This week I have had number of last minute absence notifications from events and/or rehearsals, more than in the past 4 years combined. Perhaps people are thinking that my more relaxed approach to Marching Band equals a more relaxed approach to our attendance policy.
This could not be further from the truth. I am relaxing the Marching Band rehearsals and camp to make it more fun and to make it a better experience for all. As always with our marching band, there are severe ramifications to missing anything on our schedule. In a band like ours, attendance is just about 100%. Please fully realize that missing any event or rehearsal - anything on this band schedule - will just about guarantee you not receiving any leadership position in the marching band. People with one or more misses over their years in the band aren't even considered for these positions. Any band members who are excused told me within a few days of the schedule going up in March that they had a major attendance problem and I worked the program around them and excused them or told them not to be in the band. Major family issues are pretty cut and dry as to what we consider an excusable absence. Weddings, Bar mitzvahs and Bat mitvahs, Communions, Baptisms (all of immediate family members) are usually told to me right after the schedule goes up since these are set up years in advance. Obviously, deaths in the family are excusable. Concert tickets, other concerts, tickets to sporting events, SAT prep classes, studying, etc are considered unexcused absences. If you miss a rehearsal for any of these you will be pretty much out of the band if you come 5 minutes late to anything else that year. This is like being in an RCP or Spotlight show. It is your job to stay healthy, get plenty of sleep, and be there for everything on the schedule. People are depending upon you. It is also your job to do your academic work around our one weekly rehearsal each week. Anyone who is in this band already knows this. We have band members who work family events around our schedule. We have about 20 people who are not in the band because they were unable to come to one of our events. This is a very special group where every single person has a very important position. We only have 11 events and need every person at every one. Here is it directly from our band booklet.
Marching Band Rehearsal Attendance
During the fall season, rehearsals are held on Wednesday nights from 6:30 to 9:00 pm, and on competition days for an hour or two prior to leaving for the competitions. Attendance at rehearsals and performances is MANDATORY. Students who have a conflict with any rehearsal MUST SUBMIT a parental note at least TWO WEEKS in advance. Students with ONE ABSENCE will be given a WARNING from the band director. Any additional absences will result in removal from the Marching Band.
Marching Band Competition Attendance
Band members must attend all competitions and shows. As in a school musical, each position is crucial to the success of the entire unit. The show is custom written for the exact number of people in the band, and even one hole effects each member’s drill, which must be modified at the competition, which is not acceptable. Anyone who has a conflict with one of the shows may not be a part of the marching band. In a competitive marching band, every person has a leading role.
