Saturday Night Lights

From "See" to Shining "See"

2010-07-07T23:29:00.006-04:00

I've had the chance to see two shows now, mostly with the same corps. In Arlington on June 26 I got to see from "up high" (which really wasn't too terribly high, unfortunately) the Bluecoats, Phantom Regiment, Boston Crusaders, Crossmen, Spirit, and Jersey Surf.

Last night (July 7) I had the honor of announcing from the field level the "hot" show in Chambersburg, where Carolina Crown replaced the Bluecoats in the line up and the Raiders joined the event.

It is quite interesting how when the calendar page turns, something else turns in the drum corps. The spring training kinks are gone, the feedback from the judges is more incorporated, and the program development that staff has planned continues to grow.

I was very much impressed with the sound from the Bluecoats, and seeing the scores tonight from Ohio see that they are in a cat-and-mouse game with Carolina Crown, which remains undefeated. When I first heard Carolina Crown's show (by cell phone) I was a bit lost; of course, that happened the first time I saw the 2009 production as well. Last night it started coming together a bit; I really loved the tango section, and the Elgar piece brought back memories of the show that really solidified their place in the Top 12, "Chess ... and the Art of Strategy".

I sense this is the Bluecoats year to challenge for the top spots, and so Carolina Crown is in the unenviable position of being the chaser and the chased. (Sorry, Troopers, they may be more "Wanted" this year!)

Phantom Regiment is stronger than last year, it seems, although the show doesn't quite click with me. Maybe I'll appreciate it more as the season progresses? The same seems to apply to the Crusaders, Crossmen, and Spirit. These shows are more literal to their musical approach, but maybe they are just working the bugs out, too. The audience seemed kind of flat both nights; maybe it was the heat. I think the Crusaders are making a run for the Top 6 again, but they have to sell the serious parts as much as the not-so-serious parts.

I think it's kind of sad when a corps draws you to think about their past when they did the music or concept before, especially if it was much stronger then. It's a dangerous game; about as dangerous as seeming to break entirely with your past, as Spirit seems to be doing.

Jersey Surf has returned to a more enjoyable show, and something the kids seem to be able to sell better. The American show worked well with the Salutes America title of the Arlington show and the American Tradition title of the Chambersburg show. It was, for the new fan, probably the most accessible show of the night. The Raiders showed effort as well with a smaller corps than the others. Perhaps we announcers should be more clarifying about the difference in World and Open Class, although there are some World Class corps that should stay closer to Open.

But, I think that is a topic for the next post.

G7 (part 1) - background and qualifications

2010-06-21T22:36:00.000-04:00

This post is "inside ball." If you follow drum corps intently in the off-season, you don't need more in the headline. If you don't, well, some very recent and public "differences of opinion."

On one side, you have the G7 (aka Blue Devils, Bluecoats, Cadets, Carolina Crown, Cavaliers, Phantom Regiment and Santa Clara Vanguard) position, which you can read at any of their websites; here's a link to one. The position of DCI you can read here; I know the non-G7 have positions that may or may not be official or public.

And ... I guess I have one as well. And ... it is mine alone. But I first need to get out some background and caveats.

I have a deep personal tie to 2 of the G7. I was there in 1990 right at the start of Carolina Crown (though not the original organization, the Charlotte Drum Corps Association). I served in a number of volunteer capacities both in working (occasional driver, show announcer, NightBEAT committee) and in board leadership (Treasurer, VP, President) positions. I have not been deeply involved for about 10 years or so, however; health, family and relocation took my focus. Officially, I am on the advisory board, which is - of course - a very unofficial role.

This corps is close to my heart. I remember early struggles to get into shows, to raise money, to be judicious in our spending, but most of all to judge success on two planes: (1) Did the kids have a good experience?, and (2) Can we - and what can we do to - offer the same or better experience next year? I had the honor of putting the feelings of the leadership into the mission statement. You see it everywhere in the organization. It, and the two items above, are the secret sauce to its success over the years.

The other corps is the Cadets. During the YEA! corps years I served as the Carolina Crown representative to the board. I have kept my relationship with them through the USSBA, where I have volunteered and served as an announcer. I was an early believer in the YEA! corps concept, and believe that it could have been successful if we had been able to maintain our board's focus on non-instructional/creative areas.

For a brief time I also served on the Marketing Committee of DCI, and have long maintained an interest in innovations designed to improve the educational and performance value for the kids, and bring people into the stands. Some may say the evolution of the former has led to the decline of the latter ... I'll get to that.

Now, outside of the G7, I have a son who has a place in a fast rising corps, the Blue Stars. I would never let one of my kids go to any corps that I did not believe had a strong program and infrastructure. In fact, I encouraged him to take a position with that corps over another, even if it is an alternate position right now.

In summary, as background, I believe in Carolina Crown, in the Cadets and their scholastic band program USSBA, and I believe in the Blue Stars. I believe that marching music has an impact on people's lives.

In one of the next posts (probably closer to when everyone meets in the board room and on the competitive field in Minneapolis), I'll give some thoughts.

A tale of three cities

2010-05-27T21:15:00.000-04:00

MP is in a drum corps this summer. He went to camps with three world class, top 12 corps, before finding a home with one of them (although, as an alternate, he has work to do to get a spot on the field this summer).

If you know us, then you know two of the organizations, both with clearly articulated missions about building young people. Those camps were interesting ... and intense for a young man. Yet while the educational value was high, I found interesting the comments he made about one or the other.

"I like it here," he noted on one of them. "The people are friendlier." Interesting, because you don't always associate friendliness with the corps. Both corps are intense, and fairly focused on winning, although there was one in particular that was giving some skills in goal setting and planning that many adults need to hear.

But the corps where he settled he found friendliness, intensity, a desire to win and improve, and a place where the feedback on making him a better player and marcher was delivered effectively. And I found not a mission - although they have one - but a motto that is an even better shorthand for what he can carry all his life.

And so, this summer, he will end the year in the city above. Which is, coincidentally, where he will start the summer. In between, I hope it is an experience he'll learn from.

Welcome to the Blue Stars. And remember FCO, son. FCO.

Band of Brothers. And Sisters.

2010-05-19T19:00:00.001-04:00

As this posts tonight, the final band concert of the year, and the final high school band concert for MP, begins.

Band has been good for him. From the moment he started band camp, when he did not know a soul having transferred in days before, until he walks off (and then across) the stage, I hope he values what he learned.

Band is a where the kids can - within the comfort and safety of an extended family - find brothers, and sisters, friends (and sometimes future mates) for life, survive through conflicts and resolutions, and deal with the tears and smiles of life.

Band is not just music. Band is people ... people who come together for a common love and common purpose. It is where kids with no siblings or kids with more siblings than they care to count, kids with only older siblings or only younger siblings, kids with only sisters or only brothers, all can expand - or sometimes find - their family. And family is - or should be - love.

Cherish the memories and friendships, MP. Brothers by blood are important. And brothers - and sisters - by band are, too.

We don't need no (music) education

2010-05-14T22:07:00.000-04:00

While walking a beach one time, I overheard two locals commenting on the vacation crowd. "If it's tourist season, can we shoot them?" Well, lately it's budget season, and right in the target is music education.

Like it always seems to be.

I recalled (with the help of IMDB) a few lines from the film "Mr. Holland's Opus", starting with this exchange in the office:

Vice Principal Wolters: "I care about these kids just as much as you do. And if I'm forced to choose between Mozart and reading and writing and long division, I choose long division.

Mr. Holland: "Well, I guess you can cut the arts as much as you want, Gene. Sooner or later, these kids aren't going to have anything to read or write about."

... which lead to this testimony before the school board ...

Mr. Holland: "The day they cut the football budget in this state, that will be the end of Western Civilization as we know it!"

Now, here is a not so secret observation about the movie: It is 15 years old, the same age as our freshman class! And so, I got to thinking, especially in this time of real budget shortfalls, are we in a position to make the case once again about saving music education, or will this be seen as yet another round of crying wolf?

While I firmly believe in the academic value of music, if "we" are going to preserve scholastic music education, we have to start at the bottom - cultivating the kids from elementary school on up - and we have to be prepared to do it outside of the school budgets, and especially support the kids who can't afford it otherwise.

In other words, we are going to have to find a way of doing things differently. This means new ideas, and change ... and the realization that this is going to be very, very hard, and perhaps painful, too.

Funny, though. It is exactly how athletic programs do it. They cultivate the kids in programs where the coaches volunteer, watch, support, and advise.

My Dad was a coach ... who dabbled in the Baritone, once, I recall (my Mom was the multi-talented musician ... voice, violin, piano, classical tastes!), yet even during his time as a school principal and as a district athletic director he understood the value of music education right up there with the value of athletics. But we can't count on this type of broadmindedness, and so maybe instead of envy at their position, participation, and - yes - budgets, it's time we started learning something from them.

Otherwise, we are going to hit "The Wall".

(A quick side note : While I wrote most of this, the TV was on Cinimax. Will some band out there do "Far and Away"? Such good music ... I still remember Southwind doing it in 1993!)

Vertical - and local - magnets

2010-04-28T16:28:00.004-04:00

Recently our superintendent was given an arts education award for his efforts in creating a middle school arts magnet, as well as his leadership in a fine arts education advisory group. I'm torn about this, especially as someone highly involved in the booster program of a highly successful middle school program.

One the one hand, arts magnets give clearly talented kids (like my sister!) a chance to thrive in an arts focused environment. On the other, could this lead to a weakening of school-based arts programs, where they are most needed to engage "ordinary" kids (like I was)?

(Parenthetically, I've only heard of one arts magnet with a marching band, by the way - the Cab Calloway School of the Arts in Delaware. Tarpon Springs HS in Florida also is a music magnet of sorts, but they take a different approach ... one I admire greatly.)

Arts programs in fair economies are often 'target rich environments' when it comes to school budgets; in weak economies even more so. (Education budgets are, in my opinion, an economic "lagging indicator.") Couple this with the fact that far too many arts organizations and other non-profits depend on government grants and allocations rather than their own fundraising initiatives, and I fear too many communities and advocates are going to be exhibiting that deer-in-the-headlights look.

And when it comes to dollars/kid ... marching band programs are in the bulls-eye.

I believe arts magnets serve a purpose, but I believe marching bands do, too. They are the greatest and most visible opportunity to learn through music. But to survive, local music programs need to have a vertical horizon/mission.

Athletic organizations realized this a long time ago. How many high school coaches reach down to the younger students with clinics? How many add to their staff alumni or middle school coaches? From Little League and Pop Warner to MLB and the NFL, growth comes from the bottom up, and so to some degree high levels of support and vertical integration are key.

Music programs - from the connections of college/university clinics and drum corps (and the help they can give in instrument selection and acquisition) down to the elementary school - should take note. This may be a secret sauce in long term success.

Mission Creep: Evolution or Back to the Future?

2010-04-24T00:16:00.000-04:00

In my profession of anesthesia services management, we caution physician groups and hospitals alike to beware of "scope creep". This occurs when the demands of a facility and its surgical staff slowly begin to outstrip the staffing or clinical capabilities of the practice. I see a that occurring in many of today's drum corps - their scopes of services are expanding. The question is, do they see the "mission creep" as well?

Back in the days fondly remembered by many of today's oldest fans, corps were run to "keep kids off the streets." They were community based, perhaps church or VFW sponsored, much like this drum corps near where I live. Shows were local, on weekends, and there were national events but not so much a national tour.

Around the time DCI got started, corps became more sophisticated. Sticking somewhat to the original mission, they began to focus on kids who had some music background. As I often said during my time on the board of a fast growing corps entering the Top 12, "We give ordinary kids a chance to do something extraordinary." As missions go, we were teaching life skills to kids who may or may not make music and teaching music their life calling.

Now, even that is changing. DCI reports that nearly 60% of today's college-age corps members (who are 70% of all corps members) study music performance and/or education! In fact, with the tag 'Marching Music's Major League', and a new partnership with MENC, the corps are accelerating in the direction of being marching education supplements via exhibition of excellence, clinics, and training of tomorrow's music educators.

In essence, many DCI corps has clearly moved from "the streets" (basic training, where some corps still focus) to "the kids" (life skills through music, where most corps are now) to "music education enhancement" (where many top tier corps reside). These top corps are certainly exceptional labs to develop tomorrow educators, who we hope in turn will develop more leaders. This is good, seen in the high degree of talent (vs. attitude) based selectivity of the members. But this is also bad, as it makes fundraising hard ... and membership by some who aspire to success in a field other than music difficult as well.

Now, entering a time when school budgets are under extreme scrutiny and the arts and music are again a potential target for cuts, what are drum corps to do? Continue on the same path, which some see as a natural evolution and others as a departure from the "true" purpose of drum corps? Go back to what they once were, or something in between? Is there room in "the activity", or even the competitive arena, for three tiers of drum corps (four if you count the "recreational' corps such as those who are in DCA)?

Theory or fact, evolution implies getting better, stronger, faster, smarter. Regardless if whether the changes to come are better, stronger, faster, or smarter, the changes will continue to come (and come fast).

And the changes are going to be interesting indeed.

Olympic Reflections, Part 2 - Go Figure

2010-04-16T20:55:00.001-04:00

The figure skating competition at the Winter Olympics often brings out comparisons to drum corps. I enjoy the music and visual artistry of the events.

After the Olympics were over, I ran across this tongue-firmly-in-cheek column on the DCI website called "Marching on Thin Ice", by Michael Boo. Turns out he is not only a drum corps expert, he's a figure staking one, too!

If you are taking the time to read my musings, take the time to read his! (By the way, is there a reason the photo was that of the Cadets?!)

Olympic Reflections, Part 1 - Dreams of the Father, Dreams of the Son

2010-04-10T15:00:00.003-04:00

Today MP was officially made an Eagle Scout ... a lifetime achievement, and I am confident many more will follow. Now that he is an Eagle, this Dad (like many others) start to push the little bird out of the nest to fly. (Mom's of course, make sure there is a nest!)

This of course, may seem like a bit of a turn from my usual post. In reality, band isn't the ONLY place to learn leadership skills, or to apply them. I learned a lot from my experiences in band, of course, but also in Key Club and many other activities (although I was not in Scouting).

That being said, this summer MP will be on the road toward another achievement - a field position with a world class drum and bugle corps. There were three auditions total (more on that later), and he still has work to do. And that is what I told him today in front of friends and family.

Once asked my dreams, I told a friend that at some point, the dreams of the father become the dreams of the sons. She took that to mean that I "imposed" my (un-achieved?) dreams on my boys, so I had to explain that it is really the opposite - the father's dreams are set aside, the son's (sons!) dreams become their own.

A few dozen degrees ago (but "merely" 2 months) winter I watched a segment on speedskater Anton Apolo Ohno and his father, Yuki. You see, at one point, there was a lot of conflict on whether or not Anton wanted to continue his pursuit of Olympic level skating.

Chris Collinsworth said, "The friction between Apolo and Yuki Ohno resided the in the space between a father's expectations and a son's willingness to meet them."

MP and I are connected in a lot of ways, but music is the main area, and maybe the main area of conflict. I have to take deep breaths, and make sure the dreams are his.

After a time of deep reflection, Apolo came to say, "Dad, I'm ready. I made my decision. I want to skate. This is what I want to do."

MP, whatever your decision, however it relates or doesn't relate to what I see as a shared passion for music and marching music, I am here to support it.

You are an Eagle. Time to fly.

True judging philosophy isn't always found on the sheets

2010-03-28T10:58:00.006-04:00

Last night was guard championships. TP and his crew did an fantastic job, but you wouldn't know it. Why?

Beats me.

Performing for an audience of fans and parents is one thing. They "see" things in a way that judges don't. Judges are expected to be discerning. To know the nuances and bring neutrality to the process of looking at 14 units - or more - then ranking and rating. (I've blogged on that before.)

But inexplicably you get to championships, and the judges see that your work is 8 points worse (10%!) than last week? And not much better than the first show out?

I have always had trouble "judging" indoor. Most of the time I can peg a drum corps, get ideas about where bands should be, and understand some of the equipment and precision aspects of indoor. But ...

Major League or not, we are working with kids, who may not understand the adjudication system, but who make the commitment of time and effort to improve. Even a football team that goes 0-10 will improve.

Please don't confuse this with a "trophy for everyone" or "every kid is a winner." There are winners. There are losers. This is competition. The ultimate goal is to compete against yourself and improve yourself.

But when you can't get consistent feedback that you can rely on to be helpful, it is beyond disappointing, it is frustrating. Ultimately, judges (parents and bosses), this is what you hold in your hands.

To the guard - use this experience as the "SPark" to future success. In the long run, it will make you a winner.

On, Guard!

2010-03-08T19:35:00.003-05:00

I know, I know ... ideas aren't posts. I have several I've been tossing around for my world wide audience (of less than, oh, a half-dozen), but they are pending.

In the meantime, TP is now also a flag in the winter guard (one of a handful of males and the ONLY freshman, male or female!). After some delays in getting on the competition floor (due to, umm, winter - about 4 1/2" of it) they got out there. Mmmm. Mmmm. Mmmm.

Actually, the name of the piece is "Mmm..." (3 Ms) performed by Laura Izabor; you can listen (once) on Lala.com. The guard is portraying a tribute to family loved and lost. The art of winter guard can get over my head sometime, but this year I'm along for the ride.

Along for the ride as long as they let me near the floor again. Seems someone (insert sheepish grin here) lost his iPhone while racing to pick up the floor after a show, and it got folded in to the (several) hundred pound near gym floor size tarp. So we had to unfold. And refold. In the dark. And cold.

This past weekend they overcame that handicap - I was nearly completely across the country - and did a double header, and pretty much swept the floor. The first show was a 1st in class, 1st overall (of 10) and fan favorite; the second was 2nd in class and 2nd overall (of 23). Mmm! Mmm! Mmm! - Tasty!

Seems the season just started, but they only have two shows left to go before championships. So, onward, guard!

Time weighs in

2009-12-22T12:42:00.005-05:00

I just found out courtesy an e-mail and Facebook post from my friends at Carolina Crown that around the time of the DCI finals in Indianapolis, Time magazine posted (printed?) the Top 10 Drum Corps Performances.

There were some matches to my Quintessential Eight (from November 26), if not exact, then philosophically.

While I get the feeling that this debate won't end anytime soon, it certainly beats the heated bragging that always seems to go on this time of year. I mean, everywhere you go, you just can't get away from ......... chess nuts boasting in an open foyer.

Multiplication by Division?

2009-12-10T14:06:00.002-05:00

Let's do a countdown, shall we, starting with ...

6 - USSBA groupings, based on total band size.
5 - The State of Texas UIL (school size)
4 - Band of America (school size), TOB (winds), Cavalcade of Bands, ISSMA
3 - WGI (World, Open, A), a possible expansion from ...
2 - classes based on ability (DCI, USSBA*)

1 - "champion"?

