supervision. The upper-class students are great with watching out for freshmen. With that being said, it is always ok to find out as many details of their group time as you can. It is also ok to get a hold of one of the other parents in your section.  We all understand how it feels when our babies are going off to the big unknown that is called high school! Seasoned parents will be happy to talk to you about get togethers within that section.

Our school hosts one of the DCI bands at our school for a donation to our program. They spend hours during the week rehearsing on our home football field at BHS. Students and families also attend the DCI Drums Along the Rockies event in June. It's a great way to see what is possible at a higher level after high school marching band. Registration for that event - Drums Along the Rockies.

Uniforms

The uniform committee will begin fitting the band and incoming freshmen for school owned uniform parts during summer band camp in July. The students will be called in from practice to be fitted. They will be assigned bibbers (pants), jacket, a shako (hat) and accessories. There are several parents on the uniform committee, and this is also a great way for parents to get involved and meet the kids. Signup to help us!

All Band Uniform parts are to be maintained and washed, according to the directions inside the issued garment bag. Uniforms that are returned dirty, damaged or without all the required parts will incur a fee to remedy the issue. Please help your students to wash the uniform and maintain all the parts.

Show Preview and Family Social

At some point in the season, there will be an evening rehearsal where families are invited to see the show so far. One family member can also join their student on the field and receive a quick marching lesson. Stay tuned for more information.

 Lastly...

Remember, once school starts, the kids only march in August, September, and October. You and your students will look back and be amazed at how quickly the time passed. Ask any band family that has been coming back year after year. Band is worth the effort!

In the words of one of our past seniors; “When I look back on my four years, I don’t remember the hours I studied in my room or the things I did each day in class. I remember the electrifying feeling of stepping onto the field.”