What is Band Camp?

Band Camp is one of the most fun and productive weeks of the year for marching band, typically taking place at the end of July. This week-long event takes place on Ironwood Ridge and is where our incoming students meet with returning students. Students will spend a week working with their world-class instructional team on technique, show music, learning to march/move, stand tunes, and most of all team building in a fun environment. Students will be fed two meals throughout the day, allowing for us to have students on campus from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. These days may seem long, but the band students will come to cherish the memories made with their friends and fellow bandmates! Due to the Arizona heat, we spend most of our time inside during the heat of the day, going outside during cooler parts of the day (early morning block and evening block).

Typical Daily Schedule:

8:00 a.m. - Noon: Morning Block

Noon - 1:00 p.m.: Lunch (provided by IRMA)

1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.: Afternoon Block

5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.: Dinner (provided by IRMA)

6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. - Evening Block

2023 Band Camp Check-in Night:

Wednesday, July 19, 2023: 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. - Band Camp Registration in the IRHS Band Room

• We request that each family brings 2 cases of bottled water to check-in night, which we use throughout the season at band events

• Students will receive their 2023 band show shirts and any other gear they need for camp

• Families have the opportunity to pay for band camp and their 2023 fair share

2023 Band Camp Dates:

• Tuesday, July 18, 2021: Percussion & Guard Only Mini-Camp 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

• Thursday, July 20, 2021: 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

• Friday, July 21, 2023: 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

• Saturday, July 22, 2023: 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

• Sunday, July 23, 2023: No Camp - All sections are encouraged to hang out & bond!

• Monday, July 24, 2023: 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

• Tuesday, July 25, 2023: 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

  • IRHS Marching Band Family Dinner @ 5:00 p.m.

• Mandatory Marching Band Parent Meeting @ 6:00 p.m.

• Band Camp Performance Showcase @ 7:00 p.m.

2023 Band Camp Cost: $400.00 Per Student

This cost covers the following:

• World-class music, visual, and guard instructors/clinicians working with students throughout the duration of band camp

• 2 delicious meals for lunch & dinner

• Stand tune pep band music

• Professional warmup/technique program

• Drill, choreography, and staging

• Various musical & team building activities

• Initial urgent music instrument repairs and upkeep

Band camp payments 3 ways:

• Via our new secure online payment system on our website under the "Store & Online Payments" tab.

• A check written out to “Ironwood Ridge Music Association” and turned into the black box next to the band office in the band room. This can be turned in during any of our summer band rehearsals.

• Pay at Band Camp Check-in on Sunday, 7/19/2023

Yearly Physical Form:

• All marching band students are required to have a physical on file with the IRHS Athletic Office

• The form can be found here

• The Sports Physical and Interscholastic Emergency Information should be turned into Mr. Knepper prior to the start of school. The forms will be filed away in the band office records.

How can I volunteer for band camp? 

We LOVE volunteers! There is a place for everybody!

Common volunteers for band camp include the following:

• Meal setup, pickup & prep (for lunch & dinner)

• Table disinfection before & after meals

• Uniform fittings

• Photographer throughout the day

• Cooks for when we grill out as a band