​ The Jenison Bands puts on the largest marching band invitational in the state of MI.  This year, we are hosting 41 bands throughout the day.  This is our biggest fundraiser of the year so it is vital to have the support and help of all our amazing band parents for this event.  Thank you so much to all who have signed up for shifts.  As you know, each family is required to complete 2 shifts per family.  To make this event run smoothly, please arrive 15 minutes prior to your shift.   New this year! There will be a bus shuttle running to help our volunteers a ..read more

Planning for NYC Face it, we parents will be having a totally different NYC experience that our students will be.  While they have everything planned out for them, let’s start making plans of our own.  Then we can compare adventures with our kids when they get back.  First things first….FOOD. Our family already has made dinner reservations for the nights we will be in the Big Apple.  We used the app OpenTable as well as booking directly with a few restaurants within walking distance from our hotel.  This was huge for me, I know it will be super busy that week and havi ..read more

Friday nights are for football and marching band.  It's a wonderful community experience to sit on the bleachers to cheer on our kids, both football and band.  They have so much in common and it is very important to our coaches/directors to keep it that way.  We have all seen the shirts, "I am just here for halftime".  They are cute, and we love the support of our band kids, but please consider how it would feel to be a football parent and see them wearing, "I am just here for football".  That would make you feel either bad or angry, or both.  So please be conside ..read more

Symmetry. Rich Jewel Tones. Intricate Geometric Shape. Metallics. Opulence and Decadence. That is a brief description of the Art Deco Style that originated in Paris in the 1920's.  Our band director, Dave Zamborsky, is pulling from that style for the upcoming Jenison HS Marching Band Show, "Deco".  I asked him to share his vision for the show. Mr Zamborsky: Jenison's 2023 show is titled "DECO." The production celebrates the art deco design style aesthetic which originated in Paris around 1925 and became extremely prevalent throughout western Europe and America in the 1930s. Art de ..read more

A couple of weeks ago in Rockford, DCI (Drum Corp International) kicked off their 2023 Tour.  It was fantastic to have them in West Mi for that event.  4 Corps performed:    Colts, Blue Stars, Phantom Regiment and Troopers.  If you have been to the booster meetings, you will have heard our directors discuss that Jenison HS was hosting one of the bigger groups, Phantom Regiment prior to that DCI summer kick off.  Those of us who follow DCI were excited to have them so close so we could watch them practice and later perform at Rockford.  I r ..read more

Why should parents get involved in marching band? Because your child is going to live and breathe it June-November, you will too.  Volunteering is the best way to get to know our students and their parents and feel like you are apart of this incredible group.   Do you want to know how your students eat at band camp?  Volunteer to help with Feed the Band. Want to hear what  teens talk about now and what the newest slang is?  Volunteer to chaperone an event, you will learn so much!   Want to get sneak peeks at the props?  Volunteer by helping build props ..read more

This week is it!  It is hard to believe but Nationals is this week.  I know parents are excited to get to Lucas Oil and cheer our kids on.  For future reference, here are the next few years dates for Nationals:  November 14-16, 2024 November 13-15, 2025   SCHEDULE The marching band schedule is posted for you to refer to. Link: https://marching.musicforall.org/event/grandnationals22/ Jenison performs at 8pm.  Friday is a free day so enjoy Indy.  There is an IKEA close by, the children's museum is awesome if you have younger kids and tons of great plac ..read more

Regionals is the first big competition for the students.  I love hearing from my sons about all the fun they had on the buses.  God bless the chaperones and all the shenanigans  they endure! ​ This Regional Championship features high school marching bands from around the region in Preliminary competition. The top 12 scoring bands advance to the evening’s Finals and the naming of the 2022 Bands of America Regional Champion. Regionals are held in Toledo, OH at The University of Ohio’s Glass Bowl Stadium.  It is just over 3 hours from Jenison to the stadium.  The a ..read more

Friday nights are for football and marching band.  It's a wonderful community experience to sit on the bleachers to cheer on our kids, both football and band.  They have so much in common and it is very important to our coaches/directors to keep it that way.  We have all seen the shirts, "I am just here for halftime".  They are cute, and we love the support of our band kids.  But please consider how it would feel to be a football parent and see them wearing, "I am just here for football".  That would make you feel either bad or angry, or both.  So please be c ..read more

​What to expect at band camp ​Expect to work hard. Expect to have fun. Expect a suntan or sunburn, with tan lines from your shirt and socks. Expect to take directions and advice from people your own age. Expect to learn the majority of this year's show and expect to be proud of the hard work you will put into making the Jenison Marching Band one of the best bands around! There is nothing to fear about the camp experience. Returning members look forward to camp as one of the highlights of their summer. The staff and upper-classmen work hard to provide a nurturing environment for new member ..read more