Student Information
Please read through all of the sections on this page carefully for important information about your participation in the Kentucky Intercollegiate Band.
- General Information
- What to Bring
- Schedule of Events
- Concert Attire
- Expected Rehearsal Etiquette
- Driving Directions
General Information
In order to participate in the Kentucky Intercollegiate Band, students must be nominated by their University’s Director of Bands. Students are then selected by the KIB Coordinators on the basis of a selection formula based on director recommendation, and further modified by the ensemble’s instrumental needs, with seniority or past participation used only as a tiebreaker.
The $50 per student fee is collected directly from the sponsoring institution or director. Institutions and/or directors may choose to recoup that fee directly from the student – every institution has a different policy. Be sure to check with your director so you know what to expect.
What to Bring
- It is important that you bring a folding music stand. While rehearsals at the University of Louisville and on stage at the KCPA will have stands provided, rehearsal in Todd Hall (on Thursday afternoon) will have no stands provided – you must bring your own.
- Your Instrument (and any necessary accessories, e.g., reeds, mutes, valve oil, etc.) Percussionists will be asked to bring small percussion items, mallets, sticks, etc.
- A pencil. Rehearsals will move quick – the conductor will frequently ask you to make notes in your music.
- Concert Attire (see below)
- Deodorant (everyone around you will appreciate it)
- Water Bottle (optional)
- Snacks (optional)
Schedule of Events
A typical schedule can be found here. In general, Wednesday morning of the event will be seating auditions, Wednesday afternoon and evening will be rehearsal at the University of Louisville, Thursday morning will be a sound check at the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts, Thursday afternoon will be rehearsal in KCPA Todd Hall, and Thursday evening will be the performance. A full, more detailed schedule of events will be emailed to students and directors a week prior to the event.
Concert Attire
Please wear one of the two following options for the Thursday night concert:
Option A
There are three different choices for students under this option. For all options, black socks and black dress shoes are required.
- Modern Black: black dress pants (no denim) with a black, long-sleeved blouse/shirt. Black jacket and/or black tie is optional.
- Casual Black: black suit with a white button-down shirt plus a black tie.
- Traditional Black: black tuxedo (regular cut) with white tuxedo shirt and black bowtie. Cummerbund, suspenders, and/or vest is optional.
Option B
There are three different choices for students under this option. For all of these options, décolletage (a fancy word for “cleavage”), shoulders, back, thighs, and midriff must be covered (i.e., no spaghetti straps, sleeveless tops, or crop tops). Open-toed shoes are acceptable with dark stockings or dark pantyhose. Simple jewelry is acceptable.
- Modern Black: black dress pants (no denim) with a black, long-sleeved blouse/shirt.
- Casual Black: black dress, bottom of dress must fall below the knees.
- Traditional Black: long black skirt with a black long-sleeved blouse/shirt.
Not acceptable for concert wear: Jeans/denim, chinos, slacks, sweatshirts, sweaters, sweatpants, polos, t-shirts, tailcoats, leggings (except when worn under a skirt or dress), hats, gloves, sneakers/athletic footwear. Also, please be courteous and refrain from wearing scented lotions, sprays, perfumes, or colognes in either rehearsal or performance, as these can potentially trigger asthmatic and/or allergic reactions for other members.
Expected Rehearsal Etiquette
Please remember that at all times, you are representing your home institution. Act like a professional, rehearse like a professional, and you will perform like a professional.
Show up to each rehearsal as early as the schedule allows, giving yourself enough time to get settled and get your instrument together and properly warmed up prior to the first downbeat.
It is expected that when rehearsal begins you are already in your seat with all necessary materials (music, mutes, extra reeds, miscellaneous equipment) ready to go.
Have good hygiene, use deodorant, keep your shoes on, wear appropriate clothing, remove baseball caps or hats, etc. Keep perfume and cologne to a minimum.
Your non-musical accessories (phone, keys, wallet, etc.) should be put away, and should never be placed on your stand.
Set the level of the music stand at a height that enables a clear view of the conductor’s beat as well as your music (if you have a directional instrument like a trumpet or trombone, make sure you are not playing directly into the stand).
When the guest conductor speaks to you, acknowledge by making direct eye contact, and possibly an affirmative nod. If you feel the conductor is mistaken about a musical instruction/directive, do not confront them in the rehearsal, rather, speak to them privately during a break, or after rehearsal.
Avoid “shadow practicing” by tapping, silent fingering, humming, whistling, etc. It is noisy, and distracting to your colleagues. Similarly, do not tap your foot for tempo or conduct along with the music. Music requires concentration, and even barely noticeable things can be amplified into major distractions for the ensemble members around you.
When someone sitting near you has a solo or important passage, and you are not playing, sit perfectly still and do not make sudden moves. If you have to change a tuning, empty a water key, pick up a mute, etc., be as discreet as possible.
Driving Directions
If you are being dropped off at the University of Louisville on Wednesday morning, enter “Comstock Concert Hall” into your navigation app. This is for drop-offs only, as there will be no easy parking on campus (and none of it is free).
You can park at the Stadium for free (you will receive a parking pass) and use the shuttle bus to travel to the UL School of Music. The same shuttle will take you back to the stadium at the end of the day. Use the following address if using a navigation app: 2931 S Floyd St, Louisville, KY 40209
That should lead you to a building across the street from where you will park, Purple Lot A. From there you can pick up the shuttle bus.
You can use these specific driving directions if not using a navigation app.
Kentucky Intercollegiate Band 