Color Guard General Information
PLD COLOR GUARD
The PLD Color Guard is an ensemble of 20-40 students who complement the musical components of the PLD band by providing the additional visual elements of color, fashion, and flair. The PLD Color Guard helps 'tell the story' visually to the audience as the band plays the story musically. Very much a performing art, the PLD Color Guard must learn and master the same march and drill techniques as the rest of the band. However, guard members must also master the additional flag, rifle, or sabre handling techniques and do so with incredible precision and control of time. PLD Color Guard is frequently recognized and honored at band competitions with Best Visual and Best Color Guard honors.
The PLD Color Guard is an ensemble of 20-40 students who complement the musical components of the PLD band by providing the additional visual elements of color, fashion, and flair. The PLD Color Guard helps 'tell the story' visually to the audience as the band plays the story musically. Very much a performing art, the PLD Color Guard must learn and master the same march and drill techniques as the rest of the band. However, guard members must also master the additional flag, rifle, or sabre handling techniques and do so with incredible precision and control of time. PLD Color Guard is frequently recognized and honored at band competitions with Best Visual and Best Color Guard honors.
COLOR GUARD TRYOUTS
Your journey with the PLD Color Guard will most likely begin with Color Guard tryouts in the spring of each year. That's right, tryouts! Guard members will dance, spin rifles and/or sabres, and must possess the necessary flag handling and marching skills needed to be in color guard. We will teach how to do it!
Your journey with the PLD Color Guard will most likely begin with Color Guard tryouts in the spring of each year. That's right, tryouts! Guard members will dance, spin rifles and/or sabres, and must possess the necessary flag handling and marching skills needed to be in color guard. We will teach how to do it!
COLOR GUARD CAMP
All color guard members are required to participate in Color Guard Camp that occurs the Week before band camp. This camp focuses on teaching dance and equipment basics in preparation for band camp and the upcoming marching season. Full Band Camp runs two weeks beginning around the middle of July and followed by post camp rehearsals. Band Camp is held at PLD High School. You must attend camp to ensure a spot in the competition show. For new members band camp can be confusing and exhausting. The Band Camp Survival Guide is an informational document developed by former students and parents to help you succeed while at camp.
All color guard members are required to participate in Color Guard Camp that occurs the Week before band camp. This camp focuses on teaching dance and equipment basics in preparation for band camp and the upcoming marching season. Full Band Camp runs two weeks beginning around the middle of July and followed by post camp rehearsals. Band Camp is held at PLD High School. You must attend camp to ensure a spot in the competition show. For new members band camp can be confusing and exhausting. The Band Camp Survival Guide is an informational document developed by former students and parents to help you succeed while at camp.
PERFORMANCES
The Color Guard and Band perform at varsity football home games during the season when marching competitions do not conflict. The Band plays the National Anthem at the start of the game, plays pep tunes during the game, and performs the competition show at half-time. The Band also performs at 4 to 6 band competitions which the directors select. These additional competitions can be at local, state, regional, and national levels. Bands compete against other bands of their size-class (based on high school enrollment) and also vie for best overall honors, Best Visual, Visual effect, and Overall effect. Judges at each competition evaluate the performances according to established criteria.
REHEARSALS
Since the PLD Marching Band is an extracurricular activity, the rehearsal schedule falls almost entirely outside of the typical school day. Color Guard rehearsals follow the same general schedule as the Marching band rehearsals with 2 exceptions: Color Guard Camp and Extra Rehearsals.
-Color Guard Camp: Color Guard Camp occurs the latter part of June each year. This camp focuses on teaching dance and equipment basics in preparation for band camp.
-Extra Rehearsals: Color Guard can also schedule extra rehearsals or extended rehearsals on school days that are separate from the rest of the band as well. These are in addition to the full-day rehearsals that may be scheduled for the full band. The Rehearsal schedule is given to each student and is always available on this website.
The Color Guard and Band perform at varsity football home games during the season when marching competitions do not conflict. The Band plays the National Anthem at the start of the game, plays pep tunes during the game, and performs the competition show at half-time. The Band also performs at 4 to 6 band competitions which the directors select. These additional competitions can be at local, state, regional, and national levels. Bands compete against other bands of their size-class (based on high school enrollment) and also vie for best overall honors, Best Visual, Visual effect, and Overall effect. Judges at each competition evaluate the performances according to established criteria.
REHEARSALS
Since the PLD Marching Band is an extracurricular activity, the rehearsal schedule falls almost entirely outside of the typical school day. Color Guard rehearsals follow the same general schedule as the Marching band rehearsals with 2 exceptions: Color Guard Camp and Extra Rehearsals.
-Color Guard Camp: Color Guard Camp occurs the latter part of June each year. This camp focuses on teaching dance and equipment basics in preparation for band camp.
-Extra Rehearsals: Color Guard can also schedule extra rehearsals or extended rehearsals on school days that are separate from the rest of the band as well. These are in addition to the full-day rehearsals that may be scheduled for the full band. The Rehearsal schedule is given to each student and is always available on this website.
Winter Guard General Information
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PLD WINTER GUARD
The PLD Winter Guard is an indoor color guard activity which is takes place during the winter season with a smaller group of girls. Unlike color guard, which performs outdoors on a football field, winter guard shows are performed indoors in a gym or arena. The PLD Winter Guard spends many hours perfecting their dance, rifle, and saber skills for competition in the Tri State Circuit.
The PLD Winterguard placed as WGI Scholastic A Finalists in 2005 2013, as well as Semi-Finalists in 2010, 2012, 2013, and 2015. They have also celebrated Tristate Marching Arts Scholastic A Championships in 2004, 2005, 2009, and 2010 as well as Tristate A Champions in 2003.
For more information on becoming a member of the PLD Color Guard contact Michael Wooley, Assistant Band Director
PLD WINTER GUARD
The PLD Winter Guard is an indoor color guard activity which is takes place during the winter season with a smaller group of girls. Unlike color guard, which performs outdoors on a football field, winter guard shows are performed indoors in a gym or arena. The PLD Winter Guard spends many hours perfecting their dance, rifle, and saber skills for competition in the Tri State Circuit.
The PLD Winterguard placed as WGI Scholastic A Finalists in 2005 2013, as well as Semi-Finalists in 2010, 2012, 2013, and 2015. They have also celebrated Tristate Marching Arts Scholastic A Championships in 2004, 2005, 2009, and 2010 as well as Tristate A Champions in 2003.
For more information on becoming a member of the PLD Color Guard contact Michael Wooley, Assistant Band Director
PLD WINTERGUARD SHOW HISTORY
2004- Animatrix
2005- What Makes it Great
2009- Vivace
2010- River
2012- Scheherazade
2013- Dreams Don't Last Forever
2015- She Walks in Beauty
2016- CROFT
2023- Red Handed
2024- Varsity- Ella, Junior Varsity- One True King
2004- Animatrix
2005- What Makes it Great
2009- Vivace
2010- River
2012- Scheherazade
2013- Dreams Don't Last Forever
2015- She Walks in Beauty
2016- CROFT
2023- Red Handed
2024- Varsity- Ella, Junior Varsity- One True King