Band Camp

BAND CAMP

The Summer Newsletter is here! In it, you will find important information regarding band camp, including move-in schedule, rehearsals, housing and meals, contact information, and much more. If you have any questions, please get in touch with us via the Contact Form.

Camp Schedule
What to bring...
How to prepare...

Band Camp for the 2017 Marching Sycamores will be held 13-20 August, 2017. There are different report times for Leadership,
Color Guard, and Percussion. See below for a more detailed itinerary.

Thursday, 10 August - Leadership Reports (this day is ONLY for Leadership)

12:00 PM Move In (on-campus leadership)
Report directly to your assigned dorm, staff should be on site to assist.
03:00 PM ALL Leadership Report & Meeting (CRH, aka Landini 159)
04:00 PM Preparatory Work/Leadership Uniform Fittings (on rotating basis TBA)
06:00 PM Dinner (catered)
07:00 PM Preparatory Work/Leadership Uniform Fittings (on rotating basis TBA)
09:00 PM Dismissal (rest and be smart!)

Friday, 11 August – Guard and Percussion RRR - Report/Register/Rehearse

12:00 PM Percussion/Guard: Move into your University housing assignment.
Report directly to your assigned dorm, staff should be on site to assist.
12:30 PM Percussion/Guard: Registration Begins (CRH, aka Landini 159)
ALL leadership helps with registration/unfinished prep work
02:00 PM       Percussion/Guard: Rehearsals Begin
   Percussion: Choir Room (or outside, weather permitting)
     Color Guard: North Gym (or outside, weather permitting)
05:00 PM Dinner Break
06:30 PM       Percussion/Guard: Rehearsals
   Percussion: Choir Room (or outside, weather permitting)
     Color Guard: North Gym (or outside, weather permitting)
09:00 PM Dismissal (rest and be smart!)

Saturday, 12 August – Guard and Percussion Rehearsals

09:00 AM Percussion/Guard: Rehearsal
12:00 PM Lunch Break
01:30 PM Percussion/Guard: Rehearsal
04:30 PM Rehearsal Ends
04:45 PM Guard/Percussion Uniform Fittings (“Wet Room” / Fine Arts Basement)
Dismissal for the day (AFTER you have been fitted - rest and be smart!)
Stay hydrated - water, not soda or...other things)

Sunday, 13 August – ALL Brass & Woodwinds RRR – Report/Register/Rehearse
This is the first day that all newcomers and non-leadership, non-guard/percussion members report

9:00 AM Percussion/Guard: Rehearsal
12:00PM Percussion/Guard: Lunch Break
12:00 PM All Winds (brass and wood!) move into your University housing assignment.
Report directly to your assigned dorm, staff should be on site to assist.
01:00 PM All Winds (Brass/WW): Registration Begins (CRH, aka Landini 159)
Uniform Fittings (“Wet Room” / Fine Arts Basement)
01:30PM Percussion/Guard: Rehearsal
03:30 PM Meeting – ALL First Time Members (Recital Hall)
04:30 PM Dinner Break
06:00 PM Welcome Meeting: ALL Members (winds, percussion, guard – CRH)
06:30 PM Winds and Percussion: First Music Rehearsal (CRH, aka Landini 159)
Color Guard: Rehearsal (location TBA)
09:00 PM Social Hour – Get to know your fellow Marching Sycamores!
10:00 PM Dismissal – Be smart, rest up and hydrate for tomorrow!

Monday, 14 August - Friday, 18 August - schedule is the same each day

8:30 AM EVERYONE: Visual/Drill Rehearsal (KENNEDY FIELD)
11:30AM Lunch Break
01:00 PM EVERYONE: Sectionals (locations TBA by your section leader)
02:30 PM Sectional Bonding Time
02:45 PM Break/Transition
03:00 PM Winds and Percussion: Music Rehearsal (CRH, aka Landini 159)
Color Guard: Rehearsal (Location TBA)
05:15 PM Dinner Break
06:45 PM EVERYONE: Visual/Drill Rehearsal (KENNEDY FIELD)
09:00 PM Dismiss

Note: On Thursday, 17 August, a small group of members (the newly-created “Sycamore Sound”) will perform for the Faculty & Staff “Welcome Back” event at 11:45am.

