Page "Marching band" Paragraph 57

March steps and traditional music and drill that are unique to an organization are often taught at a band camp, a time set aside for intense rehearsal before the performance season begins.

Many U. S. university bands meet for a week of band camp prior to the beginning of the autumn semester.

Other band camps exist for individual band members, drum majors, and auxiliaries to practice their skills and learn generic techniques in the off-season.

For many bands, band camp is actually camp: the groups board at a campground for a period of time.

Other groups simply hold band camp at their typical rehearsal facilities.

Many bands have an initiation night at the end of the camp to help build a greater bond between the musicians.

More often than not, initiation is focused at the newcomers to marching, for example, freshman in high school / college.

One of the major exceptions to this practice are Summer Sessions, practices that those who are planning on trying out for The Ohio State University Marching Band attend.