The Patriots
Summer Marching Page...
When marching the WSHSB is known as "The Patriots"
The marching trimester is voluntary. It is open to current WSHSB members and non-members alike. We need both musicians and non-musicians. Experienced musicians, thinking about joining the band in the fall, may participate in the summer marching trimester, before they submit an audition video.
WSHSB Patriot Marching Band
For marching, the WSHSB is also known as "The Patriots." Patriots attend marching camp in June and average five parades in the summer.
WSHSB Winter Concert
With two concerts per year, our winter concert is usually held at the end of January. Concerts are FREE admission with open seating. Check our Music Resource page to listen to past concerts.
WSHSB Patriot Marching Band
Marching trimester is voluntary and open to current WSHSB members and NON-members. This includes experienced musicians who are welcome to join us for the summer marching trimester. For more details see our Summer Marching page.
WSHSB Spring Concert
Our second concert of the year is generally held mid to late May. Come hear our Junior, Senior, and Symphonic bands separately and combined.
West Suburban Home School Band
About WSHSB
The West Suburban Home School Band, or WSHSB in short, follows the model of a community band and includes all wind instruments, woodwinds and brass, as well as a full percussion section. There are no stringed instruments ...more
WSHSB Member's News
Member's News has the link to the weekly Rehearsal Notes PDF and for quick reference, Important Dates and Deadlines and the Sectional Chart are included. Download the weekly Rehearsal Notes for the week's practice assignments and more.
Join WSHSB
To join the WSHSB a student must be home schooled. Those interested in joining the WSHSB, at any level but Cadet, must submit an audition video. Recommended minimum age for any level is nine. There are four skill levels to consider...more
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SUMMER 2020 Due to COVID-19 all parades and marching camps have been cancelled TOPICS BELOW INCLUDE - For those not currently WSHSB members Summer Marching Commitment Marching Camps Regarding Marching Camp Location if Marching Camp Always Bring Instruments to Camp Prompt Pick-up Please Camp Dates and Descriptions Forms, Fees and More Dress Code for ALL Marching Commands, Etc. What about bad weather? Parade Dates, Etc. Reminder for current WSHSB members FOR THOSE NOT CURRENTLY WSHSB MEMBERS Marching Trimester For marching, the WSHSB is also known as “The Patriots”. The marching trimester is voluntary and open to current WSHSB members and non-members alike. We need both musicians and non-musicians. Experienced musicians, whether or not they are thinking about joining the band in fall, may participate in the summer marching trimester. Thinking about Marching? As soon as you begin to consider joining, you should contact the director. She will call you at her earliest convenience. Include your name and phone with best time to call, student’s name, age and musical experience along with each instrument and number of years played. Requirements for musicians and non-musicians follow. Musicians Experienced, home-schooled musicians, elementary through high school age, are eligible to march with the WSHSB. All must have at least one school year of instruction on their instrument and be at a one-year proficiency level as judged by the director. Demonstration of proficiency may be required for those brand new to the band. Well-disciplined and similarly experienced, non-home-schooled students as well as adult musicians are also encouraged and welcome to join. Non-Musicians The Patriot Auxiliary is for non-musicians. All adults who march in the parade(s), Little Patriots and student guards, all wear the Dress Code black and white as well as the marching hat. The Patriot Auxiliary includes – 1. Adults willing to help with the marching band as needed. Jobs descriptions and the sign-up link can be found on our Booster web page. 2. Little Patriots – Younger siblings of marchers who march behind the band. Little Patriots is separate and NOT part of the Guard Unit. 3. Non-musician students interested in trying out for the very limited number of guard unit (GU) positions must notify the director in person or via email prior to the mandatory Pre-Camp date, CANCELLED, preferably by indicating such on the registration form. Read more below under the CANCELLED Pre-Camp details for NEWCOMERS. SUMMER MARCHING COMMITMENT Contact the director if you have conflicts with any points below. She will handle case by case. • All marching musicians and guard unit candidates are expected to participate in the preliminary marching practice on TBA • All participants must march a minimum of 