Uniform Care and Maintenance
Members of the Uniform Committee for 2020-2021 TBA. Members of the committee have their bus fees waived for marching season. Only 10 students at a time will be on the Uniform Committee at any one time.
Under it All:
To ensure your own comfort while marching, wear the following underneath your marching uniform.
Under it All:
To ensure your own comfort while marching, wear the following underneath your marching uniform.
- Bicycle shorts or leggings (stretchy, tight to the leg material)
- Black socks
- Band Shirt
- Ideal: You should be able to change uniform at the drop of a shako, so please be fully dressed!
- Drill Masters shoes
- All students must purchase their own Drill Master shoes, the URL is below
- https://www.bandshoppe.com/Drillmasters-Marching-Band-Shoe-p/3000-3025s.htm
- The color of the shoe is black for all members
- Jeans
- Pajama Bottoms
- Nothing but underwear under the bibbers (OMG the chafing)
Uniform Care
All uniforms are dry cleaned at the end of the year, but here are some steps to ensure that your uniform stays as beautiful as the first day we first unwrapped them.
Be aware of your surroundings at all times. Sitting on the ground, leaning against walls, wiping off dirt with your gloves, etc. can all dirty or damage your uniform.
All uniforms are dry cleaned at the end of the year, but here are some steps to ensure that your uniform stays as beautiful as the first day we first unwrapped them.
Be aware of your surroundings at all times. Sitting on the ground, leaning against walls, wiping off dirt with your gloves, etc. can all dirty or damage your uniform.
- Make sure to use the restroom before donning your uniform. The only facilities available at most marching venues are portables which are... not exactly clean.
- Check your bibbers before putting them on. Do they need to be re-ironed? Once you put them on, check the straps before putting on the jacket. Do you need to tighten or loosen? If you need additional pins/help with pinning your shoulder straps ask a parent chaperone or a student on the uniform committee.
- When zipping up your jacket use the buddy system! Your buddy should remember to use the zipper gently and if your zipper encounters resistance, stop immediately and ask for assistance.
- Gloves should not be constricting or too loose. If you have found that your gloves are a much different size than is ideal, let Ms. Mitchell know BEFORE the day of the march.
- Order in which your uniform is to be put on:
- Under uniform (black socks, black leggings/shorts, white undershirt)
- Bibbers
- Shoes (must purchase your own using the link above)
- Jackets
- Gloves (tucked into the cuffs)
- Gauntlets
- Fees for misplaced/damaged/soiled (beyond recovering) uniforms
- Bibbers: $75
- Jackets: $300
- Gloves: $10
- Gauntlets: $10
- Hangar: $5
- Garment bag: $5
- Whole uniform- never turned in or completely lost- $405
Components of the Uniform
Bibbers:
Your uniform 'pants' have a racer back design. Note that you should adjust your bibbers before putting on your jacket. The shoulder straps can be tightened or loosened according to fit. The crotch area of the bibbers should not be by your knees or causing physical discomfort. If your shoulder straps are too loose even at the tightest setting, ask a parent volunteer or a member of the uniform committee to pin your straps up to a higher point. |
Jacket:
You will need to put your arms through the sleeves of your jacket with the zipper alongside your back. Adjust the jacket so your shoulders are snugly fit in the jacket shoulders, then ask a buddy to zip up your zipper. Double check to make sure nothing is twisted and that your zipper is drawn up carefully. |
Gloves:
We specifically use long wrist, sure-grip gloves to add texture to the palms and fingers for all instrumentalists. Open holed flute players may have a slight difficulty while playing. Notify Ms. Mitchell if you are using an open holed flute to march. |
Gauntlets:
Gauntlets go over the gloves. Attach the velcro together so both ends are placed evenly, then slide your gloved hand through over the cuff. The "wing" of the gauntlet should go away from the arm/body. |
Shako:
The "hat" of the uniform, the shako must hide all hair or fly aways. The brim of the shako should be drawn down to block the upper portion of your peripheral vision. If you wear corrective lenses, the brim of the shako will touch the frames of the glasses. The ideal aesthetic is to have the top of the shako completely parallel to the ground. |
Here is an image of the full uniform correctly applied. As you put on your jacket, please remember to "buddy-up"! Don't try to zip up the jacket on your own as you could easily break the zipper.
