the_DRUM_MAJOR

thanks guys i appreciate it

they dont want the band to do well because i think one has issues with the Drum Majors because she wanted to be one and didnt get the position so shes mad about that and because the band didnt vote her into any position for president, vice pres. etc. The other doesnt want the band to do well because she plainly doesnt care and is just in it for the credit and the other just thinks we cant do anything so she doesnt want us to do good. Theyre still in band because of the credit i think....i agree with u arundo ill think about those 7 points you made

This past Friday, my band had a section leader meeting in which I was shocked to see that when the question "Do you want the band to do good this year?" was asked, 3 of the SENIOR section leaders failed to raise their hand. The 3 who did not raise their hands are pretty reputible players and one of the most looked upon. But seeing them not wanting to raise their hand to not see the band do good got me pissed off. Of all people I would have expected them to answer "YES. I Want my band to do good". But apparently they dont. I can understand their views since one is "mad" about not getting the DM title and other issues, the other has "senioritis" and could care less about band except for the credit, and the other seems to just not believe we can do it at all. I don't understand why they cant put their issues aside and not want to be part of the group that changes the whole standards for my band program. I know my band is good but we havent been going up to where we should be. Personally I think its because these kids have been led to believe that our location automatically says we suck so they in turn believe that we cant get away from that assumption. BUT WE CAN. Other than that, the other drum major for my school tends to sway into the more "popular" side about "i dont care" and etc. For example, as I walked away from rehersal one of the section leaders told her "I don't care about being in attention at rehersals I just talk anyway." And she replied " [laughing] I dont care if yall are at attention or not." I was thinking "What? You support that? Goofing off at practice?" Yes I know its just talking and what not but still I know now the importance of focus when at rehersal. In all, right now is a really hard time because without those 3 believing, how will the rest of the band be if they dont care. Especially the freshman. . As DM this year for the first time, I'd like to definately change the band but Im stuck at the point where inspiring the band to do great things is hard. What would you guys do to inspire your band?

applachian spring worked for SFA too lol but i agree with bariphonium, if theyre played well. theres absolutley no problem with it

hahaha mickey mouse gloves thats awesome..good idea for homecoming game..i just might do that hmm i think i might end up with leather? speaking of band directors, mine agreed to march the full show at halftime during one of the games after AREA if we a person sells 20 or more items on the fundraiser and their name gets picked from a drawing for them to march their spot. lol great way to motivate sales

yea ive been yrlling with my gut now, it works much better. The commands we give are band left turn, right turn, mark time mark, and mark time hut and horns up, horns down. but id like to try and not do a vocal count off when we start the show this year...

i have pain in my throat at times after giving commands lol

ooo ok so is there any more suggestions as far as types go?

well at my school my director likes to think he's the metronome so he just counts the steps..blah i really would like to use the metronome though its more accurate. We also dont have a tower...lol i think my director needs to step it up. However he did finally get those transportable microphones with a speaker lol

well yes we must clap to keep in tempo. but actually our new director is trying to get my head director to use a block and drum stick sso that we wont have to clap during rehersals but it is necessary for us to clap for tempo during halftime performance and contest performances kelly thats a cool hat!! i want one! haaha

being comfortable is must but i want whats best for the marchers so that theyll be able to hear the claps, even if it means not getting the cotton lol but in all leatehr will sound less muffled, right? ideas: cutting out the palms of cotton gloves so that ill be clapping with my palms instead? lol

ahh I see. Well my director is all "Its not gonna work" and blah blah blah but to most bands, that have used cotton gloves, it seemed to work just fine. By the way, what about gloves with rubberized gripper dots? Or just all leather with air holes?

my team won only 2 games out of the season..

I'm about to buy some gloves for my uniform but I dont know which type (cotton or leather) would be best for clapping for commands. I know cotton muffles it a bit more but i havent heard about the leather ones yet. In your opinion,which would produce a clearer hand clap sound on the field?

mm time to start practicing again lol..the low clarinet music is better than last years. I just got done playing like one half of the first etude.i hate making the jump to high d sharp bleehhhh my goal this year is to get 1st at region and area then try to beat the kid from waller that made state 3x in a row lol

in my school id have to say the woodwinds in all

Appalachian Spring for sure. Symphonic metamorphosis...I havent seen any 4a bands in my area play it for marching, usually its the 5a's...im working on an arrangement for it for the 06 year though

Freshman...ehh..lol.. fundamentals will have to be stressed alot this year for my band if we want to have a clean, decent, show. The hard part will be trying to get them to cooperate with us lol. Especially with their attitudes lol. But by the way, I think my director wants to onyl march 130 of us instead of the total 150. I think the rest will be marching in a block formation or maybe be asked to be in Colorguard..IF we find an instructor. Hey pearland, tell Natalie and Laura I said hey lol

this year i think around 130-150 members, half of those will be incoming freshman and we are class 4A.