C. Preseason Rehearsals

1. Housing

2. Food 

3. Registration Items and Procedure

4. Convocation

5. Rehearsal support (water etc)

6. Transportation to rehearsal sites

7. Leadership Training

8. Rehearsal/Instructional plans

9. Rehearsal Site preparations

10. Alternative rehearsal site prep.

11. Membership Auditions

12. First Year Induction ceremony  (Circle Ceremony)

    Student Preseason Guide:

    2019 Preseason Checklist-Timeline - Google Docs.webloc

UCMB Preseason

The Saturday 9 days before the first class day of Fall Semester is the traditional first day of "Band Camp" commonly referred to as  New Member Weekend.

New Member/drumline/front ensemble /color guard weekend: New Members, percussion and guard move in on Saturday. Drumline and “pit” get right to work on show materials while new members get two days of training in marching and music that makes them ready to work with all the returning members and feel comfortable. New members check-in and move into their own dorm rooms on Saturday morning and at 1:30 parents and students meet for a welcome and intro session. Then, goodbyes are said and the fun begins!        Traditions Night      Game Night

UCMB Preseason: The rest of the band moves in and the entire band is brought together. Sections are formed, players meet, music begins—before dinner, much music has already been rehearsed. After dinner more rehearsal and a parade across campus to Jorgensen Auditorium.    Ice Cream Social    Big/Little Meals     

On that day leaders, first year members, percussionists, and color guard arrive on campus to begin the new UCMB year. The first two days focus on orienting new members and giving the drum-line, front ensemble, and color guard a solid beginning. Traditional music selections and Our "marching routine" including the full repertoire of marching basics is taught and new members are prepared to learn our marching show when the other returning wind players arrive on Monday. 

After several hours of organization and first playing rehearsals the band parades to Jorgensen Auditorium for "UCMB Convocation"–a formal beginning of this years UCMB with a program of speeches, special guests, and presentation and the new year is officially underway. Each day consists of morning, afternoon, and evening rehearsals. Social Events are planned for evenings and meals. On campus students live in their own dorm rooms and get to know the campus and make many friends while the band learns music for shows, concerts, and the stands. Our traditional Pre-game is learned along with the half-time show for the first game. 

Housing:

On-Campus Residents check into the dorm room they will occupy for Fall Semester upon arrival and checking in with the band. Costs for use of their room during Pre-season is paid for out of the band budget. Members must sign and submit Preseason Housing and Meal Contract by a specified date in mid/late July. The Band Office must submit student by the specified date in order for each student to be allowed to move in. Confirmation of early arrival  and move-in information is sent to each student by Residential Life. Commuting students provide their own housing but all members receive meals until student meal service begins on Friday lunch. See Preseason Housing Guide for detailed instructions about the process of obtaining housing. 

Food:

All Band Members receive a Special Events Conference Card for meals from their arrival until Lunch on Friday. (the "Preseason Housing and Dining Contract" is required of all band members to arrange for the Conference Card and Per Diem money). Members eat most meals together in a specified dining hall except for two "On the Town" meals for which per diem is supplied by the band in lieu of a dining hall meal. "On the Town" meals are usually designated as a special "Big Buddy" meal or "Section Meal" provide a chance to explore downtown Storrs restaurants and have a different social experience.  Members are on their own for meals once the normal meal service begins on Friday lunch. 

Meals are arranged by the UCMB Office through the Program Assistant at the Department of Dining Services (Bea Nerbonne as of 2019). Updated contact information can be found in the UCMB Vendor List and Campus Contacts Document.

Pre-Season Registration:

Upon arrival on campus for Pre-Season, band members go through an important short registration sequence usually including these stations: Sign in, Personal information check, Pre-season schedule/information, Performance/rehearsal conflict check, Uniform, Shoes, Flex Pass/Meal Swipe Donation or fee, Banquet Deposit, instrument assignment, big/little buddy assignment, picture, and name tag. The name tag should be worn throughout Pre-Season. 

Transportation to Rehearsal Sites: 

A bus is employed by the band for transportation from the Music Building to the Outdoor Rehearsal Facility during Pre-Season. The bus often requires additional trips to accommodate all students.  Students with cars drive to our outdoor rehearsal site. At the end of the rehearsal day, the bus makes a loop through campus to help students get back to their dorms safely. 

Leadership Training

RehearsalSchedule/Instructional Plan

Preseason Schedule    Schedule of rehearsals and locations including New Member weekend and entire week.

Preseason Instruction Plan   Schedule includes list of music and drill to be addressed at each rehearsal, 

Preseason Special Events

Circle Ceremony: On Thursday of Pre-season, our new members have had six days of hard work and have bonded with our band. It is time to retire the pink new member tag and trade it for the white tag of the returning members. A simple but touching ceremony is held following the evening rehearsal. New members move out to the parking lot and hear from our historian about the heritage they are now a part of. Returning Members form a circle around the center of the field with one opening, all become quiet and the opening is marked with a light. Neww members in alphabetical order file onto the field and around the circle until all are just behind the circle. Words about significance of membership are said and the new members are invited to take the “Big Step” of coming into the circle of what is now “their band”. As their name is called they step into the circle. They shake the hand of the drum majors and the directors of the band; they are met by their “Big Buddy” with their official UCMB t-shirt and cap and a symbolic glow stick (“light is symbolic of leadership”). The Big Buddy places them in front of the Big Buddy’s spot in the circle. When are in place, more words of significance are spoken and the circle enlarges to allow space for all new members in one circle. The simple ceremony concludes with the singing of the alma mater, Old Connecticut, and a huge cheer welcomes all members of the UCMB.       (Circle Ceremony)

Pre-Season Concert-by-the-Lake: On Friday of Preseason, the first public performance of the UCMB takes place beside Mirror Lake. Parents, alumni, and friends are invited to bring a blanket or chairs and lounge by the lake as the band reveals new show music and old popular and patriotic favorites.    add  Concert Formation    

Picture Day: On the Sunday at the end of Pre-season, formal pictures of the band are taken in full uniform. A picture of the full band, sections, and individuals are made. On alternate years the picture is taken in Rentschler Field or on the UConn Campus.  add Picture Location and Plan

UCMB Preview Show

On the Saturday before Labor Day the UCMB puts in a full day’s work and then take the field at UConn’s Sherman Complex (field hockey and track field) for a show for parents, alumni, and friends. The audience of around 2000 people watch the UCMB execute an impressive open-rehearsal. At 8:00 PM the “Show” starts with a performance of the Pregame routine. The introduction of Staff and Leaders is interspersed with musical favorites. As a finale, the band performs the parts of this year’s “Exhibition Show” followed by, of course, singing the Alma Mater (Old Connecticut). It is a great tradition to introduce the new version of the UCMB.