2011 Marching Band Season post--already....

[golfgal]

Don't you just love those phone calls from your band kid that start out with - Don't kill me, but at band today.......

...the neckstrap for the tenor broke and I really tried to catch it, but it.......well my section leader needs me to make sure to get it fixed before the football game on Friday. I'm really sorry....is dad gonna kill me when you guys get home????? DS knew we were at the dr's office for the follow up to DH's bypass surgery.

Got home and looked at the thing. He bent the bell on the horn, but it wasn't as bad as what I thought I would find, from the way he was talking on the phone. Packed him and the horn up and went up to the local music store. Showed the guy working what DS did, he took it to the back worked some magic and got it back out to us.

While he was working his magic, DS picked up a new neck strap and some reeds. The guy rung us up and didn't charge me a dime for the repair!! Sweet!!!!!

So, if your a band geek and you live around this area - Ft Wayne IN - and you need repairs or supplies - go to MR MUSIC!!!

Our music store is like this too. If they can't fix it on the spot they have plenty of loaners. Sure comes in handy.

Well, the band has the opener, ballad and most of the closer on the field. This show is just TOO cool. I can hardly wait to see it in uniform. Some of the visuals are tied to their uniforms so they don't come across all that exciting in t-shirts. . There are some amazing solos in the show too. I just can't believe how talented these 15, 16, 17 year olds are.

Dh and I have been walking up to the high school for exercise most nights. It's been good for both of us. We get a ride home from the kids.

 

[Pembo]

I've got a good story...pick up my then freshman after his very first football game.

"Hey mom...I think my slide might be dented. (he plays trombone).
What happened son?
I didn't lock my slide and it fell off...from the TOP of the bleachers into the rocks below." dented was an understatement

A quick trip to the music store for repair and a loaner...We have an awesome repair store here too. They've been in business for over 60 years!

 

[marcyinPA]

What is with these kids and repairs?! Just picked DS16 up from band camp, and first thing he said was "Well, today was interesting." A little more info, please! He dropped his trumpet and bent the lead pipe. He was just standing there and it slipped out of his hands.

So we'll be headed to the music store too...we've never asked for a loaner, but we may need to this time.

I'm annoyed with him because he also hasn't cleaned his trumpet lately, and it's disgusting! His response? "so and so is selling one of their trumpets for $500...it's a good deal". Like I'm going to buy him another trumpet because he hasn't taken good care of this one? Yeah, I think not.

 

[jen0610]

Friday was the 1st football of the season. And lordy, was it hot!!! Thank god the kids wear their summer uniform for this game.

For working on the opener for just 2 weeks, it looked pretty darn good! The kids had a blast. Parent preview is this saturday, so we will get a better look at the show beyond the opener.

 

[Gina]

Friday was the 1st football of the season. And lordy, was it hot!!! Thank god the kids wear their summer uniform for this game.

I wish ours had summer uniforms! First game is this Thursday, and I feel so bad for those kids in those hot uniforms in this ridiculous heat. It's an away game and I don't usually go to those, but at least this one is going to be on TV. First home game is the 2nd, and I am both so excited and dreading it -- It has still been 100+ degrees by 7pm. I'm afraid we'll all pass out in those bleachers before the end of the first quarter!

Y'all have been making me awful nervous with all these instrument incident stories, lol, especially since my son was complaining about his strap on his sax wanting to come open all the time. I quickly ordered him a new Neoprene padded strap with a latch like a necklace has, that can't possibly come open accidentally. It came on Friday right before practice, and he said it is way way better, and much more comfortable to boot. So now if he drops it he won't be able to blame it on the strap! lol

Really loving the music for their show this year... can't wait to see it!

 

[golfgal]

I wish ours had summer uniforms! First game is this Thursday, and I feel so bad for those kids in those hot uniforms in this ridiculous heat. It's an away game and I don't usually go to those, but at least this one is going to be on TV. First home game is the 2nd, and I am both so excited and dreading it -- It has still been 100+ degrees by 7pm. I'm afraid we'll all pass out in those bleachers before the end of the first quarter!

Y'all have been making me awful nervous with all these instrument incident stories, lol, especially since my son was complaining about his strap on his sax wanting to come open all the time. I quickly ordered him a new Neoprene padded strap with a latch like a necklace has, that can't possibly come open accidentally. It came on Friday right before practice, and he said it is way way better, and much more comfortable to boot. So now if he drops it he won't be able to blame it on the strap! lol

Really loving the music for their show this year... can't wait to see it!

You might want to rethink that and get the open clasp neck strap. If the band does anything where they put their instruments down and do some movements or whatever, there usually isn't time to hook the strap back on the sax that has a clasp. Maybe have him ask the band director? I know the closed clasp straps here are not allowed. (we just had to order DD a new one too-hopefully will be here today).

