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

[golfgal]

We don't normally get practices added. They already practice Saturday's before competitions, we are the last band to perform so we usually don't go on the field until 9:30 PM at the earliest so the kids usually report to the school around noon and practice all day before the shows. We will get some "added" when we find out when we get to practice on the metrodome. They are on the schedule as 'tba". Last year they added one practice in the summer when we were invited to mush down the new turf at the metrodome that was subsequently ruined with the roof caved in this past winter. They were invited to do that again but they only gave the band 2 days notice and not enough kids were available.

The band added their "big" visual last night. We haven't seen it yet but the kids said it is REALLY cool. They aren't going to put in the performances for a few weeks though.

 

[Pembo]

Our big visual, 12 10ftx5ft stones are very cool. They had 8 of them on the field yesterday...

 

[golfgal]

Our big visual, 12 10ftx5ft stones are very cool. They had 8 of them on the field yesterday...

Our big visual is something that band members do, not a prop. They were not working on it last night when we went up to watch so we still haven't seen it. Maybe tonight.

 

[Gina]

Parent preview was saturday night and wow did they change a lot in the short time from the 19th, 1st football game, to what they showed us on the 27th.

I really do like the story. Show title is The Puppetmaster. There is going to get a band member - they didn't say who and they weren't out on the field - that is going to be on the top of a 7 foot platform who hates music and has taken control of the color guard. The color guard is trying to destroy the band and the band is fighting back, trying to draw the color guard back into the fold.

The music is Haunted and Immortal by Evanescence and Wanted(?) by Hans Zimmer. It sounded really good.

That show sounds seriously cool. "My Immortal" is one of my fave songs of all time -- so haunting and beautiful. I hope later on you'll be able to share a video of the show!

Our band was invited to be on the local Fox TV channel in the morning! They have a different marching band each Friday. The catch, uniform time will be 4:30 am. They have to be at the tv station ready to play at 6:30 am. The director didn't think the kids would want to do it. Yesterday he took a vote, almost every hand went up! These kids WANT to be on TV.

That's awesome!! Ouch on the 4:30am, though... How would they still get to school on time?? That's going to be so fun for them, though. Not so much for the sleepy parents trying to do their jobs the rest of the day! Lol

First home game of the season is tomorrow night, and 52,000 people around the area voted for it to be the "game of the week" on the local NBC station so they'll be there live. Hopefully I'll get to see my son again on TV too! I need to remember to record the channel tomorrow night.

Surprised my son by ordering one of the band yard signs, and had it stuck in the front flower bed when we got home yesterday. He was both embarrassed and proud. It's very cool! A big maroon music note, about 3ft tall, with his name and instrument and the band name in white. Very sharp looking.

 

[golfgal]

I just remembered-our high school does an annual musical reveiw type show. They alternate between spring and fall so kids get a chance to be in it (can't really do sports and this because of the schedule). It's in the fall this year which means the psycho parents of the kids that are in the show (4-6th graders) will be screaming at the parking people because they can't pull up to the front of the school and drop their kids off. We cordon off the front parking lot for the band buses. It's amazing how psycho these parents get, first, it's the equivalent of walking across 3 rows of a parking lot--NOT far, second, there is NO traffic in this lot AT ALL other than the buses which are all "controlled" by the parking people and the kids would not be allowed to enter the lot while a bus is pulling in anyway. WHY is this an issue with some parents??

 

[marcyinPA]

DS16 sprung the news of an added band practice tonight...6-8pm. Great. I'm fairly certain he's known for a while and just never told me.

First football game is tomorrow night- about 2 hours away. Won't be going to that one. Next weeks game is also away...not sure if we'll be going. First home game isn't for 2 weeks. Gives the band time to work the kinks out of the show before they perform for the home audience!

 

[Katy Belle]

First football game tonight! Yay for the Marching Band!!! I can't wait to see the show. They only have the "opener" ready, but I'm looking forward to it. DS16 was sick yesterday, vomiting, so he missed morning and evening practice. He will be a bit behind but the Director thinks he could learn at the new stuff this morning. Sure hope so!

We are working the concession stand tonight. Seems way less organized than last year and I'm nervous about it. Also, they've changed the lengths of the shifts, so now we can't take our younger two boys along. They would be unattended from half time until 30 min after the game. Not going to work I think I will actually "unvolunteer" either DH or myself for the next game, so the boys can come along.

Good luck to all the marchers tonight!

 

[mickeymo]

DS16 sprung the news of an added band practice tonight...6-8pm. Great. I'm fairly certain he's known for a while and just never told me.

First football game is tomorrow night- about 2 hours away. Won't be going to that one. Next weeks game is also away...not sure if we'll be going. First home game isn't for 2 weeks. Gives the band time to work the kinks out of the show before they perform for the home audience!

Thankfully, we don't get added practices - UIL, the extra-curricular governing body in Texas, restricts athletic & band practices to 8 hours per week, not including 1 hour warm up before games or contests. We've just had to contend with the high heat index and moving practice times around. Our district mandates if the heat index is over a certain amount, practice must be held inside or after 6 pm.

