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7901 Bailey Cove Road
Huntsville, AL 35802
Phone:256.881.1075
Fax: 256.881.1075*
*(Listen to answering message for FAX instructions.)

Directors:
Bill Connell
Theo Vernon

Website maintained by
Melanie Baeske

Grissom Band Ensembles

Grissom offers the following instrumental ensembles:

Marching Band

Symphonic Band I

Symphonic Band II

Concert Band

Jazz Band

Small chamber ensembles made up of Grissom Band students

MARCHING BANDS

The Grissom High School Marching Tiger Band consists of instrument-playing members in the three band classes, plus the Color Guard. We have 2 types of marching bands beginning this year. The Football Band and the Performance Band. The Football Band includes the entire Marching Band that will attend all football games throughout the football season, perform a pre-game show at all home football games and march in any local parades. The Performance Band is by audition and will perform the half-time shows and marching contests.

The Perfromance Band performs half-time shows at all football games throughout the football season and usually attends one or two marching contests. These contests are held on Saturdays during the fall with a short rehearsal prior to departure. Occasionally this is an overnight trip. Refer to trip information included in this handbook. All members of the Grissom High School Marching Band (Football Band and Performance Band) will attend the marching contests whether they perform or not. The Football Band students need to see what a marching contest is all about so they can be ready to audition the following year for the Performance Band if they so choose.

A schedule of summer band practices is distributed at the end of each school year and posted on Charms. "Rookie Camp" is for incoming freshmen and anyone else who will march with the Grissom Band for the first time that fall. "Rookie Camp" usually lasts 5 days and is normally held the week after school ends. "Pre-camp" is held for three days prior to Band Camp, where the marching music is learned and marching fundamentals practiced. The following week is "Band Camp", with morning, afternoon and evening rehearsals of the marching program. These two weeks are required for all marching band members.

Percussion Section

The percussion section’s summer practices will be decided in May each year.. A "drum camp" is held at Grissom in July, with clinicians brought in to work with the section.  All of these rehearsals are very important and attendance is required. Summer percussion rehearsal schedules are given as soon as possible depending upon the clinicians’ schedule. All members of the percussion section will pay the instrument rental fee for all 3 semesters; summer, fall and spring. Every member uses Grissom Band owned percussion instruments all year long.

Color Guard

Members of the Color Guard are selected by auditions held in May of each year. All of the members of the Guard are scheduled in one of the band classes as playing members of the band or in the Color Guard class. Prior to auditions, a four day clinic is held after school at Grissom to teach basic flag techniques and dance coordination. This clinic is required for all students auditioning for a position in the Guard. Parental permission forms, reference forms from three teachers and grade sheets are also required before auditions.

Membership in the Color Guard includes:

1. Attendance at summer rehearsals—two days a week from 6:00 to 8:00 AM beginning in mid June. Family vacations are excused, but guard members are expected to only miss a few summer rehearsals. It is easy to get behind.
2. Attendance at Guard Camps—week-long camps scheduled in June and July at Grissom. Clinician brought in to teach equipment work for the marching drill and work on fundamentals of marching and dance movement. Any member missing these camps could be chosen as an alternate until the equipment work is learned and challenges are held.
3. Paying Band Fees—as set each year by the Grissom Band Parents Association. This due covers the cost of Guard Camp, Pre Camp, Band Camp, uniform rental, transportation to football games contests, and a general operational fee. These fees are due at uniform fitting in August, before school starts.
4. Wearing a "Spirit Uniform" on game days—uniform pieces consist of orange shorts, white jersey, white GHS sweatshirt, white "Keds" tennis shoes, and white socks. Each member is responsible for purchasing this "spirit uniform", which is not included in the band fees.
5. Maintenance of flags/rifles—Each guard member is responsible for the purchase of a practice flag and/or rifle. Performance flags and rifles are supplied by the band.
6. Following all rules and regulations of the Grissom High School Band—of which you are a member.

At any time, any Guard member can be designated an alternate if too many rehearsals are missed or performance at rehearsals is not up to par. Alternates may challenge another Guard member for a spot in the show. Challenges must be requested of the directors a week in advance and must occur early enough during the following week to ensure enough rehearsal time before the next performance - see "Challenging Procedures" in the student handbook.

CONCERT SEASON

Concert season, which begins immediately after football season, is the major part of our music program. Grissom has three performing bands:

• Symphonic Band 1
• Symphonic Band 2
• Concert Band

Your placement in one of the bands is based upon your performance at an audition. Auditions for first semester are held at the end of each school year. Auditions for the second semester are held at the end of the first semester. These auditions are also used as an exam grade. It is possible for you to move up or down a band at the change of semesters or from one year to the next. (It is also possible to change chair positions within your band by challenging the player above you - see "Challenging Procedures" in the student handbook.

Performances

All three bands perform at the following:

Sometimes the Symphonic Band I will receive an invitation to perform at a convention or festival during the Spring and will have an additional band trip. There is usually only one of these each year.

The rehearsal schedule during concert season is as follows: These rehearsals begin after football season is complete.  Sym II will not start Thursday evening rehearsals until 2nd semester.

Concert Season Band Camp

During the early part of the 2nd semester each year, all four bands participate in a Concert Season Band Camp. Students will be involved in full band rehearsals with a guest conductor; master classes on their respective instruments with guest faculty; recitals by guest faculty and Grissom students; clinics; and perform an informal concert at the conclusion of the camp. Grissom began this program in 1995 with the 2 Symphonic Bands and has now expanded to include the 2 Concert Bands. Limited space at Grissom requires us to have two separate camp dates. One for the Symphonic Bands and one for the Concert Bands. We use these camps as a jump start on our concert season to prepare selected festival music and to enhance the students’ music education opportunity.

These camps are held from Thursday after school through the Saturday afternoon final concert. This is a required activity which is included in your Band Fees.

JAZZ BANDS

Membership in the "A" and "B" Jazz Bands is determined by an audition held each spring. Except for piano, guitar, bass, drums, and vocalist, you must be a member of one of the concert bands to be a member of either jazz band. All non-concert band members will be assessed a general band due at the beginning of each year. (see "Band Fees" in the student handbook.) All brass players will be responsible for acquiring the following mutes: straight, harmon, cup, and plunger. The jazz bands perform throughout the school year at many different city and community functions, some of which earn money for the jazz band account. In addition to these performances, one or both of the jazz bands perform at the following: (after-school rehearsals are usually held prior to a performance)