Get to know some of the terms you might hear throughout the season!
Air Grams – personalized announcements that parents and friends may purchase at competitions to support band members. Air grams are a fundraiser for the host band, and the messages are read over the PA just before the band performs.
Atlantic Coast Championships – the final competition of the season, held at Hersheypark Stadium.
Band Camp – a week and a half of intense daily practice in August. The first week is a three-day Mini Camp, followed by a party hosted by SBPA. The second week is a five-day Band Camp.
Band Cards – Discount cards for local businesses, sold by band members as a fundraiser.
Battery – Marching Band percussion section that carries drums and marches; is comprised of snare drums, bass drums, and tenors.
Bibbers – marching band overalls worn under the jacket. These are provided to every band member.
Candy Grams – candy and accompanying personalized notes that can be purchased at competitions to send to band members for after their performance. Like air grams, these are a fundraiser for the host band.
Caption Awards – various category awards a marching band can win at competitions, such as “Best Visual” and “Best Music.”
Class – OPEN CLASS is the traditional competitive arena for experienced groups and staff. A CLASS is the competitive arena for bands with new directors, staff members, or programs. Shawnee currently competes in Group 1A.
Color Guard – a group of students who add color and style to marching band performances through dance, flags, and other props.
Competitions – held on Saturdays or Sundays. The marching band will compete against multiple other schools within their circuit.
Craft Fair – our biggest fundraiser, hosted by SBPA in November and March. All parents and students are expected to volunteer.
Dinkles – brand of marching band shoe. Students may receive a gently used pair with their uniform or may need to purchase a new pair through the band.
Dot Sheets – printed sheets that show students where to march during each song.
Drill – the steps and positions that make up the Marching Band show.
Drum Majors – student leaders of the band who conduct, help run practices, and represent the band at school and competitions. The guard is led by the guard captain and assistant.
Drumline – see Battery
Flags – used by the Guard during a Marching Band show, designed each year to fit the theme.
Front – see Pit
Group – according to the Tournament of Bands Rule Book, bands will be grouped according to size as follows:
● Group 1 – up to 30 musicians and a maximum of 30 auxiliary
● Group 2 – 31 to 50 musicians and a maximum of 50 auxiliary
● Group 3 – 51 to 75 musicians and a maximum of 75 auxiliary
● Group 4 – 76 or greater
Guard – see Color Guard.
Guard Costume – an outfit designed each year to reflect the band theme, and sewn to fit individual Color Guard members.
Home Show – a competition hosted by Shawnee. If a home show is scheduled during the season, all parents are expected to volunteer.
Instructor – personnel hired to help out with various sections of the band, such as winds or percussion.
Leadership – all captains, section leaders, drum majors, etc.
Low Brass – trombones, euphoniums, sousaphones, tubas, bari saxes, and baritones.
Lyre – the clip on music holder used for stand tunes and parades.
Percussion – Pit and battery/drumline taken together.
Pit – Marching Band percussion section that plays on the sidelines and does not march, comprised of instruments such as tympani, xylophones, gongs, etc.
Pizza – because students typically stay after school on Fridays to practice before the football game, students have the option to pre-purchase pizza for dinner.
Plumes – the feathered portion of the Marching Band hats. These are provided to each band member. Because they’re very fragile, plumes are handed to students just before each performance.
Podium – raised platform upon which drum majors stand.
Prop Parents – parent volunteers who help to design and build props, as well as move them on and off the field at home game performances and competitions.
Prop Bus – a retrofitted school bus that transports the props to each competition.
Rifles – fake rifles the Guard uses in a Marching Band show. (They’re heavy!)
Run-through – practicing the Marching Band show.
Sabers – fake swords the Guard uses in a Marching Band show.
Section Leader – band student who is in charge of a Marching Band instrument section, such as woodwinds or brass.
Shako – official name of band hats.
Soli – when a section of the band has a feature in the show and plays together.
Stand Tunes – the music played in the bleachers at football games.
States – competition for state championship.
Student Account – a financial account that holds funds designated for the student. The source of funds can be from fundraising or parent/student payments.
Tenors – a set of 4 connected drums carried by a member of the battery.
Tour Shirt – a t-shirt designed specifically with each year’s show theme and the competition dates. This shirt is part of their uniform and must be worn to all football games and competitions. One tour shirt is provided for free as part of the student’s membership; additional tour shirts can be purchased through the SBPA store.
Towers – parents who volunteer to tow the Ranger (golf cart used for towing pit instruments) or the instrument trailer.
Trailer (a.k.a. Big Blue, even though it is black) – carries the instruments for each away game and competition.
Uniforms – assigned jacket, bibbers, rain jackets, shako, and dinkles. Black socks and tour shirt should be worn underneath. Uniform jackets should be dry-cleaned; bibbers and rain coats may be machine washed and air dried. If you need to replace an item or change sizes during the season, please reach out to the VP of Band.
Woodwinds – clarinets, oboes, saxophones, flutes, piccolos.
Shawnee Band Parents Association 