Ode to Halloween

Tonight is Halloween and all through the neighborhood are little ghost, goblins, and monsters. What do we do? We hide! Right now we are bunked up in the upstairs bedroom hiding but what should happen if our door bell should ring? Well perhaps it is time for a little more poetry to ensue:

To the dark house they rang,

When opening the door, they heard "dang!"

If it's candy you want,

The wrong place to come,

But for a treat,

Well I have some.

To the cabinet I ran,

and what did I see,

Some chili looking back at me!

To the micro I ran,

with a spoon in my hand.

With swiftness I did heat,

Something the looked a bit like meat.

As the children laughed with glee,

That all changed when they saw me.

With my spoon I did dip,

Some chili for all,

and made it quick.

One scoop each they did recieve,

right in their bag of goodies.

So moral is here to stay,

When begging for candy,

You should beware,

You just might see,

Old Man Brad-y!

Next year I think I am going to get some Beef Stew for the little beggers! Happy Halloween!!!

Back to Work

Somebody asked today if the band had a break now that marching band was over. My response, not really. Now we need to learn to play better. What marching band does for tone production is does not do for rhythmic accuracy. We need to get back to counting and playing with independence of parts. Here is what each class will be doing:

Colorguard class - learning to play instruments - It helps them and it is fun too.

Percussion class - Percussion ensembles and region band preparation.

Winds class - basic things like counting and tuning. Winter concert music and region band preparation.

I have to admit I missed concert band. I love the sound and that fact I get to perform with the students in concert band.

Now back to work getting my tubas ready to play, watering my new grass seeds, and playing with the dogs.

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

The Good: The Swansea Tiger Marching band has established itself as a contender in AAA. No doubt about that. Also I believe now knows the AAA is indeed a step up from AA. There are not very many push over bands in this division. The band did win its first overall grand championship this year for the first time in many, many years. The band also competed, quite successfully in AAAA, most of the season. The colorguard program continues to grow in size and skill as does the percussion program. 5th place in AAA the first year is not without merit. The band had a bad run and with competition as close as it was and finish of 5th was good. There was no lack of physical effort from the band this year. For the most part attendance was not a problem and the band worked through some incredible heat this year.

The Bad: We did not meet our goal of winning lower state and then state. This is a fact. The show was probably too difficult for the band to get clean. So was the music. We just never seemed to really progress after BOA. These are things that I will take the blame for (among others). I really thought the BOA trip would help the band to see what level was really obtainable for bands in other parts of the country. I knew this was not the case when I heard "Do we have to go back for finals?" I knew then this trip was a mistake. There are bigger and better things for bands outside of small local contests.

The Ugly: We gave away many days of rehearsal mentally. Perhaps even as much as an average of one day a week. Championship bands do have have bad rehearsals once a week. You can't just get things together on Thursday and then expect to do your best on Saturday. Band just does not work that way. Band is a very controlled activity when performed at it highest levels. You must work to win each day to be successful at competitions. Many of the students seemed to give up after coming in 3rd at lower state. The best organizations look at stumbles like this as an opportunity to get motivated. This was not case this year. Many students seemed to have the attitude that if we did not do it this year that it just wasn't possible. This could not be further from the truth. I have certainly learned more from my failures than I ever learned from my successes. This is the case most of the time in the real world. You can either give up and just accept what comes you way or you can work to get better and then truly relish in the accomplishment of overcoming obstacles that once seemed impossible barriers. Time to grow up and mature for this band in the fact that if you are competing in the top arena, YOU WILL NOT WIN THEM ALL! Nobody does at the highest levels of any competition. Just look at the past results from state competitions.

