F.A.Q.’s
- 1. What are some of the key dates for the start of the band 2018 season?
a. Marching Band Camp (Mandatory), Mon.-Fri., August 13-17, 8:30am-3:30pm and
Mon-Fri, August 20-24, 3pm – 9pm.
b. Rehearsal, Tuesday, August 28, 5pm – 9pm.
c. Home Football Game vs. Washington-Lee, Thursday, August 30, 3pm – 10:30pm.
2. What is band camp in the summer weeks, what is it all about, and how can I help?
a. Marching band starts to play at the Wakefield home football games in the fall as soon as the season starts. This summer band camp provides instruction time and practice for marching and the new music program at halftime and fall competitions as well as “pep band” spirit music.
b. Marching band is an excellent social activity for incoming freshmen. They become familiar with the school prior to the first day, and make friends in all classes. The camaraderie continues throughout the year, even after the marching season is over.
c. All Marching band members are expected to attend all rehearsals. Please inform Mr. Fisher of conflicts (especially for incoming freshman). Carpools by parents are encouraged-come to our Band Patron meetings to meet other parents living near you and work out car pools!
d. Due to field availability, band camp occurs in the afternoon and evening in August. Parents are requested to sign up and bring in items for band camp lunch (12pm) the first week and dinners at 5pm during these two weeks to help provide nutritious options other than fast food for the students. It also provides parents the opportunity to get to know each other in support of the marching band.
e. There will be a short concert for parents at the end of band camp on August 24th at 7 p.m. at the stadium to showcase the students’ hard work. Planning to have parents join for dinner prior.
3. When will marching band start performances?
a. At the first home football game which is Thursday, August 30, however, we will have a preview concert at the end of band camp for parents and friends.
4. What is “Pit Crew?”
a. Pit Crew are the people that help move equipment for the percussion section and Drum Major stand on and off the performance area or field for the marching band during home game performances, competitive performances, and other events such as the pyramid concert.
5. Why are parents needed to help with Pit Crew?
a. Because the students are marching or otherwise carrying equipment and because the percussion equipment takes more than a couple of people to move, parents are asked to help volunteer for home football games, competitions, and other events to help with moving this equipment.
6. What is a pyramid concert?
a. This is a non-competitive performance with Arlington County Bands at one of the local high schools to showcase the different bands to include the Middle school and High school bands.
7. What is Guard/Auxiliary?
a. The Guard/Auxiliary is used to refer to the students that are carrying and performing with flags, rifles, and sabers, and many other props during performances.
8. What are the different band programs at Wakefield and are there any additional costs associated with each program? (See PayPal and reduced options at the bottom of this document-subject to change)
a. Marching Warriors, $175, payable to WHS for travel, uniform, competitions, etc. Guard/Auxiliary, freshman and any upper classmen in need of shoes will need to pay $210.
b. Symphonic Band, fee of $50, payable to WHS, to maintain concert attire.
c. Concert Band, fee of $50 payable to WHS, to maintain concert attire.
d. Jazz Ensemble, no additional fee.
e. Percussion Ensemble, fee of $50 payable to WHS, to maintain concert attire.
1325 S. Dinwiddie St.
Arlington, VA 22206
f. Indoor Percussion and Winter Guard/Auxiliary – in conjunction w/Yorktown High School – these fees are collected by Yorktown Band Boosters, cost TBD.
9. What is Wakefield High School Band Patrons?
a. A group of band parents and friends that support band activities to include carpool rides, fundraisers, meals and informational exchange.
10. What are the Wakefield High School Band Websites?
a. Wakefield Band Patrons: http://wakefieldband.org/
b. Wakefield Band on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/271157666422012/
c. Wakefield High School Band: https://wakefield.apsva.us/performing-arts/band/
11. What are the fundraisers for band throughout the year?
a. Tag Day, bake sales, Holiday and Popcorn Sales, Jazz Café, local restaurant patronage with a portion of the profits going to the band program. Tag Day and Poinsettia sales are music department wide and the school music account. Concessions, Jazz Café, bake sales, restaurant nights are all fundraisers to raise Band Patron funds for the band.
12. What is “Tag Day”?
a. Tag day will be held on Saturday, September 15. All high school music students to include Band, Orchestra and Chorus, go door to door through out the Wakefield student neighborhoods for donations to help the music department. This is an activity supervised by volunteer parents/adults and includes all Arlington County High Schools.
13. Will my student be selling anything?
a. In past years, students sell Poinsettia plants and Popcorn to raise money for their spring trip. Each student’s profit will go to lowering his/her band trip price/band fees.
14. What is the Jazz Café?
a. In the spring, using the Wakefield High School “Black Box,” a jazz café atmosphere is set up and the jazz ensemble performs. Tickets are sold along with a silent auction to raise funds.
15. What are Band Patron funds used for?
a. Additional clinicians for band instruction, sheet music, band instrument purchase, instrument repair, guard flags and props that are not covered by the music budget. Also for scholarships for students to attend music camps and for seniors for further education.
16. What are school sponsored band funds use for?
a. Marching Band travel, Spring Trip, uniforms, concert attire, and basic band equipment.
17. Where will the band be going on their spring 2019 trip?
a. Spring 2019 is to be determined.
18. What is CHARMS?
a. Charms is a music department wide database of all the students in the band, choir, or orchestra. It is our primary communication mechanism so we ask that you log onto charmsoffices.com using the school’s name, WakefieldHSMusic, and your student’s id number as the password.
19. Contact info for Wakefield Band Patrons (changing after elections results in May, 2018) and will be announced via charms message – if you are interested in volunteering please contact:
a. President, Cathy Peterson, cep3112@verizon.net
b. Vice President, Megan Booth, mbooth_98@yahoo.com
c. Treasurer, Rebecca Carr, carrrebecca@yahoo.com
d. Secretary, Carlin Anderson, carlinand@gmail.com