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

[KiminChicago]

Parking lot here too. Our band director uses a step ladder, no tower.

 

[Finding Gigi]

Just found this thread. Totally awesome to read about other bands. My husband is an assistant director for a middle school marching band. They have something every weekend until Nov 19 then 2 Christmas parades. We grew up in marching band. Miss it. Wish we had marched with Riverside Community College when we had the chance. Our daughter is 7 and already has her daddy's trombone out. Don't miss the cold nights though. Have a great season.

 

[Gina]

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.

That's how ours is, in the parking lot also with a huge tower. The parking lot has the usual spaces painted for cars, but also is completely gridded out for the band in different colors as well. Besides the varsity football team, there are 4 other jv teams that use the field for practice and games... the band would never get time on the grass.

And for your viewing pleasure, here is the kids performance at districts this weekend.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZSyzvt7QOg

Is there any way you could give me search terms for the video? I was really wanting to watch it, but have been so busy by the time I get home. And here at work, I can't access You Tube at all. But I could search for it on my phone!

 

[jen0610]

Is there any way you could give me search terms for the video? I was really wanting to watch it, but have been so busy by the time I get home. And here at work, I can't access You Tube at all. But I could search for it on my phone!

The video title is Northrop BOP @ Homestead 10-1-11.

The rankings that the one website puts out, has us ranked 11th in the state for Class A bands. WOO-HOOOO!!!! Before districts, we were ranked 14th. We jumped up over 3 bands that are major competition for us. One was 6th at state last year. This will pump up our kids so much!!!

 

[Pembo]

The band here has it's own practice field. I know, weird. Where I went to school we had an awesome parking lot that never got muddy. The football team practices on another field. However the soccer team uses our field some too. Anyway it's a mess. The director has a tower on wheels that he uses on the field.

"Back in my day" ...the parking lot was across from the school and the director (who was my brother) used to stand on the fence to see! So unsafe....

Last year they didn't have this mud problem at all. The rainfall amounts here this year are way above normal. I can remember the last time it rained that much in September. The director may have to start looking for a parking lot to paint...

 

[lovegrumpy]

We also have the parking lot set up. Occasionally we get the football field. I have a question. For those who have gone with there band to WDW how did you guys do it. I plan on going as a chaperoning but dh and the youngest also wanna come. I just wanna know if its worth them coming.

 

[Katy Belle]

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 a parking lot painted like a football field too. They rope it off to keep people from parking on it! We have a tower on the north end, that the Directors use. The Drum majors use the portable smaller towers.

Do most of you have Middle School Marching Band? We do not here. The 8th graders get to play in the stands at the football game this Friday, with the HS band, and stand on the field and play the fight song after the HS marching show. That is it. The rest is concert band.

 

[jen0610]

We have a parking lot painted like a football field too. They rope it off to keep people from parking on it! We have a tower on the north end, that the Directors use. The Drum majors use the portable smaller towers.

Do most of you have Middle School Marching Band? We do not here. The 8th graders get to play in the stands at the football game this Friday, with the HS band, and stand on the field and play the fight song after the HS marching show. That is it. The rest is concert band.

The school district we are in, does not have middle school marching band. A few of the middle schools in surrounding school districts do.

Here in our district, 8th graders can march in the high school band, if they are accepted by the director or if you make color guard. I know of 4 8th graders marching with us this year. The only 8th graders that can't march, are those that are enrolled at the magnet school and those that transfered to a school other than their home school.

We don't have to rope off our marching area. The kids that drive to school, all know that they have to be outta that area by a set time. If they aren't, the car gets towed and they lose the permit to drive to school. It's stated in the agreement they sign to purchase a parking permit. So, they are REALLY good about moving their cars outta the way asap after school lets out.

About the only time we have to rope it off, is during the summer on the days of school registration. Or if there is something going on in the stadium/gym by the middle schools. All the city title games for the middle schools are held at our school.

