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

[Gina]

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.

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.

Interesting! I was trying to think back to all the different bands from football games last year, and the bands at State, and I *think* I remember one band doing something like that... but one at most. Maybe it's a regional thing? We're just behind the times here? lol Anyways, I'm still more concerned about his sax staying attached to that dang strap, because there is no replacing it (the sax!) if it were to be dinged beyond all hope.

Yesterday was the first practice after school, from 3:15-6:15, and it apparently wasn't pretty. For summer band, they were outside practicing the show in the morning, then inside practicing the music in the heat of the day. DS said that for the first time, he had to sit out for about 30 minutes because he was so dizzy. A couple passed out, and at least 50 were sitting out at any given time, he said. These kids amaze me -- I'd have been in the ER, I think. Sure hoping we get a break from the triple-digits SOON... we're on day 23 now.

 

[golfgal]

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






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.

I was going to say the same thing. I bet well over a dozen bands at BOA had instruments down on the ground at some point.

The open clasps work well and the horns stay on them just fine.

 

[momof1princess]

so, we just got back from the pre-season bonfire (our first game is tomorrow night) and a friend of mine told me our marching band's band booster club has been disbanded! i am STUNNED! we've always had band boosters! WTH are we going to do now? the band boosters are still responsible for working the concession stands, but now the school is handling the money and we have to submit a request every time we need to buy something! HOLY CARP!! what a mess! no one will tell me what happened, but everything is in chaos. my friend has been asked by the band director to coordinate the concession volunteers, so i guess i know what i'll be doing for the 2nd half of the ballgame tomorrow night.

 

[marcyinPA]

so, we just got back from the pre-season bonfire (our first game is tomorrow night) and a friend of mine told me our marching band's band booster club has been disbanded! i am STUNNED! we've always had band boosters! WTH are we going to do now? the band boosters are still responsible for working the concession stands, but now the school is handling the money and we have to submit a request every time we need to buy something! HOLY CARP!! what a mess! no one will tell me what happened, but everything is in chaos. my friend has been asked by the band director to coordinate the concession volunteers, so i guess i know what i'll be doing for the 2nd half of the ballgame tomorrow night.

Wow...I can't even imagine! Our band parents association does pretty much everything when it comes to the running of the band. I mean, the director of course has a say, but it's the parents who do all of the mundane tasks to keep the thing afloat.

I wonder if there was an issue with "funds". We are in hard financial times in this country, and people do crazy things.

 

[momof1princess]

Wow...I can't even imagine! Our band parents association does pretty much everything when it comes to the running of the band. I mean, the director of course has a say, but it's the parents who do all of the mundane tasks to keep the thing afloat.

I wonder if there was an issue with "funds". We are in hard financial times in this country, and people do crazy things.

this was my thought as well. i called my aunt a few minutes ago to remind them about the game tomorrow night, and i told her what happened (she runs a boys' ranch - home for neglected and abused boys) and she said there must've been a serious "financial discrepancy", for the school to do something so drastic. i just can't believe it. everything has been thrown into disarray, and our kids are the ones who are going to suffer. our band boosters handled everything too...

 

[golfgal]

so, we just got back from the pre-season bonfire (our first game is tomorrow night) and a friend of mine told me our marching band's band booster club has been disbanded! i am STUNNED! we've always had band boosters! WTH are we going to do now? the band boosters are still responsible for working the concession stands, but now the school is handling the money and we have to submit a request every time we need to buy something! HOLY CARP!! what a mess! no one will tell me what happened, but everything is in chaos. my friend has been asked by the band director to coordinate the concession volunteers, so i guess i know what i'll be doing for the 2nd half of the ballgame tomorrow night.

We have never had a band booster club. Booster clubs here in this town are actually new for high school sports teams (we have had them in other towns though). The band directors coordinate things and various parents head up the various committees. It works well because people are used to it. For the sports teams the district used to handle the funds and each coach got a budget but the schools can't pay for certain things now like food after a game, so they have turned all that stuff over to the booster clubs. The district still has a budget for each coach for essentials like travel, equipment, fees, etc. but any "extras" come out of the booster clubs.

Kids march at the state fair today (one of two parades they do). They will practice their parade marching this morning before they go. They march in t-shirts and shorts and have won the parade the past 2 years, hoping for a 3-peat this year . It kind of ticks off the other bands that DO parades all summer though.

 

[Pembo]

Lots of action here!

First our band boosters do A LOT for the band under the guidance of the director. How awful that they had to disband them!

Our band did "suicides" last year so instruments were down for a bit but that wasn't in the competition show.

