Back to Work

We have one game in the books and I have to say that it went pretty well. We really need to work on the stands music because it is pretty bad. Right now we only have a few songs that we can play well. The half time performance was pretty good considering that this was the first time the band had marched on grass this year. The guard was much improved. I would say that compared to last year's first performance this one was much better. This week's weather looks promising as the temperatures will be much more bearable. We just have to hope the rain hold off for us.

I hope you got a chance to see some of the band on the news Friday night. The kids did great and I think we all had fun.

This week will tell a lot. We need 3 great rehearsals and we need to make it important now. Those things just have to happen.

Frustrated

I don't really know where to start. We had a great band camp and things were well on their way, but I really have not seen or heard much of a difference in the band over the past two weeks. Call me negative, or mean, or what ever. I have heard it all, but I know what I am seeing and hearing and it's not much better than it was on Aug. 14th. As one of my best friends said, "It makes me question my music education". I thought I was pretty good at this band thing. Well I know I am as a matter of fact. Maybe I just can't get through to the DF kids for some reason. I may not know all the ways to have a championship band but my way is the only way I know and it works and will again. You can count on that. Thicken up because I am not likely to let up anytime soon. There are too many people that deserve so much to be held back by mediocrity.

The Action is Lighting Up

So we have our first game on Friday and it's at home which is cool. We have pre-game and all of half time too. So that's fun...but I got a phone call yesterday afternoon from Rick Henry, the biggest local sportscaster, about being on WIS-TV's show Football Friday. We will be live and in studio. Unfortunately all the kids won't fit in the studio but all will be represented. I am pretty excited about it even though it will be a late night for sure. I really think the kids will love it. Maybe we can become regulars. You just never know.

Tonight is my night off. I only had to work 9 hours today. Tomorrow is back to it. I hope some excitement will lend itself to a great rehearsal.

Tuesday was...hotter and better

For the most part we seemed to get more accomplished today. I made them mad and they seemed to respond well to it for the most part. Of course, some students got their feelings hurt but that wasn't the first time and certainly won't be the last time. Most know that it's nothing personnel. We picked up where we left off yesterday. We worked really hard and seem to be getting a bit better at the marching and drill but I have some pretty large concerns about the music. The attitude that band is an activity that takes place only at school has got to change if we are to move from the area of wanting and hoping good things will happen and get to the realm of knowing great things are going to happen.

P.S. One week now with out my computer. I still can not print music. When will this end and become a priority?

Monday...All Day Long!

I am still without a fully functional computer. My boss even gave me a laptop to use but it doesn't have my music programs on it so I can basically check email on it. I suppose I am not very high on the priority list of getting stuff fixed like that. Oh well. I went to the middle school and I think the new director and myself will get along fine. It will be fun to work with and get to know the middle school kids. Then we had after school rehearsal. I really do look forward to it. The longer I teach the more I like rehearsing. It was a bit warm but not too bad. Several kids didn't feel good and then I figured it out. They didn't drink anything all day at school so then at practice they started sweating and were dehydrated. Hopefully they will get more acclimated over the next few days. We really need to clean the show up if we are to have a chance. I just can't stand the thought of them looking at me after state with tears running down their faces again. That is the worst part of band directing. They may not like me for pushing them now but the rewards will never come with out the work.

A Better Day

I still don't have a computer but I must say that I have some great students. Mr. Apple came by this morning and put new heads on the timpani and they sound great. They have to "rest" this weekend though before they are tuned finally though. As for my classes, I had Concert Band first. This is the class that does not participate in marching band. I don't think you should be excluded from band and music education because you can't participate in marching band. If music education is to be a integral part of a student's education, then it must be available to all. So any way...last year this class was quite a struggle for all in the beginning but as we learned together something wonderful happened. We became a band of our own. Today I had 36 great band students in this class. I think we are going to have a lot of fun and, dare I say, have a some really Superior performances. Then came Symphonic Winds. I have to say I am so pleased that they seemed to pick up where we left off last year. We made some great sounds and we set a few goals too. We even sightread a nice stands tune. Funny that we start the year by sightreading RESPECT. That may be the just what we all get in the end of this whole thing this year...Some RESPECT. You just never know what can happen when a large group of students, parents, staff, and loved ones all work toward the same goal. I love surprises!