Saturday, 19 August

08:30 AM EVERYONE: Visual/Drill Rehearsal (KENNEDY FIELD)
11:30 AM Lunch Break
01:30 PM EVERYONE: Full Band Photo (in uniform, location TBA)
02:00 PM Sectionals (locations TBA by your section leader)
02:45 PM Break/Transition
3:00 PM Winds and Percussion: Music Rehearsal (CRH, aka Landini 159)
Color Guard: Rehearsal (Location TBA)
4:30 PM Dismissal – go shopping!
6:30 PM Picnic (KENNEDY FIELD)
Every Section Brings Something. Detailed assignments will be forthcoming. J

Sunday, 20 August

Morning Off! (School of Music Ensemble Auditions, for those interested in performing in an ensemble).

03:00 PM Winds and Percussion: Music Rehearsal (CRH, aka Landini 159)
Color Guard: Rehearsal (Location TBA)

04:30PM Walk over to Hulman Center for Convocation Performance (perform at 5pm)
05:45 PM Walk from Hulman to the Arch for March through the Arch.
07:00 PM Dismissal (tentative time – we will dismiss after the March through the Arch)

Dress for Convocation/March through the Arch will be the “B Uniform:”

Black Shoes and Black Socks
Black Shorts
Blue Sycamore Bands shirt (we provide)
Black Sycamore Bands ballcap (we provide)

NOTES
Attendance is taken at all rehearsals and all sectionals. Absences and tardies are frowned upon and may cost you a spot in Pre-Game drill, the Halftime show, or membership in the Marching Sycamores (and for those receiving a scholarship, it may cost you the scholarship!)

In case of rain or other inclement weather, Winds and Percussion will meet in CRH (Landini 159) for music rehearsal, and Guard will meet in a space to be announced prior to rehearsals.

One of the more frequently asked questions we receive about Sycamore Band Camp is...what do I bring? While this list is by no means comprehensive, we suggest the following (red* denotes a required item):

Black Shorts* (mid-thigh, no logos, no stripe) - for "B Uniform"
Black Socks* (mid-calf or higher) - for "B Uniform" (and "A Uniform" too!)
Black Marching Shoes* (non-patent leather)
Hat with a wide brim or ballcap* (REQUIRED from everyone - bare heads not allowed!)
Sunblock/Sunscreen/Lip Care (SPF 15 or higher, or you WILL get burned to a crisp)
Sunglassess
Flip folder* (all musicians) and lyre* (except sousaphones and percussion)
Your instrument* (unless renting, or color guard)
Necessary instrument needs (mouthpiece, reeds, valve oil, etc.)
Shorts (we do NOT recommend long pants)
Light, breathable clothes (dark colours are not a good choice)
Sneakers or cross trainers* (absolutely no flip flops or any shoe without a reinforced heel)
Bug repellant, medication, water bottle, etc.
Toiletries, including (please) deodorant, toothpaste, etc.
Cash or blank checks (for incidentals, instrument rental fee if applicable, etc.)

Another question we frequently receive is...how do I best prepare for camp?

Well for starters, make sure you are properly hydrated in the 2-3 days prior to camp. Indiana weather being what it is, we never know when it will be 60 degrees and rainy, or a 100-degree sunny sky with no clouds in sight. Avoid drinking soda/pop or other sugary drinks that tend to dehydrate you. Drink lots of water and eat stuff with high water content.
Practice a little on your instrument before you show up, even if only scales and long tones. Most people who have not played all summer long find it exhausting to suddenly play a long rehearsal at Camp. If you are a brass player, even buzzing on your mouthpiece 20 minutes a day will go a long way.
Get a head start on memorizing the music for pre-game and the stands tunes. This music can be found in our Dropbox File Center. Print out the music and start memorizing it, and when you show up at camp you'll find you've made life a whole lot easier for yourself.

Stretch and be active in the few days prior to Camp, especially if you haven't been particularly active during most of the summer. Camp can be tiring, no doubt, but the more aerobic activity you do in preparation for it, the easier it will be. Even walking 20 minutes a day during the week before Camp will help out tremendously.