2020 Marching Blue DevilS Information
Watch 8/6 Meeting
Health History Update - Postmarked by 8/20
August Update - Registration and Extra Item Order Form - Postmarked by 8/20
ALL CHECKS MADE OUT TO WHS MUSIC
Mail to:
Westfield High School
ATTN: Chris Vitale, Director of Bands
550 Dorian Road
Westfield, NJ 07090
Health History Update - Postmarked by 8/20
August Update - Registration and Extra Item Order Form - Postmarked by 8/20
ALL CHECKS MADE OUT TO WHS MUSIC
Mail to:
Westfield High School
ATTN: Chris Vitale, Director of Bands
550 Dorian Road
Westfield, NJ 07090
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About the WHS Marching Blue Devils
We are YOU!! We are 135 close friends of different sizes, shapes, and colors. We are boys, we are girls. We have various beliefs and take a regiment of classes throughout the day. We are academicians, athletes, future politicians, doctors, engineers, lawyers, teachers, and architects. We are college-bound and serious about being good at what we do. We are looking for a place to make new friends and to have fun. We are intensity, we are power, we are drive, we are art, WE ARE THE MARCHING BLUE DEVILS!
The Marching Band is one of the largest student organizations at at Westfield High School with over 130 students involved. The Marching Band consists of students from all three concert bands, as well as color guard students who may not be in a band. Students do not have to be in Marching Band to be in a Concert Band, but all students in Marching Band are strongly encouraged to be enrolled in a Concert Band, with the exception of Color Guard members.
As a co-curricular activity, students in Marching Band receive 1.5 credits for participation in this class which meets entirely outside of the school day. Participating students are also eligible for gym exemption during the first marking period. Marching Band begins with a few evening rehearsals towards the end of the school year in preparation for the upcoming year. A few optional summer rehearsals may be held in July. The last two and a half weeks of August are Marching Band Camp, which all participants are required to attend. The first week and a half consists of a pre-camp, which are half-day rehearsals held here in Westfield. The second week is spent at a campground in Northeastern Pennsylvania. During this time the band begins to learn their competitive show as well as partaking in various team building exercises.
Once school starts the Marching Band rehearses similarly to a fall sport and performs at all home football games as well as some away games. The Marching Band participates in 5 competitions on Saturdays during the fall as part of the US Bands competitive circuit.
The Marching Blue Devils have performed at Giants Stadium, The United States Naval Academy, and Rutgers University. In 2015 the band was crowned USBANDS Northeast Regional and NATIONAL Champions and in 2018 they were named a Bands of America Mid-Atlantic Regional Finalist.
The Marching Band is one of the largest student organizations at at Westfield High School with over 130 students involved. The Marching Band consists of students from all three concert bands, as well as color guard students who may not be in a band. Students do not have to be in Marching Band to be in a Concert Band, but all students in Marching Band are strongly encouraged to be enrolled in a Concert Band, with the exception of Color Guard members.
As a co-curricular activity, students in Marching Band receive 1.5 credits for participation in this class which meets entirely outside of the school day. Participating students are also eligible for gym exemption during the first marking period. Marching Band begins with a few evening rehearsals towards the end of the school year in preparation for the upcoming year. A few optional summer rehearsals may be held in July. The last two and a half weeks of August are Marching Band Camp, which all participants are required to attend. The first week and a half consists of a pre-camp, which are half-day rehearsals held here in Westfield. The second week is spent at a campground in Northeastern Pennsylvania. During this time the band begins to learn their competitive show as well as partaking in various team building exercises.
Once school starts the Marching Band rehearses similarly to a fall sport and performs at all home football games as well as some away games. The Marching Band participates in 5 competitions on Saturdays during the fall as part of the US Bands competitive circuit.
The Marching Blue Devils have performed at Giants Stadium, The United States Naval Academy, and Rutgers University. In 2015 the band was crowned USBANDS Northeast Regional and NATIONAL Champions and in 2018 they were named a Bands of America Mid-Atlantic Regional Finalist.
Common Marching Band Questions
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Doesn’t Marching Band consume your life because of the time commitment?
You’re right- the Marching Band is a commitment, but it is far less of a commitment than many of the sports programs! In Marching Band, it is the one “team” that NO ONE sits on the bench – and whether an incoming 9th grader or outgoing 12th grader, the band is strong because of all participants. On a normal 5-day week most students have off two of those days and rehearsal on three. My student is way too involved in other activities (clubs or dance, etc.) to be in the Marching Band. They’re involved in something different all year long! Other activities and Marching Band are actually a great mix. There are a lot of students who are involved in dance, take private lessons, or are involved other school activities. It is true that if a student plans to participate in a Westfield High School Fall Sport, Marching Band is not an option. All other activities are compatible with the Marching Band schedule including winter and spring sports. Our rehearsals are right after school so your evenings are wide open for other interests! There may be some rehearsals where the student may need to come to Band late due to meetings or even miss rehearsal all together. The important part is that the student keeps the Marching Band Directors informed of their schedule. There is some flexibility with conflicts such as this as long as it is not a regular occurrence. The daily rehearsal schedule is prepared early in the season (generally available around May/June) so it gives you a lot of time to identify conflicts. |
My child doesn’t play a “marching band instrument” so there’s no chance they can be in Marching Band, right?
There are many opportunities in marching band. For those who play an instrument, it is a great opportunity to expand their musical repertoire. For those who don’t play a band instrument, they can participate in color guard (students interested in dance). Another opportunity to participate is in “The Front Ensemble” (the stationary percussion section) which requires students to be able to read music, but they can typically learn their instrument during the season. What if I play Bassoon or Oboe in 8th grade - what would I play in marching band? Color guard is always an option as well as the possibility of learning a new instrument. We’ll teach you everything you need to know and no experience is needed! You can continue to play your double reed instrument as part of a concert band. I’ve heard that Marching Band is expensive. How much does it cost for my child to belong to the band? The cost to participate varies from year to year based on the overnight trips and other program costs, but there are numerous, optional, fund raising opportunities to help defray the cost. Payments are also spread out over the course of the summer/fall to help those on a budget. Plus, if you have had kids in travel sports, marching band may seem like a bargain! When is a good time to go on vacation? July and the very beginning of August are the BEST times to go on vacation because there are no mandatory band obligations during those time periods. Check with the band directors before making travel plans in August! |