 

[wowsmom]

I have 2 sons in marching band this year - both trombonists. We're in our second week of band camp. So far, we've had older son's brand new prescription sunglasses stepped on and ruined (luckily for us, the store replaced the frames no charge - amazing!) and younger son's lyre stepped on (DH fixed it in about 5 minutes...whew!).

No instrument injuries so far and I feel pretty lucky since they just told me on Friday about the injuries that took place during lunch time football (as in, band kids playing football on their lunch break for fun). One kid ended up with a concussion from being tackled and another ended up with a sprained ankle and a broken ankle.

I need to go back and read the rest of this thread (only read the last couple pages)...think I'll find it very interesting.......

 

[momof1princess]

well, it just goes on and on. DD13 is all set to march in her first HS football game thursday night (it was supposed to be friday night, but was moved up a night for some odd reason), and this past thursday, the band director tells everyone that the music store has the marching shoes in. so, saturday afternoon was our first chance to get down there to get them, due to band practice and a slumber party, and they've got MAYBE 20 pair, 3/4 of which are black, and we need white. we had to order her shoes, and the guy said they MIGHT be here by wednesday or thursday! OMG! i'm SO mad! these shoes were SUPPOSED to be ordered through the band director, and he waits until a week before the first game to mention shoes, when he's had over 3 weeks with these kids EVERY DAY, and now we have to scramble to get them? WTH?!? all i know is, if my daughter's shoes don't show up before thursday, she'll be wearing her regular tennis shoes, and he'd better NOT say a word, or he and i will have a big problem.

ETA: just spoke with the lady at the music store that handles the orders, and, apparently, there are a bunch of kids from DD's HS who may not have shoes for thursday night. she said she had a whole "slew" of orders to submit today, and she was hopeful they'd be here on thursday, but couldn't guarantee it. so if DD has no marching shoes, it looks like she won't be the only one.

 

[golfgal]

I have 2 sons in marching band this year - both trombonists. We're in our second week of band camp. So far, we've had older son's brand new prescription sunglasses stepped on and ruined (luckily for us, the store replaced the frames no charge - amazing!) and younger son's lyre stepped on (DH fixed it in about 5 minutes...whew!).

No instrument injuries so far and I feel pretty lucky since they just told me on Friday about the injuries that took place during lunch time football (as in, band kids playing football on their lunch break for fun). One kid ended up with a concussion from being tackled and another ended up with a sprained ankle and a broken ankle.

I need to go back and read the rest of this thread (only read the last couple pages)...think I'll find it very interesting.......

Last year our marching band had more "season ending" injuries then the football team. We had one girl dislocate her shoulder doing a rifle toss, one girl turned the wrong way and blew out her knee, a couple badly sprained ankles and one broken arm. It's not as easy as these kids make it look . The football team only had one kid go down and out for the season .

 

[wowsmom]

Last year our marching band had more "season ending" injuries then the football team. We had one girl dislocate her shoulder doing a rifle toss, one girl turned the wrong way and blew out her knee, a couple badly sprained ankles and one broken arm. It's not as easy as these kids make it look . The football team only had one kid go down and out for the season .

I don't know if we've had any marching injuries, although I know last year at band camp, we had a trumpet player go down, face first. Not sure if any have passed out this year....

The kids are no longer allowed to play football at lunchtime after those 2 injuries last week. My boys don't mind cuz they aren't into playing football.

 

[jen0610]

I don't know if we've had any marching injuries, although I know last year at band camp, we had a trumpet player go down, face first. Not sure if any have passed out this year....

The kids are no longer allowed to play football at lunchtime after those 2 injuries last week. My boys don't mind cuz they aren't into playing football.

Our kids are partial to playing hackey sack during their lunch break. Or if your geek to the core, your playing Yu Gi Oh.

 

[marcyinPA]

Our kids are partial to playing hackey sack during their lunch break. Or if your geek to the core, your playing Yu Gi Oh.

My kid and his friends walked to and hung out at a cemetery on their lunch break today. Ok, in their defense, there was a stream behind the cemetery, and that is where they hung!

(our school is in the city, so they walk all over the place for lunch. We have several restaurants within a few blocks of the school, so nobody really stays at the school)

 

[jen0610]

My kid and his friends walked to and hung out at a cemetery on their lunch break today. Ok, in their defense, there was a stream behind the cemetery, and that is where they hung!

(our school is in the city, so they walk all over the place for lunch. We have several restaurants within a few blocks of the school, so nobody really stays at the school)

There only thing within walking distance - it's a half mile each way - to our school is a DQ and a Dunkin Dounts. Even the Marathon directly across the street, doesn't have much of a "food" selection.

