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

[golfgal]

Saturday night turned out a lot better than the forecast called for. Was a great night for marching band. Was able to sit in the stands in a short sleeved shirt, it was so nice. Even if it had rained, the field wouldn't have been an issue, as the school put in turf over the summer. It was a nice field to march on, per the kids.

Placed 3rd of 5 in the A class, with a score of 66.40. We only did the opener and ballad. Here's a link to a video someone took. They didn't use a tri-pod, so it's a bit shakey at times.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ht1sz1aihbw

Nice job. I kept thinking about cleaning the uniforms after muddy fields though .

So, I go to the end of practice today and what do I see, they added the kids rolling around on the ground . I guess they practiced it earlier on the football field, after they had been watering all day. Some of the kids were dripping wet .

 

[jen0610]

So, I go to the end of practice today and what do I see, they added the kids rolling around on the ground . I guess they practiced it earlier on the football field, after they had been watering all day. Some of the kids were dripping wet .

I swear, do the drill writers actually stop and think about the possible negative outcome from adding these "moves". And the really sad part for us, our drill writer, is a graduate of the high school and was in marching band. He should know how it is on our marching circuit and the weather we deal with in Sept and Oct. I can take wet knees from knealing down, but to lay flat out on the ground .

I did look at the schedule. We only have 3 more home games and 2 competitions on a natural grass field. The other 5 competitions, possible 6 if we make state, are all on turf. Atleast with turf, it shouldn't be muddy and whatever rain should fall, should be draining off the field nicely, without leaving puddles for the kids to lay in. So with a bit of luck, maybe we will avoid having the kids soaking wet.

The lady in charge of uniforms told us that she talked to our director and let him know, that if the fields are wet any of the 3 remaining home games and he has them do the full drill, she's not making him any promises that they - the moms who take care of the uniforms - will be able to get them cleaned and ready to go for the competition on Saturday.

And I hear ya on the being soaked after practice. Last Thursday was their late night. It rained - ALL DAY. By the time I picked the boy up at 8, he was soaked. I'd had him grab a spare jacket I had in the car, when I dropped him off dinner, so atleast he didn't have to wear his 100 lb wet sweatshirt all night long. And ya, they were doing full out runs. Thank goodness he wore navy blue shorts that day instead of his white ones.

 

[golfgal]

I swear, do the drill writers actually stop and think about the possible negative outcome from adding these "moves". And the really sad part for us, our drill writer, is a graduate of the high school and was in marching band. He should know how it is on our marching circuit and the weather we deal with in Sept and Oct. I can take wet knees from knealing down, but to lay flat out on the ground .

I did look at the schedule. We only have 3 more home games and 2 competitions on a natural grass field. The other 5 competitions, possible 6 if we make state, are all on turf. Atleast with turf, it shouldn't be muddy and whatever rain should fall, should be draining off the field nicely, without leaving puddles for the kids to lay in. So with a bit of luck, maybe we will avoid having the kids soaking wet.

The lady in charge of uniforms told us that she talked to our director and let him know, that if the fields are wet any of the 3 remaining home games and he has them do the full drill, she's not making him any promises that they - the moms who take care of the uniforms - will be able to get them cleaned and ready to go for the competition on Saturday.

And I hear ya on the being soaked after practice. Last Thursday was their late night. It rained - ALL DAY. By the time I picked the boy up at 8, he was soaked. I'd had him grab a spare jacket I had in the car, when I dropped him off dinner, so atleast he didn't have to wear his 100 lb wet sweatshirt all night long. And ya, they were doing full out runs. Thank goodness he wore navy blue shorts that day instead of his white ones.

I am going to guess that if the fields are very wet/muddy they will just go down on one knee like they have. A few years ago we were at a competition and the field was terrible. We were the last band to perform and the directors walked all over the field trying to decide if we would even go on. They did but the colorguard didn't do half of their "stuff" because they would have been mud caked at the end.

We have a LOT of white on our uniforms

 

[jen0610]

You just gotta love band kids!!

