NICEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL

BAND

More information available online at

http://www.NHSEaglePride.com

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HS BAND HS BAND “The Eagle Pride”“The Eagle Pride”

WELCOME!

It’s that time of year again when plans are being made for the next school year and you must decide where you intend to devote your time, effort and energies. We highly encourage you to become a part of the family that is the Niceville High School Band Program. The NHS Band is filled with hardworking and dedi-cated musicians. We welcome any stu-dent who is willing to put forth the effort to continue this superior tradition, both on the field and in the concert hall. Les-

sons learned from being a member of the band have life-long implications. Students learn commitment, the rewards of effort, the joy of friendship, and the importance of cooperation and leadership. Band members enjoy the support of parents, school administration and the entire Niceville community. The sense of team-work, commitment and accomplishment will take on a whole new meaning when you are a part of the NHS Band!

BAND CLASSES AND AUDITIONS

Auditions for all students are held in May for placement into a band class at Niceville High School. Everyone makes the band! The audition simply places you in the class that best matches your skill level. There are four main concert band classes. Wind Ensemble is the most advanced performing ensemble. It has a limited instrumentation and is comprised of our highest performing students. The majority of the members are upperclassmen; how-ever, 9th and 10th graders may make this ensemble if they meet the musical standards. Symphonic Winds is a premier ensemble with a limited instrumentation for advanced musi-cians. The Concert Band class consists of players from all grade levels and performs at all concerts and FBA events. Varsity Band is also a performing ensemble. Most 9th graders start in this class.

In addition to the concert band classes, there are two Jazz Bands, Percussion Class, and Eurhyth-mics(Auxiliaries). All classes combine in evening rehearsals to form the marching band during the fall semester. Specific information on the re-quirements for each class can be found on the band website. (Follow the “Audition/Tryout Re-quirements” link.)

Marching Band at Niceville

High School is a requirement for

every band student. The march-

ing band activity is one of the

most fun parts of band in high

school — trips, football games,

and school spirit are all part of

what we do in the Eagle Pride

For more information on the impor-tance of music education visit the

“WHY MUSIC” link on the band website.

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PERCUSSION/DRUMLINE

Percussion auditions for marching band take place during a three day “Tryout” clinic in May or on the first day of Percussion Camp in July. Percussion clinic is required. Students are encouraged to audition on more than one instrument in case they do not make it on their first choice.

Marching percussion also includes the pit instruments. You may audition only on pit instruments if you would like, and many students who play non-marching instruments (oboe, bassoon) choose to do this. Pit must also attend the three day “Tryout” clinic and Percussion Camp.

Percussion auditions for placement in a concert band are in November/December.

EAGLE PRIDE AUXILIARIES

Auxiliary members operate under the same rehearsal/performance guidelines as the Marching Band. The Eurhythmics class is required of all members during the fall semester.

COLOR GUARD- The flags that perform with the Eagle Pride are called the

Color Guard. Members for this unit are chosen each spring through a clinic/tryout process. Color Guard costs about $400 which covers the uniform, in-struction, travel, etc. for the season.

MAJORETTES- The Eagle Pride has long enjoyed an outstanding majorette

line. Membership in this group is by tryouts held each spring. Majorette costs for the season are about $800 which covers the uniform, instruction, travel, etc.

There is a place for students of all skill levels in the Jazz program at Niceville High School. Jazz 1 & 2 are year long classes that meet during the school day. We will show you how to fit Jazz Band into your class schedule. Students must be enrolled in a concert band or percussion class if they wish to participate in jazz band. Taking two band classes is VERY possible - even for 9th graders!

Auditions are required for placement into Jazz 1. Students not se-lected for Jazz 1 will be placed in Jazz 2. Also, students who do not audition may be placed in Jazz 2. Auditions are not required for Jazz Workshop which is a class formed when enrollment permits. All auditions take place at the NHS Band room in May. The Audition results, not your experience in jazz band, determine class placement.

JAZZ BANDS

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BAND PRACTICE The Niceville High School Band Program has a history of excellence in concert, marching, and jazz band. Band is a co-curricular class. This means that learning takes place in and out of the class-room. Rehearsals and performances outside of school hours are required for completion of the band course requirements. The Eagle Pride Marching Band rehearses less than any other high school band in the area and yet we continue to have the strongest program around. During the fall, regular marching band re-hearsals are on Tuesday and Thursday evening from 6 to 9 pm. These rehearsals are for in-strumentalists, Colorguard, and Majorettes.

