Band Camp for the FULL BAND is
1week before classes begin. Move in day is 1-4 pm the Sunday a week before classes begin. We have short performances Friday for Freshman Vespers and the day before classes for Houndfest. We also have a Mini-Band Camp Labor Day Weekend!
Less time than you think. In addition to Band Camp before classes, there is a Mini Band Camp Labor
Day Weekend. During the semester, rehearsals are Tuesdays and
Thursdays 4 to 6 PM and Saturdays of game days from 10 till the
end of the game (usually about 4:30). We do NOT
perform every weekend. We perform for 4-6 football games, 1-2 high
school exhibitions, the Collegiate Marching Band Festival in Allentown,
the College homecoming parade, and 1-2 parades (we dress in costume for Bethlehem's Halloween Parade).
Yes! Band Camp is held on campus the week prior to the start of
school. Resident students may move into their assigned fall dorm rooms
for band camp. Click this text for
the Band Camp Schedule.
No, you do not! And there are no auditions! We have students from virtually every major at the college. Music majors make
up approximately half to two-thirds of the total band membership.
Yes it is. For music minors and other non-music majors, credit is given for membership
in the large ensembles, including Marching Band (fall term only), Wind Ensemble (spring term
only), College-Community Orchestra, Choir, and Women's Chorus. Four terms of participation
will give you .50 units toward graduation. Six terms of a major ensemble results in one
full unit. Since the additional unit is not counted in the per-semester load limit, there
is no extra tuition charge for your participation, regardless of the number of credits
in which you are enrolled. For some music majors, Marching Band is part of the Performance
Unit requirement. M6 credit is available for non-music majors (a program note on one composer/arranger is due by the end of that term's classes)!
We do not hold auditions for Marching Band & Color Guard.
Any Moravian College student may participate. If you play an instrument,
great! If not, we will teach you to play percussion or to work
with the color guard.
You should absolutely NOT wait a year! Research shows that student grades improve by
staying in music. Often, students who chose to wait do not get back into it, and are
sorry later. As a matter of fact, being in the band gives you instant access to a larger
assortment of people who can help you with your studies! We also expect that first-year
band members will have an easier time making the transition into college life since they
will be on campus a week before everyone else.
To park in the Church Street parking lot, commuters will receive a Moravian College Band Camp parking permit at check-in.
For the fall, you'll receive instructions on how to obtain your semester hang tag from Campus Safety. BTW commuters will be fed the same as residents during
Band Camp!
Mainly hard work, maximum effort, total involvement, and enthusiasm
for excellence. Attendance at the Band Camps is required.
The Greyhound Marching Band will pick up the tab for your food.
We will provide you with a uniform, band shirts, music, and an
instrument if you need one. The only items that you must purchase
or own are black Dinkles Vanguard shoes, black socks, and Khaki shorts.
The Dinkles marching band shoes may be ordered through the band
for $31. See the uniform Web page for
sizing details. However, the Color Guard will wear unique
uniforms - CG members will be contacted separately.
Marching band is a credit-bearing semester-long course (and your peers will grow to depend
on you), attendance at Band Camp and all home football games, parades, and rehearsals
until the end of the season is required.
Marching band season begins with the Band Camp and extends
through the end of the football season, generally mid-November.
Depending on funding, there is always the possibility of a post-season
play-off game.
This is always an important question, especially for first-year
students. Do not fret, here is a list of what you need:
- All of your things for the fall term.
- Alarm clock. Can't be late to morning practice!
- Mixed warm/cold weather clothes. We'll be in
both sun and air conditioning.
- Poncho. It might rain.
- Sunscreen. Clouds or not, without it, you WILL
get burned.
- Good pair of sneakers! (ABSOLUTELY NO SANDALS!!!)
- Water bottle
- Long underwear - there may be one REALLY cold
game!
- Your instrument. Just a friendly reminder...
- Pencils.
- Khaki shorts! See the uniform Web page
- Camera. (Optional, to immortalize those Facebook
moments!)
- A smile is REQUIRED. You will love camp!
Resident band and color guard students arriving for Band Camp should check in between 1 and 4 pm Sunday a week before classes at
Foy Concert Hall on the Hurd (south) Campus. Resident students
will sign out their dorm keys. Commuters should check in by 4 pm.
Everyone will receive copies of the Moravian College Student Handbook
supplement, the Band Camp Schedule, and locker assignments and
combinations. (Yes, color guard, you, too!)
Point your WWW browsers to: http://home.moravian.edu/public/music/instrumental/band/index.htm
James Barnes, Director: 610-861-1672
e-mail: barnesj@moravian.edu
Missy Zirkel, Nicole Baldelli, and Peter Harper, Drum Majors Fall 2012
Band Office phone numbers
610-861-1650 (Music Dept voice)
610-861-1657 (Music Dept FAX)
Residence staff are employees at Moravian. Working this kind
of a job while attending classes demands you have very good time
management skills. Since much of Band Camp and Residence Staff
week coincide, RAs and RDs will only be able to attend rehearsals
on their off-time from Residence Staff training. On Friday and
Saturday, you will be giving first-year students a big Moravian
College "Welcome." Consequently you will miss a good
deal of the drill and music rehearsals. But because of the high
standards required for Residence staffers, we expect you to catch
up with the rest of the ensemble during the Labor Day Weekend
Mini-Band Camp.
We know it's tough to try to change your work schedule. But start working on it NOW.
Moravian's faculty and staff will be alerted to the Marching schedule for all on-campus
work-study students. Your task is to make sure your job avoids Marching conflicts. Talk
to us. We're very approachable. That is probably one of the reasons you're attending
Moravian! Remember, we need to know your fall conflicts by Band Camp!
When the band sits at the end zone, we cannot bring friends into
the area. Also remember they will not have the same bond with
the ensemble like you will. Why not ask them if they
would be helpers for the game day rehearsal and game, like help
move the pit percussion on and off the field? You could always
wait until after the game to meet them and plan a "special"
dinner or date just with them.
Just your unform parts (see the uniform Web page) and a good attitude.
Please plan ahead and let us know about the conflict, as soon
as possible! Attendance is required at all rehearsals and performances;
but we understand there can be instances that would be professionally
beneficial to you (and Moravian) or personnally important. Since
we have to make special plans in these instances, you must send
notice about your conflict to Mr. Barnes. Remember, we need to know your fall conflicts by Band Camp - emergencies, we'll deal with.
You are responsible for your uniform until the end of the season.
We will clean all of the uniforms after they are turned in at
the end of the season. Please alert a Section Leader if you spill
food on your uniform and need a "Tide stick" (you will
be responsible for any additionally needed cleaning). The usual
schedule (except for Homecoming) for agame day is this: 10:00
AM rehearse at Calvo Field, walk to lunch and return to Calvo Field for
Pregame. Although we stay for the entire game, we do have the 3rd
quarter off. We generally play some post-game music.
The Greyhound Marching Band does not have conflicts with other
ensemble rehearsal times! Those with night classes will have time to eat and get to class (Mr. B
knows it works because he taught one of those classes!)
Here goes! Required: All BM Music Education wind and percussion
majors; all BA wind and percussion majors; all BM Performance (Jazz) wind and
percussion majors. Vocal BM Music Education majors must take 2
terms of a large instrumental ensemble, one of which must be the
Greyhound Marching Band. The best information source is a music
adviser.
We try to keep locker assignments the same. But given the numbers
of performers in all the ensembles, we may have to re-assign you.
Don't worry, we'll give you warning. We'll have all the numbers
and combinations at Band Camp check in.
[updated February 8, 2013]
