Student Leadership Responsibilities
The band relies on student leadership to help the directors increase the quality of instruction and to promote leadership skills. Students are assigned to various leadership positions by the band director according to their ability to lead and ability to properly perform various functions in the band.
Students are not given the ability to punish or reprimand other students. Students can be assigned to oversee various consequences set forth by the band director. Any student can be removed from a leadership assignment at any time for any reason by the band director.
“Leadership is not something you do to people.
It’s something you do with people.”
-Ken Blanchard
Below is a list of leadership assignments and their responsibilities.
Band President:
The Band President primary function is to provide student leadership and direction to the
Marching Band, Concert Band and Wind Ensemble during the year. The Band President
will be responsible for organizing, communicating and leading student activities
throughout the school year. He/she will also represent the music department to all
school, school district and parent/community events. The successful individual will be
one who is an exceptional leader and communicator who can guide a large group of band
members to grow, learn and have fun. The Band President is a position of service as well
as leadership. The Band President’s responsibility is to do whatever needs to be done for
the students of the music program to have a successful experience.
Vice President:
Drum Major:
Student leader of the band obtained by a try-out which is judged by the director and staff.
Jobs include:
Captains:
Are responsible for all aspects of rehearsal and performance within their section. Captains have oversight
over Section Leaders and are responsible for ensuring an effective rehearsal and performance atmosphere for all players. All captains work closely together to enhance the esprit de corps of the band. All sectionals and extra rehearsal time must be coordinated through the Captains, who will seek approval from the Band Director.
All captains work closely together to enhance the esprit de corps of the band.
Drum Captain
All of the duties of section leaders, plus the following:
Woodwind/Brass Captain:
The basic duties of the Brass/Woodwind Captain include:
Color Guard Captain:
As a member of the Marching Band Leadership, the Guard Captain must fulfill any leadership team duties assigned by the Band Director, Color Guard Instructor, other staff members, or Drum Major(s). Guard Captain responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:
All of the duties of section leaders, plus the following:
Equipment Manager:
The primary role of the Equipment Manager is to work with the Captains, Stage Manager, and
Equipment Crew, and be responsible for all instruments and equipment owned by the band.
In addition he/she is responsible for all field equipment/props necessary for all rehearsals such as the drum major ladder, yard markers, sound equipment and etc. The Equipment Manager is also responsible for loading and unloading equipment when the band travels.
Specific Responsibilities
Stage Manager:
Section Leader:
Jobs include:
Section Leaders are in charge of "setting the standards of excellence" in musical and Marching execution as they "lead by example." Modeling excellence, and in motivating and encouraging their section to perform at a high level of excellence. They lead sectional rehearsals. They are responsible for disseminating information and announcements to all members in their section. They are responsible for helping to organize and maintain Band equipment. They respect every member of their section as a valued Band member. They strive to serve each section member by providing help and encouragement. Furthermore, They will complete weekly inspections, maintain field discipline, provide instruction, serve as positive role models, and assist the drum majors as needed.
The success of the Western High School Band is directly related to the effectiveness and commitment of the student leaders, and their ability to inspire hard work and lead their peers to excellence. All of the finest equipment, all of the hours of planning, all of the creative ideas, hard work, investment of time, and all of the best wishes of our supporters have very little meaning if our Seniors and leaders fail to inspire quality performance. Even more important than their ability to perform is the ability of our leaders to set a good example as human beings and to encourage others to follow their lead. Please understand your important role within the Band organization and strive to fulfill it to the best of your ability.
Below is a break down of specific tasks of the section leaders:
Music Inspection
Prior to each football game the section leader will view each member’s flip folder. Section members that do not have a flip folder will need to be sent to a band director for the appropriate pass. Flip folders will not be used for competition events.
Equipment Inspection
Prior to each performance the section leader will view the following items from each member:
1. Music Lyre and flip folder (Football Games Only)
2. All uniform parts including pre-uniform
Pre-Uniform
3. Working condition of instruments
Instrument Inspection
Prior to each performance the section leader will view each member’s instrument.
Brass instruments should be polished and uniformly clean. All other sections should be viewed
for component parts, i.e.reeds, ligatures, etc...
At the conclusion of your inspection you will record students not meeting inspection.
Turn inspection sheet in to the Captains.
How to do all this?
Deficiencies:
Marching Related
Uniform Manager:
Librarian
Student in charge of music and information dispersal, appointed by the director.
Jobs include:
Publicity/Historian
Students are not given the ability to punish or reprimand other students. Students can be assigned to oversee various consequences set forth by the band director. Any student can be removed from a leadership assignment at any time for any reason by the band director.
“Leadership is not something you do to people.
