2013 Marching Band Thread

[m&m's mom]

We are very lucky to live across the street from the HS and it's a good thing because my poor husband goes back and forth 3 times at least a day.
My husband is on prop crew and that is a 5-7 day a week operation. Fall is probably crazy for all of us.

 

[Gina]

We are very lucky to live across the street from the HS and it's a good thing because my poor husband goes back and forth 3 times at least a day.
My husband is on prop crew and that is a 5-7 day a week operation. Fall is probably crazy for all of us.

Big thanks to your husband for that -- no band would get anywhere without the prop crew! Before my son was driving, I'd be standing there by the band hall waiting for him, and watching the pit crew unload the 18-wheeler. Always amazed me how strong those guys are, and how quickly they were able to get it all done. I think I'll stick to washing uniforms.


The heat stress and a whole week of heat emergency warnings is taking its toll... My son called me when he went home for lunch and said a couple kids had passed out today, even with the water breaks every few minutes. And they aren't even outside in the afternoon, just before lunch. It's just too dang hot!! Luckily, we're forecast to get a bit of a break next week, with highs "only" in the mid-upper 90's. Sad when that sounds like a cold front!!

 

[marcyinPA]

We have preview night tonight, and our brainiac director said the kids had to be in full uniform. It is in the 80's but like 80% humidity and these kids have to wear these heavy wool uniforms for parent preview night?? They did it two years ago, and so many kids passed out that we were like "oops, there goes another one". Last year, they wore their band t shirts and shorts and it was so much better! It is summer after all!! Hopefully, it will storm and they won't have to do it

 

[beavismom]

We have preview night tonight, and our brainiac director said the kids had to be in full uniform. It is in the 80's but like 80% humidity and these kids have to wear these heavy wool uniforms for parent preview night?? They did it two years ago, and so many kids passed out that we were like "oops, there goes another one". Last year, they wore their band t shirts and shorts and it was so much better! It is summer after all!! Hopefully, it will storm and they won't have to do it

Most of the bands here in our school district don't even march in their formal uniforms for the first few games due to the heat. There was one district just to the north of us though that required their bands to march in full uniform from the start. I just heard that they changed the policy this year and I can only imagine it was from the threat of a lawsuit over kids having a heat stroke.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Wow our kids unload the truck themselves. Then again, we don't have an 18 wheeler. But the guard and band all pack, unpacked, repack and unpack again for every trip. No crew here other than the kids and the coaches, etc.

Our band camp is the week of the 19th. Not sure how this year will go. New everyone (band director, guard coach, etc, etc.) and our guard coach is actually a dance instructor. No guard experience whatsoever. They've had practice every Wednesday for 3 hours all of July and they haven't even begun a routine with band camp only 2 weeks away. :/ Guard coach also says she doesn't think they'll even use rifles for marching band, just flags.

 

[Pembo]

Band camp is OVER! Next week they are 3 hour evening rehearsals. The kids are having their lock-in. Food, games, movies, and sleeping on the cafeteria floor. Last year I organized it, this year I'm glad to be home. lol

No 18 wheeler but a trailer the director pulls with his pick-up. It carries drum equipment so they unload their own. This year we have props so they'll be renting a truck for every competition to haul them. I think parents unload those. I don't chaperone so I don't really know.

Have a great weekend band peeps.

 

[lovegrumpy]

Dh and I both are on pit crew. It is a lot of work but we love it.

 

[marcyinPA]

It was storming, so no preview night!! Yes!!


Our kids have to wear uniforms from the very first performance, which this year is a football game on August 31 at 1 pm instead of at night. You never know what your gonna get in Eastern PA in August, but chances are it will be hot and humid. There are no rules and regs about uniforms. The band director calls the shots. I don't like it, but I doubt I can change it.

 

[m&m's mom]

We have 2 band 18 wheelers and a few support vans/trucks. The kids do their own unloading as well but there are always a few parents to gel with the large instruments. When the band travels they have at least 9 full size busses (think Greyhound busses).
We had a Meet the Football Team night and it was also a band preview. It was 102 at 7pm so they wore warm weather uniform. Here in TX, they were the hot weather uniform for quite a while.

 

[Gina]

It seems it was only one kid who passed out today -- but when he did he hit his head on the pavement and had to go get stitches. And then, trooper that he is, was back at band in the afternoon! If that had been me, I would have been like, "Enough fun for me for today!" Poor kid.

They'll be in full uniforms for the first game on the 30th. And we'll be melting in the stands, heh. Yayyyy, August!

