Saturday we're performing at Reading (Albright College)... here's the run down
Noon - guard rehearsal (practice field)
2pm - guard hour break / percussion rehearsal (stage)
3pm - winds & guard rehearsal (practice field)
5:30pm - load equipment/uniforms
6pm - depart (pack dinner for the bus ride)
7pm - arrive (straight to warm up area)
8pm - gate time
8:15pm - performance (we will go straight to the stand w/ instruments)
(there will be bathroom breaks but No concession stands)
9pm - awards
11:30pm - ballpark arrival at North Schuylkill
Some things to consider....
We are only competing against one other American Class band on Saturday night: Northern Lebanon, who took 5th place (beating us by 7 points) two weeks ago at Hempfield. With consistent marching technique and 100% participation musically and a little extra effort we can make up 7 points easy. In fact, I'd like to say I expect you to go and make up those 7 points this weekend. Last week's focus and enthusiasm was leaps and bounds beyond what I saw out of you leading up to Hempfield... Let's keep it up.
Why aren't we watching other bands before our performance? If we made it for the first band at 6pm we'd only get to see the first Three Yankee Class bands before heading to the warm up area... I don't know if that's really worth the earlier start time or the logistical effort to make that happen. Also - I want to put this band in the zone at our afternoon rehearsal and keep your focus in check all the way down on the bus and all the way through the warm up and the show. We've got the ability - but we really need to zero in on the mindset to make a really clean show happen.
Lastly. We WILL be playing AND marching Hoe Down this week:
Winds will learn drill on Tuesday. On Thursday we will put music to it. You MUST be able to PLAY your part.
Anyone caught on the field tuesday/thursday with out their flip folders & set books will be subjected to torment and torture (ridiculing by your peers and push ups/laps).
That is all.
Thanks for a good time at the Fair today - I wasn't in the best of moods - but that's because I really don't care for the Fair, or Mondays, or clouds, or school buses.
Have a good till I see you.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Sometimes the Title is a LiNK!!!!!
Boys and Girls - great rehearsal yesterday! Don't forget the details and don't lose that focus; we need to turn it on like that at EVERY rehearsal, game, and performance. People who missed yesterday's rehearsal, get with someone and make sure you're up to speed on everything.
Get a permission slip for B'burg and get it back to me ASAP
Donuts tomorrow
that is all.
Get a permission slip for B'burg and get it back to me ASAP
Donuts tomorrow
that is all.
Monday, September 15, 2008
A LONG WEEKEND in review
Working chronologically:
Friday - thank you for being awesome and rocking out an impromptu pep rally. The power going out was probably the worst thing that could have happened for me/us, you may not even realize, but we were asked to make the best of a situation and came through for the school. Good Jorb!
The soakin' wet football game performance was good considering the weather and your pep-band-ing in the stands was as always appreciated. Big thanks to the brass for carrying the weight all night.
There is however the matter of one lonely rain coat that was left on the floor in the band room near the percussion cabinets. The percussion section as a whole is by far the most negligent of the tidiness of our space; I would appreciate a little extra effort to keep your music, sticks, instruments, and personal belongings in their place.
Saturday - I was surprised to see so many of you show up early... that's a good attitude, I hope it does not waiver regardless of scores and placement at the show. Rehearsal started strong and I was pumped, but toward the end we hit our typical wall and half of us lost focus on the goal (improvement) - it's disappointing to see some of you work so hard to throw it all away at the end of rehearsal.
I am happy to say that to my knowledge you were well behaved in the stands all evening. Thank you for not acting like cheerleaders as the other bands do preceding awards. Please understand that it is not my intention to strip any of the fun from the event, but often bands are so engrossed with their chants and games that they miss what's going on in the stadium - the band to our right, for example, cheering for themselves when the announcer was calling for a salute to Hempfield's retiring band director.
As far as your performance is concerned. I was pleased as I watched, and again as I saw the video. I know that we have a long way to go, but we've got plenty of time to get there too.
