Band Camp 101:Â How to Not Die
Incoming first years, this is for you. Marching band is tons of fun, but it also ainât easy. Camp at most schools usually run from morning to late afternoon.Â
1. Bring a backpack (or two). One for everything thatâll stay in the band room (e.g. lunch), a smaller one for everything needed at the field.Â
2. WATER. Make sure you have a water jug big enough to last the entire day. 72oz. is perfect. Keep extra water bottles in your bag so you can refill.
3. Donât put too much ice into your water. Ice cold water will shock your body from sudden change in temperature, and you also lose energy.
4. Donât wait until youâre thirsty. You need to drink up the night before to be hydrated in the morning; water takes approx. 8 hours to go through your system. If youâre thirsty in the morning, youâre probably already dehydrated.Â
5. DRINK YOUR WATER. Donât chug it or youâll feel sick later. Take sips.Â
9. Pack sunglasses and/or a hat and sunblock. Also, moisture-wicking shirts are fantastic, so buy a few if you can.
10. Reapply sunblock every few hours. If you get sunburnt, aloe vera soothes nicely. Reapply even if you donât burn easily. UV rays arenât good for your skin, and youâll be under the sun a lot.
11. Eat a good breakfast. I learned this the hard way and almost had heat exhaustion. A single waffle doesnât count.
12. Pack a healthy lunch. You need healthy nutrients to last the rest of the day; junk food definitely wonât provide those.Â
13. No, pizza is not healthy.Â
14. Camp will be tougher without tennis shoes. You wouldnât compete at a track meet in Converse! Marching band is its own sport too.
15. Bring extra stuff. Reeds, sticks, valve/slide oil, anything to make sure youâre 100% prepared. Deodorant and extra hair ties are also good ideas.
16. Always have a pencil.
17. Memorize your music. Take it a phrase at a time, then string them together. Itâs how I quickly memorized everything last year.
18. Donât be afraid to ask for help. Most bands have a student leadership. We wouldnât go through a long audition process if we didnât want to help.
19. Sleep. Your body needs rest after a long day of work, please listen to it!Â
20. Remember to breathe. There will be times when things feel uncomfortable; you need to breathe to get through it. Be aware of when you arenât breathing.
Have a great season! Itâs lots of time and tireless work, but worth every second. Knowing youâre around people youâve come to love while doing what you all love to do is one of the best feelings out there.
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