Is your child thinking about joining the marching band at school? If so, you should definitely encourage them to do it.
Your child will enjoy a long list of benefits when they sign up for the marching band. They’ll get the opportunity to show off their love for music with others while also getting plenty of exercise at the same time.
But before you agree to let your child join their school’s marching band, you’re going to want to make sure that they have everything they’ll need to do it. There are a handful of things you’ll need to invest in to set them up for success.
We’ve put together a checklist of the different items that you’ll need to purchase for your child to be a part of a marching band. Take a look at all of them below.
Musical Instrument
Marching bands come in all sizes these days. There are some marching bands that have a few dozen members and others that have hundreds of members.
But all marching bands have one thing in common: They all feature a wide range of instruments. From flutes to drums to tubas, your child is going to be able to pick which instrument they want to play in their school’s marching band. You can then buy a working instrument for them.
They should have some experience playing this particular instrument prior to joining a marching band. A marching band director is going to expect your child to be able to play their preferred instrument proficiently so that they can bring something to the table when they join a marching band.
Ideally, you should have your child choose which instrument they would like to play a year or two before signing up for a marching band. It’ll put them in the perfect position to begin contributing to a marching band right away.
Sheet Music
There will be a series of songs that your child will need to learn how to play when they sign up for a marching band. You’ll need to help them get their hands on the sheet music for these songs so that they can bring it along with them to practices.
In some instances, a marching band director might print out sheet music for those who join their band. But in others, you might be responsible for obtaining the proper sheet music for your child’s marching band.
You might want to look into this in advance so that your child doesn’t show up without their sheet music for their initial tryout with a marching band. They’re going to get put into a tough spot if you do this.
Uniform
You know a marching band is coming when you hear them. But you also know they’re coming when you see them.
That’s because every single marching band has their own distinct uniform that they put on for their performances. Your child is going to have to secure a uniform if they’re going to participate in a marching band.
You aren’t going to need to send your child in a full marching band uniform for their first practice. But you will need to order one for them shortly after they sign up for the marching band.
Parents who allow their children to take part in the color guard portion of the marching band will also need special uniforms. These color guard uniforms are a great example of what we’re talking about.
Shoes
People are sometimes under the impression that being a part of a marching band isn’t all that physically taxing. But this couldn’t be further from the truth!
Those who are in marching bands often spend hours on end standing on their feet. They also routinely have to carry around heavy instruments as they walk around.
This can take a toll on your child’s feet if you’re not careful. You’ll want to get them some comfortable shoes that they can wear while playing instruments in their marching band.
They may need to get some specific shoes that match up with their uniform. But if not, you should look for some basic sneakers that are extremely comfortable for them.
Marching Band Camp Supplies
Have you ever wondered how marching bands get to be so good at what they do? They spend a whole heck of a lot of time practicing, practicing, and then practicing some more!
And they do most of their practicing during band camp in the summer. Your child will need to attend this camp, and you’ll have to put the following items on their band camp packing list:
- Comfortable clothing
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellent
- Water bottle
Your child is going to put in a lot of hard work every summer as a part of the marching band. They’re going to spend many hours standing out in the hot sun perfecting their routine.
Your job will be to supply them with everything they’ll need to hone their craft. It’ll all be a part of helping your child to make the most of their marching band experience.
Sign Your Child Up for Their School’s Marching Band Today
As you can see, there really aren’t too many things that your child will need to join a marching band. As long as they have a working instrument and a uniform, they should be good to go.
But you should remember that your child is going to be a part of a very big team when they join a marching band. This means that, if they forget to bring something to a marching band practice or performance, they’re going to impact the way that their marching band looks and sounds.
With this in mind, you should do your best to secure each and every thing that your child will need for the marching band. Work your way down our checklist and buy everything that appears on it.
Read the other articles on our blog for more useful parenting tips and tricks.