As for lunch, the first week of band camp when they are there 8 am - 9 pm lunch and dinner are catered and no one is allowed to leave all day. Second week, 8-3, kids can leave for lunch.

and to my Texas friends, I hope it cools down for your marchers...

First game here is Friday...

 

[donac]

I m iss being involved with the marching band. I did band boosters for 9 years. My ds2 graduated in 2008. We were reminded about the band the other night. Band camp started this week (we don't go back until after Labor Day) and we were sitting in the back yard when we heard the band warming up. We live a couple of blocks from the school and most nights we can hear them practice on the field.

Good luck for a great season. My gf's daught is Drum Major this year so we will be attend at least one game this year.

 

[momof1princess]

does anyone know how a band gets invited to march at MK? this is our HS marching band's year to do a big spring trip, and we'd like to go to WDW, but our kids can't be excused from school unless we're doing something school related, so the kids would need to be marching in something. it would be SO awesome to see our kids marching down main street at MK in their uniforms! if anyone has any info, it would be greatly appreciated!

as for the band booster situation, we did pretty well thursday night at our first football game, concession-wise, and a friend and i are trying to get a band parents' meeting together within the next couple of weeks. i've e-mailed the band director to get his input, and see if, since we're not official band boosters, it would be okay for us to meet at the band room. we're determined to make this a good marching season for our kids, whether we're official or not.

 

[klj27]

does anyone know how a band gets invited to march at MK? this is our HS marching band's year to do a big spring trip, and we'd like to go to WDW, but our kids can't be excused from school unless we're doing something school related, so the kids would need to be marching in something. it would be SO awesome to see our kids marching down main street at MK in their uniforms! if anyone has any info, it would be greatly appreciated!

as for the band booster situation, we did pretty well thursday night at our first football game, concession-wise, and a friend and i are trying to get a band parents' meeting together within the next couple of weeks. i've e-mailed the band director to get his input, and see if, since we're not official band boosters, it would be okay for us to meet at the band room. we're determined to make this a good marching season for our kids, whether we're official or not.

We went in June and it was great. I think it is more of applying than being invited. I believe the program was "Magical Music Days". I am sure you could find more info with googling.

 

[momof1princess]

We went in June and it was great. I think it is more of applying than being invited. I believe the program was "Magical Music Days". I am sure you could find more info with googling.

thanks!

 

[marcyinPA]

does anyone know how a band gets invited to march at MK? this is our HS marching band's year to do a big spring trip, and we'd like to go to WDW, but our kids can't be excused from school unless we're doing something school related, so the kids would need to be marching in something. it would be SO awesome to see our kids marching down main street at MK in their uniforms! if anyone has any info, it would be greatly appreciated!

We went in February. Great trip! Our band marched twice in the MK (once during the day, and once at night), and then the "select" band and bagpipe corps marched in Epcot. I don't think you get invited...I think you apply. It really was incredible seeing the kids march down Main St in their uniforms. I'll post my YouTube video, but be warned...I screamed and screamed...I couldn't help myself, I was SOOOO excited and proud! I ruined my video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOvMuP8j9F4

 

[momof1princess]

We went in February. Great trip! Our band marched twice in the MK (once during the day, and once at night), and then the "select" band and bagpipe corps marched in Epcot. I don't think you get invited...I think you apply. It really was incredible seeing the kids march down Main St in their uniforms. I'll post my YouTube video, but be warned...I screamed and screamed...I couldn't help myself, I was SOOOO excited and proud! I ruined my video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOvMuP8j9F4

OMG that is SO cool! thank you for posting it! i loved your enthusiasm!

our band is pretty small, 57 members. we're a small, rural high school, but our band gets consistent superior ratings at all of the competitions, so i'm hoping we'd be accepted to play at MK IF we apply.

one question: did your band participate in a workshop? i googled "magical music days" and saw that not only can you perform to apply, but workshops are offered for both band and colorguard (flags)...i believe the page said they were optional.

 

[Katy Belle]

I helped with the fitting of the uniforms yesterday. It was great to see all the kids. We did returning kids in the morning and Freshmen and new students in the afternoon. Some were soooo hard to fit! But eveyone ended up with a uniform. One freshman girl was so, so happy and PROUD to get her uniform, it was so cute!

Friday night is our first game! I cant wait!

 

[golfgal]

I helped with the fitting of the uniforms yesterday. It was great to see all the kids. We did returning kids in the morning and Freshmen and new students in the afternoon. Some were soooo hard to fit! But eveyone ended up with a uniform. One freshman girl was so, so happy and PROUD to get her uniform, it was so cute!

Friday night is our first game! I cant wait!

