Happy Thanksgiving

We have a lot to be thankful for mostly I am thank that Cindy is feeling better. I hope everybody has had a great one and don't spend too much money tomorrow. I will be cleaning leaves...Of course! What else is there?

Interesting at the Exxon

So fishing was a bust. Nobody had any bait so I tried with some lures for a while with no luck and then my trolling motor broke. So I went to get some gas for the leaf blower, weedeater, and lawnmower. I had three separate containers. I put my debt card in and filled them up. I then went in to the Exxon to get a lottery ticket. Hey you never know. I might win! Any way, I got back into my truck when the attendant ran out of the store accusing me of trying to steal gas. Mind you this was $7.00 in gas in three different containers. He was yelling and all sorts of stuff. Needless to say...I was not pleased. I told him I had paid with my debt card and he said I did not. That was not the point. All he had to do was say it didn't go through or something. So I told him I had been busted. I had been travelling throughout the state with my three gas containers and stealing gas $7.00 at a time in my 2008 GMC truck. Any way I gave him $7.00 and told him a good place to put it. The moral to this story. Pay in cash. Have a great day!

Thanksgiving Break

It is almost here. I would on my way home if not for the students that need to get there instruments at the end of school. I know "how can I be so kind?" Well, it is hard sometimes. But that is just me! Ha-Ha. Really I am supposed to stay until 4:00.

I am certainly ready for this break. I have some fishing to do and hopefully I will have a good report for you tomorrow. We don't have any big plans over break and I like that. We will leave all the travelling and running around to others. I hope everybody has a great Thanksgiving!

Back to Work

We had a great time at Winthrop. Both of the students from Dutch Fork were in the top band and did really well. They were great ambassadors for our band program and were a lot of fun to be around too.

Now some not so good news. We are continuing to have problems with respect for the band program from the people it should matter to the most...it's own members. I have attempted to give the band students some rewards for being in band such as allowing them to be in the band room before school so they didn't have to go to the commons area with the other students. We are continuing to problems with the band room being out of order. This will stop because I will keep it in order but the problem is that I can't keep it in order because many of the students work faster than I do. There are many times when I am just being watched as I put things in their proper area. I don't mind working with the students and I certainly don't watch them work but I do mind when it seems like am the one to do all the organizing of the band room. It may not seem very important but it is. Self discipline will be the key to the future successes or failures of the Dutch Fork band program. That comes from with in and with help from others. Everybody is expected to be a good example and influence on each other. That is what we lack the most but with hard work we will get there.

Annual Trip to Winthrop

I always take a few students to the Winthrop Band Clinic which is always the week before Thanksgiving. So tomorrow two students and myself are leaving at about 7:30 a.m. to head up to Rock Hill. It is my Alma mater so I always like to see the changes that are going on at the school. Winthrop is a smaller but very good college and I am glad I chose to go there. They have only admitted 6,500 students for many years and don't have plans to get any bigger.

As far as the clinic goes, the students will audition for chairs first thing. They will then rehearse for two days and give a great concert on Saturday night. It means that I have to spend one more night away from home but I think it is worth it to the students.

Passion

I thought about this today and it makes sense. I have been told I am a lot of things. Some good and some bad. That is the way it goes with me and what I do, but I have never been told that I didn't have passion for what I do. It is what makes band so important. Band is a class in which everybody gets to do something passionately and not get in trouble. Many bands play the right notes and rhythms. My goal is to have a band that does all the technical things correct but also one that plays with passion.

I think I am starting to get through to some as all the classes are starting to get the idea. The correct notes and rhythms are only part of the solution. They must add the things that make us human to the music and most of the time those markings aren't even on the page. They are inside of us.

Walking the Walk and Talking the Talk

I always tell me students to take their instruments home and practice. What kind of band director would I be if I didn't do the same thing? Not me that's for sure. I love to practice and I have been doing just that lately. I think it is important for any students to know that their teachers are still learning and working on their trade. Beside all those things I just love to play my horns. So be assured that when I say to practice, I am doing just that too. Nobody tells me when I need to practice and what I need to work on any more but I still don't play the way I want too. Maybe that has a lot to do with why I love music so much. You can never get too good at it and there is always new stuff to learn about it.

