Member Guidelines

Home Page

2007-2008 Schedule

Scrapbook

Notes from the Concord Band

Mailing List

Discography

Contributions

Biographical Sketches

Program Notes

Web Links

About the Band

Band Organization

Band Roster

For Band Members Only

Revised March 24, 2006

Introduction

These guidelines provide a summary of expectations for members of the Concord Band. In order to maximize the enjoyment of all Band members and ensure the ongoing success of the Band, each member must maintain awareness of these guidelines and follow them consistently.

Rehearsals

Hours

• Regularly scheduled rehearsals are held Monday evenings from 7:45 PM to 10:00 PM.
• There is usually a 10-15 minute break sometime during the rehearsal.
• Members should arrive by 7:30 PM to help set the stage, as music stands must often be retrieved from the basement, and risers usually need to be repositioned. Everyone should be seated and ready to play before 7:45 PM, and should return promptly from breaks.
• Rehearsals are held every Monday throughout the year, with the exceptions of those Mondays in December that follow our Holiday Pops Concerts and those Mondays following the Band's last concert of the summer through Labor Day.

Attendance

It is generally expected that each Band member, as part of his or her commitment to the Band, attend every rehearsal, if possible. Beyond the obvious need for regular attendance by the entire ensemble, the following considerations should be noted:

• The absence of any player for more than an occasional rehearsal affects all of the players who attend regularly, since the uncovered part(s) affect the balance and context for the section.
• Frequently, the Music Director will work on certain pieces (or key portions thereof) only during one rehearsal, so that anyone who misses that particularly rehearsal would miss out entirely on an important piece; s/he will not be aware of the Director's instructions for interpretation or cuts and will miss the opportunity to ask questions about the piece.
• Members must notify either the section leader or the Music Director, in writing (or email), well in advance of any necessary absences from rehearsals.
• If last minute emergencies necessitate missing a rehearsal, an immediate call to the Music Director, the section leader, or the Band phone number is required. The member must arrange for his/her folder to be delivered to another member or to the rehearsal.
• The importance of regular attendance is reflected in this policy: Any member absent for more then two rehearsals in the five immediately preceding a performance, without prior approval of the Music Director, may be asked to sit out that concert. A member who demonstrates lack of commitment to the Band through chronic, unapproved absences will be asked to leave.

Preparation

• All players are expected to work on their own to prepare to play their individual parts to the absolute best of their ability. This preparation should be done well before the performance dates in order to provide time to work the part into the overall piece once it is mastered.
• If a particular rhythm or technical aspect of a part is causing problems, the player should seek advice or assistance from the section leader.

Conduct

• To ensure the most efficient use of valuable rehearsal time, it is important for all members to stay closely attuned to the rehearsal material and the instructions of the Director. Unrelated conversations between Band members will seriously undermine this efficiency, and therefore are totally inappropriate.

Concerts

Dress

• Indoor Concerts (Fall and Winter Concerts, Pops Concerts, Boston Band Festival): black skirts or slacks and black tops for women; black suits, white shirts, black bow ties for men; black socks and shoes for all.
• Summer Concerts: Concord Band polo shirts, black trousers or skirts, black shoes. In extremely hot weather, black shorts of "Bermuda" length may be worn.

Attendance

• Members unable to attend a performance due to unavoidable circumstances must notify the Music Director, in writing (or via email), at least one month in advance of the performance date.
• If last minute emergencies necessitate missing a performance, an immediate call to either the Music Director, the section leader, or the Band phone number is required. The member must arrange for his/her folder to be delivered to another member of the Band or to the concert hall well in advance of the performance.

Music and Folders

• All folders should be maintained in orderly condition, with music arranged alphabetically.
• It is helpful to keep the pieces for the next concert in a separate grouping, in performance order.
• The Band Librarian should be notified of any missing or damaged parts.
• A copier is available in the Band Music Library at 51 Walden in the event of a shortage of part copies. Copies may be made during the rehearsal break or before a rehearsal. A key may be borrowed from a member of the Band Board.

Extra-musical Effort

The most visible (perhaps we should say audible) element of the Concord Band is the music we present at concerts. Supporting our musical activities, however, are myriad tasks beyond those handled by the Board that are crucial to our existence as a musical organization. Since we are a nonprofit volunteer organization, with substantial necessary expenses (e.g., professional music direction, rent at 51 Walden, printing, etc.), and since there is a limit to the amount of income we can generate, we don't have the funds to pay outside services to handle most of these tasks. Therefore, it is expected that each member of the Band will lend a helping hand. Examples of the kinds of tasks that must be done on a regular basis by Band members so that we can continue to make music are arranging risers and chairs on stage for rehearsals and concerts, applying labels and stuffing envelopes for our fall and winter newsletters, and helping with the Holiday Pops. It is also regularly necessary to find friends of the Band who can help out with tasks that cannot be done by Band members themselves. Examples are staffing the ticket table before a concert or setting out refreshments afterward. When you are asked to volunteer for extra-musical band work or to find a friend for such a task, please make every effort to do so. It's usually fun and always quite necessary.

Financial Support

The Concord Band, although a community music ensemble, is not inexpensive to operate. We depend on financial contribution from those who support the work we do in providing the best in concert band music to the community. The Concord Band is different from most other community bands in a number of ways. We have a permanent home. We own (or jointly own with the Concord Orchestra) a large array of percussion instruments, music stands and audio equipment. We have an extensive concert schedule, including a summer series at a summer home at Fruitlands Museum in Harvard, Massachusetts. We have a strong following at formal, pops and outdoor concerts. Finally, we have probably commissioned more new music for concert band than any other community band in the world.

Since all of this costs money in one way or another, we ask every Band member to help out. We have no dues, so anything you contribute is tax deductible. We ask you to give no more than you can afford, but no less than what the Band represents to your lifestyle. If you are unemployed or retired, you may want to contribute a token $10 this year. If your annual income exceeds $1 million, perhaps you'd like to endow the Music Directorship. If your income is between those extremes, we're sure that you can figure it out. Gifts of $100 are common. Gifts of securities, slightly used Rolls Royces and just about anything else of value will be gladly accepted. Contact the Band's Fundraising Chairman, to discuss gifts other than money.

Let's all pitch in.