How much is ... too much? How do you compare "like" bands, especially in contests where too many cuts make for too few competitors, leading to watered down championships? When does a band (and school - and face it, sometimes directors need "wins" to satiate principals and boosters and to justify ongoing investment in the marching program) start to break away from seeking quality, constructive and educational evaluations, and move in the direction of self-esteem contests?

I believe in the value and values of a marching program, to the kids, school and the community. The marching band is the one music education entity that touches the community, not just the parents.

Maybe in starting, or immature, programs some self-esteem is necessary. But this isn't life, and it isn't music education. Music education means the kids get scholastic adjudication. That being said, what does that mean?

One of the things I often wonder is what is the right balance of music (and the validity of percussion sub-captions), visual (with or without the color guard sub-caption), and effect (music and visual). Consider this:

... TOB weighting is 40% music, 20% visual (performance), 40% effect
... USSBA weighting 40% music, 30% visual, 30% effect
... BOA weighting is 20% music, 20% visual and 60% effect (although 2/3rds of that is music effect, upon which arguments that they are 60% music can ensue)

TOB and USSBA use other classifications based on ability, which I think is appropriate. But when you get to large bands, are you just watering it down? Some large bands can be thought of as "developing" marching programs, no doubt, but by breaking them into ability classes are you rewarding their achievement or encouraging their mediocrity?

Does "over"-weighting effect put too much emphasis on design (or, "the adults"), or is this a reward of how much the kids learn (or how well the teachers teach?).

I'm not an educator. I'm a band geek ... and band parent. I believe the scholastic programs should be education based, not design based, rewarding the teaching and the student.

Little wins do matter and they are necessary. (I use the term "little wins" from the business lexicon). But we need to encourage development and growth of the program and the kids.

So if it was up to me ... Two classifications ... two "5 Box" scales ...

Classification I - for the "leading bands":

* Music Performance - 30% ... 20% music, 10% percussion
* Music Effect - 20%
* Visual Performance - 30% ... 20% ensemble (which is an outgrowth of individual), 10% guard
* Visual Effect - 20%

It is "marching (and) band", after all. With this scale music and visual performance are balanced (50/50 on this scale), and performance is given greater credit than design (60/40 in this case).

Classification II - for the "developing" bands:

* Music Performance - 40%, with no sub-caption
* Music Effect - 20%
* Visual Performance - 20%, with no sub-caption
* Visual Effect - 20%

Here performance and music are given greater weight, and music outweighs visual, because from what I have seen developing programs are weaker in fundamentals and music, and this encourages development and growth in those areas.

Program growth - more kids, more bands - is the multiplication effect of this division!

This, of course, will be debated among circuits, among states, among regions ... but I am optimistic it will be settled soon. In fact, I'm told that the experts will get right on it!

After NCAA Division I Football Playoff's implemented. And Texas high school football goes back to A-AA-AAA-AAAA-AAAAA playoffs. And Indiana returns to one high school basketball state champion.

What if ...

2009-12-01T19:36:00.002-05:00

... 10% of drum corps brass lines were required to be made up of primary woodwind players?

... the drum corps "world class" designation was split based on average age (<19, 19-21), and open class remained on ability. Or ... are we talking about the same thing?

... a minimum tour was required to ensure a maximum experience?

... guards - winter guards, drum corps guards - had to carry equipment for a minimum period of time, say 50%, 60% or 70%?

... everyone used these same audition materials and process in November, so every kid had an equal chance at every corps without having to travel all over creation ... or to Texas?

... fans had a vote, say, in a caption called "entertainment effect"?

... the marching pageantry arts organizations became one part of one organization, sanctioning fall, winter and summer series? if so, who would be in charge?

... Drum Corps International changed its name to just "DCI"?

... all band circuits used one judging criteria? if so, what would it be? and would it be educationally focused?

... all band circuits used the same "grouping" classifications? if so, would it be based on size? if so, size of what? and would there be categories for ability? if so, what is an advanced band? an intermediate one? a novice one?

... pigs do fly?

The Quintessential Eight

2009-11-26T09:54:00.002-05:00

Now that fall is over, we can start planning our summer. That's right, the 2010 tour schedule is out! Something to be thankful for!

Since it is Thanksgiving, in addition to food, family, a job, a home, I am thankful for this country, for its music, and marching music in particular - America's unique contribution to music, right up there with jazz. (Well, and a host of composers, too.)

Now that we can start making some summer plans, how do you introduce the wonderful world of marching music to a "newbie"? I like to take them to a drum corps show. And with the schedule now out, you can plan your trips this summer, too!

But what if you can't drag them to a show? What if you had 2 hours to show them what marching music is, and has become since they probably last tuned in. (You know, it's like trying to describe the marvels of HDTV to somehow who last watched on a 13" black and white.)

Accepting the premise (and I don't do that) that drum corps is the way to go, since there are literally thousands of high school marching band shows to choose from a year, and video is relatively accessible, what do you choose?

Here are my Quintessential Eight ... the two hours of drum corps I would use, for better or worse. And I tried to choose a corps only once, knowing that there are probably better shows they have done since the show I selected. That's the beauty of opinion.

So, in date order ...

8. 1983 Cadets - because from then on, the genre changed.

7. 1988 Madison Scouts - from start to finish, the power of the music and the drill, sans props and storylines. It is the building block for not forgetting that "the basics" matter and can carry the day if done right. And, from what I read, it seems that the Scouts are going back to basics now nearly 20 years later.

6. 1992 Velvet Knights - because performance should be fun! (Okay, okay, substitute the 1980 Bridgemen, if you must.)

5. 1993 Star of Indiana - because the genre changed again.

4. 1999 Santa Clara Vanguard - The copycat 90's ended with this championship performance. The musical variety: Philip Glass's minimalist "The Canyon"? Samuel Barber's "2nd" and "1st"? Frank Ticheli's jazzy "Blue Shades"? Oh yeaahhh. This show was just sheer performance - guard, brass AND percussion. The kalidoscopic drill AND body movement. "Vanguard!" Truthfully, SCV isn't my "favorite" corps, but I probably have collectively more favorite performances from them than about any other.

3. 2002 Cavaliers - 99.15. How much closer to perfection can you get?

2. 2007 (or 2009) Carolina Crown - Fans loved these shows. From a storyline perspective, the 2007 storyline was more captivating from the outset. (Typical response from viewers: "That was just 6th place?!") So, select what you will.

1. 2008 Phantom Regiment - Because a champion can come from behind to capture the points as well as the crowd, and because from the moment they stepped out of the tunnel, the performance was on and complete.

What?! I left off the Blue Devils*? Yup. And others. So, your turn.

* (Top 10? Okay - add 2000 Boston Crusaders and Blue Devils ... 1983 ... or 1992 ... or 1994 ... or the risky 1998. Or, what if we have to cut the list to the Top 4 from the 2000s because "I'm only giving you an hour" - oh, never mind.)

Audition Weekend: Missions of the Possible

2009-11-20T20:00:00.000-05:00

Today begins auditions for the 2010 season for a number of drum corps (and some winter guards as well). MP is with one drum corps this weekend.

Seems to me that over the past 20 years, the educational focus of the corps audition process has increased, and in many ways become more more standardized. My only hope is that the drum corps don't forget their missions. They are not NFL teams - putting together winning units, or at least trying to. There is the non-profit and educational mission that must be remembered. From what I've seen, I think many corps do that. It isn't about the medals, or the design or instructional team. It is ... it should be ... about the kids.

About a week ago my bride and I had a kitchen debate (I just realized she was closer to the knives, and I'm sure after reading this some of you will wish she used them!) about woodwinds in drum and bugle corps. She argued that if someone wants to march, let them march brass. I argued - for the sake of argument, mind you - that we are excluding a number of talented kids who can benefit from the "drum corps experience", and that the demands and talents in top corps may not give the great clarinet player a chance. Just think about this for a moment. What if a corps set aside 10% of its brass line for primary woodwind players?

Is drum and bugle corps the right name, anyway? We seem to thing it's not marching band (and does calling it major league relegate bands to minor league?) ... and what is marching band, anyway? None of this is what people think it is. (Before you laugh, "color guard", think about the origin of that term!)

Percussion and Brass Corps? The reality is that half of the "drummers" are in the pit and don't play "drums", and conventional trumpets, mellophones, baritones, and tubas are not bugles.

I started out talking about auditions, but seem to have (again) swayed into definitions.

Well, whatever we are, "marching band", "drum corps" or "color guard" ... there is the saying down in Texas about a certain school and it certainly applies: "For those who are here, no explanation is necessary. For those who aren't, no explanation is possible."

Good luck to everyone seeking to join. Especially to MP (... and to woodwinds!)

Resistance ... and Resilience

2009-11-15T18:35:00.000-05:00

During this past weekend I peeked in on the BOA Grand Nationals with a particular interest in how some bands were performing, notably last year's champion Avon (IN), "From the 50 Yard Line" star Centerville (OH), and of course the Texas and Carolinas bands.

And American Fork HS, from Utah.

American Fork, you see, was returning from a competition earlier in the year when a bus went of the road. A number of students were injured, and sadly their woodwind instructor lost her life.

Some bands would have quit. Some kids resist going on. American Fork - in one week's time, I found out - raised a quarter million dollars to get to Indianapolis.

What is it that drives some bands to collectively resist the efforts their directors, their peers, and their community? To resist relentless improvement, and be satisfied with mediocrity? The (developing) teen mind, I am finding (hello, MP and TP!) is a wonderful yet strange thing. Dr. Tim's seminar gave me some insight, especially regarding the allure of the 10% who are negative leaders (the resistance!) against the 10% who are positive leaders.

Still ...

Perhaps like the marketers trying to figure out and capitalize on the teen mindset and lifestyle, it is elusive. Some bands have figured it out, however. The directors, kids, parents and community ... implicitly or explicitly. And those bands have resilience, no matter what they face.

... .... ...

Ironically, American Fork's show this year is titled, "The Greatest Generation", the term used to describe the Americans who grew up in the depression and went on to fight in WWII, then brought a new age of prosperity to our nation. Who had ... resilience.

In some ways, and in some places like American Fork, there are some pretty good members of this new generation, too.

... ... ...

I drafted most of the above knowing American Fork had advanced to 2009 Bands of America SemiFinals. In the end, they did not advance to the finals. Still, they showed resilience.

What's it worth to you?

2009-11-09T06:47:00.001-05:00

Is it five bucks? Six?

After a season of local shows, this past weekend I sat in a ticket booth for a while watching band parents and grandparents are expressing sticker shock as we get to large finals competitions in major venues, where ticket prices jump to $20 ... or more. (In some case, much much much more - to the point where $10 is the deeply discounted low corner seat!)

Not to mention those stadium operators often do relish the opportunity to stick you with high priced hot dogs and parking fees - fees that are not the fault of the organizers of events, for sure, unless you blame them for choosing the stadium in the first place. (Not that they haven't offset some of with sponsors and exhibitors.)

And pretty much, expressing shock is what we do. I've heard variations on this melody: "What?! That's a outrageous price to pay to see my kid for 15 minutes! I mean, its four times what I've paid all season, not counting the parking rip off!"

Well, for one, just in case you missed it during the last ten or twenty or so years, prices have gone up. Except, perhaps, band competitions. While the costs to put them on go up, ticket prices have held steady. This means less profit for show operators, leading to a lower return on the investment of time, and maybe reducing the costs of the program they are supporting.

And there is a lot of cost to supporting a kid in a band program, no doubt - I have two (and some families I know have three!). Can we squeeze another $20, $40, plus plus plus?

Well, what's it worth to you? To see your kid perform? To give support to the other band kids out there performing?

I understand that it is not the best economic world out there. It's hard to raise money, it's hard to deal with increasing expenses and flat or declining incomes. (Probable case in point: The once dominant Lancaster Catholic HS band.)

Major National Championship events allow the kids the experience of performing before in a "high value" venue. I've seen high school football stadiums in the northeast they are ... not Texas (or Ohio or Florida).

Major National Championship events also all the kids and the directors to get feedback from "high value" judges. Like any sport, there are people who dabble, and there are names we respect. How often does quality educaitonal feedback come to a band?

And, beside, for $20 - stay. Stay and grow the crowd. Give the kids from ALL bands the biggest audience of their season. Give all the kids the most spectatular feedback they will probably get all year. And be surprised. Yes, in most cases there are band that are better than yours.

By the way. $20 to see the USSBA Group 6 Champion Roxbury HS again? Yeah, probably worth it, if you watch them from the moment they step on the field to the moment they step off. Funny that even though they didn't win visual, to me they had the trifecta - great design, great teaching, great execution.

Reflections of Brillance

2009-11-03T17:31:00.005-05:00

The band did well under Saturday - oops - Sunday Night Lights! They went in seeded 18th and tied for 15th, breaking 85 and earning a bronze level recognition from the NJA-TOB circuit. Quite honestly, I believe they could have done better, but were done in a bit by a later start than they probably needed for a show with technical and musical complexity above what they were used to, and somewhat by the entire seeding and qualifying point spread.

The technical side was interesting for me, given that the show was written by two drum corps veterans, Marty McCartt and Bill Register, that were there with me at the beginning of Carolina Crown (if you want to see and hear a Florida band's version, click here.) and was clinic-ed (not sure that is a word) by a long time drum corps veteran.

Still, maybe it is parental bias, but I am certain the show was well performed - and the duet by MP was near flawless and brillantly played!

Looking at the scores, Chesapeake HS, another (smaller) area band I did not get to see at finals but saw several times throughout the season, didn't get nearly the recognition they deserved, finishing 20th with what really was most likely a top 10 show. This band is small but consistently delivering a good product (and program).

Strangely, I didn't see anything that grabbed me this time, although the better bands demonstrated superior technical marching achievement that goes with repetition and muscle training. Music was good and excellent, but not always spectacular. Among the top 10, the multi-meter piece "The Canyon" by Philip Glass (as brought to the field in 1999 by Santa Clara Vanguard) was attempted three times. My bias is showing - this show is in my "Quintessential 8" of all time, and so it is hard for bands to reach the acheivement level demonstrated by SCV. (Surfing I found his composition "The Witches of Venice" ... will a band try that?)

The season isn't over yet. They have one more event, but it is under the sunlight on Saturday at the USSBA national championships. We'll see how it all ends then.

Intensity

2009-10-24T20:00:00.008-04:00

Wednesday: The All County Exhibition.
Thursday: The Rained Out TOB
Friday: Homecoming and 8th Grade Invitational
Saturday: TOB Chapt ... oh, wait ... rain out
Sunday: TOB Chapters take 2!

Four shows. Five days. ("What is this, a drum corps?!")

It is an intense week for the kids in the band. Some had tests and had to study on the trip to and from the contest Thursday. Parents had to find ways out of work for chaperoning. And all of this is happening at the end of the season.

What came to mind this week is that this is where training starts back in August (or sooner). Not just musical, but training for the various physical, mental, emotional, and even nutrition and health (as it is, after all, cold and flu season) demands of this point in the season.

Training requires not just ongoing reinforcement, but a planned curriculum of what you will be training for. It requires coordination with the boosters. it requires flexibility by the parents and the students. But all of this has to be planned for in advance ... and communicated repeatedly.

I recent got my hand on a book by Wayne Markworth titled The Dynamic Band. (You can get it too at the book website or as part of the academic package of "From the 50 Yard Line".) Markworth was the long time band director at Centerville OH High School, leading the program for 35 years but never getting out of step with what it takes to maintain a contemporary marching band program. (While geared toward current and future band directors, band boosters should consider getting a copy as well, especially to review his chapter on booster-director relationships.)

Marching band is hard work. It requires intensity. Wayne Markworth has provided some salient guidance on how to get there. After all, if marching band were easy, it would be called ...

||: Dr. Tim :||

2009-10-20T07:29:00.002-04:00

Band geeks instantly know the name.

Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser has long done student leadership development programs targeting music students.

I've heard of him for years, but a few weeks ago I got to watch him in action. Whew! He was three hours of nonstop energy mixed with honesty about band student leadership. "Truth or sugar?", he asked the 100 or so kids, who shouted back, "Truth!" We parents (and teachers) should remember that!

I took three pages of notes, some near illegible because of the rapid fire presentation. (No breaks, by the way.)

Professionally I have the opportunity to work with some very smart people who literally hold the lives of others in their hands on a daily basis (and they get at least 12 years of post-high school education needed before their career begins!). But probably the most substantial reason I end up involved with their practice is the (lack of) leadership in the group. The specialty requires tact and teamwork, yet the 12 years of training covers none of that. It's like expecting your first chair talent to be the one to take up the baton, when all they know is their own horn and music!

When I was growing up I got to personally know a few "Dr. Tim" types through my involvement in the Kiwanis International sponsored youth programs, Key Club and Circle K (though which I met my wife!) For about 7 years I heard many of the same messages.

However, leadership takes practice, and repeated messages. That was my takeaway from listening to Dr. Tim. (I try to have at least one takeaway from every seminar or conference!) It is now why more than ever I think the Tarpon Springs HS Band & Orchestra programs may be on to something in their approach.

It has to start early (the first band camp!) and be repeated often. Basics are boring, I am told, but are the foundation of future success.

Repetition in messages. Repetition in practice. (It's call "reps" for a reason, from band to football!). Remember the 10,000 hours message?

I don't know how often they go back to their notes and notebooks, but I hope the students (including my own!) will refer to their workbook often.

Reps.

Who'll Stop the Rain?

2009-10-18T12:55:00.004-04:00

Heard the singers playin', how we cheered for more.
The crowd had rushed together, tryin' to keep warm.
Still the rain kept pourin', fallin' on my ears.
And I wonder, still I wonder who'll stop the rain.
- Creedence Clearwater Revival

And so it rained. On Friday. On Saturday. Now (but less so).

All across the region, band shows were canceled, postponed, or moved indoors. Our band had it postponed, but whether we go or not is (forgive the expression) up in the air. They have performances on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday already.

However, last night we hosted a double feature of two movies reviewed here previously, "From the 50 Yard Line" and "August Rush." We couldn't host everyone, but those who came had fun! So it wasn't a complete washout.

However, two memories came to mind - the 1993 DCI World Championships performance of the Madison Scouts, and the 2008 USSBA National Championships performance of George Walton Academy. I remember that simply these two groups came on to the field in a sprinkle and ended up performing in a downpour. But somehow it just got those kids fired up, and they really took the performance up a notch and connected with their audiences.

Who'll stop the rain? For those two groups, the answer was - Who cares?!

Okay, once again, from the top ...

2009-10-11T08:22:00.006-04:00

The blog went dark ... but not for lack of desire. Maybe just lack of time.

The spring had a DCI cinema event and a 20th anniversary. Read the April post (admittedly just put up) that should have been made on that day.

This summer started with an election to lead the middle school band boosters (uh oh). It was, however, tremendously full of DCI shows - Chambersburg (where I had the wonderful opportunity of announcing the first DCI show of the season), Annapolis, Dallas (x2!), Atlanta, Rock Hill, West Chester, and the Semi-Finals webcast.

