Welcome to This Week In Marching Band
Midland Park High School Marching Band is comprised of students in grades 7-12. The band rehearses exclusively after school.
We finally got in a true field Competition performance! While we are very proud of the improvement since August, the work is far from over. Thank you to all of you that came to the show to show your support for the band. It is always great to have a great crowd to cheer us on. That was the final trip to LI for the season.
This week is the start of the final push. Music in the Park requires help from everyone to make it successful. Thank you in advance to Mrs. Butler and everyone who has helped to organize what promises to be an incredible day for the Band Program. We are all excited to see the band perform on Sunday what promises to be their best performance of the season to date.
Parent shirts were sent home. If you have a concern or problem with the shirt orders, please email us no later than Oct. 7. The merchandise website is now live for orders of championship sweatshirts and t-shirts. The store will be open through October 7th for orders to be picked up at the dome at championships. The store will reopen on October 9th until November 8th for orders to be delivered to individual homes (shipping charges will apply to these orders).
https://nystfieldband.ccbrands.com/
Since didn't get to a competition this weekend, I will leave this here again. As we talked about at the parent meeting, we are trying to teach the members how to take care of themselves. This includes not buying them food or handling their meal tickets at shows. We will come to a time later in the season when they will be on thier own with no parents around and they need to learn those skills now. This for their own good! Please refrain from sending any peanut products with kids for meals/snacks due to alergies of other members.
Please be sure to turn things in on time and keep up with paperwork as the time we spend chasing things down that aren't turned in take away from the time we have to plan and improve the program that is going on the field. We are excited to get the band out in public and hope you all enjoy the next 6 weeks!
Sincerely,
Mr. Marks and Mr. Sheridan
This Week:
October 6 - Practice is from 7-9 pm.
October 8 - Practice is from 7-9 pm.
October 10 - Show shirts for Band and White Shirts for Guard for practice!
Band Room open at 11:15 am
Practice is 12 pm - 6:00 pm.
At end of Practice things are basically set for Music in the Park
October 11 - Music in the Park XXIX (Schedule is subject to change but this is the general plan)
Band White Shirts / Black Sweatpants / Black Jackets. Guard - Black Shirts / Black Sweatpants / Black Jackets. (in addition to uniforms)
8:30 am - Band Room Opens
9:00 am - Rehearsal in Stadium
10:45 am - Rehearsal Ends
11:00 am - Lunch - Final MIP Preps - Guides Meet bands as they arrive
12:00 pm - Meet with Highland School Kids for Star Spangled Banner Practice
1:00 pm - Perform Star Spangled Banner
1:05 pm - Watch Bands perform
2:35 pm - Back in the Band Room to change and warm up (This is intermission)
4:05 pm - Perform at Music in the Park
4:25 pm - Awards
5:00 - Change / Clean Up / Eat / Group Meeting / Dome Packets Distributed / Group Dismissal (around 6:30 usually)
Items Due:
Band Camp Payments: Past Due
Syracuse Forms: Past Due
Syracuse Money: Past Due
Music in the Park Ads: DONE
Medical Forms: Past Due October 1
Dome Shirts: October 7 thorugh link above to avoid shipping.
You can find the links to everything on The Band Program Download Page
One more reminder: School work is never an excuse for being late or missing practice. Please make sure you manage your time effectively so that you are at practice on time and are caught up on all your school work. This takes discipline and planning. Don't leave projects until the day they are due and plan ahead.
Some People have asked to learn more about the staff. You can do that on the STAFF BIO PAGE!
STAFF BIOS
*Reminder that if pracitce starts at 7:00. That means moving equipment and warm up occur prior to that time!
