I gave the members the first "Turn-out Sheet" of the season at the end of mini-camp - but there will be a slight change. During that crazy last week of school (where I added a bunch of 5 - 9 rehearsals) there will be a day off in the middle. On Wednesday, June 11th - Gifford is having a whole night of stuff for their graduating 5th graders and I have decided to just make that a night off from reheasing. I hope this helps everyone during finals week and all. So - the next few rehearsals look like this:
Saturday, June 7th - 9:00am - 9:00pm
Sunday, June 8th - OFF
Monday, June 9th - 5:00pm - 9:00pm
Tuesday, June 10th - 5:00pm - 9:00pm
Wednesday, June 11th - OFF
Thursday, June 12th - 5:00pm - 9:00pm
Friday, June 13th - 5:00pm - 9:00pm
Saturday, June 14th - 9:00am - 9:00pm
Sunday, June 15th - OFF
Monday, June 16th - 1:00pm - 9:00pm
My brother (the web site designer) will be adding the "member's only" page this weekend! Only current marching members and staff will have access which will include personal stuff from me to you; stuff from the staff; things you will need to know this season and when the season is done - sneak peeks at the season dvd and the 2009 production!!
I'll give you your passwords on the June 7th rehearsal!!
I'm looking forward to seeing everyone on the 7th. Let's really get our correct rehearsal behavior going right away and start kicking butt on the drill! The faster we learn it - the faster we can start cleaning it and adding cool stuff!
- Rex out
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Mini - Camp Report
The 2008 Lighthouse brigade took a huge step forward this past weekend during the mini - camp at Gifford Elementary School and I would like to post a report.
But first, I would like to congratulate all of the members for their terrific parent concert and an awesome performance in the Memorial Day parade and veteran's ceremony. I thought this year's edition of Brigade put on one of the stronger performances I have seen in recent years! As always, we all stop by the grave of Matt LaBelle - a former marching member from the early days who died of cancer in 1987. We award the annual Matt LaBelle scholarship award to one senior each year. I don't know if anyone else realized this - but Matt LaBelle's parents were behind us as I was talking to the members about his life. It is truly an honor to keep his memory and legacy alive and I sincerely hope that the words I spoke about him did justice to someone who is a very important part of Brigade history and tradition.
We got a lot accomplished during mini - camp. We are up to drill chart #17 and I pretty much only have to re-write one chart before our next rehearsal (sorry, mellophones!!). I'll be pretty busy the next few weeks finishing up the show. The members worked really hard and we let them know that mini - camp is basically a rehearsal for band camp (which is where the REAL work begins!!). As a staff, we will be turning up the heat a little bit each day and expecting more and more from our members. We want to get the drill taught and finished so that we can start to clean and add cool horn moves, body movement, and other exciting things to our show. Members should remember to bring their thinking caps - because it is going to be intense!
All members were given the first "turn - out" sheet of the season. I will be doing these informational sheets about once a week and they will include all dates, times, and locations of all of our rehearsals and shows. For band camp - all members will need to bring:
* Hat (ALL heads WILL be covered whenever we are outside. NO exceptions)
* "Dot" book
* proper shoes (no bare feet or sandals are allowed)
* Sunscreen (a MUST!!!)
* Aloe vera gel (when the sunscreen doesn't work) :)
* WATER!!!!!
* Drill charts/binder/music
* Positive attitude and work ethic (this means cutting down on the talking, working really hard, memorizing music, and everything else it takes to be a positive member of the Lighthouse Brigade).
That's all for now - everything is looking great in Brigadeland and I am really looking forward to starting band camp and the season - it's gonna be a great one!!
But first, I would like to congratulate all of the members for their terrific parent concert and an awesome performance in the Memorial Day parade and veteran's ceremony. I thought this year's edition of Brigade put on one of the stronger performances I have seen in recent years! As always, we all stop by the grave of Matt LaBelle - a former marching member from the early days who died of cancer in 1987. We award the annual Matt LaBelle scholarship award to one senior each year. I don't know if anyone else realized this - but Matt LaBelle's parents were behind us as I was talking to the members about his life. It is truly an honor to keep his memory and legacy alive and I sincerely hope that the words I spoke about him did justice to someone who is a very important part of Brigade history and tradition.
We got a lot accomplished during mini - camp. We are up to drill chart #17 and I pretty much only have to re-write one chart before our next rehearsal (sorry, mellophones!!). I'll be pretty busy the next few weeks finishing up the show. The members worked really hard and we let them know that mini - camp is basically a rehearsal for band camp (which is where the REAL work begins!!). As a staff, we will be turning up the heat a little bit each day and expecting more and more from our members. We want to get the drill taught and finished so that we can start to clean and add cool horn moves, body movement, and other exciting things to our show. Members should remember to bring their thinking caps - because it is going to be intense!
All members were given the first "turn - out" sheet of the season. I will be doing these informational sheets about once a week and they will include all dates, times, and locations of all of our rehearsals and shows. For band camp - all members will need to bring:
* Hat (ALL heads WILL be covered whenever we are outside. NO exceptions)
* "Dot" book
* proper shoes (no bare feet or sandals are allowed)
* Sunscreen (a MUST!!!)
* Aloe vera gel (when the sunscreen doesn't work) :)
* WATER!!!!!
* Drill charts/binder/music
* Positive attitude and work ethic (this means cutting down on the talking, working really hard, memorizing music, and everything else it takes to be a positive member of the Lighthouse Brigade).