Apperently DS broke a cardnial rule of the low brass section. He owes his section leader and the rest of them a package of halloween double stuffed oreo's for the bus ride on Sat. It has to be the halloween ones, because they match the schools colors - brown and orange.

The cardnial rule he broke - he's crushing on a flute player. According to the section leader, DS is to "saxy" for a flute player.

 

[mickeymo]

You just gotta love band kids!!

Apperently DS broke a cardnial rule of the low brass section. He owes his section leader and the rest of them a package of halloween double stuffed oreo's for the bus ride on Sat. It has to be the halloween ones, because they match the schools colors - brown and orange.

The cardnial rule he broke - he's crushing on a flute player. According to the section leader, DS is to "saxy" for a flute player.

DS, a jr trombone player, would have to bring cookies weekly, he's dating a flute player.

Actually, I'm making a triple batch of cookies on game day anyway, DD and DS are both on the trombone line, they each get a batch for their friends (which pretty much guarantees the low brass will get cookies) plus, DS is on the loading crew, so they get a batch...

 

[Katy Belle]

Good luck to all Marchers tonight!

Homecoming here tonight and the band MUST wear their uniforms for Homecoming... and its pouring rain. We located the ponchos... does it count as wearing uniforms if they are covered by ponchos??? I've been working with the Uniform Mom all week, we are finally finished...two pair of pants being fixed this afternoon and will pull out the XXL shakos after we move the tote bags out after school... if we march in uniform! Looking forward to seeing them all dressed up. Turf here, and no on the ground moves in the portion of the show I've seen! Black bibbers for us, some white in the jackets. Hoping the rain will stop and we will have a lovely evening!

 

[momof1princess]

good luck to everyone! we're driving about 1.5 hours to a small, country high school, and the band director says it's a pretty rough area (the band and football team will be getting police escorts in and out of the stadium! it's THAT bad!), so i'm hoping DH's permit to carry hasn't expired. it's a sad state of affairs when you need to carry a gun to watch a high school football game.

 

[Katy Belle]

good luck to everyone! we're driving about 1.5 hours to a small, country high school, and the band director says it's a pretty rough area (the band and football team will be getting police escorts in and out of the stadium! it's THAT bad!), so i'm hoping DH's permit to carry hasn't expired. it's a sad state of affairs when you need to carry a gun to watch a high school football game.

 

[KiminChicago]

Hey all, I hope it's alright to be a really proud mama and brag just a wee bit. DS came home the other day and told me that not only is he second chair and a member of the wind ensemble -- but by virtue of his chair placement, he is the only freshman performing with the school's symphonic orchestra. DS says that it's all really challenging -- the orchestra is playing pieces from "Phantom of the Opera" so he's working on that in addition to the pieces for the band and wind ensemble. I can't wait until I get to hear him in concert!

 

[jen0610]

good luck to everyone! we're driving about 1.5 hours to a small, country high school, and the band director says it's a pretty rough area (the band and football team will be getting police escorts in and out of the stadium! it's THAT bad!), so i'm hoping DH's permit to carry hasn't expired. it's a sad state of affairs when you need to carry a gun to watch a high school football game.

Katy Belle - you ain't lieing!!

I know for a fact, that there is no way in hell, DH would go see a game in an area that bad, carry permit or not. If our band played at away games, I know DH would be telling the band director that hell could freeze over before he'd let our kid travel to this site. That's just crazy!!!!

Quick questions. For those of you, who's bands travel to the way games and play, what do you perform? Do you march your show on the field at half time or just play snip-it's during time outs and change of possesions? If you perform at half time, how long is your half time?

We don't do this in our school district and none of the school districts directly around us do it, so it's something different for me to hear about. If our school were to do this, it would be a huge undertaking. 2 buses for the football team, 1 for the cheerleaders and the football overflow, 3 for the band, the bands semi trailer and our smaller color guard trailer.

 

[momof1princess]

i know! i called DH at work, and he said his permit is expired. i'm tempted to drive to the closest sporting goods store and buy a can of pepper spray.

