Return to Tips for Band All-State Band Clinic All-Region Band Clinic All-District Band Clinic All-Star Band Clinic	by Mr. Fred J. Allen Director of Bands SFA School of Music [email protected]
	A Checklist for Having a Successful Experience for Clinicians, Hosts and Students

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Groups like this go by many names. These groups are comprised by members from several schools, who usually auditioned for their seating placement in the organization and the opportunity to perform interesting literature with an outstanding clinician/conductor.

Occasionally, students (and even some teachers!) place much more importance on the audition and chair placement than the clinic. The clinic should be viewed as an opportunity to broaden the musical horizons of the students in the group. The directors of those students can often learn something from the clinician as well. In order for this to be a positive experience, here are checklists for the clinician, the host and the students involved in the band.

Clinician Responsibilities:

• Select music (some hosts will ask clinician to provide music)
• Clinicians who use a specific warm-up sequence should provide this to the host
• Find out if the group expects you to dress formal for the concert or not
• Provide a set-up chart
• Provide bio and photo if needed for program
• Be on time, stick to the schedule and be positive!
• Expect to say a few words to the audience at the concert

Host Responsibilities:

• Provide clinician with deadlines for selecting music, providing set-up chart, etc.
• Provide clinician with an instrumentation of the band
• Provide clinician with list of pieces performed by the group in the last two years
• Provide clinician with a schedule of rehearsals
• Initiate a written contract with the clinician, defining honorarium and payment for expenses (meals, travel and lodging)
• Procure site for clinic and concert
• Purchase or borrow music for the clinic
• Assemble folders for students
• Arrange for percussion instruments to be at the clinic/concert site
• Put names on stands so clinician can see them
• Pay clinician in a timely manner
• Enforce the region's policy regarding absences from rehearsals. Absurd as this sounds, there may be students who have conflicts, and hopefully, the region will have a policy in place addressing this issue. The best scenario would be that no one misses any rehearsal or concert, but some regions may make allowances for partial absences for SAT tests, basketball games, etc. Just be sure the clinician knows this before the day of the clinic!
• Be sure students and their directors have a printed schedule of rehearsals and performances
• Be sure students in the group know what to wear for the concert
• Arrange for recordings, T-shirts, plaques or certificates used
• Be sure host school has verified that heating/cooling and lights will be working
• Arrange for microphone or sound system for introducing the group at the concert

Student Responsibilities:

• Rehearse the music before the clinic
• Bring a pencil!
• Bring all necessary supplies (reeds, valve oil, mutes)
• Come to the clinic ready to learn
• Bring concert clothing