 

[luvmyfam444]

Wow our kids unload the truck themselves. Then again, we don't have an 18 wheeler. But the guard and band all pack, unpacked, repack and unpack again for every trip. No crew here other than the kids and the coaches, etc.

Our band camp is the week of the 19th. Not sure how this year will go. New everyone (band director, guard coach, etc, etc.) and our guard coach is actually a dance instructor. No guard experience whatsoever. They've had practice every Wednesday for 3 hours all of July and they haven't even begun a routine with band camp only 2 weeks away. :/ Guard coach also says she doesn't think they'll even use rifles for marching band, just flags.

Someone didnt do a good job hiring that guard director. Dance will be great to have...along WITH someone who can spin. Hopefully she will bring in a graduated member to teach them.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Someone didnt do a good job hiring that guard director. Dance will be great to have...along WITH someone who can spin. Hopefully she will bring in a graduated member to teach them.

Well what a difference a week makes. DD had practice last night. There are 3 assistant guard coaches, one of which was on the team last year!! The coach has indicated there definitely will be rifle this year. I guess she knows they're serious when 2 of the 3 on the rifle line showed up with their own rifles. They finally started the routine and DD is LOVING it! Came home raving about how cool it is. And finally, thankfully, WE HAVE A BUDGET THIS YEAR!!! They are getting black stretchy pants but actual, real costume/uniform tops--no more tshirts for us! And DD has been put in charge of all makeup. She's super excited about that and super excited about marching band. Unfortunately our numbers have dwindled even more than last year. There are only 7 guard members . And the band only has about 25 kids. Can't imagine how they're going to sound in a stadium, but as long as they have a good time and enjoy themselves, I'm sure all the hard work will be worth it.

 

[momof1princess]

Well what a difference a week makes. DD had practice last night. There are 3 assistant guard coaches, one of which was on the team last year!! The coach has indicated there definitely will be rifle this year. I guess she knows they're serious when 2 of the 3 on the rifle line showed up with their own rifles. They finally started the routine and DD is LOVING it! Came home raving about how cool it is. And finally, thankfully, WE HAVE A BUDGET THIS YEAR!!! They are getting black stretchy pants but actual, real costume/uniform tops--no more tshirts for us! And DD has been put in charge of all makeup. She's super excited about that and super excited about marching band. Unfortunately our numbers have dwindled even more than last year. There are only 7 guard members . And the band only has about 25 kids. Can't imagine how they're going to sound in a stadium, but as long as they have a good time and enjoy themselves, I'm sure all the hard work will be worth it.

i love reading that kids are jazzed about marching band! it's been SO great for DD15! our band is about the same size. we lost a LOT of kids. 6-8 to graduation, 2 to alternative school (runaways), 2 to football and 1 to a rock band, and those are just the ones i know about personally. i'm sure there are several more. when we fitted band uniforms 2 weeks ago, we sized 28 kids. and i think there are about 8-10 in colorguard, and 3 majorettes. we'll be the smallest band in the county.

 

[camreesmom]

It seems it was only one kid who passed out today -- but when he did he hit his head on the pavement and had to go get stitches. And then, trooper that he is, was back at band in the afternoon! If that had been me, I would have been like, "Enough fun for me for today!" Poor kid.

They'll be in full uniforms for the first game on the 30th. And we'll be melting in the stands, heh. Yayyyy, August!

Our kids will be in full uniforms for the first game also. For some reason this year, our first game is on a Thursday Oh, wow, I feel sorry for the kid that passed out! I would have been "see ya tomorrow!"

My daughter texted me a little while ago and said they weren't even getting a lunch break today and were outside all morning instead of going inside at 10:30 like they have been. We're supposed to get some rain this evening and a cool front tomorrow which should lower temps a little bit. Thank God!

 

[mrsklamc]

I saw a very small school like that compete at Grand Nationals one year- Jackson Academy maybe? They used tarps to make a smaller performance area in the middle of the field and it worked great! I want to say it was an 'aquarium'- but that's been several years ago.

 

[marcyinPA]

My DS18 went to band camp this week to watch practice. He came home and said "Mom, they are really good!!"- which is a HUGE compliment from my DS. He is a super tough critic, especially of his beloved band!

My DS14 is loving it. He is learning how much tougher it is than middle school. He has had to learn some new things as a snare drummer- flashes being one of them- but he has picked it up and keeps practicing.

