July 9, 2023 Band Notes

Upcoming Events  

Wednesday, July 12

• MB Woodwind/Brass Smart Music - DUE
  • Woodwinds - CLICK HERE for reminders
  • Brass - CLICK HERE for reminders

Thursday, July 13

• MB Leadership Camp Registration Due by Midnight, (MB Student leaders only; Please see below for details.)

Monday, July 17

• MB Leadership Retreat, buses depart for Miami University at 7am (Please see below for complete details and to register.) - Leadership Only

Tuesday, July 18

• Start of Band Camp, MHS - All
  • See BAND CAMP GUIDEBOOK 2023 for details
  • 8:30-9:00 am Medication Drop Off (details below)

Tuesday, July 25

• Booster Meeting
• 5:30 PM, HS Auditorium

Saturday, July 29

• Tag Day

Future planned events can be found on the updated band calendar: Mason Band Calendar

Parent To Do Checklist For This Week

1. Register student leaders for Leadership Camp by Midnight, This Thursday
2. Have student (Freshman through Juniors) sign up for Uniform Fitting (see below).
3. Order Optional Rose Parade Jacket by Midnight, Thursday, July 20th
4. Sign up to donate snacks for band camp. (Please see below) Thanks for your help!!

NEW INFORMATION

STUDENTS: Schedule Classic Uniform Fitting

It is time for each musician to sign up to get fitted for their classic, black uniform. They will wear these uniforms until the new competition uniforms come in later in the season.  Students will also be fitted for shoes, gloves, and apollos.  Sign up links can be found below. Please be sure to sign up for the day that corresponds with your grade level. Fittings will be at the high school. Please wear tight fitting shorts, tank top, and socks to your fitting.  Please note:  This applies only to Instrumentalists!  Color Guard students have already been fitted for their uniforms for the season!

Junior fittings will be Tuesday, July 18th from 5:30-9:00pm

Sophomore fittings will be Wednesday, July 19th from 5:30-9:00pm

Freshman fittings will be Monday and Wednesday, July 24th and 26th from 5:30-9:00pm. 

Senior fittings were already completed during their portraits.  However, we will be double checking gloves and shoes on Wednesday, July 26th, 2023 from 5-7pm.  Please plan to stop by the Uniform Room/Guitar Room during that time period.

HOW DO I SIGN UP?

Seniors - No sign up needed.  Just come between 5-7pm on Wednesday, July 26th.

Juniors sign up HERE

Sophomores sign up HERE

Freshmen sign up for one of the dates below:

• Monday, July 24th 
• Wednesday, July 26th

 Please email uniforms@masonbandboosters.com with any questions.

Attention Band Aids And Chaperones

For our returning Band Aids and Chaperones, as well as new volunteers who have attended the training prior to mini band camp, volunteer slots for band camp have been entered into Charms.  Please take a look and see where you can help out during these busy and important weeks! 

We do have several new folks who have expressed interest in joining our team.  We will be hosting another training session on Tuesday, July 18th at 6:30pm in the Harvard Room at the High School.  We look forward to having you join our team! 

Questions? Please reach out to Melissa Woodward at vp-studentexperience @masonbandboosters.com

Save The Date: Booster Meeting

Please join us Tuesday, July 25th at 5:30pm in the High School Auditorium for our next Booster Meeting.  We will be sharing all of the most current information you need in regards to both the Marching Band season and the Rose Trip. Due to issues with the front doors of the High School, we ask that everyone enter the building through the back band entrance door.

Save The Date: Tag Day July 29 

Tag day is one of the Marching Band’s biggest student fundraisers.  Tag day will be Saturday, July 29 from 8:30-2:00 pm

All marchers are required to participate in TagDay. 

• Students will go out in teams to Mason neighborhoods requesting donations and offering key tags/band stickers for donations of $10 or more and two invitational tickets for donations of $50 or more.
• Student leaders will build teams mixed with upper and underclassmen during the first week of band camp.
• Our goal is $1000 per team!  Your donations and that of friends and family count towards your child’s team
• Fun prizes will be awarded for most spirited team, highest fundraising team, and more
• Volunteers Needed! You can sign up to drive now on Charms. If you would like to drive, please ensure you have an instant background check on our roster.  If you have not yet done a background check, please fill out this form  and make payment of $16 through EZPAY (preferred method) or bring to Sarah Jo Tewksberry at Central Office - 211 N. East St.   If you had a background check for the school district in the past 5 years for any reason, you will be good to go. Please note this is not the extensive background check needed for volunteer positions such as chaperones, band aids, etc. More information on how to obtain a background check can be found here.

Questions? Reach out to tagday@masonbandboosters.com

Band Camp Information

Band Camp is just around the corner and we are excited to get started! Please take the time to read the BAND CAMP GUIDEBOOK 2023 for tons of info related to camp, including specific rehearsal times, theme days, and more!

• Band Camp Week 1
  • Leadership Camp July 17th (Please see below, student leaders only.)
  • Rehearsal: July 18-21, 9am-5pm (Please note that only leadership will meet on Monday of this week. Everyone else begins on Tuesday.)
  • All Band Social: (Student Only Event) Thursday, July 20, 7-9pm 
• Band Camp Week 2 
  • Rehearsal: July 24-28, 9am-5pm
  • Booster Meeting:  Tuesday, July 25, 5:30pm; HS Auditorium
  • History Night: (Student Only Event) Thursday, July 27, 7-10pm
  • Skit Night: (Student Only Event) Friday, July 28, 7-9pm
  • Tag Day: Saturday, July 29 (More details coming soon!)
• Band Camp Week 3
  • Rehearsal: July 31-August 4, 9am-9pm
  • Rehearsal: Saturday, August 5, 1pm-9pm

For the most current Band Schedule please go to the Mason Band Calendar

Medication Drop Off For Band Camp

If your student will need medication for Band Camp, please sign up for a time in Charms to drop off their medication (if you haven’t done so already). 

