9/11/24 - Band Updates

Please see below for important updates!

Thursday ASR Rehearsal

You should have been signed up in ASR if you weren't already, but please check and confirm before tomorrow! We are still working on automating the process, but now have some work arounds. Thanks for your patience. Please head directly to the field for Thursday once you have your instrument, drill, and anything else you need.

Friday "Under the Lights" Rehearsal

Please be ready on the field by 6pm ready to have an efficient rehearsal. This will be the 9th to last rehearsal before State! We will dismiss around 9pm. 

Waukesha North/Carroll Schedule 

A snack to hold you over through the performance is strongly recommended. If you are not riding the bus, please make sure you take your uniform and anything else you'll need for the day home on Friday afternoon and submit THIS FORM to activities/athletics. 

Call Time for Equipment Managers, Percussion, and Contras - 10am

Call Time for all students - 10:30am

Inspection - 11:00am

Depart for Carroll University - 11:15am

Arrival - 12:30pm

Warm Up (B) - 2:00pm

Move to Stadium - 2:30pm

Perform - 2:45pm 

Awards - 3:30pm 

Depart Carroll University - 4:00pm

Return to Middleton ~ 5:30pm 

Weekly Sectionals

Woodwinds and Brass will have sectionals every week starting on the week of the 23rd. These are strongly recommended for students to attend if they can, but are not required.  Woodwinds will be on Mondays 9/23, 9/30, 10/7, 10/14 at 5-6pm, Brass will be on Wednesdays 9/25, 10/2, 10/9, 10/16 at 5-6pm. Students are welcome to stay at school if that is more convenient for rides etc. These are to review music, fundamentals, and ask staff questions as needed. If you cannot attend, please let a section leader know at the beginning of that week and check in for anything you might have missed before the next rehearsal. 

9/27 Middle School Night

At the 9/27 evening rehearsal, we will have 8th graders from Kromrey and Glacier to give them an introduction to marching band. At 8:30pm we will be performing a full performance of the show that is open to any current marching band families to attend. This is a great opportunity for extended family or anyone that cannot attend competitions to see the hard work their students have put in so far. We'd love to see you there! 

--

Eric Rothacker

Music Teacher & Band Director

8/30/24 - Marching Band Updates

Hello, marching band students and families. Marching band camp came to a close today, and we're so proud of all of our participating students this year! In just over two weeks, they have put the entire show on the field, music, and drill! We're excited to see how much this band can achieve in the time left in the season! Please make sure you keep working on your music and reviewing your drill, as rehearsals become limited once the school year begins. 

Band Senior Night/First Football Game

Call time for band students is 5:20 pm. If this is your first time doing a football game, it's recommended you show up earlier in case you forget something. You'll need to wear your show shirt under your uniform. 

This will be a halftime performance about halfway through the game (time dependent on the speed of the game)! It is also band parent night! Please consider attending the game and supporting your students!

Our boosters will also be hosting a marching band tailgate before the game for families! Please see below for a brief message from our incredible boosters: 

As we get ready to cheer on the Marching Band at the start of their competition season, we welcome all marching band parents to "Nacho Average Tailgate" before the football game on Friday, September 6th. Please join us for nachos and more, in the MHS north commons from 5:30pm-7pm. Cost is free; donations accepted. 

First competition 9/22 (Waukesha North)

We do not yet have the exact timeline for this competition as they are sent out by the organizations. Please try to plan for the entire day, and we'll send an email with a schedule as soon as we know. 

First practices/rehearsals during the school year

Our first practice of the school year is during ASR (during the school day) on Sept. 12th. If you're new to ASR, you'll sign up for band (or already be requested) and then head immediately to the band room or the field. Check the band app for an update on which one. Sept. 13th is an under-the-lights rehearsal 6-9 pm. Please be on time, as we have only 10 rehearsals until state! 

-- 

Eric Rothacker

Music Teacher & Band Director

Middleton High School

8/9/24 - The Big Marching Band Email

Hello MHS marching band students and families!

We are just a few short days away from the beginning of the 2024-25 marching band season. It's going to be great! This email is long, but it should be your one-stop shop for all the details coming up soon. Please read it in its entirety.

