Welcome to EPHS Band!
Welcome to EPHS Band!
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We hope you will find what you need here to get acquainted with all things band but if you can't find something you have a question about, please fill out the question box below or reach out to a member of the BPO and they will be happy to help!
Eagle Band Directors
Eagle Band Directors
Mike Whipkey
Mike Whipkey
Band Director - Dept Head, Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band
Band Parent Organization (BPO) Leadership
Band Parent Organization (BPO) Leadership
Co-Presidents - Jared & Tanoa Miles
Vice President - Open position (please reach out if interested!)
Treasurer - Sarah Gregoire
Secretary - Jen Wallace
Color Guard Rep - Brian Emswiler
Member at Large - Amy Irvin
Website/Social Media - Jen Bischoff
Band Terms to Know
Band Terms to Know
Prairie Colors - This is the Marching Band Home Show, hosted at EPHS in early September where all families are asked to volunteer in some capacity to make the event happen.
Horn Line - All the wind and horn instruments
Battery - The drumline section made up of bass drums, quads/tenors and snare drums
Front Ensemble/Pit - All the non-battery percussion instruments including marimbas, vibes, drum kit, keyboard, and auxilary
Color Guard - the visual performers/athletes who do not play instruments but use flags and other props during the performance
Drum Major - the two student leaders who direct the band on the field
Pit Crew - parents and others who volunteer to move large instruments and gear on and off the field for performances
YIM - Youth in Music which is the end of season competition held at the US Bank Stadium
Important Dates to be Aware of
Important Dates to be Aware of
Pre-Season
Pre-Season
Percussion Only Captains Practices - June 9, 16, 23 & 30 (5-9pm)
July 7-10 - Welcome Week (6-9pm)
July 8 - DCI: Kiwanis Thunder of the Drums @ Mankato (band travels to observe)
Band Garage Sale - held at CMS July 11th & 12th - 11am-3pm (volunteers needed)
Band Camp - July 22-25 (overnight)
Parent Preview Night - July 28
State Fair Parade - August 21 (time TBD)
Season
Season
Prairie Colors Home Show- September 6 (all day until late afternoon - volunteers needed)
Prairie Colors & Eastview Competition - September 6th (Prairie Colors is our home show at EPHS)
Rosemount Competition - September 13
ExtravaBANDza: Full District Recruiting Event - September 20 (Time TBD)
Irondale Competition - September 27
Football Home Games - perform at half-time - August 28, Sept 12, Oct 15
Youth in Music (YIM) - October 11
Post Season
Post Season
Band Banquet - Oct 20 (6-9pm)
Links You Will Need
Links You Will Need
Band App - https://www.band.us/en
This is used by band directors and BPO to communicate event details, volunteer needs, calendar changes and other info
Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/EPHSBands/
This page will share posts and events and we appreciate any sharing you can do to your own page about band events - especially fundraisers - to bring in support.
Instagram Page - https://www.instagram.com/edenprairiebands/
Follow EP Bands on Instagram to see the latest photos, videos and calls to action.
Parent Photo Upload Link -
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1dfCpHYrHxL6l8ccXik1qTympUX3Z7A1W?usp=sharing
Use this to share photos that we can use in social media, the band website, the yearbook and local media
Youth in Music site: https://marching.com/events/youth-in-music/
Volunteer Needs
Volunteer Needs
Prairie Colors Home Show - lots of volunteer needs from parking attendents to check-in table to band hospitality, concessions and more
Pit Crew - volunteers needed during both football game half-time performances and competition performances to move equipment on and off the field
Props - volunteers are often needed to help build/paint show props
Uniform Fittings - volunteers help fit and order uniforms
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: What's the difference between Marching Band and Drumline?
Answer: Marching Band is a fall actvity (July-Oct) and involves battery, front ensemble, drum majors, hornline and color guard while Drumline is a winter activity (Nov-April) that only involves battery and front ensemble with cymbals and visual members. Many students in battery and front ensemble participate in both and several hornline members of marching band perform with cymbals or as visual members in Winter Drumline. Both actvities involve weekend competitions but marching band performs outdoors while drumline performs inside in school gyms.
Question: What's the difference between Color Guard and Winter Color Guard?
Answer: Color Guard involves many of the same members but in the fall, they perform WITH Marching Band while Winter Guard performs in separate competitions so Winter Drumline and Winter Guard do not rehearse or compete together.
Question: What is a typical Marching Band competition day like?
Answer: Marching Band competitions are a full Saturday event. Band members typically report to EPHS in the morning for rehearsal time and then break for lunch, load the trailer and drive to the competition. At the competition location, they will rehearse more in the parking lot before their scheduled performance time. They remain at the competition until all schools have performed and awards have been given out. The bus returns them to EPHS where they unload the bus before heading home. Competition days typically end after 10pm. The band app is used to update families on schedules and ETA for return to the high school for parent pick up.
Ask A Question Here
Ask A Question Here
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