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 MARCHING 2023 TOPICS BELOW INCLUDE - For those not currently WSHSB members Summer Marching Commitment Marching Camps Eat Protein Before Marching Camp Supplies Prompt Pick-up Please Location of Marching Camps Camp Dates and Descriptions Forms, Fees and More Marching Hats ONLINE Registration and Deadlines Instrument Rentals Non-Marchers Boosters Returning Band Property Dress Code for ALL Dressing for Marching Camp Marching Dress Codes for Parades/Events Marching Commands, Etc. Marching Commands - Detailed Marching Commands - Summary A Guide for Marching Navigating Successful Turns 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 should indicate such on the ONLINE registration form. Read more below under the Pre-Camp details for NEWCOMERS. SUMMER MARCHING COMMITMENT NOTE: If someone has a conflict with points below they will need to talk to Mrs. Borow directly. She will handle conflicts on a case-by-case basis. PLEASE DO NOT DISCUSS THIS WITH HER ON A BAND NIGHT. 1. If a student wants to march in parades, football performances, etc., you MUST come to camp, period. That means any Pre-Camp day(s) that apply and the entire week of Full Marching Camp where you learn/review your own skills, assist with new member training and development for the season. If you can't make camp you don't march or perform at games. 2. All marching musicians are expected to participate in the preliminary marching practice on June 1, 2023. . 3. All participants must march a minimum of 2 parades. See the VERY IMPORTANT message after these points. 5. 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 Eat Protein Before Marching Camp: Be sure to eat, especially some protein, before coming to camp Supplies 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. All musicians will also 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. Prompt Pick-up Please Please be on time to pick-up your students at the respective day's end time. Be considerate of the director's time, as she must wait until all students are picked-up. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Location of Marching Camps All Pre-Camp days and Full Camp are at DuPage County Fair Grounds, 2015 Manchester Road in Wheaton , Illinois Enter off Manchester, via Gate S7 at the SE corner of the Fairgrounds ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Camp Dates and Descriptions VERY IMPORTANT If you plan on participating in ANY event of the entire marching season (parade, football games, etc.) you need to attend camp where the marching music for the entire marching season is finalized and distributed. It’s very difficult to distribute music after the fact, especially for additional performances. It doesn’t mean you are doing every performance but at least you have the music without individual distribution. NOTICE: No one may leave ANY camp day/session (Pre-camp or Full Camp) early without the prior knowledge and permission of the director. Pre-Camp Days – June 14, 15, 16 - 9am to 12pm each day, at DuPage County Fair Grounds, 2015 Manchester Road in Wheaton, Illinois Enter off Manchester, via Gate S7 at the SE corner of the Fairgrounds Pre-Camp days are for the following people: June 14 - Wednesday - NEWCOMERS – This Pre-Camp from 9am to 12pm will provide the following groups with a very basic introduction to WSHSB marching and will prepare them for the full Marching Camp, June 19 to 23, M-F 9am to 12pm. • Anyone, student or adult, new to WSHSB Marching Band • 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. 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. June 15 - Thursday - PERCUSSION – All current and NEW marching percussionists This special Pre-Camp from 9am to 12pm 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 19 to 23, as the drum line continues to improve their performance as well as support the band. June 16 - Friday - 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 from 9am to 12pm. 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 June 19 - 23 - Monday through Friday - 9am to 12pm each day at DuPage County Fair Grounds, 2015 Manchester Road in Wheaton, Illinois Enter off Manchester, via Gate S7 at the SE corner of the Fairgrounds FORMS, FEES AND MORE MARCHING HATS - Every marcher, student and adult, wears a hat supplied by the band. While there is no fee for summer marching, there is a $20 fine for non-returned hats. Laundered and fully dried 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. ONLINE Registration and DEADLINES All current student and adult musicians, as well as prospective color guards, must complete a 2023 ONLINE Marching Season Registration, found on Forms/Documents, whether marching or not. CURRENT MEMBERS must submit their ONLINE Marching Season Registration by the DEADLINE April 27, 2023. Once you are registered, if you have a WSHSB rental instrument, complete and print the rental form, mail w/fee (or turn-in at band) to arrive by the deadline, April 27. Important for those NEW TO WSHSB, your registration deadline is May 25, 2023. New people should contact the director, as soon as possible, and complete the ONLINE Marching Season Registration found on Forms/Documents. You should bring your instrument, lyre and flip-folder to the preliminary marching practice on June 1, 2023. Any instrument rental requires a separate paper form and payment. A fillable rental form is on Forms/Documents. Complete and print the rental form and mail with payment to the address on the form, to arrive by your May 25 deadline. Let the director know if you miss the deadline. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Completed ONLINE Marching Season Registrations are what we use to distribute music. If you expect to get music you must SUBMIT a completed ONLINE registration form. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ INSTRUMENT RENTALS - All current students and adults renting instruments from the band must complete a WSHSB Instrument Rental Agreement (a fillable PDF) found on Forms/Documents. Print the completed form, mail w/fee (or turn-in at band) to arrive by the deadline, April 27. Deadline for new families is May 25. Make any rental check payable to “West Suburban Home School Band.” NON-MARCHERS - We ask all non-marching families to complete the ONLINE registration form. There is a place to indicate "NO" and simply submit the form. Having this information will be most helpful in planning. It also saves time and keeps double-checking to a minimum. Non-answers are not helpful. 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 ONLINE Marching Season Registration form. For volunteer job descriptions and the link to the WSHSB job sign-up site, see our Booster webpage. Online job sign-up is mandatory. Simply filling in a job on the ONLINE Marching Season Registration form does not fulfill the BOOSTER Volunteer 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. On the ONLINE Marching Season Registration there is a Volunteer Commitment page where you will need to enter the job(s), time, date and position(s) for which you volunteered. RETURNING BAND PROPERTY - Cummerbunds are distributed prior to and returned after every parade. Percussion equipment, marching music and laundered and fully dried 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. Shorts need to be Bermuda-like shorts (nothing shorter). Also no leggings, no tank tops, no spaghetti straps. 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 for Camp days and Parades/Performances. 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 Click here for the document Navigating Successful Turns - Document has comments from the director and includes a link to a short, 36 sec YouTube illustrating correct and incorrect turns. 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' 2023 Summer Marching trimester. June 1 2023 - Drumline practice, Return of Concert band music and equipment, Marching Music and Hat Distribution, Preliminary Marching Practice Location – Resurrection Church, Wayne, NW corner of Route 59 & Army Trail Road Times - 5:00 pm for current percussion drumline practice 6:00 pm for current members to do returns, etc. 7:15/7:30 pm arrival time for new marching members 7:30 – 8:15 pm time approximate - Preliminary marching kick-off and music practice. All marchers need to bring their instrument, lyre and flip-folder, loaded with their marching music. 8:15 – 9:00 pm time approximate - Corpus Christi rehearsal, participants, bring your music Note to new people - You should not just "show-up" to practice on June 1, 2023. We need to be prepared with your music and hat. You should have contacted the director prior to that day. An ONLINE Marching Season Registration form should have been submitted by May 25 with any required Rental form w/fee mailed to arrive by May 25. Let the director know if you miss the deadline. (See complete details for all under Camp Dates above) MANDATORY Pre-Camps, June 14, 15, 16 - Wed., Thurs., Fri., 9am to 12pm each day Location - DuPage County Fair Grounds, 2015 Manchester Road in Wheaton , Illinois MANDATORY Full Marching Camp, Monday through Friday - 9am to 12pm each day Location – DuPage County Fair Grounds, 2015 Manchester Road in Wheaton , Illinois ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2023 PARADES and Crossroads Football Game Performances ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ALL LINKS BELOW WILL GO LIVE THE WEEK PRIOR TO EACH PARADE Geneva Swedish Days, June 25, 2023, Sunday afternoon in Geneva Arrive no later than noon. Step-off 1pm. 2023 Geneva Swedish Days Parade Instructions 2023 Swedish Days Drop-Off and Staging Map 2023 Swedish Day Parade Route w/toilet locations Carol Stream Independence Day Parade, Saturday, July 1, 2023, Saturday morning in Carol Stream Arrive no later than 9. Step-off 10am. 2023 Carol Stream Parade Instructions instructions include a link to the map 2023 Fountain View Parking Warrenville Independence Eve Parade, Monday, July 3, 2023, Sunday evening in Warrenville Arrive no later than 5pm. Step-off 6pm 2023 Warrenville Parade Instructions 2023 Warrenville Staging Warrenville Parade Route 2023 Warrenville Overview Map - not available Streamwood Summer Celebration, Saturday, July 29, 2023, Saturday morning in Streamwood Arrive no later than 9:30am - Step-off 10:30 am 2023 Streamwood Parade Instructions 2023 Streamwood Parade Map ELK GROVE VILLAGE HOMETOWN PARADE, Saturday, September 16, 2023, Saturday afternoon in Elk Grove Village Arrive no later than 1:00pm - Step-off 2:00pm Elk Grove Village Parade Route & Parking Map 2023 Elk Grove Village Parade Instructions CROSSROADS FOOTBALL HOME GAMES – open only to those who have participated in marching band camp. AUGUST 19 - Saturday, 2pm, Aurora Central Catholic AUGUST 26 - Saturday, 2pm, Aurora Central Catholic ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 may participate as percussionists. The director will make all decisions regarding instrument and section needs in the marching band. The 2023 ONLINE Marching Season Registration is on Forms/Documents NON-MARCHERS - We ask all non-marching families to complete the 2023 ONLINE Marching Season Registration. There is a place to indicate "NO" and directions to submit the form. Having this information will be most helpful in planning. It also saves time and keeps double-checking to a minimum. Non-answers are not helpful. All marching WSHSB members, students AND adults, must complete a 2023 ONLINE Marching Season Registration which includes parent Booster hours. Registrations are due by 4/27/23. Returned forms are what we use to distribute music. If you expect to get music you must submit a 2023 ONLINE Marching Season Registration. All students and adults renting instruments from the band for the summer trimester must complete a WSHSB Instrument Rental Agreement (a fillable PDF) found on Forms/Documents. Print the completed form and mail w/fee (or turn-in at band) to arrive by the deadline, April 27. 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. |