Some Other Thoughts: State is not won in the last weekend in October. It is won by working all year. Yes all year, not just August, September, and October. Most of our problems can be fixed by working really hard in concert season to become better musicians. Music is not a competitive sport. It is an Art. Music is the basis of all marching band. If there are people that can not accept the fact the best way to become more competitive in marching band is to become a better individual musician then those people will continue to hold the band program back. Participation in band must be year around for the band program to grow. Last year the Symphonic Band did something that most people told me would never happen in Swansea. They received a Superior Rating in Class V at concert festival. This WILL be the case again this year but here is the problem. Every year some students do not participate in the Spring semester of band. These student lose the skills they have developed during the Fall semester. Most of these students do not return to band the next marching season because they are so far behind the rest of the students that were in Spring semester. Those of them that do return find that the students around them are now at a higher level. I must reiterate that the reason to be in band is simple. YOU ENJOY DOING THE ACTIVITY! You enjoy practicing at home alone. You enjoy going to rehearsal. You enjoy getting better individually. You enjoy concert band. If you do not enjoy doing the bulk of the activity (ie. individual practice, hot rehearsals, hard concert band music) I would suggest finding something that you do enjoy doing.

Special Thanks: I would like to thank all of the students for choosing to be in marching band this year. I would encourage them to take the obstacles we have encounter this year as challenges not failures and work to over come them. I would also like to thank the entire staff. Mr. Boiteau has proven himself to be a highly motivated and knowledgeable addition to our program. Mrs. Graybill has been a great help this year especially with the behind the scenes work she had done. Of course, with out Mr. Apple and Mr. Coleman, we would not be anything even close to what we are. I would also like to thank all the booster club members for their amazing hard work. They make things seem simple for the rest of us. They have been present at every event and their work is truly incredible and is something we can not do with out. Most of all for me personally, I would like thank Cindy for being there for me and holding the house together while I am gone until from 6:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. for about 100 days a year. She keeps me together and through her help I have become a better band director every year. An finally, band is not over. It continues all year long and the high expectations will continue as well.

All Said and Done, Except for...

Yeah, except for one thing. We have one more run of the show to do and than will occur at 2:00 p.m. This has been a hard year. Maybe the show was just too hard for the band but they told me they wanted a show that could win state. So I gave them one. Maybe I just expect and demand too much, but they told me they wanted to win. So I rehearsed them that way. The moral to this story is be careful what you ask for, you may get it. I suppose everybody is just about done with me for the season at this point and that is fine. I tried my best and that is all I ask of the students so I feel pretty good about that. I bet there are plenty of students that will feel pretty good about they have done too. I know that they have tried their best. Tomorrow is a reward for hard work. I think we have great competition and hopefully a great panel of judges too.

A final thought for this season. What did the show really mean to me? Well the title says it all: "The Firebird: A Phoenix Rising from the Ashes". The idea was that we knew we were moving to AAA and that would be tough on everybody. We know Swansea has won the AA state championship 3 times before. So what does the title mean. Well most people in the band world thought Swansea's glory days were over. They won AA by sheer size and power. One year they were the largest band in AA by 50 students. They were impressive. I remember seeing and hearing them. Things have changed in that respect though. The days of the big bands in South Carolina seem to be gone. So what do we do to compensate? We do more complex shows and play more complex music. So how does that relate to the title of the show. Well with last years success, I thought we were ready to take the Swansea back to its place of dominance. A once powerful and feared band would again be at the top but not as the same band. A new style of band that moves more than any other and plays better more difficult music too. A renewal shall we say. A rising from the ashes. The beginning of this season sure did seem like that was going to be the way. Perhaps most of the problems are my blame. We went to BOA in Florida and never seemed to get back on track afterwards. Maybe we just weren't ready for that yet. Lower state seemed to really knock everybody for a loop. Everybody seemed to be ready to just give up after finishing 3rd. One thing to remember. Nobody will even remember where we finished at lower state if we...well you know what goes there. Perhaps our Firebird has one last attempt to rise. We will know in 20 hours.

I Think...

I think we will win state. There I said it. I don't know why everybody is so sad and melancholy lately. So what we came in third at lower state. That wasn't the ultimate goal. Was it? It wasn't for me. I think we will win state! I don't really know why except for the fact that we desire it! We have worked our butts off. Everybody has... students, staff, parents. All of us! It is just simply time to go out and do it. Time to quit feeling sorry for ourselves. "We didn't get what we desire" Sure we did. We can do better and we will! Time to win state. This thing is not over! We have two more rehearsals to fix it all and then...just imagine the feeling we will all have to win state. You got to believe! I just don't think we are done yet.

