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.

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?

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.