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

[KiminChicago]

I'm so glad that I get to miss tonight's game -- it's cold out there! DS has a Boy Scout camping trip, so he got the band director's ok to miss this one game. I hate it when things conflict, but DS is the only Scout who's in the marching band, and none of the other boys are on the football team either, so this weekend is only a problem for him and not the rest of the troop.

Next week the school is closed on both Friday (teachers' in school training day) and Monday (Columbus Day), but we can't sneak away for a mini-vacation because there's a home game next Friday too. Who schedules a football game on a four day weekend?

 

[jdb in AZ]

Just got a text from the boy. He would like me to run home and get him his under armor shirt, his wind pants, another pair of socks and TWO sweatshirts. He said it is bitterly cold out in the wind. The rain has stopped - for now - but the wind is still blowing pretty good.

This is going to be one fun football game. The concessions had better crank up a couple of coffee makers and heat up a lot of water. I forsee lots of coffee and hot chocolate sales tonight!

Wow. We can only dream of cool weather here in Arizona. When DD was in marching band and participated in a major festival, students from out of state wore their wool uniforms, and more than one of them passed out from the heat. In October.

When it came time to choose a university, she wanted to attend Northwestern but when she found out she'd need a plastic mouthpiece so her lips wouldn't freeze to her metal mouthpiece, she changed her mind and graduated from Arizona State.

 

[klj27]

Is anyone going to BOA regionals tomorrow? We will be in Mason, OH. I am chaperoning and we have to be at school at 7am. It will be a very long day.

 

[Katy Belle]

Wow, am I ever tired! We went to the away game last night, picked up DS when he got back at 12:40. To bed at 1, up at 5:30. He has to be to the field to practice at 7, I will come home, take a power nap, and be up there by 8:20. I'm riding on the bus to help chaperone the contest today

We won the game in the last second...literally! The last 40 seconds of the game were truly unbelievable. Our team did some weird on side kick thing, and ended up with possesion of the ball and went on to throw TWO incomplete passes in the end zone ,and the THIRD, he caught it!!! With zero time on the board!!!! So we won by 3 points! Best game ever.

Our trailer is finally ready so we get to use it today!!!!!!!!! Looking forward to seeing it!

Good luck to everyone at contests today!

 

[Pembo]

How did all our bands do this weekend? We had an away game on Fri night. I didn't go...it rained and rained and rained. Ds said there were hardly any fans there and it was COLD! Temps were down in the low 40's! brrrr

Our next comp is next Sat and we are up against alot of great bands. We just need a superior rating to qualify for state. The weather this week is supposed to be sunny so they should get some good practices in. Away game Fri nite, band comp Sat nite, the band is staying at a hotel and going to an indoor waterpark on Sun. It's their fall trip in a non-Disney year.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

My son's band tied for first and highest score of the night. Never knew there could be a tie for first place. Two competitions so far - two first place awards. They also won best percussion, best visuals and best over-all effect.

 

[momof1princess]

well, our homecoming game was friday night, and what a huge crowd! as our concession stand managers are new to the job (and received no instructions from the outgoing band booster officers), we were unprepared and ran out of hot dogs, chicken sandwiches and pizza before the game was even half over! we also ran out of bottled water, because our drink case went berserk and was freezing everything! the bottled water was frozen solid, and the soft drinks were getting there! we ran out of sunflower seeds and sour punch straws (the kids love those), and we had NO lollipops of any kind. one of our volunteers dropped a crock pot lid (glass) and cut her hand open in several spots...oh my, it was a heck of a night. but our team won, 38-10, and the band was great!

something that makes me REALLY angry....when DD14 got back to the band room after the game, she set her clarinet on her chair, then went to take off her uniform. well, the girl who sits in the chair next to her knocked eryn's clarinet off with her trumpet, and now DD's mouthpiece is broken and her ligature is bent! i'm not sure the extended warranty i bought covers this, but i'm taking it to the music store in the morning to find out. if not...hello, unexpected expense!