"You can hope in one hand and #%it in the other. What do you have more of?" - Grandma Stookey

Get to work and quit hoping! Just do it! Go Win State!

P.S. I seem to remember on a field in Aiken County that a band won every caption and knew they had won it all and then it happened...One band's name just kept being announced. It wasn't until the end but it was the only band that had it's name announced for the last three awards. Don't you all remember? Swansea...Swansea...Swansea! We can still have the last trophy! I think it would actually be best that way! I want to be the last band announced this week not last week!

GO WIN STATE!

Oh No...Tuesday!

I feel like we got better today and it was Tuesday. Usually I feel pretty good if we just don't lose ground on a Tuesday. Too bad today was the last Tuesday rehearsal of the year. I think we only had 2 good Tuesday rehearsals this season. I will take today's though. We only have two more rehearsals left before state. I am not sure what that will bring but I do feel like we gained a spot today for sure. I must say that our "dust bowl" of a practice field is wearing on the students and myself. We have to reline the field daily and after only a few runs all the lines are gone. Dirt don't hold paint too well. Hopefully something will be done to fix this problem before next year. Our problems are all individual at this point. Here is something new to think about...There is a 50% chance of rain Saturday. Talk about something that can change a lot. We actually rehearse very well in the rain. That may come in handy Saturday. More on this later.

Not Giving Up

I am not giving up yet. I know we didn't get what we wanted on Saturday but I still feel like we should keep pushing to get even better. I feel like that some of the students are just now starting to gain enough skill to really clean the show at a high level. Today I continued to push individual students and will continue to do so. I can't assure a victory at state but I can assure failure if we just give up. That's not going to happen on my watch. The students should be prepared to be pushed even harder as the week progresses. Only 3 more rehearsals left in the season. We will never know if winning state is a possibility if we don't all push ourselves to the limit.

The Story of Two Bands

Band "A"
1. It was a long day. We arrived at the school around 1:00 and did not return until 11:30.
2. The site was not very accommodating when we arrived.
3. We had to warm up in the dark.
4. It was cold.
5. New scoring sheets (this is a whole other story.)
6. Finished 3rd.
7. Thought that 3rd was not really all the bad for the first year moving up to AAA.

So this is the story of Band A.

Band "B"
1. Had a great run just hours before arriving at the site.
2. Had plenty of time to figure things out at the disorganized site.
3. Had a great warm up.
4. Had their best run yet.
5. Finished 3rd.
6. Almost left the 3rd place trophy on the field.
7. Their band director forgot to pick up the band's finalist package.
8. Felt like 3rd place was like having to go the prom with your sister.

So is the story of Band B.

The next week:

Band A
Worked hard but did little individually. I mean their was only one more week in the season and they were tired. It had been a good season. They had won many competitions and even had a good showing in a national competition. They went to state and finished top five in their first year in AAA. It was a great start to AAA. Most of the students and parents were quite satisfied with their season. The director seemed mentally disturbed to most. He searched his mind for excuses and then proclaimed "Just wait until next year!"

Band B
Band B was pissed off! They worked really hard every night on their music. They worked hard to only do what the director told them to do at rehearsal but also found their own mistakes that nobody else even saw. They even added a rehearsal on Friday afternoon. They went to state and discovered that although they had a great run the week before, it was nothing compared to what they really capable of doing. They stayed to themselves all week and even seemed arrogant to other bands that were at state competition. The seemed "stuck up". When they made the announcement for the placements at state, it was hard to accept the fact they had finished________You have to fill in the blank.

Yesterday was a disappointing day for us all but it is gone. We can't do anything about it. All we can do is make sure that next week we leave nothing to chance. I know we can win it all or I would not have said it was possible. No band had ever come from third place at lower state and won state so we would be making history if that happened...WAIT! A band has done that before! That means if it happened previously, it could happen again. Sometimes you just have to believe. I believe in the Swansea band. They are a band made out of my own philosophies and temperaments. What other band would find third place in lower state unacceptable? Only one! My Band! It was unacceptable but I know how to make things right. What do you think?

In About 9 hours...

