GVSU Band Day
Saturday, November 7, 2026
The Mu Kappa Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi and the Laker Marching Band invite YOU to the Annual GVSU High School Band Day on Saturday, November 7, 2026 as the Lakers of Grand Valley take on the Northern Michigan Wildcats!
- One member or the whole band can register to attend!
- On Saturday, November 7, 2026, the Band Day Check In opens at 7:30am, activities beginning at 9:00am, and Kick Off at 1:00pm.
Come be apart of the action with the National Championship Laker Football Team as the GVSU Band Day musicians perform in a powerful mass band with the GVSU "Pride of the Midwest!"
- This year Band Day participants will play on three selections at Halftime including a feature for ALL Saxophones (Alto, Tenor, and Baritone)!
To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience, the band director, parent, or chaperone must accompany participants.
If you have any questions please free to contact us by phone at (616) 331-2942, or by email at [email protected].
Registration Information
- Online Registration Schedule:
- Opens on Monday, September 28, 2026
- Closes on Monday, October 19, 2026 if registrations include Band Day T-Shirt(s)
- Closes Wednesday, November 4, 2026 if registrations do not include Band Day T-Shirts
- All participants and guests must register online
- You can enter 1-15 registrants (participants and guests)
- If you have more than 15, then you will need to submit more than one time
- To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience, the band director, parent, or chaperone MUST accompany participants
Band Directors
Band Directors Band Day Registration Help Packet that contains:
- Band Day Letter
- Registration Work Sheet to assist with online registration
- Map of GVSU Allendale Campus with marked parking (free) and drop off location
- GVSU Photo Release Form
Band Day Costs
- The cost of attendance for a student participant is $15.
- This covers the student's ticket to the football game and music.
- Guests can request football tickets ($13/per person) for the game through the online GVSU Band Day Registration form.
- Every guest attending the football game will need to purchase a ticket.
- Students and Guests can purchase (both are optional):
- Meal ticket ($10/per person) through the online GVSU Band Day Registration form by Wednesday, November 4, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.
- Official GVSU T-Shirt ($7/per person), through the online GVSU Band Registration by Monday, October 19, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.
- Refunds will be honored until Friday, November 6, 2026.
Payment & Required Forms
I. Payment - Payment by Check
- Only checks are accepted. No cash.
- Checks will be accepted by mail (encouraged) through Friday, November 6, 2026 or at the Band Day Check-in on November 7, 2026.
- All participants and guests must be paid in-full on or before Saturday, November 7, 2026 to participate.
- Checks should made out to: 2026 GVSU Band Day
Please send checks to:
2026 GVSU Band Day
1 Campus Drive, 1300 Haas Center for the Performing Arts
Allendale, MI 49401
II. Required Form for All Participants to Complete
Submit completed photo release form at Band Day Check In.
Drop Off / Pick Up Policy
Drop Off:
Location: The Drop Off location is Parking Lot M across from the Check-In tent at the Haas Center for Performing Arts Practice Field that is located behind the Haas Center for Performing Arts.
Time: 7:30 a.m. - 8:45 a.m.
Pick Up:
Location: Lubbers Stadium - South Gate Entrance
Time:
- Participants leaving immediately after halftime must be met by their parent/legal guardian/approved chaperone at the South Gate of Lubbers Stadium at approx. 2:30 p.m.
- Participants staying for the rest of the game will remain in the designated seating until the end of the game. Participants will be met their parent/legal guardian/approved chaperone at the South Gate of Lubbers Stadium at approx. 4:00 p.m.
To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience, the band director, parent, or chaperone must accompany participants.
Parking
Personal Cars
- Parking is FREE in Lot H2, H4, K East and K West that are NOT designated for Faculty/Staff or Paid Parking
- These are the closest lots to the Haas Center for Performing Arts
- You must pay to park in all other Allendale campus parking lots
Bus Parking
- Park in Lot H4 ONLY
Band Day Participant Drop Off for Buses
- Buses can drop off students in Lot M across from the Haas Center for Performing Arts Field where Band Day Check In takes place.
- After drop off, buses will need to park in Lot H4 ONLY
GVSU Valley Campus Map
Music
Each band can purchase the following musical selections that will be performed during the 2025 Band Day Halftime Show or music will be provided the day of the event:
Selection #1: Hot To Go!, arr. Mark Conaway
Selection #2: What A Man Gotta Do, arr. Tom Wallace
Selection #3: Yackety Sax (Saxophone Feature) Parts Posted Below
Stand Cheers And GVSU Fight Song: Parts Posted Below
Instruments
- ALL participants must bring their own instrument or flag, lyre and flip folder.
- GVSU will not provide any instrument or flag, lyres or flip folders for the Band Day Event.
- Participants must secure their case and personal items in their vehicle before marching to the stadium.
- Participants cannot store cases or personal items in the GVSU Band Room or the Haas Center for Performing Arts.
Uniforms
Participants wear their HS Band Uniform at the performance.
Meal
We offer a Pizza, bread Sticks, and Salad early dinner from 10:00-11:00 a.m. for students and guests with a meal ticket. A meal ticket ($10/per person) can be requested through the online GVSU Band Day Registration form. The meal is completely optional.
If you choose to not purchase a meal ticket, other food options are offered by GVSU Laker Food Co.
Color Guard Information
Hot to Go!