Our kids aren't allowed to leave the school grounds at lunch. It was several years ago, but football, cheerleading, show choir and band all broke for lunch at the same time and the kids were a bit reckless in their driving skills. It ended with a 9 car pile up - all belonging to students. 3 kids went to the hospital major injuries and several were treated for minor injuries. After that, it became standard policy that no one leaves the school grounds for lunch. You either bring it with you in the a.m., someone drops it off to you, or you have something delivered.

 

[golfgal]

There only thing within walking distance - it's a half mile each way - to our school is a DQ and a Dunkin Dounts. Even the Marathon directly across the street, doesn't have much of a "food" selection.

Our kids aren't allowed to leave the school grounds at lunch. It was several years ago, but football, cheerleading, show choir and band all broke for lunch at the same time and the kids were a bit reckless in their driving skills. It ended with a 9 car pile up - all belonging to students. 3 kids went to the hospital major injuries and several were treated for minor injuries. After that, it became standard policy that no one leaves the school grounds for lunch. You either bring it with you in the a.m., someone drops it off to you, or you have something delivered.

YIKES!!!

The kids can stay or leave for lunch for our band. The younger kids usually stay because they can't drive, the older kids leave because they can

 

[marcyinPA]

Interesting facts....

Do you know how many band directors your school has had in its' history?

I learned this on Facebook today (of all places!)...my DS's band has only had 3 directors in the band's 85 year history!! I think that is pretty remarkable!

 

[Gina]

Interesting facts....

Do you know how many band directors your school has had in its' history?

I learned this on Facebook today (of all places!)...my DS's band has only had 3 directors in the band's 85 year history!! I think that is pretty remarkable!

That is pretty incredible!! I have no clue how many ours has had...

You might want to rethink that and get the open clasp neck strap. If the band does anything where they put their instruments down and do some movements or whatever, there usually isn't time to hook the strap back on the sax that has a clasp. Maybe have him ask the band director? I know the closed clasp straps here are not allowed. (we just had to order DD a new one too-hopefully will be here today).

I asked my son, since I had never heard of such a thing, and he looked at me like I had two heads... lol.. "Why would we put our instruments down?!?" I told him it didn't make sense to me either, but I guess some bands must do that? Anyways, they don't, so it's all good -- and I don't have to worry about his sax hitting the pavement from a crappy clasp anymore.

 

[KiminChicago]

I asked my son, since I had never heard of such a thing, and he looked at me like I had two heads... lol.. "Why would we put our instruments down?!?" I told him it didn't make sense to me either, but I guess some bands must do that? Anyways, they don't, so it's all good -- and I don't have to worry about his sax hitting the pavement from a crappy clasp anymore.

Our band is doing "Thriller" complete with a dance break, so they do put their instruments down. You can't do a proper zombie dance carrying an instrument I guess. I worry about it since we had to replace a broken lower joint on DS's clarinet a couple of years ago and they are not cheap. However, the dance break looks really great and the kids all think it's a lot of fun.

 

[Katy Belle]

I asked my son, since I had never heard of such a thing, and he looked at me like I had two heads... lol.. "Why would we put our instruments down?!?" I told him it didn't make sense to me either, but I guess some bands must do that? Anyways, they don't, so it's all good -- and I don't have to worry about his sax hitting the pavement from a crappy clasp anymore.

There were many bands at contests that put their instruments down. Actually, I think ours started on the ground, not my DS, they hold those sousaphones the whole time! If they need to do any movements with their hands, the instruments are down.

 

[wowsmom]

YIKES!!!

The kids can stay or leave for lunch for our band. The younger kids usually stay because they can't drive, the older kids leave because they can

Our band camp provides lunch (I should say, it's included in the fee we pay).

I feel bad for my kids today...band camp has been running 10:00-7:00 but today is registration day (also known as "turn in all the forms and money" day) so they had to be there at 8:00 to register as a group, before band camp starts at 10:00. Also, my freshman has some orientation thing this morning (new thing they are doing this year) so will be at that 8:00-12:00, then has to join the band on the field, then has to register at 2:00. Crazy day!

 

[jen0610]

Our band is doing "Thriller" complete with a dance break, so they do put their instruments down. You can't do a proper zombie dance carrying an instrument I guess. I worry about it since we had to replace a broken lower joint on DS's clarinet a couple of years ago and they are not cheap. However, the dance break looks really great and the kids all think it's a lot of fun.

In our opener last year, DS's section and the flutes all did choreography with the color guard that required them to place their horns on the ground. Not sure yet what they are doing this year, but I do know that the kids were learning how to do jazz walks and runs, so who knows where that is going to show up in the show.