In about 9 hours, it will be said and done for lower state. What began in 100 degree heat will be told on a football field in Santee. If things go our way, we should have the AAA Lower State Championship and be in line to perform last at state in Clinton in one week. If things go otherwise, we still have done everything we could to be the best we were capable of being. All being the same, the students told me many months ago they wanted to go for the win so go for win we have. I have pushed the band beyond their usual capabilities and they have responded with outstanding performances all year long. I have no doubt that no matter how tonight turns out, we will have one more week of outstanding rehearsals. I feel like no matter has been left unexplored for tonight's performance and sometimes that is all you can ask for. What do I ask? For an opportunity to do our best. What we do and have done are the things movies are made from, the biggest difference is this is our story and we have lived it and will continue to do so. We have done what some many others have not. We have worked through extreme conditions and now...We have an opportunity to reach our goals.

A Question for You

Do You Want to Win Lower State? Check Here _________ Yes ___________ No

If you answered yes to the above question, you must fix the items following. If you answered no, please go home now and let the rest of us get to work!

Opener
· Tuba attack was not together.
· Baritones need to check spots on first few moves.
· Baritones should listen to each other for a more uniform, darker sound in opening statement.
· All low brass must support all notes for a more consistent sound in the opening statement
· Transition was not together. Not watching or listening.
· Spacing in woodwinds is having issues
· Guard not together on transition
· Tubas not together on repeated eighth notes.
· Baritones not playing with a uniform tone for most part at loud levels.
· You are leaning into moves out of holds.
· You did not finish playing the 2nd hold before moving.
· Timing in guard after 18 count hold not good.
· Brass should move the eighth notes forward at 118.
· More expression in the 2/4 section from the brass
· Line up the lines at the end of the show!

Ballad
· Feet not smooth – being heard through the horn
· Trumpets and baritones need to be more lyrical with the melody
· Natural rises and falls sound forced. Listen and play together
· Pulse issues in baritones lower bodies (phasing)
· Triangle and bells not together
· Guard must move more smooth
· Slide issues in woodwinds a lot

Interlude
· Not tight in battery
· Winds need to listen and play together – doesn’t need to be gross!
· Block not clear
· Guard placement issues – wrong spots?

Closer
· More baritone solo, less vibes
· Smoother flag work at beginning
· Guard not involved in their roles, just doing counts
· Not locked into tempo on the turn around
· Baritone tone quality in hold
· Not lining up at the end.
· Gave up intensity at end
· Several missing the last hold at measure 43
· Not making the hold at the end. Guessing where things go.


General comments:

· Intervals were not good in the opener at all. Tended to open up and close.
· Everybody needs to listen better to get a better overall tone and balance. There are individuals going over the edge and some dropping out.
· We must march, perform, and play more smoothly in the ballad and beginning of the opener.
· Everything must be in CONTROL. Marching, flag work, and playing. You must know exactly what you are doing and who you are doing it with. Listen to tone! Baritones in particular!
· We had some precision problems in the dome due to not watching! Imagine how good it could be outside if everybody watched.
· Go for the emotional side of the slow movements. Be in a role not just doing the math!

You can fix all of these things if you want too. But they will not just happen. You must practice at home and you must be present at each rehearsal. I would rather march a hole than have people that miss rehearsal be allowed to march. This is your warning! You have got to give it your all this week to have a chance at it this weekend.

Being successful is a choice you make. It’s not just something that happens.

Some good things from BOA!
· Music Ensemble Score – 14.50 – 13th overall
· General Effect Visual – 15.60 – 11th overall

Both of these are captions at our state competitions.

A Contender? Maybe!

Tomorrow we leave for St. Petersburg, Florida to compete in the Bands of America Regional Championship in at Tropicana Field. The last time I took the band to a BOA event we really didn't have a chance to make finals. It was my first year at Swansea and things did not exactly go as planned but today I found that something did work out there. The booster club President knew just how things should on Saturday because we had done it all at Atlanta two years ago. This trip is different. Many bands go to Florida just for a field trip. Not so on this trip, we are going to compete. Will we make finals? I don't know. The line up is strong. Maybe the strongest in a long, long time. Several past regional champions will be there. Somebody told me on the phone today that just having the nerve to go to that shoot out was a pretty big credit to the band. So will we make finals? I still don't know but I do know we will be a contender. This leads me back to one of my favorite quotes. It sure does seem fitting for this weekend. Who knows we could just figure out a lot things this weekend. Maybe not just how far we have come but also how far we can go!

