Marching Band Camp
Welcome! We’re excited for the 2026 BU Marching Band season, and we’re happy you’ve joined.
Show Music: Pop-Punk (show title and theme TBA…)
- “Welcome to the Black Parade” – My Chemical Romance
- “The Anthem” – Good Charlotte
- “All the Small Things” – blink-182
- “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” – Green Day
- “Misery Business” – Paramore
Band Camp Info – Since most of the show is learned during Band Camp, attendance is required except in extreme cases, which is rare (if so, contact the Staff ASAP). Band Camp is also important because it’s when you meet the people in your section and across the Band and begin bonding as a group. You get to move into your dorm early (you can get the “good side” of the room!), and all meals are provided during Band Camp. There are three rehearsal blocks per day, with plenty of free time to relax, socialize, and get to know campus.
Band Camp Week Schedule
Mon. 8/17 – Section Leaders, Drum Majors, All Percussion, All Guard report to campus (see housing & meal details below)
Section Leaders & Drum Majors schedule:
- 10:00a-12:00p – Open window to move into temporary housing if reserved (West Campus, exact dorm TBD)
- 12:00-1:00p – Lunch in dining hall
- 1:00-2:30p – Leadership session in Band Room
- 2:30-3:00p – Break
- 3:00p – Rehearsal begins for all Guard & Percussion (see schedule immediately below).
- Winds Leadership meet & rehearse separately until dinner, then free time.
Guard & Percussion Members (Non-Leadership) schedule:
- 1:00-2:30p – Open window to move into temporary housing if reserved (West Campus, exact dorm TBD), then make way to Band Room (300 Babcock St.)
- 3:00-5:30p – Rehearsal Block 1
- 5:30-6:30p – Dinner in dining hall
- 6:30-9:30p – Rehearsal Block 2
Tues. 8/18 – Winds Section (non-leadership) reports to campus – see housing & meal details below
Guard & Percussion schedule:
- Breakfast is served in the dining hall from 7-9 AM
- 9:00a-12:30p – Rehearsal Block 1
- 12:30-2:00p – Lunch
- 2:00-5:00p – Rehearsal Block 2
- 5:00-6:30p – Dinner
- 6:30p – Full Band Welcome Meeting – all sections – the official start of full Band Camp! (Band Room)
- 7:00-9:00p – Rehearsal
Winds Section (Non-Leadership) schedule:
- 2:00-4:00p – Open window to move into temporary housing if reserved (West Campus, exact dorm TBD)
- 5:00p – West Campus Dining Hall opens for dinner
- Feel free to eat at the dining hall (provided by the Band), or if you prefer, a restaurant in the area on your own
- 6:00p – Check-in for attendance at the Band Room (300 Babcock St.)
- 6:30p – Full Band Welcome Meeting – all sections – the official start of Band Camp! (Band Room)
- 7:00-9:00p – Rehearsal
Band Camp Schedule:
- Weds. 8/19 – Full Day Rehearsal
- Thurs. 8/20 – Full Day Rehearsal
- Fri. 8/21 – Move out of temporary housing in the morning (store stuff in Band Room if needed), rehearse midday, then move into Fall Dorms in the evening (for those who have them)
- Sat. 8/22 – Full Day Rehearsal
- Sun. 8/23 – Full Day Rehearsal
Orientation Week Schedule
During Orientation Week, BU Freshmen will attend Orientation with the rest of the Freshmen class. The Band will have some light commitments and performances, but BU Freshmen will have an uninterrupted Orientation experience and still be able to make Band rehearsals.
Band Schedule During Orientation Week:
- Mon. 8/24 – Light Pep Band-style performances around campus as students move in (half-day only, times TBD)
- Tues. 8/25 – Light Pep Band-style performances around campus as students move in (half-day only, times TBD)
- Guard sectional that evening, 6:00-9:00p
- Wed. 8/26 – BU Freshmen attend Orientation, all others perform at Opening Ceremony (Pep Band-style)
- Marching Band rehearsal that evening, 6:30-9:00p
- Thurs. 8/27 – Marching Band rehearsal 6:30-9:00p
- Fri. 8/28 – Select Band Veterans speak at info sessions (morning & afternoon)
- Percussion sectional that evening, 6:30-9:00p
- Sat. 8/29 – Marching Band rehearsal, time TBD
- Mon. 8/31 – Select Band Members attend “Try Pep Band For An Afternoon” recruiting event 2:00-5:00p
Non-BU Students Are Welcome!
Participation in the BU Marching Band, Pep Band, Winter Guard, and Winter Drumline is open to students from area colleges who do not have a similar ensemble available to them at their school. Know anyone?? Help spread the word!
Note to Non-Degree Students (Non-BU Students): Be sure to complete this process as early as possible this summer to get your ID card, etc. – we’ve heard it’s been taking longer with the new registration system.
Band Camp Housing
HOUSING FOR ON-CAMPUS STUDENTS: During Band Camp, BU Fall Housing Assignments will be unavailable. Therefore, students with BU Fall Housing Assignments will be housed in temporary housing (West Campus, dorm TBD) during Band Camp until Fri. 8/21. On Fri. 8/21, Band Camp rehearsals will pause and you will be provided ample time to move out of temporary housing and into your Fall Housing. Rehearsal will resume later that day (Fri 8/21).
**You will not need to schedule a day/time to move in to your Fall Dorm – this is taken care of via the Band Office.**
JULY 31 DEADLINE: To ensure you receive band camp housing, complete the join form by July 31; late joiners must email bands@bu.edu.
HOUSING FOR OFF-CAMPUS STUDENTS: For Band Camp & Orientation Week Performances, students who will be living off-campus in the fall or who attend other universities must make their own plans for living arrangements since BU Housing only has space for fall semester on-campus students. Since attendance at Band Camp is necessary, please use all of your resources to secure a place to sleep & shower until you can move into your off-campus housing. Contact bands@bu.edu if you have exhausted all of your resources and need ideas. Anyone who must move into off-campus apartments or dorms at other universities will be allowed to do so when needed.
Band Camp Meals
Meals will be provided for all Marching Band members who do not have Unlimited BU Meal plans. Meals will also be provided for off-campus students and non-BU (non-degree) students. Meals are provided in the Dining Halls, where dietary restrictions can be met.
More info coming soon!
Marching Band Fees
Marching Band fees vary by what you need. Please pay your fee prior to Band Camp. Financial assistance is available for those in need (see fee page for info). The link to pay your Marching Band fee can be found here.
One-Sheets for Winds Players
Woodwinds & Brass: If you are a brand-new member or a returning member playing a different instrument than last year, please submit your One-Sheet recording by Fri. 7/31. Directions for submission are on the One-Sheets themselves. If you’re playing the same instrument in Pep Band, you only need to submit this once and it will count for both groups. Email Aaron Goldberg, director (agold@bu.edu) if you are having difficulty finding an instrument or have any questions.
Marching Band Calendar
Click to view the Marching Band Google Calendar. This calendar is currently subject to change, but will be mostly final by Band Camp.
We highly recommend syncing the Marching Band calendar to your personal calendar. This way, you’ll always have the most up-to-date times, locations, and rehearsal content at your fingertips. Our season consists of rehearsals on Tues/Thurs evenings from 6:30-9:00 PM (you can miss rehearsal for mandatory labs or exams by communicating proactively with the Staff), and typically one Marching Band event each weekend – either a rehearsal, or a short rehearsal + show performance. The season ends in early November, about five weeks prior to final exams.
