2008 MARCHING TAR HEELS
PARTICIPATION INFORMATION
(click here for PDF version)
BAND CAMP: Band camp will begin Wednesday, August 13th. It is MANDATORY that all students planning to participate in the Marching Tar Heels attend all rehearsals during band camp (absences for CTOPS, academic counseling, scheduling, testing, etc. will be excused). If you have any conflicts with the band camp schedule, please notify the band office (919-962-5695 or uncbands@email.unc.edu) as soon as possible.
PURPOSE OF BAND CAMP: Band camp rehearsals will serve several functions: they will allow us to prepare for a demanding performance schedule; they will allow us to learn and refine our marching style; they will allow us to learn and rehearse a great deal of new music, drills, and routines; and they will allow all of us to become very well acquainted.
REGISTRATION: All members must register for band camp between 8:00 am and 1:00 pm on August 13 in Hill Hall Room 107. At this time members must pay for merchandise and the band fee (if they have not already done so), turn in the Permission for Emergency Medical Care and Medical Information forms, pick-up merchandise, check-out instruments and confirm ticket requests. All members of the trumpet and trombone sections must sign-up for an audition time for part assignment at this time.
MEDICAL INFORMATION FORMS: In an effort to provide the most accurate information to emergency medical personnel, we have been encouraged to obtain medical information and release forms for all participating members of the Marching Tar Heels. Please provide the most accurate information possible as it will be used only in the case of an emergency and will be confidential. Please bring the medical information form with you to band camp registration on August 13.
MOVING INTO RESIDENCE HALLS: All students participating in the Marching Tar Heels may move into their residence halls (including Granville Towers) on Wednesday, August 13, beginning at 9:00 am. There is no charge for moving into the residence halls or Granville Towers early.
AUDITIONS: Students in the trumpet and trombone sections must sign-up for part-assignment auditions during band camp registration. Auditions will begin at 2:00 pm on August 13 in Hill Hall. Parts will be assigned following dinner on August 13. Students in the flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, mellophone, baritone and tuba sections do not need to audition for part assignment.
NEW MEMBER MEETING: A mandatory meeting will be held for all new members at 3:30 pm on Wednesday, August 13 in Hanes Art Center room 121 (look for signs). All new members’ parents are welcome to attend this meeting. At 4:30 pm the parents will be excused and the remainder of the marching band will join the new students for a general information meeting, which will be held in Hill Hall room 107.
MEALS: Dinner will be provided for all band members on Wednesday, August 13. Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be provided on Thursday, Friday and Saturday of band camp. Beginning Sunday, August 17, residence halls are open and food service is available, allowing students to provide the remainder of their meals during band camp.
INSTRUMENTS: Students in the tenor saxophone (if needed), mellophone, baritone, tuba and percussion sections will be issued University owned instruments. There is no charge for using University owned instruments; however STUDENTS USING UNIVERSITY OWNED INSTRUMENTS ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE THEIR OWN MOUTHPIECE.
FRESHMAN CTOPS: If you are participating in CTOPS August 14-15 or any other event that conflicts with band camp, please notify the band office (uncbands@email.unc.edu) so we can excuse you from the rehearsals you will miss.
LYRES AND FLIP FOLDERS: Lyres will be provided for all University owned instruments. All other students should provide their own lyres. ALL STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE THEIR OWN FLIP FOLDER WITH AT LEAST FIVE (5) WINDOWS. If you have trouble finding a lyre or flip folder you can contact the band office at uncbands@email.unc.edu and request that one be ordered for you.
FEES: All members of the Marching Tar Heels are assessed a participation fee. This fee includes all meals prior to campus food service beginning on Sunday, August 17, two (2) 2008 Marching Tar Heels t-shirts, and a variety of other Nike apparel that will be yours to keep at the end of the year. The 2008 Marching Tar Heel Participation fee is $100.
MERCHANDISE: The following merchandise will be provided to all members (new and returning):
T-Shirts (2)
To be worn underneath the uniform at all performances and to some rehearsals
Shorts
To be worn under the uniform at all performances; may be worn with the tshirt as
a uniform for performance
Warm Up
To be worn as a uniform for all basketball games, Olympic Sport Pep Band Suit events and when traveling with the band
Cap
This is the only cap allowed to be worn when the band is in uniform
New members will also receive the following items:
Duffel Bag to be used when traveling with the band
The following merchandise is available for purchase by members of the UNC Bands, but is not required for involvement.
Band Jacket ($85)
The Marching Tar Heels jacket is a high-quality navy blue nylon hooded jacket with flannel lining and two zippered pockets. The jacket has an interlocking NC sewn on the back and has “University of North Carolina Marching Tar Heels" and a picture of your instrument embroidered on the left chest and the member's name on the right chest (sizes S-XXXL).
