2013 Marching Band Thread

[luvmyfam444]

We had our preseason game two Fri's ago & 1st game last Friday. They have not learned all of the show. They have 16 more sets to go.
They did not wear uniforms either week. This week they play about 4hrs away & will wear their uniforms for the 1st time. I'm not sure how that will look since the guard will have jackets on with 3 buttons they will be taking off - I sure hope they can get them off easily, they have never practiced it.

 

[luvmyfam444]

Do your freshmen get to march/compete?
Ours do.
But I talked to a parent from a school last year that doesn't allow theirs to compete....not sure about games though.

 

[Gina]

Had our first game Friday night -- our kids always wear their full uniforms no matter what the temperature/weather is. And it was HOT -- but the mosquitos were worse than the heat! They about carried us out of the stands. My friend and I left near the end of the third, and I'm usually a stay-til-the-last-whistle kind of girl. But we were winning 49-0 at that point and I was tired of getting eaten alive.

Band looked and sounded so great, though. I am *loving* the music so far for this year's show!! Great opening piece, very impactful. Can't wait to hear more, and see it with the props. First competition is October 5th.

Do your freshmen get to march/compete?
Ours do.
But I talked to a parent from a school last year that doesn't allow theirs to compete....not sure about games though.

Ours do, but not all of them -- it's very competitive. The freshmen that do get to march are usually either on props, or if they're really good they'll rotate spots with another really good freshmen.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Do your freshmen get to march/compete?.

All of our students compete. Heck, we let middle schoolers in the marching band (they don't have their own). In fact, my son was in honor guard in 5th and 6th grade. By the time he is a freshman, he'll have been in the band 4 years.

 

[momof1princess]

Do your freshmen get to march/compete?
Ours do.
But I talked to a parent from a school last year that doesn't allow theirs to compete....not sure about games though.

Freshmen march in our band. Anyone can start marching in 8th grade; drummers start marching in 7th grade. This is DD's 4th year (she was an equipment manager in 7th grade), and she LOVES it!

 

[sm4987]

Our freshman march everything, games and competition. It's interesting to hear what different areas do.

 

[Pembo]

Week 2 - We had an away game. The game went very fast. The band sounded great and ds played his solo again.

How was your night?

 

[marcyinPA]

Week two for us too. Another home game. Our band sounded really good. Our football team, however, had a rough night. The opposing school's band sounded good, but they were so small! With color guard and auxiliary percussion, I counted 40. I am not used to small bands like that! Ours is at 291 officially.

 

[Katy Belle]

First game for us. Home game. Football team had much trouble... missed extra points, fumbled a lot, flags, etc. We lost. I watched the band last night at their rehearsal and they were great! Tonight, not as great. Super hard to hear with all the people in the stands talking, and many visibile mistakes on the field. One Freshman trumpet tripped 4 times, nearly falling! Maybe his shoes are too big??? My own Tuba started off a bit slow, but caught up and looked great for a majority of the show. They will get it. They looked great in their warm weather uniforms! New polos this year, fitted girlie shirts for the ladies, looked so nice!

I worked the concession stand, after the half time show, til clean up. HOT, but better than when its cold and trying to make so much hot chocolate!

I'm happy to be back in the season!

 

[m&m's mom]

Home game for us and we lost 35-14. Ouch!
Still at just part 1 of the show but looking better.

 

[m&m's mom]

MY DH and I are trying to decide if we are going to go to GN in Indianapolis. What can anyone tell me about it? Any hints, where to stay, events suggestions?

 

[Kimberlyann11]

Our entire athletic field was torn down this year and rebuilt so we only have three home games this year, later in the season. It annoys me a bit because the kids only had a chance to march on it once this year and the rest of the time has been in the parking lot. We also have a huge batch of freshmen this year so they could have used the practice on an actual field. They have their first invitational tonight so we'll see how it goes. DD is very pessimistic, but I reminded her that invitationals are to see where your weaknesses are before you have to go to MSBOA.

Mini-rant: The football field cost 4 million. They also did the other high school in the district at another 4 million. 8 million total. In the meantime, we're scraping for every penny for our music programs. It's not even like our football teams are any good. (oops - did I say that out loud?)