 

[Katy Belle]

Boy am I tired! 4 1/2 hours of sleep Friday night and all day at the contest yesterday. Got home at 1am.

Really fun day at the contest! we used our semi trailer for the first time! It made things so easy. The kids were all awesome and so much fun. Its a great place to volunteer. We qualified for finals and got 11th place. Not great, but better than nothing! Saw some awesome shows! Next week is at Broken Arrow and there will be 25 bands! Im helping with uniforms, but not riding the bus next week. Looking forward to more fun!

 

[jen0610]

DS was so right about it being cold Friday night. The wind was blowing in our faces. Many thanks were given that the rain had let up and that we only got a slight sprinkling in the 2nd quarter.

With as cold as it was and as crappy as it was on the football field, the director made the call to not do uniforms. He just let the kids wear what they had on. And seeing as it was spirit day for homecoming week, the majority of the band had on something orange and/or brown. The homecoming queen is a member of the band, so they were pretty jazzed when she was crowned. The band actually had a good showing on the court, 2 seniors up for the crown and 1 senior escort. The director dismissed the band after half time, since we had districts on saturday. The less time out in the cold the better.

Districs we placed 2nd!! All 5 of the class A bands got a gold rating, which means all us qualified for regionals. Yea!! Loved the changes that they made to the show. It's interesting to see how much a small change can improve the show. Feel good moment of the day, we had several of the parents from our major competiton tell us how much they love our show and if we aren't at state, they have no clue what the judges are looking for.

Next week is going to be the busy competition weekend. We staying in town, but doing two shows. The 1st one, is the place to be if your in A class. We have 9 bands in the line up. After this show, we will have to load everything up, move across town to the next show. Once there it is feed 120 kids, plus about 40 adults - staff, pit crew and bus moms. Spot clean the uniforms and get the kids redressed. We should be on the field performing somewhere in the time frame of 9 to 10 p.m. The weather forecast is calling for it to be in the 70's all this week and into the weekend. Here's to hoping that stay true.

 

[Gina]

How did all our bands do this weekend? We had an away game on Fri night. I didn't go...it rained and rained and rained. Ds said there were hardly any fans there and it was COLD! Temps were down in the low 40's! brrrr

I am sitting here trying so hard to even imagine it being in the 40's anywhere in October... That's just completely incomprehensible to me. And "rain", I had to Google. But I'd take it in a heartbeat!! We're actually having super-nice (for us) weather right now -- lows in the mid-50's and highs in the mid-upper 80's. At least for a few days... back to the 90's by mid-week.

Congrats to all the bands doing so well in comps this past week!!! I'm thrilled -- the Pride of Pearland Band took 2nd this weekend at an annual marching contest of 30 bands in this general part of the state. Was a lot of fun, and they really did look great! Then they trucked on over to their away game that evening, where the football team won 56-21. Woot!!

DS was excited -- said they (the band) had a hand in it this time. I forgot what the term is, but I think all the bands have a short piece of music that really blasts, that they play to rattle the opposing football team? Well they played theirs just as the center was to snap the ball to the QB for a shotgun pass, and the center totally startled and dropped the ball. Our team grabbed it and ran it in for a TD, and my son said it was quite the exciting moment for the band.

This weekend we just have a home game, but then the next two weekends have really big comps out of town for the band. The band that got 1st place this weekend is also the defending champ of the contest next weekend. They're just a really, really good band, super-precise but very fluid at the same time. Hard to beat, but we're going to try again!

 

[marcyinPA]

Another away game this past Friday. We didn't go. Another away game this coming Friday. Not sure if we're going. Our team won this past. Should win this coming.

The band did great from what my DS16 said. By the time I see their show again, they should have it perfected

We have one more parade to go, and of course the football games, and then Hawaii in November. Still trying to pay the balance on that one.

This season seems to be flying....maybe because of all the rain, cancellations, and away games?

Because we don't do the band competitions like the rest of you, I feel like I don't have much to contribute.

 

[jen0610]

Another away game this past Friday. We didn't go. Another away game this coming Friday. Not sure if we're going. Our team won this past. Should win this coming.