Concerning your score and judges comments - nothing that I didn't expect made it's way to a tape. Our marching technique is very inconsistent, we'll be working on that. Our playing could be much more dynamic and musical, we're working on it already - the first step is everyone contributing (that means everyone knows and plays every note of their part!), and THAT is an individual responsibility for You to take care of Outside of rehearsal time.
Winds - our new musical goal is breath support and finishing phrases
Percussion - our new musical goal is playing dynamically and we'll be editing some parts (also Hoe Down needs to happen this week!)
Guard - rifles, we need to make your work fit the music, we also need you in on the flag work for Finale. Flags, the work is good, lets clean it up. Alternates - you're in. I'm re-writing nearly all of your drill this week, make sure you're here for all of rehearsal on Thursday.
One Final note - less than 100% attendance at a competitive performance is absolutely unacceptable - if any one intends to miss a competition in the future you should let me know immediately because I will be writing you out of the show. Every hole in every set of our field show makes it more difficult for the students on the field to fit the form and earn points in the visual captions. To put it most bluntly - if You aren't there, You cost us points.
Friday - thank you for being awesome and rocking out an impromptu pep rally. The power going out was probably the worst thing that could have happened for me/us, you may not even realize, but we were asked to make the best of a situation and came through for the school. Good Jorb!
The soakin' wet football game performance was good considering the weather and your pep-band-ing in the stands was as always appreciated. Big thanks to the brass for carrying the weight all night.
There is however the matter of one lonely rain coat that was left on the floor in the band room near the percussion cabinets. The percussion section as a whole is by far the most negligent of the tidiness of our space; I would appreciate a little extra effort to keep your music, sticks, instruments, and personal belongings in their place.
Saturday - I was surprised to see so many of you show up early... that's a good attitude, I hope it does not waiver regardless of scores and placement at the show. Rehearsal started strong and I was pumped, but toward the end we hit our typical wall and half of us lost focus on the goal (improvement) - it's disappointing to see some of you work so hard to throw it all away at the end of rehearsal.
I am happy to say that to my knowledge you were well behaved in the stands all evening. Thank you for not acting like cheerleaders as the other bands do preceding awards. Please understand that it is not my intention to strip any of the fun from the event, but often bands are so engrossed with their chants and games that they miss what's going on in the stadium - the band to our right, for example, cheering for themselves when the announcer was calling for a salute to Hempfield's retiring band director.
As far as your performance is concerned. I was pleased as I watched, and again as I saw the video. I know that we have a long way to go, but we've got plenty of time to get there too.
Concerning your score and judges comments - nothing that I didn't expect made it's way to a tape. Our marching technique is very inconsistent, we'll be working on that. Our playing could be much more dynamic and musical, we're working on it already - the first step is everyone contributing (that means everyone knows and plays every note of their part!), and THAT is an individual responsibility for You to take care of Outside of rehearsal time.
Winds - our new musical goal is breath support and finishing phrases
Percussion - our new musical goal is playing dynamically and we'll be editing some parts (also Hoe Down needs to happen this week!)
Guard - rifles, we need to make your work fit the music, we also need you in on the flag work for Finale. Flags, the work is good, lets clean it up. Alternates - you're in. I'm re-writing nearly all of your drill this week, make sure you're here for all of rehearsal on Thursday.
One Final note - less than 100% attendance at a competitive performance is absolutely unacceptable - if any one intends to miss a competition in the future you should let me know immediately because I will be writing you out of the show. Every hole in every set of our field show makes it more difficult for the students on the field to fit the form and earn points in the visual captions. To put it most bluntly - if You aren't there, You cost us points.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Thinking ahead to Hempfield
Childrens,
It's come to my attention that a few of us think that we might "suck" or "lose" or "embarrass ourselves" this weekend at our first competition.... Well in my opinion nothing could be further from the case:
The very first thing that I'd like you to recall is that participating in band competitions is not about taking home the first place trophy. There are bands that we compete against (because they are of similar size in membership) that spend more time rehearsing, that play easier music, that march fewer drill sets, that have a dozen people on staff, that do not invite seventh and eighth graders to participate, that have historically been high scoring competitive marching bands, and bands that actually require auditions to participate.