OK that's off my chest. I feel better.

 

[K and K's Mommy]

MY DH and I are trying to decide if we are going to go to GN in Indianapolis. What can anyone tell me about it? Any hints, where to stay, events suggestions?

Since before this year I knew nothing about band, I can't tell you anything about GN. However, I do live in Indy. Lucas Oil is downtown. Our downtown is very walkable, but I just realized I really don't know where to stay there. Ha! I'll ask around and let you know. If you want to stay farther out, I would recommend the north to northeast sides. We do not have a good transportation system, so you would have to drive to downtown.

 

[Aevio]

I did marching band for a while as a trumpet player back in highschool. It was a ton of work, but I miss the hell out of it.

 

[m&m's mom]

Since before this year I knew nothing about band, I can't tell you anything about GN. However, I do live in Indy. Lucas Oil is downtown. Our downtown is very walkable, but I just realized I really don't know where to stay there. Ha! I'll ask around and let you know. If you want to stay farther out, I would recommend the north to northeast sides. We do not have a good transportation system, so you would have to drive to downtown.

Thank you!
I am trying to find out if I can stay close enough so that for 3 days, I don't have to get a car. I know our band is staying at the Omni.

 

[klj27]

MY DH and I are trying to decide if we are going to go to GN in Indianapolis. What can anyone tell me about it? Any hints, where to stay, events suggestions?

I would recommend getting a room downtown if you can. Last year we stayed at the Fairfield inn, which was walking distance and had free breakfast. This year our band is staying at the omni. You may find it hard to find a room right now. The boa booking agency holds a majority of hotel rooms until thirty days prior to the event. At that point the rooms are released back to the hotels and you will see more availability and hopefully better prices. The Hyatt was another place our band had considered for this year, but I couldn't get enough rooms for us. Did I mention I am in charge of organizing the trip? let me know if you have any more questions!

 

[m&m's mom]

Thanks! It shows a room available at the Holiday Inn Express which looks like it is almost attached to the Stadium. Still not sure what we are going to do.

 

[sm4987]

One of the things I miss about Texas is Friday night football! They just don't do it like that here in Colorado. The bands do not go to away games nor do they even really participate in all of the home games. The opposing team band doesn't even show up to the games. So....our band won't march again for another 3 weeks for a Thursday game.

Our first competition at the end of the month and right now they look terrific. They have finished all of their drill and now they are perfecting, perfecting, perfecting. I can't wait to see the whole show finished.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Week 2 - We had an away game. The game went very fast. The band sounded great and ds played his solo again.

How was your night?

First home game. Our team won. We had an offensive lineman pick up a fumble and run it 78 yards for a touchdown. That's always great to see.

The band did a great job. It was the first time they played this year's show with props. Our daughter has two solos, one right at the beginning of the show and one right at the end. Our son has a lot of fun with the stand songs.

They were at the University of Maryland Band Day on Saturday, which was a nice little trip. Only a 3 hour bus ride. They spent today in Baltimore at Fort McHenry and the Inner Harbor.

Tomorrow they play their show for the elementary students in an attempt to drum up interest in the music program.

 

[marcyinPA]

First home game. Our team won. We had an offensive lineman pick up a fumble and run it 78 yards for a touchdown. That's always great to see.

The band did a great job. It was the first time they played this year's show with props. Our daughter has two solos, one right at the beginning of the show and one right at the end. Our son has a lot of fun with the stand songs.

They were at the University of Maryland Band Day on Saturday, which was a nice little trip. Only a 3 hour bus ride. They spent today in Baltimore at Fort McHenry and the Inner Harbor.

Tomorrow they play their show for the elementary students in an attempt to drum up interest in the music program.

My friends daughter is now at your HS (freshman). They were at the game and were telling me yesterday at our church picnic about that play and the win. She said that run was amazing for that kid!!

Is the band in our Halloween parade this year - barring a hurricane or major storm? Hope so. Always enjoy watching them march. Ours is marching it twice to prepare for the big parade on Jan. 1.