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| How do I go about joining the Marching Band? |
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Letters were mailed on June 10th to all new students who have
indicated during the application process that they play a band
instrument. The student simply needs to return the response
card indicating his/her interest in joining the marching band.
Upon receipt of that card, the student is considered to be a
member of the band. Detailed information about Band Camp is
mailed on or near August 1st. |
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| Do I have to audition for marching band? |
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There is no audition for participation in the Scot Marching
Band. We do conduct brief auditions for part assignments once
new students have arrived on campus. |
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| When do I need to come if I want to be in the
Marching Band? |
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Band Camp begins on Saturday, August 21st for most of the
approximately 150 students who participate. The percussionists
arrive on Friday, August 20th along with upper-class students
who are band officers and rank leaders. The initial meeting
on both days is in the mid to late afternoon so that students
have time during the earlier part of the day to travel and move
into the dorm. Housing and meals are provided for band members
during this period at no additional cost to students. |
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| Where do I live when I arrive at Band Camp? |
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Students will move into the dorm room that has been assigned
to them by Residential Life and Housing for the upcoming school
year. At this time students should bring all belongings needed
for the school year. |
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| What if I don't have an instrument for marching
band? |
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The College of Wooster owns most instruments that a student
might need for marching band. We issue mellophones, sousaphones,
and percussion equipment to all students in those sections of
the band. Woodwind and other brass instruments are available
on a more limited basis. There is a deposit of $25 required
for the use of school instruments; $15 of that amount is refunded
when the instrument is returned, and $10 is applied toward maintenance
fees. |
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| Does Band Camp interfere with New Student Orientation? |
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The Band Camp schedule is designed to allow students to participate
fully in both activities. Typically, by the time orientation
begins, new students in the band will have adjusted, made friends,
and most likely will not feel a need for their parents to return,
although they certainly may do so. |
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| How time consuming is marching band? |
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During the week of Band Camp the band rehearses a total of
about 35-40 hours, which solidifies the marching band as a unit.
Once classes begin, the marching band rehearses on Tuesdays
and Thursdays from 4-6 p.m. and on the five Saturday mornings
when there are home football games. While band does require
a time commitment, it is rare that a student's academic progress
is impaired. In fact, during the past academic year, 41% of
the band made the Dean's List, which requires a GPA of 3.5 or
higher. The valedictorian of the class of 2004 earned a 4.0
for his entire Wooster career and played in the band every semester.
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| Can I be in other music ensembles and be in
the Marching and/or Symphonic Bands? |
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Many students, both music majors and nonmajors, participate
in several ensembles in addition to the bands, including Wooster
Symphony Orchestra, Wooster Singers, Gospel Choir, Wooster Brass,
Wooster Percussion Ensemble, Wooster Jazz Ensemble and a multitude
of smaller chamber ensembles. There is a conflict between the
Wooster Chorus (a select choir with membership based upon an
audition) because of similar rehearsal and tour schedules. |
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| Can I be involved in sports and be in the band? |
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In most cases, this is not possible because the 4-6 p.m. hours
are reserved for music and sports activities; therefore, most
sports teams have practice at the same time that the band rehearses.
There are cases where students have successfully participated
in swimming and band, but other sports schedules typically have
too many conflicts. |
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| Does the Marching Band travel? |
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Yes, the band attends an away football game when the schedule
permits and appears as the guest band at one or two high school
band festivals each year. These short trips provide an opportunity
for the band to be heard and seen by a wider audience and allow
students to spend enjoyable time off campus with each other.
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| What is the schedule of performances for the
Marching Band? |
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The 2004 Scot Marching
Band schedule is available through this link. Attendance
is required for all band members at all performances. Family
emergencies and special situations (with adequate prior notification)
are, of course, exceptions to this expectation and are handled
on an individual basis. |
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| What marching style does the band use? |
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The Scot Marching Band is composed of students from many different
marching backgrounds and styles, ranging from those who have
never marched before to those whose high school bands were competitive.
As a result, the band's style attempts to meet the needs of
all students who participate, and that allows for a variety
of shows to be performed throughout the season. A glide step
is used since it allows for proper playing of all instruments
and drill is written in a corps style which is slightly modified
to allow for quick and relatively easy learning. There is no
cause for concern if a student comes from a different style
of marching; students adjust quickly and easily with generous
assistance from rank leaders, drum majors, and other leaders
in the band. |
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| Do I have to memorize my marching band music? |
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We encourage but do not require the memorization of marching
band music. Because of the quick pace at which new shows are
learned, some students find it easier to use their music and
perhaps even to include drill instructions on the music. Many
students, however, are accustomed to memorizing music and find
this easy to do at the college level. The first priority of
the marching band is to play well since it is, in fact, a musical
ensemble. If students feel that they need to use their music
in order to play well, they are allowed and encouraged to do
so. |
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| Do I have to wear a kilt? |
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All members of the Scot Marching and Symphonic Band are privileged
to wear the tartan kilt, one of the College of Wooster's most
recognized icons. Students wear the uniforms with great pride
and are highly respected by the campus community. |
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| Do I get credit for playing in the band? Is
there a grade assigned? |
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Academic credit is awarded for participation in band and other
music ensembles, and grades for band are on a pass/fail basis
with assessment based upon participation and contribution to
the group. A limited amount of this credit can be applied toward
graduation, no matter the student's major. In fact, there have
been students through the years who have graduated on time because
of their band credit. Many other students have been able to
take one fewer course during the Senior IS semester because
of the credits earned in band. |
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| Do I have to be in both Marching and Symphonic
Bands? |
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While there is significant overlap between the two groups,
there is not a requirement that students play in both bands.
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| How competitive is the Symphonic Band? |
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The number of students who audition for this ensemble varies
from year to year; therefore, this is a difficult question to
answer. It is probably safe to say that in any given year, some
sections will be more competitive than others. If a student
is well prepared and takes the audition seriously, there is
a good chance that he/she will be accepted into the approximately
80-piece band. The purpose for auditions is not to be overly
selective, but rather to ensure proper instrumentation and to
limit the group to a size conducive to touring. |
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| Does the Symphonic Band travel? |
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Wooster's unusual two-week Spring Break allows the Symphonic
Band to take an annual tour during the first week of break.
Students enjoy the trip but still have a week of vacation upon
return. Tours feature concerts in numerous locations as well
as free time in cities such as Chicago, New York, Boston, St.
Louis, Orlando, and Washington, D.C. Students are responsible
to pay for their lunches and an occasional dinner while on tour;
however, these are the only costs associated with this trip.
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| What is the schedule of performances for the
Symphonic Band? |
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The 2004 Symphonic Band schedule is available through this
link. Attendance is required for all band members at all performances.
Family emergencies and special situations (with adequate prior
notification) are, of course, exceptions to this expectation
and are handled on an individual basis. |
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| If I play the bagpipes do I get a full scholarship
to Wooster? |
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This is a common rumor that circulates, but it is not true.
We do offer Scottish Arts Scholarships, which are awarded to
incoming first-year students based upon auditions that are held
in February of the students' senior year of high school. |
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