Crazy?

"All wind and no fishing makes Brady Crazy." We seem to be a weather pattern that makes it rain on Friday and/or Saturday and then the winds blows on Sunday. That is not good for my fishing plans but I guess I will get by. I cleaned leaves in the yard this morning. I am sure my neighbors love to hear my leaf blower at 7:30 in the morning but hey its American and I have my rights. Really I was just bored and now I feel like I have accomplished for the day anyway and will have no shame in just lounging for the rest of the day. Boy that was a fine showing by the Gamecocks yesterday. Wow that was bad but I still like Steve Spurrier. I mean with a name like "Spurrier" he had to be a Gamecock eventually and I just like the way he does things.

I would like to say a heartfelt "Thank you" to everybody that made the pancake breakfast a success. What a great idea and it seemed fun too. Great job booster club and students. We can build on this one and make it better and better.

I like to see the Autumn leaves but I have to say I feel a bit sad too. I know we will have at least 4 months of cold weather now. Cold weather to me is anything lower than 80 degrees in the day. Maybe it will snow this winter and that would be fun my family of dingos (Cindy included as a dingo for sure). I hope everybody has a great Sunday.

Fundraising

We're trying! I promise! We are trying to raise some money to get some much needed items for the band. We have some pretty big equipment needs. Our drumline is falling apart...literally! We also need some new marching baritones. Here is the neat thing about fundraising for the band. If anybody wants to see where the money goes it's easy. Just walk in the band room or go watch the marching band. Everything we raise goes right back into the band.

I know some of the booster club is frustrated with our numbers so far but I am not. I think they are doing all the right things and as the band becomes more important so shall fundraising. I know how hard they all work and I really appreciate it!

What are your suggestions for ideas to raise money for the band? Here is your chance to have your voice heard.

Making it Important

If we are to make what we do important to others, we must first make it important to ourselves. Others will only perceive our causes as important when we truly believe in them. All of it has to be important whether its counting a whole note for the thousandth time or learning a new scale. It all has to be important. Even if it is just taking your instrument home, when you know you don't have a test. It has to be that important.

I think what we do is important. Every bit of it. Whether its just keeping the band room clean and in order or trying out for region band. It all has a great affect on others. When it becomes so important to us, others will not be able to help but to make it a priority too.

Another Long Day

We have a booster club meeting tonight so I usually just tell the kids they can stay after school and practice. I really don't mind as I think they have fun practicing together sometimes without me telling what they doing right or wrong. I like to listen to them too. I don't mind booster club meetings either. I think the parents need to meet once a month and discuss things and ask me any questions they may have as well. I am a pretty open person when it comes to work. I have been told I can be hard to get to know but once you know me I can actually be quite entertaining. Today in classes I taught the Freshman Success class a lesson on Veteran's Day. I thought it was important enough to take some time away from the planned curriculum. They seemed to enjoy. Concert band continues work on their Winter Concert music and they are getting better. I wish they would practice at home and make the entire class a little more important but in general it was a good class today. As for Symphonic Winds, we have being working on First Suite in E Flat by Gustav Holst. It is a benchmark piece for any successful band program so we are going to perform it at our concert. We also sightread a great fanfare that would be nice in which to open the concert. Their sightreading is getting better. I wonder why?

My Favorite Thing

I got to do my favorite task at work today. I got to teach. Nothing else is more important but it seems that a lot of other things always come up to get in the way. We worked on percussion ensembles and sightread in another class. It was nice.

