Tuesday Spotlight on the Staff

Today's spotlight on the staff is on one of our percussion technicians: Matt Geisler

Matt first worked with Brigade in 2006, our championship year.  Those who were around in 2006 remember Matt as "that staff member who always had his collars up"!  Matt is one of the most laid back and mellow people you will ever meet - but just spend a few minutes watching him help a battery member learn a hard percussion "lick" and you will see why he is a terrific person to have on staff.

Matt is a former marching member of the Green Beret (yes - that Green Beret!!) He also marched with the Capital Sound Drum and Bugle Corps.  He was not on staff in 2007 because he marched the full DCI season with the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps.  Matt is a student at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and also works part time at the movie theater in Janesville.  If you ask him nicely - maybe he can get you a cool movie display or movie poster!

Matt is going to be a huge asset to us this season as he works with two "rookie" quint players (rookie is in quotation marks because we have a three year veteran playing quints for the first time and one rookie member marching his first year).  If you get the chance during the season - kick back and drop by to say hi to Matt.  If you hang around long enough - you will see why he is a cool cat and all around nice dude!

Next week: our new visual technician - Danny Greenberg

Today's marching member "shout-out" goes out to: Ryan (alto saxophone)

Hey y'all

Just a reminder that you are to have all of your warmups, parade tunes, and first 3 show tunes memorized for this camp.

Remember rule #3: You are only going to get out what you give, so make sure you are doing your job to ensure that this summer is a great experience. We also are going to be learning drill real soon, so there will be significantly less music only time.

No Jeans please, we may go for a nice little jog together if the weather permits (breathing block anyone?)

DRUM MAJOR TRYOUTS-SATURDAY!
Don't forget if you are interested to tryout. You will be asked the following:

Conducting 2,3,and 4/4
A couple questions
Extra credit for a salute

See you real soon!

Tuesday Spotlight on the Staff

Today's spotlight on the staff is our new percussion technician: Meghan Christian

Meghan is another former Brigade member and I am very excited to have her join the staff this year! Her main focus will be the bass drum line and I am expecting great things from both her and the guys and gal playing BD's this season! Meghan marched in Brigade from 2002 - 2006. She spent one year on bass drum and moved up to snare in 2003 - the first of two straight years of high percussion titles at MACBDA (most people think we should have had the percussion title for three years in a row.....but, whatever!). In her age-out year of 2006, she was section leader and it was really great to see her graduate with the Brigade's first championship! Meghan could always be counted on to shout out at the audience at the end of shows in an effort to get them "on their feet".

Meghan is currently attending the University of Wisconsin - Eau Clarie and is working towards a degree in graphic design. I had the pleasure of teaching Meghan way back at Mitchell Middle School and I have always been able to count on her leadership abilities and talent. I am very excited to be able to work with her on staff and I am sure the members will, too. The only bad news for Meghan is that because she is a rookie staff member - her job at the end of each Brigade show is to go to the press box and get the staff our judges tapes. Sorry, Meghan....you have to pay your dues!!

Next week: Matt Gesiler - percussion technician

Today's marching member "shout-out goes out to: Hannah (color guard).

Patrick is now a married man!

Our percussion caption head, Patrick Coughlin, is now a married man!  He married Darlayne this past Saturday and it was a really beautiful wedding - complete with a song Patrick wrote for his new wife as she walked down the aisle!  I couldn't be more happy for them - they make a great couple!

Representing the Lighthouse Brigade family were myself, Steve Lange, Tony Holm, Mike Clobes, and Matt Koscinski and his awesome wife, Kim.  At one point during the reception, Patrick, Darlayne and a bunch of alumni from the University of Wisconsin Marching Band played the traditional cadence around a table using silverware and plates (I was told by Matt - another UW Band alumnus - that this was always done at their annual banquet as well).  Needles to say - there were many broken plates when it was finished!

So - congrats to Patrick and Darlayne!  I am sure he will have many great stories to tell about their honeymoon in London, Paris and Italy when we all meet again in April for Brigade rehearsals!

Today's marching member "shout-out" goes out to: Andrew (rookie tenor saxophone).