The band did great from what my DS16 said. By the time I see their show again, they should have it perfected

We have one more parade to go, and of course the football games, and then Hawaii in November. Still trying to pay the balance on that one.

This season seems to be flying....maybe because of all the rain, cancellations, and away games?

Because we don't do the band competitions like the rest of you, I feel like I don't have much to contribute.

We're talking about an activity that all of our kids love to do, so no matter how big or small the band, a competing band or not, you still contribute to our little ol' thread. Plus you can live vicariously thru those of us who do compete without acutally having to pull the a day trips, sitting in freezing cold weather - or sweltering weather for our TX friends - for hours to watch your kid be on the field for 15 minuts, cars that gets a flat at midnight on the way home from a competition. You get all the fun stuff - other than paying off a trip to Hawaii

And for your viewing pleasure, here is the kids performance at districts this weekend.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZSyzvt7QOg

 

[Pembo]

I am sitting here trying so hard to even imagine it being in the 40's anywhere in October... That's just completely incomprehensible to me. And "rain", I had to Google. But I'd take it in a heartbeat!! We're actually having super-nice (for us) weather right now -- lows in the mid-50's and highs in the mid-upper 80's. At least for a few days... back to the 90's by mid-week.

If I could I'd send you a lot of rain!!! Come on up for a visit and take some home. There were areas in Ohio that saw SNOW this past weekend. Not a lot but enough to notice. It's supposed to warm up this week, high 60's.

DS came home and said their director got so angry today that he gave himself a timeout and went in his office to cool down. I like that he was able to walk away instead of saying something he would regret. He told the kids he didn't want to go crazy and have it put on youtube.

 

[Nickimouse]

I am sitting here trying so hard to even imagine it being in the 40's anywhere in October... That's just completely incomprehensible to me. And "rain", I had to Google. But I'd take it in a heartbeat!! We're actually having super-nice (for us) weather right now -- lows in the mid-50's and highs in the mid-upper 80's. At least for a few days... back to the 90's by mid-week.

Congrats to all the bands doing so well in comps this past week!!! I'm thrilled -- the Pride of Pearland Band took 2nd this weekend at an annual marching contest of 30 bands in this general part of the state. Was a lot of fun, and they really did look great!

Funny about the weather, so true! Except for thursday afternoon/evening. My Mom flew in from S.C. and was delayed in Louisiana for 3 hours. No rain for months until she comes to visit. Her visit was to see my son play at their football game friday and his competition Sat. at (it's a small world) Galena Park!
Congrats to Pearland, I think my son said his bands scores, Barbers Hill Eagles (AAAA), put them in 8th place.(don't quote me on that) Their show needs cleaned up (just finished the end last week) and I can't wait until the 22nd to see it again!
My son plays with an ensemble playing the Mexican Hat Dance and also plays a trumpet (him) and french horn duet. I was so proud of him I cried! It doesn't help it's his senior year.

 

[Gina]

Funny about the weather, so true! Except for thursday afternoon/evening. My Mom flew in from S.C. and was delayed in Louisiana for 3 hours. No rain for months until she comes to visit. Her visit was to see my son play at their football game friday and his competition Sat. at (it's a small world) Galena Park!
Congrats to Pearland, I think my son said his bands scores, Barbers Hill Eagles (AAAA), put them in 8th place.(don't quote me on that) Their show needs cleaned up (just finished the end last week) and I can't wait until the 22nd to see it again!

Definitely a small world!! Thanks, and congrats on the top 10 placement! I was sure wishing I could have seen Brazoswood -- they are just so good. I'm not at all surprised they took 1st. But we have another shot at them on the 15th!

That's so cool that your mom flew in just to see your son perform... I just wish she would have drug some of that rain in with her!

