About the Mt. Pleasant High School Competitive Marching Band
What is a competitive marching band? There are hundreds of marching bands across the country, but are they all the same? The answer is no. A lot of marching bands perform for the football game halftime shows, in parades, and compete against themselves to improve their scores. There are just over 50 marching bands in the state of Michigan that are not only that, but also a competitive sport. Mt. Pleasant’s marching band combines travel competitive sports with band. Like competitive cheer, competitive marching bands travel around the state competing with other competitive bands. The band made it to State Finals at Ford Field this past fall and often makes State!
The MPHS marching band competes with other schools mostly on the west side of the state or Flint/Detroit/Ann Arbor areas. They get judged on musical ensemble, visual field, percussion, and auxiliary (color guard). The students start learning their competitive show in August and put in many hours of great work as do the other competitive sports. Marching band parents also put in many volunteer hours as well hauling instruments to the competitions, helping them get on and off the field, preparing food, fixing uniforms, fundraising, etc.
Mt. Pleasant’s strength is their music. Director of Bands, Matt Taton, has the music arranged in a way to work to the strengths of the students and instruments that the students play. All students are welcome in marching band, and everyone participates and contributes to the performance! They are part of something greater than themselves.
Marching band teaches leadership, discipline, teamwork, hard work and gives life skills. These kids are performers, athletes, and are a team. The band hopes to grow every year adding more to what they can offer their students.
If you’d like to learn more about how you or your student can join the marching band, contact Matt Taton at mtaton@mp.edzone.net.
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
Sep 6 – MINI CAMP #1 @ MPHS 10a-2p
Sep 12 – Home Football @MPHS
Sep 13 – MINI CAMP #2 @ MPHS 10a-2p
Sep 20 – MINI CAMP #3 @ 10a-2p
(Mr. Taton in Switzerland)
Sep 26 – Homecoming Game @ MPHS
Sep 27 – OFF – Homecoming Dance
Oct 4 – Cedar Springs Invitational
Oct 10 – Home Football @ MPHS
Oct 11 – Sparta Invitational
Oct 17 – Home Football (senior night) @MPHS
Oct 18 – Clarkston Invitational
Oct 25 – MCBA Prelims @ DeWitt HS
Nov 1 – MCBA State Finals @ Ford Field
(Staying the night in Detroit 10-31)
Nov 13-15 – Bands of America Grand Nationals @Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis 11/13-11/15
(Staying two nights in Indianapolis)
SPRING TRAINING
April 1 – @MPHS Band Room, 6p-8p
April 8 – @MPHS Band Room, 6p-8p
April 15 – @MPHS Band Room, 6p-8p
April 22 – @MPHS Band Room, 6p-8p
April 29 – @MPHS Band Room, 6p-8p
May 6 – @MPHS Band Room, 6p-8p
May 13 – @MPHS Band Room, 6p-8p
(Also MPHS Senior Awards night)
May 20 – @MPHS Band Room, 6p-8p
(Also MPHS/MS Choir Concert night)
May 26 – MEMORIAL DAY PARADE, 10am
(more info to come)
BAND CAMP and SCHEDULE
Aug 11 – Band Camp @MPHS 9a-6p
Aug 12 – Band Camp @MPHS 9a-6p
Aug 13 – Band Camp @MPHS 9a-6p
Aug 14 – Band Camp @MPHS 9a-6p
Aug 15 – Band Camp @MPHS 9a-6p
7:00pm Performance in the Stadium
August 22 – School Starts (tentative)
Daily Schedule for Band Camp
8:45am – arrive at MPHS band room
(Monday only) – band meeting
9:00am – basics -visual emphasis
(front ensemble rehearsal inside)
12:00pm – Lunch
1:00pm – music and guard sectionals
3:00pm – drill/full ensemble
(front ensemble as needed)
6:00pm – dismissal
7:00pm – Friday ONLY Community performance
Daily schedules are subject to change depending on weather issues and needs. CLOSED CAMPUS for lunch all week, no leaving MPHS. Students need to bring a sack lunch every day.