Dallas - wow - what a change in venue since I first went there in 1982 and got bit by the bug. Atlanta - a cool venue (in all meanings of the word)! Rock Hill - a new home for an old show that was fabulous, and a reunion of what we ended up calling "The Dead Presidents".

What can be said about Carolina Crown that hasn't been said? I was confused at the start of the season (when my announcing stepped all over the green grass) but awed by the end, where I came within a few hours of flying to Indianapolis.

The summer also included visit to colleges, including one where we had a chance interaction with a Carolina Crown alumnae. It had a band camp, with two students in it (MP, now a senior and TP, a freshman). It has a great chance to talk to a former neighbor who spent the summer in the Bluecoats.

Fall begin with any web-time dedicated to the middle school website design. I got to spend 3 hours as a fly on the wall with Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser. And now it's halfway through October and marching band season.

The band has a great show potential, the best potential ever. They have had drum corps quality guidance for the first time I can remember. And yet ... and yet ... there is just so much more to talk about on that end.

And did anyone see the CD cover shot of the DCI winner Blue Devils? Okay, they were good, but nothing says Marching Music's Major League (R) like your world champion sitting ... strike that ... slouching ... in a chair that would get most students tossed from band class, no matter how good they are.

Leaving the fall and going into the winter may see may also see auditions ... and the spring may bring us back to where we stopped as we march on toward a dream in this community.

So, once again, "On the Field" ... from the top ... 5, 6, 7, 8 ....

"It was 20 years ago today ..."

2009-04-22T14:30:00.002-04:00

In June of 1986 I met this particular young nursing student in Indianapolis, Indiana. I tried to be impressive, but despite my efforts she ... stuck around.

What would you think if I sang out of tune,
Would you stand up and walk out on me.
Lend me your ears and I'll sing you a song,
And I'll try not to sing out of key.

Over the next several weeks we corresponded and phoned, but that was in the days when long distance was paid by the minute and e-mail didn't exist (at our level, anyway). We met again at a conference in St. Louis ("Meet me in St. Louie, Louie ...") and argued our way through the first day, but ...

Would you believe in a love at first sight,
Yes I'm certain that it happens all the time.
What do you see when you turn out the light,
I can't tell you, but I know it's mine.

After that meeting I brought her home, re-introduced her to my Mom and sister, and then said, "I'm have not seen nor heard the results of the DCI World Championships. I'm going to go watch the video. You can sit with them, or sit with me."

Funny thing. She did both. She didn't know what DCI was, but she liked it ... a little bit. I liked that she liked it. And so, a few months later, in late April, I returned to the scene of the crime (where we met), and I asked ...

Do you need anybody,
I need somebody to love.
Could it be anybody
I want somebody to love

She said yes, and we set a date. And so ...

It was twenty years ago today,
Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play
They've been going in and out of style
But they're guaranteed to raise a smile.

Our music has had high and low points. She has been a real Trooper in hanging with me, a Star of Indiana, and a jewel of Carolina Crown (who went on tour in 1992 while pregnant with MP). She's put up with me when I've been a Blue Devil, and helped me when I've been a Blue Star. She's done a great job raising our little Cadets, working hard to make them act like Cavaliers.

But after 20 years, the beat goes on. Happy Anniversary, "Bear".

All lyrics from "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" (John Lennon/Paul McCartney)

Halleujah! The Cadets announce 2010 show!

2009-03-22T21:25:00.001-04:00

While I am looking forward to this summer's production of "Lenny", Hoppy posted this link for 2010's show, given all the chatter about electronics. It starts at the 1:38 mark.

Some of you may remember that they actually did something like this once ...

Marching on through the month

2009-03-15T21:25:00.001-04:00

Well, March has a lot on the calendar! We are in the middle of Music in our Schools Month, at least per MENC - The National Association for Music Education.

Face it, without music in our schools, most of us would not have been exposed to many opportunities to learn, appreciate, and - yes - make music, and to realize the impact in our lives. In fact, this blog and its focus on marching music relies on keeping scholastic music programs alive.

So, if you are a parent even remotely involved in a booster program, thank you for keeping music in our schools. If you are a director or other teacher directly involved in music education in our schools, thank you for dedicating your career to this effort! If you are a school music student, take advantage of every opportunity you are given!

And if you stumbled across this post and wonder how it applies to you ... well, go find a booster program near you and find a way to get involved! Don't have the time? Even if it's a small check in this tough enconomy can help with something. March on over and ask!

March: the month of The Uninvited Large Percussion Band

2009-03-09T20:45:00.005-04:00

At least that is what the family calendar says. Really! (We use the "Mom's Family Calendar" created by Sandra Boynton.)

This is the middle of the change from winter to spring. In one week we have gone from 8" of snow to 70s and then back to the 40s. It's the middle of guard season. And it's the middle of percussion season. Invited or not!

I've noted before that I was an uninvited member of a percussion band known as Carolina Thunder. (OK, maybe I was invited. But not to play!) I helped name this ensemble, and provided a little guidance in their early years when they were a WGI ensemble. After a hiatus, the group returned, and while keeping the old name, they want a fresh look to go with the fresh ideas.

So, March on over to this link .... you're invited! ... read the rules, and enter the contest!

At a Crossroads - What is Mission Critical?

2009-02-20T14:08:00.000-05:00

Indiana in general and Indianapolis in particular is nicknamed the "Crossroads of America." It is home to a number of non-profit music organizations - the Percussive Arts Society and Drum Corps International among them - but I want to talk about Music for All.

Formerly Bands of America (which itself was once known as Marching Bands of America), Music for All was the name adopted following the merger of BOA and the Music for All Foundation. Known for events in big domes and other venues and the crowning of a Grand National Champion each year, the merger was to allow the organization to continue to expand its reach into band camps, orchestras, jazz bands, honor ensembles, concert festivals, and advocacy.

Then the economy struck.

Right now the organization is in the middle of a critical fundraising campaign to reach $220,000 (they have a pledge for the last $30,000) by the end of this month. As of this post date they have more than have the way to go.

BOA has made sacrifices in staff, but not yet programs. In the weekly CEO chats, it seems like enrollment is going to be up, although insiders in other band programs tell me travel seems like it will be down more than 25%.

BOA has had the reputation of serving "high end" bands able to raise significant funds and put on very highly designed programs. I don't know if that was the reputation they set out to cultivate, but it is out there.

So, now the organization is facing the need to make some hard decisions. I think they have made some. But I am concerned they have not made the one that counts: What is absolutely mission critical?

There were good questions raised in the February 11 chat - what are the metrics that need to be used to determine if a program should be continued?

For me, today is a good day to reflect on what is mission critical. I hope others do so as well.

10,000 Hours (or, possibly subtitled, "This one band, at time camp ...!")

2009-02-15T20:20:00.002-05:00

Dovetailing with the movie "August Rush" from my last post, right before I watched it had downloaded and listened to two books back to back - "This is Your Brain on Music" by Daniel J. Levitin and "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell. The first gave not only a good overview of music theory, but some insight into how our brain processes the magic we call music. The second looked into what makes the successful people, or outliers such as Bill Gates or even young hockey players in Canada, the people they are.

One of the more interesting things that each book pointed to was a research study that indicated that the highly successful musicians (and, it turns out, computer programmers, hockey players, etc.) have in common is not necessarily some innate "talent" but the fact that they have put in a sheer amount of hours of practice. In fact, the magic number is 10,000 hours. "Superstars" are often those who get to 10,000 hours before others.

Think about it: If you start at age 10 and practice 1 hour/day for 3 days/week, you get to the magic number when you are 74 years old. But if you practice 7 days a week, you'll get there at age 47 or so. But say you go for an average of 2 hours a day, 7 days a week? 23 years old.

I can see how this makes the drum corps and independent winter guards much more "successful" in their season than their high school counterparts (with age and physical and emotional maturity having a lot to do with it as well).

But I wonder how this translates to the successful music and marching band programs: for instance, those that meet for an hour a day every day vs. 90 minutes every other day (or every third day).

In theory, the ensembles and the students have roughly the same amount of rehearsal time. In fact, in Texas, the rules of the University Interscholastic League limit out of class rehearsal time to 8 hours/week. What makes one band that much better?

There may be high standards of outside of class individual practice. It may be (subsidized?) private lessons. Either way, this adds up to sheer time.

There is something else, too, that also takes time. I remember stories of Vietnam POWs who spent their days visualizing each and every step of a golf game, everyday, and so when they were released and had the chance to play again, they could do so as if they were gone for a few days, not years.

Raymond Berry, the Baltimore Colts receiver and NFL Hall of Famer, wasn't considered a superstar at his position when he came out of college. But, according one book on the historic "Best Game Ever", Berry was a detailed student of the game, carefully mapping out plays, and even rehearsing games by himself down to the second, with each and every break, building his endurance and skills.

Years ago the question was, "Is it live, or is it Memorex?" Along that line, "Is it talent, or practice?"

It seems that time is the answer ...

August Rush

2009-02-07T06:59:00.003-05:00

I've been traveling on business a lot lately, drafting but not posting. But last night was a family movie night, and the selection was "August Rush."

This is a great title for a film about the push to DCI finals, or the start of band camp and the efforts to teach the freshman technique while simultaneously learning the new show. That's not what this film is about.

It is about a kid, an unadopted (unadoptable?) orphan, who believes he is connected to his birth parents through the music he hears in his head. (The movie website IMDB has more.) This film really brought out the essence of music all around us. Although not central to the plot, you come away realizing that the kids feel it, and we adults have to work hard to hear it.

I don't often find reasons to see films more than once, but I could "watch" this one again if only for the music. Film can be like music, too, and this one builds to an ending that I found thoroughly satisfying, although my wife didn't. We found ourselves discussing it much like we discuss the end of a drum corps show - did it need power or a finesse?

By the way, throughout the film, listen for the music August hears, because you will find that It's a Marvelous Night for a "Moondance". (The film was an Oscar nominee for "Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song".)

To My Little Einstein: "We're going on a trip ..."

2009-01-17T13:21:00.001-05:00

Anyone with little kids knows the rest.

Seven years ago we completed our little band of four brothers with the arrival of our Surprise Symphony (SS). While MP had "Barney" to keep him company, SS had musical/artistic descendant, the Disney Channel's "Little Einsteins" TV show.

This show has taught him wonderful music, complete with a visual story (including fantastic art). I think I was much older before I could appreciate "In The Hall of the Mountain King" from the "Peer Gynt Suite" by Edvart Grieg the way he does.

SS wants to play the flute. I think he likes it because it is something he saw on the show. Regardless, I hope he continues to appreciate music and art that he was exposed to. I know even at age 4, he was able to follow along as MP's band show performed the "New World Symphony."

Happy birthday, surprise guy. I hope I am able to give you the gift of music, and you carry it on your trip through life.

P.S. The Little Einstein's go on their trip in a little rocket ship. SS loves airplanes (he's playing with a whole set now). You never know ...

Something to share with school boards at budget time

2009-01-15T19:31:00.000-05:00

Why We Teach Music

Music is a science.
It is exact, specific; and it demands exact acoustics.
A conductor's full score is a chart, a graph which indicates frequencies, intensities,
volume changes, melody and harmony all at once and with the most exact control of time.

Music is mathematical.
It is rhythmically based on the subdivisions of time into fractions
which must be done instantaneously, not worked out on paper.

Music is a foreign language.
Most of the terms are in Italian, German or French;
and the notation is certainly not English but a highly developed
kind of shorthand that uses symbols to represent ideas.
The semantics of music is the most complete and universal language.

Music is history.
Music usually reflects the environment and times of its creation,
often even the country and/ or racial feeling.

Music is physical education.
It requires fantastic coordination of fingers, hands, arms, lip, cheek and facial muscles,
in addition to extraordinary control of diaphragmatic, back, stomach, and chest muscles,
which respond instantly to the sound the ear hears and the mind interprets.

Music is all these things, but most of all, music is art.
It allows a human being to take all of these dry, technically boring
(but difficult) techniques and use them to create emotion.
That is one thing science cannot duplicate;
humanism, feeling, emotion, call it what you will.

That is why we teach music.
Not because we expect our students to major in music
Not because we expect them to play or sing all their life
Not so they can relax
Not so they can have fun.
But so they will be human
So they will recognize beauty
So they will be sensitive
So they will be closer to an infinite beyond this world
So they will have something to cling to
So they will have more love, more compassion, more gentleness, more good
- - in short, more life.
Of what value will it be to make a prosperous living unless you know how to live?
That is why we teach music.

Author Unknown

Incidentally, I picked this up simultaneously off a band website as well as an elementary school wall. The elementary school had a bit different wording than the above, but it also had this ...

Music is reading.
It reinforces correct pronunciation, language experience, squencing of ideas, sight vocabulary, and memory.

P.S. Happy birthday, artistic sis!

Dear Middle School Parents,

2009-01-05T21:09:00.003-05:00

Well, school's back going again.

I bet you are thinking about the 9th grade now. You've heard things about the marching band program. Maybe you've seen it, too, with an older sibling. And you've seen the competition increasing in the sports programs. You're wondering now about the potential for scholarships. But, you don't know. So you want to put it to your kids to decide.

My advice? Don't. You decide.

Now, because I know you will hear from the coaches, let me speak for the person you (unfortunately) may not hear from, the band director. I want to speak to your concerns about band - marching band in particular - and why you should encourage your kids to do it. (Especially if someone told him it's "puff".)

It's physically demanding. Moving feet. Moving fingers. Ten intense minutes that require more than one hour of practice. A week. Per minute. There can be no busted plays, either. There is no injured reserve. And everyone plays.

It's musically demanding. It's not oom-pah up and down in straight lines. (C'mon. You know that. It hasn't been that way since before you were in band!) It's a symphonic display. A rock opera. A full story in a brief time. It's 8-to-5 lines and curves at 7/4, 6/4, 5/4, 4/4, 3/4, 2/4. (I know, because I saw the music!) Speaking of fractions, did you know music students score >100 points higher on the SAT?

It's performance demanding. The largest crowds your kid will play for short of making a career out of music. (And maybe even if he or she does?) It's gratifying instant feedback when the show connects with the crowd. Besides, before you say he's not going pro in music, consider that he probably has better odds of that than going pro in any of the other big 3 - NFL, NBA, MLB.

Need another reason? You can volunteer and ride the team bus!

You make the call, Mom and Dad. Call it band.

Yours. Truly.

Soundtracker

P.S. Did I mention the spectacular color, motion and sound?! Well, if that doesn't move you, you can still ride the bus.

It's the Most Musical Time of the Year

2008-12-20T12:29:00.000-05:00

If you listen to the radio, it's "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year." At least for music!

Two weeks ago I listened to the jazz band play in Santa at the local shopping center. Color and lights - what marching band geek doesn't love color and lights?! - are every where.

This last week concerts ran us in a whirl: All County Orchestra, High School Band, Elementary School Band, Middle School Band. I guess I'm in need of a "Silent Night." (And this past week also was the famous Midwest Clinic.)

Actually, in listening to the cacophony of sounds this year - mostly yelling, loud music, and car horns at the mall - it seemed to me that everyone was on an abundance of jingling bells and dashing through the snow. I remarked to my wife, "I thought the economy was bad." But there's a lot out there who are going to giv-a-giv-a-give-a-garmin (ruining for me now one of my favorites), even if they have to run over someone in the process.

So, anyway, I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. And when the time comes, remember that a garmin won't help you find music ... or peace. There is a reason it is Christmas. He came on one night devine ...

O Holy Night.

National ChampionS

2008-12-10T21:53:00.002-05:00

Plural.

Nazareth Area HS Blue Eagle Marching Band won the USSBA National Championship. (As they say, "Wahoo!")

Avon HS Marching Black and Gold was crowned Bands of America Grand National Champion. (LD Bell, last year's champion, was second, leading to the following IM comment: "Ding dong. Avon calling.")

There are countless state champions, too - divided by various classes - and other associations such that award "super-regional" championships such as the Tournament of Bands Atlantic Coast Champions and the Western Band Association and others I know I've missed. (Note: The TOB link will take you to a high school band site that is generally more up to date that the TOB home page).

In a way, crowning a National Champion in band is like crowning a national champion in college football. Lots of divisions, lots of bowl games or playoffs, lots of polls - er - scoring methodologies and philosophies. And not everyone competes at a certain level, even if they could. Witness the debate about non-BOA appearing Flower Mound (TX) Marcus HS band! A national high school football champion is nearly easier to award (witness the USA Today weekly rankings).

Professionally I work in medical practice management with a focus on anesthesiology. Finding the "right" and "best" is about as hard. Is the care team best or not? (Band speak: Do we count the guard in the members or not?) What is the optimal way to determine a band class - experience, band size, school size? (Anesthesia speak: Is medical direction best at 1:3? 1:4? 1:10? Or does it matter?)

Besides, how do we weight General Effect and Music? (Anesthesia speak: What is good vs. excellent vs. superior anesthesia care? Well, yeah, they wake up and are pain free, but the bedside manner was a mess and the case is always delayed, so ...).

I wrote before, I think, on one of the best bands I saw - a relatively small band from a relatively small Texas border town winning Class 5A, where then big boys and girls play. It hasn't happened since then.

Lately I have wrestled with the concept of excellence, especially personal sustained excellence. It is not easy, nor is it easy to do in everything. We succeed. We fail. We fail at previous successes. We succeed at previous failures. Sometimes we fail a lot and figure out that maybe we shouldn't play that game, or use that particular scoresheet. Sometimes we succeed and own the game. Sometimes we succeed and forget to check to see if the rules changed.

So are we all champions? Well, clearly we cannot be. But we can at least give our best in the field of play, whatever it is, and we can give our best at each "game".

I guess all of this is to say what a National Champion really is (six words?): Singular performance in a singular time.

Six Words

2008-12-05T14:13:00.005-05:00

Earlier this week USA Today columnist Craig Wilson wrote on the book "Not Quite What I Was Planning", where celebrities and others were asked to summarize their life in six words. Some examples:

... "I wrote it all down somewhere." - Ben Greenman
... "I colored outside the lines." - Jacob Thomas
... "Many risky mistakes, very few regrets." - Richard Schendl

What would we write if asked to summarize our band experience in six words? Hmmm. I guess I would say this:

I should have found a way.

What would you say?

Thankful

2008-11-27T20:09:00.000-05:00

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.

2008-11-23T11:09:00.002-05:00

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

2008-11-14T08:10:00.000-05:00

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

2008-11-10T21:44:00.003-05:00

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

2008-11-07T09:12:00.003-05:00

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)

2008-11-02T11:29:00.016-05:00

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.)

Kids these days ... (another scoring rubric)

2008-10-29T17:08:00.000-04:00

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

2008-10-25T21:57:00.000-04:00

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.)