The First Day of School - Year 15

Today was very frustrating for me right up until one thing...band practice. My computer is crashed. I had to check my email from other computers when I could and just couldn't get much accomplished. I had a long list too. Even though band practice wasn't exactly normal, it was much better than the rest of the day. It was fun. We started outside with everybody in attendance and on time! Then it started to sprinkle, then it rained, then it rumbled, then it crashed, then we ran into the band room. We worked on music for about an hour and then went back outside, cleaned about 5 sets, and did a run through. Not bad considering how day had went. The great thing was that we were all back together after a great band camp. It was normal and good. Of the things that I wanted to get done today and didn't, the most important item on my list was accomplished. We had a successful first after school band practice. That means a lot to me.

A Day of Meetings and Problems

Today was about as full of meetings as one could be. I suppose there is a need for some meetings but we seem to meet an awful lot. I like learning new things and being informed but I have a hard time relating most of it to band or music education. Now for the problems...computer problems. Our school had a major virus attack on our computer system and I guess I was lucky winner today because my computer is really messed up. Luckily I believe I saved all my data on the network so I should be able to retrieve everything. I may make it a habit to save everything on the network at least once a week or so. It is scary how dependent I have become on my computer. Tomorrow is a big day. The first day of classes for the kids. It is also our first after school rehearsal. This rehearsal will tell a lot. The great bands come back from a short break, like the one we have had, better. Tomorrow will tell much about how committed everybody is. Let's make it a great one.

Change?

I am surprised that the last post I made did not raise more of a reaction. Can you imagine going into a job interview and making the statement, "I want to change everything."? I bet you wouldn't get that job. The truth is that everybody hates change. If you want to make an enemy, try to change somebody.

I do want to change the way people view band and the performing arts though. They are an integral part of not only what we know but who we are. Even my wife enjoys writing. It lets here express herself in ways she can not in her "real" job. (I am glad I don't have a "real" job by the way. ) I can remember not too long ago when the winning bands at most competitions were simply the largest ones. Then things started to change. Small bands began to develop shows based on their strengths and they began to play and march better than the big bands. What happened next? They started to win and be viewed as true competitors. I am glad to have had a part in that change although there were many before me too.

I here often about taking small steps toward change. I really don't tolerate this well. Given a choice of the following:

1. We are going to change our direction over the course of the next 3 years.

2. We are going to make some major changes quickly.

I will chose 2 every time. Quick change is a necessity sometimes. In nature, quick changes must happen or sometimes an entire species may be lost. Even the Grand Canyon, which we were once told took the entirety of the earth's existence to form, is now known to have been formed relative quickly by the standards of geology. (One of my favorite class I took in undergrad school was geology by the way. Dr. Knoll was cool.) Look it up if you don't believe.

So the real challenge is not whether or not you are going to be asked to change. The true challenge is how are you going to deal with it?

Of the topic but cool - When Cindy and I were going to Las Vegas our plane was apparently early so the pilot got permission to fly us around the Grand Canyon. What a sight it was. I will never forget seeing it from that view.

Change?

All I want to do is...change everything.

The Best Band Camp Ever?

Maybe! I have been doing this a long time and this was a great one. We have the entire show on the field and if you know me at all I don't just put drill on the field if we are not able to march and play it without being able to do it relatively clean. I must say everybody has worked very hard including the best staff I have ever worked with. Here is the good thing. Usually you hire camp staff to help you and then they go away. Not this year. Our staff will stay in place for the most part throughout the season. All the staff may not be at every rehearsal but for most of the time, they will be. But the band kids are the real heroes this week. They have been incredible! If you know me at all, I am not exactly the president of the Optimist Club, but I must say the season looks bright in many aspects. I truly appreciate all of the help I have received over the course of band camp, but don't stop now. Something truly amazing can happen if we all just do our part and work together. Have a great weekend.

The picture above is band tower and what the seniors did to it. Amazing in itself I think. Must have taken all night!

Making Adjustments

Over the past two days, we have had to make some pretty big adjustments to our schedule. It rained all morning today but then the sun came out and we went outside in the afternoon. It was not too hot but the humidity was something else. We are just about there with the drill though. The funny thing is that all this time to work on music inside is making learning the drill much more easy. We have 75 pages with only 3 more to go and we don't play on those sets so for all intensive purposes...WE ARE DONE! You really don't think we can run 75 pages with music without stopping or without a metronome though. That would be crazy. I have been much worse than crazy in the past. We are running it and it is not an easy show. I almost wish we could show it off a bit, but then again the best things come to those who wait. It is a very different kind of band now.