DS16's first year, freshman year, waits to long to sign up, against his parents advice, only uniforms left are the REALLY big ones, he and 3 friends could have fit in the bibs for his uniform . Lesson learned.

We still have 2 weeks before we get to see the show in full uniform (first football game and then the next day first competitions). I can hardly wait. The kids are thrilled with the progress the band has made already. They have some fun elements that they are adding this week I think. I can hardly wait to see those. We go up to watch the end of rehearsal most evenings because they do a full run through of what they have ready. They encourage parents to come then so the kids get used to having an audience. There are usually 100 people or so watching. It's fun and we get to talk to other band parents for a while.

 

[Katy Belle]

DS16's first year, freshman year, waits to long to sign up, against his parents advice, only uniforms left are the REALLY big ones, he and 3 friends could have fit in the bibs for his uniform . Lesson learned.

We still have 2 weeks before we get to see the show in full uniform (first football game and then the next day first competitions). I can hardly wait. The kids are thrilled with the progress the band has made already. They have some fun elements that they are adding this week I think. I can hardly wait to see those. We go up to watch the end of rehearsal most evenings because they do a full run through of what they have ready. They encourage parents to come then so the kids get used to having an audience. There are usually 100 people or so watching. It's fun and we get to talk to other band parents for a while.

Luckily we have the bibs from the old uniforms. We had to use those for several kids at the end. We ended up with big girls wearing mens sizes and small boys wearing womens sizes. You just keep trying until something works!

My middle DS will be s Freshman next year, I told him to be first in line!

I've watched bits of practices, but not seen much yet. I will probably watch the end of Thursdays practice.

 

[klj27]

OMG that is SO cool! thank you for posting it! i loved your enthusiasm!

our band is pretty small, 57 members. we're a small, rural high school, but our band gets consistent superior ratings at all of the competitions, so i'm hoping we'd be accepted to play at MK IF we apply.

one question: did your band participate in a workshop? i googled "magical music days" and saw that not only can you perform to apply, but workshops are offered for both band and colorguard (flags)...i believe the page said they were optional.

we decided not to do this and we were so glad we skipped it. The kids still got the items from Magical Music Days, but they got to enjoy more time in the parks.

 

[Pembo]

Our band goes to Disney every other year. Planning starts over a year in advance for us. This past spring the kids were to march at the MK. Unfortunately it rained ALL day. It was raining at 7 when I got up and literally did not stop until 9:56 pm. Our kids were to march before the 9 pm parade but the director called it off. The kids were soaked to the bone and miserable. We had 2 kids that wound up in the ER. One was dehydrated, which seems ironic since it rained all day. The other boy slipped in Frontierland and broke his hip! Luckily his parents were there. They flew him home. Anyway the kids had a great vacation and didn't have to do any work.

First game was Friday and the band looked great. The football team was terrible, we lost 0-55!!! But the band looked and sounded amazing.

 

[momof1princess]

Our band goes to Disney every other year. Planning starts over a year in advance for us. This past spring the kids were to march at the MK. Unfortunately it rained ALL day. It was raining at 7 when I got up and literally did not stop until 9:56 pm. Our kids were to march before the 9 pm parade but the director called it off. The kids were soaked to the bone and miserable. We had 2 kids that wound up in the ER. One was dehydrated, which seems ironic since it rained all day. The other boy slipped in Frontierland and broke his hip! Luckily his parents were there. They flew him home. Anyway the kids had a great vacation and didn't have to do any work.

First game was Friday and the band looked great. The football team was terrible, we lost 0-55!!! But the band looked and sounded amazing.

this sounds like us! we had our first football game this past thursday night, and while our football team was HORRIBLE (we lost 21-0), our band was great! the band director was so impressed with how they did, he gave them the day off from band practice on friday afternoon!

 

[marcyinPA]

OMG that is SO cool! thank you for posting it! i loved your enthusiasm!

our band is pretty small, 57 members. we're a small, rural high school, but our band gets consistent superior ratings at all of the competitions, so i'm hoping we'd be accepted to play at MK IF we apply.

one question: did your band participate in a workshop? i googled "magical music days" and saw that not only can you perform to apply, but workshops are offered for both band and colorguard (flags)...i believe the page said they were optional.

The kids did not do any of the workshops. They marched the three times, and the rest of the time was in the parks. They stayed at POR, all meals were included, and they had 4-day park hoppers. My DS16 had a BLAST. I went with my DS12, my best friend, and her DD12. We did not go as tag-alongs, but planned our own trip. We hadn't intended on following my DS around, but as it turned out, we ended up in the same parks on the same days. I saw him a couple of times a day in passing. It was a fun trip!