2008-10-22T18:19:00.000-04:00

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

2008-10-19T17:04:00.005-04:00

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

2008-10-13T19:34:00.000-04:00

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?

2008-10-11T19:57:00.005-04:00

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!

Field of Dreams

2008-09-04T19:34:00.002-04:00

Shhhh.

In the middle of our drum corps show tour in July and August, MP said if he marched one day, he would march with Carolina Crown or the Cadets. I say (to myself), "Yeah! Cool!" I say, "You could do something I never ..." --- shhhhh.

My field of dreams was to march. To play third cymbal for Santa Clara Vanguard. To wail like the first soprano of the Blue Devils. To wear the cape (Phantom Regiment or Crossmen!). Now I want to push you to ... shhhh.

I would love these to be your dreams, too, mind you, so I could teach you my mistakes and save you time and effort. But ... no matter what it seems ... and no matter how disappointed my face may look ... this is not what I expect from you.

Don't chase these dreams for me. Chase them for you.

But if it is your field of dreams, chase it. Chase it hard. You have within you the raw materials, but it takes a desire and work ethic that is beyond the ordinary. If it seems like I am pushing you, what I'm doing is trying to help you understand that. It is the only thing I can give you.

I can encourage you and support you, and sometimes that support seems to become more of a hard shove. I want to be that "helicopter parent" hovering over your life, swooping in to help you every time I sense failure coming (or I see you stopping short of success). Sorry about that but, unfortunately for you, you are the first 16 year old I have ever raised.

What I see is that I have to help you get the most of out these last two years of high school, because - selfishly - I want YOU and I together to make the most of the time we have left (because one day I will change the locks, no matter what your mother says!) .

Two years.

Don't let me forget, though - you are young, and have years ahead. You are still seeking your passion(s) in life, and those cannot be mine.

Maybe you will march drum corps, and maybe you won't. That's okay. Just make the most of what you have and are given. Learn, and teach. Teach your peers, your brothers, and your know-it-all parents.

I am very proud of you. I look forward to this marching season.

Happy birthday, and thank you for the gifts you give me.

Birthday Season

2008-08-21T08:38:00.001-04:00

Birthday season kicks off today - one a month (including Christmas) until February! I guess this is how we know time ... marches on?

Son #3 began his frantic entry into the world a decade ago today. Each arrival was memorable; his by a cross city run that was somewhere between an "I Love Lucy" episode and the Marx Brothers.

Although like his uncle, whom he is named after, he plays saxophone, he seems to find some strong interest in the parts of a football game that actually take place before and after halftime! I guess I need to start to make a habit of getting my hot dog, nachos and Dr Pepper before kick off ...!

Extraordinary. Lifechanging. Lifesaving.

2008-08-17T08:43:00.002-04:00

We use these words interchangeably, but in the cinema at the DCI Quarterfinals I leaned they are not. During the gap between the Blue Devils and the final two scores there was a presentation on the Field Band Foundation in South Africa. I didn’t get the reason for this promotion at first, but by the end I was hooked on the mission and goals of this organization.

When I was with Carolina Crown and we were applying for grants, we were often asked how many underprivileged or disadvantaged kids we were serving. This is a hard question for any world class drum corps to answer, but I was comfortable (albeit not politically correct) when I said our focus was helping ordinary kids become extraordinary through demanding education programs. Even most school marching bands are solid extracurricular programs that can do lifechanging things, but they ultimately respond to their community needs.

The Field Band Foundation is not about this at all. It is, we all learned, about giving some kids the skills to survive. To make it out of extreme poverty and life situations to even attempt at what we probably consider a normal life. Their focus is far beyond music and personal excellence - it is about saving lives. Those are words we don't often used when we talk about music education.

Go to this website and learn more for yourself: www.fieldband.org.za

On the screen, from Bloomington, Indiana ...!

2008-08-11T09:18:00.003-04:00

This is a 3 part review of the DCI Championship events.

Thursday, August 7, On the Cinema Screen

I used to be good at estimating attendance, but I think it’s safe to say the theater I was in was about 90% full of drum corps alumni and fans. I complained about the sound last time, and I was worried when the pictures came and the sound did not – or at least the sound that matched the photos. It made for some tense and humorous moments, but all was in order by the time the first corps hit the screen. Some observations of the night:

What’s with the "Summer Music Games" logo? I thought that had been retired. There are too many mixed branding messages out there, and it doesn’t work if you use an old one and then fail to use the new "Marching Music’s Major League" logo and colors. I’ve had long talks with a friend about the marketing efforts. To me, if no one else noticed, we are preaching to the converted, and that audience is getting smaller.

On the plus side, you have to appreciate the humor when we have our own John Madden. We kept waiting for him to telestrate the drill!

Spirit – It was hard to appreciate this show. Most of the problem was the sharp afternoon shadows that were not adjusted to by the cameras. I if this was rapidly discussed in the production booth, the cure never came. It became evident that this problem would continue (to a lesser effect) until the field and the backfield stands (reflecting the sun) were in shadows. As far as the show itself, “4” is not “3”, and the commentators asking us to look for the burgundy guard members was handicapped by the shadows and a lot of high camera that made it hard to pick them out.

Colts – Very nice design and well performed. The baton twirler caught a few audience members off “guard”, but they let it pass. I am a fan of the musical “Song and Dance”, and I like the way the incorporated it into their unique portrayal of New York City.

Madison Scouts – Here’s a tip: if you’re going to show a flash back from the 70s and 80s, use the years they won the DCI championships! After the performance the commentators noted, “The crowd was on their feet!” Well, not in the auditorium. It was a good performance, and it was Madison being Madison. This is one of those boxes corps can end up in, though, when being true to yourself puts you in a design bind. (I noted that in my discussion of the Troopers in Westminster.)

Crossmen – The shadows may be gone, but Bones is still hiding in them. Delucia said half the show lacked “umph”, and my seating neighbor said the show just didn’t grab him or appear powerful. The color I hoped for never emerged. A mixed performance, and as it turns out Madison will squeeze them out of the Top 12.

Glassmen – A nice performance. After years of just not getting the Glassmen, I didn’t feel the urge to run out for popcorn. No major surprises or twists from West Chester. I struck me that with all the balloons they released, they should have attached postcards or something on them to encourage people to go to the cinema tonight! (There's the marketing side of me again.)

Star of Indiana – I mention them because they showed a clip from 1991 when talking about the move to Bloomington. I love Star. I miss Star. But Star has been gone so long that the kids in the audience don’t remember or care.

Blue Stars – This is the new Star (of Indiana, as I hear they rehearse there!). I liked the nice visual sat the end, and of course Delucia was happy they used a real bike! It was better, and it was nice to hear the concept explained, but in the end (to me at least) it was still a nice band show.

Boston Crusaders – Very nice! This show, "Neocosmos", reminded me of their 2000 presentation, when their performance of "Red" (my favorite BAC show!) moved them up three positions from Quarterfinals 7th to Finals 5th. This is a great foundation to build on, and they better re-sign that visual designer before another corps snaps him (or her) up. I am cheering form them to move higher, as I think they down the ability.

It's halftime ... where is the football game?

Blue Knights – What more can be said. My seat neighbor said he doesn’t like high concept shows. I said I don’t mind high concept shows if there is a point to the concept. I’m glad BK is around and has flourished and that they have kids participating. In the end that is what really matters. But as a show, this was my least favorite of the year. The Crusaders should be here.

Bluecoats – In a nutshell, this show really re-energized the crowd! But again, I could not tell if the narration used in Murfreesboro was taken out or “blacked out” by a system failure. This time it was there at the end, but not at the beginning. I wish I could have seen the final product. Nice touch with the boxing uniforms, though!

Santa Clara Vanguard – I liked this show again, and to my neighbor that this is how “high concept” should be executed. The audience will give a lot of leeway if they can follow along, and “3hree” was just wonderfully well done. Band directors (and corps directors) who like high concept should take careful notes.

Cadets – I received a text message a few seconds before the show started to “Watch for a new ending.” There was no new ending. There was an amputation of the previous ending. I texted back: "No no no no no!" Yes, the show was more powerful at the end, but this version just added to the confusion that many complained about with the narration. I liked the narration if the story works. To me the Cadets were almost there ... almost ... and then … sigh. George explained the tortuous process well to the audience, at least. I hope they got it and at least appreciated the attempt.

Carolina Crown – The corps close to my heart just played there own hearts out. Just beautiful sound, well executed visuals, and an inspiration to many. Looking back, they are just focused on doing drum corps as the audience wants it: familiar sounds in a new mix, comfortable visuals with some sparkling delights, and all of it well done. All the “high concept” corps should take note!

Phantom Regiment – I am officially impressed! No, I AM SPARTACUS!! The last half of the show is just utter “wow!” My scribbled notes at the time said if they translate that performance to the first half and sustain it throughout, they will win! And while I love my corps (Carolina Crown), if they cannot win, then this corps is now definately the one that I am pulling for. This may be 3rd or 2nd tonight, but this show can keep going. Will they have enough time is the question.

Cavaliers – How do you argue with the execution (of the show, not the samurai warrior!)? It is clean and powerful but lacks that … well, something. I said it was in 1st tonight, but the other Illinois corps is gaining fast on them.

Blue Devils – In Murfreesboro they were cruising but not coasting. But I think this is going to catch up to them. The top three are very tight. The show is not jazz-boring, but they are playing defense now. I left the cinema wondering if there were just a few Blue Devils tricks up their sleeves, or if they can just hold out for two more days. I actuall put this show in 2nd tonight, maybe 3rd.

Friday, August 8 - On the Computer Screen

I watched snippets here and there throughout the day, hoping Jersey Surf would pull out the upset in Open Class (it turns out that job fell to the Santa Clara Vanguard Cadets), which I predicted to a friend with a bit of hope for the evening show as well!). But it is band camp concert night, so we went and then rushed home for the Top 4, which we watched by hooking up the webcast to the TV. (Definitely an argument for the big screen!)

Carolina Crown – Again, dynamic and fun! It seems they are firmly in 4th, happily and deservedly so. Depending on their return rate in kids and staff, and how they extend the franchise of the past two years, this corps can be in the top 3 or at #1 very, very soon.

Phantom Regiment – Can they eeek out a few extra fractions of a point? I think they can. And when this night is over, so do the judges, putting them in second. Tonight’s show was definitely better than last nights, with the corps settling down a bit and giving us non-stop drama (and so much so that the cameras were used throughout the warm up, with no “commercial break” between corps). The anticipation built from the time the conductor was wheeled on the field, and they just never stopped. Never. Stopped. This is why it is called momentum!

Cavaliers – They continue to execute well, but my small living room audience was not nearly as excited as they were after the Regiment. There just isn’t that much juice to squeeze anymore.

Blue Devils – Don’t look now, but the Illinois corps to worry about isn’t the one from Rosemont, but Rockford.

Saturday, August 9 - Patiently Waiting ...

I – AM SPARTACUS! Congratulations to the 2008 Phantom Regiment on your first sole possession DCI World Championship!!

And to think that I just about called this early on ... (see "Melting My Definant Heart" on May 7)!

Go West! (A Review of Westminster, MD)

2008-08-04T23:21:00.001-04:00

MP did the Cadets' Music is Cool! event again this year, the shorter (1/2 day) pre-band camp edition. Today is a bit of a sacrifice for them, less than a week before finals with a lot of cleaning to do.

Last year I was a bit of a helicopter parent at the event. This year I had to make myself hang back a bit. However, as before, he seemed to enjoy the experience, although there wasn't as much field time, there were at least more kids ("Twenty mellophones this time, not four").

The show itself featured five corps and a bonus.

The Troopers are America's Corps, and persist at the World Class level. Organizationally, I question if that is the right place for them. I think they need a chance to bring back some of the winning tradition, and creatively what they put on the field was a nice Open Class show. The Troopers displayed some humor, which was unexpected but pleasant to see. This corps faces design challenges just by being, well, the Troopers. There is the iconic image and musical style, and the familiar sunburst and "Ghost Riders", that at least this year they worked into a program about the old west railroads, or "The Iron Horse Express." I guess I lost my senses, though, in scoring. I said 76, MP said 89.65 ("Too generous", he said after the show), and the judges went with a more accurate 81.10.

Although I didn't realize it at the time, I think the Crossmen were the corps that was most "on" tonight. The gentlemen seated next to me - whose story made me appreciate the time with MP even more - remarked on the visual offering of the corps. Even from a few nights ago, the visuals were better, the guard was stronger, and the silks were well used at the end. I thought they improved to an 86, MP said 89.30, and the judges said 85.05 - still better than Thursday but not as good as Saturday. Go figure.

The Blue Stars were our fourth Blue corps this year, having seen the Devils and Knights twice and the 'Coats once already. It looks like 1/3 of the top 12 will be Blue this year, with this one bringing a splash of yellow. I was asked by a friend for an instant impression, and it ws that this was the best band show of the year. Maybe that's a compliment? Although the opening sound and visuals were strong, I don't think the concept was executed as well as envisioned. I could not tell whether it wanted to be literal (which is was too confusing to be) or conceptual (which it was to specific to be). I was actually disappointed in a way, given that the "race" run by the Tarpon Springs HS Band at the Bands of America Grand Nationals several years ago was better executed. Maybe Kevin Ford, who was the designer behind Tarpon Springs (as well as Carolina Crown's "Stormworks" and "Chess ... and the Art of Strategy" that propeled the corps into the top 12), "re-cycled" a bit. My seating neighbor liked it, commenting on the more subtle body movements corps are employing these days. (But he was not a big fan of the Cadets' narration, so sometimes change only goes so far!) I said 89, MP said 91.23 (where he gets the precise fractions is not from me!), and the judges were less impressed: 87.90.

How do you find fault with a 95? How do you find fault when you finally get to see "your kids" win a show outright against top corps? Carolina Crown had a strong Allentown finish, but seemed to try to give this show away tonight. They seemed "off" (was it the lights? was it the sound?) enough that a fan a few seats away commented, "They seemed flat tonight." Maybe they were just tired, and were just getting past releasing some of the pent of tension of the weekend. The sound was clear, but it seemed to me the corps was afraid of the field, as if the corps before them said as they walked on, "Psst - watch out for the divots ... pass it on!"). I marked them down a bit, to 95, MP said 95.2, and the judges went with 95.15. A winner, but not as winning as last week.

The Cadets, as I noted to open this post, made a rehearsal sacrifice for the Music is Cool program. Maybe that had an impact, or maybe, like Carolina Crown, they were just off their game a bit after Allentown and realizing the organization seemed to shift gears to 2009 this past week. Quite frankly, they had a better rehearsal than performance. The impact points the design staff is writing in made better sense - I see even more clearly where they are going - but the timing was off (with another sabre drop that had been hit at every run through I saw that afternoon), and the ending is not quite yet ... "snapping" ... with some lost emotion from before. I suspect they'll get there by Saturday, but "there" is probably not where they really wanted to be. I said 94, MP said 94.50, and the judges said 93.9.

The bonus corps was The Commandant's Own, the U.S. Marines Drum & Bugle Corps. I remember every year they would do a nightly performance at the Texas State Fair, and every year when I went to the fair I would plan to be "on the 50 yard line" of the small performance venue. There were much as I remembered, and with music from Shostakovitch to Souza, from Jersey (Boys) to Malaguena, this corps (also founded in 1934 and celebrating a diamond anniversary next year) reminded us of all of some of the traditions of drum corps.

A quick note about the venue. I must say the Westminster HS Band Boosters were well organized hosts, and this is probably the best high school stadium for watching marching music that I have been to in Maryland!

This is the end of my 2008 live reviews. The corps now go west to Bloomington, but I'll stay home in Maryland. However, I'll get to watch on the big cinema screen on Thursday night, and on Friday at our neighbor's house where they are hosting a big screen webcast. Music is cool - and how cool is that!

A Family Affair (A Review of West Chester)

2008-08-01T02:00:00.002-04:00

This is the show the entire family looked forward to attending! "Our" favorite corps, Carolina Crown, was there. We were there when this baby was born, and of course even after 19 years we want to see how our kids are doing!

Also, this show allowed us to see another teenager: Jersey Surf, featuring several teens from the high school band including my neighbor a few doors down. Although the theme of the show is about the "Jersey Surf ... So Far" (in their growth, as they prepare for the 2009 step to World Class), I didn't really get it. But, in this case, that's okay. Whatever they were trying to do, they did it well. The horn line played strongly, and the color guard was engaging with skilled performers. I wrote 87, scratched it and wrote 88, but the judges said 86.35. Whatever the score, if you get the chance, catch the wave!

In 1992 in this stadium on a relative cold and damp July night, this San Antonio, Texas, native boy volunteering on tour with Carolina Crown fell in love again with a group introduced as, "From West Chester, Pennsylvania, The Crossmen"! That year was the first of three exploring planet earth. This year, I came to West Chester to see the San Antonio boys (and girls) take on "Planet X". From the opening notes, it was apparent that the World Class level corps had arrived. The new take on the popular "Planets" of Gustav Holst was unique, and was well performed. The corps seemed a bit compacted in the drill, and until the end it lacked some color. But they ended postiviely (it was evident that was well learned) and the crowd was satisfied. I said 85 and the judges marked 84.60, so no surprises there. Well, maybe one: Bones - guardian of the Crossmen family secrets - did not mysteriously appear backfield in the old home turf ...

The Glassmen then brought their "Carnival" to the field, and for the first time in a long time (probably since the Moody Blues show) I enjoyed what I was seeing from this corps! The show was lighthearted but not done lightly, and the audience (and all my kids) connected with what was going on. (Caveat: The audience also was a good bit of high school band campers.) The show was visually effective, and though the body work did nothing for me, the use of balloons (I won't give it away) was neat and was about as effective as when Suncoast Sound released one (1!) in 1984 without being as cheesy as when the Sky Ryders went over the top with "Over the Rainbow" in 1982. I said 87, and the judges said 87.40. But there was a twist ...

... as tonight, they beat the Blue Knights (given an 85.90 by the judges and an 88.50 by me). I reviewed them nearly a week ago, and nothing much changed except my perspective. Being a bit closer to the field, I saw and heard some really talented kids out there on the field. What they have been subjected to in terms of design, however, really wasted that potential. I thought there were a bit better than the Glassmen because of that, but the judges did not agree.

Now, the feast - Carolina Crown! What was the difference? A week ago they were just staring to hit their stride in performance. Now, they are in it! The kids are clearly enjoying their show and performing it, and they still have room to improve and seem to want to do so to get this show to "Finis" at just the right time - Saturday night, August 9! I am still amazed by the brass line, and look forward to seeing them all over again in just a few days. Yes, I'm partial, but ... if you disagree, at least check them out. A well done classic, with a twist! The judges said 2nd (as did I), and gave a 93.80 (as I nearly did, marking an 93.50). Sentimental favorites, yes - all my kids are Carolinians. But they deserved it tonight!