 

[KiminChicago]

No middle school marching band, and most freshmen don't march either.

I'm still trying to figure out how the music curriculum at the high school is set up. Most freshmen start out in Concert Band, but DS was bumped up to Symphonic Band. Apparently, Symphonic Band members are automatically in Marching Band during football season and Concert Band members are in Pep Band during basketball season. There's also the Wind Ensemble which DS is in and two levels of orchestra -- freshmen start out in the lower level, upperclassmen are in the upper. By virtue of his seat placement at auditions, DS is also in the upper level Orchestra. I have no idea if this means we will attend multiple concert nights or if they all perform on one night. There is a Parent Open House at the end of the month for all the elective classes, so I hope to have it explained to me then!

And added to the mix for me is DD who is in the middle school orchestra and also in Chorus, so there are at least two concerts to attend every quarter for the middle school, in addition to whatever high school concerts there are. Last year when DS was in 8th grade band, we had three concerts every quarter at the middle school. DS was in Chorus too, so the choral concerts were the only times DH and I got to listen in peace, without someone complaining about being forced to attend the sibling's performance.

 

[mickeymo]

The band reserves the district football stadium once a week during October/competition season otherwise, their practices are on a section of the student parking lot. There's a tow truck on standby at the start of practice (30 minutes after school ends) to tow any remaining cars. Last year, the football coach's car was towed... I'm not sure why he wasn't parked in the teacher's lot, I guess the student lot is closest to the gym/locker rooms. He knew the policy, plus there is daily reminders on announcements.

Friday is our jr. high night with the marching band, too - they will play in the stands with the band and watch the show from the sidelines. Our jr. high bands are also just concert bands.

The jr high bands will play stand tunes at one 8th grade football game, and it's their "alumni" game where the high school (and some college kids) return and play in the band along side of the jr high kids. Everyone looks forward to that game. I'm not sure the jr high football parents do though, the alumni band and the jr high bands take over the entire stands at the middle school.

 

[Katy Belle]

DS Tuba Dude is sick I was in the band room, removing mold from rain ponchos... when he shuffled in looking bad and sounding worse. Sore throat, head ache, etc. I felt his forehead and it was sweaty, but not really hot. He'd taken 2 advil before band at 6:30 a.m., because his throat hurt then.

They learned about 12 new "sets" in the past 2 days and tonight is the big 3 hr practice where they put it all together. He's here on the couch. Hoping to get him to practice in the morning and the game tomorrow night. Feeling like band is more important than school...ugh! At the contest Sat they have an early time slot, so no time for a practice then. Depending how he feels..he may have to miss it.

Oh the stress of marching band!

 

[momof1princess]

We have a parking lot painted like a football field too. They rope it off to keep people from parking on it! We have a tower on the north end, that the Directors use. The Drum majors use the portable smaller towers.

Do most of you have Middle School Marching Band? We do not here. The 8th graders get to play in the stands at the football game this Friday, with the HS band, and stand on the field and play the fight song after the HS marching show. That is it. The rest is concert band.

we're a small, rural high school, and don't have a middle school marching band either. our kids start band in 6th grade, and those who choose to do so may march in the HS marching band in 8th grade, and can march every year after that. DD14 LOVES being in the band. DH and i were absolutely sure she'd quit, because she becomes very easily frustrated if she doesn't pick something up right away, but she's stuck with it for 2 years, and is marching this year as an 8th grader. we figured band camp would cure her of the band bug this past summer, but we were wrong again...the harder they worked, the more she enjoyed it! lol

 

[jen0610]

DS Tuba Dude is sick I was in the band room, removing mold from rain ponchos... when he shuffled in looking bad and sounding worse. Sore throat, head ache, etc. I felt his forehead and it was sweaty, but not really hot. He'd taken 2 advil before band at 6:30 a.m., because his throat hurt then.

