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 ...