Members

This page contains important details for current members concerning membership requirements, membership fees, attendance, section leaders, rehearsal and concert spaces, rehearsal and concert dates, board meetings, contact information for board and committee members, and other details for the current season.

For prospective members, this Welcome Letter also has information on how to join the Foothills Pops Band.

This page is broken up into the following sections.

Membership

The Foothills Pops Band (FPB) consists of adult musicians who enjoy experiencing music that not only includes programming on the lighter side, but we also select and perform the best quality literature available to our wind band. We continue to perform music that audience members may identify from common melodies, but we also introduce audiences to experience music they have never heard before. We enjoy expanding our own musical horizons and encourage our audience to come along.

The FPB is open to proficient musicians who can sight-read music at a minimum level that is equivalent to an upper level high school band.

Prospective members should contact the Foothills Pops Band Personnel Director and include in the email the following information:

  • Instrument
  • Proficiency level
  • Musical background
  • Contact information, including email & phone number

This information is communicated to the Executive Board and the Conductor to determine eligibility and need. If there is an opening in the appropriate section and the proficiency level criteria are met, the prospective player will be invited to play with the band for the series of rehearsals leading up to and including a performance. The section leader, Executive Board and Conductor will then make a decision about membership.

Prospective members may also be recommended by a current band member. The recommendation must be made to the Personnel Director. The decision to invite the prospective member will follow the above eligibility process.

COVID-19 Policy

The Foothills Pops Band will not be requiring or requesting information regarding the COVID-19 vaccination status from participants.

By participating in the Foothills Pops Band, including rehearsals, performances, or other business or social gatherings, you are choosing to do so knowing the risks and will not hold the Foothills Pops Band, or members of the board, liable for any health risk associated with any current or future events.

Section Leader Responsibilities

Your section leader is a person who wants to see our band thrive. He/she wants you to be a productive member. He/she strives to keep you informed and wants you to keep him/her informed. His/her aim is to see that every part is covered and that each member is satisfied with his/her role within the section. Seating is determined by the section leader and conductor. Where several members of a section are capable of playing all parts, parts may be rotated by the section leader or Conductor.

Attendance

With only a few rehearsals scheduled for each performance throughout the year, each member should plan on being at each rehearsal. Our membership consists of a vibrant and busy community. We understand there will be conflicts with schedules. It is important that you, as a band member, communicate with the Personnel Director, Section Leader, and Director when a situation arises that conflicts with a rehearsal or concert performance. If you are unable to attend at least half of the scheduled rehearsals leading up to a concert, you may be asked by your section leader, director, or
personnel director to “sit out” that concert. It is your responsibility to contact your section leader and personnel director if you are ill and cannot attend rehearsal. Open communication with your section leader is a key factor to the success of our ensemble. Remember, music is selected based on our expected personnel!

A member who is inactive or non-participative for more than half of the regular season may be dismissed from the ensemble. A member who is unable to perform at the level expected of the ensemble, or causing musical difficulties for individual members or the entire ensemble to make progress may be dismissed from the ensemble. Individuals causing difficulties with other members, or with the musical activities of the FPB may be dismissed from the ensemble.

Be Prompt!

Rehearsals will begin promptly at 7:00 PM and will end at 9:00 PM unless otherwise communicated with the membership well in advance of the affected rehearsal(s). Please be ready to begin rehearsals on time.

Member Contact Information

If your mailing address, email address or phone number has changed, please take the responsibility to notify our Personnel Director. We are constantly updating this information and we need your input to maintain current records.

Things You’ll Need

Practice is highly encouraged!! The music we use is either from our library or borrowed from various other educational institutions. It is checked out to each member for your use and should be treated with great care!

Section leaders may have additional expectations for members in their section. Stands will be provided for our concerts at CSU. A portable stand light may also be needed if you want extra lighting on your stand.

Depending on where the rehearsal is held you may need to bring your own music stand. If we rehearse at a middle school or high school in the area, you typically will not need to bring your stand as stands are provided. Please help in setting up and tearing down before and after the rehearsal.

Finances

Grants come from the City of Fort Collins Fort Fund and wherever else band members can plead our cause. Our “Love and All That Jazz” dance and fundraiser also provides a good portion of our funding for the year. Along with these funding sources, donations to the Foothills Pops Music Association (FPMA) also provide much needed support. Please support the band with a membership to the FPMA. As costs have continued to rise the suggested membership now starts at $40.00. See Phillip Ulrickson (felipebert@comcast.net) for a funding request to take to your employer.

Rehearsal Space

We are very fortunate to have good rehearsal spaces in such convenient locations. This season, our rehearsals will be held at Mountain View High School in Loveland except for a few dates when we may use another venue. Rehearsal dates can be found on our rehearsal calendar.

Whether we are at the school or some other location, the following simple rules concerning the use of the rehearsal spaces are the obligation of all band members:

  • Do not abuse the premises.
  • Do not smoke anywhere in the building or on their property.
  • Leave the room in the same condition as we found it.

Here are the locations of our rehearsals this concert season:

Mountain View High School – 3500 Mountain Lion Drive, Loveland, CO

Concert Space

All of our concerts will be held at CSU’s Griffin Concert Hall with the exception of our “Love and All That Jazz” dance, which will be held at Club Tico in Fort Collins. Here are their locations:

CSU Griffin Concert Hall – 1400 Remington Street, Fort Collins, CO (Corner of E. Lake St. & Remington St.)
Club Tico – Fort Collins – 1599 City Park Drive, Fort Collins, CO (Next to City Park swimming pool)

Concert Dress and Deportment

Concert Dress

Men must wear a black suit, white shirt with a black butterfly bow tie (or regular tux). Women must wear concert black (black skirts or slacks with a black blouse or black dress). Men and women must wear black footwear.

Concert Deportment

Once we take our places for a concert we need to stay seated. Only those who have specific duties to perform can move about. However, at the beginning of the concert, after the opening announcements thanking our sponsors are made, we will stand as the Conductor walks on stage. We will also stand whenever the Conductor directs us to. After each piece is completed, as a common courtesy, we will sit still while acknowledging the audience applause. When the applause subsides we may then adjust our music for the next piece. No folders should be seen over the stands from the audience. Leave folders backstage or put them sideways on the stand.

When the Conductor takes the podium everyone should have their instruments at attention and ready to play, even if you do not play right away on that piece. This not only looks good from the audience but also helps the Conductor know that you are ready to play.

Board Meetings

Meetings of the Board of Directors are open to everyone. If you are interested in attending, listen for announcements at rehearsals and let a board member know you plan to attend. Meetings are sometimes changed due to scheduling conflicts and you will be informed of any change, if we know you are coming. Meeting dates can be found on our rehearsal calendar.

Other Expectations

The Foothills Pops Band always welcomes dependable and dedicated musicians. Many times our best referrals come from our own band members. Help recruit good dependable players! Please speak to the Conductor, President and Personnel Director before bringing individuals into the band. The personnel director will instruct you on the procedure all prospective members need to follow.

We love to see our friends, family and co-workers at the concerts. Please post our flyers, send emails, post to Facebook and generally talk-up our concerts. We have a great band here and if everyone in the band brings only three to five people to a concert we will always play to a great crowd!!

Again, we welcome you to the Foothills Pops Band. We want you to feel welcome and enjoy the fellowship with other players in the pursuit and performance of wonderful and challenging music! Your section leader, our Conductor and the Board of Directors are always available to you. Do not hesitate to ask them for more information.