Member Information
Prerequisites
What will I need?
School-owned Instruments
Attendance
Music Majors and Marching Band
Frequently Asked Questions
Membership in the Bearkat Marching Band is open to all students enrolled at Sam Houston State University. Non-majors are welcome and encouraged to join. Woodwind, Brass and Percussion Music Education majors are required to have three semesters of marching band completed before graduation. Woodwind, Brass, and Percussion music majors with other concentrations (music performance, music therapy, theory/composition, etc.) make take marching band for large ensemble credit.
Prerequisites
The minimum requirement for membership in the Bearkat Marching Band is two years prior marching experience (high school marching band, college marching band, or drum & bugle corps). Exceptions are considered on a case-by-case basis.
Percussion: Percussionists audition for a position on snare, tenors, bass drum or cymbals. Non-percussionists will be considered based on ability level and experience.
Color Guard: Guard membership is open to all SHSU students with previous color guard experience.
Auditions
- There are no auditions for acceptance into the BMB on brass and woodwind instruments if you have been playing that instrument in your high school band.
- You need to enroll in the course (MUEN 1116 01 for brass, woodwinds and color guard; MUEN 1116 02 for percussion),
- And also register for summer band.
- Playing an instrument other than your primary instrument requires both permission from directors and an audition.
NOTE: Percussion audition music will be used for part assignments during summer percussion camp. All other members will audition for parts during the first full day of summer band. The audition will consist of sight reading and/or music posted online during the summer.
What Will I Need?
For music rehearsals:
- Your instrument (The following instruments are leased: Sousaphone, Marching Baritone, Mellophone, Percussion)
- Brass: mouthpiece, valve oil, slide grease, etc.
- Woodwinds: reeds, cork grease, etc.
- Percussion: money for mallets
- Color Guard - varies by year. Check with guard instructor.
- Flip Folder (provided by BMB)
- Ultimate Drill Book App
For marching rehearsals:
- Clothing appropriate for outdoor rehearsals in East Texas (i.e. t-shirt and shorts or athletic pants). NO JEANS. Light colored clothing is best.
- Tennis shoes (no other type of shoes will be allowed)
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- 1/2-gallon water jug
- Khaki shorts, official BMB shirt, black socks and marching shoes for Saturday morning rehearsals.
- All items listed under for playing rehearsals above.
For performances:
Woodwind, Brass, Percussion
- Official BMB Shirt (supplied by the band) - to be worn under the uniform
- Black shorts, roughly knee length, to be worn under the uniform
- Black socks (full length socks, not ankle socks)
- Black MTX marching shoes - You need to purchase these before summer band or during summer band from Bill Atkins with cash or money order ($49).
Color Guard and Twirler uniforms to be determined by instructors.
School-owned Instruments
School-owned instruments are available for mellophone, baritone, sousaphone, and percussion. Once issued, the student is financially responsible for the equipment. Any costs for damages or repairs beyond normal wear will be charged to the student. Loss of the instrument (state property) while issued to the student will result in the full cost of the instrument being charged to the student. All equipment must be thoroughly cleaned and polished before check-in. Upon return, an additional charge of $25 will be assessed for instruments that have not been cleaned properly maintained. All equipment is listed property of the state and must be returned upon request.
Attendance
Members are expected to be at all rehearsals, sectionals, and performances. Students will not be excused to attend other classes, work, teach lessons, attend weddings, or for any other personal business. Commitment to the ensemble is crucial for success of the Bearkat Marching Band. Individual requests will be examined on a case-by-case basis.
Stipends will be awarded to BMB members during their second year of participation. Stipend amounts will increase with the third and fourth years of participation. In order to receive a full stipend, students must participate in every BMB performance.
Regular rehearsals:
Mondays, 6:30-8:45 PM at Bowers Stadium.
Tuesdays/Thursdays 4:00-5:45 PM at Pritchett Field Stadium.
Saturday game/performance day dress rehearsal - 8:00 am at Bowers Stadium
Further information regarding absence and grading procedures is detailed in the BMB Syllabus posted on Blackboard.
Check-in for Summer Band
Registration for summer band is now completed online, but we will have check-in on the first day of summer band to take care of all the final details and make sure everything is correct. The following is required for check-in:
- Summer band online registration
- Uniform Measurement
- Equipment check-out (for students using school-owned equipment)
- Locker check-out ($5 per semester - submit payment online)
Music Majors and Marching Band
Requirement
- All undergraduate music majors (woodwind, brass, percussion) are required to enroll in marching band.
- Music Education majors are required to enroll in 3 semesters of marching band and must enroll in marching band every fall semester until the requirement has been satisfied.
Transfer students
- Transfer students that have completed marching band courses at another university may count those courses towards the SHSU Marching Band credit requirements.
- However, transfer students will not receive a stipend until the second year of participation in BMB.
Exceptions
- Students with physical limitations will need to formally request a waiver (include all medical documentation) to be excluded from marching.
- Students are not excused from the marching band credit requirement for reasons such as work, teaching lessons, other class conflicts, etc.
Major Ensemble requirement
- All music majors must complete a major ensemble each semester. For Wind and Percussion majors, only Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Marching Band will satisfy major ensemble requirements during the Fall semester.
- Students who make Wind Ensemble or Symphonic Band must participate in marching band until the marching band requirement has been satisfied.
IMPORTANT
- Music majors that have completed the marching band requirement may still need to enroll in marching band to satisfy the major ensemble requirement for the fall term.
- Music Majors who wait until AFTER ensemble auditions to join the marching band (and consequently miss summer band) will NOT have a spot in the first show.
Summer Drum Line Audition Camp
Percussion Start Date for 2024 is AUGUST 15th
- Please refer the Drum Line Packet for information about auditions
- You will be able to check into your dorm room on Thursday, August 15, between 2 and 4 at your dorm building.
Be sure to complete the online registration form for summer band so we will know to expect you.
Please be aware that you will be on your own for meals.
Summer Color Guard Camp
Be sure to visit www.SHSUGuard.org for updates and additional information.
The Color Guard start date for 2024 is August 15th
Be sure to complete the online registration form for summer band so we will know to expect you for the color guard camp.
Frequently Asked Questions
Must I attend summer band rehearsals?
Yes. Attendance is required at all summer band rehearsals.
How many rehearsals and/or performances can I miss?
None. Being a part of the ensemble requires a firm commitment to attend ALL rehearsals, sectionals, and performances. In certain circumstances, you may be excused from a limited number of rehearsals depending on the nature of the absence. Grading and attendance procedures are detailed in the BMB Syllabus (posted on Blackboard). No member will be allowed to miss a performance due to work, another class, etc.
I’m a non-major, but I may not be as good as a music major. Can I still join?
Certainly! Nearly 50% of the band are non-music majors. We are looking for members who like to play, like to march, will work hard, and like to have fun!
What will happen during summer band?
We have several important goals to accomplish during band camp:
- Unify our marching style so that we all look alike
- Unify our concepts of articulation and style so that we all play alike
- Memorize music for the first show
- Learn drill for the first show
- Learn pregame music and drill
- Learn stand tunes
Is college marching band similar to high school marching band?
Not really. Our sole purpose is to support athletics and entertain the crowd at events. For this reason, we generally perform three or four different shows during the season. Also, most of our members have between 4-7 years of experience in marching band, so we are able to learn quickly and perform at a high level.