It’s something you do with people.”
-Ken Blanchard
Below is a list of leadership assignments and their responsibilities.
Band President:
The Band President primary function is to provide student leadership and direction to the
Marching Band, Concert Band and Wind Ensemble during the year. The Band President
will be responsible for organizing, communicating and leading student activities
throughout the school year. He/she will also represent the music department to all
school, school district and parent/community events. The successful individual will be
one who is an exceptional leader and communicator who can guide a large group of band
members to grow, learn and have fun. The Band President is a position of service as well
as leadership. The Band President’s responsibility is to do whatever needs to be done for
the students of the music program to have a successful experience.
Vice President:
Drum Major:
Student leader of the band obtained by a try-out which is judged by the director and staff.
Jobs include:
- Provide a good example for students to follow.
- Maintain order while the staff are not available.
- Conduct the band on the field in rehearsals and performances.
- Assist Section Leaders with their duties.
- Various administrative duties such as rehearsal attendance records, logs, etc...
Captains:
Are responsible for all aspects of rehearsal and performance within their section. Captains have oversight
over Section Leaders and are responsible for ensuring an effective rehearsal and performance atmosphere for all players. All captains work closely together to enhance the esprit de corps of the band. All sectionals and extra rehearsal time must be coordinated through the Captains, who will seek approval from the Band Director.
All captains work closely together to enhance the esprit de corps of the band.
Drum Captain
All of the duties of section leaders, plus the following:
- Directs percussion sectionals during the summer and the regular marching season.
- Ensures that all percussion equipment is accounted for and stored
- Helps keep percussion areas in the band room clean and organized
- Oversees the loading and unloading of all percussion equipment at all band functions.
- Reports any vandalism to the band director immediately.
- Encourage all team members to achieve their full potential
Woodwind/Brass Captain:
The basic duties of the Brass/Woodwind Captain include:
- Oversee their section leaders and monitor their respective progress;
- Begins warm-up when the Directors are not available
- Insures that the sections locker area is clean and organized
- Assist the Band Director and Equipment Manager with instrument inventory and maintenance
- Helps keep the band room clean and organized
- Oversees the loading and unloading of all woodwind and brass instruments at all band functions.
- Makes sure that all rehearsal sites are clean before leaving.
- Encourage all team members to achieve their full potential
Color Guard Captain:
As a member of the Marching Band Leadership, the Guard Captain must fulfill any leadership team duties assigned by the Band Director, Color Guard Instructor, other staff members, or Drum Major(s). Guard Captain responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:
All of the duties of section leaders, plus the following:
- Assists in teaching the marching show to the Guard.
- Leading Stretches and Warm-ups
- Starting rehearsal if the Instructor will be late due to work commitments
- Assisting the Staff identifying problem areas or concerns withing the show/work
- Be the "eyes & ears" between the other Guard Members and the Color Guard Instructor and Band Director - listen to your Guard when they have issues or questions and then talk with the Instructor if the situation calls for it.
- Makes sure that all rehearsal sites are clean before leaving.
- Is responsible for seeing that all guard equipment is put in its proper place after each rehearsal and kept in an orderly manner.
- Oversees the loading and unloading of all guard equipment at all band functions.
- Keeps a record of all issued equipment and its condition.
- Realize that the guard is part of the band and encourage others to realize it as well.
- Encourage all team members to achieve their full potential
- Be an example to other members of the Color Guard
Equipment Manager:
The primary role of the Equipment Manager is to work with the Captains, Stage Manager, and
Equipment Crew, and be responsible for all instruments and equipment owned by the band.
In addition he/she is responsible for all field equipment/props necessary for all rehearsals such as the drum major ladder, yard markers, sound equipment and etc. The Equipment Manager is also responsible for loading and unloading equipment when the band travels.
Specific Responsibilities
- Assist the directors with the distribution and collection of all school owned instruments, mouthpieces, mutes, and lockers
- Assist the director and Captains with periodic and random locker inspections
- Assist the directors with maintaining an accurate band inventory
- Assist the Stage Manager to tighten all music stands on a weekly basis
- Head up two instrument cleaning days (one each semester) and work with section leaders to make sure all instrument are cleaned with swabs, valve slides greased, piston/rotary valves oiled, cork greased and keys oiled as required on each instrument.
- Ensure that all cases are stenciled with Western and numbered and matched with the correct instrument
- Report any needed repairs of school owned instruments to the director. Students should bring all repair needs to the Equipment Manager
- Organize, supervise, and implement loading procedures for all trips. Keep an accurate log of ALL school owned equipment that will be taken by the band
- Assist Captains to ensure that all band equipment is brought back to WHS and properly stored
- Organize the loading crew and supervise the actual loading of the equipment truck
- Serve on the stage crew for all band concert
Stage Manager:
- Assist the director with instrument locker assignments
Section Leader:
Jobs include:
- Provide a good example for students to follow.