In the late fall and spring the concert bands have after school rehearsals for 2 hours a week. Wind Ensemble is usually on Tuesday evening and Symphonic Winds is on Thursday evenings. Concert Band and Varsity Band meet after school as needed.

WILL I BE ABLE TO DO OTHER THINGS, TOO?

Of Course! Students in the band partici-pate in virtually every other school activity: track, newspaper, baseball, golf, forensics, chorus, ROTC, you name it — even football! For fall school sports that conflict directly with marching band, a Fall Sports Alterna-tive Course of Study is offered. Call the band office for more information on this program. Many band students are enrolled in honors/ AP/AICE courses as well as being involved in other challenging academic opportunities. Band members must learn to manage their time and many band students are at the top of their class, in honor society, etc. In 2010 more than half of the top 1% of the gradu-

ating class and half of the National Merit Finalists were involved in music! One year of band also meets the fine arts requirement for graduation and one semes-ter of marching band waives the PE require-ment. In band, the people that practice the most get to perform the most. Therefore, if you are involved in school activities for which you will miss band practice, you may be as-signed a “shared” or “alternate” position. (Recurring conflicts with non-school activi-ties/sports are not excused.)

See the Band

Website for a

detailed event

calendar!

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Being a member of the NHS Eagle Pride is a great experience. Participation in the march-ing band is a requirement of all students, but more than that, it’s FUN!

“Band Camp” is the week of practice that pre-pares the Eagle Pride for the Fall perform-ances. Students who miss band camp, run the risk of spending most of the marching season on the sidelines as alternates.

Alternates must attend all marching rehears-als, performances, and functions, and are con-sidered full members of the marching band. Alternates will be assigned a spot in the show when one becomes available.

It will be almost impossible to catch up on

the marching drill if you are not at camp.

Most afternoon rehearsals are held indoors.

There will be times when you will be outdoors

for sectionals, so bring water and a hat. Eve-

ning drill rehearsals are at the practice field

located behind the car dealership at Palm

Blvd. and John Sims. This is Florida — bring

water and a hat!

More details on the Atten-

dance Policy are available on

the band website.

BAND CAMP IS REQUIRED!

BAND PARENT/ BOOSTER ORGANIZATION

We have an active organization dedicated to making your student’s experience with music worthwhile.

When your student becomes a member of the Eagle Pride Band you are automatically a member of the Eagle Pride Band Booster Or-ganization. There are no membership dues and it is your chance to be active in the band program. Booster meetings are held monthly in the band room to keep everyone informed and involved. Volunteers are needed in every area from uniforms, chaperones, concessions, and fundraising.

The booster organization is friendly and fo-cused on helping music education affect your student in a positive way. With parental sup-port we can continue to have the best band program in NW Florida.

FUNDRAISING

As school budgets get tighter, bands must fundraise to continue their programs. We are no exception to that and everyone’s help is needed to give our students the musical ex-perience they deserve!

Proceeds from fundraisers go to student ac-counts and the general band operating fund. These funds allow us to meet many of the financial obligations that are a part of a thriv-ing music program. Examples of our fund-raisers are: QSP magazine sales, Annual Cit-rus sale, Band on the Run 5K, pasta sales,

50/50, gift wrapping and grocery bagging. We wel-come any suggestions that you may have for new fund-raisers !

New members must plan on at-

tending Rookie Camp!

