Student Leaders

2011-12 SHS Marching Band Student Leaders

To lead is to serve...to give...to achieve together.

Drum Majors
Annamarie Filippone, Leah Grubb, & James Cella

Flutes
Rachael Graham

Clarinets
Allie Brown & John Barber

Saxophones
Emily Stackhouse

Trumpets
Michael Wright

Low Brass
Ross Lawrence

Percussion Captains
Amrita Ramachandran & Tyler Demcher

Front Ensemble
Gary Thurwanger

Guard Captains

Stephanie Antonik, Emily Chow, & Valerie Johnson

Historian
Veronica Gillespie

2011-12 Leadership Team Maxims

1. To be early is to be on time, to be on time is to be late, and to be late is unacceptable.

2. Determination, Hard work, and Positive Attitude = SUCCESS 3. The key to being a good leader is acitve participation.

4. Dedicate yourself to being a great leader.

5. To make a difference, be the difference.

6. Cooperation encourages togetherness.

7. Find your moment of ZEN.

Leadership...

Enthusiasm

Confidence

Trust

Commitment

Determination

Unity

Passion

Respect

Patience

Communication

Cooperation

Innovation

Responsible

Friendly

Organization

Compassionate

Togetherness

Energetic

Dedication

ZEN

Strong student leadership is an absolute necessity in order to achieve success in marching band. The standard procedure for most high schools is to interview and hold auditions for these positions, with the end result being the best candidate for the job earns the title of “section captain” or some other title which insinuates authority. Once rehearsals start, these section leaders are given the “power” to lead their section through the season until the process begins again the following year. The reality of the situation, however, is that in order to run an efficient and successful organization, the majority of the leadership must come from those members who have no official title. If the “section leaders” were the only members of the band to actually lead and set the correct example, there would obviously be little to no rehearsal etiquette, order or progress throughout the season.

Real progress starts the first day of rehearsal, when the new members enter the rehearsal field for the first time and immediately see a trend among the older members of the band: everyone is quiet, listening for instructions; everyone is standing in the proper position; everyone is wearing proper rehearsal attire; and most importantly, everyone is trying their hardest at every single task they are given. As a result, these new members do not even need to ask their section leader, “What do I do now?” They simply look at you and everyone else around you, and it is so incredibly clear; the new members follow the lead of their peers and immediately understand how to act during rehearsal.

Think back to when you were a freshman or incoming member of the band and you stepped onto the field during your first rehearsal; what did you notice? Was everyone on exactly the same page, setting a great example, making it completely clear what you needed to do? Or was everyone different; some people setting a good example, some people not talking, but still not listening or behaving correctly, and some people clearly out of order? The latter, in my experience, is the most common situation, where there is no clear example set for the new members.

As an upper classmen and veteran or your organization, it is your responsibility to lead by example and help the band reach its maximum potential. It is important to remember that if you do not hold the official title of “captain” or whichever your band uses, you do not have the authority to publicly or aurally attempt to lead your section (unless of course you are instructed otherwise by your section leader or staff.) It is also important to reiterate that just because you do not hold an official title does not mean you are not a leader. When people enter a world that is new to them, in our case, the world of the marching band, they are quite understandably unsure of what exactly is going on, how to act, and what is expected of them. As veterans of your band, you have the power and responsibility to help those new members and shape your band the way you want it to be. New members will respond immediately if they see everyone around them doing the same thing the same way at the same time.

Do not underestimate the power of leading by example, and the responsibility you hold as a veteran member of your band. When every single person in your group works together and sets a clear example for all to follow, that is the true essence of leadership. To quote the great American writer Henry Miller, “the real leader has no need to lead – he is content to point the way.”

This Week

Mon. 2/20 - No School

Pit Band Rehearsal
10:00-12:00 PM

Tue. 2/21

Pit Band with Cast
3:00 PM

Wed. 2/22

Pit Band with Cast
3:00 PM

Indoor Percussion Rehearsal
6:00-8:00 PM

Thur. 2/23

Pit Band with Cast
3:30 PM

Fri. 2/24

Pit Band with Cast
3:00 PM

Indoor Guard Rehearsal
6:00-10:00 PM

Sat. 2/25
Indoor Percussion Rehearsal
9:00-12:00 PM

Indoor BLUE Gaurd Rehearsal

9:00-2:30 PM

Indoor GOLD Guard Rehearsal

11:00-2:30

Indoor Guard & Percussion Showcase
4:00 PM

Student and Parent Volunteers

Report at 1:00 PM

Next Week

Mon. 2/27

Musical Dress Rehearsal
4:00 PM
Pit Call Time 3:30 PM

Tue. 2/28

Musical Dress Rehearsal
4:00 PM
Pit Call Time 3:30 PM

Wed. 2/29

Musical Dress Rehearsal
4:00 PM
Pit Call Time 3:30 PM

Musical Preview Performance
6:30 PM

Thur. 3/1

Musical Performance
7:00 PM
Pit Call Time 6:15 PM

Fri. 3/2

Musical Performance
7:00 PM
Pit Call Time 6:15 PM

Indoor Guard Rehearsal
6:00-10:00 PM

Sat. 3/3

Indoor Percussion Rehearsal

9:00-12:00 PM

Rustin HS CBA Indoor Show
Indoor Guard Rehearsal & Call Time TBA

Musical Performance
7:00 PM
Pit Call Time 6:15 PM

Sun. 3/4
Musical Performance
7:00 PM
Pit Call Time 1:15 PM

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