The only thing that matters to me is the effort we put forth together in striving to achieve a mastery of the field show we have to the best of our ability. You will be judged and scored five times this fall and in my mind First Place is seeing an increased score with each performance, Period, and if Cavalcade of Bands doesn't award you a trophy for attaining that goal then I will.
The second thing I'd like you to consider is that I never intended to perform in this weekends competition with the entire show on the field; drill, work, visuals, or music! I told you that at band camp!! As an educator my primary function is to help this show develop and mature over the 14 week season from August to Championships. If we had been able to put the whole show on the field on August twenty-somethingth how BORING would rehearsal be every week with nothing new to learn? I think that the best way for us to get better is to have benchmarks to achieve along the way: This weekend I want to play and march Fanfare, Episode 1 & 2, and stand still to play Finale. At Reading I'd like to be able to play and march through the Hoe Down (consider yourself warned percussion). All this without even mentioning that in four years of working with Annville-Cleona (a program with similar numbers and twice the staff and rehearsal time) they NEVER once had their whole show on the field at Hempfield.
Finally I will say this: All that I ask is that every time you take the field in performance, be it at a football game or a competition, I expect you to give one hundred percent effort and strive to achieve to your highest capability as individuals, as sections, and as an ensemble. If the best you can do is play nothing but A# to the rhythm of your section's melody and always step off on your right foot least you fall over and trip the bari sax player.... that's enough for me, and if you're satisfied with knowing that you coudln't have done it any better, then I'll be proud of you. And if you can't be proud of yourself and yourselves, you need to take a look at what we're really trying to do here.
Shiny trophies don't make great bands, dedication and effort will make a great band. So at pre-game Friday and ALL DAY SATURDAY remember that every note counts and we'll come home with our heads up high, because scores aside, we're never losers.
Consider this your pep talk,
-that is all
It's come to my attention that a few of us think that we might "suck" or "lose" or "embarrass ourselves" this weekend at our first competition.... Well in my opinion nothing could be further from the case:
The very first thing that I'd like you to recall is that participating in band competitions is not about taking home the first place trophy. There are bands that we compete against (because they are of similar size in membership) that spend more time rehearsing, that play easier music, that march fewer drill sets, that have a dozen people on staff, that do not invite seventh and eighth graders to participate, that have historically been high scoring competitive marching bands, and bands that actually require auditions to participate.
The only thing that matters to me is the effort we put forth together in striving to achieve a mastery of the field show we have to the best of our ability. You will be judged and scored five times this fall and in my mind First Place is seeing an increased score with each performance, Period, and if Cavalcade of Bands doesn't award you a trophy for attaining that goal then I will.
The second thing I'd like you to consider is that I never intended to perform in this weekends competition with the entire show on the field; drill, work, visuals, or music! I told you that at band camp!! As an educator my primary function is to help this show develop and mature over the 14 week season from August to Championships. If we had been able to put the whole show on the field on August twenty-somethingth how BORING would rehearsal be every week with nothing new to learn? I think that the best way for us to get better is to have benchmarks to achieve along the way: This weekend I want to play and march Fanfare, Episode 1 & 2, and stand still to play Finale. At Reading I'd like to be able to play and march through the Hoe Down (consider yourself warned percussion). All this without even mentioning that in four years of working with Annville-Cleona (a program with similar numbers and twice the staff and rehearsal time) they NEVER once had their whole show on the field at Hempfield.
Finally I will say this: All that I ask is that every time you take the field in performance, be it at a football game or a competition, I expect you to give one hundred percent effort and strive to achieve to your highest capability as individuals, as sections, and as an ensemble. If the best you can do is play nothing but A# to the rhythm of your section's melody and always step off on your right foot least you fall over and trip the bari sax player.... that's enough for me, and if you're satisfied with knowing that you coudln't have done it any better, then I'll be proud of you. And if you can't be proud of yourself and yourselves, you need to take a look at what we're really trying to do here.