Tuesday Spotlight on the Staff

Today's spotlight is on our co-music caption head: Guy Gregg.

Guy is one of our staff members who is a former member of both the Junior Brigade and the Lighthouse Brigade.  He also marched with the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps and is currently drum major of the Racine Kilties Drum and Bugle Corps.  Guy graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and he is now one of the band directors at Oak Creek High School.

Guy began instructing Brigade in 2004, the year after he aged out of drum corps.  He worked as a marching technician for two seasons and became music caption head in 2006.  Of course, in 2006 the Brigade enjoyed its first championship as well as the high music execution trophy - and you can bet that Guy was a huge reason for that!

Guy is one of our favorite staff members and has many unique abilities.  He can produce a perfect cricket sound whenever he wants and he is also quite an accomplished french horn player.  He has a terrific voice and often will show off his talent in acoustically sound bathrooms.  Guy has a weakness for Buckets wings, Dakota lemonade, Chinese fire drills, staff dinners, sushi, and his amazing girlfriend (don't mess that up, Guy!!).

It has been really cool knowing Guy back in the old days when he was a Brigade member and it is a real thrill to see him become a fellow band director and have so much success with the Brigade!

Next week: our new battery technician: Meghan Christian

Today's marching member "shout-out" goes out to: Tony (rookie clarinet)

Tuesday Spotlight on the Staff

Today's spotlight on the staff is on one of our percussion technicians - Steve Lange.

Steve came on board in 2006 and has been a real pleasure to work with.  Steve graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater with a degree in geography.  He also marched with the Capital Sound Drum and Bugle Corps.  Steve is also a member of the awesome Green Bay Packer Tundra Drum Line (although I bet that every Packer fan, including Steve, is in a bad mood today with the announcement of Brett Favre's retirement).  As much as I respect Brett Favre - I will not shed a tear!!

Steve loves any kind of outdoor activity or sport and he has many great stories to tell.  What you might not know about Steve is that he is also an Irish dancer - so go ahead and ask him to show off some Riverdance moves!!  

Even though his degree is not in music - I am betting that within the next five years, Steve will find his way into a classroom.  I know this because I know how much Steve enjoys teaching.  He really loves working with the Brigade staff and members and we are glad to have him!

Like many of our staff members - Steve has a weakness for Bucket's wings....but, then - who doesn't??!!  He also likes gum, filming staff hi-jinks, collecting champagne bottle holders and Chinese fire drills.  So there you have it - our Tuesday spotlight on the staff and one of our most popular staffers - Steve Lange.

Next week: Guy Gregg

Today's marching member "shout-out" goes out to: Casey (alto saxophone)

Camp Update!

This past weekend was another camp for horn line and color guard.  All of our goals were accomplished including the horn line playing through the entire show and both the horn line and color guard having an elimination basics block (congrats to Jennifer - the last member standing!).

This weekend will be a camp for battery and front ensemble.  Their goal is to get through at least the intro and first movement together.  The next full camp for ALL sections will be Saturday and Sunday, April 5th and 6th.  I can't wait to hear full music ensemble.  At the April camp we will have "Show-And-Tell" again!  This will be on Sunday at around 5:20 and parents are encouraged to check it out!!  We will also have auditions for drum major.  It does not matter if you are a rookie or a veteran or what instrument you play - anyone may try out for drum major.  I highly suggest that many of you go through the process of the drum major tryouts.  Even if you don't get selected - it will still be a good learning experience.  I will be at the tryout as well as a number of staff members.  I give each of my staff one vote and I give myself one vote as well.  In the case of a tie - I will be the determining vote.  At the tryout the staff and I will:

- ask to see you conduct 4/4, 3/4 and 2/4

- ask to see you do a salute

- ask you some questions and let you ask us questions about being drum major

So, great job this weekend!  The music book sounds great (rough, but great!!).  It is going to be a fun show to march and clean.  The marching, for this time of the year, is simply some of the best marching I have seen from a Lighthouse Brigade.  I think this will be an area we can expect to be very competitive in show after show!

Today's marching member "shout-out" goes out to: Cory (trumpet)