That's all for now - everything is looking great in Brigadeland and I am really looking forward to starting band camp and the season - it's gonna be a great one!!
Monday, May 12, 2008
Camp Report
On Saturday, May 10th, the Lighthouse Brigade began learning the drill charts for their 2008 production of "From The New World"!!
Despite some chilly temperatures and a number of members not able to be there - every chart I had ready for Saturday was learned! I explained to the members that Saturday was a kind of dress rehearsal for what we will be doing during mini-camp and mini-camp will be a dress rehearsal for what we will be doing during band camp. If the speed we learned drill charts on Saturday is an indication of what band camp will be like in June - I think we will be in great shape to finish the show and have enough days of camp left to put in some serious cleaning before we begin our competitive season!
Here are some thing members will need for mini-camp:
- Themselves (I expect EVERYONE to be there unless you have cleared something with me in advance). "I have to work" is NOT a valid excuse. By the end of mini-camp I expect to have charts 1 - 22 learned.
- Hat (no hat = running)
- Water
- Sunscreen (a must!!)
- proper athletic shoes (NO bare feet or sandals are allowed)
- "Dot" book (w/pen or pencil)
- all music memorized
Here is the schedule for Mini-Camp @ Gifford Elementary School:
Friday, May 23rd - 5:00pm - 9:00pm
Saturday, May 24th - 9:00am - 9:00pm (bring a bag lunch - Racine Band Boosters will provide dinner!)
Sunday, May 25th - 1:00pm - 6:00pm (parent concert in the auditorium @ 5:00pm - in full uniform!!)
Monday, May 26th - 8:00am - 1:00pm (we will be bussed to the parade and bussed back to Gifford for announcements and clean-up). Parade begins at West Blvd/Washington Ave and goes to the cemetary where the Veteran's Ceremony will take place.
See you all in a few weeks!!
Despite some chilly temperatures and a number of members not able to be there - every chart I had ready for Saturday was learned! I explained to the members that Saturday was a kind of dress rehearsal for what we will be doing during mini-camp and mini-camp will be a dress rehearsal for what we will be doing during band camp. If the speed we learned drill charts on Saturday is an indication of what band camp will be like in June - I think we will be in great shape to finish the show and have enough days of camp left to put in some serious cleaning before we begin our competitive season!
Here are some thing members will need for mini-camp:
- Themselves (I expect EVERYONE to be there unless you have cleared something with me in advance). "I have to work" is NOT a valid excuse. By the end of mini-camp I expect to have charts 1 - 22 learned.
- Hat (no hat = running)
- Water
- Sunscreen (a must!!)
- proper athletic shoes (NO bare feet or sandals are allowed)
- "Dot" book (w/pen or pencil)
- all music memorized
Here is the schedule for Mini-Camp @ Gifford Elementary School:
Friday, May 23rd - 5:00pm - 9:00pm
Saturday, May 24th - 9:00am - 9:00pm (bring a bag lunch - Racine Band Boosters will provide dinner!)
Sunday, May 25th - 1:00pm - 6:00pm (parent concert in the auditorium @ 5:00pm - in full uniform!!)
Monday, May 26th - 8:00am - 1:00pm (we will be bussed to the parade and bussed back to Gifford for announcements and clean-up). Parade begins at West Blvd/Washington Ave and goes to the cemetary where the Veteran's Ceremony will take place.
See you all in a few weeks!!
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Getting back on schedule!!
Hello all,
I have been neglecting my blog for a few weeks, now - sorry about that!
I will post a "Tuesday Spotlight on the Staff" next week and before that I will submit a report on the 9-9 rehearsal this Saturday at Mitchell. Remember - this camp is only for horn line and battery.
9-9 at Mitchell Middle School
We will be marching DRILL!!! Yeah, baby!!
Bring:
- lunch (Boosters will provide dinner)
- athletic shoes (no bare feet or sandals)
- hat
- sunblock
- instrument
- "dot book" (Matt and the boyz should have explained this at the last camp)
- whatever the weather - we will be marching outside......be prepared!!
Make sure the Introduction is memorized to perfection - the goal is to learn all charts for the Introduction (about 12 or so) on Saturday......marching AND playing!!
Later,
Rex
I have been neglecting my blog for a few weeks, now - sorry about that!
I will post a "Tuesday Spotlight on the Staff" next week and before that I will submit a report on the 9-9 rehearsal this Saturday at Mitchell. Remember - this camp is only for horn line and battery.
9-9 at Mitchell Middle School
We will be marching DRILL!!! Yeah, baby!!
Bring:
- lunch (Boosters will provide dinner)
- athletic shoes (no bare feet or sandals)
- hat
- sunblock
- instrument
- "dot book" (Matt and the boyz should have explained this at the last camp)
- whatever the weather - we will be marching outside......be prepared!!
Make sure the Introduction is memorized to perfection - the goal is to learn all charts for the Introduction (about 12 or so) on Saturday......marching AND playing!!
Later,
Rex
Sunday, May 4, 2008
been awhile
Hello everyone,
It has been awhile since anyone posted anything on here, so here goes.
Brigade is cool.
The End
Stay tuned for much more in the exciting blogging world of Rex's Blog.
"special guest blogger"
Guy
It has been awhile since anyone posted anything on here, so here goes.
Brigade is cool.
The End
Stay tuned for much more in the exciting blogging world of Rex's Blog.
"special guest blogger"
Guy
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