SLO Tiger BandDirector: The band director oversees and guides the entire marching program, including the extensive administrative duties required to support band camp and marching season.
Band Board: The band members selected to organize the band. The Band Board plans band camp activities, leads students during band camp, organizes student-led fundraisers, ensures that information is timely conveyed to all band members, coordinates preparation of signs and artwork as needed, as well as many other tasks.
Drum Major/Assistant Drum Major: The drum majors are the musical student leaders of the marching band. The drum majors are responsible for leading the band during performances and ensuring that everyone stays in time and in step. A drum major leads the block during parades and provides visual interest by twirling their baton. The drum majors also work closely with Band Board and perform many of the same tasks.
Marching Season: The period of time for marching band rehearsals and performances. For SLOHS Tiger Band, marching season starts at Band Camp in early August and ends at the end of the first trimester (around the middle of November).
Uniform: During marching season, the uniform is the traditional marching band uniform (jacket, pants, hat, etc.). The marching band uniform is provided by the school except for a t-shirt and black socks. Students may have to change in or out of marching uniform before or after a performance, so it is beneficial to wear shorts or bike shorts under the marching uniform along with the t-shirt. During concert season, the uniform is black dress or black jacket and pants with white shirt. The dress and the jacket are provided by the school.
Travel Uniform: A black band t-shirt and a black band sweatshirt worn with band member’s own comfortable pants. The t-shirt and sweatshirt identify the SLOHS band on the front and typically include band sponsor logos on the back. Travel uniforms are worn for informal band events and during band events before or after changing into uniform.
Section: A group band members playing the same instrument or are part of a group of instruments. Each section has a section leader to organize the section and coordinate with Band Board and Drum Majors. Sections for SLOHS marching include flute, clarinet, trumpet, mellophone, saxophones, low brass, color guard, drumline, pit, and color guard.
Sectional: A sectional is the required weekly independent rehearsal for a section during marching season. Time, location, and duration is determined by the section leader based on the availability of the section members, but must be for at least one hour.
Call Time: The time by which a student is expected to be at the call time location and ready for an event or rehearsal. This usually requires arrival by the student prior to call time.
Info Sheet: A sheet of information received by band members prior to more complex events. Includes detailed instructions for that event. May include a schedule.
Field Show: This is the performance that the band puts on during halftime at football games or at competitions. The field show typically consists of several musical pieces centered around a theme, each with its own drill and choreography.
Field Props: Large items that add visual interest to the field show. The props are related to the theme of the field show music. Props may be platforms for soloists, backdrops, giant shapes, etc. Usually props for SLOHS Tiger Band are designed by the Drum Majors, Band Board, and the Director, and custom built by the SLOIMBA VP of Operations (aided by other parent and band member volunteers).
(TNR) Tuesday Night Rehearsal: During marching season, the band practices every Tuesday night, typically from 6-8:30pm. As the marching band is split up into different band classes in school, TNR allows the marching band to practice as a whole. There is also one TNR the Tuesday before the SLO Holiday Parade.
Drill: This refers to the precise formations and movements that the band members make while marching. The drill is carefully choreographed to the music and is designed to create a visual spectacle for the audience.
Drill Day: An additional rehearsal during marching season that takes place on a non-school day. Drill Days typically run from about 9am-4pm.
Set: This is the specific position that the band members are supposed to be in at a particular point in the drill.
Reset: A direction that tells the group to return to an early point and get ready to do the action again. Example: “Reset to the start of the show.”
The Pit (Front Ensemble): The pit is a non-marching stationary group of musicians who play percussion instruments that cannot be carried while marching. The pit instruments are set up at the front of the performing area. The pit typically consists of instruments like timpani, xylophone, drum kit, gong, and marimba.
Pit Crew: A group of parent volunteers who help the pit band members set up and take down the pit instruments for a field show performance. The band has only a very short amount of time to move all of the equipment on and off the field before and after football games and field show competitions.
Drumline (Battery): A percussion section of the marching band, usually consisting of snare drums, tenor drums “quads”, bass drums, and cymbals. The instruments are all worn or carried by the band members and the drumline moves around the field as part of the drill. The drumline also plays the cadence that the band marches to and has additional drumline-only cadence performances. Drumline has additional rehearsals outside of the usual marching band rehearsals.
