2013 Marching Band Thread

[Katy Belle]

It's funny to read that band is over or almost over for a lot of you. Band here NEVER ENDS. When you join band here, it is a year-long commitment. When parade and football season is over, they start working on concert band season. After the Spring concert (usually the end of March or beginning of April), things slow down, unless it is our turn to march in the Memorial Day parade (they rotate that between the three HS bands in the city). Generally, by April, band slows down, but they still have the class 1st block every other day, and they still play.

Band here goes right into Concert Band too. In fact, All District solo contest is in 9 days and DS16 is under prepared, in part to too much time spent on Marching Band! The difference, Concert Band isn't nearly as time consuming in our school. They still have daily rehearsals, during first hour, but during marching season, they come at 6:45 instead of 7:45. They have an occaisonal extra rehearsal during concert season, but during marching season its every Thursday night from 5:45-9:15, plus a 60+minute sectional every week. Add in most Saturdays at contests and football every Friday night, away games report time is often 4:30. Whew! Concert Band here is a cake walk compared to the time spent on Marching! They rarely need volunteer help during concert band, so MY time is greatly freed up!

 

[beavismom]

We go right into concert band as well. It just doesn't have the blood, sweat and tears bond that marching band does. Gina I can't even imagine what things will be like senior year. I feel for you as you make your way through the last of your marching band "lasts".

 

[Pembo]

We go right into concert band as well. It just doesn't have the blood, sweat and tears bond that marching band does. Gina I can't even imagine what things will be like senior year. I feel for you as you make your way through the last of your marching band "lasts".

I have a senior as well and I am SO happy it is almost over. It has been a long four years with this one being the l-o-n-g-e-s-t! Maybe I'll miss it next fall but today with only 2 performances left, I can't wait for it to be over and my son is happier than me!

 

[okeydokey]

Last home game tonight and it is Senior night! I am chaperoning again and will be sad for the Seniors. I think I have worked all but one of our games this year and I am tired! It was a great season though.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Goodbye Marching season. Hello concert band, Winter Guard, and winter drums season.

 

[marcyinPA]

Concert band is just as intense as marching band at our school. Admittedly, our HS band tends to go over the top in just about everything they do,

Our concert band concerts run two nights and easily have 1000 people in attendance both nights. They always do "special" stuff. Last spring concert, our band director retired after 35 years, so the asst director planned an huge "tag on" to the concert- with guest appearances. We had everything from a fire dancer from Hawaii to a member of the Queen's royal army band- blah blah blah- whatever it is called. There were former students who played- one is a drummer for popular hard rock bands. It was really quite a show- and the kids practiced for it for weeks- months.

Things won't calm down for us until this year's concert is over. I do love it, but it is exhausting.

 

[MouseLover]

Does your child's band get supported (not financial) from school & community? My child's does not. It is so frustrating to watch the band be shown zero respect. When they march into the FB stadium to their drum cadence, , the blaring stadium music continues to play. Tonight they announced a winning raffle ticket winner during the band's halftime performance. Does anyone else have this problem? We are a small school but these kids practice many hours every week and in the summer too. They deserve a little respect.

 

[marcyinPA]

Does your child's band get supported (not financial) from school & community? My child's does not. It is so frustrating to watch the band be shown zero respect. When they march into the FB stadium to their drum cadence, , the blaring stadium music continues to play. Tonight they announced a winning raffle ticket winner during the band's halftime performance. Does anyone else have this problem? We are a small school but these kids practice many hours every week and in the summer too. They deserve a little respect.

That is so sad, and really disrespectful. I would complain. I wonder if anyone ever has???

Our band has a very long history and a very unique style and is well loved in our community. I would dare say we have more of a following than our football team. I can't really explain the level of tradition that our band carries. It really is something special.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Does your child's band get supported (not financial) from school & community? My child's does not. It is so frustrating to watch the band be shown zero respect. When they march into the FB stadium to their drum cadence, , the blaring stadium music continues to play. Tonight they announced a winning raffle ticket winner during the band's halftime performance. Does anyone else have this problem? We are a small school but these kids practice many hours every week and in the summer too. They deserve a little respect.

Not as bad as that, but no one comes to see the band. I'm the only nut sitting in the stands cheering for them during half time shows. And I'm loud.

No one cares about marching band here. And the sad thing is many of the parents don't even bother to come to shows/competitions. And they certainly don't come to the football games for the half-time shows. Only a handful.

 

[MouseLover]

I have complained. For ONE game the music was turned off and it was nice. I hear band parents complaining to each other in the stands. The band director is frustrated too, but he is young-- just a couple years out of college, and I don't think he has the guts yet to make a stink about it. The previous band director left for this very reason-- NO support. Thanks for letting me vent!!

