BAND CAMP 2023

Band Camp dates, fees, and all other information can be found on the DOCUMENTS page.

PAYMENT SCHEDULE

  • Online Payments are now open.  Click on the link in the main menu list.
  • Checks are made out to Piedmont Band Boosters​

WHY DOES MARCHING BAND COST MONEY?

Marching Band costs a lot of money.  Neither the State of North Carolina nor Union County provide any funding for marching bands.  We rely solely on the community for support.  Most bands charge over $500 per person.  Some bands in NC charge over $1,500 per person.  The money for marching goes to paying for the following items, plus anything else that may come up during the season:
  • Drill Writer
  • Music Arranger
  • Percussion Arranger
  • Copyright fees
  • Paint for field
  • Gloves
  • Uniform maintenance
  • Bus Mileage/Gas
  • Bus Drivers
  • Meals
  • Contest Registrations
  • Show T-shirt (1 per student)
  • Props
  • Trailer maintenance
  • Staff to help with entire band season
  • Costumes for guard
  • Show silks

BAND CAMP SURVIVAL GUIDE

All band camp days are mandatory.  Students can NOT miss any days for any reason.  Please plan ahead with vacations, Drivers Ed, student jobs, doctor, dentist, and orthodontist appointments.  If a students misses one day of camp, its like missing an entire week of school.
WEATHER
  • Spend time outside each day during  your Summer break.  Get yourself  use to the heat. 
  • You MUST wear a hat while outside.  This is not an option. 
  • Wear sunscreen. The best thing to do is apply the sunscreen to your skin before you leave your house.  Re-apply often while outside.
FOOD/DRINKS
  • ***Students are required to bring a 1/2 gallon cooler filled with ice water from home.***
  • Use a sharpie pen and put your name on it.
  • ​We will provide ice water to refill throughout the morning practices outside.
  • DO NOT BRING ANY TYPE OF PEANUT PRODUCTS.  THEY ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED FROM CAMP AND ALL  YEAR LONG.
  • "Monster" drinks and other high energy/high caffeine drinks (including soft drinks) are prohibited from band.   Across the country too many teenagers (including athletes) are getting seriously hurt or worse.  The one thing each case has in common is the constant consumption of energy drinks.  These energy drinks can severely interfere with an individuals heart rate, which can lead to SERIOUS complications.  This is for everyone's safety.
  • Eat something light for breakfast each  day before camp starts.
  • NO greasy foods.  You will get sick in the heat.
  • NO dairy. You will get sick in the heat.
  • Bring a healthy lunch each day.
  • It is encouraged to bring a light snack to eat while outside in the mornings, such as a pack of  crackers, but NO peanut products (including peanut butter crackers).  Pretzels and goldfish crackers are good examples of a snack to eat while out side during breaks.
  • If you want to bring a bottle of Gatorade, that is optional, but highly encouraged.  For every 1 bottle of gatorade you drink, you should drink 2 full bottles of water of the same size before drinking more gatorade. Too much gatorade can hurt the body as well.
  • DO NOT BRING ANY TYPE OF PEANUT PRODUCTS.  THEY ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED FROM CAMP.
CLOTHING
  • Brass, Woodwinds, and Pit  must wear a WHITE t-shirt every day of camp.
    • You are more than welcome to bring  another shirt to change into during lunch.
  • Drumline will wear BLUE tshirts each day.  The shade of blue does not matter.
  • Guard will be more "colorful" each day of band camp.  Please contact your Guard Captain for more info.
  • Wear loose fitting clothes (athletic  shorts).  Tight clothes trap heat in.  This will cause you to get sick on the field.
  • When outside, all students must wear tennis shoes.  NO  flip flops/sandals.  The grass will be wet, which means your shoes will get wet.
  • After we come in for lunch, if you want to bring a change of shoes for the afternoon rehearsals inside, you are welcome to.
    • It is highly encouraged to change your shoes after morning field practice.  We will have a designated place outside for each section to put your old shoes.
  • NO students can go barefoot at any time while on Piedmont's campus.  This is a school wide rule.​ ​
SHOES
  • Students must wear a light weight, athletic type shoes.  It doesn't have to be expensive.  Walmart running shoes are fine, but maybe get an athletic insert to put in them for better support.
  • All shoes must have laces on them.  We want them to be secure on their feet to help prevent injury as we move around.
  • When outside, all students must wear tennis shoes.  NO  flip flops/sandals.  The grass will be wet, which means your shoes will get wet.
  • After we come in for lunch, if you want to bring a change of shoes for the afternoon rehearsals inside, you are welcome to.
  • The following shoes are NOT allowed.  They are either too heavy, don't offer the proper support for moving around like we do, or they are not safe for the kids to wear due to possible injury such as falling or rolling their ankles.
    • ​Flip flops
    • Sliders
    • Sandals
    • ​Burkes
    • Vans
    • Converse
    • Hey Dudes
    • Air Forces
    • Blazers
    • Sanuks
    • High-top shoes (such as basketball shoes)