Working with Your Band

Cheering your teams on is one thing, but banding all of your student groups to work together elevates the school spirit experience to a whole new level! Learn how your cheer or dance team and band can manage to work together and pull off a fantastic performance!

Below are some steps you should use with your own groups to successfully entertain your home crowd and community.

Make a plan. Your drum majors, captains, coaches and band director should meet to review the specific needs of each performance, whether that be a parade, community event or basketball game.

• What size space will the band have? What size space will the spirit groups have?
• How many songs and which songs will the band play? Make sure the songs are appropriate and entertaining for the specific audience you are catering to.
• Is there a time to rehearse together prior to the performance so each group can block their spacing and rehearse timing?

Practice, practice, practice. Be sure to practice to the actual music the band will be playing. Obtain a copy of the music so everyone feels confident and can shine during your performance. There is nothing worse than feeling lost and unsure. The good news, however, is that situation can be avoided by taking the few extra steps of getting a recording of the band actually playing the songs.

Prepare for the unexpected. No matter how well you prepare, something can throw you for a loop. Perhaps the band is asked to play extra songs that you have not anticipated. Fear not – this is exactly what the sideline fillers you learned at camp are for! Always have those extra 8 counts of motions ready to perform and you will be set. Still not comfortable? Just smile and encourage the crowd to clap along. Everyone is there to have a great time and you are there to lead the crowd. Show your personality and always make the best of any situation.