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.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
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!"
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!"
Monday, May 18, 2009
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...
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...
Sunday, May 17, 2009
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...
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
"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.
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.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
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.
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.
Monday, May 4, 2009
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...
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...
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