The Blue Devils performed next, and are clearly in championship mode as well. They are not coasting, but definitely cruising, and expect to knock out a few points here and there. While lacking the audience "wow!" and punch of Carolina Crown, they nonetheless leave you knowing why they are still in the lead to this point. I gave them first with a 1.5 lead over Carolina Crown, but the judges narrowed that gap to 1.05 (scoring 94.85). It will be interesting to see what happens when Phantom Regiment and the Cavaliers rejoin that mix.

The host Cadets (who just announced a "name change" on their website) are better. But they are not their best. The score, 92.90, is closing on Carolina Crown (less than a point) but reflects the relative difference, just as comparing Carolina Crown and the Blue Devils. The impact points are developing, now that the storyline is better told (although someone who had seen an earlier edition in Clifton remarked that it seemed to be "trite" now). There is better use of the guard, and the audience really wants to like the show because of this. (You could tell by the audible "aww" at a dropped sabre - there was a cheer just begging to come out!)

This show is about family, when you get right down to it, but there was a lot of clutter early that is still being refined. I almost would drop the stage (but how can you at this point?) and let the corps and guard (which, as an afterthought, seemed like an afterthought) supplement the narration. I can see and hear elements indicating this show should really kick into gear in about 2 to 2 1/2 weeks.

Unfortunately, they - and we - have only 1.

It was a nice night for families, corps and neighbors and friends! My kids seemed to enjoy the performances, and I am sure tomorrow (I am posting my own thoughts first at 0200 on 8/1/08) I will have some reactions (and maybe a visual image or two) to edit in.

Letter from - and to - Home

2008-07-28T04:00:00.003-04:00

I've been some hard thinking about organizations over the last week. I'm drafting a post now, but I had to put this up today. The title is from the middle piece of the Cadets 1991 show. That song gets me all emotional, sometimes nearly making me cry. (Friends tell me they cried throughout the entire show, but I think it was for different reasons!)

After I had been blogging a bit, I came across a book called "The Last Lecture" by a computer science professor named Randy Pausch. Don't be deceived - the title may sound depressing, but the book is really upbeat! When Randy found out he had pancreatic cancer, he re-focused his life, moved his family, geared up for the fight, but still found time to return to Carnegie Mellon University to give the traditional last lecture, the original source of the book.

If you don't know about it, stop reading after this paragraph and come back later ... after you take about 75 minutes to view this video.

----- ----- -----

This morning I will climb on an airplane for a quick trip to the Big Easy. I fully expect Southwest Airlines to bring me home tonight, so I'm not about to get weepy. But I do need to say, to my family at home (and not at home) ... I am on the plane today to do something I do pretty well with the hope of being able to help you pursue your dreams.

Family is so, so important. It's all that's left where there is nothing but Bones (right, Crossmen and Alumni?). When things are turbulent in your life, as this last week was for me, family keeps you going.

This is a mid-season thank you drum corps families, too, for what you are doing for your kids. I would talk about it during my time with Carolina Crown, but I haven't lived the experience of turning your kids over to a group for 2-3 months (3 weeks was about it for us!) and holding your breath every night as they move about the country. And you paid for the privilege!

And this is a pre-season thank you band families. Our band director has this right: this is the last 4 years you get to spend with your kid. These are neat years in their growth and development, so you better make it count, because you will never, ever, get it that time back.

I was thinking about the irony here. How often has music been a generational divisor at home? "Turn that down!" "How can you listen to that junk?!"

But then there is band and drum corps. This is the music that brings generations together. And that just just way too cool ...

----- ----- -----

Randy Pausch died late last week. He didn't get to see his kids achieve their childhood dreams. But he definitely laid the groundwork for that. I'm going to keep trying to do that myself. Maybe you should do so, too.

Finally - Friday Night Lights! (A Review of the DCI Masters in Murfreesboro)

2008-07-26T15:56:00.004-04:00

This week it was Friday Night Lights at the DCI Masters in Murfreesboro, Tennessee!

This is my first actual show of the season, and my first chance to attend this "Top 8" event. And, for the first time in this blog, I'll publish a Review that I have given to friends via e-mail. This will be fun, too, as I include comments by my oldest son, who offers his perspective as a (near) 16 year old band member. I call him "MP" as in Mellophone Player!

There are a lot of good seats in this venue. We sat in Club level seats, but if I had to do it again I’d come down to section RR, between rows 15-20. That is just high enough to see, but just close enough for impact.

Performing first were the Blue Knights. MP noticed three drum majors. I noticed – the “band”. The performance was … good. There were nice BK/Ron Nelson licks with the signature silks ("Amazing Grace" was nice and colorful) and some well-done drill, but to me the design was a guard show with horns. MP said 8^th, and as did I with an 86-87. That was generous. The judges gave an 84.400.

After this show I corrected MP’s slip of the purist tongue when he called BK a band. He has been to shows before, but really this was the first time I think he was being discerning. I said, however, that it was my opinion that he had seen “A good band, but not a good corps.” “How so?” he asked. “Just keep watching.” We didn’t have to wait long.

Santa Clara Vanguard brought “3hree: Mind, Body and Soul” to the field. The concept was well integrated and executed, musically and visually. Opening with challenging music and drill and some cool visual tricks with the uniform (mind), they phased into a more aggressive segment with a lot of kinetic movement (body) and then closed with driving yet emotional music (soul). MP got the difference in design and execution.

I had not seen SCV in a while, and it was cool to explain some of the traditions that link the shows. MP’s favorite show he has marched is “Phantom of the Opera”, and we saw traditions connecting 2008 with 1988. I said 5^th with a 91 (.3!), and MP said 6^th. The judges did not share our view – 7^th with 87.475.

The Bluecoats neatly integrated their show into the warm up and Brandt Crocker’s introduction. But they didn’t’ deliver "The Knockout" they were hoping for, because part way through a show heavily dependent on narration, the sound system failed, exposing a weakness in a show that could no longer carry under its own musical and visual power. A single engine fly-over during the choral voices didn’t help. MP commented on the battery’s (particularly the bass drums) integration into the visual boxing ring, saying, “I thought that was unique.” We said 7^th, but the judges said 6th, scoring 88.200 (to my 90).

Unlike SCV’s thematic execution, this Blue (the only one missing tonight was the Stars!) made you focus too much on the boxer, afraid you would miss something, with the end result being that you probably did anyway. By contrast, you keep looking all over the field to see how SCV brings 3hree to you in a new way. I guess that’s my “GE” bias showing; I’m sure the technical aspects are showing up in the recap.

I saw the Cadets practice live, and was looking forward to the performance. However, this seemed "off" from what I had watched earlier this month (see July 6th post). Extensive rewrites were apparent as the script, music, visuals and colors seemed disconnected right from the start. Mr. Crocker even seemed confused (as opposed to when he introduced the Bluecoats) and I think the audience felt the same throughout the first half of the show. By the time the corps clicked (“snapped?!”) into gear with the “Wall Street” section the audience had changed from WCDT to another station, reflected in the flat reaction at the end. The wink was a nice addition, but I almost missed it as there were two focal points. Are the Cadets trying to do too much? I don’t think so. But they have to sort out what they are trying to do. I said 6^th with 91, MP 5^th. The judges about agreed; 5^th with a 90.825.

I really anticipated the Phantom Regiment’s "Spartacus" (see May 7) and I was not disappointed! Sometimes we are let down when something we remember nostalgically (1982, my first show ever) is not relived. Phantom didn’t try to recreate so much as reinvent the show. The design innovations of the last 25 years were clear, and I sense more (color?!) is coming in the next two weeks. This show has not peaked!

MP really got into the show, seeing the difference in design and execution. “I am Spartacus!” he shouted! So did I, and we agreed on a 4^th place and 92. The judges, it turned out, said 3^rd with a 93.200.

And if they were third, and that means Carolina Crown was 4^th. But having been there at the start of the corps 19 years ago, they are always first in my heart! When I heard the on the phone show (see July 6th) I could not quite see where the visual would be going. Now, with the total package, it was just a lot of fun – a classic with a nice twist!

But, okay, maybe fun like cotton candy. Tastes great, associated with nice memories, but not really filling. Regardless, the fans ate it up like, well, cotton candy. MP and I talked about how they followed the classic emotional ride: start and build, slow a bit (the brass choir in the "Clair de Lune" classic with a "West Side Story" twist was angelic and crystal clear), then push on to an “up” finish. I said 3^rd with a 92.5, MP said 2^nd, and the judges said 4^th at 92.625. I didn’t think Phantom Regiment had caught them tonight, but I won’t disagree with the placement.

But, when fans down front unrolled big banner with the words “Oh Yeah Baby!” you had to agree. MP, biased toward all things Carolina, especially this corps, said “I definitely loved it! I loved the way they incorporated 'Finis' into everything they do, such as the ripples where everyone was doing the same thing until it got to the end, where they do something just a bit different!” Yup. He's catching on.

The "Green Machine" took an abstract concept and made it work. It wasn’t a distinct story but a clear theme, Samauri, and was very engaging. I found the audio effects fascinating, but MP said, “The best part was the drill, with the body work and the jumping. I can’t wait to see them again!” I didn't quite feel the same way, but I still said 2^nd with a 93.5. MP said 1^st, and the judges put the second place score at 93.275, a sliver above.

If I say a show was “conventional yet unique” you’d probably say, “That’s absurd!” That’s the Blue Devils, with their absurdity show. Again, an abstract concept well executed, with visual “sparks” throughout. “I don’t know,” said MP, “I liked the guard and the sticks.” But during the performance he whispered a thought to me that showed me his appreciation of how the corps uses the “sound of silence”.

At the end, before the scores were announced, MP said that we should rank the corps that really got people out of their seats. That was great way to think about the show! I said Phantom Regiment, SCV, Carolina Crown and the Cavaliers. MP agreed with 1 and 4, but thought Crown was above Vanguard. (What a homer!)

... ...

We get to see six of the top 12 again in a few days in West Chester, and I will offer thoughts on that show as well as my final live-in-the-stadium event of 2008, Westminister. Is this what was meant by, "Go west, young man!" I hope so!

Hey, but if you haven't been able to get to a show yet, never fear! Click on the link below! And if you don't get to that, never fear. It will be reviewed too!

This post brought to you by the letter "E"

2008-07-13T21:47:00.000-04:00

I was taught that efficiency is doing things right, and effectiveness is doing the right thing. What I just learned, however, is that efficiency is clean, and effectiveness can be quite messy. I learned this watching the Cadets rehearse last week.

The rehearsal, in the rain, was controlled chaos. And having been on tour with corps in the past, I can tell you that any drum corps moving down the road is. It wasn't "efficient", and inefficient is expensive. But in the end, in the art form we call drum corps, will sticking to the efficient at the expense of the effective elevate the corps? (How many "e" words was that?!)

I read in the Saturday/Sunday edition of the Wall Street Journal two other e-words used to describe movies (particularly "Wall*E"): entertaining, and enthralling. Some of this may apply to this weekend's results as well, with the "upset" win (if you can call what I think is an earned win an "upset") of Carolina Crown over the Cadets.

Certainly the Cadets are not without controversy. I think that comes with being on the leading edge of the activity. Looking over shows from 1980 to the present in the All Access feature of their website, they have not so much as pushed the drum corps activity than pulled it along. I always loved the long left behind slogan of "Tradition:Innovation" (and the upward G arrow logo from the Garfield days)!

Carolina Crown, on the other hand, is playing it (somewhat) safe - familiar tunes, but done very, very well. I haven't seen (but have heard!) the show, admittedly, but I wonder how this year's efficient entertainment compare to last year's "Triple Crown", which was to me effective enthrallment? Maybe not, but at this point the judges and the fans are saying it beats effective entertainment (or non-entertainment, if you feel that way about narration!). Certainly, though, the two leading corps seem to be producing what they generally do: effective enthrallment!

It is certainly a new matrix for back-of-the-envelope judging. Maybe now my "how hard is it to do what they did" and "how well did they do it" needs to be adapted.

I am looking forward to seeing how this next week shakes out as the corps converge on my birth-town, San Antonio. I am eager to see them in Murfreesboro! This year may bring some excitement after all!

... and the Pursuit of Happiness

2008-07-06T21:07:00.008-04:00

It's July 4th (or Independence Day) weekend, and the Cadets stopped by Maryland today in their pursuit of happiness. I pursued some happiness, too, I guess - I went to watch ensemble rehearsal (in the rain*). I marvel at the specialness of those ordinary young men and women who dedicate hours to perfecting "something".

After watching, I am eager to see the result of the work I witnessed. It was messy work**, I hope that readers can appreciate that working for something makes achieving it so much better.

Sometimes things seem to be so easy that we just "phone it in." Maybe some can do that and be successful. I don't know, though. Where is the satisfaction in that? Is that the pursuit of happiness, no matter what we do? We tend to phone in so much - parenting, voting, working, relationships.

The ensemble was not a full run though, but I got a nice appreciation for what they are attempting to do. I look forward to seeing what comes from this pursuit.

P.S. Hey, Hoppy ... the Zone was a few years ago ... ;)

Audio sampling

"My corps" did phone it in last night, though. Well, kind of! My neighbor is in the Jersey Surf, and his Mom called me as Carolina Crown took the field so I could listen. Technology is great, but limited, yet it was nice to get my first listen of the competitive season.

I had been told that the show was good but "something" was missing, and listening as best as a I could I noticed it, too. I think it is the familiarity ... we are imposing something on the show that isn't there or isn't meant to be there. It's still early, however ... way early.

* Overheard: "How is life on the road?" "It's been good. Just wet. Everywhere."
** Watch for a future post on an insight on efficiency and effectiveness.

Drum corps season is here!

2008-06-21T19:30:00.002-04:00

“For those who understand, no explanation is necessary. For those who don’t understand, no explanation is possible.”

It is starting now in Toledo - and in 1/2 hour in Rockford! From time to time I have shared with a small circle of friends a review of the drum corps shows (performance, venues, audiences!) I attend. So now I go public with my musings - but mostly from afar until I can see with my own ears what is on the field on July 12 (maybe) or July 25 (for sure!). Stay tuned!

It's the stupid economy

2008-06-18T10:16:00.001-04:00

I am blessed now with a stable job and - although it is tight - I still have the ability to afford a few things this summer that others cannot ... like band camp fees, tickets to drum corps shows, and gasoline to get there and back. For that I am very grateful.

However, I wonder how tickets are going, I wonder if corps are going, and a lot of this is heartburn caused by gas ... gas being up 33% in one year. I would think not only drum corps, but band booster organizations planning trips are faced with skyrocketing costs.

I write knowing that in some circles things are not going well - tickets are indeed dragging in some places. Weather issues are probably compounding things, especially the floods in the midwest.

So if you read this blog from various points throughout the summer, come back or e-mail and tell me how it's going out there.

In the meantime ... here is something I will do. I don't know if you subscribe to Halftime magazine. In an online world, print still works for me! Anyway, here is the deal. If you subscribe to Halftime ($10!) by going through this blog, they will donate $1 to the "Saturday Night Lights Blog" gas fund.

Because I remember drum corps economics, though, there is a catch. I love the top corps ... I really do! But ... the gas fund will go to the non-top 8 corps that logs the most miles this summer. No, this is not an incentive to finish outside the coveted Masters of the Summer Music Games positions! But its a chance to help out the corps that isn't quite top tier in revenues.

So to subscribe and donate, follow this tiny link.

https://musemedia.magazinemanager.com/subscribe/subscribeOnlineMuseMedia.asp?source=SaturdayNightLights

Want to know more about Halftime? Click below!

Moving Pictures

2008-06-14T23:15:00.001-04:00

It's getting closer to the start of the season! I'm getting my schedule ready for live shows, but it is going to be mid- to late-July before I actually get to see one. So far it looks like Murfreesboro, West Chester, and Westminster for this year's reviews. I'd like to squeeze in a few more, but right now I"m not so sure.

Until then, I'll have to settle for moving pictures. Not wanting to see repeats, however, I found this website to be intriguing. Maybe you will, too, until your summer begins!

World History and other subjects

2008-06-08T14:05:00.001-04:00

Last week was finals week, which meant after a whirlwind weekend seeing my beautiful "daughter" married off it was helping my oldest boys prepare for their exams and papers. One of the subjects we reviewed together was for world history, particularly more recent (1800s and on) history.

The study of history is really the study of change, and change is often the result of conflict. Sometimes it is conflict among peoples, but often it is conflict among ideas. (Maybe even ideas values and tradition!)

As we quizzed and drilled for a final exam, the following musicals came to mind ...

The King and I
The Sound of Music
Pacific Overtures
Evita
Caberet
Fiddler on the Roof
Nixon in China
Miss Saigon
Big River (this for English 10!)

Not all of these I was introduced to by band, or even in my high school years. But as we quizzed I found myself singing a few lyrics, and I wondered how much easier the topics would have been for me if I had associated the story with a musical during my high school years! (And High School itself is now a musical!!)

Speaking of musicals, my oldest son's 2008 field show was officially announced - yet another story surrounding events of world history - "Les Miserables." And if that isn't enough, that means during my son's time he will have performed three shows from the vintage year 1989 ... Phantom Regiment's "New World Symphony", Santa Clara Vanguard's "Phantom of the Opera," and now the Cadets! (Hmm. What of the remaining 9 from 1989 finalists would I choose for 2009?!)

Is the fact that shows come from one year ironic (English term!) in and of itself, or is it also made ironic that the field trip made that year by a small group of people from Charlotte to Kansas City was not to celebrate the end of a vintage season (another "finals week!"), but to kick off of the next step in the evolution of the then Charlotte Drum Corps Association - Carolina Crown!

Conduct : Conduct

2008-05-31T12:39:00.003-04:00

By this time of year many bands have named drum majors for the coming season, and the drum majors are preparing for drum major camp, probably best characterized as big band camps for big band geeks.

When I went to camp I thought it was to learn how to wave my arms, or to conduct. (And we all admired those of the Phantom Regiment!) But I actually learned that I needed to put my accent in another place. So I am passing this bit of advice to drum majors and, well, to anyone else in the band or in any organization:

"It is not how you kuhn-duhkt the band on the field. It is your kon-duhkt off the field."

(If you want to know about the photo, click on it to go to the story.)

A Tradition is not a Value

2008-05-27T07:59:00.000-04:00

I remember when growing up that one of the favorite musicals of my family was "Fiddler on the Roof". If you don't know the story, it centers on how a poor Jewish milkman, Tevye, struggles to maintain "Tradition" against the tide of rapid change (the backdrop being the Russian Revolution some 100 years ago). Like Tevye, we all want to keep our traditions. But so many of us confuse traditions with values.

Values are what we stand for, deep down. Traditions are how we express our values. Values are timeless. Traditions can be too ... but not always.

Lately, I have reflected a lot on my life's calling, my career, my family, and even the organizations I have been part of.* I see so many organizations dying from the inside today. They are dying because they cling stubbornly to traditions (two pistons! no amplification! no dance!) that have eventually poisoned the water.