They learned about 12 new "sets" in the past 2 days and tonight is the big 3 hr practice where they put it all together. He's here on the couch. Hoping to get him to practice in the morning and the game tomorrow night. Feeling like band is more important than school...ugh! At the contest Sat they have an early time slot, so no time for a practice then. Depending how he feels..he may have to miss it.

Oh the stress of marching band!

Ewwwwww!!! I don't think I could help do that job!!

Isn't it amazing to watch the kids learn and put new sets into the show in a short amount of time. Two weeks ago, a bunch of us band moms, were taking about how we hadn't made any changes to the show yet this year and that it was really suprising. Several of the new moms, were shocked that there would be major changes. All the old moms laughed and told them last year we had done changes to 70 measures the week of semi-state. The one mom about fell outta her seat.

We just got home from their late practice and I didn't count out the measures, but I saw at least 6 changes. Two big ones, they are adding something to the jackets and the kids will be pulling it across their chests covering up the decoration that is on it. They are also going to be taking their shako's off and setting them down. I asked DS how in the heck they are going to gather them all up and clear the field without getting a time deduction. According to him, they have it all under control.

 

[marcyinPA]

We have a parking lot painted like a football field too. They rope it off to keep people from parking on it! We have a tower on the north end, that the Directors use. The Drum majors use the portable smaller towers.

Do most of you have Middle School Marching Band? We do not here. The 8th graders get to play in the stands at the football game this Friday, with the HS band, and stand on the field and play the fight song after the HS marching show. That is it. The rest is concert band.

All four of our middle schools have marching bands. They march in parades, in full uniform. They do not do field shows. They also have concert band (if you are in marching band, you are also in concert band), orchestra, and jazz band. The middle schools feed into two high schools. The kids have three years of experience (6th-8th grades) before they enter HS, so most of them already know how to march and stay in step. The HS bands just have to teach them their own style of marching, etc., and they learn the shows.

We are blessed that our district has and has always had a very strong arts program- one of the few things that has not been cut due to budget issues. Of course, the bands are fully self-sustaining, with the exception of the directors salaries. Even at the MS level, the band parent organizations raise the funds to keep the bands afloat.

My DS12 is in 7th grade, is a percussionist, and is in the marching/concert band, orchestra, and jazz band.

 

[marcyinPA]

DS Tuba Dude is sick I was in the band room, removing mold from rain ponchos... when he shuffled in looking bad and sounding worse. Sore throat, head ache, etc. I felt his forehead and it was sweaty, but not really hot. He'd taken 2 advil before band at 6:30 a.m., because his throat hurt then.

They learned about 12 new "sets" in the past 2 days and tonight is the big 3 hr practice where they put it all together. He's here on the couch. Hoping to get him to practice in the morning and the game tomorrow night. Feeling like band is more important than school...ugh! At the contest Sat they have an early time slot, so no time for a practice then. Depending how he feels..he may have to miss it.

Oh the stress of marching band!

I hope he feels better soon! Make sure he washes his mouthpiece really well!

 

[Pembo]

DS Tuba Dude - Feel better fast! I hope he is able to march! Doesn't he know you're only allowed to be sick on Mondays during marching band season.

No junior high marching bands here. We had them when I was in jr high. We marched a couple elem school Halloween parades, one football thing, and the Memorial Day parade.

Now the 8th graders get to go on the field with the hs for one football game. They march on, play a song, and march off. They hang out with the band for the whole game. I'm excited for it this year...I'll have a hs and a ms. My ms is looking forward to receiving extra attention since he knows a lot of the hs's from his brother.

GAME TONIGHT! The last two weeks were rainy and cold. Last Friday it was 40 here. Tonight's forecast is 70 at game time. The temps fall pretty quick when the sun goes down but the kids won't freeze or be too hot. We are going to a big comp. tomorrow and the weather is again supposed to be beautiful. Hoping for a superior rating to qualify for state.....

