Band Camp, Day 5

Tired of four days of Band Camp, the band was unenthusiastic in the beginning of today's practice, which lasted a total of four hours because there was no evening practice. But as the clouds began to clear and the sun began to shine, we got our act together to make for a very productive practice.

Last night, we had memorized the ballad, music and marching. Though we were "pushing forward", we didn't learn anything new this practice - instead, the focus was entirely on polishing the ballad overall. We definitely accomplished that, and the rotating "gears" certainly look incredible.

Although we were hit with a heavy storm, we managed to finish practice just before the rain started falling. The end of practice was the most intense - we ran the opener and the ballad, music and marching, twice. Although we still have mistakes in both of the pieces, we have made a lot of progress for the first week of Band Camp.

Band Camp, Day 4: Part 1 - 2

Practice started off unenthusiastically on the fourth day of band camp - overcast skies and the threat of rain definitely put a dampen on the band. However, we quickly shaped up and made the morning our best practice yet, polishing the opener and putting music to all of it. And, with only about half an hour to go, we got through every set of the ballad as well (only 10 sets).

Unfortunately, the practice of these 10 sets was rushed, and the beginning of the evening practice definitely displayed that. A lot of mistakes were made, and it seemed like we wouldn't be able to turn around - but after a quick pep talk, we did just that, and managed to put music to all of the sets in the ballad, as well as shaping up all the sets.

The ballad drill is quite interesting - the band forms into two adjacent circles and spins around, resembling gears. Although it took awhile to get right, it looked amazing, and will continue to look amazing as we practice it more and more.

At the end of our evening practice, we ran the opener and the ballad - two of the three pieces of the entire show. And while we have a lot of work to do with both, it's comforting to know that we have both of the pieces memorized - music and drill.

Band Camp, Day 2: Part 2 - Day 3: Part 2

On the evening practice of the second day at Band Camp, we could not meet our goal of completing the opener due to a large storm approaching just after basics - we were forced inside, where we did make a great deal of progress practicing the opener. Fortunately, we made up a lot of lost progress the next morning.

We practiced a lot of the opener drill, reaching all the way to the end (Set 29) as well as setting our music all the way to set 18. It was certainly an intense morning, and we were incredibly productive, and the evening practice was just as good.

There was a heavy focus on basics during the evening practice, despite an impending storm. However, we still got a lot of drill done, practicing nearly to the end before we were interrupted by rain, thunder, and lightning. Inside, the focus was on music again - however, we did practice putting our sets to our music to make it easier when we go back on the field.

Band Camp, Day 2: Part 1

Tired from the first day, I was once again dreading Band Camp - but that quickly changed once we dived into practice. Instead of the usual basics, which utilizes the band's block formation, we combined basics with the drill - which involved practicing drill with a focus on out posture and marching technique instead of having the focus on reaching our spots.

After this different version of basics, we continued extensively practiced the 14 sets that we had learned yesterday, before quickly learning the rest of the opener, all the way up to Set 29. We definitely have more work to do on these sets, but I am very excited about adding music to this tonight.

Also today, we were given the option of arriving an hour early for the evening practice in order to have a sectional where we can practice any music or sets that we are having trouble with - I will certainly be taking advantage of this, because we have multiple turn-arounds in the opener that the whole band will need to practice.

Band Camp, Day 1: Part 2

The first day of Band Camp is over, and while it was quite exhausting, the band has definitely made some major progress. This evening's practice did not include the opening "speech" - instead, the band made it's way down to the field on it's own, in order to be ready at exactly 6:00 PM.

The beginning of practice certainly had a lazy feel - despite the basics, in which we practiced moving in a box, and the breathing exercises, the pass-offs were a good chance for the band to relax. We were tested on certain parts of the opener and the ballad (Part 1 and Part 2, respectively), but we did not have to play when others were being tested - allowing some much needed rest to the weary band.

Practice really kicked off when we worked on the 14 sets that we had learned in the morning's practice, and began to put music to them. It was quite difficult, even for me - it has been several months since I have practiced playing music while moving. By the end of practice, we had put music to the first 9 sets of the show, and tomorrow, we will do the rest - the band has already set the goal of having the entire opener (music and drill) memorized by the end of tomorrow.

Tomorrow, I'll make sure to upload some pictures of the morning and evening practices, so you can get a feel for the environment.

Band Camp, Day 1: Part 1

Band Camp has officially begun, with Day 1 approximately half way over. And, while it has "only" been four and a half hours, the band has definitely made some major progress!

