What should I bring?
Pan Stands- If you are bringing your own personal instrument, you will also need to bring your personal stand to accompany it.
Music Stand – We will be providing some music stands for the advanced and intermediate bands, but unfortunately have a limited number. If you would like to write and keep notes for yourself as you learn your music, we highly recommend that you bring a personal music stand with you to ensure that you comfortable throughout the week.
Sheet Protectors/ Clothes Pins– If you plan on using sheet music for the final performance on Saturday at the Morgantown Farmer’s Market, please be aware that we will be outside and that wind may be a factor. Sheet protectors and clothes pins are helpful to keep sheet music organized, as well as guarantee that it will not be blown away by a sudden gust of wind.
Do I need to bring my own mallets?
Yes. The Festival of Steel does NOT provide mallets for our participants. Mannette Music Instruments will be on site at the Hotel Morgan at designated times throughout the week that you may purchase mallets from them directly – including at open registration on Sunday, July 10th from 3:00PM-5:00PM!
I am renting an instrument. Where do I get it?
All rented instruments will be set up in the rehearsal space of your respective bands.
Is there a schedule for the shop tour?
The Mannette shop tour is a self guided tour.
When will each faculty member work with each group
Part of the fun of the festival is the learning process that occurs in each ensemble. As the week progresses, the faculty members will find that they may need to spend more or less time with each group depending on how the learning of the tune is going. The faculty members collaborate to decide who will work with what group on each day. The schedule for each day will be finalized and posted by 8:00 AM each morning.
Participants are able (and encouraged) to practice on their own. Participants who rehearse in the chuch are allowed to stay and practice after the evening rehearsal. However, please note that the doors will lock at 6:00 PM. After that time you will not be able to re-enter.
If you wish to take your instument back to the ballroom to practice, a shuttle will be available to transport at the dinner break and after the evening lecture.
Participants are allowed to practice in the Hotel Morgan Ballroom unitl 10:00 PM.
Can I practice after the evening rehearsals?
Where will each band rehearse?
The advanced band will rehearse in the Ballroom at the Hotel Morgan. The intermediate and beginner bands will rehearse at the Wesley United Methodist Church.
Will I need my own transportation to and from locations?
There will be a shuttle outside of the Hotel Morgan that will provide transportation to and from the church before and after rehearsals. On the day of the shop tour and the Dorsey's Knob cookout, the shuttle will also be available.
Reimbursement
If, for any reason, you need to cancel your registration, you will receive a full refund minus the transaction fee for online registration (3.7%) before June 1st. After June 1, you will only be refunded 75% of your registration fee.