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.
Notes from the Directors
Updated 10/19/26
Thank you doesn't begin to cover it! Amazing weekend all around and thank you to all who battle through rain, illness, and exhaustion to make this another memerable show for all involved. Hopefully the weather will cooperate next year!
Dome is quickly approaching. The dome packet was shared to classroom on October 12th. You can get a copy from your child.
To order tickets for Dome:
Pre-Sale Tickets: Tickets are on sale now Pre Sale - Adult $24, Seniors (65 and up) $17, Youth (18 and under) $17, Children 12 months and under are free Day of the show prices are $26 and $19 CLICK HERE FOR ORDERING PRESALE TICKETS
Dome Parking:
Spectator parking is located in the West Lots of the Dome for $20 and can be purchased in advance at this link. Day of event parking is cashless and can be purchased at the lot. Handicap parking is located near the Barnes Center for the Arch or at Irving Garage.
Dome Merchandise (Preoder is now over) 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).
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 20 - Practice is from 7-9 pm.
October 22 - Practice is from 7-9 pm. (Mr. Bialkin will be joining us!)
October 24 - Band White Shirts / Black Sweatpants / Black Jackets. Guard - Black Shirts / Black Sweatpants / Black Jackets.
11:15 am - Band Room Opens 12:00 pm - Rehearsal in Stadium 5:30 pm - Run through 5:45 pm - Load Truck 6:00 pm (or when we are set) - Dismissal
October 25 - Band Black Shirts / Black Sweatpants / Black Jackets. Guard - White Shirts / Black Sweatpants / Black Jackets. (in addition to uniforms)
9:00 am - Band Room Opens 9:15 am - Leave on Bus in Uniform (School Buses) 11:00 am - Arrive at Show 1:26 pm - Performance 2:45 pm - Awards 5:30 pm - Arrive back at MPHS (Approx) and unload trailer
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
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!
*Reminder that if pracitce starts at 7:00. That means moving equipment and warm up occur prior to that time! 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
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.
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