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REGULAR HONORS ADVANCED

1 ENGLISH 1 ENGLISH 1 HONORS ENGLISH 1 HONORS

2 ALGEBRA 1 ALGEBRA 1 HONORS GEOMETRY HONORS

3 BIOLOGY 1 BIOLOGY 1 HONORS BIOLOGY 1 HONRS

4 WORLD GEORGRAPHY SOCIAL STUDIES ELECTIVE AP EUROPEAN HISTORY

5 BAND BAND BAND

6 FOREIGN LANGUAGE FOREIGN LANGUAGE HONORS HONORS or PreAICE FORGEIN LANGAUGE

7 ELECTIVE ELECTIVE AP/AICE ELECTIVE

NICEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL

BAND STUDENT SAMPLE SCHEDULE

REGULAR HONORS ADVANCED

1 ENGLISH 2 ENGLISH 2 HONORS ENGLISH 2 HONORS

2 GEOMETRY GEOMETRY HONORS ALGEBRA 2 HONORS

3 CHEMISTRY 1 CHEMISTRY 1 HONORS CHEMISTRY 1 HONORS

4 WORLD HISTORY WORLD HISTORY HONORS AP WORLD HISTORY

5 BAND BAND BAND

6 FOREIGN LANGUAGE FOREIGN LANGUAGE HONORS HONORS or PreAICE FORGEIN LANGAUGE

7 ELECTIVE ELECTIVE AP/AICE ELECTIVE

REGULAR HONORS ADVANCED

1 ENGLISH 3 ENGLISH 3 HONORS AP LANGUAGE & COMPOSI-TION

2 ALGEBRA 2 ALGEBRA 2 HONORS PRE-CALCULUS

3 EARTH/SPACE SCIENCE PHYSICS HONORS PHYSICS HONORS

4 AMERICAN HISTORY AMERICAN HISTORY HONORS AP AMERICAN HISTORY

5 BAND BAND BAND

6 ELECTIVE ELECTIVE HONORS or PreAICE FORGEIN LANGAUGE

7 ELECTIVE ELECTIVE AP/AICE ELECTIVE

REGULAR HONORS ADVANCED

1 ENGLISH 4 ENGLISH 4 HONORS AP LITERATURE & COMPOSI-

TION

2 TRIGONOMETRY/ANALYTIC GEOMETRY

PRE-CALCULUS AP CALCULUS AB

3 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY HONORS

AP/AICE SCIENCE COURSE

4 US GOVERNMENT/ECONOMICS US GOVERNMENT HONORS/ECONOMICS HONORS

AP US GOVERNMENT/AP MAC-ROECONIMICS

5 BAND BAND BAND

6 ELECTIVE ELECTIVE AP FORGEIN LANGAUGE

7 ELECTIVE ELECTIVE AP/AICE ELECTIVE

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NICEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL BAND CALENDAR*

*This is a sample of the typical calendar for the school year. Actual dates will vary with

school start/end dates and school vacations. For more specific information please visit the

band website at http://www.NicevilleEaglePride.com and click on the calendar link at the

top of the page.

July Rookie Camp (all new students) Morning (2-3 days)

Majorette Camp 1 week

Colorguard Basics and Choreography Camp 2 weeks

Percussion Camp 1 week

Music Camp — Winds (woodwinds and brass) and

Percussion

1 week, afternoons

Drill Camp (all band including auxiliaries) 1 week, evenings

August Tuesday and Thursday Marching Band Rehearsals 6-9pm

Late August Kick-Off Classic (band plays if game is at home) evening

Sept. –Dec Friday Night Football Games — call time for band

varies with location of game — regular season ends

in mid November

Home 5-10pm

Away varies

Mid-Sept All State Auditions TBA

October Marching competitions/FBA Festival TBA

November Sounds of the Stadium Concert TBA

Nov./Dec Auditions for 2nd semester placement TBA

Early December All-County Band auditions, TBA

December, first

Saturday

Twin Cities Holiday Parade morning

Early January FMEA All-State Convention

Late January All-County Band rehearsals and concert TBA

February Solo and Ensemble Festival/ Jazz Festival TBA

March/April FBA District Concert Festival/State Festival TBA

May Auditions for next year (band and auxiliary) YBA

May Spring Awards and Band Concert evening

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NHS BAND FEES

FEE AMOUNT

General Participation Fee (uniform usage, music, seasonal clinicians, equipment, etc.)

$150

Auxiliary/Clinician Fee (includes Color Guard, Drum-line, and Majorettes)

$100

Uniform Accessory Fee (New Students — includes shorts, t-shirt, travel shirt, shoes* and gloves) *shoes from middle school marching band are acceptable for high school band and lower fee by $37

$90

School-owned concert instrument Rental Fee (includes percussion) (due at beginning of each se-mester)

$50/semester

School-owned marching instrument rental fee (due on Uniform Fit Day)

$75

All fees are due on Uniform Fit Day. No balances DUE from the previ-ous year will be carried forward to the current year. We are sorry, but if you do not pay for the required items, you will not be issued a uni-form. Families with special hardship should contact the Band Booster Treasurer or the band director.

