Band
Mission Statement
The Cumberland Gap High School Band’s mission is to provide a quality music education opportunity for every student regardless of race, age, ability, financial status, or sex. Our purpose is to establish an ensemble that will represent successfully our school, county, state, and country through the creation and sharing of instrumental music.
Marching Band
The Marching Panthers are the most visible aspect of the music department at CGHS. The marching band class meets during 4th block in the fall semester. Students earn a full fine arts credit and a half credit in PE. Students perform at pep rallies, home football games, away game at Claiborne (every other year), the Tazewell Merchants Christmas Parade, and the Annual Christmas Concert. Other performance opportunities may also be arranged.
During the football games, the Marching Panthers provide music in the stands in addition to performing a half time show. Students enrolled in marching band are expected to learn a full marching show including drill (places on the field), show music, and transitions. Because marching band is such a physically demanding activity, students should be in good physical condition, free from injury in order to participate.
The requested dues for marching band students (instrumentalists and drum major) are $25. This helps cover the cost of the band t-shirt, uniform cleaning, and travel expenses. Students who are new to the CGHS Band will also need to buy a CGHS band polo ($16). Band students who do not own their own instrument may borrow one from the CGHS Band.
Band Camp
Band camp is a week-long music intensive held in the summer before the start of each school year. During band camp students learn marching basics (or refresh from previous years), receive and learn new show music, and learn the basic drill concepts that will be used in the marching show. Band camp is scheduled the week before teachers return for in-service. Students meet from 9AM-5PM, and all marching band students are expected to attend (Percussion parts are assigned at this time). There is no cost to attend band camp.
Color Guard
The color guard is an auditioned group of students (open to males and females) who perform with flags at the football games and parades. You do not have to be enrolled in the band class to audition and participate in color guard. Auditions are held in early May, and no prior experience is needed. Students who are selected for color guard will attend a color guard basics training day at CGHS in late May (no cost). Regular practices are normally held on Fridays, and special practices are called at the beginning of the season to learn the marching show routine.
The cost for those selected to participate in color guard is $85. This covers the cost of the color guard outfit, color guard shoes, flag rental, band t-shirt, and transportation. The color guard fees are divided into two payments ($30 at the end of May; $55 in August). Payment plans can be established if needed. Color guard members who complete enough practices and performances will receive one half credit of PE.
Majorette
Majorettes are students who twirl a baton during the half time show at the football games and parades. Majorettes are auditioned on the same days as color guard (early May). During auditions students must demonstrate proficiency on the baton. Students selected are responsible for providing their own equipment and creating their own choreography for the performances. Majorette rehearsals will coincide with color guard rehearsals once school starts, and these students do not need to be enrolled in the marching band class. The cost for students chosen to be majorettes is approximately $150. This covers the cost of the majorette uniform, shoes, band t-shirt, and transportation. Majorette students who complete enough practices and performances will receive one half credit of PE.
Drum Major
The drum major is an auditioned student conductor for the marching band. The drum major directs the half time show at all football games and plays their instrument in the stands for pep band. During marching rehearsals, the drum major assists with teaching the marching drill by helping students find their places on the field and serving as an example of good marching technique. Students do not need to know how to conduct to audition, but they must have an excellent sense of tempo. Auditions are held in early May, and drum major candidates must have previous CGHS Band experience. Priority for drum major selection is based on learned skill and seniority, not seniority alone.
Basketball Pep Band
During the winter months, the CGHS Band provides music for the home games of both the varsity girls and varsity boys basketball teams. In December, band members may volunteer to play at the games as it does not count for a grade in the marching band class. In January and February, students who are enrolled in Symphonic Band must attend the games (traditionally any five home games out of seven). Students who were enrolled in marching band, but are not signed up for symphonic band may still participate in the basketball pep band.
Symphonic Band
The Symphonic Band is the concert band face of the music department at CGHS. Symphonic band is a class offered during fourth block of the spring semester. Band members learn a wide variety of concert band and small ensemble repertoire and perform at CGHS basketball games (as part of the pep band), concerts, and local outreach events.
Symphonic band is open to students of all ability levels, although it is extremely helpful to have prior band experience. Students who have never played an instrument before will need to be self-motivated and have a good work ethic in order to succeed in symphonic band. Although this class is open to beginners, it is not catered to beginners.
The requested dues for symphonic band are $25. This helps cover the cost of the band t-shirt (for students who were not in marching band), uniform cleaning, and travel expenses. Band students who do not own their own instrument may borrow one from the CGHS Band.
TSSBDA Honor Bands
The TN Secondary Schools Band Directors Association (TSSBDA) hosts two regional honor band competitions each year; Jr. Clinic for students in grades 7-9 and Sr. Clinic for students in grades 9-12. These honor bands offer students the chance to learn with other musicians from throughout East TN. Students compete for chair placement (ranking) in one of two bands, and then the students work with the other musicians to put together a concert in the course of the two day event. CGHS frequently has students place in the top band at both
TSSBDA Sr. Clinic Honor Band is open to students in grades 9-12 who have exceptional playing abilities, and it is held annually on the fourth weekend of January. The cost for Sr. Clinic is $25, and students must be able to play eight scales from memory (concert G, C, F, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, and full range chromatic) and sight read a piece of music on their instrument. In addition to scales on mallets, percussionists must also perform the following snare drum rudiments: Single Paradiddle, Double Paradiddle, Flam, Flam Tap, Flam Accent, Drag, Single Drag Tap, Lesson 25, and Multiple Bounce Roll.
TSSBDA Jr. Clinic Honor Band is open to students in grades 7-9 (and exceptional 6th grade students) who have exceptional playing abilities, and it is held annually on the fourth weekend of February. The cost for Jr. Clinic is $25, and students must be able to play six scales from memory (concert C, F, Bb, Eb, Ab, and full range chromatic) and sight read a piece of music on their instrument. In addition to scales on mallets, percussionists must also perform the following snare drum rudiments: Single Paradiddle, Flam, Flam Tap, Drag, Single Drag Tap, and Multiple Bounce Roll.
In order to be eligible to participate in either Sr. Clinic or Jr. Clinic, students must be enrolled in a CGHS band class either fall or spring semester (participation in color guard without being enrolled in marching band does not count). Students must perform all requirements for the band director prior to the deadline for each event. Although Sr. Clinic is open to 9th grade students, only those students who have participated in Jr. Clinic for three years will be recommended for Sr. Clinic participation.