Shiny trophies don't make great bands, dedication and effort will make a great band. So at pre-game Friday and ALL DAY SATURDAY remember that every note counts and we'll come home with our heads up high, because scores aside, we're never losers.
Consider this your pep talk,
-that is all
Monday, September 8, 2008
Itinerary
An Itinerary for Saturday's competition at Hempfield is available on the band website...
http://www.northschuylkill.net/finearts/gunnell_files/Page371.htm
Tickets are available pre-sale from Mr. Gunnell
Directions are online on the "competitions" page
http://www.northschuylkill.net/finearts/gunnell_files/Page371.htm
Tickets are available pre-sale from Mr. Gunnell
Directions are online on the "competitions" page
Friday, September 5, 2008
2&0
Funny story - after the all of you left the high school tonight and I returned the u-haul I finally headed back down the mountain and home... well the whosiwhatsit township police were out in full effect in St Clair at a DUI checkpoint, and of course I've got to stop. So I roll up, and the first cop waves a flashlight at me and asks me to continue on to the next officer.... so being a decent law abiding citizen of the commonwealth i obey. The second cop asks to see my driver's license, takes a look at it, a look at me, another look at it and asks if I've had any alcoholic beverages this evening, to which I reply, "No sir, I'm only just heading home from work." Looking perplexed he asks where I work and I tell him I'm the band director at North Schuylkill and am just heading home from the football game. He asks what the score was, who we played, and if it was at home. I gave all the correct answers with out slurring my speech or anything. The best part was, he seemed to not want to believe that we actually won. LOLz
Ok so.....
Good Job tonight, seriously, I have never been more pleased at your performance and conduct at an away game.
Thank you for playing and paying attention to the game... the more you're into the event, the more fun we can all have, and the better we look and sound to our audience.
Here are some new staples: We will play NFL on FOX when the team enters the stadium, always. We will play MARS frequently when the defense is stuffing the turkey gibblet filling all over the opposing team. We will do a lot of Here We Go and the other one because it's easy and simple and short. We will Pick a Not and Make Some Noise all the time. We will do anything the Cheerleaders request (as long as it's in our flip folders). And we will play Hey Baby when it comes in the mail.
Don't Forget - Donut Sale stuff is now Overdue - call Mrs. Kessler if you were a dummie and forgot.
Collegiate Band Money is DUE on MONDAY!!!! 20/person
Garment Gab Money needs to be turned in 10/uniform-wearer
and.... MUSIC MUST BE MEMORIZED BY SATURDAY!!!!!!
Ok so.....
Good Job tonight, seriously, I have never been more pleased at your performance and conduct at an away game.
Thank you for playing and paying attention to the game... the more you're into the event, the more fun we can all have, and the better we look and sound to our audience.
Here are some new staples: We will play NFL on FOX when the team enters the stadium, always. We will play MARS frequently when the defense is stuffing the turkey gibblet filling all over the opposing team. We will do a lot of Here We Go and the other one because it's easy and simple and short. We will Pick a Not and Make Some Noise all the time. We will do anything the Cheerleaders request (as long as it's in our flip folders). And we will play Hey Baby when it comes in the mail.
Don't Forget - Donut Sale stuff is now Overdue - call Mrs. Kessler if you were a dummie and forgot.
Collegiate Band Money is DUE on MONDAY!!!! 20/person
Garment Gab Money needs to be turned in 10/uniform-wearer
and.... MUSIC MUST BE MEMORIZED BY SATURDAY!!!!!!
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Episode 2... check
A well deserved Congratulations on some much awaited effort/dedication this afternoon - I told you we could get all of Episode 2 on the field w/ music in one rehearsal... and if being stern and demanding every minute of rehearsal is what it's going to take to get the results we need then I'm thinking I'll have to keep it up for a while.
