Time to Go..Again!

We are back to competition tomorrow. The great thing is that we have an off night tonight. There is no football game. I guess that is an advantage to having to start football games the second day of school. But any way, we are off to White Knoll tomorrow so it is a quick trip but a huge competition. It has been an interesting week for sure. There was a bomb threat at school Monday and all after school activities were cancelled so we missed a day of rehearsal. That was the first cancelled rehearsal since my time at Dutch Fork. (Let's remember though, I didn't cancel it!). But guess what? We made it up today! I wish we had more time though. There are somethings I know we can fix and do better for tomorrow but guess what? We are out of time...again. The great equalizer. Time. We have made some really good changes but just haven't had time to clean them all. Any way, tomorrow is a big one for sure. Every school in the district will be there and it is close enough for family and friends to attend. I am sure the stands will be full. If you are reading this, you should come by and see us. We perform at 5:45 p.m.

P.S. There is nothing like getting your weekly job performance evaluation in front of 4,000 people and having your score announced over a loud speaker. Remember I really love band but please also remember, it is not a hobby or an activity to me. It is my job and career.

First Show...Down with That!!!

We had our first show of the season this Saturday. We went to friendly ground at Batesburg-Leesville. I worked there you know? What a fine group of people and a great competition. The field was a wreck though. It was the worst one I have ever competed on but as you know, the show must go on. Everybody competed on the same field so it was fair. The first contest of the year tests everything you have. Equipment - can you get it there in one piece? Parents - can they do all the stuff you can't? Staff - Will they be able stand the band director all day?  All these things worked well! We were third in prelims and then it happened. A band showed up for finals. Like I said in warm up for finals, all bands make a choice at some time to stop being content with making finals and choose to start winning at finals. We made that choice Saturday night. We rose to the occasion and became a true winning band from 7:45 until 9:00 p.m. Nothing was left on the field from all. We did it! You might think we won this contest and in many ways we did. Be alas, we were second overall at finals and lost to a fine band program. In the end, we missed our true goal but maybe that will work to our advantage in the end. One thing is for sure, I see hope in the future of the Dutch Fork Band Program. I see hope in the future. If I were other bands, I would try to beat us now because I don't think you will have that opportunity much longer.

Winning isn't everything...

"Winning isn't everything but the will to win is everything." - Vince Lombardi

It is a true statement if you think about it. Why compete if you don't have the will to win? It seems like a long time ago when my band won it all. I can't really tell you how it feels to see the kids so happy with their accomplishments. This weekend will mark the beginning of the competitive season. We go to Batesburg-Leesville this Saturday for a Prelims/Finals type competition. If we don't do well in prelims, it will be a short day. We have had short days before and that sting doesn't go away quickly. Strange that when a group wins they share the win together, but in defeat it seems everybody feels that alone. This weekend is important for a lot of reasons. Perhaps the Brady will prevail or perhaps.............

It is risks where the true advance but also it where they feel defeat alone. Good or bad one thing gives me solace. When I walk in the door Saturday night (or more like Sunday morning) I will know I have given it my all and regardless of the outcome, I will be greeted by three happy wiener dogs and one very supportive wife.

Remembering September 11, 2001

This is a post I always repost on 9/11

I remember the day well. It was a nice, clear, cool morning. It was my first year at Batesburg-Leesville and things were finally starting to come together for the little band. We only had about 40 kids that year and changed shows during band camp to a "Beach Boys" show. Things were not ideal but the support from the administration was sincere and that made things better too. Any way, I had 1st block planning that day and the Pecknel guy, Will, had just came into my room when the phone rang. It was Cindy telling me that a plane had crashed into on the trade towers so Will and I turned on the TV in the band room. We thought it was a bad accident because things like this had happened long ago to the Empire State building. We then saw the second place hit the tower. It was apparent then that the crashes were no accident. Through out the day things developed as they did. The principal called me and asked if I would like for him to announce the cancellation of my planned afternoon rehearsal because all other after school activities had been cancelled. I thought about it for a moment and of course that would have been the easy thing to do. I knew there would many confused kids that day but when they came to band room for class that day, one student asked "Can we just play music?" One other student even thanked me for letting them play and turning off the TV. That day we did rehearse. We were in the stadium and I can still remember it as the quietest marching band rehearsal I have ever attended. I don't remember if we got better that day at band but we learned a bit more than notes and sets. There were no airplanes, no other people, nothing but us. I also remember the butterflies. The monarch butterflies migrate this time of the year and as they start their journey south. Every once in a while two or three would fly across the field slowly. At the end of rehearsal, I called the group down as I still do today. They gathered together and I told them this "Some may ask why we chose to practice today and my answer is simple. We practiced because we could." Although a group of people tried to take away our feeling of security, they could not. We practiced because long, long ago and today too there are people who have fought for and continue to fight for our right to be free and have the freedom to do things we enjoy. That day we practiced because we could. I will always remember that day and the monarch butterflies too.

Working Through It All

I haven't blogged in while. Been a little busy you know. This band directing thing takes a lot of time and effort. We have had our moments lately too. It seemed as though we just kept working and getting physically better but not getting much better with the show. We certainly have our obstacles. Unlike many schools, my marching band students and non marching band students are mixed into the same classes. This makes working on the marching show during school time very difficult. Most of the visual and musical work must take place after school. We also do not have a colorguard class so that work all takes place after school. What all this means is that the individual must realize that they are the band. We can't just simply take it easy and let somebody else do it for us.

Now back to the work without apparent results. It just seemed like we weren't getting better. We worked hard but not smart. It has been my experience that sometimes when you think you just aren't getting better, that may be the point at which you are making the largest stride. Today somethings happened for us though. Visually things seemed cleaned and musically...well it started to sound like a Brady band. To achieve the true Brady sound, all must produce and today that started to happen. We have a long way to go but as Lou Holtz would say, we won today.