• Prerequisites
• What will I need?
• School-owned Instruments
• Attendance
• Registration
• Music Majors and Marching Band
• Summer Drumline Camp
• Summer Colorguard Camp
• Frequently Asked Questions

               Forms
• Member Information Form
• Summer Band Expense Form
• Early Dorm Move-in Form

Membership in the Bearkat Marching Band is open to all students enrolled at Sam Houston State University. Non-majors are welcome and encouraged to join. Music Education majors are required to have four semesters of marching band completed before graduation. All other music majors (music performance, music therapy, theory/composition, etc.) are required to complete 2 semesters of marching band prior to graduation.

Prerequisites

The minimum requirement for membership in the Bearkat Marching Band is two years prior marching experience (high school marching band, college marching band, or drum & bugle corps). Exceptions are considered on a case-by-case basis.

 

Percussion: Percussionists audition for a position on snare, tenors, bass drum or cymbals. Non-percussionists will be considered based on ability level and experience. Pit percussion is open to percussionists as well as non-percussionists with prior pit experience or keyboard experience.

 

Color Guard: Guard membership is open to all SHSU students with previous color guard experience..

 

Auditions: There are no auditions for acceptance in the BMB. You need only meet the prerequisite for acceptance and enroll in the course (ENS 116).

NOTE: Percussion audition music is posted on the website and percussionists will audition for part assignments during summer percussion camp. All other members will audition for parts during the first full day of summer band. The audition will consist of sightreading and/or music posted online during the summer.

Back to Top ^  

What Will I Need?

For music rehearsals:

For marching rehearsals:

For performances:

Woodwind, Brass, Percussion

Color Guard

Back to Top ^  

School-owned Instruments

School-owned instruments are available for mellophone, baritone, sousaphone, and percussion. Once issued, the student is financially responsible for the equipment. Any costs for damages or repairs beyond normal wear will be charged to the student. Loss of the instrument (state property) while issued to the student will result in the full cost of the instrument being charged to the student. 

All equipment must be thoroughly cleaned and polished before check-in. Upon return, an additional charge of $25 will be assessed for instruments that have not been cleaned or polished. All equipment is listed property of the state and must be returned upon request.

Back to Top ^  

Attendance

Members are expected to be at all rehearsals, sectionals, and performances. Students will not be excused to attend other classes, work, teach lessons, attend weddings, or for any other personal business. Commitment to the ensemble is crucial for success of the Bearkat Marching Band. Individual requests will be examined on a case by case basis.

Regular rehearsals:

Mondays, 6:30-9:00 PM at Bowers Stadium.
Tuesdays/Thursdays 4:00-6:00 PM at Pritchett Field

Further information regarding absence and grading procedures is detailed in the BMB Handbook (distributed during registration).

Back to Top ^  

Registration

Registration is held on the first day of summer band. The following is required at registration:

 

Music Majors and Marching Band

Requirement

All undergraduate music majors (woodwind, brass, percussion) are required to enroll in marching band.

Music Education majors are required to enroll in 4 semesters of marching band. All other music majors (i.e. Music Performance, Music Therapy, etc.) are required to enroll in 2 semesters of marching band. Music majors must enroll in marching band every fall semester until the requirement has been satisfied.

Transfer students

Transfer students that have completed marching band courses at another university may count those courses towards the SHSU Marching Band requirements.

Exceptions

Students with physical limitations will need to formally request a waiver (include all medical documentation) to be excluded from marching. However, these students must still enroll and attend all marching band rehearsals and performances. Special observation assignments and other duties will be assigned for these students to complete while at rehearsal. Students are not excused from the marching band requirement for any reason (work, teaching lessons, other class conflicts, etc.)

Major Ensemble requirement

All music majors must complete a major ensemble each semester. For Wind and Percussion majors, only Wind Ensemble and Marching Band will satisfy major ensemble requirements during the Fall semester. Students that make Wind Ensemble must still participate in marching band until the marching band requirement has been satisfied.

IMPORTANT
Music majors that have completed the marching band requirement may still need to enroll in marching band to satisfy the major ensemble requirement. Music Majors that wait until AFTER the wind ensemble audition to join the marching band (and consequently miss summer band) will NOT be awarded a marching band stipend.

Back to Top ^  

 

Summer Drumline Camp

August 12-15.  Visit the percussion camp page.

 

Back to Top ^

 

Summer Colorguard Camp

August 12-15.  Visit the colorguard camp page.

 

Back to Top ^

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Must I attend summer band rehearsals?
Yes. Attendance is required at all summer band rehearsals.

How many rehearsals and/or performances can I miss?
None. Being a part of the ensemble requires a firm commitment to attend ALL rehearsals, sectionals, and performances. In certain circumstances, you may be excused from a limited number of rehearsals depending on the nature of the absense. Grading and Attendance procedures are detailed in the BMB Handbook (distributed during registration). No member will be allowed to miss a performance due to work, another class, weddings, etc.

Are sectionals required?
Percussion and Color Guard have a mandatory 1.5 hour sectional each week (in addition to class time). Although infrequent, other sections may have a sectional on occasion, if necessary.

Where do I go on registration day?
Registration will begin in the Music Building promptly at 9:00 a.m. If you will be living in the dorms, dorm check-in times will be posted and discussed at registration.

I’m a non-major, but I may not be as good as a music major. Can I still join?
Certainly! Over 40% of the band are non-music majors. We are looking for members who like to play, like to march, will work hard, and like to have fun!

What will happen during summer band?
Our primary goal during summer band is mastery of the SHSU marching style. Remember, all members come from different backgrounds and various marching styles. Summer band is our only opportunity to master the same style. Additionally, we will have approximately two weeks before our first show. In that time we will learn our Pre-Game show, our 1st Half-Time show, and most of the stand-charts.

Is college marching band similar to high school marching band?
Not really. Our sole purpose is to support athletics and entertain the crowd at events. For this reason, we generally perform three or four different shows during the season. Also, most of our members have between 4-7 years of experience in marching band, so we are able to learn quickly and perform at a high level.

Back to Top ^