Music transcends the mundane.  It offers escape from reality, courage for the insecure, and dreams for the romantic in all of us.  Music inspires listener and player alike.  It provides the player with personal goals, the achievement of which is both measurable and rhapsodizing.  The joining of many voices in symphony magically transforms the individuals into a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts.  The triumph of personal musical achievement is intensified by the thrill of performing at peak level within a large ensemble.

Each participant provides a unique colour for this musical mosaic, and with participation comes responsibility.

REHEARSAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Home-practice should take place between rehearsals, and should contain two elements: personal technical improvement, and preparation of the indicated titles.

2. Members are asked to contact another section-member in the event of non-attendance or late arrival at rehearsal.

3. It is essential to arrive early enough to setup, tune up, and prepare music. Start-time is 7:30pm.

4. Members must take responsibility for their own parts!  Difficult passages should be learned at home.  This will have the effect of maximizing rehearsal time, allowing the conductor to spend time polishing the whole band rather than concentrating on specific parts while others wait. 

These duties will result in the most constructive and beneficial rehearsals!

CONCERT RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. In the weeks prior to the concert, members are asked to take responsibility for the section: each should find out who will be missing, arrange for coverage of missing parts, and be aware of the number of chairs to set out.

2. Before leaving home, members should think "M-U-S-I-C" 
   - Music folder: does it contain the current concert music, in correct order?
   - Uniform: black pants or skirt, black shoes, white blouse or shirt, band jacket or   band vest, band cummerbund and tie.
   - Stand: folding stand labeled with your name (see Paul Ferry, flute, if not obtained yet)
   - Instrument: be aware that mouthpieces get left behind sometimes!
   - Clips: to hold the music in case of wind and/or
   - Coins for parking meter if necessary and/or
   - Cap for head in case of hot sun

3. Players should try to arrive at concert location 45-60 minutes before start time.  Arrival later than 45 min. makes it difficult for the setup people, the section, the band, and the conductor.

4. Once the chairs are set up, stand and music are to be placed in position.

5. Warm up and tuning of section should take place elsewhere, prior to seating

6. The band will take seats simultaneously approximately 10 minutes prior to the start time, then perform a warmup chorale, usually out of the Green Book.  Members are to use this chorale to listen to section and whole band, gauge the acoustics, and fine-tune instrument.

The best possible musical performances will result!