T-Shirt ($15)
The official 2008 Marching Tar Heels T-shirt is available in all sizes (S-XXXL) and may be purchased for parents, siblings, relatives, friends, etc.
SHOES: All members of the Marching Tar Heels are required to own a pair of BLACK shoes to be worn with the marching uniform. The shoes should have a rubber sole and be COMPLETELY BLACK, with no other colors visible anywhere on the shoe. For comfort on game day, athletic shoes have proven to be a good option, specifically New Balance or Nike brands.
UNIFORMS: Uniforms will be issued to returning members during registration and to new members during band camp music rehearsals.
GAME DAY: The Marching Tar Heels are a very important part of game day at UNC. Therefore, the band is involved in most of the activities associated with a home game. The normal game day routine includes a warm-up/run through (4 hours before kick-off), playing for the team arrival (2¼ hours before kick-off), enjoying a pregame meal (provided 2 hours before kick-off), playing at Tar Heel Town (1 hour before kick-off), a pregame performance (20 minutes before kick-off) and a halftime performance, in addition to playing throughout the entire game in an effort to organize the cheering efforts of the 60,000 fans in attendance. The normal game day experience is about 8 hours in total.
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE: Game times will be announced when available.
Mandatory Performances
(Absences will be excused if communicated with director in advance)
Sunday, August 17 - 9:00 p - Fall Fest 2008 (on South Road by Union)
Saturday, August 30 - 6:00 p - Home Game vs. McNeese State
Saturday, September 20 - TBA - Home Game vs. Virginia Tech
Saturday, October 4 - TBA - Home Game vs. Connecticut
Saturday, October 11 - TBA - Home Game vs. Notre Dame
Saturday, October 25 - TBA - Home Game vs. Boston College
Saturday, November 8 - TBA - Home Game vs. Georgia Tech
Saturday, November 22 - TBA - Home Game vs. NC State
Volunteer Performances
(All members will be welcome to volunteer to participate)
Thursday, September 11 7:30 p Volunteer Pep Band to Rutgers
Saturday, September 27 TBA Volunteer Pep Band to Miami (Tentative)
Saturday, October 18 TBA Volunteer Pep Band to Virginia
Saturday, November 15 TBA Volunteer Pep Band to Maryland
Saturday, November 29 TBA Volunteer Pep Band to Duke
GAME TICKETS: Members of the Marching Tar Heels may purchase tickets for parents or immediate family for each home football game. These are reduced-price tickets located in the general admission sections of Kenan Stadium. We cannot assist with parking for home games or purchasing tickets for away games. Ticket orders will be taken in the band office prior to each game and must be purchased with a check.
TRAVEL COSTS: The UNC Bands will cover all costs related to traveling to participate with the band at an official function. Specifically, the UNC Bands will provide each student with $25 per day for food and cover the cost of transportation, lodging and admission to the event. In the past, the UNC Athletic Department has provided out-of-state students with a round-trip airline ticket to facilitate their participation at a bowl game held during the holiday break.
REHEARSAL SCHEDULE: During the fall semester, the Marching Tar Heels rehearse from 6:00p to 8:00p on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm on Friday afternoons. During the spring semester, the band rehearses from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Tuesday evenings.
OLYMPIC SPORT PEP BAND: All members of the Marching Tar Heels are assigned to an Olympic Sport Pep Band. Each of the 10 pep bands is scheduled to perform at four (4) events each semester and there is a system in place for students to switch events in order to accommodate academic responsibilities. These pep bands cover Olympic Sport events such as Volleyball, Softball, Men’s and Women’s Soccer, Field Hockey, Men’s and Women’s Lacrosse and Women’s Basketball. Members of the guard are required to attend four (4) extra rehearsals during the fall semester in place of participating in a pep band. These rehearsals are scheduled early in the preparation for each new show and last two (2) hours.
BASKETBALL BAND: All members of the Marching Tar Heels are encouraged to participate in the Basketball Bands. Members of the senior class are assigned to play all of the home games and all other members are assigned to either the Blue Band or the White Band. These bands are scheduled to cover all of the regular season home games, which means each band typically plays 3 games during the fall semester and 5 games during the spring semester. The band has access to a limited number of tickets that can be requested by band members who are not assigned to play the specific game. THE BAND DOES NOT HAVE ACCESS TO GUEST TICKETS FOR MEN’S BASKETBALL.
QUESTIONS: Questions may be sent via email to uncbands@email.unc.edu or directly to Mr. Fuchs at jfuchs@email.unc.edu. Calls to the Band Office are also welcome (919-962-5695).