Good luck to all my DIS bands this weekend.

 

[jen0610]

DS Tuba Dude - Feel better fast! I hope he is able to march! Doesn't he know you're only allowed to be sick on Mondays during marching band season.

No junior high marching bands here. We had them when I was in jr high. We marched a couple elem school Halloween parades, one football thing, and the Memorial Day parade.

Now the 8th graders get to go on the field with the hs for one football game. They march on, play a song, and march off. They hang out with the band for the whole game. I'm excited for it this year...I'll have a hs and a ms. My ms is looking forward to receiving extra attention since he knows a lot of the hs's from his brother.

GAME TONIGHT! The last two weeks were rainy and cold. Last Friday it was 40 here. Tonight's forecast is 70 at game time. The temps fall pretty quick when the sun goes down but the kids won't freeze or be too hot. We are going to a big comp. tomorrow and the weather is again supposed to be beautiful. Hoping for a superior rating to qualify for state.....

Good luck to all my DIS bands this weekend.

The weather is nutso!! Last weekend, we sat freezing our rears off friday night at the football game then saturday at a competition. No football game tonight, but they are calling for a high of 83 on Saturday!! It's crazy!!! I post on my FB, that the weather needs to make up it's mind and either stay warm until the end of marching season or go cold and let us break out out parkas, mittens, and blankets to bundle up in. This hot, cold, hot, cold changing is for the birds. It keeps it up, we'll end up with a bunch of sick band kids by the time state rolls around in 3 weeks.

Good luck at competition. This weekend is just invitationals. Next weekend is regionals, then semi-state. At semi-state, you pray to place 10th or better to make it to state. With us moving up in the rankings, I hope the kids keep up the drive to get there.

 

[Katy Belle]

Well, DS Tuba Dude marched. They learned those 12 sets without him, all at the end of the show. When the show ended the tubas were in 2 nice straight lines...with Tuba Dude standing right between them He just hasn't learned it yet! But hopefully at contest tomorrow he will end it correctly. Another tuba player is sick, and left after half time too, and yet another is injured and LIMPING! What a mess. If they all stayed home it would ruin the show...so all are going.

They leave for the contest at 6:30. I'm going too and will hopefully be able to bring him home following preliminaries. I'm thinking our chances of making Finals are slim...but no one likes it when I say that I will have a heart to heart with the Director and see if he will let us leave after their preliminary show. We can drive back if they make Finals...it will be tight if they are first up...but what are the chances of that!

Good luck to all tomorrow!

Oh, our 8th graders played in the stands and were to play the fight song on the field. The HS started without them! It was kind of a mess and they ended up playiing it over and over until all the 8th graders were on the field. Oh well, great fun anyway!

 

[KiminChicago]

Tonight was the last home football of the season -- no more marching until December and the village Christmas parade. The seniors were all given the uniform caps to wear for one last time. DS says the band is so large this year they don't have enough caps for everyone in the band to wear one, so they will be bare-headed for the Christmas parade -- I hope we don't have one of those 8 degree days we've had in previous years!

Since it was the last game, all the senior football players, dancers, cheerleaders and band members walked the track with the parents, except that none of the seniors in the band this year wanted to walk with their parents. I told DS he'd better get used to the idea that I'm going to be walking that track with him when he's a senior -- if I can get my butt out to all the games, he'd better not think to deny me that chance to show how proud I am of him!

 

[momof1princess]

we've got 3 more games left. the team we played tonight hasn't one a game all year, and we beat them 41-0. i felt bad about that, i don't know why, lol, but i always do.

tomorrow is our 2nd and last competition of the season i'm sad it's almost over. i'm going to miss spending every weekend with my friends and the other band moms! we have to leave the HS for the contest at 11:00 am! we don't perform until 2:40pm, but it's going to take us about 2 hours to get there, and we need to allow extra time for traffic, and for the band to get dressed and warm up.