PLD New Member/Band Parent Information
Welcome to the PLD Marching Band!
       We want you to know that your student has joined one of the best marching bands in the state of Kentucky and the nation. In so doing, they have expressed a desire and commitment to work hard, practice every day, and to develop their musical talent to the fullest extent possible. Make no mistake about it, marching band is hard work. However, the rewards for all the hard work are equally great. Our About PLD Band page explains some of the many accomplishments of the PLD Marching Band. The PLD Marching Band is the largest 'Team' at Paul Laurence Dunbar High school. Since 2003, every marching band student has graduated from PLD as a state champion. The PLD marching band program has graduated more state champion students than all other extracurricular activities at PLD combined. The expectations for your new student are equally high. We look forward to working with your student, to help them develop and grow into responsible young adults, to celebrate their many accomplishments they will achieve with the PLD Marching Band, to provide them with experiences in music that are educational and rewarding, and to generate memories and friends that last a lifetime.
      In my opinion, the two most important things marching band teaches someone is responsibility and trust. Responsibility to yourself and to your band mates, to know your music, to know your next move, and to know your part. And secondly trust, to trust the people around you so that when it comes time to play, they will be with you, and will not leave you hanging out there playing all by yourself. -Dave Tippett
Getting Started
      There are many things that need to be accomplished, many forms that need to be filled out. Sometimes the list is overwhelming. Hopefully, the bulleted list below will help you to complete them as quickly and efficiently as possible:
Meet 'The Red Box':
      It's not much, really. Just a simple red box fastened to the wall just outside Mr. Hood's office in the band room. But it's where all of the forms you are about to fill out will need to go. And so, it's an appropriate place to start.
Return your Deposit form and payment before May 15th:
      Each year PLD's Marching band show is written specifically for PLD and is designed specifically for the number of students in our band. The process begins in early April each year. The only way to guarantee your student a spot in the fall competition marching show is to return the deposit form with your $150.00 payment before May 15th. Personal check, Visa, and Master Card are accepted.
Obtain an e-mail address:
      This should be an e-mail account you can access from home and read every day. E-mail correspondence is the quickest and most efficient means of getting information to you. Many last second changes to schedules, performance times, and itineraries, come out via e-mail only. TRS registration requires it as well. Several ISPs offer free e-mail addresses including Yahoo, AOL, and Gmail.
Complete the TRS Registration process:
      Download and print the TRS Registration Instructions, then complete the online registration process. TRS is a secure online database service we purchase which caters specifically to band organizations like ours. It stores our e-mail listserver, keeps track of committee membership, and allows us to maintain our Legends fundraising schedule, just to name a few.
Download, print, read, and sign the PLD commitment form:
      Marching band is a big commitment in time, energy, and money from both the students and parents. Download and print the PLD commitment form. Go over it together with your student. Make sure everyone understands what will be expected of them.
Download, complete, and notarize the medical and travel permission form:
      The Medical/Travel Permission Form is your way to communicate any medical conditions, allergies, or diets your student may require. This hard copy form is maintained by PLD chaperones and goes everywhere your student goes. It also authorizes ER physicians to treat your child if they are away from home and become ill. The notarized form must be received before your student attends their first practice.
Download and complete the Band Parents Association Volunteer Form:
      It takes the efforts of many people to make the PLD Band run successfully. We request each parent to select at least one committee/activity from the list of committee activities to work on with other parents. For a detailed description of the functions and duties of each committees please see the BPA section of the Band Booklet.
Required Reading
      You have finished filling out all the forms and paperwork that you have to turn in. However, the following documents also contain important information you need to be aware of. The first one, contest etiquette, is very important for all new band parents to know and understand.
Contest etiquette, The Do's and Don'ts:
      Band competitions have a whole list of contest etiquette rules that every band spectator should obey. There is also the list of rules our band directors request from all band parents governing electronic communications (phone calls, texting) between you and your student while at band competitions. These are rules every parent should know and understand before your first competition.
Read the band camp survival guide:
      Band camp usually occurs the last 2 weeks of July. The Band Camp Survival Guide is a compilation of information and tips from parents and former band students to help new students and parents survive their first band camp. It is a must read.
Read the latest band newsletter:
      The PLD Marching Band newsletter is published monthly and has all the latest happenings and upcoming events in the band. It's the quickest way to get up to speed.
Read the New Members Band Booklet:
      The New Members Band Booklet is a compilation of many of the items on this page and includes the PLD Band Dictionary. Seriously, there is a listing of band terms that apply only to the PLD marching band. The PLD Band Dictionary explains them all.