Frequently Asked Questions - I hope the following information will be helpful to you. Please read it carefully.

Some of the benefits of being a member of the Sanderson Band are:

• IT'S EDUCATIONAL! You learn to play great music that is both challenging and enjoyable. And, you will have the opportunity to travel outside of the school area to visit other places.
• IT'S WHAT YOU'VE BEEN TRAINING FOR! After three years of hard work in middle school band, you can now put your musical skills to work for you. High school band is where the real fun begins and you now have the skills to enjoy it.

Some of the questions you may have are:

1. What Band class should I sign up for?
ANSWER: All rising freshmen should sign up for concert band for both the fall and spring semester. Any freshman that would like to audition for the wind ensemble should prepare a solo and scales and plan to audition during summer band camp. A sample four-year plan is attached to assist you in planning your high school career. This plan will allow you to be fully involved in the band program, met all requirements for university admissions, and qualify for the North Carolina Scholars Program.

2.How can I become a member of the Marching Band?
ANSWER: Any Sanderson student enrolled in a band class can be in the marching band. The Marching Spartans are a highly active award-winning ensemble that travels and performs extensively through out the fall semester. This year the Marching Spartans traveled across North Carolina and Virginia winning over 30 awards for their outstanding performances. In addition, the Marching Spartans also hosts one of the most prestigious high school marching band competitions each year at the Capital City Band Expo. During the fall semester, the marching band rehearses after school on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, performs at all home football games and competes in many marching band competitions on Saturdays. Marching Band commitment forms will be sent out later in the spring. Simply fill it out and return it and you will be a member of the Sanderson Marching Spartans.

3. What if I'm new and don't know how to march?
ANSWER: Neither did I until someone taught me. You will be carefully taught the basics of marching and our drill, one step at a time. You'll soon find yourself marching right along with the rest of the band.

4. When and where is band camp?
ANSWER: Pre-camp will be July 24-27 from 8:00am until 4:00pm for all members of the band. Full band camp will be July 28-Aug. 1 at Campbell University. We will have post camp rehearsals during the month of August at Sanderson until school starts.

5. Why do I need to attend band camp?
ANSWER: All members of the marching band need to attend band camp because this is when we learn our music and routine for the fall show. It is very advantageous to freshmen because they become a member of the band before they actually attend high school and have a feeling of belonging.

6. What do I need to bring to band camp?
ANSWER: It is important wear comfortable clothes, including tennis shoes and socks! You will also need your instrument, music, pencil, water container, and sunscreen bed sheets and towels. More information will be sent closer to time to leave for band camp.

7. What music do I need to memorize?
ANSWER: One of the greatest fears new members to the band have is memorizing music. Just like everything else, you will be taught one step at a time how to memorize music and section leaders, drum majors and the director are here to help. All show music, the fight song, and the Star-Spangled Banner will be memorized.

8. When will I get a schedule of band events? Calendar
ANSWER: The Sanderson band maintains a web site at www.sandersonband.com where you may find a calendar of all band events.

9. How do I get a band uniform?
ANSWER: All members of the Marching Spartans will be measured for uniforms during band camp. The band uses two uniforms, one for football games and one for competitions. You will get more information on this at band camp.

10. What will my financial commitments to the band be?
The Sanderson Band uses what is called fair share for each student in the band. Each year the operating expenses of the band are divided up equally among the members of the band and each student is assessed a portion of the money needed to run the band program, hence the name fair share. Each student will have many opportunities to participate in fundraisers to earn a portion or their entire fair share.

I hope I have given you some information that will be helpful to you as a member of the SHS Band and have answered at least some of the questions you may have. You may call the band office at 881-4839 and I will do my best to help you or visit the Sanderson Band web page at www.sandersonband.com.

Why Music Education?

"A quality music education is a necessity for all student because of the many intrinsic and extrinsic values that the study of music has for all of humankind. Most important of these is music’s potential for letting human beings share and communicate thought and feelings that transcend the written word-- expressions of the spirit that make us uniquely human and bind us together as people and a world of cultures. Throughout history, advanced cultures have included the study for music for the young people in order to prepare them for a life that is rich and varied. Music and quality life are for everyone."

- Keith H. Philips, professor of music education, School of Music, University of Iowa