Band camp is always the beginning of a new and exciting time. However, no matter what grade you are in, the first day of band camp can lead to some anxiety. For freshmen it is the fear of the unknown as well as rumors you may have heard about how hot or how hard it is. For returning members it can be the excitement of seeing old friends and the anticipation of a new season, as well as the anxiety of knowing the amount of work ahead. In either case, just push yourself out the door! You will be glad you did. New members, remember that everyone who has done this before you knows how you feel. Relax and enjoy the experience. Before you know it you'll be a senior getting ready for your last band camp.

1.  Calendar - Please triple check the calendar for your applicable section viewable here. Updates on times for competitions will be updated as we receive them. This calendar is updated as frequently as possible, but there is also a calendar updated by leadership in the band app for your student's convenience. 

2. Physicals submitted to Activities/Athletics - Please submit all physicals to the link HERE. You might need to "register" if it is your first time. At this point I've been told we have approximately 120 submitted, so please submit as soon as possible. We're looking for about 80 more!

3.  Band Camp Checklist - ALL STUDENTS should look through the checklist by the first day of camp. It's a great resource to make sure you're ready for band camp!

4. Location of Band Camp - Full Band Camp for everyone, will start on the 12th in the band room in the morning. After day one, students and section leaders will be notified the day before if we are meeting on the field or in the band room via the Band App. Students that drive - If you are choosing to park in the north parking lot, please park in Clark Street or in the east student lot near the stadium. All other spots will be used by HS building staff coming in and out of the building and we don't want you to get a ticket. 

5.  Band Camp Potluck - The band will host all marching band members for a potluck on 8/23 (5-6pm). Location will be in the stadium (concessions).  We will provide dinner for all students, but we need your help!  We also need a few parents to help with setup and cleanup. Please sign up here to help feed almost 200 hungry marchers! We will break for an hour and use the Breitenbach Stadium for our "KEVA" event this year at 7pm, so no need for forms! 

6. Parent Volunteers - Parent volunteers are what help keep the marching band running. If you haven't already, please sign up to volunteer here. Most immediately we will need a few parents to help with uniform fitting. (Don't worry, we'll teach you all you need to know!) 

7. Flip folders, lyres, shoes (Excluding color guard) - Please make sure you have purchased the appropriate flip folder, lyres, and shoes by the first day of band camp. Shoes do not need to be worn for camp, athletic shoes will be just fine (no sandals or open foot footwear please). If you have yet to purchase them you can find the links at THIS link. Returning members do not need to purchase any of these if they still have theirs from previous years. (Please also bring a three ring binder to use for holding drill on the field preferably with some page protectors) 

8. Band Show Shirts - Every student will receive a "show shirt" with the current show theme on it in the first few days of camp.  We will try to accommodate for any changes if you have grown since registration pending availability. If your family purchased additional supplemental shirts those will be ready the second week of camp and available to bring home! 

9. Extra Music - If anyone has lost their music or is still struggling with faded photocopies, extra packets can be downloaded in the BAND app or by contacting our amazing librarians during band camp.

10. Lunch - Students will have approximately an hour for lunch every day. Please bring a lunch (unless you have other means of getting lunch).

11. Pictures/Upper Classman Registration Tuesday Aug 13th - Returning HS students will have several opportunities to take their picture/briefly go through the registration process. We will break early for lunch, and also have some time during music block around 3pm that day. There will also be options for picture make ups later in the year. Plan to go mid day or during music block. Freshman have their own separate day for registration. 

12. Contact Section Leaders with Initial Questions - Normally you should contact both directors with questions or concerns, but section leaders most commonly have the answers to frequently asked questions and can answer a lot quicker. Otherwise please contact Mr. Rothacker (erothacker@mcpasd.k12.wi.us) and we'll do our best to get back to you as soon as we can.

13. A Final Note to Freshman/Sophomore Parents - Two days before band camp your rookie member will probably decide they don't want to do marching band after all. This is normal -- just shove 'em out the door! We promise to take good care of them.

-- 

Eric Rothacker

Music Teacher & Band Director

Middleton High School

608-829-9683

erothacker@mcpasd.k12.wi.us