 

[Southernmiss]

Dss are on the way to state competion this morning! !!! So excited for them. Last year they were third in state. This year they have a shot at 1. There show is so good. Will try to post a link after the competition.

Good luck to all as the season wraps up!!!!

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Had an away game this week. We didn't go with the band so the kids could have some time with no parental intrusion. The football team won, and is now 7-3. I'm not sure how the playoff system works, but I believe they are in.

At the away game, my daughter and two friends walked by the home team's student section while getting food during 3rd quarter. The home team's student section booed when they walked by. Seriously, I've never heard that before. I have half a mind to write the district just to show my displeasure.

The season is almost over. USBands National Championship is next week, and barring a playoff win, that will be our daughter's last performance with the marching band.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Not as bad as that, but no one comes to see the band. I'm the only nut sitting in the stands cheering for them during half time shows. And I'm loud.

No one cares about marching band here. And the sad thing is many of the parents don't even bother to come to shows/competitions. And they certainly don't come to the football games for the half-time shows. Only a handful.

I've been jealious of some of the other bands we've seen at competitions this year. The parents sit all together, wear shirts, wave flags, ring cowbells, etc. Besides the chaperones, I usually one see one or two other sets of parents at competitions. It's quite frustrating.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Lack of parental involvement is sad. Some parents have never seen their children perform.

Today we had our last show before Nationals and it was horrible. Everything went wrong. And DD hit herself in the face with her flag then a minute or two later with her rifle. Thought she was crying and I was seeing mascara. Nope she busted open her eyebrow and was bleeding everywhere. She managed to finish the show and then the EMTs checked her out. Thankfully she didnt need stitches. Its always something. Lol

 

[marcyinPA]

Lack of parental involvement is sad. Some parents have never seen their children perform.

Today we had our last show before Nationals and it was horrible. Everything went wrong. And DD hit herself in the face with her flag then a minute or two later with her rifle. Thought she was crying and I was seeing mascara. Nope she busted open her eyebrow and was bleeding everywhere. She managed to finish the show and then the EMTs checked her out. Thankfully she didnt need stitches. Its always something. Lol

Ouch!!! I'm glad she is ok!! Those facial wounds are scary though- they bleed a lot!!

 

[Pembo]

Marching Season is over! Today was our state competition and they got a I, Superior Rating. It was cold and the rain did stop just in time for their performance. Our competition was 2.5 hours away so I'm glad for the time change tonight!

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Ouch!!! I'm glad she is ok!! Those facial wounds are scary though- they bleed a lot!!

Thanks. There was blood streaming down her face, all over her chest and a all over her arm. You would have thought she was shot! Not even a black eye. It's amazing the punishment my child doles out to herself. I was super proud of her that she finished the show and even did a toss or two after the injury. She was more freaked out by the blood than anything.

Marching Season is over! Today was our state competition and they got a I, Superior Rating. It was cold and the rain did stop just in time for their performance. Our competition was 2.5 hours away so I'm glad for the time change tonight!

Congrats! That's fantastic!

Our fiasco this evening got us the lowest score of any band who competed today.

Hopefully all the bad vibes, joujou or whatever are gone and we will rock it at Nationals next week.

 

[lovegrumpy]

I thought we did great today. Came in seconded at state. Next week we head to USNationels up at MetLife. That's the last one for the season.

 

[marcyinPA]

The big rival football game was yesterday. Pregame show was really cool. All four middle school bands and both high school bands performed the two Alma Maters and the National Anthem. There were 1000 kids on the field. It was pretty awesome!!

Every year our band adds a tag on to the field show for this game. It is generally over the top- one year they had sky divers drop onto the field, we have had fireworks, the president of the Rose Parade came last year. Whatever they do, they keep it a secret. So the rumors swirling around all week was that Paul McCartney was coming to perform (our show was all Beatles this year). The surprise tag on song was Live and Let Die...we kind of sat there holding our breath. And then the surprise- fireworks set to the music. It was pretty cool.

The band director did contact Paul McCartney's secretary but he was unavailable. So in the words of the band director "If we can't get Sir Paul, lets blow stuff up!"

I will try to post the YouTube link to the show when I get on my desktop.

The other school never adds a tag on but they had a "surprise guest"- their show was video game music and they had kids dressed as Mario and Luigi run on the field. You should hear the amount of criticism the "other" school gives our band on our show!! Maybe they need to step things up a notch!??? Lol

Anyway- it was a fun day. Our team won 25-7. From what I hear, they are going to conciliation playoffs on Friday so the band plays on....

 

[FlightlessDuck]

The football team IS in the playoffs and is the third seed in their conference. We play the second seed this week.

I assume the marching band is coming; last time we had a playoff game, they did.