And this is not just drum corps. Community organizations are literally dying - old members are aging and new ones aren't joining. There are organizations that say they serve young people but don't even know how to reach them anymore. The list is long of drum corps that have taken tradition right into the grave, and a number of kids are poorer for not having the opportunity. (Maybe some I discussed in the post Loss below).

Young people like to question traditions, but they don't do it with maturity, and so we more, um, experienced folks react viscerally to defend the traditions when they do. But we have to learn how to questions traditions, too, only with maturity. How? By asking, "Does this tradition enhance or hinder our values?"

It is funny that I remember the time the Holy Name/Garfield/of Bergen County/Cadets used the motto Tradition: Innovation. To me that said it all. And look at how old they are (founded in 1934), and how young they continue to be in the new and innovative ideas they bring to the competition field. The Cadets have traditions, but mostly they have values that have been infused over time.

So, anyway, most of last week I was at a work conference. On Monday of that week it was announced at the meeting that my fellow professional association members have humbled me by asking me to join their Executive Committee, which comes with a path toward leading the organization in a few years. I hope I can help find ways to strip out the unnecessary traditions, and enhance the values.

Look at the organizations you belong to, and whether or not they are dying by traditions instead of living by values. If not, you will be the one who needs to come up with the new traditions to enhance the values.

Some people call it "Thinking outside the box." The Cadets are my favorite corps for doing this, and doing it successfully. I think it is because they also know this: "Thinking outside the box implies that you know how to think inside the box to begin with."

* Okay, "of which I have been a part." That is grammatically correct ... but clunky. I tossed tradition for a bit there ...

Soundtraveller

2008-05-24T18:52:00.004-04:00

I know, I know, I say I'm sound tracker, but this week was pretty busy - Sunday through today - with not much time in my own bed. I feel bad for letting 10 days go by and I do have a new post I am working on.

Until then, while grabbing a bit of non-screen downtime in hotels, I read through the June edition of my favorite business magazine, Fast Company. (There are all sorts of reasons you should subscribe, too, if you are in business of any kind.) The article is coincidentally titled "Strike Up the Band" but it focuses on how NBC and partner Audiobrain are creating the soundtrack for the 2008 Olympic Games telecasts.

There also is an article on "The Business of Broadway." Not bad for a business magazine! (And their articles on design are inspirational!)

I'll get back to original compositions soon ...

Loss

2008-05-14T07:27:00.004-04:00

In Blast!, there is a beautiful piece named Loss that captures for me the emotions felt when you remember someone (or even some experience) you treasured but no longer have. As I dug through my programs related to the last post, I stumbled across one for a show* that I remember clearly.

It was wickedly hot, but I still drove down to that little town and sat in the stand and took away memories. This show in particular I remember this because of the lowest score I've ever seen (by a small corps judged on a big scoresheet), the corps I could have been on the field with (and my best friend was), pews on the field, and a (perceptively) first class tractor trailer.

All the corps from that night are gone now, but I have not forgotten. It is a loss. Drum corps season must be near again, because memories are flooding back.

* Battle of the Bugles
Tuesday, July 19, 1983, 7:30 p.m.
Yellow Jacket Stadium, Cleburne, TX
Argonne Rebels, Great Bend, KS - 13.50
NightHawks, Houston, TX - 29.10
Black Knights, St. Louis, MO - 35.70
Memphis (TN) Blues Brass Band - 41.50
The Pride of Cincinnati (OH) - 41.60
Sky Ryders, Hutchinson, KS - 60.20

Music Mom

2008-05-11T06:22:00.007-04:00

It's Mother's Day! The day when phone companies see their highest volume of calls in a year.

This blog is my Mom's fault. She loves music, and she insisted on piano lessons, developing an early habit that expanded to violin ... then to French Horn ... then Trumpet ... then back to French Horn. I didn't learn much Spanish, but I learned the international language of music.

Of course, being the oldest, I was the guinea pig, and I didn't turn out near as well as my siblings (although Mom, being Mom, will disagree, because all of her kids are above average!). Mom put up with my brother "choking the goose" as a saxophone player with a wicked sense of humor. He was drum major of his high school band {at a different school} for two years as well, but then gravitated toward visual arts and now earns his living as a wickedly funny high school photography teacher. Mom had one last chance at music with my sister, but being the youngest and being my sister, she chose visual arts instead, where she has developed her talents as an artist, a teacher, and also an active blogger!)

Mom loves hymns and musicals (especially the classics, The Sound of Music and Fiddler on the Roof). She loves the classics and singing as well. (Always singing!) I think I learned to like the classics because of Bugs Bunny (I mean, c'mon, the "Rabbit of Seville" or "What's Opera Doc"! or "Baton Bunny" or "Long Hared Hare" or "Rhapsody Rabbit" or even Tom & Jerry in "The Cat Concerto"!) but Mom encourage the habit as well. I remember listening to Peer Gynt's "In the Hall of the Mountain King" over and over again. And just about any excerpt from Georges Bizet's Carmen. And ... well, you get the point. (Thanks, Mom, for letting me watch quality TV!)

Music was a ticket to life experiences and lessons. Don't believe me? Try this ... what is the Preamble to the Constitution of the United States? If you know it, I bet you are singing it, just like I learned to sing all 50 states in alphabetical order and learned how to get a bill through Congress!

Mom's gift to me was the fun of music, even the "serious music." Music was her gift, and she shared it with everyone with whom she comes into contact. (She teaches English, too.) Aahhh, but there is something else, too.

Mom also has not only a gift for music, but she can be, well, punny. I inherited the sense of humor (such as it is, I am told). So, with great thanks and in tribute to Mom (who reads this blog, like any Mom would), and reflecting her sense of music and sense of humor, I will pass along this advice that she gave me. This advice I found to be something I could apply every day ... walking around the neighborhood ... on my commute ... and even (especially) dealing with others!

Are you ready? Okay, here we go:

"If you don't C#, then you may Bb."

Melting my defiant heart

2008-05-07T00:14:00.002-04:00

I've been in Texas twice during the last week. Going home, it hit me that this year is the 25th anniversary of my exit from high school into "advanced life". Probably like many, I wonder what happened to who, what went right, what part of that time was life-changing, and what could or should have gone differently. If this describes you, then I bet you also remember when you really (believed you) fell in love for the first time.

Me? It started at drum major camp at UT-Arlington in the summer of 1981. But it really took hold in football stadium on the outskirts of Dallas, Texas, on a hot July day - July 8th - in 1982. Wanna see her picture from back then?

Of course, she is still beautiful today, as you can see. (Click on the picture and you get video!)

Hey, here is what the theater where we met looks like today!

Funny how they all look better and I just look older. (The place has had substantial cosmetic surgery, though!)

Anyway, I remember the moment. I was sitting in the place, a rough around the edges drum major, watching the Madison Scouts go through a clinic (where I shamelessly swiped all the rehearsal ideas), when someone (I think it was a member of the corps, not the band) tapped me on the shoulder and handed me a piece of paper. Okay, it wasn't "a" piece of paper. It was a "libretto", whatever that meant.

I hung on to it for the moment, confused, until at 9:05 p.m. she walked out on the green stage and put on ... a show. Yeah, it was probably rusty. The score was 81.05. But she won the show, and my heart. And I still have the love note (which I think is what libretto means!) tucked safely away.

The music was "Spartacus", a 3 1/2 hour composition by Aram Khachaturian reduced to 11 1/2 minutes of sheer wonder. (Go here for 1982, and here for orchestration, and fall in love yourself.)

Oh, yes, there have been others since then. I dated someone else, had (and still have) a great long term relationship (and still flirt from time to time with others). But I have the love note still, along with the souvenir show program, and even the show flyer*.

I heard this year that she is playing our song again, and so I was hoping to meet my love here, but alas I learn than except for a brief appearance in Allentown, I am out of luck. But then I learned that the show is returning from Mesquite to Lake Highlands, and my first love will arrive there. If I'm really lucky, maybe I'll get to be there with her again on Thursday, July 17. If you're lucky (and smart), you can be there too.

* I have a program from every show ever attended. This one also records Emerald Knights (32.35), Colts (51.20), San Jose Raiders (61.20), Knights (62.45), and Madison Scouts (79.30). I also have the promotional flyer/poster - the 6th Annual; tickets $7 for center, $6 concert, $5 general admission; and two corps that never made it on stage, the Valiant Knights (Enid, OK) and Alamo Marksmen (San Antonio, TX). I always thought if the Alamo Marksmen had arrived, I would have run away with her instead ...

Act your age

2008-05-04T07:57:00.000-04:00

A shout out to my friend Greg Lowe, DCI Volunteer of the Year. Ever modest (okay, maybe not "ever", but in his reply to me he was) he pointed out that he is merely the 8th member of "Team Cream" to be a DCI Volunteer of the Year.
The 8th?! Let's see. Kevin Smith. Doug Madar. Carol Srdar. Teri Bell. Ray and Mary McCrary. Steve Tant. Wow! And I am honored to know them all. They have collectively poured years and tears into making Carolina Crown the success it is. They are wonderful ...

... adults.

Okay, some may act like kids - and from time to time be a bit childish. But really, overall, they are in it for the kids (although they will be the first to tell you they get a ton of reward from being involved, too). In the end, they grew up, they became adults, and they put their talents back in to not clinging fading memories of old experiences, but into creating new memories and better experiences for someone else.

They are ... adults.

They aren't trying to march one last year (something I still scratch my head over our friends at WGI doing). I remember fighting with some of them over the value of senior corps and alumni corps - something I think we put to rest when we adopted the Carolina Crown Mission Statement*. ("Hey, Madar, I've come to appreciate the place in the world for all-age corps, but what going on what I knew to be senior corps then, I always wondered this: Why don't the put their energy into paying it forward in a successful 'junior' corps?")

Anyway, I had promised to comment on the all age corps. And my comment really is the one above. There are some that I find are great outlets for kids who want to march but aren't able to put the time or money ... or need to develop the chops a bit more ... to march with one of the major league corps.

But a corps like what we saw on screen at the Countdown? Yeah, it warms the cockles of our hearts. But in the end, what is it really? Is it for us, or for them?

Congrats Greg! And Steve! And Ray! ... and Mary! ... and Teri! ... and Carol! ... and Doug! ... and Kevin! ... and the next ones to come!

* To develop lifelong excellence in young people through a superior and challenging performing arts education experience.

"Hey, I resemble that remark!"

2008-05-02T17:55:00.000-04:00

Visual Music/3D Sound!

2008-04-25T23:08:00.007-04:00

I went to see Blast! again tonight, this time at the Lyric Opera House in Baltimore. What a beautiful venue, and acoustically enhancing! Music - in 3D!

My bride got me (us!) wonderful tickets as a birthiversary gift, second row balcony, right on the 50 yard line to boot! The audience (especially the band kids behind me) was ready, and responded well! It was truly "drum corps indoors". The sound was (especially compared to what I heard last night) awesome!

What did I think about the show, especially since I saw it a month ago? Well, I am told Yogi Berra (see previous post) had a son who was one day asked if he was anything like his word mangling father. "No," he is alleged to have said, "our similarities are different."

Maybe like any drum corps show, this performance was better in a nuanced way, responsive to the differences in the venue. The audience's active feedback to brought more out the performers as the show progressed (especially since they opened as if they were a bit tired and just off the bus). It was the same, but it wasn't. It was ... better! It was a great way to end this month, and now we are six weeks from the start of the summer!

The sound - and the fury

2008-04-24T23:13:00.013-04:00

Before this blog was started I would e-mail a good friend my Review of various DCI events - both the shows on the field and the event itself. Last night I attended - with son #2 (trumpet player, 7th grader) and about 4 dozen others - The Countdown, DCI's cinema review/preview. The corps were pre-recorded, the order pre-set, and so the deal this time is the event itself.

The Countdown, featuring the fans' Top 5 of the previous three years, was in many senses a chance to see and hear what few of us saw live and most of us saw on the small screen in edited format. We sat with great anticipation - 6 great corps, wide screen, fabulous sound - a great way to watch drum corps!

Ugh. I called my good friend, who attended in another theater. "Was your sound bad?" "Yeah." "Ugh." So here we are with a chance to get people, including newbies (the guy behind me invited a date who has never seen drum corps) and high school band students, to really experience drum corps in a way only a live show can exceed, and ... the sound was just bad. A buzz. Front speakers only. So bad, even the picture didn't seem as crisp.

I take notes to expand my reviews. Rather than do that, here they are raw: "Bluecoats - Sounds flat." "Blue Devils - This is the movies, so why do we get analog TV technology?" "Cadets - No surrounding sound. " "Phantom Regiment - I get better sound in my car." Cavaliers - {No comment on sound; was mesmerized by design and my son observing something about the contras that I have never ever noticed! Check out their aussies ...} "Carolina Crown - 5.1 audio? Really?"

That last comment goes what Reliable Rondo. said about the (blu-ray?) DVD DCI is marketing "with Dolby 5.1!" If DVD buyers get Dolby 5.1, why didn't those of us in the theater?!

While my biggest disappointment is that there were no band kids in the audience (son #1 is with his band in Florida), when the sound in a professional theater is worse than what I heard at the "From the 50 Yard Line" screening, maybe that is a good thing.

Well, and something else. DCI ... so politically correct with itself ... in a show supposedly featuring the best of the best, the excitement of excitement, the event to sell tickets, ends with the Anaheim Kingsmen alumni corps, a throwback that means nothing to new fans. (Yeah, they have a role in the world, but not in the theater. I'll have to write about this later.)

It was not, as Carolina Crown's staff noted in describing the concept behind their 2008 show*, a powerful ending. The past few weeks have been fabulous experiences for me. It's a good thing that tomorrow I go see Blast! again. The Countdown was not the Fine' of a fine April.

* It's not on their website, but the open secret is what I think is setting up to be a Triple Crown topper they are calling Fine'. I - cannot - wait!

It's enough to make a grown man cry

2008-04-19T09:51:00.010-04:00

Marching music has a few standard descriptors used for the uninitiated (or unconverted!), one being "Broadway on a Football Field." Last night we again scurried up to NJ - four of us on this trip - to snag a train into The City that Never Sleeps to see Phantom of the Opera at its home for 20+ years, the Majestic Theater on Broadway. (No football fields in sight, unless you count my glimpse of the Meadowlands in the distance!)

Phantom has been featured many times on a football field, from Santa Clara Vanguard in 1988 to Severna Park HS in 2008 (see photo far upper right). But occasionally we band geeks need to go back to the source of the inspiration. And I was, well, inspired!

First, Howard McGillin, the Phantom ... ohhhh, my. What -- a -- voice. He made this grown man cry. (Our group had a little connection to the cast, as the current Christine went to school with one of our directors.)

Second, when constrained by an 9 to 11 minute time limit in a show, some music gets left on the design room floor. We band geeks forget that other music is supercool ... I appreciated again Notes/Prima Donna, and on the train home wondered how that sound and music (especially with the 6/8 feel) could be conveyed on the football field.

Third, while shows I've first seen or music I've first heard on the football field (far too many to list) have sent me to the original, there is a reason to return from the familiar to see and hear the original compositions as they were meant to be performed. The visual effects were dynamic! We forget that while our stage is, in essence, a 110 x 55 yard canvas, the limitations of the theater require a lot of creativity as well.

But, really, what struck me was a question asked of a few of the cast members our group was fortunate enough to have some Q&A time with after the show (arranged via our cast connection and a contribution to Broadway Cares). Some of the cast have been in the show almost as long as the kids have been alive, you see; and even those who haven't are still performing the show night after night after night. It was asked, "How do you keep it fresh, night after night, year after year?"

These weren't the exact words, but this is what I remember: "Sometimes it is like a job, and you wake up and you think, I really don't want to do this again tonight. But then you remember that someone in the audience has never seen this before, and someone else may have seen it 12 times. You have to give them what they came for, what they are paying for - a performance, from you. They are giving you something, and you give back. It's all about the performance."

Last fall I told my son, "You guys are hitting the notes, and hitting the sets, but you are not yet performing." I hope, after last night, he "got" what I've been saying. Perform! And one day it will hit you just how utterly cool it is that someone is going to want to actually give you money to perform what you absolutely love to do, day in and day out, for 20 or 30 or 40 years.

Whether it is music or not, when Dads can help sons learn that, well ... it's enough to make a grown man cry.

Review: "From the 50 Yard Line" puts you in the middle of the field of effort and emotion

2008-04-13T22:15:00.015-04:00

About 10 years ago I heard a rumor about a movie concept that centered around a kid who had to overcome some adversity or another to perform with drum corps, specifically the now-defunct Magic of Orlando, something probably given a bit of legs given the connection between DCI, Disney and Orlando. I don't know if it was just that - a rumor - or if it was the early rumblings of what would become "DrumLine."

That movie was okay. But in reality, while the passion for band and drum & bugle corps and winter guard is individual, its source is a group-driven energy, from being part of something greater than one's self. The group itself matters, something that is hard to explain in film, a medium given to focusing on a individual characters.

All that to say this - today my oldest and I scurried up to NJ to screen "From the 50 Yard Line" (see a few posts below), the latest attempt in telling the story. And to my surprise - they get it right. Wait. Right? No. They get it dead on.

The Centerville (OH) HS Band is the focus of the documentary-that-is-really-a-movie, although it also touches on the West Hollywood (CA) Fairfax High School, a "new" band in a school that hasn't had one in 18 years. The story is a simple year (April 2006 to April 2007) in the life of the band, one that captures all of the things I have seen and experienced in band.

Joy. Tears. Work. Life-saving. Life-enhancing. It is every cliche' in the band book, but none of them. It tells the story to those who don't know it. It affirms it for those who only experience it from the outside looking in. And it validates it for those that live it. You know, the kids who ... and the kid who ... and then there is the kid who ... all come together to be ... a band.

From auditions, to band camp, to group sessions, to rehearsals, to rain, to sun, to personal confessions, to the airlock, to the speech, to the banquet ... with third party humor thrown in (Bandology 101, 201 ...) ... the story captures one band and every band. It was immensely personal to me - the trumpet-to-mellophone conversion made me grin large, and then one student makes a short speech that pulled my heart hard because it was ripped right out of my son's band during his freshman year.

"From the 50 Yard Line" celebrates band, its relationship with football, and just plain fun. It lets the kids tell the story in a Charlie Brown-esqe fashion, with only appropriate interference from the teachers and with parents vital yet all but invisible. It shows the "show" like I think a good band movie should (and I think uses some digital tricks to enhance the viewing experience - see if you can find them). It uses modern camera techniques ("the band cam") but doesn't overplay them. The trailer soundtrack bothered me because I never heard the band itself, but now I have to say that the soundtrack was very fitting AND moved the story along.

The film is about 90 minutes long, and it is tight packed. If I had a one complaint, it is that I wish it would have done more of the compare/contrast with Fairfax. But this is a soft and pretty much personal complaint (my own North Dallas HS was similar in size and demographics and history of famous alumni); it would have been difficult to do this without shortchanging the story of each.