Marching Band 2008 - That's a Wrap

Marching band season 2008 is officially in the books. Last night was our last football game of the season and although they did not win, we were there to support them. The band attended several aways games this year with the full band. Maybe next year we will not attend many with full band but I felt like it was important to show our support to the team. Some asked "Why did we go last night? We didn't even get to march and the competitive season was over. Why spend the money?" Well first we do get a pretty good travel budget from district so we weren't using booster money for travel last night. But perhaps most importantly is that we all wear the same colors on Friday night meaning it is important for our school and community that the band is at big events like Friday night football games. I know that the coaches wish they would have won more games this year but I also know they are great people too. I have always gotten along very well with the coaches at all of my schools and consider many to be friends. They may not know a lot about band or music but they certainly understand the values of hard work and teamwork. I am proud to see coaches and have them hug me. Yes, I was once hugged a football game by a coach I once worked with. The kids asked who he was and I said a friend. Maybe the reason I get along with them is due to the mutual respect we seem to have for each other. There are many nights when I leave school and the only other person there is the head coach. I respect that greatly.

All and all I am happy with many things that took place this marching season and although I am disappointed with the results at state (and I take full responsibility for them also) I do think that many things are in place to help the band program at Dutch Fork. Of course some will disagree but I think most understand the change I have implemented. We may lose a few students due to change but I also know that the silent majority is just waiting to get involved. It is my experience that says for every student that quits band because it is too demanding, there are 2 more staying and wanting to join for that same reason. Great people enjoy challenges and the internal rewards that are available with hard work and self discipline.

The most important thing I will teach over the next 7 months will be music but the next most important thing will be self discipline. This the quality we need the most. It will take time but in the end it will all shine though but not with trophies but with self pride. Self discipline and good values are the key to any successful group. We will have them by June. I promise.

Thank you to all the great parents that made our season possible. We just would not be able to do much with out you. I hope all of you will take time to come and watch a band class in the near future. My classroom is always open for you whether it is a parking lot, a football field, or in our wonderful band room. You are always welcome.

Many have asked about Cindy and I am happy to report she is doing great. She still has a lot of recovery time but we are looking forward to when she will be back to full speed (I think. You have to remember she is the only one that can truly put me in my place.). Soon we will be going fishing, going to races and concerts, and visiting wonderful places like Key West again but until then I am just happy to have a little time at home with her.

Patience Vs. Urgency

I am often told "You are too impatient. You need to wait to get everything you want." Perhaps this is true but I am brought back to the fact that all the great people in any field or did anything really noteworthy have had a sense of urgency about them too. I think it is actually a combination of the two that is actually the most productive. I don't like wait on things to fix themselves that is for sure. To just sit back and hope things will get better will not work. On the other side though, I certainly know you can't make people be something they are not or make people do things they don't want too. The best you can hope for is to put people in a position to want to do well on their own. Patience is not a quality I claim to have conquered but then again why wait around when you know what you want? I will try to be more patient with my students but let's just remember we have to be in this thing together for us all to get what we want.

"Good things come to those who wait, but the best things come to those who go out and get what they want."

The Fix

Some talk continued today about why we didn't make state finals and what happened. Here is what can be done to fix it. We need to get better. It is just that simple and plain. If we were in the position to be in the top third of the bands, we would not have to worry about a judge giving us problems. Let's say we were in line to finish 3rd in prelims but a judge had a problem with something we were doing. That judge might push our score down to say 6th but we would be able to get back those points in finals. When you are in the middle third of bands, a low score can keep you out of finals. I was shocked by the amount of students that left their instruments in the band room today. I can guarantee no practicing can happen without an instrument. Band must become something important before we can take the next step of success. Until then it is just talk. Band does not have to be the only thing a student does, but it does need to be a priority. I don't really know how else to put it. I will continue to work for a better band at Dutch Fork but the real successes can only happen when we all work together. Please also remember that as part of each student's grade, instruments are required to go home daily. I do check and grading will be more strict now that marching season is over.

The Start of the New Season

Tomorrow will begin concert season. Competitive marching band is over for another year. People should remember that marching band season is only 1/4 of the school year. We have much work to do on the concert end of things but don't worry if you are really into marching season. If worked on the correct way, we can improve in marching band by leaps and bounds and never have to go outside. Everything we do in concert band will transfer to what we do outside. I promise. The real task at hand is to become better individual performers and concert band is the prefect setting. I do wish that more students would have registered for region band but I would rather register less and have a higher percentage make it rather than register a bunch have many not even show up to the audition. I have never paid for the students to register for region because they need to have something invested in their success even if it is just $10. Region band is the most important individual activity that is available to the students. It gives them a structured goal to work towards. We will also be attending concert festival this spring. I am not sure how many groups we will take but at least one will be going. We will also form a Jazz Band after the winter holidays. There is so much we can do to improve our standings in marching band next year and the best part is we don't even have to worry about the weather to do it.

