Friday, October 10, 2008

Titan Bands Online

I hadn't been using this site to post news. However, it seems like that seemed like something people wanted. In response to that I created an actual band blog for posting news and that's the site I have given to the students and parents.

So from now on...if you want to read news about the bands, it will be posted here; www.titanbands.blogspot.com

If you want to read my personal accounts. They will still be posted here. However, the other site is probably more exciting.

Friday, September 26, 2008

From Pekin

Well, even though it's early on we had a good showing at Pekin this year. It was a nice little festival. El Paso-Gridley ended up taking the music, visual, and winds captions as well as first place. It's nice to recognized for all the hard work we do. I'm pretty proud of those kids.

Anyway, I promised pictures so here they are.

Friday, September 12, 2008

Rain Delay

It seems like hurricane season is causing quite a bit of trouble for the Central IL marching bands. I've been talking to other directors and they're having the same problems we are. It's shocking just how much we can be affected by this weather.

Just about the time we have practice it pours. I think I've spent more time repainting the lines on my practice field than I have teaching sets. It doesn't exactly feel productive. However, I tell my band to be flexible and I guess I need to learn that I can't control the weather.

We had a pretty good music rehearsal this morning. The dynamics need to stick in our playing though. That's my biggest complaint at this time. Now I hope we retained the sets we learned last night. We've only got three to go, but I figure I'll be reteaching some of the stuff were should already know just because we aren't getting enough reps in on the field!

Well I guess I should get ready tonight's game. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the rain to stop long enough to play. Let's be honest that's all any musician wants to do. I'm no different. I really see a lot of myself in my students. I wonder if that's part of the reason I care so much. I hope I never get too old to remember that they aren't having an easy time.

Saturday, August 30, 2008

Work Ehtic

While it seemed to me that the work ethic in my band had dwindled this year, I'm seeing a small resurgence.

Last Thursday night we faced a few difficulties. Scheduling between buildings in our district had not been communicated very well. The short version is the schools scheduled my rehearsal, show camp for youth, 4/5 parent orientation, and a volleybal scrimmage all at once. The band and choir rooms were being used for orientation so I taught the band a little bit about being flexible.

We moved to the gym because it looked rain, luckly is cleared off for rehearsal so out to our practice field we went. I will admitt, lately I have been a little disenchanted. The group has been lacking it's drive and some students seemed more interested in finding loop holes then being honest.

Then it all changed. For two glorious hours we sat drill and played our show. We collected quite an audience of parents and 5th graders as we encouaged each other to push harder.

At the end of the night we had caught up and I was feeling like we were becoming a machine. Students said their goodbyes in sweat soaked t-shirts that night, most of them feeling proud of what they accomplished.

I spoke for a half an hour or so with a 5th grade parent about participation in band. It was nice that he had witnessed the kind of group his son could be a part of in a few short years. I had a form with a nice note from him attached the next day. His son will be playing baritone.

As I went home that night I felt a sense of accomplishment. I was proud of the students. It was a welcome return to that feeling. All the people who deal with me agreed as well. I'm a lot more pleasant to be around when I'm loving what I'm doing. It's nice to be working hard and seeing results.

Monday, August 11, 2008

Band Camp is Complete

Yes, it's true band camp is over. It's a weird feeling and I'll always wonder if we got enough done or pushed too hard.

We had some ups and downs. It was nice that the weather held out most of the time. I think we only had one rain scare this year. It came during the morning of our preview performance and camp picnic. I had one parent tell me that it would clear off. I asked how she was so she sure. She simply replied "God loves marching band." I had to smile when was right!

Uniform fitting was exciting because we are in brand new Demoulin uniforms this year. The kids look sharp. I'm almost certain scores will go up because of the new look. However, the most important part is that I think the kids will be more comfortable with how they look. Pride is important to marching band. Wearing the new school colors should make the community proud too.

Marching Band Olympics are a new tradition that we started this year. It was a competition for a year's worth of bragging rights and a name plate on a trophy. The Drumline/Pit won this year, but it took a lot to be out the brass. The Colorguard/DMs weren't quite there and I'm pretty sure the woodwinds would have rather been practicing. However, the team building is very valuable. Not to mention if we don't have fun it's not worth it. Great performances, Left Obliques, and goofy games can all be worth it.

All and all I'm looking forward to an exciting season. It's kind of a rebuilding year because we lost some great seniors. I hope the kids make as many great memories as I will.

Friday, August 1, 2008

The Drill...

is finished! Now comes the fun of teaching it. Writing it is the hard part. I hope that I've taught everyone who to read the drill so we will be more efficient this year. I can't believe they hadn't used drill (dot) books before.

Well I'm within a few hours of the end of Drumline and colorguard camp. It's exciting to me that last year we didn't do this three day extra camp and it went over really well this year. I think our goal for the year be to be the cleanest band in IL. We're small, but we are dedicated. I guess for my second year I really couldn't ask for more.

One of my drum majors is a great photographer so I'll leave this post with some pictures of what went on this week.

Some of the colorguard working out their moves.

Anna and Denis working hard during their second day as members of the MT.


Quite possibly my favorite drumline picture ever. Our basses practicing exercises.

Robin(the DL section leader) showing that it's not all work!

Instructor, Daniel E. gettting down to fix stick heights and rebound for our snares.

