October

Welcome to BANDtober!

30 October 23

GREAT parade on Saturday. I hate that we didn't have everyone there, but it really gave some of you a chance to step up and fill shoes - and THAT you did! 

Make sure you are getting emails from the Boosters about fund raising opportunities. See me or Ms Williams if you are not on her list. If you are planning on going to Washington DC in April, SIGN UP NOW!

This week:

NO REHEARSAL TUESDAY. Enjoy your Halloween. Any drummer who want to audition for Varsity Blues, plan to stay after school for a short time.  

Thursday 6-9 - This is our final chance to make improvements before the Atlantic Coast Championships. Let's bring our A game. 

Friday night - Playoffs game. We have a home game. We will NOT stay after school. Report at 5:15 so we can review and work on stands tunes before dressing and heading to the field. 

SUNDAY - ACCs in Hershey PA - I'm sorry guys. We are leaving at 5:00 AM. Bring a pillow. 

4:45AM meet at school (Bring a snack or breakfast and money for food at the stadium.)

5:00AM bus leaves

7:20AM arrive Hershey, bathrooms, snack, dress, warm-up in the lot

9:15 gate

9:30 take the field

9:45 change at busses

10:15-2:30 Enjoy other bands, food at stadium

1:45 seniors and leaders change to uniform

2:30 senior walk followed by awards

3:15 (appr) depart for home

5:30 (appr) arrive Woodstown

Remember, no matter what score we get, I'm super proud of you for this season. I see growth in you as a band and as individuals. I see maturity and talent. I see family. 

Looking ahead - 

November 7 6:00-9:00 - Jazz rehearsals start!

November 13 - Veteran's Day Assembly, SCORE band will play Inspiration Fanfare and Armed Forces

December 2 - Band Banquet

23 October 23

You guys did a good job yesterday. I'm proud of all the hard work you have put in the show this year. We get to perform for our home crowd this week. Remember how much they love you - that's what it's all about!

Coming up this week:

Rehearsal Tuesday and Thursday 6-9 - We will start Tuesday at the school for parade practice. Remember, if you want the 31st off, you will need to work really hard this week. 

Friday night - Playoffs game. We have a home game. We will NOT stay after school. Report at 5:15 so we can review and work on stands tunes before dressing and heading to the field.

Saturday - Alloway Halloween Parade Report at 5:15. Bus leaves at 5:30. Wear a costume of your choice but be sure it is school appropriate and you can move and play in it. We will play Thriller.

Coming up:

Varsity Blues Drum auditions 10/31 after school

Atlantic Coast Championships 11/5 (I will post info on this as soon as it's available!)

Jazz Band Starts 11/7

Veteran's Day Assembly 11/13 SCORE band will be performing

16 October 23

Today is the makeup performance for West Deptford. We will stay after school (or arrive when you can.) Thank the Boosters for feeding you again! We will take our uniform bags and board the bus at 4:30. Our performance time is 7:15. I am NOT planning on staying for awards tonight. It's a school night after back-to-back competitions, so I think you need to get home and rest. We will have a lot of work to do this week to get ready for Eastern on Sunday. 

Don't be disappointed about yesterday. We were up against two Top-5 teams in our division. I'm proud of what we are doing and the drive you are still showing as we refine things to prepare for ACCs. We are just missing focus and continuity. The big picture is there. Once we stop making little mistakes and start to sell the show, our score will shoot up. They like what we are doing, just not the mistakes we are making. 

Here's your motivation for today. The lower our score, the earlier we have to leave for Hershey on the 5th. (I'm talking before the sun rises-early.) 

Looking ahead: 

Tuesday and Thursday

6-9 rehearsal (load trailer Thursday)

Region 1 Championships, Sunday October 22

10:15 on the field

11:30 move to the high school (BRING A LUNCH OR SNACK)

12:00 board bus

1:00 arrive, bathrooms and dress

1:30 move to lot for warm ups

2:45 gate

3:00 performance

4:00 awards

5:30 arrive home

Saturday, 28th

Halloween parade

11 October 23

Great rehearsal last night. I love your focus and spirit. Let's remember that not everyone is motivated in the same ways and be more aware of people's feelings. I know this is the home stretch and we have the prize in our sights, but we are a family first at a school where we support sharing kids with other organizations. 

Schedule for the weekend:

Thursday after practice: load the trailers

Friday - No more home games until post season starts! Enjoy your night off

Saturday 10/14 West Deptford (POSSIBLE RAIN DATE MONDAY 10/16)

12:15 arrive for warm ups on field

1:15 move to high school for uniforms

1:45 board bus

2:15 arrive WD

4:00 gate

4:15 performance

5:00 awards

appr 6:00 board bus for home

Sunday 10/15 Deptford (PACK A LUNCH)

10:15 arrive for warm ups on field

11:15 move to high school for LUNCH and uniforms

12:00 board bus

12:30 arrive Deptford

2:15 gate

2:30 performance

5:00 awards

appr 6:00 board bus for home

If it is raining, we will bring raincoats again. Prepare to wear halves. If it is NOT raining, we will take uniforms bags and change on the bus. Check the competition reminders again. 

6 October 23

Pictures after school! We will dress for our individual and group picture immediately after school. Thank the Boosters for another dinner night! 

Tonight we celebrate all the instrumentalists in our district. We will be joined by 5th through 12 grade musicians on the field after ""Take Me Home" to perform Rickety-Rockety. This is a big deal to the littles. Make them feel important and included. They may want to sit in the stands with you. Be the grown-up in the space. We shouldn't have to remind you about language. Help them learn cheers and keep them involved. They are the future of our program. 

Tomorrow is our first competition. We will meet at school at 8:30 and practice until 9:30. We will then load the trailer and move to the school to dress. We will board the bus at 10:00 and start our warm ups at Millville at 10:45. We perform at 12:30. Bring money for concessions and a snack for the bus if you like. It may be raining, so watch for weather updates. 

Reminders for competitions:

Wear black shorts, long black socks and your Take Me Home Tee Shirt. You should have your shoes and ballcaps packed in your uniform bags. 

No nail polish and long hair must be up off your collar. 

Bring money for concessions. The best way for us to support the host school is to purchase food. 

No one leaves the stands without permission. Do not enter or exit the stands while another band is performing. 

Always walk in pairs. No one goes anywhere alone in uniform. No one RUNS in uniform. Wear your uniform as instructed. Show Pride. 

Always stack gear. Always fold your uniform coat when not being worn. You will be shown how.

We cheer other bands and generally show superior sportsmanship to all. 

We do NOT watch the band on the field as we wait to take the field. Turn your backs until it's our time to enter the field. 

If a judge is in your way, do not change your path - they will move. However, try to avoid a collision. 

Next weekend we have TWO competitions. I will give a more detailed schedule soon but here are our performance times. 

West Deptford    10/14    4:15

Deptford    10/15      2:30