4/4 144bpm
Instructional Videos for Notes Below
https://youtu.be/6fpoI6aDqPo?si=ZkyONrs3G8J-9H3P
https://youtu.be/YsORxuZ4MM8
https://youtube.com/shorts/bRp4KwFNkUs?si=RaN8fijTSWpeZmc9
M1-8 32 counts
1-16 2 sets of X-Hits on Odds
1-8 GV Top Cone, turn 4 left floating to slam
9-16 HS Repeat
M9-16 32 counts
1-32 “Tonight”
1 pop to bottom cheater
2 hold
3-4 sweep toes out to ext R
5 rest on R shoulder
6 down neck to switch to
7 rest on L shoulder
8 push out up, tape and cheater, thumbs towards each other
9 to flat
10-12 chaine left
13-16 flat circle push up and out, r leg in plié, left in tondu
1 pop to inv at top cheater
2-8 side to side toss to L slam top cheater and 1/3 in silk
9 slide to ext L slam, l hand on bottom cheater, little lunge
10 hold
11-12 pull around to R slam
13-16 bottom cone to R slam, feet together 13, back to second 16
M17-24 32 counts
1-32 Tonight
M25-32 32 counts
Repeat M1-8 except set flag down on ground instead of “turn 4” phrase
M33-40 32 counts
Hot to Go dance 2X, second time down to ground to pick up flag
M41-end
1-33 Tonight, plus hit Right Present, tendu left on 33
What a Man Gotta Do
C 118bpm
Instructional Videos for Notes Below
https://youtu.be/YW8DJOh470U?si=BqJT9VnT0kQQa37V
https://youtu.be/hq9527Oz8Ls
https://youtu.be/VG8GaeTZo9M
https://youtube.com/shorts/1b_Ih5I4alY?si=OTYPbwO6MbAzwoim
M1-2 8 counts
No work
M3-14 48 counts (3x16)
1-8 sunburst
9-11 arm
12 passé/knee pop jump
13-16 grapevine right
1-8 infinities
9-11 sweep to awkward present
12-13 top cone
14-15 push out
16 pull into right slam
1 pop to bottom cheater
2-3 spin to tuck
4 slam behind back, grab left at tape
5-6 lift
7-8 hold
9 switch hands to top cheater and in silk
10 stir
11 release J-toss
12 apex
13 catch
14 hold
15 &16 chaine back to spot
M15-22 32 counts
“Fight Song”
1-8 Top Cone, Bottom Cone
1 right shoulder
2 down of a drop spin
3 up of a dropspin, but fish hook
4 squeeze to hit flat, tape and cheater
5 pop up to top cheater in right hand extended up
6-8 back scratcher to flat
1 pop up to tape and cheater
2 hold
3 flat at waist
4 hold
5 sweep to switch flat
6 hold
7 sweep to switch back
8 hold
1-6 “side to side” aka inverted flourish front and back
7-8 left handed drop spin to right shoulder
M22-30 32 counts
Repeat “Fight Song” Set
M31-42 48 counts
Repeat M3-14
M43-52 40 counts (32+8)
1-32 Repeat “Fight Song” Set
1-2 to stripped hip shoulder
3 flat at waist
4 fishhook prep for
5-7 stripped toss
8 present and lunge
Majorette Information
Majorettes will be placed as a group alongside the GVSU feature twirlers
- Song #1 - Hot To Go!
- The twirlers will be provided a video after registration of the routine that they will perform.
- Song #2 - What A Man Gotta Do
- This song will allow the twirlers to showcase their talents. Please come with some 1,2, and 3 baton work prepared. You will be placed next to other twirlers but you will perform your own routine.
- Song #3 - Yackety Sax
- No Majorette baton routine for this selection. We will stage this at Band Day.
All majorette participants can contact Emelia Adam ([email protected]) if you have any questions.
Schedule
|
Time |
Description |
|---|---|
|
7:30 a.m. - 8:45 a.m. |
Check-In at Haas Center for Performing Arts Marching Band Field |
|
8:15 - 8:50 a.m. |
Laker Marching Band Rehearsal at the Haas Center for the Performing Arts Marching Band Field. Open rehearsal. ALL encouraged to attend! |
|
9:00 - 9:50 a.m. |
Mandatory Rehearsal with Laker Marching Band at Haas Center for Performing Arts Practice Field |
|
10:00 - 11:00 a.m. |
Pizza Dinner (for those who purchased) at Haas Center for the Performing Arts Marching Band Practice Field or GVSU Band Room (if raining) ** Participants should be uniform by 11:00 a.m. ** All cases/personal items must be secured in vehicles before marching to the stadium. Participants cannot store cases or personal items in the GVSU Band Room or in the Haas Center for Performing Arts. |
|
11:15 a.m. |
Line up at Haas Center for Performing Arts Practice Field to prepare for march to Lubber's Stadium |
|
12:15 p.m. |
Arrive at Lubber's Stadium - Band Day participants go to designated seating in stadium |
|
1:00 p.m. |
Kick Off! - ANCHOR UP! **Participants are dismissed after halftime. Participants leaving after halftime must be met by their parent/legal guardian/approved chaperone at the South Gate of Lubbers Stadium at approx. 2:30 p.m. **Participants staying for the rest of the game will remain in the designated seating until the end of the game. Participants will be met their parent/legal guardian/approved chaperone at the South Gate of Lubbers Stadium at approx. 4:00 p.m. |