October 11 - Music in the Park XXIX
October 17 - NJMEA at Wayne Hills - 9:15 pm Performance
October 25 - Competition at Kingston - 1:26 pm Perforamnce
October 27, 28, 29 - Rehearsal each night from 7-9
October 31 - Nov 2 - Dome Weekend
November 6/7 - Potential Football Game (Playoffs round 2)
November 10 - End of Season Gathering
November 28/29 - Potential Football Game (Playoff Finals)
**** Football Playoff Games may be added based on Playoff Status
Link to Marching Band Calendar
This is stuff beyond normal Tues (7-9) / Thurs (7-9) / Sat (12-6) Practices
BAND CAMP INFO 2027
Dear Parents and Marching Band Members,
The first few weeks of this season have brought a great deal of optimism about the future of our program. We have seen our members make significant progress, and the show is beginning to take shape as it was designed. We are excited about what this group can accomplish together.
At the same time, we have experienced some frustration surrounding absences due to family trips and other activities. The August rehearsal dates were provided on the Marching Band sign-up form, and we also reviewed the importance of these dates at the parent meeting held on the Friday of Band Camp.
Attendance during our scheduled rehearsal periods is essential to the success of the entire ensemble. When a member is absent, it affects not only that student’s progress but also the ability of the entire group to learn, rehearse, and refine the production. Every member plays an important role, and consistent participation allows the show to develop as quickly and effectively as possible.
Because attendance has been more challenging this year than in recent memory, the staff has made some changes to the 2027 schedule. We want to communicate these expectations well in advance so that families have plenty of time to plan accordingly.
2027 Band Camp and Rehearsal Schedule
Band Camp:
Monday, August 16 – Friday, August 20
12:00 PM–9:00 PM each day
This schedule represents one additional hour of rehearsal each day while reducing Band Camp by one day.
There will then be no rehearsals from August 21–29.
Rehearsals will resume:
Monday, August 30 – Thursday, September 2
6:00–9:00 PM each evening
These rehearsals are necessary to make up instructional time and prepare the ensemble for the beginning of the performance season. There will be no approved absences during either of these scheduled rehearsal periods, with the exception of participation in school-sponsored sports games.
Attendance Policy
Any member who misses one of these scheduled rehearsal days will have the day recorded as an unexcused absence, unless the absence falls under an exception outlined in the band handbook.
The 2027 handbook will state
:
Absences
An absence from rehearsal occurs when a student misses a complete rehearsal or is more than thirty minutes late. Excused absences are limited to:
Personal illness that confines the student to home
Death in the family
Religious holidays (please notify the Band Directors in advance)
Other prearranged absences approved by the Band Directors, with one week's advance notice required (this includes school sports)
Unexcused absences include reasons not listed above. Rehearsal dates are provided well in advance, so please make every effort to avoid scheduling college visits, medical or dental appointments, academic tutoring, private music instruction, or other activities during these required rehearsal periods.
Unexcused Absence Consequences:
First offense: Student conference with the Band Directors and a phone call to the parent/guardian
Second offense: Suspension from one performance
Third offense: Possible removal from the Competitive Show for the season
We recognize that the required rehearsal schedule represents a significant commitment during the summer. However, the total commitment is limited to nine days. The entire month of July is free of marching band rehearsals, and there are 24 additional days in August without scheduled rehearsals.
We ask that families keep these dates in mind when planning vacations and other activities for next summer. These expectations are being communicated now so that everyone has the opportunity to plan ahead and understand the commitment required to participate in the marching band.
Our goal is for every student to have a rewarding and successful experience in this program. That success depends on all of us working together and, most importantly, on every member being present and prepared to contribute.
Thank you for your continued support of our students and the Marching Band program. We look forward to seeing everyone at our preview performance on September 19.
Sincerely,
Mr. Marks and Mr. Sheridan
Music First Log In
TWIMB
MB 2026
Band Program Download Page
David Marks - Director of Bands
Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, Marching Band, Jazz Band Co-Director
Chaz Sheridan - Marching Band Co-Director
Jeff Peters - Highland Band Director, Marching Band Consultant, Jazz Band Co-Director
Steve Bartosik - Percussion Ensemble
Brian Prokop - Marching Percussion Coordinator
Other Staff Members and Consultants - Taylor Goodson, Shane Peterson, Crissy Shannon, Spencer Pigg, TJ Marks, Elly Tsarkova