• When: Med Drop off will be on Tues July 18th 8:30-9:00 am 
• Where: MHS Staff Dining Lounge (enter thru Music Wing Doors)
• Sign Up: Direct link to sign up in Charms here 

Please also carefully read the Medication Policy in advance. You will need to prepare your student’s medication with a completed med insert card placed in a ziploc bag with their medication following the instructions in our Medication Check-in Guide. Remember to upload all DMS forms here prior to bringing medication to check in. 

If you have any questions or need to make an alternate drop off appointment, email medicalsecretary@masonbandboosters.com

Snack Donations Needed

Marching is hard work!  Our students so appreciated having snacks to help them get through their days during mini camp. Please consider signing up to donate snack items to keep our hard working marchers energized for band camp! No time to shop?  That's OK, you can sign up to donate funds to be used to help purchase snacks for the band.  Items may be dropped off on the first day of camp. 

Please sign up to donate HERE

Questions? Please reach out to Melissa Woodward at vp-studentexperience @masonbandboosters.com

REMINDERS

Optional: Rose Parade Jackets Available

Rose Parade Jackets are available for purchase from Friday Threads at the following link: 2024 MHS Rose Parade Jackets. The jackets are available to students, family and friends and are able to be personalized. These jackets are completely OPTIONAL. All students will receive a Rose Parade patch to put onto their current band jackets. Orders must be placed by Thursday, July 20, 2023 at midnight.

Leadership Retreat

Attention Marching Band Student Leaders: The Student Leadership Retreat will be at Miami University in Oxford, OH on Monday, July 17, 2023.  This retreat is optional but STRONGLY ENCOURAGED for all of our leaders for 2023.  Tentative itinerary is as follows:  

In order to confirm your spot at the retreat, we are asking each student to register and pay $30.  The Registration form is below.  PLEASE BE SURE TO READ EVERYTHING AS THE FORM LISTS WHAT YOU ARE REQUIRED TO BRING WITH YOU AND HOW YOU SHOULD DRESS!  We will follow up a few days before with any rain plans and specific attire needed based on the weather if needed.  There are three very important forms and permissions we need you to complete and upload to the registration form.  We advise you to print, sign and scan/take photo BEFORE you complete the form so you can be ready to upload.

1. MCS Permission/Waiver - Sign and Upload - Only ONE Parent Signature required.
2. Miami University Permission/Waiver - Sign and Upload.  Only ONE Parent signature required!  Please be sure to note Student’ Name where indicated in release section on 2nd page.
3. Transportation acknowledgement and waiver (embedded in the Jotform.  Just answer the questions as appropriate).

Leadership Retreat registration form must be completed and paid by MIDNIGHT, THIS THURSDAY, JULY 13TH!

2023 MB Leadership Retreat Registration

If you have any questions, please contact Shannon Wielinga at travel@masonbandboosters.com.

We hope you are all having a great summer!  Looking forward to a terrific season!

Ultimate Drill Book (UDB) - Optional

This year we again have the ability to allow students and families who like having access to the “Ultimate Drill Book” tool to purchase this individually for the season. This is not required, and is completely optional for families/students. This is the same drill tool that the directors and staff use, and allow students to hear and see their individual “dot” in the show as the drill moves with the music on their device. The cost is $10 plus tax, that covers the entire season. Families can purchase anytime between now and August 26th. 

To Purchase UDB for your student: 

1. Go to this link: https://www.ultimatedrillbook.com/product/william-mason-high-school-2023-individual-udbapp-license/
2. Add the subscription to your cart 
3. Pay the fee ($10.30) 
4. Download the "UDB" app from the App Store on your phone or Ipad (see UDB website for compatible devices) 
5. Once per week on Wednesdays, Mr. Hinson will receive an email from UDB with students that have purchased. Students will then receive an email to their school email with the ensemble code that allows them to join the Mason UDB group. 
6. If you'd like to learn more about UDB before purchasing, see this video from the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps about UDB: CLICK HERE

Tutorial for students on how to use UDB: CLICK HERE

Last Chance To Apply to be a Rack Captain!

Calling all Sophomore, Junior, and Senior Marching Band members:

The Uniform Crew is now seeking students to serve as Rack Captains! Rack Captains are essential student leaders who assist the Uniform Crew to make sure each marcher is dressed correctly when in uniform and that uniforms are stored properly after every performance. Many Rack Captains also assist the U-Crew by helping with uniform fittings, teaching new marchers proper storage of uniform pieces, and many other tasks regarding marching band uniforms. If interested, please fill out the Rack Captain Application by Midnight on July 16, 2023. Email uniforms@masonbandboosters.com with any questions.

Marching Band Next Steps - Registration Guide

Marching Band Registration Guide

This linked guide below is a comprehensive guide on all of the remaining steps required for both Marching Band and the Rose Parade Trip. 

2023 Marching Band Registration Guide

Next Up

• August 1, Pay $575 Rose Trip Payment #4 via  Bob Rogers Travel

Please contact medicalsecretary@masonbandboosters with any questions regarding medications or physicals.  If you have any questions regarding fees, please email Mr. Sleppy at sleppyj@masonohioschools.com.