I can't wait to see them on Aug. 31. The game was moved to evening, which is much better (less sun!)

 

[jen0610]

My DS18 went to band camp this week to watch practice. He came home and said "Mom, they are really good!!"- which is a HUGE compliment from my DS. He is a super tough critic, especially of his beloved band!

My DS14 is loving it. He is learning how much tougher it is than middle school. He has had to learn some new things as a snare drummer- flashes being one of them- but he has picked it up and keeps practicing.

I can't wait to see them on Aug. 31. The game was moved to evening, which is much better (less sun!)

Oh momma!!! If the girls in your band are anything like our girls, they all love the drumline guys. They are the most hit upon guys in the band. And it's mainly the quad and snare drummers. The poor bass drum players don't seem to get as much love.

Well we got our new director. He and his wife were here to see the kids practice during the 2nd half Tuesday, not sure about Wed. They are on the crazy train right now. The school board approved his hiring, was coming from another school district, on Monday night. Was at band practice Tues, not sure about Wed, then they had to head back to their home to pack, as school starts on Monday. So somewhere in their they had to find a place to live.

Both of them are graduates of our high school and both are former BOPers, so that is a very good thing!! If I was told correctly, he was a low brass player and she was color guard. The school he was at, was a much smaller band. It pretty much sounds like they got the marching program up and started at the school and with the wifes back ground, she even started up a winter guard program with them.

 

[Katy Belle]

I continue to work on uniforms. Can't wait til the 24th when we fit everyone and then are mostly finished...well, still have to do dry cleaning, etc, all season, but getting them checked out is on my mind now! Did fit a few boys last night, who won't be at the fitting day. One had gained a lot of weight...all in his belly! Ugh. Hoping someone else moves jackets so we can get him in one that zips! The other is a skinny, skinny kid, who grew about 4" taller! Always fun to fit boys, they change a lot, girls tend to stay pretty much the same.

I watched the last 30 min of the evening rehearsal last night. Seems that the beginning of our show is a little slow...I hope it improves! DS is a Sophomore this year. He looks like a pro compared the Freshmen on the field! I love watching them make progress. Our band staff seemed kinder and gentler last night. Hope THAT lasts through the season!

Go Band!

 

[marcyinPA]

I continue to work on uniforms. Can't wait til the 24th when we fit everyone and then are mostly finished...well, still have to do dry cleaning, etc, all season, but getting them checked out is on my mind now! Did fit a few boys last night, who won't be at the fitting day. One had gained a lot of weight...all in his belly! Ugh. Hoping someone else moves jackets so we can get him in one that zips! The other is a skinny, skinny kid, who grew about 4" taller! Always fun to fit boys, they change a lot, girls tend to stay pretty much the same.

I watched the last 30 min of the evening rehearsal last night. Seems that the beginning of our show is a little slow...I hope it improves! DS is a Sophomore this year. He looks like a pro compared the Freshmen on the field! I love watching them make progress. Our band staff seemed kinder and gentler last night. Hope THAT lasts through the season!

Go Band!

I had to laugh at the bolded! When I took my DS14 over to the school to get fitted for his uniform, there was a kid there who was about 6'4" and had the longest arms I have ever seen. I thought my DS18 had long arms, but this kid beat him by a long shot! The poor seamstress found what was supposed to be her longest tunic (jacket) and the sleeves were about 2 inches too short of this kid. She wasn't sure what she was going to do! Knowing her, she probably lengthened them somehow magically- she is known to be very good that way!

On the flip side, she had to also fit my DS14, who just hit 5 feet tall but is kind of on the stocky side. No fat, but not skinny by any stretch.

High school boys truly come in all shapes and sizes!!

 

[marcyinPA]

Oh momma!!! If the girls in your band are anything like our girls, they all love the drumline guys. They are the most hit upon guys in the band. And it's mainly the quad and snare drummers. The poor bass drum players don't seem to get as much love.

I hope your new director works out well! Sounds like it's a rush!!

My 14 year old has a drummer personality (LOL) but he is really short! So while he does get a lot of attention because he is a clown (and generally in a good way- at least so far!), I don't know that the girls see him as anything more than a little brother right now. Oh, the little brother syndrome.... LOL He did have a girlfriend at the end of the school year, but he kind of sucked as a boyfriend He never returned her texts and he was not very attentive. When I asked him about why he didn't keep in touch with her, he kind of shrugged his shoulders and was unphased about the whole thing. Seriously, he is just not ready in that department. (and I am OK with that!)