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Frequently-Asked Questions
Here are some frequently-asked questions
for your perusal. Please see our contact
page if you cannot find what you are looking for here. Feel
free to browse, or you can jump to a specific category from this
list:
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- Do I have to be a member to play with the
band?
You can sit in with the band
for a couple of rehearsals to check us out; after that you
should consider becoming a member. Click here
for more details.
- What is the minimum age for membership?
The band is made up of adults
of all ages. Teenage students may sit in pending Director
approval.
- Is there a need for my specific
instrument?
The San Jose Metropolitan Band
is always looking for qualified 'concert band' musicians.
The instruments of the standard concert band are: Piccolo
and Flute, Oboe, English Horn and Bassoon, Clarinet, Alto
Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Alto, Tenor and Baritone Saxophone,
French Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Baritone, Tuba, Timpani and
Percussion.
- How good do I have to be to play in the
band?
Placement is by audition.
However, we encourage newcomers who may be easily
intimidated by the audition to 'sit in' for a few
rehearsals. This helps provide them an opportunity to get a
feel for the degree of difficulty and their overall comfort
level before auditioning.
- When and where do you rehearse?
We rehearse Mondays at Valley
Christian High School.
Click here for more information.
- How much does it cost to be a member?
Reasonable semi-annual dues are
collected. Please click here for
details.
- How do you seat individuals within a
section?
The conductor assigns a
'section leader' who's responsible for the seating of a
particular section. Some rotate parts throughout their
section, some do not.
- Where are you going to be performing in
the near future?
For the latest scoop, check out
the Band's upcoming concert schedule.
- How much does it cost to attend a
performance?
Most of our concerts are free
and open to the public. Some may involve admission to the
event we are playing for. Please see our concert
schedule for specific performance pricing.
- What type of music do you play?
The Band performs music scored
for a wind concert band, that includes brass, woodwinds and
percussion. Most are arrangements of well-known tunes,
including some that are transcriptions from symphonic
selections. Genres include Big Band, Disney, Broadway,
Hollywood, marches and classics. For specifics, see
our current season's repertoire.
- Do you have any promotional information
available?
Yes! The promotional
package includes a band photo, backgrounder, and demo tape.
Please contact
the band's President, David Brown at dab-mail@sbcglobal.net
to receive this package by
mail. Or if you prefer, you can set up a time for a personal
presentation.
- What type of events would this type of
band be appropriate for?
Because of the band's
varied repertoire, the band could fit in to quite a few
venues. We can custom select pieces from the current
season's repertoire, and may be able include one or two
specially requested pieces given sufficient notice. Think of
us for:
- Art and Wine Festival
- Company BBQ or Party
- Holiday Event
- Corporate Celebration
- Store or Park Opening
- Community Affair
- Ceremony/Dedication
- Event Kickoff
- How much does it cost to have the band
perform?
In these cost conscious days,
the SJMB is surprisingly reasonable. Average pricing usually
ranges from $600 to $1200. Performance engagements
usually run from 1 to 2 hours, and considering there are some 45
musicians, it is a bargain indeed. Note that all fees are
negotiable, and other factors such as publicity, crowd,
sound system, etc., may factor into the final contract
price.
- How do I go about booking the band?
Glad you asked that! All
you'll need to do is contact
Ed Lacina at (408)
685-3567
with whom you can work out the
performance specifics: date, time, duration, pricing, venue,
etc.
- I don't play an instrument. Are there any
other volunteer opportunities with the band?
Sure. We would always
welcome enthusiastic people who would like to contribute
their talents to our organization. Some of the areas where
you might want to help out are in grant writing, promotions,
graphic arts, writing articles, instrument storage,
transportation, setup/takedown, etc. Or maybe there is some
other area you could think of.
- Are contributions tax-deductible?
Yes. Click here
for more information.
- Do you accept corporate sponsorships?
The Band would welcome the
chance to be partnered with industry in promoting the arts.
Click here to find our ways that
your company can become involved.
- Is there a "booster club" I can
join?
We do not have an official
booster club at this time. But we are looking to start one.
Please click here for more
information on how you could get involved.
- Who is the Musical Director?
Mr. Gregory Bergantz.
Click here for more information.
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