When we arrived, we got lot of drill (papers that tell us where we go for each set) as well as some more practice papers. After a quick speech, we marched down to the field for the first time since band began, and, after some very progressive basics, we began to learn the sets. The heat was nearly unbearable, but we managed to get 14 sets squeezed into our minds - which will be practicing with music tonight.

One of the most interesting parts of learning the drill sets was the very beginning of the show, which contains some very interesting body motions that fit in well with the machine theme. It was somewhat difficult, along with a few other sets that we learned, but by the end, the whole band (including the new members) shaped up quite well, and I believe that we will be even better tonight, when we add sound the show.

Stay tuned for Band Camp, Day 1: Part 2 once the second portion of today's adventures have concluded.

Road To Band Camp, Part 1

I apologize for the lack of updates recently, and will be updating this blog much more frequently in the future.

Although I wasn't excited at the idea of three hours of band initially, my opinion greatly changed as we began our sectionals and learned a great deal of music.

Today's practice wasn't much different from the others schedule-wise; however, that didn't stop the band from being incredibly productive. Our basics block was particularly challenging - after a quick jog and a lesson in forward marching (focused on posture), the ban

d reviewed backwards marching. We steadily increased our speed until we could march 8-counts at 180 beats per minute, the tempo of our opener (for perspective, that's three beats per second).

The breathing/warm-ups period was also quite intense, though it was still a relief from the intensity of the marching. After around half an hour, we split into sectionals (Woodwinds, High Brass, and Low Brass). We received and dug deep into Part 3, the closer, and I now can say I feel very confident with all the music in the show.

Our ensemble period, while somewhat short, showed that the entire band really is capable of another Championship win. However, we have a lot of work to do before band camp, which is approximately three weeks away, namely, memorize all three pieces of music. The band staff has informed us that the drill for the first piece of music is complete, so we really are closing in on the upcoming season.

Image credit: ILC (here).

Diving Into The Season

This latest Monday practice was a very productive one. While it was quite regular, I felt pleased at the progress the band made. During basics, we practiced the first step of forward marching as well as our posture extensively - my morale improved as I saw our newcomers really get the hang of marching, just as I had done last year.

Our warm-ups were not spectacular, and the only change was moving from the traditional arc into a circle. But things really kicked off when we split off into sectionals. The brass and woodwinds section both practiced the opener of The Machines (the only piece we currently have) heavily, and once we moved into the entire ensemble, it was a truly epic scene.

By tomorrow, I hope to be able to post an audio clip of the opener, or at least have it available for download.

The End of An Era

Just a few days ago, the Warwick High School Graduation took place. In the past, this hadn't concerned me because I didn't know any seniors. But my outlook changed this year, as I found myself going not only for Symphonic Band, but to say goodbye to the 30 seniors that the marching band has lost.

The ceremony was quite ordinary, but I found myself remembering some of the greatest moments from this past band season, like our Home Competition, and the nervousness we felt before Championships.

This has truly been the final goodbye to our seniors - now, the 2009 Warwick Marching Band can begin its brand new season...

Baccalaureate Tonight, Tomorrow - Graduation!

Tonight was a great night indeed, with the orchestra and chorus both saying their second-to-last goodbyes to the senior class.

The Baccalaureate began with the Flute Quartet and Symphony V by the orchestra, one of the pieces we played during our Spring Concert. Because two of our clarinets were graduating, and another was unfortunately absent, I was the only clarinet playing the song. This made me happy because there are multiple parts in the piece where the clarinet is the main focus.

The orchestra proceeded to play Pomp & Circumstance, the classic graduation tune, and then, four verses of Amazing Grace.

Once we had completed those three pieces, the senior class had a variety of performances for the audience, including Pray For Me, Whenever You Remember (a song accompanied with a dance performance), Suite No. 2 in D Minor (an amazing viola piece played from memory), and my personal favorite, Let It Be.

I was quite nervous when we played Let There Be Peace On Earth, for I had a very short time to practice it, and having an important part. I did worse than I had done during practice, though I understand that I had only a half an hour to practice it.

And now, I look forward to tomorrow, where the Symphonic Band will play off our graduating seniors, thus waving goodbye to the 2008 Warwick Marching Band forever...

Morale Improves

Despite only being the second practice of the season, coupled with the fact that it took place during finals, this Monday's practice was better than expected.

After the usual "welcome" message, we dived right into the basics block, where everyone, including the returning members, was harshly judged on their posture. We practiced extensively with the first step of forward marching, which seriously helped the newcomers, and reminded me of some tips I had forgotten since Championships.

Once basics was over, we went inside to hide from the heat, going straight into warm-ups. We then split into sectionals for nearly an hour, where we worked extensively on the opener of "The Machines". I can't speak for the other sections, but the clarinet section made some major improvements.