2 parades. See the VERY IMPORTANT message after these points. • It is mandatory that all student marchers attend the entire week of Full Marching Camp (CANCELLED) to learn/review their own skills, and assist with new member training and development for the season. If you can't make camp you don't march. • Adults are welcome and encouraged to attend Marching Camp if their schedule allows for it. VERY IMPORTANT - If you are unsure or anticipate the possibility that you may need to cancel on a parade date or dates, it is better not to sign-up for any questionable dates. Rather, if you find you become available for a parade call Mrs. Borow the week before the parade and she will let you know if she can fit you in the block. Fitting someone in is far more preferable than dealing with a cancellation and having a hole in the block. MARCHING CAMPS Regarding Marching Camp: Be sure to eat, especially some protein, before coming to camp Location of Marching Camp For all camp days we will be meeting at the DuPage County Fairgrounds in Wheaton (east of County Farm Road and north of Manchester Road) near the Home Ec. building. Enter via gate S7, the east-most gate/entrance. The director will be at the fairgrounds by around 8:30am every day, rain or shine. Always Bring Instruments to Camp Always bring instruments to Pre-Camp and Full Camp unless instructed otherwise. It will depend on overall time as to whether we'll play or not. But, yes, please bring them. Prompt Pick-up Please Please be on time to pick-up your students at noon. Be considerate of the director's time, as she must wait until all students are picked-up. Camp Dates and Descriptions All dates and times for pre-camp and full camp have been cancelled. NOTICE: You must attend each FULL camp day/session, from 9 to 12pm, which you are required to attend. No one may leave ANY camp day/session early without the prior knowledge and permission of the director. MANDATORY Pre-Camp - CANCELLED - Mandatory Pre-camps – i.e. special camp sessions at DuPage County Fair Grounds, 9am to 12pm each day Mandatory Pre-Camp days are for the following people: Wednesday - CANCELLED NEWCOMERS – Any student/adult totally new to marching or others as listed below. This Pre-Camp will provide the following groups with a very basic introduction to WSHSB marching and will prepare them for the full Marching Camp, June 22 to 26, M-F 9am to 12pm. • Current Cadets, Junior, Senior and Symphonic members (wind or percussion) completing their first year with the WSHSB and wishing to join us for marching this summer. • Other students who've completed at least one (1) year of prior wind or percussion instruction elsewhere, but want to join WSHSB marching band this summer. • Non-musician students wishing to try out for the very limited number of guard unit (GU) positions. Those interested in auditioning must attend this Pre-Camp day and have notified the director prior to 6/17. Students will be led through a basic drill sequence and will be selected based on their ability to carry out WSHSB marching commands correctly, their overall marching accuracy and formality of their style. Final GU choices will be announced for each parade. If there are more GU candidates than open spots, they will march behind the last rank of musician marchers. (Decisions about which non-musician students will have the privilege of marching in front of the band will not be made until after full Marching Camp.) • Students who want to review their basic marching skills. • Adult helpers who would like a basic primer on WSHSB marching style. Thursday - CANCELLED PERCUSSION – All current and NEW marching percussionists This special Pre-Camp morning from 9 to 12 is mandatory for all percussionists who wish to be part of the WSHSB drum-line this summer. Due to the additional responsibilities percussionists have in carrying equipment and continuously playing a cadence during parades, marching style and technique can slip. This Pre-Camp day will be dedicated to the review, drill and improvement of basic marching skills for percussionists. The objective will be to improve the overall marching style of the drum line. Individual and rank form will be targeted, reviewed and improved. Neither cadences nor equipment, other than drum sticks, will be used on this Pre-Camp day. Cadences and marching with equipment will be practiced during the regular week of FULL Marching Camp, June 22-26, as the drum line continues to improve their performance as well as support the band. Friday - CANCELLED RANK LEADER CANDIDATES – Director will approve rank leaders. If you are currently in Senior or Symphonic band and are interested in being a rank leader for camp and/or parades, you must attend this Pre-Camp day. Attendance on this day WILL NOT GUARANTEE your role