We have some of the lowest fees in a three county radius. In addition, we offer financial assistance to those who need it, and we offer a variety of fundraising opportunities to help pay your band fees.

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CH

AR

MS

Charms is our system for keeping records for the Niceville High School Band. Through Charms you can check dates on the Band calendar, access your Student Account balance, update your contact information, view any assigned inventory such as uniform parts, and volunteer for events.

Step 1: To access Charms go to the Charms website at www.charmsoffice.com

On the menu select ENTER and then Parents/Students/Members.

Once fully logged in you will be able to access your student’s band finances, update contact information, and volunteer for events by clicking on the appropriate icon. You may also cre-ate an “Event List” from the calendar based on a selected date range.

Step 4: To access a

student account, type the student’s school ID number (the same num-ber you use to check grades online) into the Student Area Password box and click on Enter.

Step 2: In the box

labeled “Please Enter Your School Code” type NicevilleHSB and click Enter Charms.

Step 3: Once you

have logged in to Charms you can ac-cess the Public Calen-dar, the Band website, or email the directors.

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What Band Has Done for Me . . . ―Band has provided me an outlet through which I am able to express my creativity.‖ 11th grade clarinet

player

―Because of the Eagle Pride I feel as if my musical abilities have been enhanced and I know I will cherish my

memories later in life.‖ 9th grade tuba player

―Band adds balance to an academically loaded schedule and makes me a well-rounded person. It provides me with

music, friends, teamwork, and life-skills.‖ 11th grade French horn player

―Band has greatly influenced my appreciation of all kinds of music.‖ 12th grade euphonium player

―I‘ve not only learned to follow but also how to lead!‖ 11th grade flute player

―Band exposed me to so many different kinds of people allowing me to really expand my friendships!‖

9th grade French horn player

―Band taught me so much about self discipline, manners and basic maturity. I have been amazed how much of

what I learned in high school band that I‘ve used in college - and I‘m not a music major!‖

College Freshman – Louisiana State University

―In no other club do you get this kind of experience and insight into life. It is the trip of lifetime. It is an experi-

ence that can't be fully encapsulated in writing. I learned that leadership is not about having all the right answers;

it's about knowing where to find them!‖ 12th grade student leader

What Band Has Done for My Child . . . ―The NHS Band means the world to my kids! Of course they enjoy the teamwork, friendships and fun. Another

benefit is that the work ethic instilled in band members helps them to be strong academically, too. And now my

kids are lifelong musicians; I feel certain that they will derive joy from music their entire lives because of the

Band.‖

―Band gives students passion of purpose, the ability to exude self-confidence, learn high integrity and instills the

persistent drive for excellence. It liberates the leader in every student and it is just plain fun!‖

―Band has provided for both our children discipline, high expectations (musically and behaviorally), and a level of

musicianship that far exceeds many college instrumental organizations.‖

―Band gave my children a place to feel safe and secure in a big and sometimes confusing high school

world. It gave them their band family who helped them through the hard times and celebrated the good times. Band

was the glue that held them together through their high school years.‖

"Playing an instrument in the band room and on the stage, on the marching field or in the stands, allows my chil-

dren the opportunity to increase their music skills AND have tons of fun!"

―‗There will be rewards that will surprise you!‘ sums it up for us. We never cease to be amazed by the rewards our

family has experienced by our children participating in band – the thrill of hearing our teenagers (boys!) discuss

the qualities of a piece of classical music at the dinner table, the sense of pride at working with a group for a com-

mon goal, and then to benefit beyond high school with a music scholarship – we could go on and on.‖

―Band has taught my children that hard work not only leads to success, but can be a lot of fun along the way. Band

has instilled in my children a sense of pride, not just in their own abilities, but in their section, their band, their

school and their community. Band has given my children opportunities to do things and go places they could have

never done on their own. That‘s what it means to be a part of the Eagle Pride Band!‖

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