At eight thirty, with just a half an hour to go before practice ended, the entire wind section gathered for an ensemble, where we practiced the end of the opener. Once we had sufficiently practiced with the new, faster tempo (apparently, the actual tempo is much faster, at 180 beats per minute), we played through the entire opener. This showed me, among other things, that "The Machines" is a truly intense show.

Our next practice is scheduled 6-9, next Monday. However, hopefully by the end of the week, I hope to be able to upload the opener of "The Machines" (not us playing, but the official recording) onto this blog.

Blog Updates

Please excuse the lack of updates to this blog; the practice season has only just started, so posts will be few and far between until we get closer to the season. However, I have added some things to the blog sidebar - our scores from each of our competitions last year, and a link to some photos of last year's season. Enjoy!

2009 Marching Band Begins The Season

It's finally started - with new and returning members combined again, we have begun work on our marching, and our show, The Machines.

Practice started different than usual - three "stations" were set up in the band parking lot - a backwards marching station with Eric, a sliding station with Miss Milley, and a forward marching/marking time station with our new woodwind instructor, Alyssa.

After that, we did some of our new warm-ups with the entire band before splitting into woodwind and brass sections. Both sections dove deep into the opener (the only piece we currently have), and when we put it together, it's intensity definitely rivalled that of The Rise of The Samurai Warrior, our show last year.

Stay tuned for more updates on all of our practices, football games, and competitions!

You may have noticed the color changes to the blog - they are not final, but I would like new colors to reflect our new show.

Parade and Picnic - Memorial Day

After a good deal of practicing, we've finally completed our Memorial Day parades.

The first parade took place in Rothsville, at about 8:00 A.M. - needless to say, the audience was less-than-large. Only a few people came out to see us, and most of them were family/friends of those in the band.

Things changed completely when we began our parade in Lititz (after a 30 minute intermission at the school). The output was much larger, with both sides of the street packed with people very excited to see the award winning band. After the Memorial Day service in the park, we "marched" home - meaning that we weren't really organized, but it was all in fun, as there was no one left to watch us!

Once we got back home and changed, we headed out to the picnic, which was full of food, fun, and games. But as great as the day was, it did mark the end of the 2008 season Warwick Marching Band - a year that will never be forgotten.

And The Show Is... "The Machine"!

The "season kick-off" meeting that the entire Warwick Marching Band had been anticipating for so long finally hit us, and brought with it some exciting news.

This year's show is entitled "The Machine". And although the season just started, we've already received a good deal of information about the show. There will be a heavy focus on the visuals, with the color guard starting off in a bland, gray costume, and being covered in assorted "wreckage" (things like screws, bolts, and wires - which will also appear on certain band members), but will transform within "the machine" (which will be placed somewhere on the field, along with other large structures that need to be built) to a brighter, purple costume.

We got to listen to the entire show, and although we will be making some changes, it is quite intense, and will definitely rival last season's show, "The Rise of The Samurai Warrior".

The wind section has already received the opener music, and we will begin practicing in order to give 100% this upcoming season.

The band also received the entire season schedule. Seen below are the dates for our competitions and football games (practice schedule will be posted shortly).

Friday (9/4/09) - Football Game Away at Garden Spot HS

Friday (9/11/09) - Football Game Home VS. Conestoga Valley HS

Monday (9/14/09) - Band Parent Meeting

Friday (9/18/09) - Football Game Home VS. Ephrata HS

Saturday (9/19/09) - Competition at Hempfield HS

Friday (9/25/09) - Football Game Away at Cedar Crest HS

Saturday (9/26/09) - Competition at Manheim Township HS

Friday (10/2/09) - Football Game Home VS. Manheim Township HS

Saturday (10/3/09) - Off Weekend

Monday (10/5/09) - Band Parent Meeting

Friday (10/9/09) - Football Game Away at Reading HS

Saturday (10/10/09) - Competition at Warwick HS (home show)

Friday (10/16/09) - Football Game Home VS. McCaskey HS (Warwick Homecoming)

Saturday (10/17/09) - Off Weekend

Friday (10/23/09) - Football Game Away at Penn Manor

Saturday (10/24/09) - Competition at Upper Perkiomen HS

Monday (10/26/09) - Lititz Halloween Parade

Friday (10/30/09) - Football Game Home VS. Hempfield HS

Saturday (10/31/09) - Competition at Manheim Central HS

Friday (11/6/09) - Football Game Away at Wilson HS

Saturday (11/7/09) - Competition at Red Lion HS

Monday (11/9/09) - Band Parent Meeting

Saturday-Sunday (11/14-15/09) - Cavalcade of Bands Championships at Hershey Stadium

And there you have it! We've got quite a long season ahead of us, so we'll need all the practice we can get to perform... "THE MACHINE!"