Now I am off to vote. I hope the lines are not too long but if they are, I will just scare children to keep myself occupied.

State: The Recap

We were all disappointed last night but I for one was not disappointed with myself and my band. We had a great run at 4:30 and nobody can take that away. There were some things I did not like about state though. First, I did not like how far away everything was physically. We had to walk far too much. Our buses were the furthest from warm up, the rest room, and the stadium. I did like the stadium though. The field surface was great for marching band. Second, I did not like the way most of the 5A directors walk around like they are most important people on the planet. I mean get real. I always find time to talk to the other band directors. Most of these guys did not even say hi. It is marching band. We are not solving world hunger or curing diseases! Mostly, I did not like the fact that one judge kept us out of finals. The individual music judge tanked us bad. He had us 12th. I just don't think that one judge should have that power. I am sure he can back up his score though. They always can.

What can we do to make sure we don't miss finals again? Here are a few suggestions.

1. The level of skill in the individual must continue. More students must register for region/all-state band and take it seriously. Our guard has come a long way this year. My challenge to them is to keep working with the flag through out the year. It will make a big difference next year.

2. We must have a continuous band program throughout all three levels. Right now we have a serious disconnect with the middle school band program. This must end.

3. Everybody must have faith that we are doing the right things and we are, I promise! What we did this year and how we did it will transfer into success in the future. Right now it may be difficult to see this but it will work.

I would like to add that one of the best things that happened this year was the way the booster club and the band parents came together and did great things. Our support group is growing and that will make all the difference in the future too. The kids equipment was always where it needed to be when it was needed. That in itself is a great accomplishment. The students were always well cared for with regards to medical issues, uniforms, and food. I can't do all that stuff on my own. I would also like to thank Mr. Henke. I knew him before this year but now I consider him a friend too. He is a great band director and a person too. You don't find that too much anymore. He is the Zen of our group for sure. He may not talk a lot at rehearsal or contests but when he does, you better listen. I am also very glad that Mr. Apple is with us. He has taught me a lot and I really enjoy having him as a friend too. I have to admit something was missing yesterday and that was Cindy. She is the one who always knows what to say to me and it always with me during the hard times. I hope I don't have to go to any more contests without her. Tom and Greg were great company during the trip though and very entertaining. Mr. Sharp is the best visual tech I have worked with yet. Many parents and students thanked me yesterday. I just do my job and I feel I am average at best but I can't remember seeing as many former students as I did yesterday nor have as many parents said thank you to me. I didn't see anybody angry or mad last night in the band room. That lets me know we did something right.

Now go practice and sell some fruit. We need to get better and this band thing ain't cheap!

STATE: The End or the Beginning?

Today is state competition we will be performing in less than 6 hours. We will know if we need to get ready for a final performance in about 7 hours. Is this the end of something or the beginning? This is the end of this year's competitive marching season, but I feel it may be the beginning of something much larger. Things have really come together for us. Last nights half-time performance was the best visual performance any band of mine has accomplished at a football game. We had a great rehearsal Thursday too. All that is left is today. There is certainly a buzz in the band room this morning. Lots of people were here early.

If we get what we want, we will have two great performances today. If not the feeling will be different tonight but the accomplishments of the season will not. We have already accomplished what I wanted to for this year. People are taking note of the Dutch Fork Band. In the coming years, we will build on what we have established in this short 4 month period of time. The future is shining brightly for us as we will only graduate a very small group of seniors this year. In 12 hours, the season will be over but the next era of the Dutch Fork Band will only have begun.

Only one thing will be less than perfect for me today. I have done what I sought out to do many, many years ago. I am the head director of a very competitive band at the top division. I just wish my Cindy was here with us today. She will be at home waiting for the results though.