Frequently Asked Questions
Band Information
In General
- How many band programs are there
at Central Dauphin High?
-
Can students
just sign up for whichever band(s) they want?
-
How many band programs
are credit courses?
-
What should my
student do to try out for Wind Ensemble or Jazz Band?
-
My student is going to be attending Dauphin County
Vo-Tech. Can he/she still participate in the band
program?
-
Is it possible to participate in more than one music
program at a time – my student wants to take both band
and choir?
-
I heard that band parents have to do a lot of fund
raising. Will I have to do this?
-
If my child is in only one of the Concert or Jazz Bands,
why should I participate in fund raisers?
-
My student already signed up for choir (or orchestra);
can he or she still get into the band?
-
Whom can I call if I have more
questions?
Marching Band
Information
-
What does the
Marching Band do?
- I heard Marching Band members have to
practice all summer. Is this true?
- What is band camp and when
is it?
-
Must my student attend Band Camp to be in Marching Band?
-
Marching Band sounds like a lot of work. What are the
benefits of being involved in that program?
-
Can my student be in Marching Band and still participate
in fall sports?
-
My student is interested in being a member of the
Band Front. What should we do?
-
My student is interested in being a member of the
Drumline. What should we do?
-
Are members
of the Drumline, Pit, or Band Front allowed to miss a
summer (non band camp) practice to go on vacation?
-
Does my student have to sign up for Marching Band to
participate in the Band Front?
-
My student already signed up for choir (or orchestra);
can he or she still get into the band?
-
Whom can I call if I have more questions?
Student Account
Information
- What
is the purpose of Student Accounts?
- How does money get into my
Student Account?
- For what expenses may I
use my Student Account?
- How do I access the funds
in my Student Account?
-
How do I find out how
much money's in my Student Account?
-
What happens to my student
account balance if I quit the band or
transfer to another school? How about if I have money
left over when I graduate?
Currently we have 11 different band
programs: The largest group is the Marching Band (which also
includes a Band Front, Drumline, and Pit). Central Dauphin
also boasts two concert bands, the Symphonic Band and the
Wind Ensemble, as well as the Jazz I and Jazz II and Stage bands. We have an Indoor Percussion Unit, an
Indoor Guard, and an Indoor Majorette Unit. We also assemble
a Pit Orchestra each spring to accompany the school musical.
No. Marching Band, Symphonic Band, and
Stage Bands are the only bands in which your student will be
automatically placed upon registration. The Drumline
and Band Front units hold tryouts in
the spring preceding the start of the new school year.
Participation in Wind Ensemble, Jazz I Band and Jazz II Band
will depend upon student tryouts for Mr. Ceresini. Indoor unit
tryouts are held around November for their January through
April season. Mr. Ceresini will select the members of the
Pit Orchestra.
Q.
How many band programs
are credit courses?
Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble and Jazz Band (Stage,
Jazz, and Combo) each is a graded course for which a student
earns 1 credit per year. Marching Band members also are
graded and earn .5 credit per year.
Q. How does my student try out for Wind Ensemble or Jazz
Band?
Contact Mr. Ceresini before the end of the
school year to try out for next year’s bands (preferably in
early May). You can reach Mr. Ceresini at 703-5360 extension
428 or e-mail him at
mceresini@cdschools.org.
Q: I heard Marching Band members have to
practice all summer. Is this true?
Some sections of the Marching Band do
practice during the summer in order to be sharp in the fall.
The Drumline and Band Front each has its own practices
scheduled by its instructor. All Marching Band members have
a few summer rehearsals and a two week band camp in August
to learn music and drill for the upcoming year.
Q: Are members
of the Drumline, Pit, or Band Front allowed to miss a summer
(non band camp) practice to go on vacation?
Yes, an occasional absence is allowed as long as the
instructor has timely notification.
Q: What is band camp and
when is it?
Band Camp consists of two weeks of practice, usually the
first two weeks of August. During the first week of
band camp, band members focus on learning music for
the upcoming season.
We will
again be holding
"two-a-day" sessions, so you'll be there each
day from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm and then from 6:00
pm to 9:00 pm. During the second week of Band Camp, band
members focus on learning new drills and polishing up the
musical performance. For more information on Band Camp,
click here.
Q: Must my student
attend Band Camp to be in Marching Band?
Yes. Mr. Ceresini may at his
discretion permit exceptions if there are unusual
circumstances that are brought to his attention well in
advance, but as a rule ALL of band camp in mandatory.
Q: What does
the Marching Band do?
The Marching Band plays at all football
games, home and away. The Marching Band performs its show at each game and
plays music in the stands throughout the game.
Marching Band members are free to get some food or
visit with friends during the third quarter of each game.
The Marching Band also performs in several parades from
September through November and performs in
exhibitions during that time. Click
here for this year's
schedule. In the past, the Marching Band has taken
special trips, including a 2005 Thanksgiving trip to to
Disney World, Universal Studios, and SeaWorld and a 2008
Trip to Universal Studios, Sea World, and Cape Kennedy. The
Marching Band also has taken trips to professional baseball games,
Baltimore's Inner Harbor, and New York City.
Q: Marching Band
sounds like a lot of work. What are the benefits of
participating in the program?
Membership in the Marching Band is more than
just performance. Marching Band members form a bond during
the school year that comes from working closely together in
an activity they enjoy. Incoming students will be pleased to
discover that starting high school isn’t as difficult when
they’ve already made a lot of friends in band before school
even begins. Marching Band members get to attend all
football games free of charge, and learn the thrill of
performing before different groups on a regular basis. The
travel is a lot of fun (and can even be educational, but
don’t tell the kids!) and lifelong friendships can be made
through these shared experiences.