Sunday, May 25, 2008

The Woodwind and Brasswind

Despite my brass players best debating, it is in fact called the "Woodwind and Brasswind" not the other way around. I won't lie though...I said the same thing in high school when I made my first trip to one of largest music stores in the country. Yes, right before I became a freshman I took my first trip there to buy the trumpet I still play on today. The store was in a different location, but it didn't lack the magic that I was so excited to share with some of my students.

I took some of my most dedicated advancing students on a 3 hour car trip to South Bend to upgrade some of their equipment. They spent hours testing out new gear, having me listen until they found stuff that was going to help elevate their playing. Of course they also understood that by doing this they are also helping the band.

It was really cool to get to see them go through that process. Something that I really think all musicians need to try is that test of equipment to help them find their own sound. It was astounding how much a mouthpiece and ligature can do!



Here's a picture of them out in front of the huge sax/trumpet fountain by the store.

I was so glad that I got to take them on this trip, other students are already asking when I'll be taking another group. When the energy is high students can do so much. I love that.


Tuesday, May 6, 2008

The Dust Has Settled...

It was a real whirlwind the past couple of weeks. Jazz Showcase, Bradley Honor Band, ISU Contect, Jr. High Contest, and the first EPGHS Senior Recognition Banquet. I'm glad to be able to breathe a bit this week.

Jazz Showcase was well done. We had over 80 people in attendance on a Thursday night in April! Not too bad for the first gig. The parents did an excellent job decorating. It had a jazz club kind of feel to it. The auditorium needs to be used more. Next year we are thinking of moving it to a different venue and billing it more as a dance gig. It's all good to me as long as the kids are into jazz!

Bradley got me out of EPG for a day with three of my most talented musicians. They got to play in a big group that sounded great! I got to spend the day talking with other directors, working on our show for next season, and listening to the guest conductor.

ISU's contest gave us the great experience of playing on a fantastic stage. We had some jitters and was not our best performance. I hope the kids had fun anyway, I was really impressed with how many of them listened to the other bands and glad that some even came back the next day to hear groups. The only snag was the bag incident, I can't believe that's the worst I have had to deal with all year. Count my blessings I guess.

The Jr. High Band went to IESA contest for the first time in a few years. We played a program that stretched them and it showed. Maybe I should've programmed a little simpler, but I just don't believe in watering it down. They recieved a 2nd, but I'm glad because they need to realize that they have some serious weaknesses. Considering they suggested adding a drum solo to our ballad to "win" over the judges, I knew this would be a wake up call.

Then there was the banquet. What a great time that was! We spent an evening looking back on the year. The seniors all spoke. I was pretty moved by what some of them said. One said not to clap for him, but to clap for me. They recounted fun stories, shared some tears and laughs, and generally had a good time. I'm really glad Harrison and I got the slide show together. It means a lot to me.

It's cool to look back. I'll put a year pictures post soon I think. Until then, just a lot of words and time to get to lunch duty.

Thursday, April 3, 2008

ICC Honor Band

To the left: Jeff(tpt-soph), Jessie(euph-soph), Miranda(horn-jr), Mark(tpt-jr), Danny(alto sax-jr), and I after peforming in the First Annual ICC Honor Band Festival in East Peoria, IL.

We performed with ICC students, high school students, and the 85th Division Army Band for a packed house.

The program was called an American Celebration and featured your standard patriotic music as well as some original band literature.

I had a great time attending this event with my students. We spent a whole Saturday during Spring Break rehearsing and meeting the other musicians. I'm lucky that they're all underclassmen as I look forward to the growth they will make over the next year(s).

I was lucky enough to be approached by both conductors about coming out to see my band. I hope to have Mr. Jones and Commander Walker both out at my high school over the next year. What a cool experience this proved to be and I hope to participate again next year.

ICC Band


We spent the day working with conductors and members of the Army Band under the direction of Commander Walker.

To the left: Jeff, Jessie, Miranda, Mark, Danny, and I at the ICC honor band festival.

I rarely get to wear my tux anymore so it was a lot of fun to get to play in a group along side some of my students.



I should probably resolve to play more. I miss being part of an ensemble. I wish there was a concert ensemble that played at the level of a college band somewhere for me to play in...I'd start one, but I'd need to know some other directors. I should get out of my band room more huh?

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Traveling (Pep) Band

I'd heard of a "Rambling Man", but I seem to have a traveling band. Pep Band that is!



We spent January on the bus hitting up a couple larger venue basketball games. I've never known a school to have a traveling pep band, but it was a lot of fun.



We played at Bradley University for a women's game when the BU Pep Band was still on break. The best part of that was getting to spend some time talking to Dr. Vroman. He was the All-State conductor when I was in the band in 2002. I have so much respect for him so it was nice to get to meet him as a colleague. Not and equal, but a director all the same. He said some good things about the band and is hoping some of them will come to his honor band later in the year.



The next weekend we jumped on the bus to play for the HOIC Championship night. Our band was selected by the area AD's and Principals to play the big show. Here are pictures from that...

Claire and Kory Get serious! The whole band up and ready to play.

We had a great time and even got to feel a little bit special. We had priority loading right at the front of Wesleyan's Sports Complex. However, a van blocked is in so I went to ask the driver to move which he did. I got back on the bus and told the kids that I said, "Sorry sir, you're going to have to move because the greatest band in the conference needs to get out of here after that gym shaking performance." The response from the band was incredible! It's great to see those kids all hyped up!

We are hoping to make the state games next year. It's a good venue for a smaller band and they seem very proud when kids from our basketball teams come back from away games and tell them how great our band sounds.