Hey all, I hope it's alright to be a really proud mama and brag just a wee bit. DS came home the other day and told me that not only is he second chair and a member of the wind ensemble -- but by virtue of his chair placement, he is the only freshman performing with the school's symphonic orchestra. DS says that it's all really challenging -- the orchestra is playing pieces from "Phantom of the Opera" so he's working on that in addition to the pieces for the band and wind ensemble. I can't wait until I get to hear him in concert!

wow! congratulations to him! that's awesome! (i LOVE phantom!)

 

[Katy Belle]

We travel to out of town games. The band/color guard takes 4 buses, and two box trucks, at this time. Our semi trailer should be ready in about 2 weeks! I think Our foot ball team must take about 3 buses... Pom Squad and Cheerleaders probably take a bus. Our band plays "stand tunes" during the game, pep band stuff. At some games they do their show at half time. Last week the other HS had a very, very small band and a short show, and our show was short because they had just learned part of it. Both bands finished in the 20 minute half time. I remember last year they did their show before the football game. Any marching on other fields helps them to prepare for contests. AT some games they only play pep band stuff. Some other bands come to our football games, but not all. At the one home game this year, there was no band on the Visitors side.

 

[KiminChicago]

None of the bands in our area travel to away games so during our pre-game show our band has a tradition of facing the visiting school and playing their teams fight song. Then they turn back to our side of the field and play our fight song. I'm not sure if that happens all over, but I think it's a nice touch.

 

[mickeymo]

Quick questions. For those of you, who's bands travel to the way games and play, what do you perform? Do you march your show on the field at half time or just play snip-it's during time outs and change of possesions? If you perform at half time, how long is your half time?

So far, I haven't been at a game in the past three years that the band hasn't been in attendance but after all this is Texas, the band is a vital part of a football game. There was one game that a band played in a contest about 2 1/2 hours from their school, traveled the 90 minutes to our 2:00 game, played through half time, qualified for contest finals, loaded the buses and traveled the 90 minutes back for the evening finals and then the 2 1/2 hours home late that night.

We will miss an away game this year to travel to BOA Atlanta and that was almost an act of Congress to get it approved. Who knew that it would be the end of the world if the school song and fight song weren't heard at a football game (Yes, that is heavy sarcasm but we almost didn't receive approval to go because the football game conflicted)

The home and away bands both play the school song at pre-game & most home bands also play the National Anthem - (our show choir sings the National Anthem A Capella)

We also play the school song for scoring & first downs and various stand tunes when our team is on defense (our football coaches have requested we refrain from playing on offense, unless it's a first down conversion). Half time is 25 minutes (I think) each school gets half- the order usually is:

1) away drill team - officers routine to school song played by band
2) away drill team performance - accompanied by band - one of the following: chair, pom, jazz, kick, drill, or dad's routine.
3) away band performance - (usually just a portion of the show if it's a competition band - about 5 minutes)
The the same is repeated by the home school.

Each department is in charge of their own transportation arrangements - 5 band/guard buses & semi truck, 1 cheerleader bus, 2 football busses, 1 drill team bus. The school pays for transportation to UIL events (games, region/area/state contest) and the band pays transportation for all non-UIL contests - BOA & local independent contests.

I should explain also, our conference is made up of 8 teams and the furthest we travel for an out of district game is about 45-60 minutes, the farthest non-conference was 90 minutes away. 10 game schedule = 7 conference games and 3 non-conference; 5 home and 5 away. However, four of the conference schools are in our district and the four schools share one competition stadium. We are traveling , regardless if we are home or away.

Homecoming is the only time our band will play our entire competition show as a pre-game show. At that half time, the band will play for the two drill team numbers and then the Theme from Ice Castles (very cheesy but it's a tradition ) for the Homecoming court/queen introductions and awards.

 

[mickeymo]

yikes - sorry that was long winded!

