Marching Band FAQ

Welcome to the new members and families of the Brunswick High Marching Railroader Band! The BHMR Band season will be an exciting and active time for you. The following Frequently Asked Questions will help explain and address questions that you may have regarding band activities. Remember, too, that returning band members and their families will gladly help you understand our program.

What is the function of the BHMR Band?
As well as playing at home football games, the Marching Band represents BHS at marching band competitions held at different schools during the fall season. The band also participates in local events such as the Point of Rocks Founder's Day celebration, Railroad Days, and the Brunswick Veteran's Day parade. You can see last year's competition and parade schedule and results here.
Back to Top

When does the band practice?
Band is a daily class held during the school day at BHS. Once school is in session, the students also rehearse on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 5:30-8:00 pm. During the summer there are mini-camp rehearsals in June, music reading sessions in July (July 21, 23, and 25th), and a more intensive two-week summer band camp in August (August 4-8th and August 11-15th). For a complete listing of rehearsals, please see the calendar.
Back to Top

What is TOB?
Band competitions are held under the guidelines of an organization known as Tournament of Bands (TOB). TOB is one of the largest competitive band organizations in the country. Founded in 1972 by the National Judges Association, TOB has grown to over 400 active schools. Currently, TOB is divided into 13 Chapters that encompass Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New Jersey, and Delaware. Brunswick is in Chapter 5 along with other schools from Frederick, Baltimore, Carroll, Howard, and Montgomery counties.

How do the band competitions work?
Bands compete in one of four groups based on the number of members in the band. BHS is a Group 2 band. Group 2 bands have 31 to 50 musicians and a maximum of 50 color guard members. TOB judges score all bands based on aspects of performance including the music and the drill (the visual interpretation of the performance). The final score is on a numerical scale up to 100. After all the bands have competed, they are awarded places and scores for each group. Caption awards such as best Drum Major, best Color Guard, and best Percussion are also awarded at many competitions. All rules are available on the TOB website.
Back to Top

How should I behave in the stands at competions?
1. It is not proper to enter or leave your seat in the middle of someone's performance. Please wait until the performance is completed before entering or leaving your seat.
2. The time to talk and comment is in between performances and definitely not while a band is performing.
3. It is proper and expected that all spectators will applaud for all of the performers. Some spectators have fallen into the habit of only applauding for their own child's performance, thinking that the amount of applause that a group gets might affect the score. Judges really are not affected by spectators applause.
4. Let it be known that air horns, cow bells and any other noise making devices in the stands can actually be a detriment to a band's performance. If the judges can not hear the band perform, they can not give proper credit.
Back to Top

What are Candy Grams, Flower Grams and Air Grams?
Candy and flower grams are a convenient way for parents, siblings and friends of BHMR to send band members candy, flowers and various other nice things after a show. Air grams are read over the PA system as the band comes onto the field. Competitions usually have tables set up to arrange the these and all you have to do is give them the band member's name and payment they will take care of the rest.
Back to Top

What is the Color Guard?
The Color Guard provides a visual picture alive with message and meaning. Guard members use flags, rifles, sabers and dance as part of the routine that they perform while the band members play. Being a guard member requires fantastic coordination of fingers, hands, arms, feet and legs. Their performance adds color, fashion, flair, excitement, sophistication and pizzazz to the field show.
Back to Top

What is the Pit Crew?
The Pit Crew is made up of band supporters (family members, friends, and former band members) and it assists the band by moving drums and other pieces of percussion equipment and props on and off the performance area. Because competitions are a timed performance with penalties assessed for exceeding the allotted time, the Pit Crew plays an important and necessary role in supporting the band.
Back to Top

What are Chapters?
At the end of the regular marching band season, there are regional competitions known as Chapter Championships. The Railroaders compete in Chapter 5. Chapters are held at different area schools each year, most recently at Liberty High School. At Chapters we only compete against our own group. Our placement at Chapters determines whether we qualify to compete at ACC’s or perform as an Exhibition Band.
Back to Top