"It's not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or when the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions and spends himself in a worth cause; who at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who at the worst if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat."

It's Not Brain Surgery!

I know that what I do for my career is not the most important thing in the world. I have been told by some that I feel that way. I really don't. I know that many, many people do greater things than I. I really do! I also know my class is not required. It is not like math, English, or science. It is just band. I also know that everybody has lives. I don't expect everybody to stop what they are doing and just eat, breath, and live band. That is my job. I work anywhere from 60 to 80 hours a week for 3 months. I don't really know why. I guess to me it's just what I do. I just can't stand the thought of looking at everybody in the stands if we:

A. Don't make finals

B. Don't do well at Lower State

C. Don't make or do well at State

I just work hard to the end and the end of this season is close. In 3 weeks it will all be said and done for competition season 2007. My hope is that everybody involved with the band will push hard to the end. We may never know if our best is good enough. It sure is convenient to not try too hard at something and then you can always blame things and results on somebody else. The truth is that I have never tried as hard as I could at anything and not succeeded. Maybe I didn't finish first or even second but I have always been satisfied and happy in the end. Try it! You might like it too.

Never, Never, Never Give Up!

It may seem like the marching band season will never end especially if you are a younger student. The truth is that the end is almost here. We only have 8 more after school rehearsals. Only 2 more Monday rehearsals. The marching band season is not a sprint. It is a marathon. Many a good band has collapsed during the last two or three weeks of rehearsal. My suggestion is give it all you have for the next three weeks. Then good or bad you will feel happy about what has been accomplished. Many bands limp into lower state and then state competition (if they even make it). I feel bad for them. You can almost tell they happy to end the season when they do. Only the best bands know how to turn it on this time of the year. Will we be one of the bands that gains momentum toward state or will we simply look for the end. Choices must be made soon or they may be made for you. I know that we have the talent and work ethic to reach the ultimate goal. My only fear is that we may lack the heart and desire to give it that last push to the end. We have certainly put ourselves in the position to accomplish great things. Now is the time to use everything in power to strive for the finish line.

A Calm Saturday Morning

This is a pretty big day in the band world around South Carolina. We are not competing this weekend, and I have to say it should work for us. I have viewed some of the "boards" about band across the state and many people are impressed with us. I am sure many would think it was odd for us to take this weekend off. Most like to take the week before the prelims (lower and upper state) off. So why take this one off. BOA! We don't get to pick the days of these events. So once again we will not be visible except to the two other South Carolina bands that will be in St. Petersburg with us. They are Summerville and Wando. That is nice company to be around too. Maybe people will forget about us a little...until lower state. I would really like to give them a firm reminder of who we are, what we are about, and we are capable of doing. We are not close to being clean. I know we can play a lot better than what we are playing right now, and I know the guard can take it to the next level. I also know it will be for the band to see some of the bands in Florida. It is always good to see just what is possible by a group that works and bonds together.

To the "other" band fans across the state: we are not clean and we are scoring in the 90's. That means have a great show. This is our first year in 3A. We haven't even competed in 3A yet this year. Our first time will be at lower state and I believe some may be surprised that we are 3A with the success we have been having in 4A. It was kind of nice last night when somebody from the other band asked "How is it going for you this year?" The answer, "We haven't lost yet and our low score is 91.7."

Be prepared band the next three weeks of rehearsal are going to test you and push you, but maybe, just maybe, somewhere in all the sweat and tears, we will finally take this thing to level only a handfull of bands ever experience. When you get there, you won't even know but I can assure you this...YOU WILL RECOGNIZE THE RESULTS! Now go practice your music. Find the small things you can do better. As my former student use to say, "I got a feeling about this." We may just break through to something totally new for us all.