Drumline Cadence: A drumline cadence is a musical arrangement for percussionists that is usually played to keep a drum corps or marching band in the correct rhythm. The tempo of the drumline cadence provides all performers with the speed at which they should be stepping in unison. The SLO Tiger Band has their own specific cadence that the drumline plays while marching. The band frequently marches to the SLOHS drumline cadence before and after playing their chosen pieces in both parades and field shows.
Color Guard: The color guard is a group of performers who add visual interest to the band’s performance. The color guard typically performs with flags, rifles, or sabers, and is an essential part of any marching band performance. Color guard may have additional rehearsals outside of the usual marching band rehearsals.
Toss: A move where the color guard throws a flag, rifle, etc. up into the air and (ideally) catches it.
Drum major/Assistant Drum Major: The drum majors are the student leader of the marching band. The drum majors are responsible for leading the band during performances and ensuring that everyone stays in time and in step. A drum major leads the block during parades and provides visual interest by twirling their baton.
Parade Performance: A parade performance may be competitive (e.g. Pismo Parade Competition) or non-competitive (e.g. Pinedorado). During a parade performance, the band marches in a block with the drum majors and color guard in front. For a competition, the band plays a specific musical piece while marching past the judges’ area. For non-competitive parades, the band marches the parade route in a block while playing pep tunes and cadences. Pit members do not typically march in competitive parade competitions (although a few may play a small bell kit worn by the band member or carry the banner).
Block: The formation of the marching band for parade marching. The files (columns) and ranks (rows) are evenly spaced setting the band up in a large rectangle formation. The size of the block is determined by the number of band members in the first rank. For example, a block with 6 band members in the front rank is a “six front block”.
Baton (Military Baton): The baton that is used by the Drum Major during parades for twirling and giving signals. It is usually between 36 to 42 inches long, with a hollow, chrome-steel head on one end and a tapered tip on the other.
Step Off: The command that tells the band to start marching forward.
Whistle Command: An instruction given to the band using a whistle, usually by the Drum Major. It has two parts, the preparation, which tells the band what to do, and the execution, which tells the band to do the command. It is usually done while giving a signal with a baton or mace.
Pep Band: The pep band is an ensemble of instrumentalists who sit in the stands and play at events, usually athletic, with the purpose of entertaining and creating enthusiasm in the crowd. The pep band may be the entire band (like at SLOHS football games) or a subset of the band.
Pep Tunes (Pep Songs): Songs played by the pep band. They are typically well-known, energetic pop or rock songs.
Wind Ensemble: The honors concert band class during concert season. Students must audition for Wind Ensemble each year. Freshmen are not allowed to join Wind Ensemble.
Concert Band: The concert season band class for students not in Wind Ensemble.
Stage Jazz Band: Entry-level Jazz Band.
Honors Jazz Band: Upper-level Jazz Band, requires audition. Usually takes place before or after school.
Events Glossary
This is not an exhaustive list. Unless specifically noted, events do not include Jazz Bands. Events Glossary does not include on-site school-day performances such as rallies, VAPA performances, etc.
