• 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 three 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.

 

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 (MUEN 1116 01 for brass, woodwinds and color guard; MUEN 1116 02 for percussion).

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.

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What Will I Need?

For music rehearsals:

For marching rehearsals:

For performances:

Woodwind, Brass, Percussion

Color Guard uniform to be determined by guard instructor

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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 properly maintained. All equipment is listed property of the state and must be returned upon request.

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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.

Stipends will be awarded to BMB members during their second year of participation. Stipend amounts will increase with the third and fourth years of participation. In order to receive a full stipend, students must participate in every BMB performance.

Regular rehearsals:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mondays, 6:30-8:50 PM at Bowers Stadium.
Tuesdays/Thursdays 4:00-5:50 PM at Pritchett Field

Further information regarding absence and grading procedures is detailed in the BMB Syllabus posted on Blackboard.

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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 3 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. Transfer students will not receive a stipend until the second year of participation in BMB.

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 have a spot in the first show; therefore, they will not be awarded the marching band stipend performances of that show.

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Summer Drumline Camp

 

Percussion Start Date is AUGUST 11th.

For the evenings of August 11, 12 and 13, BMB will provide a room with quad occupancy for drum line members who need a place to stay prior to August 14.  Accommodations will be at the University Hotel, which is across the street from the PAC.

Please be aware that you will be on your own for meals.  Dining hall service begins on Thursday, August 18. BMB will have food at the evening social events on Monday and Tuesday, August 15 and 16.

2011 Summer Drum Line Music will be posted here. Check back for updates.

16 On A Hand 09

16th Note Accent 4-2-1

16th Note Timing 4-2-1

Chuck n Buck

Cizmo 09

Malkovich_0001

Malkovich_0003

Manson

Naningo 09

New Mojo 09

Orange Taco Lemonade 09

Ravin 09

Tio Loco 09

Triplet Diddles

Cymbals16s

ChuckBuckCym

Redbird

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Summer Color Guard Camp

 

Color Guard Instructor News:

We are pleased to announce that Tom Harrington will be the new BMB Color Guard Instructor!  Mr. Harrington is a creative, energetic and experienced professional who will be an outstanding addition to the BMB staff.  We will post his biographical information soon.

 

We will have a separate camp for Color Guard from August 11 -13. prior to the full band arrival on August 14.

For the evenings of August 11, 12 and 13, BMB will provide a room with quad occupancy for color guard members who need a place to stay prior to August 14..  Accommodations will be at the University Hotel, which is across the street from the PAC.

Please be aware that you will be on your own for meals.  Dining hall service begins on Thursday, August 18. BMB will have food at the evening social events on Monday and Tuesday, August 15 and 16.

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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 Syllabus (posted on Gradebook). 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?
We have several important goals to accomplish during band camp:

• Unify our marching style so that we all look alike
• Unify our concepts of articulation and style so that we all play alike
• Memorize music for the first show
• Learn drill for the first show
• Learn pregame music and drill
• Learn stand tunes

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.

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