It's an open weekend - no football, no practice

 

[marcyinPA]

good luck to everyone! we're driving about 1.5 hours to a small, country high school, and the band director says it's a pretty rough area (the band and football team will be getting police escorts in and out of the stadium! it's THAT bad!), so i'm hoping DH's permit to carry hasn't expired. it's a sad state of affairs when you need to carry a gun to watch a high school football game.

Gosh, we are an inner city school, and play some other inner city schools, and we don't have to "pack" to go to a game. It's too bad that you feel so unsafe there! I hope it goes without a hitch!

 

[marcyinPA]

Katy Belle - you ain't lieing!!

I know for a fact, that there is no way in hell, DH would go see a game in an area that bad, carry permit or not. If our band played at away games, I know DH would be telling the band director that hell could freeze over before he'd let our kid travel to this site. That's just crazy!!!!

Quick questions. For those of you, who's bands travel to the way games and play, what do you perform? Do you march your show on the field at half time or just play snip-it's during time outs and change of possesions? If you perform at half time, how long is your half time?

We don't do this in our school district and none of the school districts directly around us do it, so it's something different for me to hear about. If our school were to do this, it would be a huge undertaking. 2 buses for the football team, 1 for the cheerleaders and the football overflow, 3 for the band, the bands semi trailer and our smaller color guard trailer.

We play at all games, both home and away. The furthest away game was 2.5 hours away. Most of them are within a half-hour. Our school district stadium is right behind our HS, so easy traveling there! Our kids get school bused to all away games. We have 260 in our band- that's a lot of buses. The football team gets bused as well, and the cheerleaders, but they are separate from the band. We have nothing to do with them as far as travel and stuff go. Any instrument larger than a clarinet goes on the instrument truck, which is owned by our school district.

We do our field show at every half-time. We do pre-game at home games. We play in the stands (pep music). Pep music is big here...each section has their own special tradition of songs...it's fun to watch!

Our first home game is tonight. I'm so excited to see DS16 march!! They have had two away games in a row, so hopefully they've worked the kinks out of the show.

 

[jara1528]

None of the bands in our area travel to away games so during our pre-game show our band has a tradition of facing the visiting school and playing their teams fight song. Then they turn back to our side of the field and play our fight song. I'm not sure if that happens all over, but I think it's a nice touch.

I think maybe our kids are in the same band. We also live in the NW suburbs and the band plays the other teams fight song. I agree that it's a nice touch. Very welcoming to the visiting team.

 

[Katy Belle]

Well, we made it through our first night with uniforms! I helped with uniforms from 8:30 a.m.-10:30-a.m. Then again from 5 pm. - 6:30, and had to wait for one girl, who was playing volleyball, until 7:45. Then I watched half time, left for 40 minutes to eat dinner, and helped after the game, putting uniforms away and identifying problems, for about 45 minutes. Whew.

The good news, nearly all 105 uniforms fit...two left to fix fitting issues. The bad news... the rain made lots of dirt apparently and about 20 of the jackets have dirty problems! What sleeve and half of the bodice. Just not a good idea. And one boy's sleeve is streaked blue. He ran into a wall...a blue wall apparently. Gotta love the kids!

Their show looked super to me!!! I can't wait to see it at contest!

 

[Pembo]

We had an exciting night last night. The kids did the parts 2 & 3 of their competetion show and it was awesome! They just finished learning part 3 this week! We were at an away game. Next week is homecoming on Friday and our first comp on Sat. Can't wait to see the whole show put together with the stones.

The "other" band was big, loud and boring. They marched across the field, did a few pinwheels and stood there and played! One song was the pom squad feature, the next song was the flag feature. Those girls didn't march around, just stood in one place and did their thing. My son commented how loud the band was and how together the flags were and I said when you just stand in one place, you can perfect one thing.

Our band is constantly in motion and this years show is very fast. It's exciting to watch.

We were actually watching the football game when the quarterback got sacked and had to be taken off the field on a stretcher!!! Very scary...


What instruments are we representing on this thread???

I'm a trombone mom!