My favorite part is the fact that this is the first rehearsal that we've seen 100% attendance since band camp. I know that once school starts we're all fighting for time in different things but I want you sports folks to know that I honestly appreciate you being dedicated to the rest of us enough to tell your coaches what's up.
Here are my remaining concerns for the opener and episodes 1 & 2:
1 - the visuals aren't clean / clear / and consistent in each member/section
2 - the music isn't nearly as clean moving as standing still
3 - the veterans who march well are not keeping constant tabs / coaching the newcomers
4 - we've got tempo issues the whole way through: it's all too slow
All of those things are easy enough to fix, and believe me, I don't expect the show to be any where near perfect yet... It's only September. Just keep in the mind that the more we improve the better we become.
Here's the What's up for the coming week:
Friday - Plain & Fancy donut orders are due before departure
students need to be ready to roll out at 5:30pm (show up beforehand)
we WILL be in the stadium to watch/cheer Minersville's pre-game performance
at this point it's NOT looking good for 3rd quarter - Soda/H2O donations are a must
Uniforms will remain in your possession... keep them in presentable condition!
Weekend - honestly take some individual responsibility and practice your music & visuals
Monday - Guard; evening rehearsal focus is on cleaning work to F'fare & Ep.1 MARCHING
Percussion; focus on tempo issues / Hoe Down / logistics of getting on/off the field
Tuesday - Winds; set by set cleaning of drill forms (lines, arcs, etc.) and visuals / Ep. 2 review
Thursday - Ensemble; movement by movement review/repetition for improved performance
Friday - Football Game
Saturday - Light Rehearsal (pack a lunch) and our first Competition!!!!!!!!!!!
...on a fatherly note...
if you know you have rehearsal, it's a good idea to dress comfortably and appropriatly for the physical demand of the activity and the weather, to keep yourself hydrated, and to keep yourself nourished
band kids are smart kids - don't be a dummie; drink liquids and fill up your tummy
My favorite part is the fact that this is the first rehearsal that we've seen 100% attendance since band camp. I know that once school starts we're all fighting for time in different things but I want you sports folks to know that I honestly appreciate you being dedicated to the rest of us enough to tell your coaches what's up.
Here are my remaining concerns for the opener and episodes 1 & 2:
1 - the visuals aren't clean / clear / and consistent in each member/section
2 - the music isn't nearly as clean moving as standing still
3 - the veterans who march well are not keeping constant tabs / coaching the newcomers
4 - we've got tempo issues the whole way through: it's all too slow
All of those things are easy enough to fix, and believe me, I don't expect the show to be any where near perfect yet... It's only September. Just keep in the mind that the more we improve the better we become.
Here's the What's up for the coming week:
Friday - Plain & Fancy donut orders are due before departure
students need to be ready to roll out at 5:30pm (show up beforehand)
we WILL be in the stadium to watch/cheer Minersville's pre-game performance
at this point it's NOT looking good for 3rd quarter - Soda/H2O donations are a must
Uniforms will remain in your possession... keep them in presentable condition!
Weekend - honestly take some individual responsibility and practice your music & visuals
Monday - Guard; evening rehearsal focus is on cleaning work to F'fare & Ep.1 MARCHING
Percussion; focus on tempo issues / Hoe Down / logistics of getting on/off the field
Tuesday - Winds; set by set cleaning of drill forms (lines, arcs, etc.) and visuals / Ep. 2 review
Thursday - Ensemble; movement by movement review/repetition for improved performance
Friday - Football Game
Saturday - Light Rehearsal (pack a lunch) and our first Competition!!!!!!!!!!!
...on a fatherly note...
if you know you have rehearsal, it's a good idea to dress comfortably and appropriatly for the physical demand of the activity and the weather, to keep yourself hydrated, and to keep yourself nourished
band kids are smart kids - don't be a dummie; drink liquids and fill up your tummy
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Money Money Mon-nay
DON'T FORGET, Plain&Fancy donut money/orders are due to Mr. Gunnell this FRIDAY September 5th BEFORE the bus departs for Minersville!!!
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