A Strange Day Indeed

Today was an odd one for sure. We were outside from 8 - 10 a.m. and then the rain came. Wow did the rain come. It really poured. We went inside and worked in sectionals. I even taught the tubas for a while. Then was lunch. I had a "conference" with a parent, and outside rehearsal looked less than promising. Then it quit raining. Then the kids kind of went crazy for a bit. They were talking and doing what ever and then we went to set zero and ran our 68 pages that we have so far, and then we did it again...and again...and again....then things settled down and we got some work done. Then it rained and we went home. I really want everybody to make it this year. We have lost a few and I truly hope we will not lose more but I have my doubts as, well you probably know if you are reading this, because I have my standards and can't let those down. It wouldn't be right to all those that have risen to the standard.

Week 2 - Day 2 = A Scorcher

It was hot today as Tarzan came by early and said "It is hot out here don't you think?" I agreed and gave him some Gatoraide and he went on his way. I tried to get him to join colorguard but he had other business to attend. Any way, we didn't get a lot accomplished if you just look at what we did on paper. We only put 4 more pages of drill on the field but that is OK. We are hoping for some cooler days and can still get the whole show on the field by Friday. By putting the show on the field, I mean everybody knows where they going and can play their part. As for that, we are getting better. Speaking of guard, they are really getting it together. I think everybody is in for a surprised when they see them. Once we get the entire show on the field, the real work begins.

The Heat is On

There have been a few stories in the news about band students getting hurt at band practice because of the heat. Our policy is simple, it is just not worth it to put a student in a position to be harmed because we feel like we should get more drill on the field. If a heat advisory is put out by the National Weather Service, we stay inside. Luckily, the heat is supposed to break on Wednesday. We also have a nurse available at all outside rehearsals. Band is supposed to be fun you know. I don't think having heat cramps or even worse happen is very much fun.

Our morning session went rather well today. We put 11 more pages of drill on the field. We are now inside working on music.

Week One is Done...

Week 1 of band camp has come and gone. We are on our way to a successful season if we can keep working towards our goals and not let the little things get in our way. We must continue to work on our individual playing. I feel there are still many that are relying on those around them. It is getting better though. One must also remember why things are going do well too. It wasn't what the t-shirts looked like. It wasn't how many trips we went on. It wasn't how much punishment was given out. It was hard work, commitment, and dedication. If those things are in place, it will be difficult to get in our way as the season progresses. Our band program is built and will continue to grow on firm foundation of strong basics in both playing and marching but perhaps the most important feature is our commitment and dedication. Get those instruments out over the weekend and at least play through your parts a bit. You may be surprised at how much you really like to practice.

"Let's dare to think something bold,

new thoughts,

trust a little more,

unlearn somethings we've been taught.

Let's spread our wings and soar."

On the 4th day...

A band was created. We ran 41 pages all the way through with music. Things can happen for us if keep working. Music is our main concern at this point but then again it is always my main concern. Lot's of people seem excited about band this year. It makes me happy.

Day 4 - Still Working

We have more than half of the show on the field now and we continue to make progress with the music. My staff has been great.

Day 3 - The Heat is On...Still

We have the entire opening section of drill on the field. It is difficult and physically demanding but it will be great when it all comes together. We are having to "find" places to have sectionals this afternoon as the school has freshman registration today and does not even realize we are here. We will make due though. Today is a short day. Only 10 hours.

Day 2 - A Telling Day Ahead

This day always tells alot about what kind of pontential we truly have for the seaon. We have completed the most difficult two days of camp and only the strong will show up today ready to go. To make it even more fun, the heat just keeps coming.

Day 2 - Morning Report

Hot! That is a good word for it. We are up to page 22 so that is good. Music is where we have the most area in which to improve but that should happen with time and individual effort. Cindy came out to see us too. That was a nice surprise for me.

Music Rehearsal

We played through the first half of th show and we are definately starting ahead of where we were a year ago. Our task is to bring the younger students up to the level of the others. If they have the commitment, we have the ability. We are going to continue to set drill this evening.

Day 1 of Band Camp - Morning Report

We are here! We have 72 winds, 20 guard, 14 in the battery, 9 in the pit, and one drum major. Things are going well and the weather is cooperating. If this morning is an indication as to how our season is going to go...Watch out. Everybody seems to be having fun too. That is important after all. Now to music rehearsal for the next session.