Department of Music

Department of Music
PO Box 1510
Pembroke, NC 28372

Phone: 910.521.6230
Fax: 910.521.6390
Email: music@uncp.edu

Location: Moore Hall
Campus Map

Greetings- from the director of the “Spirit of the Carolinas” Marching Band!   We are about to turn the corner on another exciting year of NCAA College Football Game Day participation! I and the rest of the marching band staff have been working on recruitment concerns and some modifications of this years band camp schedule, rehearsal schedule, and administration of the marching band program in general to learn from what went well last year, and also what areas were screaming for improvement.

 One suggestion was the participation of the band in more marching festivals, and away game trips. We have heard your voice, and will be traveling to two away games this season, including the Webber International game in Orlando, as well as a parade appearance at either Disney World or Epcot. As a result of the enjoyment that most of you derived from participating in the Robeson County Marching Band Festival last year, we will be participating in that event and also one other All County Marching Band Festival, TBA. We hope to have a student leadership council as well this year, and information regarding Officer Elections, as well as tryouts for Drum Major and Guard Captains will be available soon, so that we can monitor and include your voice in the planning and implementation of the band. I have also heard your voice about the Homecoming Parade, and have secured a commitment from the homecoming organizing committee that this season’s parade will be on the morning of the game, and replace our morning rehearsal on that day, and not tie up yet another evening of your time and effort! The parade route will also be shorter!  The improvements should help to guarantee that there will indeed be a healthy crowd of spectators showing appreciation for what we do!  

Presently we are asking that all those interested in participating in the marching band for the 2008/2009 season fill out and submit an Intent to Participate Form. There is an envelope with blank forms as well as an envelope to turn your completed forms in, located on Mr. Spitzer’s Office door,128 Moore Hall.  We are trying to get an accurate count of those students who are presently on campus that will be participating so that we can more accurately pursue students from the incoming Freshman Class of 2008. Thus, we need any returning or new members now on campus to fill out the forms as soon as possible!

I have an attachment above of Season Highlights that may help you to make an informed decision about your participation.  Please note that if you turn in an intent form, we ARE counting on, planning for, purchasing for, and designing around your actual participation.  On the basis of this, please don’t just flippantly say you are participating, instead make sure you have thought it through and are making an informed decision! The attachment details some of the changes and exciting plans in store for this season!

I hope we will all be looking at a UNCP Marching Band with well over 100 dedicated and committed members this season! With your participation we can make this a reality!

*note- make sure to read the attachment below!

Respect!

Marty Spitzer

UNCP Director of Athletic Bands

Applied Saxophone

Music Education

Moore Hall 128

Pembroke, NC 28372

Marty.spitzer@uncp.edu

910.775.4094   

 

Upcoming Season Highlights:

• Drum Major Auditions – Saturday April 5th. TBA Time. See Mr. Spitzer if interested, and pick up a packet detailing responsibilities and tryout procedure.  *note- You must have marched in the UNCP band for at least one season prior to being drum major!
• Drum Line and Color Guard Auditions- April 12th 8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
• Summer Drum Daze- UNCP Drum Line Hosts High School Lines. Friday and Saturday July 25 & 26th.
• Band Camp Begins for Drum Line/ Color Guard/ and Leadership Membership. Monday, August 11th, 2008.
• Band Camp Begins for All Woodwind and Brass Membership. Wednesday, August 13th.
• Classes Begin on Wednesday, August 20th, 2008. Marching Band Rehearses MWF from 4:00-6:00 p.m.
• We will Perform for six home UNCP Football Game Days.
• We will Perform for two away UNCP Football Game Days.

*One of our away trips will be a 4 day performance trip at the
 UNCP vs. Webber International game in Orlando, Florida; with a parade appearance and day at either Disney World or Epcot!

• We will perform in three local parades and two exhibition performances in high school marching band festivals!
• The band camp schedule has been modified to start at 1:00 p.m. each day, with outdoor rehearsals being from 7-10 outside during the cooler part of the day!
• Saturday- Game Day rehearsals/run throughs will begin no earlier than 9:00 a.m. for the Full Band, and 8:30 a.m. for the Drum Line. We have at least two night games in the early season. Start times for these games will be adjusted accordingly to the start time of the game!

The Halftime Show will be centered on a Classic Rock theme. (To be memorized!) , titled: “Rockin’ the Broke”
             Opener: Who Are You…………. The Who
             Ballad:  Stairway to Heaven….   Led Zeppelin
             Production/Closer Jump/Rock-n-Roll All Night Van Halen/Kiss

We will also host a high school band day at the home game closest to Sept. 11th. The music for this Massed Band performance will be 3 Patriotic tunes, honoring Our United States Military Service Organizations. (Played from sheet music with the use of flip folders).