15th Annual ECU Band Day
Saturday, October 29, 2011

Dear Colleague,

I am writing to invite you and your students to participate in our 15th annual East Carolina University Band Day. The 2010 ECU Band Day was a tremendous success with a record number of bands and participants taking part in our Homecoming festivities, and plans are underway to make this year's event the biggest and best yet. ECU Band Day will once again take place as part of the ECU Homecoming game day festivities on Saturday, October 29, 2011 when the ECU Pirates host the Tulane University Green Wave. I hope you will consider joining us for a great day of socializing, rehearsing and performing with more than 1,500 band students in our massed band show at halftime! While kickoff has not been set as of mid-June, this game traditionally begins in the late afternoon which allows our rehearsal to begin at noon at the Marching Pirates practice field. Furthermore, in addition to the game performance, participating marching bands will march in the homecoming parade that begins at 9am.

As in the past, generous support from the ECU Athletic Department is allowing us to provide this event at no cost to you. All students, chaperones and band directors participating will receive free admission to the game. In addition, your band will receive one free adult ticket for every ten students who participate. Bus parking will be provided. Additional tickets for parents or boosters will be made available at a special cost.

The halftime show will begin with an ECU Marching Pirates performance and presentation of the Homecoming court, then the massed band will move into their assigned block position as the ECU Marching Pirates percussion section plays a cadence (we will not include any sideline percussion). Since the 2011 ECU Homecoming theme is PeeDee Goes to Hollywood, we will then stand and play the Nick Baratta arrangement of “She’d Be California (www.jwpepper.com/10087962.item) and the Victor Lopez arrangement of “Party in the U.S.A.” www.jwpepper.com/10087933.item) followed by the ECU Fight Song before exiting the field to another cadence played by the ECU Drumline. The copyright for the ECU fight song is owned by ECU but the university does not own rights for the other two songs. Therefore, EC Victory will be sent as a PDF file to participating bands but each band will need to make arrangement to purchase the other two songs. Links to the J.W. Pepper catalogue for both songs have been included for your convenience.

Deadline for registration is Friday, September 30 and bands will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis up to approximately 1,200 students. Any bands applying after that enrollment has been reached will be placed on a waiting list. Upon receipt of your participation form, you will be emailed music, an event schedule and order forms for additional tickets. Final schedules, field position, seating and bus parking information will be emailed by October 15. Please complete the Participation Form below as soon as possible to confirm your involvement.

As always, do not hesitate to call if I may be of any assistance. I look forward to hearing from you soon and seeing you and your band on October 29. Best wishes for an enjoyable and successful season.

Sincerely,

Dr. John Franklin, Director of Athletic Bands
School of Music
East Carolina University
252-328-6982 phone
252-328-6258 fax
franklinj@ecu.edu