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

[Gina]

Just printed out the 6 pages' worth of band schedule that we revolve our lives around... lol... and it seems we are doing the Lone Star Preview contest in October. I Googled and can't find any info on it, and the search function here is working as well as it ever has over the past decade. I know someone here was talking about it -- can any of my fellow SE Texans fill me in on this contest?

 

[golfgal]

http://www.twhsband.org/lsp/2011_LSP_Directors.shtml


I found this one associated with the Woodlands High School band, is this the one?

I did a Google search for "Texas Lone Star marching band show"

 

[Gina]

http://www.twhsband.org/lsp/2011_LSP_Directors.shtml


I found this one associated with the Woodlands High School band, is this the one?

I did a Google search for "Texas Lone Star marching band show"

That must be it! Thanks!! That's helpful info, about how they score and such. Printed it out to show my son!

 

[Katy Belle]

IT'S 67 HERE RIGHT NOW WITH A HIGH OF 75

After a month straight of 100+ temps (even a lot of 120's 130's) It is SOOOO nice. All the windows are open, nice breeze blowing through the house. I am actually considering putting on a light sweatshirt

St. Louis is a BLAST. You will get to see several top bands just because of where you live but it is so much fun to see all the other bands and their shows. There is a LOT to do in St. Louis too. If you go, take your other kids to the City Museum. It's downtown and SOOOOO worth it. Plan on spending the better part of the day there. Bring a book for you, the kids will be running around having a blast. It's just amazing. The zoo is also nice, free beer at Grant's Farm . Of course the arch is a big attraction but going UP in the arch really isn't worth it. There is a free museum under the arch that is pretty cool though.

We just might have to go. We went to St. Louis long, long, ago, with no kids. I'm claustrophobic and hated the little washing machine thing to ride in the arch. I'm bigger and more claustrophobic now...so I won't be doing that! My other kids are 11 and 14... would the City Museum work for them? Free beer?? That might make the Band Directors jealous Certainly something to consider.

STILL no announcement about the shadows. He's back at practice now. Hoping he will know tonight! He was a wreck at lunch. Got in the car ranting and raving, all upset. He's usually calm and cool. I just let him go on and on. Finally he said, "I'm starving." I said, "I noticed" Fed him and he was good to go.

 

[golfgal]

We just might have to go. We went to St. Louis long, long, ago, with no kids. I'm claustrophobic and hated the little washing machine thing to ride in the arch. I'm bigger and more claustrophobic now...so I won't be doing that! My other kids are 11 and 14... would the City Museum work for them? Free beer?? That might make the Band Directors jealous Certainly something to consider.

STILL no announcement about the shadows. He's back at practice now. Hoping he will know tonight! He was a wreck at lunch. Got in the car ranting and raving, all upset. He's usually calm and cool. I just let him go on and on. Finally he said, "I'm starving." I said, "I noticed" Fed him and he was good to go.

Yes, your kids will still love it. It's an amazing place. It was designed by the Art Department at Washington Univ. It is really just a HUGE playground with under ground tunnels, catwalks to airplanes, etc.

http://www.citymuseum.org/home.asp

 

[momof1princess]

today was DD13's last day of band camp. school starts next monday, then it'll be band practice every weekday afternoon, and first football game on august 26th!

 

[Katy Belle]

Raining here today!!! We need it so badly!!! And the temperature has dropped!!! But... the kids just got the practice field/parking lot marked with chalk DS predicted it would rain and wash it all off immediately!

They announced shadows yesterday... and there are very few in the whole band, a big change from last year and one that I'm thrilled about! So no shadows in the Tuba Section, they will march TEN tubas!!! Two kids quit, so ten it is. DS16 got spot #3. Last year that would have meant 3rd chair... but this year the Director said it is not the case. Whatever... I'm just happy he's not sharing a spot! I cannot wait to see/hear the show!

Our first football game is Sept 2.

 

[Pembo]

First game is Aug 26th here too. The band is marching pre-game at a scrimmage next Thursday. They wear their band tshirts and shorts. It's a great practice for the real thing.

 

[golfgal]

Raining here today!!! We need it so badly!!! And the temperature has dropped!!! But... the kids just got the practice field/parking lot marked with chalk DS predicted it would rain and wash it all off immediately!

They announced shadows yesterday... and there are very few in the whole band, a big change from last year and one that I'm thrilled about! So no shadows in the Tuba Section, they will march TEN tubas!!! Two kids quit, so ten it is. DS16 got spot #3. Last year that would have meant 3rd chair... but this year the Director said it is not the case. Whatever... I'm just happy he's not sharing a spot! I cannot wait to see/hear the show!

Our first football game is Sept 2.

The number on their drill sheets doesn't usually correspond to placement in the section. Our top sax player--by far-VERY obviously 1st chair since she was 1st chair in our top concert band as a FRESHMAN--is actual sax #8 on the dot book because of where she needs to be to step out to do her solo. DD is sax 5 but she is "3rd chair" in the marching bad--one of 3 saxophones playing the 1st sax part. They try to mix the veterans with the newbies so #1 sax is actually a new freshman and #2 is a senior (or maybe that is switched around).

 

[Katy Belle]

The number on their drill sheets doesn't usually correspond to placement in the section. Our top sax player--by far-VERY obviously 1st chair since she was 1st chair in our top concert band as a FRESHMAN--is actual sax #8 on the dot book because of where she needs to be to step out to do her solo. DD is sax 5 but she is "3rd chair" in the marching bad--one of 3 saxophones playing the 1st sax part. They try to mix the veterans with the newbies so #1 sax is actually a new freshman and #2 is a senior (or maybe that is switched around).

