Why should I be a music
booster?
Why
should I do this?
The
primary reason for the booster organization is to support your children. The music, showmanship, spectacle and
pageantry of the marching band experience are also reasons that you may
participate as a music booster. The
friendships you will make and the enjoyment of participating in this activity
are other benefits you will realize. But
first and foremost, this is for your child and his/her classmates.
What
can I do?
There are hundreds of things
that you can do to be active as a booster.
One of the most important things you can do is to attend monthly music
program booster meetings. These meetings
are where you should ask questions and voice your concerns and ideas about the
organization’s activities. This is where
the decisions are made, and you should be a part of that. Additional ways to help out are to volunteer
to chaperon, participate in fundraisers and help out at competitions and
performances.
I am new, do they really need me?
Regardless of your occupation
or area of experience there are many services you would be able to provide to
our music program.
Another important thing to do
as a new music parent is get involved right away; do not wait for someone to
ask you to help. Most of the time it's
just a small nucleus of members doing the majority of the work. There may be several reasons for this, but
many times it is because they fear being rejected by other parents, they do not
know who is willing to help or they are just so busy getting things done that
they don’t have time to recruit new members.
New music parents are like new music students because they are “not new
by the end of the season”. First year
band members are expected to learn their music and march just like the 8th
graders. First year music parents should
do the same. Don’t wait a year or two to
get involved. The time will go by much
too quickly.
If you are an experienced
member of the boosters, you should try to make other members feel welcome and
needed. You may have to go outside your
comfort level and introduce yourself to new members and make them feel like
part of the team.
Why
are they always doing fund raisers?
Thousands of dollars are
spent each year on the music department.
In most cases, the music boosters must generate this money. Several events will have to take place to
raise the needed funds. Some of the
expenses our music department incurs are:
band review & parade fees, uniform purchases, uniform cleaning,
instrument purchases & repairs, new equipment, etc.
What about the day of the competition?
Make sure your child is at
the appropriate location at the appointed time.
Our Director Mr. Bj Humpal will send home an agenda for each
competition, performance & event along with driving directions. When our band is traveling to a location,
please remember to send the necessary items with your child so that they have
everything they need to make their day complete. Make sure to send them with the correct color
of socks & under garments they need to wear with their uniforms, as well as
a change of clothes in case of rainy days.
The student should have the appropriate equipment: reeds, sticks, shoes, flag, etc.
Students should bring a
little spending money for food & souvenirs at various events. Send them on their way with a hug or kiss and
make sure you wish all the best to the rest of the students to make sure that
they know you will be there for support.
Do you
have any suggestions about watching the competitions?
When
driving to an event, you should try to arrive at least an hour or two before
the band is to perform. It’s a great
tribute to the other schools to know that you support all groups at the
event. Sometimes this isn’t possible,
some of the groups don’t have very many people in the stands or following
simply because some attendees only want to see their own child perform. A great incentive for students to perform
better is to have a responsive crowd in the stands or in the crowd following
them on their route. Be supportive of
the hosting school by purchasing a program of the day’s activities, which will include
a list of all those that are competing that day, and in what order they’ll be
performing, and other information about their show. Proceeds from each competition are used by the
host school music organization to fund their activities during their
season. Check out the booths, food, and
refreshment areas before finding a seat.
This will avoid you having to crawl over people once the competition
begins. Please be considerate of other
music groups by showing your support as they pass by. They have worked hard to prepare their show
and appreciate your support. Please be
respectful of all participants and spectators while you are in attendance. Music students are to be commended for their
tireless efforts to get prepared for the competition season. Whether or not our music group gets what you
perceive as a good or bad review by the judges, please be considerate of all
the music groups, and let them know that you support them no matter what the
outcome is on any given day.
A
closing request:
In closing, we would like to
say that regardless of the capacity that you serve as a music parent, from an
active booster to the prayer warrior cheering in the stands, that the choice to
support your child is something you will not regret. If you are currently not a member of our
booster organization then we invite you to get involved. Please be assured that we want and need your
help. If you are an active music
parent/music booster, on behalf of your child and all music members, we would
like to say thank you.