What are the ACC’s and how can the Railroaders participate?
From the scores awarded at band competitions, bands are ranked. These rankings are used to determine which bands have performed the best throughout the competition season. The top 25 bands in each group as well as each Chapter winner are invited to attend a championship competition known as the ACC’s (Atlantic Coast Championships). It is an honor to be invited to compete at ACC's. If a band does not qualify to compete at ACC's, they may be invited to perform as an exhibition band. Competing and exhibition bands are all scored and can receive awards. The Marching Railroaders competed at ACCs last year and returned as Invitational Champions!!!
Back to Top

How can I follow the Railroaders’ ranking?
To keep up with our band's ranking go to www.bluewaveband.org or www.tob-info.net. These sources are updated very quickly following competitions and are accurate.
Back to Top

How can I watch the Railroader performances?
You can attend any Marching Railroader performance and can assist with the Pit Crew during football games or competitions if you are interested. Band members are transported to the competitions on buses that depart from and return to BHS. Family members must provide their own transportation or can arrange carpooling with our band supporters.
Back to Top

What should I expect on competition days?
Before each band competition, the band director releases a schedule of the day’s events (usually called a "POD" or "Plan of the Day") that tells the location and projected times of equipment loading, departure, performance and arrival back at BHS. There is an admission fee to enter a band competition, typically $6 for adults and $4 for children. If you buy your tickets at the competition, you support the school that is hosting the competition. However, if you buy tickets from the BHS Band Boosters, 100% of the proceeds directly supports our Railroader Marching Band. Schools that host competitions are required to provide us tickets (or cash) to compensate us for travel expenses. It is in our band's best interest to purchase tickets from our own Band Boosters. We sell these tickets when band members report to school the day of the competition and also at home football games the night before (if there is one). At competitions, the host school sells food and other items. You can recognize your child by purchasing items that will be for sale – “Airgrams” (a message read over the loudspeaker while the band is waiting to enter the field for competition) and “Candygrams” (candy and a message delivered to your child after competing) are two examples.
Back to Top

What can band members expect on competition days?
Band students will have a fun but busy day on competition days. An expected schedule will be released prior to competition days. Most competitions last all day and sometimes we even have a doubleheader (two competitions on one day). Students usually bring money to competitions to buy dinner and snacks from the concession stands. Make sure your child has enough money to eat or brings a packed lunch/dinner.
Back to Top

How can parents support the band program?
The band is a busy program that needs the support of parents, families and the community to excel. Our organization is responsible for raising band funds. We do this through band fees and a variety of fundraisers throughout the year. We also host our own TOB competition, Take the ACC Train at BHS in October and need volunteers to fill the many roles necessary for this large event. Your time is welcome and useful for a variety of needs including fitting band uniforms, assisting with the Pit Crew, and participating in or even heading one of the fundraisers. Most importantly, your support and encouragement of the band director, your child and the other students in the Railroaders program is essential to a strong band program. Volunteering and fundraising are just some of the many ways that parents can help support our band program. The BHS Band Boosters is a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations to the BHS Band Boosters are tax-deductible.
Back to Top

How can I stay informed about the band?
The Band Boosters organizes all the supportive and fundraising band activities. Meetings are held the second Monday of each month at Brunswick High School. Meetings are open to all and are a good way to stay informed and to voice your opinion on Boosters' activities. Minutes for past meetings may be found at our booster page. Be sure to visit www.railroaderband.org regularly to learn about upcoming events and fundraisers and to view the calendar. You will also want to be a member of our Railroader Band email group. You can see a history of emails at http://groups.google.com/group/rrband and you can apply for group membership on this page. Whether you have email or arrange for phone updates, it is important to have a means of communication through which you can receive current information.
Back to Top

What other band opportunities are available at BHS when marching band ends?
BHS students have numerous opportunities to participate in band-related activities throughout the school year. Some of these programs are held during the regular school day while others are extracurricular. These events may include concert band, jazz band, pep band, indoor guard, and drumline. You can learn about these activities by following this website, joining the Railroader Band email group, as well as by information provided by the school and Mr. Glidewell. A trip to Disney World is tentatively scheduled for February 27 to March 3, 2009. Marching band, concert band, jazz band and indoor guard will perform. They will get to enjoy time at MGM Studios, Magic Kingdom, and Epcot Center. We are hoping to bring the cost down to a maximum of $600 with our fundraising efforts. Opportunities to bring the cost down even more will be available for students.
Back to Top