So - go find it, and go see it. I'm going to try to get more screenings set up even here. I wish today's good host, the Williamstown (NJ) HS band, had been able to fill the 1000 seats of the auditorium instead of just a few dozen. I think they tried, but needed more band support in the area.

But hey! Band camp is just a few months away ... less time then that when you take out two months for summer. Find a chance to screen the film for your band. Include the 8th graders. And do it before band camp (or so my son says).

Oh - and Mr. Harris - thanks for helping change my life ...

(Blogger's note: I visited Centerville a number of years ago when a tour volunteer for Carolina Crown, however I don't recall much other than Soaring Sounds being a well run drum corps show in a great venue. However, the fine two organizations are now linked through CrownTickets!)

The photo below ...

2008-04-10T21:26:00.008-04:00

... was taken at Carolina Crown's NightBEAT (home) show toward the end of its first season (1990). While the "crown" outline regularly sneaks into the drill, this was the only time the horn blast tarp was ever used.

Crowning Achievement

2008-04-09T22:01:00.005-04:00

This is a long story and blogs don't do well for long stories. (You can read that here.) But in 1990 a small group of people passionate about drum corps let me join them in what was then a two year old quest toward the start up of a dream: the Carolina Crown Drum & Bugle Corps.

The geek I am, I had written the business plan (as an MBA project, the first time a non-profit had been selected as the subject in the history of that entrepreneurship class) a few years before. They, of course, had lived it, or in some cases just loved it wholeheartedly. And so like any organization, we set off on the journey.

There are innumerable stories of what brought us together, of what sometimes tore us apart, of new people coming in for life or for just the right brief moment, but ultimately this organization gave us all a chance to share a passion with kids and then audiences throughout the country.

We worked hard with no material return. We worked for the kids, and I am sure deep down for the satisfaction of being able to one day stand up and say, "We created that." No, not the shows themselves, or the music - those were vehicles. We created an organization and programs that soon found its way into a few words ...

To develop lifelong excellence in young people through a superior and challenging performing arts education experience.

That "one day" is, I believe, finally here.

On April 24 in theaters across the country, DCI will feature a Countdown of the six recent fan favorites. On this night, Carolina Crown will reach a pinnacle: It will be the final corps shown, the #1 fan favorite in the years 2005-2007.

A former board officer, I haven't been heavily involved in the corps since 2000. But on that night I imagine I am going to be like a proud Dad, because I helped give birth to the best. Aside from my own kids - but including my own career - this always will be one of my proudest achievements.

And you need to see it. Follow the link below.

From the 50 .... You Can Still March 4 Music

2008-04-04T21:45:00.005-04:00

If you've seen the website www.march4music.com you know it is the home of the self-titled National Fundraising and Awareness Outreach Program for Instrumental Music Education in Schools. Never heard of it.

However, the website seems to me to be part social networking for bands and part promotion for the film From the 50 Yard Line. (Click on the poster for the trailer or the title to go to the site.) I hit the site earlier in the year, but didn't sign up for e-mail alerts, so I missed the film when it came to Maryland ... meaning I may have to venture up to New Jersey next week.

A previous press release noted that the New Jersey screening is of "a professional movie that chronicles the Centerville High School Marching Band. It has been winning independent film festivals throughout the country for the past year. This will be a great opportunity to educate students, parents, and administration as to what marching band is really about and how important it is to our young people. Half of the proceeds will be donated to an organization called"March 4 Music, a non-profit organization that donates musical instruments to underfunded music programs. "

So there it is, in their words. I don't know much more, and so I'll leave it at that. Maybe I'll make this month the get ready for marching season month and go check it out ... or maybe bring it back to Maryland just in time for band camp ...

Sunday, April 13, it will show at Williamstown (NJ) HS at 3 p.m. Tickets are $6.50 ($5.50 for students), with half going to M4M and half to the school instrumental music program. WHS is at 700 North Tuckahoe Road, Williamstown, NJ.

Maybe I'll see you all there ... or on April 24 in another theater for the DCI theater event ... or some other 50 yard line seat ...!

What a Blast!

2008-03-19T20:07:00.001-04:00

Last night I went up to New Jersey to catch Blast! along with my son's band. And a Blast! it was!

This was his first live viewing of Blast!, although I reminded my son that he did get to see this show in its earliest incarnation, "An Evening of Brass Theatre", when the show came to North Carolina on July 4, 1994. Of course, he wasn't even 2 years old ...

Blast! is a theater event, and so it is helpful to remember that although the cast and interpretation changes, much like any other Broadway show, the storyline remains essentially unchanged. This cast seems to be less mature than previous, or at least less experienced. I am eager to see the what happens over the next five weeks before they come to Baltimore. However, accustomed as we may be to seeing a different show every year in band and drum corps, or a different Cirque du Soleil event, Blast! has tinkered very little with the script.

The "Bolero" opener and the "Malaguena" closer are perfect ways to ease in to the show and to end with a splash, particular a splash of red! (Although others may associate this music with the Madison Scouts, I always go back to my favorite show of the Boston Crusaders, 2000's Red.) There was colorful (a blast of color!) interplay with the guard/visual ensemble, particularly in the second act, which brought them out more.

"Appalachian Spring" is a classic, and creatively presented with the guard-as-musicians. But the kids really loved "Battery Battle", a percussive talent war! I will say that one of the - drummers? - put a new meaning to playing by ear, and their mistakes/drops were well covered to the point you wondered, "Was that a real mistake, or a fake mistake?"

The use of blacklight for the percussion and guard really highlighted the precision and skill in using the "equipment". This is so very hard to convey on the football field stage.

If I had a criticism, it was the way that "Medea" - a violent piece of music if there every was one - is not being interpreted terribly differently from its 1993 introduction on the football field. What was innovative then seems rather plain now. Also, at times, the percussion in it's "Marimba Spiritual" seemed to be ripping from "Stomp". Perhaps my familiarity and wanting to see something different is what drives this feeling; the audience's familiarity with "Stomp" did not leave them feeling the same way, however. (I told the band's percussion instructor I thought it was too long; he said it wasn't long enough!)

What really stood out, and I hope the kids take from this, is the thrill of performance, not just playing the notes, or doing the spins. It is that chasm between playing the music you know and performing the music you feel that few players see, much less jump.

A quick comment on the venue. Billed as the Commerce Bank Arts Center, it is really a high school auditorium. On steroids. Wonderful acoustics, plush and plentiful seating with a nice sight line! We band parents were completely amazed and wondered what the return on investment is. I think this was public money well spent.

Oh, and one last thing - there are a lot of drum corps people have helped make Blast! what it is. But to me there is always one guy with the original vision, the guy who put his money where his idea was, hired great people, and got out of the way. Because he never forgot this was for the kids, because he is the easiest guy to sit next to in the stands, because he is passionate about his passions (whether drum corps or Blast!, the town of Bloomington or a catamaran, his family or "his kids") ... Bill Cook ... thank you!

Band IS Advanced Placement

2008-03-09T19:42:00.002-04:00

About this time of year, especially here at home, thoughts turn to the coming of spring, and the coming of fall. Spring because it has been COLD; fall because it is time to sign up for next year's classes.

I don't have empirical evidence, but I believe that most kids drop out of music (band and orchestra) during the transition between school buildings, from the elementary to the middle to the high school. There are a variety of reasons - peer pressure, music isn't cool, loss of interest, and around this community athletics and grades.

I can write paragraphs (and maybe will in the future) on the athleticism of marching music (T-shirt #1: "If football were harder, it would be band") and winter guard (T-shirt #2 - "If cheerleading was harder, it would be color guard.") But this is about the academics of band.

The pressure is strong for taking honors and advanced placement classes. "We have to give the kids a leg up academically." "Middle school is practice, but high school counts" (as I have reminded my high schooler, well, countless times). Math. Science. English. Social Studies. But art? Music? There are no AP classes there! (Caveat: My oldest son is fortunate to be in a school where they do have AP Music Theory.)

I have been playing a small role in connecting the middle school to the high school, trying to retain kids in the band program. Half will drop out. Maybe more. We focus on the fun, the challenge, the friends - kids talking to kids. But here's a message for the adults: Band IS Advanced Placement, and you know it, especially if you were a beneficiary of band, as I was.

Advanced Placement teamwork. Advanced Placement talent cultivation. Advanced Placement governance and social structures. Advanced Placement math and geometry. (Yes, music is math, and so is marching!) Advanced Placement goal setting and goal reaching.

High school honors and advanced placement get you into college, maybe a good one. A good college and gets you into your first job or graduate school. All of that is important. But ... after that ... it's about teamwork. Talent cultivation. Personal discipline. Getting along in a governance and social structure. Setting and reaching goals.

We know band students do better on the SATs and ACTs. But that's not the total story. Band will place you somewhere totally unrelated to music.

In his book ReImagine!: Business Excellence in a Disruptive Age (page 280), Tom Peters quoted John Merrow in USA Today: "What actually correlates with success are not grades, but 'engagement' - genuine involvement in courses and campus activities. Engagement leads to 'deep learning.'" Tom himself wrote (page 278) - or rather, ranted - this: "Budget crunch? First programs to be cut? Art and Music. I say ... the h*** with the math budget. (I really don't mean that.) Let's enhance the art budget and inflate the music budget. Training in Creativity is important, in general. But it is absolutely essential in this Age of Intangibles & Intellectual Capital."

I am curious ... among the leaders of our country, how many were in a disciplined music program? How does that compare to the overall population? I don't know, but I'd bet we will find out something ... that Band IS Advanced Placement.

P.S. As I write this - my oldest is somewhere reading a movie, my second is practicing juggling, my third practicing his saxophone, and my fourth is drawing and coloring picture after picture of airplanes. And I'm happy to say that on the TV is channel 690 - Cinema (Soundtracks!).

Marching Music's Major League - a video critique

2008-03-05T19:32:00.007-05:00

Yesterday Drum Corps International released a new promotional video. If you haven't seen it, click on the logo below. Go on. I'll wait!

Look, it's so very hard for me to be critical of any effort to spread the word about drum corps. But as a former DCI Marketing Committee member, a former president of a drum corps' board (and former member of a world champion corps' board) and someone who has helped promote shows, I guess I can comment on this as someone who is more than a fan.

DCI says, "The spot is designed to inform prospective fans, sponsors and members of the media about DCI’s far-reaching artistic, educational and organizational influence as it continues to emerge as an international brand of highly-skilled musicians and performers."

I say ... This doesn't do it.

For the person who is a casual or curious fan, who wants to know what drum corps is before spending bucks on tickets, we are a media, sponsorship, website ... the kids? Where do they come from? How old are they? Where are the corps from? What are their styles? What can I expect to see? to hear?

For the media, read above. Does this really tell what drum corps is? No. It doesn't help me write a feature story about the corps coming to my town (because as a show promoter, that is the ticket-selling PR we want, not a post-show write up!).

This video is targeted at the corporate types who have marketing and sponsorship dollars to spend. Dollars we covet. And that's not bad. But the video is far from informational, or even "promotional". It is all about business development.

Now, that is okay, but here are some problems that came to mind.

What the heck is "Marching Music's Major League"? Why isn't that logo (used above) used throughout, complete with color? Color is cheap when you are using digital images; it only gets expensive when you start to use ink. (And besides, when you see the logo, does anyone else out there immediately think MLB or NBA, not DCI?) If you are going to have a brand image, for pete's sake, have a brand image!

And the musical score to the video. You would think it would be all about showcasing Marching Music's Major League. But does not. Nope. The only time you hear a drum corps is from about 1:50 to 2:00 in the video - :10 ... 2.5%! ... of the 6:30. And who is it? Not to dis' them, but the 1975 Troopers!

It could have been the 1975 Madison Scouts (champions), or Blue Devils. The video and style is 30+ years old, precisely the image DCI should be trying to NOT portray.

Why can't we use the actual corps' music? (You can get copyright clearance, even for website impressions.) The sound of the brass, the drive of the percussion, the product itself!

Maybe the show promoters can use this as well, but there is a lot in there that is DCI that is not about the local shows. It is the big picture, and only somewhat helpful on the little picture side. Maybe some re-editing for their use would help. But even then, I don't know if it is enough, or if it can be enough ... or even if it should be the intent.

Drum corps is a hard sell. The saying is, "For those who don't understand, no explanation is possible. For those that do, none is necessary." If this is an effort to close the gap, I'm afraid it doesn't succeed.

March 2nd

2008-03-02T17:00:00.004-05:00

Or, as I call it,
TEXAS INDEPENDENCE DAY !!

The book "American Band" (have you read it yet?) may have been about a band from Indiana (home to Bands of America and DCI, I know - my darling beloved is a Hoosier!) but Texas is where band is celebrated! Texas Monthly has done wonderful stories about bands, a Texas band is the current Bands of America Champion (see two posts back), Texas is where I fell in love with band and drum corps, and Texas is where - like a lot of people across the ages - a drum corps scrawled "GTT"* on the door post and is seeking out new and better days. (Will they make it? We don't know. But they will try!)

Band are big! Bandmasters are big! Stadiums are big! Crowds are big!

Although I haven't lived there in nearly 20 years, "You can take the boy out of Texas, but you can't take the Texas out of the boy!"

* GTT ... Gone to Texas!

Leap Day!

2008-02-29T14:01:00.003-05:00

A day that occurs once every four years is too sweet a chance to not write! Sitting in my office, I notice that the sun is up later and later, and that means spring is near ... and summer is close!

Marching music goes on, though! Corps are in full rehearsal mode, winter guards and percussion lines are gearing up for their own version of March Madness before the the winter guard and percussion April championship events in Dayton arrive. And high school band directors are counting heads now and planning the next fall production.

I hope to be lucky enough to see Blast! twice, once in mid-March with my son's band on a field trip, and again in late April with my darling beloved, who bought a pair of tickets for my/our Valenbirthiversary! Either way, I'm goin' to the show! You should, too! In fact, that is going to be an exciting week, as that Thursday will be what I call the "DCI Movie".

Hey, lot's of reasons to leap!

"Anyone can cook!" (more thoughts on talents)

2008-02-23T11:06:00.013-05:00

L.D. Bell HS (Hurst, TX) won the 2007 Bands of America Grand National Championship. In reading the items below on their website, it’s evident how. But this goes beyond band into our everyday work. I’ve commented {accordingly} , starting with this clear "mission" statement:

AT LEAST ONE HALF HOUR PER DAY MUST BE DEDICATED TO INDIVIDUAL IMPROVEMENT.

{Wow. How many of us devote one half hour today to individual improvement in whatever we do? And notice the word most musicians hate was not used - "practice"!}

Start by taking your instrument out of the case and place it where you will be inclined to pick it up and play. {Ouch. That confronts the basic obstacle head on. You've heard it before, right? "Out of sight, out of mind." Absolutely true. Do we exercise if we hide the machine where we are not likely to see it?}

Students {aren't we all?!} need their:
• Instrument, Metronome, Tuner (w/clip), stand, and a space that is distraction-free. {The right tools and equipment in the right place. Without these elements, it won't be that you are not mentally ready. You won't be physically ready, either.}
• Warm Up Sequence (w/metronome), Breathing, Starts, Tone, Endings, Flexibility, Technique, etc. {The simple things. The basic things. The fundamental things. You do it over and over again. Why? To remind yourself what it takes.}
• Foundations Exercises, Range Extension Exercises. {More than a once-over re-hash. A review of the basic skills and more that are needed for what comes next.}
• Preparation for you weekly playoff. {A weekly measure of actual performance, not just “practice.” How are you doing today?}
• Prepare sections of etudes from your All State Music. {Work on your reach goal. You may not make All State, but it seems to me that the directors take the position of Auguste Gusteau to the student’s Remy in Disney-Pixar's Ratatouille, “Anyone can cook!”}

Stewardship of Talents

2008-02-20T19:04:00.004-05:00

For several weeks at the beginning of the year my pastor has delivered sermons on stewardship. Now, before you think this a few hour long lectures on money and how we need to “give and give more” to the church, this is not what he was talking about. Well, not entirely.

Stewardship, he says, is managing someone else’s assets. In the Bible there is the parable of the talents. “Talents” was the currency of the day, but there is the modern definition as well – a talent that you have.

But more than something you have a talent is your gift to the world, a thing you do. We have a talent for writing, for stories, for composing … for … everything! And I believe, as a popular radio host says, that we have “Talent, on loan from God”.

You may or may not believe in God the way I do. But I believe He has given you a talent … sometimes innate, sometimes uncovered. Talent seems to come naturally to some (such as my wife, who was born to be a nurse). For others it is pure work. But when you find it, it has to be managed, and often our number one talent manager is ourselves.

I’ve been fortunate to know a lot of talents in my marching music life. Scotty Sells with Carolina Thunder. Kevin Ford with Tarpon Springs HS, Carolina Crown (Stormworks, Chess) and Boston (1999’s Red). I’ve seen the creative talent in the abstract forms of George Zingali, and the geometric forms of Steve Brubaker (two who have left us). I’ve played (and enjoyed) Jay Bocook music, and have been intimidated when playing attempting to play a French Horn sitting next to his wife in a church orchestra in South Carolina. (I once told her that scripture says to "make a joyful noise", and not much about it being in tune!)

Are there others? How much time do you have ... I've also been around some great talents in my work life, my "political" life, and any other "life" I have had the privilege to experience.

Today is a reflective day for me - where I've been, where I'm going, and how I have used and cultivated the talents that I have been loaned from God. Am I being a good steward of the assets and gifts God has given me, and that others have given me through His providence.

Thank you to the talents around me. I hope I live up to what you have given me! And I hope in some way I've given you something in return.

Ensembles

2008-02-07T19:39:00.000-05:00

This past Saturday I attended (selfishly - my son was in it!) the all-county high school band concert. It was great to hear these kids, especially since they have had so little time to come together and put together a great concert!

Sunday the New York Giants, a little bit longer at work as an ensemble, but together an improbable win in the Super Bowl. So much so that two members of the losing team backed out of the "ensemble" Pro Bowl. (And by the way, Niner Noise was invited to perform at the Pro Bowl.)

In my line of work, physicians tend to work in "groups". And group is probably the right word. Trained as individualists, they have a hard time becoming a "group." (When I interviewed for the job here in Maryland, the first question I asked was, "Are you a group, or a bunch of doctors practicing together?") But now, the more I think about this, even the word group is inadequate.

Dictionary.com defines a Group "as any collection or assemblage of persons or things; a number of persons or things ranged or considerd together as being related in some way." An Ensemble, on the other hand, is defined as "all the parts of a thing taken together, so that each part is considered only in relation to the whole."

Sometimes we say we want to be soloists, or mavericks. Or we want to be part of a team, or a group. But looking at what successful groups are, they are ensembles. Tom Peters talks about teams that come together to work on a project, each member bringing a talent, and then disbanding until they get into another project, perhaps with or without the same players.

