Glossary of Band Terms & Upcoming Events
Joining high school band—especially marching band—comes with its own set of terms and traditions. We’ve put together this glossary to help parents feel right at home with the language and events you may hear throughout the year.
Battery – Marching Band percussion section that carries drums and marches. Comprised of snare drums, bass drums, and quads (see Quads).
Cadence – The beat played by percussion during a parade to indicate the marching pace. Also played as the band marches off of the field after a show, rehearsal, or competition.
Call time - The specific time that band members are expected to be ready to perform or begin rehearsing
Dot sheet – Sheet that gives your individual field positions. You will be given this in band camp and taught how to interpret it.
Drill – The steps and positions that make up the marching band show (see Sets).
Drill chart – Charts out the position of the entire band in different sets of the music.
Drum major(s) – Student conductor(s) who direct the marching band as it plays. Must audition.
Drumline – The entire percussion section (battery and PIT).
Flags – Flags/silks used by the Guard during a Marching Band show.
Front Ensemble – Consists of keyboard instruments and auxilliary percussion. Also known as PIT (see PIT).
Guard (Color Guard) – Students who add color and style to Marching Band performances with flags/props. Also known as Auxiliary, the term originally used for the flag/rifle carriers who stood at the front of a marching show. It evolved into modern Color Guard when dance and decorative flags were added.
Movement – Songs a Marching Band plays. Our shows usually have 3 movements designated as Movement 1, Movement 2, and Movement 3.
Percussion Instrument Team (PIT) – Percussion section of a Marching Band that does not march. They are staged at the front of the band during shows and competitions. Comprised of xylophones, electric pianos, gongs, timpani, etc.
PIT Crew – Volunteers who help move, load, assemble, and push the PIT instruments onto the field for games and competitions.
Podium – Raised platform where the Drum Majors stand. Moved by the PIT Crew.
Quads (Tenors) – Set of 4-6 connected drums played by a member of the Battery. Think of this as a drum set that you carry.
Run through – Practicing the entire Marching Band show at once.
Section – Students who play the same instruments, i.e. the trumpet section.
Section leader – Student who is in charge of a Marching Band instrument section such as alto sax section leader.
Sectional – A practice or rehearsal by only a section of instruments.
Sets – The formations the band makes. Students receive drill charts to provide them a location on the field relative to yard lines, sidelines, etc. This information is then transferred to a dot sheet. This will be taught at band camp.
Step Off – The precise moment when a Marching Band parade performance starts.
Winds – The non-percussion part of the band; any instrument that is played by blowing air; includes both brass and woodwinds.
UNIFORMS
Cravats - Neckband or necktie. The white undershirt that the marching band has is worn underneath the ringmaster red shirts.
Plumes – The very fragile feathers on the Marching Band uniform hats. Provided by the band.
Shako – Marching Band uniform hat.
Bibs - The overall style pants in a Marching Band uniform.
CALENDAR EVENTS
Friendsgiving: This is a dinner potluck for the Band students to come together and enjoy friendship and good food. This is a student only event and is for all band students (marching band, wind ensemble, percussion, drumline, jazz).
WIBC: Western International Band Clinic, WIBC, takes place in SeaTac, Washington hosting four High School Honor Bands, a College Honor Band, Director Clinics, Concerts and more. Students are accepted by audition.
Novelty Hill Christmas Kick-off: This opportunity includes choir and band members singing and playing mostly group Christmas carols at Novelty Hill Farm in Duvall to help kickoff their holiday season.
PLU Honor Band: The Northwest High School Honor Bands will feature music performed by over 300 of the finest high school musicians from the Pacific Northwest at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma.
Chamber Music Nights: For students performing at the Eastshore Solo & Ensemble Instrumental Festival: First chance to perform on stage for comments and feedback.
Eastshore Solo & Ensemble Instrumental Festival: An event where high school musicians perform individually or in small ensembles for adjudication (evaluation and feedback). It is part of the larger Eastshore Music Region, which includes 12 high schools in Washington State. The festival is held at Mt. Si High School in Snoqualmie, WA. Students can compete in various categories, including strings, winds, brass, percussion, and a composition category.
NAfME All-NW Conference and WMEA State Conference (by Audition) (alternates every year): A music education conference. It provides professional development workshops, vendor expositions, advocacy clinics, networking opportunities, performances and more. High school and junior high/middle school All-State and All-Northwest honor groups perform. (NAfME = National Association for Music Education)
The Eastshore Band I & II Festival: An annual Solo & Ensemble Festival for high school bands in the Eastshore League, which includes schools on the east side of King County. It takes place in March and involves student musicians performing solos and ensembles for judges.