It makes sense to do it that way and I think that is why he changed it up. DS16 is usually 1st chair for concert band... he has improved so much in his marching, but will never be the most graceful marcher I'm just happy that they are marching everyone! The band will appear even bigger!

 

[golfgal]

It makes sense to do it that way and I think that is why he changed it up. DS16 is usually 1st chair for concert band... he has improved so much in his marching, but will never be the most graceful marcher I'm just happy that they are marching everyone! The band will appear even bigger!

It's hard to be graceful with a tuba on your shoulder

 

[momof1princess]

well...apparently, there was a band booster meeting i wasn't invited to, because all my band booster mom friends are chatting on FB about which dates they signed up to help in the concession stand (totally run by the band boosters). don't get me wrong, i'm glad i'm not signed up for the first game, since it will be DD13's first game to march in, but i was looking forward to working in the concession stand at the other games. i have a feeling this is a sign of things to come.

 

[KiminChicago]

Well I'm sad. No one told us that if DS decided to do marching band as a freshman, he wouldn't be able to be in freshman chorus. It makes sense in retrospect -- the freshmen who are in both band/orchestra and chorus have chorus and instrumental on alternate days. Since DS is in band with the upperclassmen, he would either have to be in the upperclass chorus or alternate freshman chorus with Honors Biology and that ain't happening.

He says he'll be able to go back to chorus next year, and I've been told that since there are so few young men in the chorus, it won't be an issue, but I sure wish he was in chorus too.

 

[golfgal]

Well I'm sad. No one told us that if DS decided to do marching band as a freshman, he wouldn't be able to be in freshman chorus. It makes sense in retrospect -- the freshmen who are in both band/orchestra and chorus have chorus and instrumental on alternate days. Since DS is in band with the upperclassmen, he would either have to be in the upperclass chorus or alternate freshman chorus with Honors Biology and that ain't happening.

He says he'll be able to go back to chorus next year, and I've been told that since there are so few young men in the chorus, it won't be an issue, but I sure wish he was in chorus too.

That is how it works at our school too-kids switch off each day between the two. In our school, though, they just put you in the choir/band that works with your schedule and go with that. Sometimes that means a student is placed in a higher level then they should but oh well. Every once in a while you end up with a senior in a freshman band too. Usually in that case they give the music to the senior that would go with the band they should be in and the senior performs at concerts with his/her band and the freshman band.

 

[golfgal]

well...apparently, there was a band booster meeting i wasn't invited to, because all my band booster mom friends are chatting on FB about which dates they signed up to help in the concession stand (totally run by the band boosters). don't get me wrong, i'm glad i'm not signed up for the first game, since it will be DD13's first game to march in, but i was looking forward to working in the concession stand at the other games. i have a feeling this is a sign of things to come.

Do they not have a calendar on the marching band website for these things or a flier that went home, etc.? I would think that if you contacted someone that there would still be room to help.

 

[marcyinPA]

Do they not have a calendar on the marching band website for these things or a flier that went home, etc.? I would think that if you contacted someone that there would still be room to help.

Yeah, that surprises me too...no website? No newsletters? Our band parents organization sends a newsletter out every month, with the minutes and treasurer's report, plus all of the important upcoming info. All of that information sent home is on the band website too.

Aside from that, our organization is always begging for people to help. There is a space for EVERYONE, they would never turn help away!

 

[golfgal]

Yeah, that surprises me too...no website? No newsletters? Our band parents organization sends a newsletter out every month, with the minutes and treasurer's report, plus all of the important upcoming info. All of that information sent home is on the band website too.

Aside from that, our organization is always begging for people to help. There is a space for EVERYONE, they would never turn help away!

I do have to say that there are a couple parents that "signed up too late to help"

One guy signs up to help with one area each year (an area that DH and I organize). The first year this dude show up, starts telling everyone what to do (all wrong information) then proceeds to sit back and watch everyone else do all the heavy lifting, etc. Nope, you are NOT helping us again. There is another mom that is just , well, when she heads things up, NO ONE volunteers to help in her area . We call her the Band Nazi .

 

[marcyinPA]

We are into week two of band camp. The first week was spent being drilled and led by a retired drum major from the Queen's Coldstream Guard ...pretty impressive but my DS said it was exhausting. They ended the week with a preview of what he taught them....in full uniform on the field. Five kids dropped...fainted....all freshmen. Kids, you have to drink your water! Seriously, though, as a parent in the stands, it was kind of scary to watch. One tall trombone player just went flat down, and his trombone went flying. Poor kid, and kids around him...they just got him up and another one would go down.

This week is crunch time, learning the new show and teaching the freshmen pre-game. Today was picture day...full uniform.

All in all, my DS is enjoying it so far, but I've noticed that he is pretty critical. He's a junior this year, but there are 80 freshmen out of 260 kids. He feels that they aren't as good as last year...but he said that last year about the year before too!

 

[momof1princess]

Do they not have a calendar on the marching band website for these things or a flier that went home, etc.? I would think that if you contacted someone that there would still be room to help.

we do have a calendar for band events, but band booster meetings aren't listed. they're usually held the first tuesday night of each month, while school is in session, but this meeting was held during the summer, and, apparently, parents of rookies (such as DD13) weren't contacted. too bad none of my "friends" felt compelled to mention it to me.

 

[jen0610]

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!!!