I'm going back to music for inspiration at work, and not just playing motivational soundtracks. I'm going to look for a role to play in an ensemble.

No sound and pictures with this post

2008-01-31T19:50:00.000-05:00

That deaf, dumb and blind kid
Sure plays a mean pinball
- The Who, Pinball Wizard

This past week I've spent recovering from the wonderful flu bug I picked up during my trip to Tampa. I just wanted to close my eyes. I just wanted to shut my ears.

Unless you're a bot, you're a human, and as a human likely blessed with all five senses, you have probably asked yourself, "Would I rather be deaf, or blind?" Marching music - the with storyboard and soundtracks noted before - how do you choose?

Band and drum corps has opened my ears to all types of music I would not have listened to before, and composers I've never heard of, sending me to the record store in search of "the original" hours after hearing it on the field (Star of Indiana, 1993). My iTunes has some drum corps on it, but if you count the originals, probably more than even I expect.

With ears only I can hear my kids, talk to them, really listen (do we all really listen?), and listen to any future grand kids as they come careening toward me wanting to celebrate, as my youngest puts it, "Hop on Pop Week!"

With my eyes, however, I can see the music that I may or may not know. I may not be able to hear it, but I will feel it in the pulses and rhythms, see it in the kids faces as they suddenly discover the difference between playing and performing, and witness the silent victory at the end of the show of their lives.

Of course, then there was NightBEAT, Charlotte, North Carolina, 1999, after intermission. Carolina Crown. Santa Clara Vanguard. Blue Devils. The Cadets. The performance of a lifetime for one. 98.0, 98.1 and 98.2 for the other three. The memory of the sights and sounds of that night ...

... still render me speechless.

Rules Are Made to Be … ReWritten

2008-01-24T17:45:00.000-05:00

Yeah, I'm a rebel.

This weekend I’m heading to a work related conference in Tampa, but there is another conference going on 80 miles away in Orlando that could be just as ... ok, more ... fun! DCI is considering 12 rules changes, which you can read about here. Most are proposed George Hopkins, the quiet and unassuming director of the Cadets.

Riight. George Hopkins is a lightening rod, the man “traditionalist” love to hate. And I hate as well … hate to admit that he has challenged me to challenge tradition. Hoppy can be agitating for agitation sake. He’s hard to figure, even up close, where I have seen him. But he is a very, very bright guy, reading and thinking at levels that I would like to reach. (Hey, George, you can send the check to me later.)

Hoppy has proposed new rules on amplification, on using water as an effect, on changing judges. Hoppy may not win this time, but it seems that over time he manages to drag drum corps into the future, kicking and screaming all the way. (Which, when the fans see what happens, usually results in waving and screaming!)

Back in the late 1980s drum corps brass was two piston bugles pitched to G. Slowly a third piston was added (more notes), and then “conventional” brass was adopted. All of these events were to mark the end of drum corps. In fact, I was one of those that said “Keep 2 Pistons”, even though I had never played one myself! But I was wrong.

Sometimes I want to be the Hoppy of my profession. Well, a bit of Hoppy, and a bit of Tom Peters! I’m not sure I ever will get there. But at least I have a target, albeit a moving one!

Yogi Knows Marching Music

2008-01-23T19:15:00.000-05:00

I quoted Yogi Berra in the post just before this one. Here are more gems:

· "You can observe a lot just by watching."
· "Think! How are you gonna think and (march) at the same time?"
· "You've got to be very careful if you don't know where you're going, because you might not get there."
· "If you don't know where you are going, you will wind up somewhere else."
· "If you can't imitate him, don't copy him."
· "It gets late early out there." -- Referring to the bad sun conditions at the stadium.
· "Do you mean now?" -- When asked for the time.
· "You give 100 percent in the first half of the (show), and if that isn't enough in the second half you give what's left."
· "I made a wrong mistake."
· "Yeah, but we're making great time!" -- In reply to "Hey Yogi, I think we're lost."
· "If the fans don't come out to the (stadium), you can't stop them."
· "Why buy good luggage? You only use it when you travel."
· "It's never happened in the competition, and it still hasn't."
· "I'd say he's done more than that." -- When asked if a player had exceeded expectations for the current season.
· "The other (bands) could make trouble for us if they win."
· "It ain't the heat; it's the humility."
· "The towels were so thick there I could hardly close my suitcase."

· "I didn't really say everything I said."

And my favorite ... "I'm smarter than the average bear!"

(OK - that's the other Yogi. And besides, what I've been heard to say around the house is "I'm smarter than the average bear. Not as smart as the above average bear, but smarter than the average bear.")

Storyboards & Soundtracks

2008-01-22T18:04:00.000-05:00

I've been on a posting tear now - three in a row - maybe because it's final exam season and I'm pretending my boys are reading this for inspiration. (1)

I got to thinking that besides sheer physical volume (see 7Ps below) of practice, there also is the mental preparation side of practice, which brings me to this topic.

Storyboards … Watching “Shrek The Third” with the family the other night, we took in the "deleted scenes" DVD feature. This was different from other delete scenes features, however, it that there were three camera shots on the screen – the shot on top featured each storyboard, with the bottom left showing the person telling the story and the bottom right showing the audience.

I could not help but wonder how many marching bands “storyboard” their show. I don't mean just computer music playing to the to the computer drill, but an actual storyboard of the visuals. Then I got to thinking, how many people storyboard important events? Weddings? Important presentations (and I don't mean just PowerPoint!)?

Storyboarding can take place in your mind, but maybe we should all use paper, not computers, and storyboard ... whatever needs to be storyboarded. Paper is cool and can be recycled. It can be dug out of the trash. It can be marked up. My paper of choice is in several sizes, but about two years ago I ditched the typical legal pad for grid/graph paper. Click here for some other cool tools.

Soundtracks … I chose the name Soundtracker because originally I was going to write about probably my favorite “type” of music, movie soundtracks. (Or, as they say in the business, "film scores.") Some soundtracks are original music, some are adapted from familiar themes, and some are old hits in a new form.

But without music, TV and movies can never be “best pictures”. Music sets the tone. Think about it – we hear a song, and picturesque memories or fantasies come to life.

My Mom told me I learned to like classical music from Loony Tunes. (Hmmm. Maybe my Mom was saying that I was looney tunes ...?) I mean, who can forget Bugs Bunny and "The Rabbit (Barber) of Seville"!

I’ve told people in the past that there is nothing more to be said in the world, that we can just sing our way though conversations. (It certainly would make peace talks more interesting!)

Tony singing “Maria” in "West Side Story" – pretty romantic, guys, no matter how you propose! (We used “One Hand One Heart” in our wedding. And "Sunrise Sunset" from "Fiddler on the Roof", come to think of it. And ... well, I'll quit with that.)

So ANYWAY, this is I think why I have the passion for marching band. Visual storyboards, told purely with a soundtrack.

Storyboards. Soundtracks. As the great Yogi Berra (not Yogi Bear, but he's great too ... see the storyboard!) said, “Ninety percent of this game is half mental.” (Yogi said a lot of other things that are allegedly about baseball. More on that later.)

(1) Finals have been going on for the past week. Studying? Hmmm.

Killer Giants

2008-01-21T06:56:00.000-05:00

(Saturday Night Lights: A Father's Notes on Excellence)

I love football. But for me*, marching band was the only way I was ever going to get to perform on my field of dreams.

Growing up in San Antonio and Dallas, my team was America's Team, the Dallas Cowboys. What a season they had ... right up to late November. Then, inexplicably, they quit.

I've seen bands do that. They get confident in their show, and so they quit trying to be better. They stop practicing, at least mentally (which makes getting out on the practice field pointless). Then they wonder why the lost the show, or "scored 82 when, man, the show as waaay better than Band X!", which, of course, is the band that didn't quit practicing, getting just that much better, and then showed up, reached down, and performed every single time they took the field, whether practice, halftime, or a contest.

So now it's the Perfect Machine vs. the Persistent Manning. It pains me to say this, but they are NFC and NFC East at that. I'm pulling for the Giants. (But never the Redskins, even if they do have a marching band!)

Besides, even big brothers need to pull for little brothers from time to time!

* You know that movie, "My Big Fat Greek Wedding"? I tell my wife her movie was "My Little Skinny Geek Wedding"!

P.S. Congrats to my neighbor, who made the soprano (oops - trumpet!) line of Jersey Surf!

7Ps

2008-01-19T11:00:00.000-05:00

The 7Ps are Proper Prior Planning Prevents Pitifully Poor Performance. Or at least they used to be. Reading "Complications: A Surgeon's Notes on the Imperfect Science" (by Atul Gawande, MD, who also wrote an exceptional book entitled "Better: A Surgeon's Notes on Performance"), I came across this item, which may explain a lot about the difference between great bands and merely good ones:

"There have now been many studies of elite performers - international violinists, chess grand masters, professional ice-skaters, mathematicians, and so forth - and the biggest difference researchers find between them and lesser performers is the cumulative amount of deliberate practice they've had. Indeed, the most important talent may the the talent for practice itself.... in one's willingness to engage in sustained training.... (T)op performers dislike practicing just as much as others do.... But more than others, they have the will to keep at it anyway."

But what about elite ensembles?

"Practice, it turned out, did not necessarily make perfect. Whether it did, the researchers found, depended on how the surgeons and their teams practiced." He goes on to note how the fast-learning surgical teams were those that had worked well previously, that stayed together as a team for a number of cases until new team members were added, that did a dry run before the first case, and that debriefed after each case.

This explains why some marching bands are better competitors with average musicians than those with superior musicians.

Seems like the New 7Ps are Prepare Practice Practice Practice Practice Practice Perform.

(So practice, boys. Horns and Trumpets and Saxophones. Statistics. Drawing. Football. Fencing? Baseball? Whatever you choose. Practice. For the rest of your life. Practice - unrelentingly practice what you love.)

Pro Football Bands -- part 2

2008-01-02T21:30:00.000-05:00

Second of January. Second post on being ready for football - which as far as the BCS goes, I am not. (Seeing some of the bands was interesting, but college bands and high school bands are genres apart. But I digress ...)

In addition to NFL Bands, there are NFL Drum Lines! Well, drum line - the Niners Noise, of the San Francisco 49ers.

If you haven't ever seen an indoor drumline, the find a chance nearby and go! It is loud, raucous, and, yes, musical! A few years ago I was lucky enough to be the founding President (and better still, the "namer") of the Carolina Thunder Percussion Ensemble, which placed in the finals of the WGI Indoor Percussion contest each year it existed. I'm a brass guy - in fact, I've often dreamed about a"brass corps" or mini-marching band doing halftime at basketball games - but the creativity I saw each year was astounding. An even smaller field, yet a lot of cool stuff.

With 31 other NFL cities (29 minus the ones with bands), maybe this drum line idea will catch on in time for the 2008 season?! Hey, Cowboys - the cheerleaders are great, the new stadium will be fantastic, but let's add to the excitement!

Are you ready for some football?

2008-01-01T13:43:00.000-05:00

I am spending this last day of vacation not so much watching football so much as listening to some interesting "classical" compositions by some interesting non-classical "composers" ... Billy Joel (Fantasies & Delusions: Music for Solo Piano) and Paul McCartney (Ecce Cor Meum, translated Behold My Heart). McCartney's composition would make for an interesting show concept.

Speaking of football, did you know at least two NFL teams have bands? It pains me to compliment the Washington Redskins, but I will "hail" them for their band. (Hey, you! Trumpet on the left! Ditch the shades and get your horn up!!)

Then, just to the north, is the Baltimore Ravens Marching Band.

In case you care, I took on the handle Soundtracker because I've said from time to time that my life is just one long soundtrack under all of the pictures. As you can see, I like music and pictures (and maybe that's why I'm partial to soundtracks)! So this year amidst other thoughts I will post some show concepts in case a bored and desperate band director stumbles across this site. Essentially, these are soundtracks to a mini-life of a marching band show, but sometimes there will be other ideas within.

I'll try to give visual thoughts as well. I have some things to say about judging. I'll talk about performance and strategy (yup, because it all ties together).

Come to think of it, the sun is shining. I'm ready for some football ... off to the park we go!

This One Year, After Band Camp ...

2007-12-30T15:36:00.000-05:00

I fell in love with this activity during this one time, at band camp! Well, drum major camp. OK, well, after camp. It was at camp that I saw something about this drum corps show near my home (link), and went. I was thoroughly captivated.

By the small and energetic Emerald Knights. By the color of the San Jose Raiders, with that red rose on the uniform (this is waaaay back, when there were just a drum and bugle corps, not a winter gurad!). By the Colts, who didn’t forget the audience that night (and who in the audience would ever forget Harpo!)

And the Madison Scouts, who modeled precision and taught me in a brief pre-show clinic how to teach others to march and gave me a great taste of Strawberry Soup! Then there was the Phantom Regiment, who re-introduced me to my mother’s passion of the classics, with Spartacus (to be reprised in 2008!).

Even in my little high school band, I was inspired to make a difference, to apply the lessons, to learn how to push myself.

In college I wasn’t in band, but I was lucky – the state championships were held at none other than the stadium right on campus at the University of Texas at Austin. And so I still learned.

In graduate school, I took a class on starting a business. I broke a rule. My business was a non-profit, a drum and bugle corps. I studied all the successes and failures, and then made a few more of my own, luckily on paper.

Then in Raleigh, North Carolina, a hand scrawled flyer got in my hands, letting me know about a few other people in Charlotte, who shared the dream of starting a drum corps. I was lucky that they let me into their club, and I was able to then see the paper dream become a reality, an organization you may know as Carolina Crown. I was lucky enough to serve as president of the board as the group matured, and fortunate that my tenure didn’t drive them into the ground! From that summer in 1981 to now – with the exception of 2006 – drum corps has been a part of my summer. Now, it is high school band again.

Passion is a big circle.

Thanks for sharing the ride this year! And Happy New Year to you!

Band on the Web

2007-12-26T14:22:00.000-05:00

Once or twice I volunteered to work the concession stand our local Kiwanis Club had at Texas Stadium. While others would sneak off to watch some of the Dallas Cowboys games, I would work non-stop from pre-game to halftime. Then at halftime, when everyone else came back I took my break. I am a huge Cowboys fan (ask my family!). But band ... wow ...

Anyway, Lubbock’s Monterey HS is one band I remember from those days. How cool to see them on the field and in the program. I wanted to be in that band, and the other ones, too. The cool thing is that now I can be – via the Internet!

Check out this “band on the web” – Tarpon Springs (FL) HS. I hear their reputation exceeds this exquisite web site. Whether it does or not, they set the bar high for themselves!

Unlimited creativity comes with limits

2007-12-22T19:11:00.000-05:00

I love Fast Company magazine. It celebrates the design, art and creativity of business, for a profit. Art not for arts sake but for, well, performance!

This issue (December 2007/January 2008) has a great article by Chip and Dan Heath, the brothers behind the brand book "Made To Stick". The article's premise is that constraints can actually expand your team's creativity in problem solving.

I often like to say that "Thinking outside the box presumes you are able to think inside the box to begin with!"

I love band for that reason – what happens within the creative boundaries:

A green canvas, 300 x 160 feet (with a bit of leeway).
10 minutes (or a bit more).
The number of kids on instruments.
The instruments!
The talent the kids have.
The potential they bring.
The music.
The storyboard.
The props.
The budget.

Stuck on a problem? Limit your creativity. Then see what happens.

(This message brought to you on behalf of late shoppers everywhere - two shopping days left!)

Starve a cold, feed a fever!

2007-12-13T14:47:00.000-05:00

The 2008 DCI schedule is out! My summer is starting to take shape.

And Blast! is coming to Baltimore in April!

If you need to feed the fever between now and June 21 (unless you are moving right in to winter guard!), join me in a search for nearby screenings of this movie: From the 50 Yard Line. Apparently someone in Maryland has seen it … just not me … yet!

Never on a Sunday

2007-12-09T18:43:00.000-05:00

The 1991 Star of Indiana (now known as Blast!) won the DCI World Championship with an unbelievable mellophone line and a fantastic drill. I was fortunate to be in the stands that night. and found the last 30 seconds utterly amazing then ... and still do!).

Looking back more than 15 years later, the Roman Images show’s solid religious overtones still come though. (It's a comment heard about the book American Band as well.)

Two of the best bands I saw this year are from religious private schools – the consistently solid Lancaster Catholic this year performing a show Requiem. But (without being a homer) my one of my favorite shows of the season was performed by Annapolis Area Christian School (AACS).

This year TOB Groups 2 and 4 finals were on a Sunday. Lancaster Catholic placed 2nd in TOB Group 4. But AACS did not complete in TOB Group 2, where I believe they had a show that could have placed them in the Top 5 (where places 2-5 were separated by 0.8 points!). Like Eric Liddell, the Scottish missionary and Paris Olympics competitor portrayed in the film Chariots of Fire, AACS doesn't compete on Sundays.

Many consider AACS's shows overtly evangelical. I think this is a band that knows what it is. And I found this year’s show with the too-long-title got better with every viewing, and I wish I could have seen it at the USSBA finals, where they finished 5th).

It was clear that the kids loved performing it. I bet the directors loved teaching it. And I know the audiences (of all faiths or even non-faiths) loved feeling it and responding to it. (Click here - see for yourself!)

What I liked about this show was how it showed what C.S. Lewis called "Mere Christianity." It is a passion that is genuine and deep, not the religion of flashy televangelists. It is the Christianity I aim for: You know where I stand because of the passion of performance. It isn’t forced. It isn’t flashy. And it was something else.

You see, for me marching music is a true, three-dimensional, audio-visual experience. It is a group experience. So is worship.

So all that begin said, I respect AACS’s decision not to perform on a Sunday. But, in a way, I wish they had, using their show to remind others that on that particular Sunday morning, that there is always time for organized worship experience, if even for 10 minutes.

PHOTO CAPTION (partial): AACS garnered a fifth-place award, scoring a 93.4, which is believed to be the highest score ever attained by an AACS band in competition. (Baltimore Sun photo by Kim Hairston)

Marching Band is serious stuff

2007-12-08T19:11:00.000-05:00

Just ask the Rice University Marching Owl Band (aka "The MOB"). Or the Bridgemen or Velvet Knights, two drum & bugle corps that are gone but live on in our memories and on YouTube. Then there is Cal-Berkeley ... and this video to demonstrate just how serious they are at band and academics, especially in that critical field of computer science.

Oh, a suggestion before you click - if you are over 40, get someone under 25 to help translate it for you. And remember it is upside down.

Yep - it's a new season!

2007-12-06T18:40:00.000-05:00

Funny how fast time move!

Check this video out! Although I stepped back from my role with the Carolina Crown family in over a half-dozen years ago, they are still close to my heart. Although I often say "Drum corps is for the kids, not the adults", the kids in Carolina Crown gave me a lot over the years.

Check out the video ... give if you can!