2013 Marching Band Thread

[luvmyfam444]

Our season is finished - though the football team is in playoffs - so they will go for the 2nd playoff game Fri - its another 3hr drive.

DD is now working on tryouts for winterguard. It's 3 weeks of 2hr rehearsals before she finds anything out, Se didn't make it last year - so we aren't totally thinking she'll make it....tough competition. If she doesn't make winterguard she has decided to not pick up her instrument for spring - she hates practicing her clarinet much to her dads dismay she won't be a true band geek.

 

[marcyinPA]

Wow amazing. Never seen a band with this style...never seen bagpipes in a band, or majorettes who don't toss. and no colorguard. Are there a lot of bands with this style?

Loved the band formations.

Thanks! I think we are pretty unique. We are more of a military-style band, patterned after the Coldstream Guard. We have a long time relationship with the Coldstream. We have had ranked people come and help with our band to get the marching more authentic. The bagpipes are always a huge crowd pleaser. All of the band kids work hard, but the pipers do a lot of extra gigs including weddings and funerals.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Hey!!! We were there! My daughter's band was in the 2nd half (Group II), but we saw some of your group also, and a few of the final bands in your group. I couldn't stick it out until awards though. Too late for us, and a two hour drive home. Congrats on your great showing though! That's awesome!

Thank you! I was frozen solid by the time awards were over. Couldn't wait to get to my car and turn the heat on. Would have been nice to only have to travel to Met Life.

And the best part of my day (like there weren't a million already?) My daughter threw her first quad in competition. After hitting herself in the face last week and bleeding all over, I was so proud that she still went for it. And it was beautiful! Oh how I'm going to miss all this when she goes to college next year.

I'm having surgery on Tuesday. So glad I told the doctor it had to wait until after Nationals. I wouldn't trade today for anything.

 

[luvmyfam444]

didn't I see one of you here from Broken Arrow?

Can I saw WOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!

I just watched the Dec 2012 show which had the black tepee looking things & then this year - yellow dresses.

I am just in SHOCK @ the guard... WOAH there must have been a good 15-20 tosses in that show! We took a toss out 'cause the girls couldn't perfect it. so we had 2.

I also found it interesting there is no weapon line....we have 10 on weapons

I'd love to know what the practice schedule is for them....I was reading someone on here starts in 6th grade - does Broken Arrow start training early like that too or just in highschool?

Just so impressed. can you tell?

 

[klj27]

There are a number of programs in our area that have junior guards. It is awesome because they learn flag in 6th, rifle in 7th and sabre in 8th. They compete in winterguard and by the time they are in 9th grade they are really good!

My daughter is going to teach an after school enrichment colorguard class at her old grade school this winter also.

 

[Gina]

Hi all!
Made it through Senior Night... DS said, "I'm so proud of you, you didn't cry or trip or anything!" LOL I didn't get choked up until the last movement of their show at halftime, when I was thinking about how that would be the very last time I would see him in a marching show at all. That was hard to take. :-( But it was a great night, and an important milestone for us in our band journey together.

PrincessK'sMom -- Holy cow, CONGRATS!! That is a whole barrel of awesome!!


On a more disturbing note, did any of you guys see this story?? I wish we all had the money to go to this school's next game and show them how to respect the band!! I can't believe the band parents didn't do something... we would have had a near riot if this had been pretty much anywhere in Texas, I know that.

http://www.thea-blast.org/editorials/2013/11/13/band-kicked-field/

 

[FlightlessDuck]

So, our band came in 12th in their division at USBands Nationals at MetLife Stadium on Saturday with a score of 89.7. I know that sounds bad compared to a lot of people here, but honestly I'm surprised we scored that high (our score at our previous USBands competition this year was 78). Our drumline and trumpets are very short staffed this year and show in general lacked "wow" moments. Still, it was fun.

Final playoff football game in on Friday, about two hours away. The home band asked not only that our band comes, but we bring our full show. Usually for away games we don't bring the costumes or the props, but this year they are going all out. The game is about two hours away.

Our daughter talked herself into jazz band this year playing trumpet. She hasn't played a trumpet in 3 or 4 years, but I guess she wants to do as much as possible musically her senior year.

