The wait is over! You can view the Band Awards Night photo album under visual. You can probably expect future albums to come out on Fridays. Anyway, I thought that last night's reheasal went exceptionally well. The talking was cut down immensely and some people even started racing to see who could run back to their dots first. Progress included our first run-throughs of all 19 of our current drill sets with the Movement 0 pre-show. It's really awesome when everyone has pride in what we are doing out there...
Also, remember that call time for tonight's first football game is 5:30 PM. WATCH the drum majors and have a great first show everyone!
Here are some articles that were recently in the Poway News Chieftan:
Be sure to read up on words of wisdom from Mr. Cook as well as our leading competitor's field show. Apparently, RB will be marching at the Poway Days Parade with us as well!
Now I would like to introduce a really cool drill move that has come to be known as "The Clarinet Snake." All of you ignorant brass players probably keep hearing about this incredible feat that you cannot see. Follow-the-leader seems easy enough but add 2-count direction changes and 2-step interval spacing and that's what adds another level of difficulty to this move. Here's a drawing that I did that will better illustrate the move:
Precursor for Clarinets as Section of the Week? Definately.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007 ~ macgyversfriend
RECALL! Sorry folks, the parade march is not "Eagle Squadron" as reported a week ago. We were not wrong, but rather the directors changed their minds. We will now be playing this march:
"The Southerner" ~ By: Russell Alexander
The only information I could dig up was that Alexander lived in the early 1900's and arranged music for Barnum & Bailey Circus. He later worked in a novelty musical vaudville act with his brothers. He is "considered a great composer of marches" (Wikipedia). Nothing specific to The Southerner or a recording could be found...
Week's up and it's time to reveal the current Mystery Song:
"The Kraken" ~ By: Hans Zimmer (Pirates of the Caribbean 2)
I decided to make most every MS dark in nature this year and that's why I picked it. I though for sure that everyone would get this one, (but if you had problems playing the WMA, my apologies). Still, we had one sole winner:
Aaron W. ~ Pit Freshman
For solving the MS, Aaron will be recieving an exclusive band picture, never released to the public. You could be next if you guess this week's MS below. Buena Suerte!
Leadership of the Week:
Sorry, there is none this time.
Video of the Week (8/13/07)
Notes: A back view of a new exercise this year, "Zigzag." (EDIT: 11/26/07)
Friday, August 24, 2007 ~ macgyversfriend
Last night was the band's first Thursday night rehearsal of the season from 6:30 to 9:00. The band performed it's first full run-throughs of the show, marching and playing. We did a few more reps this morning during our first reheasal during school and solidifed our 12 known drill sets.
Band Picture Day is tomorrow, the call time being 7:15 AM for the group shot. Remember to get there early because I just recieved confirmation that the uniform trailer will be in the North parking lot, next to the stadium. As of right now, I do not know which picture package includes your section photo, but be sure to ask one of the photographers to make sure that you get it. Here is the list of times for tomorrow:
Also, I would like to offer my services to anyone who wants to take a pictures with their friends, but doesn't want to pay $14 for the package deal. I would be happy to take a picture of anyone, for free! Then I will email you the picture, allowing you to print out as many as you want. See you in uniform!
Wednesday, August 22, 2007 ~ macgyversfriend
I have just learned from a very reliable source that this year's parade march will be:
"Eagle Squadron" ~ By: Kenneth J. Alford
If you do not remember, we played "Army of the Nile" two years ago, also by Alford. I did my research and found out that the march was written in honor of the Royal Air Force during WWII called the Eagle Squadron. "It is also a "thank you" to the American pilots: small sections of the Star Spangled Banner can be heard in the low brass during the trio" (Wikipedia). A recording of our new march can be heard under Music!
On a side note, the band played the fight song today at the first day of school assembly in the football stadium. It was so insignificant that we did not even bother to warm-up and the seniors left us to go sit in their special designated seats. We all wore our white band polos to show our so-called "Titan Pride." Pit and Color Guard were given the option of sitting with us, even though they didn't perform. Also, the drumline performed their new drum cadence as the student body entered, though I'd be surprised if any non-band kids recognized it. And how was your day?
Tuesday, August 21, 2007 ~ macgyversfriend
Even though Band Camp ended a day earlier this year, it was very successful. Yesterday we learned 12 pages of drill in about 2 and a half hours although did not perform it for the parents last night at the "Band Camp Blow Out" (as PHSMB.com is calling it). Based on last night's musical performance, our two areas of weakness are time and intonation. There were some major tears between the band and percussion, as well as internal rushing and dragging. Also, since this is a woodwind show, upper voices will have to be wary of pitch and brightness. And to top it all off, where is the parade march!?! Please keep checking back where we will have the latest developments on the identity of the parade music.
Well, basically you all fail, however much expected. Last week's Mystery Song was none other than the themesong from an 80's adventure TV show called, "MacGyver"! In fact, that show is what the website is named after! Still, I would like to mention that Navarre correctly guessed it. Here's this week's Mystery Song:
