Kids these days ... (another scoring rubric)

Every now and then a high schooler can teach you something.

In one of my recent seen-but-not-heard-in-the-bandroom trips to aid in the showing a video of the weekend performance, I overheard MP's Senior Drum Major sharing with the band something he learned about scoring ...

* If it's in the 60s, you're just playing notes.
* If it's in the 70s, it's now a song.
* If it's in the 80s, it's becoming music.
* If it's in the 90s, it has become magic.

I applied this methodology over the past few weeks, adding a twist or two for marching and visual ("you're just moving", "it's now a picture", "it's becoming a performance", "it has become enthralling").

Darn. I hate it when kids are right.

Wind, Rain, and some Thunder

Wind and rain canceled today's performance. I feel bad for the kids, who missed the chance for performance and adjudication (but they got in some quality time on the bus and at McDonald's!). I feel bad for the host band, too, because having been there on the drum corps show side, a shower can sometimes cause you to take an unneeded (financial) bath.

Hopefully this weekend was it for rain - at least until bands start to move their performances indoors! It's ironic that most "indoor" marching venues are not in the mid-Atlantic, but in places like Indianapolis, Atlanta, St. Louis, Dallas, Phoenix, or Tampa. So, for the next two weekends, we need some clear skies for a series of band events coming up ...

- TOB Chapter IX Championships at Broadneck HS (near Annapolis) on November 1
- County Marching Band Exhibition at Annapolis HS on November 4
- USSBA National Championships in Annapolis on November 7-8
- USSBA Anniversary Celebration in Baltimore on November 9

Who would have thought Annapolis is the alternate center of the marching band universe! We have everything Indianapolis has ... well, except a retractable roof stadium.

Speaking of Thunder, I heard from my good friends at the Carolina Thunder Percussion Ensemble. About 10 years ago this group took some very innovative shows to the WGI World Percussion championships, one of my favorites being Leonard Bernstein's "Overture to Candide", played and marched forward - then backward.

After a hiatus, the group has re-emerged as the official percussion ensemble of the Carolina Panthers. I've noted before that other NFL teams have bands or ensembles - it's good to see the Panthers have connected with some great people to bring some fun to the pre-game!

If you can't live on the field, at least you can watch (... or read ... or play.)

Since I spent some time talking about it before, I want to say that the documentary "From the 50 Yard Line" is now available for purchase. Perhaps this is the perfect time for some early holiday (and birthday?!) shopping ... hint hint ... or for long bus rides to Championships!

One of the cool things the producers did is cut the documentary down to 50 minutes (hmmm - about the length of a new 6 period day band class ... despite there STILL not being enough total classroom time) and tie it to a lesson plan and marching band book for educators. It's pricier, but probably worth it for some band booster to get as a gift for their band.

Or a band geek like me ... hint hint ...

While on the web looking this over, tracked to several other books on the topics of bands and drum corps. Some are novels, such as Chuck Edwards' "The Lorin Solo" (set within the 1985 Blue Devils), or Courtney Brandt's debut books "The Line" and it's sequel "A Fine Line", both set within a fictional high school drum line and both targeted at teen girls.

Then there are the experience books, such as Gregory M. Kuzma's "On the Field, From Denver Colorado ... The Blue Knights!" and Jeremy 'Spike' Van Wert's "Not for the Faint of Heart" (about the Santa Clara Vanguard.)

Don't forget "American Band", by Kristen Laine, also promoted here before, a great behind the scenes look at an Indiana band that could just as well be the script for the movie that started this post.

Any others? (Hint ... hint ...)

Don't like movies? Don't like to read? Sigh.

Well, there is always a video game ...

Weather or Not

The weather was beautiful this weekend, especially if you had an afternoon rehearsal and/or show. But at the contest, it seems that when the sun goes down, all kinds of things go awry. Like pitch. Tone. Dress. Cover. And the occasional flag trying to be its own show, "Gone with the Wind".

MP's band's score inexplicably went down a few points, although it was clearly an improved product. As I texted him from home, "shows what I know." (I was home because in that stadium I apparently also forgot to dress and cover. Brrr.)