| Event | Day/Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLOHS Band Camp | 2 days in early August (3 days for freshmen and new students). All day (around 9-4). | SLOHS | Mandatory for all Marching Band students |
| Sleep-away Band Camp | 3 days/2 nights following SLOHS Band Camp | Currently Camp Whittier near Santa Barbara (may vary year to year) | Mandatory for all Marching Band students |
| Home Football Games (usually 5 games) | Friday nights in August, September, and/or October. Dates vary (see SLOHS Football schedule). Call time usually around 6pm. Game time usually 7pm. | SLOHS Holt Field | Perform Star-spangled Banner before game and pep tunes in the stands during game. Usually perform on the field at half-time. Later in the season, perform part or all of field show. One football game is usually designated “Senior Night” and there is a usually a brief pre-game ceremony for band seniors and their family. |
| Pinedorado Days Parade | Saturday before Labor Day. Early morning to early afternoon. | Downtown Cambria | Perform as entry in the Pinedorado Days parade. Non-competition. |
| Back-to-School Night | Usually early September. Early evening. | SLOHS | Perform outside prior to start of Back-to-School Night. |
| Additional field show performance or competition | Mid-October | TBD | Usually Bakersfield, Simi Valley, or UCLA Band Day (see “events that sometimes happen”, below). |
| Selma Rotary Parade and Field Show Competition | Last Saturday in October. Very long day, from about 5am to 1am. | Selma, CA (near Fresno) | Parade Competition in morning and Field Show Competition in afternoon/evening. |
| Pismo Beach Parade Competition | First Saturday in November, early morning to early afternoon. | Downtown Pismo Beach | |
| The Roar Field Tournament | First Saturday in November, early afternoon-late evening. Tournament start time around 6-7pm. | SLOHS | Hosted by the SLOHS Band and SLOIMBA, so students undertake tournament tasks as well as performance of field show. |
| Cal Poly Band Day | The day of a Cal Poly Home Football Game. Date varies. Morning until post game. | Cal Poly | Usually optional. Students rehearse with Cal Poly Band members in the morning, then head to the stadium in early afternoon Play pep tunes during game and all bands perform on field at half-time. |
| SLO Downtown Holiday Parade | Usually the first Friday in December. Roughly 5pm-8pm. | Downtown SLO | Non-competition. With LAMS Advanced Band (8th Graders). SLOHS Band is usually very early in the parade. Band members encouraged to add holiday festivity to their band uniform and/or instrument. |
| JAZZ BANDS ONLY – Pep Band at SLOHS Home Basketball games | Some or all home SLOHS basketball games (boys and girls). Generally occur during second trimester. | SLOHS | |
| Winter District Concert – INCLUDES JAZZ BANDS | Mid December. Afternoon or late afternoon to around 10pm. | Cal Poly PAC | All SLOHS Bands perform, as well as LAMS bands and SLOHS Choir. |
| Cuesta Jazz Festival JAZZ BANDS ONLY | March (multi-day) | Cuesta College | |
| County Honor Band | Auditions in January, Rehearsals and Performance in February. | Not a school-related event but traditionally many SLOHS students audition for and are accepted to Honor Band each year (even as freshmen). Info at www.slocbda.org | |
| County Band Festival | March. During school day. | Clark Center at AGHS | |
| Fresno Wind Festival – WIND ENSEMBLE ONLY | March. Day trip. | Fresno State | |
| Tigerfest (Open House) | March. Before Tigerfest starts. Early evening. | SLOHS | |
| March. Before Tigerfest starts. Early evening. | May. Morning to very late evening. | Santa Barbara City College, downtown Santa Barbara, dinner location (TBD) | |
| District Band Concert – INCLUDES JAZZ BANDS | May. Evening. | Usually at SLOHS Big Gym | SLOHS, LAMS, and 6th grade bands perform. |
| Senior Farewell (End-of-Year) Concert – INCLUDES JAZZ BANDS | Late May. Evening. | Usually at SLOHS Theater | Musical performances, presentation of Senior Gifts, year-in-review slide show, and band member video messages. |
| SLOHS Graduation | Day after Last Day of School (i.e. a Friday). Rehearsal in morning, performance in afternoon/evening depending on Graduation start time. | Holt Field | MANDATORY performance. |
| Band or Jazz Band Concerts not named above | TBD | SLOHS | Usually there are a few more short concerts in addition to those named above. |
Percussion Camp: Extra drumline rehearsals prior to band camp and/or between the end of band camp and beginning of school.
Winter Percussion: A voluntary after-school drumming ensemble that meets starting in January and typically continues meeting weekly or twice a week through the spring. The ensemble consists of mainly marching percussion, from drum line to marimba to synthesizer. The winter percussion will typically perform at a couple of concerts with the band in the winter and spring, as well as drumming at Tiger Fest and various rallies.
Winter Guard: Similar to Winter Percussion except for Color Guard.
Music in Motion Field Tournament: Centennial High School, Bakersfield, mid October. Field Show competition. Long day trip.
Royal Classic Field Tournament: Royal High School, Simi Valley, mid October. Field Show competition. Long day trip.
UCLA High School Band Day: Mid-October. Perform at UCLA football game at Rose Bowl with other High School Bands. Long day trip.