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To put your uniform away, please fold along-side the creases. The bibbers go on the hangar first, folded neatly. Then the jacket goes over the bibbers with the zipper in the upright formation (double check to make sure your jacket number matches the number on the hangar!). In the draw string backpack assigned to your jacket number should be placed your gloves, your gauntlets, and (if applicable) your beret.
If you are in any way unsure or would like help with your uniform storage ask anyone on the uniform committee for assistance. To the left is a step by step instructional video that may help. |
Hair
For those with longer hair, we must devise a way to keep the strands "under wraps". For men, be advised to keep a clean hair line (no strands going beyond the shako) with the aid of gel or hair spray.
Longer haired men and women should tie their hair in a bun or top knot directly atop the cranium. Use hair spray or gel to smooth the hair away from the face, especially with those annoying "fly-away" strands.
For exceptionally long hair, refer to the instructional video below in which one of our flute section leaders demonstrates how to braid and then secure the hair to the head for complete coverage.
Longer haired men and women should tie their hair in a bun or top knot directly atop the cranium. Use hair spray or gel to smooth the hair away from the face, especially with those annoying "fly-away" strands.
For exceptionally long hair, refer to the instructional video below in which one of our flute section leaders demonstrates how to braid and then secure the hair to the head for complete coverage.
Marching Tutorials
This short video demonstrates the following:
Attention Close hangar position (only w/o instruments) Parade rest Mark time Forward march/glide stride |
This short video demonstrates the following:
Left hace Right hace About hace Silent drill By the numbers |
This short video demonstrates the following:
Left flank Right flank To the rear |
This short video demonstrates the following:
Dress Center/Left/Right Counter march |
Drum Major Tutorials
Drum Major Auditions
Drum Major Candidates will be chosen by Tuesday, December 8th 2020. Please make sure your name gets on the list if you're interested!
TIMES FOR IN PERSON PRACTICE TBA. THIS IS DEPENDENT ON DISTANCE LEARNING CHANGES.
Drum Major practices start after Winter Break on Tuesday, January 14th from 2:15pm-3:00pm and will occur on every Tuesday until Drum Major Auditions happen on Tuesday, April 7th. Auditions start at 2:15pm and can go as late as 4:30pm as we take this process very seriously.
There are three parts to the audition:
Part 1: The written portion includes basic information covered in the practices (spins, I pattern, etc.) with additional questions directly covering your future plans for the band itself-- proposed, concrete plans that can be implemented, try to avoid vague responses. Due Monday, April 5th.
Part 2: The skills portion covers spinning (especially going from one to another position), glide stride, calling commands, and you are expected to create a simple salute.
Part 3: The spoken question portion includes questions that center around your leadership skills, scenarios that you may come up against as a drum major, and questions regarding your dedication level to band.
TIMES FOR IN PERSON PRACTICE TBA. THIS IS DEPENDENT ON DISTANCE LEARNING CHANGES.
Drum Major practices start after Winter Break on Tuesday, January 14th from 2:15pm-3:00pm and will occur on every Tuesday until Drum Major Auditions happen on Tuesday, April 7th. Auditions start at 2:15pm and can go as late as 4:30pm as we take this process very seriously.
There are three parts to the audition:
Part 1: The written portion includes basic information covered in the practices (spins, I pattern, etc.) with additional questions directly covering your future plans for the band itself-- proposed, concrete plans that can be implemented, try to avoid vague responses. Due Monday, April 5th.
Part 2: The skills portion covers spinning (especially going from one to another position), glide stride, calling commands, and you are expected to create a simple salute.
Part 3: The spoken question portion includes questions that center around your leadership skills, scenarios that you may come up against as a drum major, and questions regarding your dedication level to band.
Color Guard Tutorials
Stretch
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Body Placement, attention, parade rest
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How to: spin 1
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How to: spin 2
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How to: spin 3
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Choreography
Current March
Newark Days Parade
Homecoming