I saw a lot of kids in several bands who were not ready for what happens when the sun goes down on a clear, mid-Atlantic October night. Sixty degrees become cold! I hope band directors are now reminding the kids that the shorts-and-tee-shirts in the afternoon may need to become something warmer on the legs and arms at night.

I also saw what I now feel are too many small bands last night. Group 3 bands come from schools capable of fielding larger units, Group 1 bands are really pulling on the talents of their kids and directors, and I admire what some of the Group 2 bands are attempting to do despite limited bodies and instrumentation. I suspect that all of this is a result of music programs being scaled back, starting at the lowest grades.

This week I tip the shako to the Group 2 Lake Forest HS Band (Fenton, DE). The have a big guy who looks like a linebacker leading the line as drum major, then picking up a marching tuba, and then a mellophone (or baritone, I could not tell at that moment, and you think I could!). I know bands have switched kids around in instrumentation to get things more in balance, and occasionally you find woodwinds playing brass. But you don't see it often in midshow. No, they didn't win. Or place. But I am glad that they at least showed.

Umm, No: School Board Kills the Music Stars

Wun-der-ful.

As if school bands (and orchestras) aren't struggling enough, the Anne Arundel County School Board is implementing a 6 period day for middle school, a switch from the A/B day. Good idea, right? Not so fast.

Instead of music every day, or at least every other day, music instruction stays every third day, but now class time is cut to 58 minutes from 86 - a 32% cut in instruction time.

Wun-der-full of ____.

Why do we need music, after all? We have to teach kids how to count! (Music does that.) We have to teach them to read! (Music does that.) We need to teach them history. (Music does that.) We need to teach them appreciation for other cultures. (Music does that.) We have to teach them self-expression and self-esteem! (Music does that.) We need them to get physically fit! (Marching music does that.)

Do you hear the people sing?
Singing a song of angry men?
It is the music of a people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes!

To join in the crusade, send a thoughtful, kind but firm e-mail or letter:

Dr. Kevin Maxwell, Superintendent
Anne Arundel County Public Schools
2644 Riva Raod
Annapolis, MD 21401

School board members can be found by clicking here.

Tell you own story, and back it up with your life experiences. And if you need more information, click here to access a great document on the Music For All website.

Concert Band Killed the Marching Band Stars?

Two weeks, two TOBs for MP's band. This week was much improved over last week. I was pleased tonight with not only their improvement but how close they were (in my eyes) to their other in class competitor. I don't know the scores yet, though. Last week MP had the solo, with three members of his band being benched for violating a rule on the day of the show. This type of discipline is hard on the kids who had to sit and those who had to step up. And for that reason is was absolutely the right thing to do.

Last week at our own show I got a chance - between volunteer obligations - to watch most of the Group 2 bands. When they finished, I ranked my top 3, and the judges agreed.

Patuxent HS brought a "Bacchanale" to the field, calling up the spirit of past shows by the Phantom Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps. Annapolis Area Christian School went the other direction, focusing on the Love of God. (Yes, I shortened the title.) Both performances were were musically and visually stimulating and well performed at this point in the season. AACS seems to be more of a "part 2" on a twist on last year, but still was well done.

Huntingtown HS, however, landed clearly in the mid 80s in points and in their theme, "Video Killed the Radio Star." Taking a string of early MTV hits one usually doesn't think of as translating well to the marching field, this band made the music, well, musical, and the visuals complemented the sound on the field. I had the chance to pass my impressions on to some parents, and one nearby young man commented on how much he liked the show and wished he had the chance to perform it (having just graduated). That is a great compliment to the band director and the band.

Tonight, I want to give a special "shout out" to Chesapeake HS and La Plata HS, Group 1 bands. When you have fewer than 20 members, it sometimes is hard to do a marching band show, much less one with more complex music. Chesapeake presented "Into the Darkness" with music of Bach and Saint-Saens; La Plata went dark as well with music of Danny Elfman. Both took advantage of the talent available, and delivered engaging shows.

Marching band has definately not killed the concert band stars. And concert band stars shouldn't kill the marching stars, either. I fear this is happening in too many schools. If it is happening - or may happen - in a school near you, there are four weeks left in the season. Take someone to see that marching band is definately a musical program, the most visible one a school has!