Our son is thinking about switching from trombone to baritone next year, at least for marching band.

 

[lovegrumpy]

Hi all! Made it through Senior Night... DS said, "I'm so proud of you, you didn't cry or trip or anything!" LOL I didn't get choked up until the last movement of their show at halftime, when I was thinking about how that would be the very last time I would see him in a marching show at all. That was hard to take. :-( But it was a great night, and an important milestone for us in our band journey together. PrincessK'sMom -- Holy cow, CONGRATS!! That is a whole barrel of awesome!! On a more disturbing note, did any of you guys see this story?? I wish we all had the money to go to this school's next game and show them how to respect the band!! I can't believe the band parents didn't do something... we would have had a near riot if this had been pretty much anywhere in Texas, I know that. http://www.thea-blast.org/editorials/2013/11/13/band-kicked-field/

Yes I did. We lost to them at state and they played awesome. We can't believe that happened. It makes are band director happy that we have a good relationship with the football coaches and staff.

 

[m&m's mom]

Our kids left from here yesterday after school and rode in busses all night to get to Grand Natl's in IN.
We went from winning state last year to not quite so well this year so I will be interested to see how they do.
Based on the schedule I saw, I cannot imagine how they will even be awake enough to get through a performance.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Hi all!
Made it through Senior Night... DS said, "I'm so proud of you, you didn't cry or trip or anything!" LOL I didn't get choked up until the last movement of their show at halftime, when I was thinking about how that would be the very last time I would see him in a marching show at all. That was hard to take. :-( But it was a great night, and an important milestone for us in our band journey together.

PrincessK'sMom -- Holy cow, CONGRATS!! That is a whole barrel of awesome!!


On a more disturbing note, did any of you guys see this story?? I wish we all had the money to go to this school's next game and show them how to respect the band!! I can't believe the band parents didn't do something... we would have had a near riot if this had been pretty much anywhere in Texas, I know that.

http://www.thea-blast.org/editorials/2013/11/13/band-kicked-field/

So glad you were able to hold it together. On our senior night they invite the parents onto the field to pose for a pic after they announce each kid, so I didn't have time to cry. But I cried like a baby at States and again at Nationals. I took video (bad mommy, not supposed to) and you can hear me sniffling through the video.

And thanks for your congrats. Sometimes winning means not coming in first, but something else. The best possible outcome we could have dreamed of.

And that news story makes me sick. I reposted in on my FB page and said I probably would have gone to jail because I would NOT have tolerated that nonsense. It's despicable that the coaches, parents, spectators had no respect at all for the kids.

So, our band came in 12th in their division at USBands Nationals at MetLife Stadium on Saturday with a score of 89.7. I know that sounds bad compared to a lot of people here, but honestly I'm surprised we scored that high (our score at our previous USBands competition this year was 78). Our drumline and trumpets are very short staffed this year and show in general lacked "wow" moments. Still, it was fun.

Final playoff football game in on Friday, about two hours away. The home band asked not only that our band comes, but we bring our full show. Usually for away games we don't bring the costumes or the props, but this year they are going all out. The game is about two hours away.

Our daughter talked herself into jazz band this year playing trumpet. She hasn't played a trumpet in 3 or 4 years, but I guess she wants to do as much as possible musically her senior year.

Our son is thinking about switching from trombone to baritone next year, at least for marching band.

Congrats on topping you best score! That's fantastic!!
And best of luck to the kids at their away game this week. It's great that they get to perform again and the opposing team is so hospitable.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

\
On a more disturbing note, did any of you guys see this story?? I wish we all had the money to go to this school's next game and show them how to respect the band!! I can't believe the band parents didn't do something... we would have had a near riot if this had been pretty much anywhere in Texas, I know that.

http://www.thea-blast.org/editorials/2013/11/13/band-kicked-field/

I emailed the band director to show support and will be emailing the principal, too.

 

[Gina]

I emailed the band director to show support and will be emailing the principal, too.

What a great idea!!! I didn't even think of that. Going to do the same!

 

[marcyinPA]

Hi all!
Made it through Senior Night... DS said, "I'm so proud of you, you didn't cry or trip or anything!" LOL I didn't get choked up until the last movement of their show at halftime, when I was thinking about how that would be the very last time I would see him in a marching show at all. That was hard to take. :-( But it was a great night, and an important milestone for us in our band journey together.