- Responsible for checking other students of his/her section for proper music, uniform and equipment.
- Instruct and answer questions pertaining to the music and marching.
- Follow through with any instructions the director may provide for the band.
- Conduct sectionals when directors or instructors are not available. (All sectionals must be pre-approved by the directors.)
- Check for locker violations on a regular basis
Section Leaders are in charge of "setting the standards of excellence" in musical and Marching execution as they "lead by example." Modeling excellence, and in motivating and encouraging their section to perform at a high level of excellence. They lead sectional rehearsals. They are responsible for disseminating information and announcements to all members in their section. They are responsible for helping to organize and maintain Band equipment. They respect every member of their section as a valued Band member. They strive to serve each section member by providing help and encouragement. Furthermore, They will complete weekly inspections, maintain field discipline, provide instruction, serve as positive role models, and assist the drum majors as needed.
The success of the Western High School Band is directly related to the effectiveness and commitment of the student leaders, and their ability to inspire hard work and lead their peers to excellence. All of the finest equipment, all of the hours of planning, all of the creative ideas, hard work, investment of time, and all of the best wishes of our supporters have very little meaning if our Seniors and leaders fail to inspire quality performance. Even more important than their ability to perform is the ability of our leaders to set a good example as human beings and to encourage others to follow their lead. Please understand your important role within the Band organization and strive to fulfill it to the best of your ability.
Below is a break down of specific tasks of the section leaders:
Music Inspection
Prior to each football game the section leader will view each member’s flip folder. Section members that do not have a flip folder will need to be sent to a band director for the appropriate pass. Flip folders will not be used for competition events.
Equipment Inspection
Prior to each performance the section leader will view the following items from each member:
1. Music Lyre and flip folder (Football Games Only)
2. All uniform parts including pre-uniform
Pre-Uniform
- White, short sleeved Under Armor or similar moisture wicking fabric.
- Black shorts made of a fabric that does not bunch up under the band uniform such as spandex or a thin polyester
- Long solid black athletic socks (must be fully above the ankles)
- Designated black band shoes (Dinkles)
- All pre-uniform parts
- Shako
- Band pants with string to support shoulder straps
- Band jacket
- Gauntlets
- Hair up neatly so it does not protrude under the shako
- Plumes (passed out/in by Boosters)
- Gloves (passed out/in by Boosters
3. Working condition of instruments
Instrument Inspection
Prior to each performance the section leader will view each member’s instrument.
Brass instruments should be polished and uniformly clean. All other sections should be viewed
for component parts, i.e.reeds, ligatures, etc...
At the conclusion of your inspection you will record students not meeting inspection.
Turn inspection sheet in to the Captains.
How to do all this?
- Assign a specific place to inspect your section.
- Allow plenty of time for the inspections.
Deficiencies:
- Uniform related should be sent to the Vice President of Uniforms
- Others should be sent to band director.
Marching Related
- Study and know the drill for your area of the field.
- Have all chart related equipment at each rehearsal.
- Be an EXCELLENT marcher and EXAMPLE setter!
- Create and place section posters in the band hall.
- Assist the Drill Instructors in maintaining field discipline.
- Be alert for instructions at all time in all venues.
- KNOW YOUR STUFF!!
Uniform Manager:
- Work closely with Band Parent Booster Uniform Volunteers.
- Sort and match all uniform pieces numerically
- Establish assistance to band members with uniform needs
- Check out/in uniforms at performance events
- Ensure that students have place uniform parts properly on hangers
- Label shako box shelves and garment bags with student name labels
- Ensures that the uniform locker area is clean and organized
- Assist parents with issuing of marching uniforms prior to Band Camp.
- Record assignments in computer data base
- Assist the Band Director with the dry cleaning of marching uniforms. Sort and hang after cleaning.
- Assist Band Librarians.
Librarian
Student in charge of music and information dispersal, appointed by the director.
Jobs include:
- Provide a good example for students to follow.
- Maintain and organize all music in the library.
- Handout, take up and make copies of all music distributed to students.
- Keep music updated in data base.
- Make up marching folders with music for all sections during the summer.
Publicity/Historian
- Official student photographer and collector of department photos and videos
- Assist the Director with making and distributing fliers and posters.
- Maintain an up-to-date scrapbook of all band events, including pictures, and other information
- Advertise and promote band events, including pictures and other information
- Plan and assist with the video yearbook for the annual banquet presentation.