Final Parade Practice

After another grueling 3-hour practice, the band is finally ready for the Memorial Day parade. With all of America The Beautiful memorized, and the entire band well-practiced in turning corners, we are all thoroughly prepared for the upcoming parade.

The practice started off with a quick, 20-minute warm up, and followed with the woodwinds and brass splitting off into sections. We shaped up our knowledge of America The Beautiful, then joined the brass, color guard, and drum line in the marching block, where we shaped up our marching.

This was followed by a great deal of time marching around the high school parking lot, periodically practicing America The Beautiful while simultaneously practicing our marching around corners. It was tedious, but I cannot say it was not productive.

And while our parade is coming up, excitement for the "season kick-off" meeting is building. This Wednesday, we will finally learn this year's show & theme...

Final Concert of the Year

Earlier today, the final concert of this year took place. With songs from the Middle School Concert Band and High School Symphonic Band (of which I am a part of), the concert was a great success.

The Middle School Concert Band played:

- When Summer Takes Flight (by Robert W. Smith)

- Chant Rituals (by Elliot Del Borgo)

- James Bond Theme (by Victor Lopez)

The James Bond Theme was obviously the most recognizable piece, and went over well. After the Middle School concluded their songs, the Flute Quartet played Blues Sophisticato by Bill Holcombe. Once this special piece ended, the High School Symphonic Band played:

- Turkish March (by W. A. Mozart)

This piece included Laura Slater and Kelly Smith as soloists.

- Symphony No 5. (by Dimitri Shostakovich)

A few parts of this song were cut out to save time.

- Ritmo Suave (by Lalo Davila)

This was a Percussion Ensemble song, with Dan Russo playing guitar.

- Short Ride in a Fast Machine (by John Adams)

This song was highly disliked by many members of the band, and the clarinet section (of which I am a part of) played the same rythm repeatedly, with only a few variations.

- Sleep (by Eric Whitacre)

A slower song, this was based on a poem of the same name.

The final piece of the band concert was a piece in which the high school and middle school bands both played the song, "John Williams: Movie Adventures", which included two Star Wars songs, the E.T. theme, and the Jurassic Park theme (which can all be found here). All the songs went over quite well, and the audience thouroughly enjoyed it.

And with all the music courses (band, chorus, and orchestra) having their concerts completed, we can look forward to marching band. The "season kick-off" meeting is coming up this Wednesday, where we will finally learn this year's show...

"Through The Eyes Of A Child" - A Great Performance

Last weekend, "Through The Eyes of A Child" - this year's spring chorus performance - was a huge success.

With a Disney theme, the show featured songs from Disney classics, such as "Aladdin", "The Lion King", "Hercules", and "The Little Mermaid". "Hakuna Matata" and "Under The Sea" are just two of the many songs featured in the performance.

Show choir did a great job, learning the lyrics to a great many songs, as well as the choreography for all of them. Concert choir also sang many classic songs, and the "Millennium Men" and "Glitter Girls" sang a few songs of their own.

And between these great performances, we were treated to multiple soloists, duets, and quartets - a great distraction while the show choir and concert choir prepared for their next acts.

Pictures and possibly videos will be available soon.

A Splendid Little Practice

Wednesday's "mini-practice" proved to be much more productive then previously expected. The brass and woodwind sections split, each breaking down "America The Beautiful" into 4-measure chunks. Most of those present at practice have memorized most or all of the song, preparing us for the Memorial Day Parade.

And as our practice for the parade continues, the "Season Kick-Off Meeting" also nears. Less then two weeks away, we are awfully close to finally getting information on this season's show.

The Excitement Builds

Another 3-hour Monday rehearsal for marching band is out of the way, and the excitement for the upcoming season is building.

Because of the rain, we were forced to stay indoors - but that didn't stop this practice from being productive. We did plenty of work on backwards marching, and taught the new members "stop-n-gos". Unfortunately, due to a conflicting practice with County Band, many of the members that had shown up were forced to leave, bringing the morale of the group down just a bit more.

On the upside, we got plenty of memorization done for our upcoming Memorial Day Parade, where will we play America The Beautiful. With measures 1-57 memorized (out of a total of 76 measures), we are well on our way for the parade, which will take place in Rothsville.


In addition to this, we also got a sheet informing us of some upcoming band events, listed below:

Wednesday, May 20th, 7:30 P.M.