Our second game is on the north side of Houston tonight, well over an hour ride. Glad I'm not a bus driver navigating through downtown, rush hour traffic, and the holiday weekend traffic. Last week the AC on one of the busses was broken and it was a 45 minute trip. It was 98 degrees outside when we loaded the buses.

 

[golfgal]

Thankfully, we don't get added practices - UIL, the extra-curricular governing body in Texas, restricts athletic & band practices to 8 hours per week, not including 1 hour warm up before games or contests. We've just had to contend with the high heat index and moving practice times around. Our district mandates if the heat index is over a certain amount, practice must be held inside or after 6 pm.

Our second game is on the north side of Houston tonight, well over an hour ride. Glad I'm not a bus driver navigating through downtown, rush hour traffic, and the holiday weekend traffic. Last week the AC on one of the busses was broken and it was a 45 minute trip. It was 98 degrees outside when we loaded the buses.

REALLY??? 8 hours isn't very long at all. That is only a hour and a half/day going on a 5 day practice schedule. A two hour/day practice for a high school sport is not out of line at all especially if you consider that most sports spend 30 minutes on warm up-cool down (stretching) alone.

We have heat index guidelines too. Many football games were moved to 8:00 yesterday because the heat index was over 100 at 7;00 still.

 

[mickeymo]

REALLY??? 8 hours isn't very long at all. That is only a hour and a half/day going on a 5 day practice schedule. A two hour/day practice for a high school sport is not out of line at all especially if you consider that most sports spend 30 minutes on warm up-cool down (stretching) alone.

We have heat index guidelines too. Many football games were moved to 8:00 yesterday because the heat index was over 100 at 7;00 still.

No restrictions on the start of games due to the heat index as of yet, that would have to come from the UIL (state level) Like many schools in other states, our conferences also include schools from several districts. At the very worst, it could be a scheduling nightmare, most districts have 1 competition stadium shared by all of the district high schools. Varsity games are scheduled on Thursdays, Fridays, 2pm or 7pm on Saturdays. Freshman/JV games are held on the individual high school fields throughout the week. The show "Friday Night Lights" wasn't exaggerating in it's portrayal of Texas football - football is huge in Texas (And I'm a midwestern girl who naively thought my hometown was fanatic about football)

Our band directors have developed a nice balance. Practices are scheduled 3 days a week during the marching season, leaving Wednesdays for church, family, and other obligations. Texas bands are also restricted to 10 hours instructor contact prior to August 1, exception are made for parades or other civic events. No drill can be taught before August 1. Once school starts the 8 hour rule is in place. Given the limits placed on Texas bands, it is impressive how strong our schools are on a national level against bands from states with less restrictive practice rules.

 

[jen0610]

I know there are a ton of schools that march here in IN, that would have to change their whole style of marching and the technical shows that they put on if they had to limit their practice to 8 hours a week.

There are some schools, that is the amount of time they spend on just the music. That doesn't even account for their field/drill time.

 

[golfgal]

No restrictions on the start of games due to the heat index as of yet, that would have to come from the UIL (state level) Like many schools in other states, our conferences also include schools from several districts. At the very worst, it could be a scheduling nightmare, most districts have 1 competition stadium shared by all of the district high schools. Varsity games are scheduled on Thursdays, Fridays, 2pm or 7pm on Saturdays. Freshman/JV games are held on the individual high school fields throughout the week. The show "Friday Night Lights" wasn't exaggerating in it's portrayal of Texas football - football is huge in Texas (And I'm a midwestern girl who naively thought my hometown was fanatic about football)

Our band directors have developed a nice balance. Practices are scheduled 3 days a week during the marching season, leaving Wednesdays for church, family, and other obligations. Texas bands are also restricted to 10 hours instructor contact prior to August 1, exception are made for parades or other civic events. No drill can be taught before August 1. Once school starts the 8 hour rule is in place. Given the limits placed on Texas bands, it is impressive how strong our schools are on a national level against bands from states with less restrictive practice rules.

The football team only practices 8 hours a week too???

Our marching band has 5 hours of practice just during the school day (it's their band class), then they practice 2 nights/week for 3 hours each night and then for probably 4-8 hours on Saturday. I don't find this at all time consuming and many kids are in band and sports. This is during the school year. In the summer they practice between 4-12 hours/day depending on if they are at camp, home, etc.

We start practice mid-July but then we can only really practice outside until the end of October or so.

 

[mickeymo]

The football team only practices 8 hours a week too???

Our marching band has 5 hours of practice just during the school day (it's their band class), then they practice 2 nights/week for 3 hours each night and then for probably 4-8 hours on Saturday. I don't find this at all time consuming and many kids are in band and sports.

We start practice mid-July but then we can only really practice outside until the end of October or so.

Yep, per UIL state regulations, band and all athletics, including football, are limited to 8 hours practice per week outside of school hours plus 1 hour of warm-up prior to games or contests . Band and athletic classes are typically the length of a traditional class period. A multi-sport athlete is limited to 1 athletics class in his/her schedule.