 

[momof1princess]

last band competition is saturday - i hope our band gets all 1s this time (no, we're not BOA). DD14 was SO disappointed when they made a 2 overall at the last competition (1 is the highest). DH will be working, so i'll ride the band bus with DD. the competition is 63 miles away, so riding the bus means no spent gas and no paying to park! he's also working friday night, so i'll ride the bus to the away game-no paying to park and no paying to get in (bus chaperones don't pay admission)!
DD14 is barely hanging onto a B in algebra 1 (pre-AP, she's in 8th grade), and a C means beta club probation and expulsion if she can't bring it up, so i had to tell her if she didn't keep that B, she'd have to drop out of the band. she's already out of ballet due to band, so i've got no other leverage. i hate to do it, because she loves it so much, but she's developed a serious case of the teenage lazies, doesn't want to study, and thinks mama doesn't know what she's talking about. i'm hoping our come to jesus meeting last night did the trick, because honestly, i LOVE watching her march. she's really good.

 

[wowsmom]

We had our first competition on Satuday....as in, first ever! Our school has only been re-opened for about 10 years, so things started small and more things are gradually being added.

Anyway, we're Class (Division?) 2A and had 2 other bands in that category. We placed third. DS14 was . I pointed out to him that it was our first time ever competing...and it probably didn't help when the clarinet player fell down, not to mention at least 2 or 3 kids being out of place at one point (DS being one of them! )....and numerous flags were dropped.

Oh yeah, and then there was the fact that our band started playing before the announcer said "the judges are ready".

I will say we SOUNDED great....and did improve as the show went on. Our show has 4 songs and most of the other bands did 2 or 3 songs.

It was cool to see the bigger bands (the host band had 260 kids...we have about 60).

We have another competition this coming Saturday and I'm hoping things go better.

 

[Pembo]

Well our practice fields are very wet in fact the director just posted pics on FB where you can see the standing water and another pic with seagulls using the field as their daytime rest spot. LOL

The kids have not been able to march the entire show since their comp on the
24th and they have a comp this Saturday. Hopefully the sun of yesterday and today will dry out the field enough to allow them to practice today and tomorrow.

Anyone have a spare million to buy our school an astroturf field? Rumor has it that if you give the money you get the field named after you.

 

[jen0610]

Well our practice fields are very wet in fact the director just posted pics on FB where you can see the standing water and another pic with seagulls using the field as their daytime rest spot. LOL

The kids have not been able to march the entire show since their comp on the
24th and they have a comp this Saturday. Hopefully the sun of yesterday and today will dry out the field enough to allow them to practice today and tomorrow.

Anyone have a spare million to buy our school an astroturf field? Rumor has it that if you give the money you get the field named after you.

Have they ever thought about painting a practice field on the parking lot? Our kids get almost zero time on the actual football field. Even when I went to school here, the marching band's practice area was the back portion of the parking lot.

The parking lot lay out is painted in yellow and the football field outline is done in white. We actually have a tower build in the middle of the parking lot, so that the staff can go up and get the same view as judges would. I know of 1 other school here who has the same set up we do, except instead of a tower, they just have a lift they can go up on. And truthfully, if I had to take a guess, I would beat most of the other schools here, have the same set up for their marching bands. Very limited open space for football (freshman, JV, and varsity teams all having to practice), marching band, and boys and girls soccer practices.

 

[momof1princess]

Have they ever thought about painting a practice field on the parking lot? Our kids get almost zero time on the actual football field. Even when I went to school here, the marching band's practice area was the back portion of the parking lot.

The parking lot lay out is painted in yellow and the football field outline is done in white. We actually have a tower build in the middle of the parking lot, so that the staff can go up and get the same view as judges would. I know of 1 other school here who has the same set up we do, except instead of a tower, they just have a lift they can go up on. And truthfully, if I had to take a guess, I would beat most of the other schools here, have the same set up for their marching bands. Very limited open space for football (freshman, JV, and varsity teams all having to practice), marching band, and boys and girls soccer practices.

we have the same thing. our band NEVER gets to be on the football field, except during home football games, because they perform at halftime. for daily practices, they have an area marked off at the FAR end of the football field's parking lot, and that is where they work each afternoon. no tower though, we do it the redneck way, lol, our band director sits on top of his pickup truck and observes.