It is what it is!

I've been wanting to use that expression and it's perfectly fitting to describe yet another year of band camp. It started this week. I know I'm not in the band myself, but my daughter is and this is her final year and I want to be as involved as possible. It's rough on me because I have to do so much driving back and forth but it's so worth it! Since I want Hailey get as much possible driving time with me in the car (as opposed to just riding with a friend) I take her and pick her up, over and over and over during band camp! All the while going back to work in the interim! It's crazy! I'm very fortunate that my boss is willing to work with me during this very important time of year.

This week:

Tuesday through Thursday, music camp in the band room 9am-12pm. This is when the instrumentalists start working on their songs for the show. There's always a huge learning curve because of an incoming batch of inexperienced freshmen. Even though the middle school band puts out some impressive musicians it takes them a while to adjust to the demands of the high school band, which are very different.

Tuesday and Thursday, marching practice, on the band field from 6pm-8:30pm. This is when they teach the Freshmen how to march and they don't even play their instruments at this early stage of marching. Tuesday was rained out, Wednesday they do not practice because it's church night. Last night was their first marching practice. Hailey was beaming with pride after her first time being a section leader. She has a whole group of newbies that she has to teach to march. I think this is going to be a great year!

I also, finally found out what their songs are going to be. This is going to be a knockout show! All patriotic songs. Here are three of them and I know that Mr. Pence will have some awesome arrangements cuz that man has got connections!

 

 

 

Next week will be the real killer!

Monday - Thursday either on the field or in the band room, 8-11, 2-4, 6-8 (except for Wednesday, no 6-8 because of church).

Once school starts on August 9th they will have their regular rehearsals Tuesday - Thursday after school.

They have a lot to learn and not much time to learn it because the president of the Tournament of Roses Parade will be here on August 21st and the band will do a special stadium performance just for him. The band is then performing their show during a local college's halftime on August 28th and our first football game is August 29th! Whew! It's going to be crazy but I'm getting really excited! Can't wait to get out there with my camera!

Go Patriots! Here's last year's show!