MHS Band FAQ

Last updated Monday, August 25, 2008

Clicking on the topic item below will take you to a web location with the appropriate information.

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Click here to see who you can contact for answers.

A Accounts (student), Attendance Policy	J	S Schedule (class), Shoes, Signing up for band, Staff , Student accounts, Student behavior, Student info forms, Summer school
B Band camp, Band room, Band (How much time does it take), Bands (how many? How do I sign up?), Boosters, Bus trips	K	T Tardy Policy, Teachers, Trips
C Calendar, Camp, Car Pool, Chaperones, Class Schedule, Color Guard, Concert Location (home), Contacts, Costs	L Lettering Requirements	U Uniforms
D Directors, District Honor Band, Dues	M Manzano (main web page), Marching Band, Meetings, Milne Stadium, Money	V Vice Presidents, Volunteer Opportunities
E e-mail addresses, Events	N	W Web Master, Wilson Stadium
F Fees, Fittings (uniforms), Flag Line, Football Games, Forms (all kinds), Fundraisers	O	X
G Grading Policy	P Pageant (forms, info, etc.), Pep Band Rules, Permission Slips, Photo Album, Pictures, Practice, Presidents	Y
H	Q	Z Zero Hour
I Ice Cream Social, Images, Instrument Rental, Instruments (can I choose what I play?)	R Raising money, Registration Fee, Rentals (instrument)

Accounts

See Student Accounts

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Band Camp	See camp web page.
Band (How much time does band take?)	There is one required sectional (extra rehearsal with your section: trumpets, percussion, harmonica, etc.) a week. The day and time are determined by the first full week of school. Every other event that will take up your time is listed on the band calendar. That is of course except for practice time!
Bands (how many? How do I pick?)	The only "choice" the student makes when they signing up for high school band is whether or not to be in jazz band as well. All students are automatically placed in the correct class by simply requesting marching/concert band on their registration form. If you wish to try jazz band there is an advanced jazz band by audition only, and an intermediate jazz band for anyone at all!!! After marching season, auditions will take place and students will be placed in wind ensemble or symphonic band. This however does not affect how they sign up for band as a freshman.
Band Room	The band room is directly west of the Wilson stadium parking lot (east of entire school) . Go through the opening in the parking lot gate (west of lot) and turn left (south).

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District Honor Band

Each band director in District VII (Albuquerque schools both private and public) may submit nominations of about 10 students to the District Vice President of bands who then takes the list to a committee of 4 district band directors who set instrumentation for the band and select the students who will particiapate.

The committee is required to take the top 3 nominees from each school and then they fill in the remaining instrumentation by the following specifications: All State, Albuquerque Youth Symphony, Albuquerque Youth Orchestra, UNM Youth Band, NM Jazz Workshop bands, etc.

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Football Games

The band plays at all in-town varsity football games and some out-of-town games. The "home" school performs the National Anthem and the half-time show. The "away" school performs the pre-game show, about twenty minutes prior to the official game time. If the "home" school does not have a half-time show, the "away" school provides the half-time show.

The band takes a break during the third-quarter, with refreshments provided by the band boosters.

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Ice Cream Social	Saturday, July 26, 2008, 12:30 - 2:30 PM Click here for more info
Instruments (I can play more than one instrument. Can I choose what I play or does the director choose?)	The student always chooses what to play, unless you ask me (the director) what you should play or if it matters. I will always tell you where we need more players (low brass and French horns) and also tell you where I think you will feel the most successful. The final decision always comes down to the student, but once you commit, we count on you.

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Marching Band

Which instruments are used in marching band?

flute/piccolo
clarinet
bass clarinet
sax (alto, tenor or bari)

baritone
trumpet
French horn (mellophone)
trombone
tuba (sousaphone

marching percussion (snares, bass drums, and tenor drums)
pit percussion (everything from mallet instruments to crash cymbals to claves and tambourine)

Which instruments don't march?
The only instruments that do not march are the pit percussion.

If I don't play any of the listed instruments - What are my options?

Be in the Color Guard.
Learn a marchable instrument
Pit percussion

Meetings

Booster club - That's ALL of you parents.

Where: Manzano Band Room
Day: 2nd Tuesday of each month
Time: 7:00 PM

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Practice	Practice is important, but not any more important than every other class you are taking. Allow the same amount of time for your other classes as you do for band and you will be fine.
Photo Albums	Photos of the band during trips, camps, travel, sleep overs, marching, rehearsals, performances and almost any other thing you can image. Also parents, school and booster staff, and activities of all kinds. Click here to see us in action. If you have band related photos that you would like to share with us, please give them to the webmaster. Paper photos will be returned.

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Instrument Rental

Students may rent instruments. See the band director early as you can as there are not many instruments available. You will be required to fill out a rental form.

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Student Accounts

Each student will have a band account where money earned through band fund raising activities goes into his/her account. The funds in your student account can be used to pay for band fees and band trips. For questions regarding the status or balance of your student account, contact the treasurer.

Student account balances are not automatically transferred to pay fees! The student must ask a band mom to transfer a specific amount towards band or trip fees.

If a student has any past due fees, account transfers must first be applied to the past due amount. After all past due fees are paid, transfers can then be applied towards other events, such as a ttrip.

If you have difficulty paying your fees, visit the band director to work out a plan.

Schedule of Classes

All incoming freshmen are in both zero and 1st hour marching/concert band. The counselors and data processor will take care of proper placement of all incoming freshmen. This should not affect your schedule in any way. In selecting classes, ask your counselor or asst. Principal for help with any questions.

Summer School

Summer school is not required for students taking band classes at Manzano. The benefit however, is more freedom of electives throughout the high school years. Many students enjoy taking both marching/concert band and jazz band all four years, and this is much easier having taken summer school courses. Summer school information is available from each public school.

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Trips - out of town

How many are there?
We take about two major bus trips a year to a marching competition in the fall and a concert festival during the spring.

Who pays for the trips?
You pay for it, but there are fund raisers to help cover the costs. The more you earn with fund raisers, the easier it is for your parents to send you.

Do I need my parents permission?
Yes, you need parents OK and a permission slip filled out before you can travel

Must I go on the band trips?
No . . . but this is a part of our class, and these events are why we spend the countless hours of rehearsal and practice. To not attend would be quite the waste.

Chaperones?
We have the world's greatest parent chaperones to be there for moral support (guidance), uniform help, Mothering and Fathering, bed checks, and student backups for all those little things that come up. But mainly to holler and cheer for our students! Click here to see the head chaperones.

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Wilson Stadium

Wilson Stadium is located at 12600 Lomas Blvd NE, just east of Manzano High School.

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Zero Hour

Zero hour is required for all band students! It begins at 6:45 every morning and is part of your grade in band. There are many people who make this drive every morning. The band director can easily put you in touch with someone who can try to put together a car pool agreement with you.

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Camp	See camp web page.
Car Pool	The band director can put you in touch with someone who can try to put together a car pool agreement with you.
Color Guard (Flag Line)	*To be a part of the color guard (flag line) all you have to do is register for "marching auxiliary" instead of marching band.*
Concert (home) location	All home concerts will be held in the Performing Arts Center (PAC), which is located between the Offices of the Administration & the Main Gymnasium (facing Lomas Blvd).