Thankful

For music.

For music teachers.

For band.

For band directors.

For band boosters.

For DCI. (And the 2009 schedule!)

For people who make DCI and the corps happen without so much as asking for a dime in return.

For Band Moms. And Dads.

For former band geeks.

For current band geeks.

For Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Well, back when it was made for kids and big balloons and bands, and not made for television.

For football - American style.

For the United States of America itself.

Without any of the above, there would not be the uniquely American tradition of marching band. I'm sure those who sat down to the first Thanksgiving dinner (without first checking for when the kickoff is) never had that in mind!

Audio.File.

About the time I was in 9th grade I began to break my TV addiction. I say that for the benefit to anyone at that age who has one. Breaking it is a great way to see more of the real world and less of the "reality" (or non-reality) world. (If you say you don't have one, let me just say that these days the addiction is disguised by calling it interactive, i.e., video games, iPods, Facebook).

Since my formal education ended several comedies and dramas have found their way to my "can't miss" list. If I had to file them, they would be in the folder Loosely Political ("The West Wing", "24") or Barely Medical ("M*A*S*H", "China Beach", "ER", "Chicago Hope", "House", "Grey's Anatomy"). But then there is another file - the Audio file!

Two that go into that file are "Ally McBeal" and "Cold Case". I know; you cynics are going to say it isn't audio but the visual, particularly Calista Flockhart (as pictured with "Indiana Jones") or Kathryn Morris.

Both shows took a variety of music - one by a singular artist who became part of the cast - and established it as a storytelling elements of the show. More shows do it now ("Grey's Anatomy" is one, and it's a way to hlep sell the music on iTunes as well), and maybe these were not the pioneers. But to me, "Cold Case" really does a great job of using music to set the stage at the beginning of the show, and then tell the story at the end of the show.

If Sunday night football doesn't grab you on NBC, cruise on over to CBS (especially if there is no CBS late game that pushes everything off schedule) and grab an episode.

What does this have to do with marching music? Not much, I guess. Unless you are an audio.visual.file.


(Another recent mold breaker was "Criminal Minds". However, I claim an exception - its first star was Mandy Patinkin, you see. You may have seen him act. But have you heard him sing? If not, all I can say is get "Sunday in the Park with George" and listen to that voice, particular the duets with Bernadette Peters! And about the Kathyn Morris link: I have no clue who Amanda is, but she has an interesting hobby.)

Passion

Today is another birthday in our family - that of "TP" (Trumpet Player). TP is not as passionate about music as MP, but that doesn't mean he does not enjoy playing. I hope he does join marching band with his brother next year. (They will need another mp, but I am told he already is making friends in the trumpet section.

TP is passionate, however. He loves horses. He wants to ride bulls. He just bought a camera that is fancier than anything I've ever owned. (Yes, including now. And, yes, he bought it, with money from mowing lawns and birthdays and so forth.)

If you know me. I wish he shared my passions. But what I really hope is that he keeps any passion, whether it is the one (ones?) he has now or another. I have rediscovered through this blog and other recent life experiences and events my passion for marching music. I hope everyone discovers a life passion. But I especially hope this for all my boys.

* Yeah, this is a retro post. So? :-)

The 4 Seasons

Marching band has - at least for me - ended. I don't think I have seen so many bands (more than 100) in so short a time as I did this past weekend at the USSBA National Championships and 20th Anniversary Celebration.

Now comes winter (guard and percussion for some, but usually contemplation for me)

Then comes anticipation ...

... and then comes drum corps - "junior" and "senior"!!

I've been disappointed before in this anticipation, but based on what I saw this year, 2009 looks to be another great one. I can't wait ...!

USSBA National Championships - Live Blogging

I'll be blogging live from the USSBA National Championships weekend on the USSBA ning.com site (click for the link). Three days - 120 bands - wonderful Annapolis weather! If you can't stop by the stadium, stop by the website!

Contemporary Flashbacks (A Review of TOB Chapter 9 Championships)

It was a beautiful day for a band contest, and so I went to see most of the TOB Chapter 9 championships. In a way, it was a contemporary flashback.