as a rank leader in Marching Camp or at parades. You will review and drill basic marching skills, stationary and marching commands and special skills necessary for rank leaders. The director will decide and assign rank leaders based on multiple criteria including: actual marching ability, leadership skills, Marching Camp attendance as well as prior AND current parade commitments. Full Marching Camp CANCELLED Monday through Friday - 9am to 12pm each day at DuPage County Fair Grounds Forms, Fees and More Every marcher, student and adult, wears a hat supplied by the band. There is a $20 fine for non-returned hats. Laundered hats must be returned, or the $20 fine paid, at the September Overview and Orientation meeting. Non-WSHSB members may simply return their unwashed hat at their last parade. Those renting instruments from the band must also complete a WSHSB Instrument Rental Agreement, and pay a $40 rental fee for the summer trimester along with your registration. Student and adult musicians, as well as color guards, also need to print and complete a 2020 Summer Marching Registration Form which will be on Forms/Documents by April 9. The WSHSB Instrument Rental Agreement is already there. NON MARCHERS - We'd appreciate non-marchers returning page 3, initialing in the space provided to indicate no family members marching. Current members must mail their registration with sufficient time to arrive, or deliver in person, by April 30, 2020. Important for those new to WSHSB - registration deadline is June 3, 2020. New people need to contact the director, as soon as possible, and mail their form to the address stated on the form. If there is not sufficient time for mailing, as long as you have already contacted the director and she knows to expect you, you may bring your form to the preliminary marching practice on June 4, 2020. Any instrument rental requires a separate form and payment, due along with the registration. BOOSTERS - Due to the size and demands of our band program we have a required volunteer system. For the marching trimester, one parent from every family is required to 1. Sign-up for at least 2 Booster positions/slots for the marching trimester in which their student(s) is/are participating AND 2. Indicate that information on the registration form. For volunteer job descriptions and the link to the WSHSB job sign-up site, see our Booster webpage. WSHSB 2019 Summer Marching Booster Jobs to be released on April 13 at 7pm. Online sign-up is mandatory. Simply filling in a job on the form does not fulfill the ONLINE sign-up requirement. Jobs are first come first served. Jobs remain open until online sign-up is completed. You must do BOTH point A and B A. Enter your name on the WSHSB Online Sign-up Schedule for the job(s)you are committing to do. B. In the Booster section of the Registration form you will need to initial that online sign-up has been completed and state the date/s and positions for which you volunteered. Returned forms are what we use to distribute music. If you expect to get music you must submit a completed registration form. Supplies All musicians will need their instrument, a lyre and flip-folder and all distributed music, reduced as necessary. Bring a water bottle, a hat for sun protection and a poncho in case of rain. We will still march outside in a light drizzle. Optional: bring balls, gloves, Frisbees, etc. for break-time at camp. Returning Band Property Cummerbunds are distributed prior to and returned after every parade. Percussion equipment, marching music and laundered hats are to be returned at the Overview and Orientation meeting in mid-September. Other arrangements will be made for those not returning to band in the fall. DRESS CODE FOR ALL Dressing for Marching Camp There are to be no short-shorts or tank tops, and no low-cut, skimpy or tight-fitting tops worn to camp. There should be no bare midriffs or shoulders. Everyone must wear good shoes that cover and support your feet, no sandals or flip-flops. Marching Dress Code for Parades/Events The WSHSB Dress Code applies to ALL who march with the WSHSB, students and adults; band members, Patriot Auxiliary, Little Patriots, Guard Unit, etc. ATTENTION: You may not be allowed to march if you are found in violation of the dress code. (WSHSB has pants available for lending, if needed. Please contact director.) Click here for complete WSHSB Dress Codes including Summer Marching. MARCHING COMMANDS, ETC. Click here for the Marching Commands - Detailed Chart. The Detailed Chart spells out all the Stationary and Moving Commands for marching including details on what and how to move. Click here for the Marching Commands - Summary. The Summary is a condensed version of the chart above with only the commands, whistles and verbal responses. Click