T

 

[golfgal]

Yep, per UIL state regulations, band and all athletics, including football, are limited to 8 hours practice per week outside of school hours plus 1 hour of warm-up prior to games or contests . Band and athletic classes are typically the length of a traditional class period. A multi-sport athlete is limited to 1 athletics class in his/her schedule.

T

Ok, so it isn't really 8 hours week if they have football last period of the day and then 1 1/2 hours after school...assuming that you mean an athletics class is "football" and not PE.

 

[Pembo]

Our band is 90 mins during the day and they practice music inside. Marching band afterschool is 2 hrs/4days a week. We are having the added rehearsal next Sat from 8-3. If you're in mb you are excused from PE for that year. Kids only need 2 semesters of PE in hs, so 2 years in mb takes care of it.

Just read on FB that the 2 band directors for tonights football game have decided the kids will wear shorts and band shirts instead of uniforms. It is 93 here in NE Ohio today. I'm glad the kids won't have to sweat it out tonight. Rehearsal after school yesterday was brutal in the blazin 90 sun. Next week the temps will be in the 60's. Gotta love our crazy Ohio weather.

Good luck bands........

 

[mickeymo]

Ok, so it isn't really 8 hours week if they have football last period of the day and then 1 1/2 hours after school...assuming that you mean an athletics class is "football" and not PE.

Yes, as I said before the 8 hour rule is for outside of school, their sport is a class period, at our school they are 50 minute periods. Acceptable within UIL guidelines and the one way the coaches can increase instructional time.

Speaking only about our school & not for the rest of the state, Cross Country is the only team that does not require it's athletes to register for an athletics class. The downfall is that many kids who would like to participate in both fine arts and athletics do not have room in their schedule for athletics and band. Not a perfect system nor the best system but it does allow the kids to have a balance between home, school, and extra curricular activities.

 

[golfgal]

Our band is 90 mins during the day and they practice music inside. Marching band afterschool is 2 hrs/4days a week. We are having the added rehearsal next Sat from 8-3. If you're in mb you are excused from PE for that year. Kids only need 2 semesters of PE in hs, so 2 years in mb takes care of it.

Just read on FB that the 2 band directors for tonights football game have decided the kids will wear shorts and band shirts instead of uniforms. It is 93 here in NE Ohio today. I'm glad the kids won't have to sweat it out tonight. Rehearsal after school yesterday was brutal in the blazin 90 sun. Next week the temps will be in the 60's. Gotta love our crazy Ohio weather.

Good luck bands........

I wish our school did that, not only for marching band but after school sports. The kids get a much better work out running cross country then they do playing badminton in the gym.

We have a 7 trimester PE requirement but 2 of those are health classes and one is safety ed where they take their driver's education and get First Aid/CPR certified.

 

[mickeymo]

I know there are a ton of schools that march here in IN, that would have to change their whole style of marching and the technical shows that they put on if they had to limit their practice to 8 hours a week.

There are some schools, that is the amount of time they spend on just the music. That doesn't even account for their field/drill time.

We attended BOA Grand Nationals in 2009, it is amazing the performances all of the schools can put on the field, the energy is electrifying. So the Texas marching band community is proud that the schools who do travel to BOA Grand Nationals can do so well against very strong programs across the US. Last year, I think Texas sent 5 bands, out of those 5 bands, LD Ball placed 3rd, Stephen F. Austin placed 9th, and Cedar Park placed 10th.

 

[golfgal]

Yes, as I said before the 8 hour rule is for outside of school, their sport is a class period, at our school they are 50 minute periods. Acceptable within UIL guidelines and the one way the coaches can increase instructional time.

Speaking only about our school & not for the rest of the state, Cross Country is the only team that does not require it's athletes to register for an athletics class. The downfall is that many kids who would like to participate in both fine arts and athletics do not have room in their schedule for athletics and band. Not a perfect system nor the best system but it does allow the kids to have a balance between home, school, and extra curricular activities.

I'm all for balance but I couldn't imagine trying to coach a high school sport with only 1 1/2 hours/day for practice. Having the class helps too but even so, that is really a short practice time. Most sports here work out fine with marching band-the only exceptions are volleyball and that is because they have tournaments every Saturday and the band has competitions every Saturday so you would have to miss too much of one to do the other and girls soccer because the soccer coach won't let the kids be in marching band. We even have football players in the marching band, they just march the half-time show in their football pants and band uniform top.

 

[mickeymo]

Our band is 90 mins during the day and they practice music inside. Marching band afterschool is 2 hrs/4days a week. We are having the added rehearsal next Sat from 8-3. If you're in mb you are excused from PE for that year. Kids only need 2 semesters of PE in hs, so 2 years in mb takes care of it.

.

A PE waiver is nice isn't it? Like your kids, our state requires 2 semesters of PE - marching band, cheerleading, and drill team are granted PE waivers for fall semester. 2 years of band also takes care of your PE credit.