NO! We have sectionals, music coaches, color guard coaches and band camp to provide students focused time to practice with their instruments or color guard equipment.

No! Marching Band counts towards PE credit. One season of Marching Band is a semester of P.E. credit. Participating in all 4 years of Marching Band fulfills the two-year P.E. graduation requirement.

No. We have students that are involved in all aspects of student organizations and clubs. Students will have to learn to manage their time wisely to be involved in several school activities, but it can be done and has been done successfully for many years.

All band students are required to be in marching band their first year, after that it becomes optional. We highly recommend being a part of the Cardinal Alliance marching band for all four years! Most of the fun in high school band comes from marching season. You get to learn a field show, make tons of new friends, play and hang out at football games, go to competitions all over Southern California, and much more! Be a part of marching band! It's the best part of high school band!

No. Students must also be enrolled in an additional band class. All 9th Grade students enroll in Concert Band.

Marching Band is so much fun that most students think of it as the highlight of the year!  Each section has their own traditions and activities, and being able to hang out with the rest of the band and make new friends is a really neat experience.  Yes, Marching Band is a lot of work, but everyone agrees at the end that it was well worth the effort.

Yes. Just contact one of the band directors. Also reach out to your assigned counselor to discuss the change in schedule.

The band directors are Chris Coughlin, Christopher.coughlin@smusd.org; Josh Hall, Joshuahall@smusd.org ; and Ellis King, Ellis.king@smusd.org

If you are a Marching Band student you should sign-up for Marching Band (which is a 7th period class) and Concert Band.  If you are a Color Guard student you should sign up for Color Guard (which is a 5th period class).

Yes! Even if you've signed up for multiple A.P or Honors classes, marching won't be a problem. In fact, the Cardinal Alliance includes some of the highest-achieving students on campus, and everyone finds time to fit everything in.

Yes! The Band and Athletic departments work closely together to arrange schedules to accommodate students participating in both activities. It is not always easy, and does require some advanced planning, but most conflicts are worked out with good communication between students, parent, coach, and Band Director. The student must take initial responsibility for working out conflicts by communicating with the coaches and band staff.

Yes. Marching Band is a 7th period class. The concert band during the class day counts as an elective. Taking band all four years does not interfere with fulfilling graduation requirements.

The Cardinal Alliance keeps a large amount of school-owned instruments. It will be no problem to find an instrument for you to play during both the marching and concert seasons.

If you are fortunate enough to have purchased a more advanced instrument after playing your beginner student instrument in middle school, we suggest you use the "advanced" instrument for inside playing and the student model for outside playing. We provide drum-line equipment and mallet instruments for percussionists (you will need to buy sticks and mallets). We suggest that you purchase or rent-to-own an intermediate/advanced model of your instrument for better performance in high school and beyond.

The majority of band camp takes place at MHHS and is required for all competitive marching band and color guard students. During this time, students learn the show that is to be featured at halftime during football games and the marching competitions. Students spend a majority of the day and into the evening learning marching fundamentals, show music, and marching drill.  Band camp usually starts in the early afternoon and runs through the evening. Students get about an hour for dinner and have the option to purchase dinner ahead of time through the Boosters or take their own food/have a family member drop food off to them.  Typically band camp is split between MHHS and another local venue where students have the opportunity to spend several days and nights together. This focused, intense time combines continued work on drill and music while at the same time giving students an opportunity to participate in various fun games and activities that the directors and student leadership plan for the group.

Yes. Students electing to become a part of the Cardinal Alliance Marching Band & Color Guard must attend band camp each year. Much of the material that will be learned and performed through the fall marching season is introduced during this time to allow the students enough time to master the skills necessary to perform effectively throughout the marching season.

If there is an unexpected absence (illness, for example) that was not previously cleared via the Conflict Calendar, email the directors: Christopher.Coughlin@smusd.org, Ellis.King@smusd.org, and Joshua.Hall@smusd.org. You will need to call attendance to excuse your student from 7th period: 760-290-2700, press 5. Finally, have your student contact their section leaders.