A Weekend Off

We have the weekend off. I think we need it. If any of you can relate to the holiday experience of having the entire family in the house for too long. That is kind of what it is like. You know, it all sounds great to have the whole family together for lets say Thanksgiving weekend. 4 days with everybody together. On Wednesday everybody arrives and things are great. Everybody is so glad to see each other. On Thursday, it usually starts in the kitchen, things tend to get a bit tense. Aunt so and so has a secret recipe for gravy and the real secret is that you could grout your bathroom with it but everybody is still pretty nice. It is Thanksgiving after all. Then football. Nothing gets my wife, sister, and mom into a frenzy like too much football watching. Then it is on. Everybody starts getting on each others nerves. Cousins start fighting, brothers and sisters are getting in on the act too. Of course, if the event is at your house, you are just annoyed with all the people changing all of your stuff. (Don't ever touch my television or the settings on it!) Oh yeah, you still have 2 more whole days of fun too. Well band is like a big family. We spend a lot of time together. ALOT OF TIME! So do we all get to each other after a while? Sure! So this weekend will be good. We are out of school today which is kind of a surprise but we do have a football game tonight. We are only taking a pep band so that is fun. I may even play a little tonight. Maybe baritone! I think by Monday we may all miss each other a little. That is good. We only have 3 more weeks. Only 3 rehearsals to BOA, 6 until lower state, and then only 9 until state. Everything we have worked for is about upon us. We have a choice to make at this point. Are the accomplishment we have achieved so far good enough? If they are, we don't need to work much harder. This season will be considered a success if we just consider what we have done already. Or is there something left yet to be given and discovered? Can we step it up to the next level? Certainly this is a level few bands or any organizations achieve...ever! If we can find a little more to give, some amazing things can happen. What do you think?

Not the Favorite

I suppose that I am not the favorite person of many people this week. We had a rough rehearsal yesterday and things were not exactly smooth last Saturday. It was truly amazing to see the band perform at a top level on Saturday though and they got what they deserved...1st place! Perhaps many do not realize that I do have a method to my madness. My true hope is that we have chance at the ultimate goal this year. Many think I am mean, heartless, in compassionate, and I am sure that you can come up with a few more things too. But one thing is for sure, my family and I care about the students in the Tiger Band. That brings up an interesting point...MY FAMILY. Do I have one? You bet. I have my mom and dad. They both worked for the Navy for over 42 years. I have my other mom and dad (Cindy's parents) that live right down the road in Lexington. I have my sister that I talk to often. She is even more loud and driven than I am. She runs marathons and competes in triathlons. I have uncles and aunts too. Even a couple of nephews that just look at me weird. Wouldn't you want a crazy Uncle Jon? But the crown jewel I have is my Cindy. She is always with me through go and bad. She is so hard on me to be the best too. I don't know what I would do without her. We don't have children except for the 90+ we take care of every weekend. Oh yeah then there is our Boyz Ted and Henry. They are the best! So I may not be the favorite teacher or person of the week for some, it makes me happy to know that some are always there for me. Oh I have friends too. Some even go fishing with me after we get home at midnight! They are always there...good or bad. We have an enormous task ahead of us. Can't we all work together to get what we all want? I think so.

At Our Next Competition...

The weather will be perfect. The sun won't be in our eyes. There is not a chance of rain. It won't be hot or cold. There will be no wind and the grass will be perfect. There won't be any holes and the field surface won't be too soft or too hard. Here is the question. Will we watch finals from the stands or will we watch finals from the field and see the judges right in their faces. Will we all go to the buses together after prelim awards or will I have to send the students back with the parents while I attend a meeting? Will we be one of the best bands in South Carolina or will we take the next step to be one of the best bands in the country? There are other questions too like, will the students take the extra time to perfect their music on their own or will just be another homework assignment to skip. Will the students remember what they are asked to do or will they just be glad the show is almost over? Will the colorguard really perform or will they just go through the motions?

Today was a great rehearsal. Our tasks are difficult at this time. When you score a 91.7 and then a 92.8, it is hard to focus to find the small things but if we can all work together, something amazing may happen. Something that none of us can really even imagine at this point.

"Don't sweat the small stuff!"

"It's all small stuff!"

So what choices will you make?