Member Guidelines
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. Members' Guidelines will be revised by the Band Board of Trustees on an ongoing basis and will be distributed at the first rehearsal of each annual season.
Governing Documents
The formal name of the Band organization is the Concord Band Association. The primary governing document is the Declaration of Trust, which establishes the Association as a Massachusetts 501 (c) (3) Trust, and may be viewed at www.concordband.org/organization.html. The Members' Guidelines are available on the Band website at www.concordband.org/member_guide.htmlI. Also of interest is "The Mission, Policies and Unique Character of the Concord Band", which is available at www.concordband.org/about.html.
Concord Band Association Membership
Per the Declaration of Trust, a new player joining the Band formally becomes a member of the Concord Band Association after attending at least eight of twelve consecutive rehearsals.
Rehearsals and Concerts
Hours
Regularly scheduled rehearsals are held Monday evenings from 7:30 PM to 9:45 PM. There may be a "dress" rehearsal on the Friday evening before a concert.
There is usually a 10-15 minute break sometime during the rehearsal.
Members should arrive by 7:15 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, warmed up and ready to play before 7:30 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 particular rehearsal would miss out entirely on an important piece, 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.
Members must notify either the Personnel Manager or the Music Director via email, in person at rehearsal, or the band phone line (978-897-9969) well in advance of any planned absences from rehearsals.
If last minute emergencies necessitate missing a rehearsal, an immediate call to the Music Director, the Personnel Manager, or the Band phone number is required.
During the Fall/Winter/Spring concert season, any member absent for more than two rehearsals in the five immediately preceding a performance, without prior approval of the Music Director, may be asked to sit out that concert.
During the Fall/Winter/Spring concert season, any members who know ahead of time that they cannot play the concert are requested to sit out the last two rehearsals.
During the Summer season, a member who cannot attend a rehearsal may be asked to sit out the following concert.
During the Summer season, any member who knows ahead of time that s/he cannot play a concert is requested to sit out the preceding rehearsal.
Any time a member must miss a rehearsal or a concert, the member must arrange for his/her folder to be delivered to 51 Walden or the concert venue.
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, the Music Director and/or a private teacher.
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.
Conversations not directly related to the rehearsal seriously undermine rehearsal efficiency, and therefore are totally inappropriate. Necessary conversations (e.g., to coordinate within a section) should be kept brief, or take place before or after rehearsal or during the break if possible.
Tuning (other than as directed), practicing and "noodling" during rehearsal is also disruptive and inappropriate.
Members are expected to play the parts assigned by the Music Director and/or a section leader to the best of their abilities. Parts will be assigned and rotated according to a player's abilities, the needs of the section, and to achieve the best musical balance and performance.
Players who continually fail to observe these rehearsal and concert guidelines may be asked to leave the Band.
Concert 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.
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 parts. Copies may be made during the rehearsal break or before a rehearsal. A key may be borrowed from a member of the Band Board or the Librarian.
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, moving equipment to and from our summer home and other offsite concert locations, 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. Gifts of $100 are common, and some members give significantly more, but we also recognize that others may be in tight financial circumstances due to unemployment or retirement on a modest fixed income, etc. If $10 is what you can afford, it will be gratefully accepted. On the other hand, if you are in a position to make a major gift to the band, such as an endowment for the Music Directorship, we encourage you do to so. Gifts of securities, or other items of value will also be gladly accepted. Please contact the Band's Fundraising Chairman to discuss non-monetary gifts.
Our goal is 100% participation by band members. Let's all pitch in.
Revised September 10, 2009