Q: Can my student be in Marching
Band and still participate in fall sports?
Often times that can be done. Talk to your coach and Mr.
Ceresini to see what can be worked out.
Q: My student is going to be
attending Dauphin County Vo-Tech. Can he or she still
participate in the band program?
Any band that meets after regular school hours are
easily accessible to Vo-Tech students. These include
Marching Band, Indoor units, and Pit Orchestra.
Q: My student is
interested in being a member of the Band Front.
What should we do?
You should sign-up for marching band and
indicate to either your middle school teacher or Mr.
Ceresini that you are interested in being in Band Front. You
can reach Mr. Ceresini at 703-5360 extension 428 or e-mail
him at
mceresini@cdschools.org There will also
be information posted sometime in May about the first
rehearsal/try-out day.
Q: My student is interested in
being a member of the Drumline. What should we do?
You should sign-up for marching band and
indicate to either your middle school teacher or Mr.
Ceresini that you are interested in being in Drumline/Pit.
You can reach Mr. Ceresini at 703-5360 extension 428 or
e-mail him at
mceresini@cdschools.org . There will also be
information posted sometime in May about the first
rehearsal/try-out day.
Q: Does my
student have to sign up for Marching Band to participate in
Band Front?
Yes. Even though practice is not held during the school
day, Marching Band is a credited course for which your
student will be graded.
Q: Is it
possible to participate in more than one music program at a
time – my student wants to take both band and choir?
Yes. Your student can easily arrange
his or her schedule to accommodate more than one music
program. Many students participate in some combination of band, choir and
orchestra. Be sure to work with your guidance counselor to
ensure proper scheduling of the music programs in which your
student would like to participate.
Q: My student already
signed up for choir (or orchestra); can he or she still get
into the band?
Yes. Speak to your student's guidance counselor about
it. Make sure that Mr. Ceresini is aware of your
student's decision to join the band and he and your guidance
counselor will work with you to adjust your student's
schedule. You can reach Mr. Ceresini at 703-5360
extension 428 or e-mail him at
mceresini@cdschools.org.
Q: I heard that band
parents have to do a lot of fund raising. Will I have to do
this?
Not if you don't want to. But whatever help you can give us is very much
appreciated. The Band Boosters organization does whatever it
can to provide support for all bands. Click
here
for more information on
our fundraising efforts.
Q: If my child is in
only one of the Concert or Jazz Bands, why should I
participate in fund raisers?
Many expenses associated with maintaining a
good music program are not covered by the school district
budget. This is not so much a short coming by the district
but rather one of the challenges that many high quality band
programs face. A major function of the Central Dauphin Band
Booster organization is to provide for the needs for our
students The money that is raised through the boosters
fundraising efforts in used for a wide range of instruments,
supplies, equipment, awards, scholarships, registration
fees, student meals, and more.
Click here for more information on
our fundraising efforts.
Q: Whom can I call if I have more
questions?
Any member of our Band Booster organization will be glad
to help you if you have any questions about our group, or
other band-related activities. Officers' names and phone
numbers can be found on the "Contact Us" page. Feel
free to direct your questions relating to the Central
Dauphin bands to Mr. Ceresini. You can reach Mr.
Ceresini at 703-5360 extension 428 or e-mail him at
mceresini@cdschools.org.
Q: What is the purpose
of Student Account?
Student Accounts are the Band Boosters’ plan
to accumulate funds for the students’ use at a later date. A
portion of the proceeds from designated fundraisers will be
placed in an account in those students’ names and held for
their use. A common misconception is that all our
fundraising supports the Marching Band program; in fact, we
provide supplemental funds for all band members in all
programs. Many
expenses associated with maintaining a good music program
are not covered by the school district budget. A major
function of the Central Dauphin Band Booster organization is
to provide for those needs for our students. Click
here for more information on
our fundraising efforts.
Q: How does money get into my
Student Account?
Money is placed into student accounts from
fundraisers, from overpays, and from direct deposits to this
account. For fundraisers, the amount that will be credited
to the student account per item sold will be announced with
each sale. It may vary from sale to sale.
Q: For what expenses may I
use my Student Account?
These funds can be used to pay for lessons,
for instrument repairs, for band shoes and other equipment,
and for trips. Funds also may be used to pay for
tickets to band events such as the Holiday Dinner Dance or
fundraising concerts. Note that funds in the
account may also be used to pay for other family members for
the band banquet or for trips. These funds are also
available for transfer to the same student’s choir account.
Q: How do I access the funds
in my Student Account?
You can request money from your Student
Account by filling out an “Application
for Student Account
Withdrawal” form. Click the hyperlink you just
passed over for a form. Once the form is
completed (and signed by a parent), turn it in, just like
you would turn in a check (in the envelope in the band room
for that activity). If you are requesting reimbursement for
a repair or lessons, give your completed form to Mr.
Ceresini or the Band Boosters Treasurer along with a receipt.
Q: How do I find out
how much money's in my Student Account?
Student account balances have been posted
monthly in the band room. You may also contact
us by email at
RamBandAccounts@cdramband.org and we will send you
your balance information.
Q: What happens to my
student account balance if I quit the band or
transfer to another school? How about if I have money
left over when I
graduate?
Any money remaining in the Student Account
when you leave the band-- for any reason-- reverts to the
Band Boosters. The only exception: the balance will
roll over to a sibling who is actively participating in a
band or in Band Front.
|