here for A Guide for Marching - The Subtleties of Being in a WSHSB Rank WHAT ABOUT BAD WEATHER? Weather is beyond the control of the director. If you are uncomfortable with the arrangements described below it would be better if you kept your child home that day or picked them up early from the fairgrounds (in the case of marching camp). At marching camp we are very limited beyond anything but basic shelter from rain. In that sheltered space there is ample room to continue with that day's work which can still be productive. For parades, the director will always be present at each parade for those who decide to attend. If rain is predicted, those marching should bring a clear poncho. Inexpensive ones can be purchased at places like Target or Wal-Mart. Ultimately, you the parent are responsible and must decide whether or not your child attends marching camp that day or participates in a parade if weather is threatening or predicted as such. PARADE DATES, ETC. The following dates are for the WSHSB Patriots' 2020 Summer Marching trimester. TBA - Return of Concert band music and equipment, Marching Music and Hat Distribution, Preliminary Marching Practice Location - Cornelius Hall at Resurrection Parish, Wayne, IL (NW corner of Rt. 59 & Army Trail Rd) Time - 6pm for current members, 7:15pm for new members Bring instrument, lyre and flip-folder. Note to new people - You may not just "show-up" to practice on June 4. We need to be prepared with your music and hat. You must have contacted the director prior to that day. A registration form should have been mailed earlier or may be brought that night. MANDATORY Pre-Camps, i.e. Special Camps, CANCELLED 9am to 12 pm (See complete details under Camp Dates above) Location - DuPage County Fairgrounds (just east of County Farm Rd. and Manchester Rd.) Full Marching Camp, CANCELLED Monday through Friday - 9am to 12pm each day Location – DuPage County Fairgrounds (just east of County Farm Rd. and Manchester Rd.) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ALL PARADES HAVE BEEN CANCELLED FOR 2020 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CANCELLED Geneva Swedish Days, June 28, 2020 Sunday afternoon parade in Geneva Check-in 12:00 noon - 2020 links will be posted when available 2019 Swedish Days Parade Instructions 2019 Swedish Days Parade Staging with Drop-Off Areas 2019 Swedish Days Parade Map with Restrooms CANCELLED Warrenville Independence Eve Parade, July 3, 2020 Friday evening in Warrenville Check-in 5pm - 2020 links will be posted when available 2019 Warrenville Parade Instructions 2019 Warrenville Staging 2019 Warrenville Parade Route CANCELLED West Chicago Railroad Days, July 12, 2020 Sunday afternoon parade in West Chicago Check-in 12:00 noon - 2020 links will be posted when available 2019 West Chicago Parade Instructions 2019 West Chicago Staging and Parade Route CANCELLED DuPage County Fair, Grand Opening, July 22, 2020 Wednesday parade at Fair Grounds Arrival times for Field Show and Parade are in the Instructions 2020 link will be posted when available 2019 DuPage County Fair Field Show and Parade Instructions DuPage County Fairgrounds Map CANCELLED Streamwood Summer Celebration, July 25, 2020 Saturday morning parade in Streamwood Check-in 9:30am - 2020 links will be posted when available 2019 Streamwood Parade Instructions 2019 Streamwood Parade Map REMINDERS FOR CURRENT WSHSB MEMBERS ONLY IMPORTANT Current band members who play wind instruments, with the exception of double reeds, are expected to play their wind instrument for marching. This applies even to newly graduated Cadets regardless of age or ability. You may not opt for the guard unit. Double reed players planning on marching need to discuss possible options with director. The director will make all decisions regarding instrument and section needs in the marching band. The Summer Marching Registration form will be on Forms/Documents by April 9. Non-marchers, simply initial and date page 3 where indicated and return. All marching WSHSB members, must complete a Summer Marching Registration form which includes parent Booster hours. (Marching trimester Booster volunteer jobs will be released 4/13 at 7pm.) Registrations are due on 4/30. Return the form with any applicable summer rental forms and fees. Returned forms are what we use to distribute music. If you expect to get music you must submit the appropriate form(s) and fees. The link to the WSHSB Instrument Rental Agreement is also on Forms/Documents. Those renting instruments from the band must complete a rental agreement and pay the rental fee for the summer trimester along with your registration. Make any rental check payable to “West Suburban Home School Band” No rental check(s) will be accepted without the completed form and vice-versa. |