As is the case this year, Huntingtown (playing 1980s MTV hits in "Video Killed the Radio Star") and Annapolis Area Christian School ("... But the Greatest of These Is Love") battled it out with two very distinctive but well performed shows. I think the recaps came down to music, which I gave to AACS but the judges gave to Huntingtown. AACS had strong effect, but maybe were dragged down by their visual performance, which is rougher than usual. Kudos to Brandwine for a taking on some difficult music by Ron Nelson ("Rocky Point Holiday" and "Sonoran Desert Holiday"). It was a good arrangement, at the right level, and therefore was well played by the kids. The guard (3rd overall) was enhanced by thoughtful design that allowed them to be featured. The third place band, Parkside, had a nicely done show that didn't quite match the title. If it was up to me, I would have called it eMotion, because that is clearly what they demonstrated - emotional variety and a lot of good movement!

The Towson University Marching Tiger Band did what they usually do - halftime! That is the first time I've seen this band, and they mixed one part corps style and two parts "college band" into a recipe for a show that was fun for the audience and great for recruiting. Did you know every member of the marching band gets a $500 scholarship?! Too cool!

Group 1 Regional and Championship divisions bookended Group 3. The Group 1 bands are smaller, and to some less talented. This is the first time that I really sat through the Group 1 bands, and I can tell you, talent is not what they lack! What they lack is just sheer numbers. I don't know if it is because the school is small, or the school district discourages music, the feeder programs are weak, or all of the above. But the enthusiasm of the kids and staff (about 1:8 staff:kids) was phenomenal. I don't think any had more than 18 winds, a half dozen percussion and rarely that many in guard. For that reason, the demand on each individual member is high, but they have to still be an ensemble. The result?

Calvert playing entertaining funk (and recovering nicely from a runaway sousaphone bell) ... Delaware Military Academy shedding their "military bearing" for some slow-then-fast rock ("Come Sail Away" by Styx and "Live and Let Die" by Paul McCartney's other band) ... McDonough putting "West Side Story" on the field in a way that required every member to contribute at a very high level ... Laurel having fun with music from tense and scary "Movies You Watch in the Dark" (which I think is all movies, but you get what they mean!) ... LaPlata (6 percussion, 2 front ensemble, 3 guard, 3 sax, 1 bari sax, 2 flutes, 2 clarinets, and 1 trumpet) capturing the nightmarish darkness of the music by Danny Elfman ... Thomas Stone resurrecting high school memories with with the music of Styx ... and champion Chesapeake not being fearful of music and drama, bringing out the hidden talents of their kids.

I came from a small band. Memories get fuzzy after 25 years, but I hope anyone who saw us perform maybe had the same feelings I did watching these bands.

Of course, MP is in the Group 3 bands. Meade started the group with a neat take on "The Four Seasons", setting you up for Vivaldi but then playing more contemporary music ("Autumn Leaves", holiday favorites, and even "Summertime"). Severna Park followed with "Les Misrables", led on and off the field by their award winning pit crew and drum major. I have really come to admire the drum major of this band (see the previous post). He runs a great rehearsal, is positive in his criticism, friendly to everyone and yet still commands their respect. (MP, I hope that rubs off on you some!)

The State of Delaware then took the field, starting with Middletown taking a little bit of Cadets-inspired narration to a show that opened up "Pandora's Box" and landed them in 5th. Smyrna ("smur-na", not "smeer-na") also went 1980s, finishing their season with solid accomplishments and a 6th placement. It is too bad they are short of funds to go to the ACCs or even the USSBA championships. They are a good band with a good contingent of staff that still marches today.

Of the next four bands, William Penn (4th), James M. Bennett (3rd, from nearly-Delaware Salisbury on the Maryland Eastern Shore), and Caesar Rodney (1st) all performed well rounded shows. They were well designed, musically strong and competently performed. But my first place (and the judges 2nd) was the Cab Calloway School of the Arts.

A school of the arts gears itself toward cultivating the most talented visual and performing arts students. (My sister went to one of the best!) The students are good artists and musicians intent on becoming better. But in all these years I have never seen a school of the arts with a marching band. Until now. And this one is GOOD!

Performing "The Rodin 47" (go to the band website for a listen) the Cab Calloway band was not just musically strong (which you would expect) and guard strong (which you may not expect but when you think about it you should), but they were visually strong, too! The entire band was thematically costumed, and the marching was taken as seriously as the music. (My initial reaction in a text message: "I just saw a drum corps!") Since SPHS isn't going to Allentown, I wish this band the best!

So with 80s music, small bands and a nice November night, I definitely was flashing back 25 years ago to my own Texas high school days. But unlike TV's "Life on Mars", this still had modern twists!

(P.S. Congratulations to Maryland's Westminster HS on a 4th place finish at the BOA Super Regional in Atlanta.)