PrincessK'sMom -- Holy cow, CONGRATS!! That is a whole barrel of awesome!!

On a more disturbing note, did any of you guys see this story?? I wish we all had the money to go to this school's next game and show them how to respect the band!! I can't believe the band parents didn't do something... we would have had a near riot if this had been pretty much anywhere in Texas, I know that.

http://www.thea-blast.org/editorials/2013/11/13/band-kicked-field/

I just read the article you posted- how incredibly rude!!! I think our school community often takes our excellent relationship between the sports teams and the band for granted. The kids, coaches, directors and parents all support each other. In our school, everyone knows that band is just as important as any other activity. I wish it was like that everywhere!!!!!

 

[FlightlessDuck]

FYI, the Principal has written a statement:

http://www.thea-blast.org/news/2013...ent-randazzo-apologizes-for-fridays-incident/

 

[FlightlessDuck]

The marching band's last performance of the year was yesterday at the PA Eastern Conference Championship game (a consolation playoff for teams that were a hair away from making the state playoffs).

The band turned in one of its strongest performances of the year last night. They played during halftime due to the travel time. They really had a lot of fun in the stands, and during their 3rd quarter break they completely cleaned up the home team's snack stand.

It was a really tight game. We score, they score, we score, they score, etc. With 1.1 seconds left in the game, the host team tied it up. We went into overtime, and we have the type of overtime where each team gets four downs at the 10 yard line (if they both score, then it becomes sudden death). We scored and kicked the extra point. They scored and decided to go for two, but we intercepted. Game over!

Our band plays The Victors (Michigan's fight song) after each score, and they played it at the end of the game after the interception. We felt like it was apropos. It was bittersweet for the seniors, but dang if it wasn't an awesome way to end the year.

 

[basketrn]

I havent't posted much on this thread but was often a lurker

BOA Grand Nationals last night...what can I say.....WOW!!!! I am not sure if there are any Woodlands parents on here...but holy cow....what a great show!!!!! I knew as soon as they were done that they were bringing the eagle back to Texas!! ALL the bands were great...Texas def repersenting with 5 bands in the finals.

Proud of all those kids but especially the Avon Marching Black & Gold.

We get a 2 week break then it's on to indoor drumline.

Dawn

 

[klj27]

Grand Nationals was great! This was our third year in a row going, but the first year we didn't make semi finals. We knew we wouldn't because for our class Friday was stacked. Four bands who didn't make semis beat one of the Thursday semi finalists. It is just the way it happens. We have had it work in our favor previous years. This was the first year we stayed for finals and all the kids were happy for the extra sleep.

I was surprised to see marching bands with vocalists. Beautiful voices but not something I was expecting.

 

[Gina]

I'm not surprised The Woodlands won at Grand Nationals! Truly awesome band. We cringe every time we're in a competition with them.

 

[luvmyfam444]

There are a number of programs in our area that have junior guards. It is awesome because they learn flag in 6th, rifle in 7th and sabre in 8th. They compete in winterguard and by the time they are in 9th grade they are really good!

My daughter is going to teach an after school enrichment colorguard class at her old grade school this winter also.

that's awesome - who coaches them? I'm thinking we wouldn't have anyone to pay to teach them - we'd have interest but no coach.
I'd think flag @ 6th would be hard - I'm assuming they are using like a 4ft pole? & is the rifle lighter?

and they let mid school compete in winterguard? WOW!

My other 2 are learning from their sisters - they are7 & 10. they go to her private lesson & watch every week.

 

[luvmyfam444]

Grand Nationals was great! This was our third year in a row going, but the first year we didn't make semi finals. We knew we wouldn't because for our class Friday was stacked. Four bands who didn't make semis beat one of the Thursday semi finalists. It is just the way it happens. We have had it work in our favor previous years. This was the first year we stayed for finals and all the kids were happy for the extra sleep.

I was surprised to see marching bands with vocalists. Beautiful voices but not something I was expecting.

we saw I think 2 like that this ear. 1 rapped & he STUNK & the other one I can't even remember - obviously he wasn't any good either - ha!