This is the date of the 2009 Marching Band Season kickoff meeting. At this very important meeting, students and parents will receive marching band information as well as all forms and schedules for the upcoming marching band season. In addition, the 2009 show music and theme will be announced and parents will have the opportunity to meet the 2009 marching band staff. Please join us for this exciting and important event at 7:30 P.M. in the high school large group room.

Monday, May 25th (Memorial Day)

This is the date of the annual Memorial Day Parade and Marching Band Picnic. All current high school marching band students are required to perform in the parade, unless they have already made other arrangements with Miss Milley. All current 8th grade students , who have been attending the evening marching band practices, are invited to perform in the parade. In addition, all current and new marching band families are invited to participate in the marching band picnic. More info will be coming as we approach the parade date.

In addition to the events listed above, this Wednesday we will be having an extra practice right after school, to accommodate for those who cannot make it to the regular rehearsals.

The excitement for the revealing of our show is building, and the meeting is just weeks away...

Back on Track

Last Monday we have our third practice of the year. We had plenty of new people, as well as more returning members than ever. It really felt like we were getting back on track, just like last year.

The practice itself was quite productive, as we taught backwards marching to the newbies as well as "fine tuning" their forward marching. We even got the first 40 measures of the national anthem memorized, and tracked the song in preparation of the upcoming Memorial Day Parade.

Welcome To "Trills And Thrills"

If you're here, you've probably read the post on my personal blog about creating a new blog. Well, I've done it! I've still got a few tweaks and changes to do, but soon this blog will be up and running, most likely with near daily updates. Check back for any new developments!

Practice Picks Up

Our second practice for marching band went much better than the first. Because we are practicing for the upcoming Memorial Day Parade, seniors were present, and it felt like we were getting "the gang" back together.

Having seniors there definitely improved the group's morale, and we got a lot accomplished. Although for veterans like me, it was quite boring. Learning something you already learned is one thing, but we're learning something we learned, mastered, and then got first place in the region for being so good at.


However, we also have a new clarinet player, which certainly improved my morale. She plays first chair in the middle school, so we will hopefully be just as good as last year.

We only have a few more practices until May 20, our "Season Kick-Off" meeting, where we will learn this year's show and prepare for the parade.

Performance: Literary Magazine Opening

I've discussed my playing on the clarinet a few times before, but I haven't really given a detailed explanation of any of my performances. Earlier tonight, however, I played at the release of Inspire!, the literary magazine compiled by the C.I.A. (Club for the Integrated Arts).

The night included more then just the literary magazine - there was food, music, poetry, and art. I played my clarinet, and you can listen to the songs I played below (note: I played solo, so any other instruments you hear were not included; also, for the "Main Theme", I played only a section).

- Final Fantasy VII Main Theme

- Maple Leaf Rag

- Sonatine

- Divertimento II

The performance was mostly a success, despite the fact that I had only the day before to practice most of the music. Divertimento II was by far the longest, with six pages of music. Maple Leaf Rag was arguably my favorite, as it wasn't classical - it was jazz.

Pictures and video of the performance will be available here soon.

Marching Band Kicks Off

Earlier today (6:00 - 9:00 PM), the Warwick High School Marching Band had our first practice of the year. These early Spring practices are unusual, as practice traditionally begins in early Summer.

A pic of last season's show, The Rise of The Samurai Warrior

Only a few new members showed up, and altogether, there were only about 20 "bandos" present (excluding color guard). This low number was expected, as most members had previously plans. Another practice is set for next Monday.

Our practice was mostly productive, with the new members learning the basics of marching and the veterans getting back in step. While I do believe that we could of had more done with a larger portion of the band there, I understand why so little showed up.

More on my marching band season is coming up.

My Music

It seems like a shocked that I've never mentioned this before - I play the clarinet. And I've been playing for nearly 5 years. In those years, I've been in symphonic band, orchestra, and my all-time favorite, marching band.



The Warwick marching band (yes, the one with the scandal) has won the Regional Championships for three years in a row now. This past season was my first year with the band, and we took first place (as well as several other awards, including High Percussion) with our show, The Rise of The Samurai Warrior.

I tell you this because practice for the next season begins in just a few months, and Drumline has already started. Of course, our practice is much longer then sports, as we have to teach newcomers how to march and such, as well as memorize several pages of music.

Although I do not know much information about this next season (our show has not even been decided upon yet), I will post updates about all my adventures in marching band. For your viewing and listening pleasure, I have included a video of our performance. This video is from our home competition, and the stands were packed, as our band is famous in our town (and among other bands).