Greetings from cold Gifford Elementary School and the second of four drum line camps during our off-season! Patrick Coughlin, our percussion caption head, is very excited with the line already and thinks great things will be taking place come June and July. The focus of these camps is to get a head start on the warm-ups and street beat we will use in 2009 as well as getting the correct technique in place EARLY so that when band camp and the season starts - the battery has a strong foundation. Judges have always found Brigade percussionists to have strong playing technique and musicality - and this season will be no different! Our tradition of strong technique is due to many things: the talent level of our members; amazing private teachers like Mark Pulice and Tom Sorensen, and superior staff instruction.
Once again, our terrific Junior Brigade has proven to be an awesome training ground and feeder program for us with four rookies joining the line - all of whom marched in Junior Brigade last year! Patrick tells me that they are all very strong players and should be able to fit right in with the veterans. Of course - the actual line has not been set as far as who will be playing what instrument or how many snares, tenors and basses we may march. But - I would not be surprised to see the entire percussion section looks something like this when we hit band camp:
Snares - 5
Tenors - 3
Bass Drums - 5
Front Ensemble - 8
These numbers would be fantastic and I wouldn't even be surprised if they end up even larger. I can say without a doubt that the Lighthouse Brigade percussion section (battery and pit) will be a strong force to be dealt with all season! Many thanks go out to students and the winter camp percussion staff of:
Patrick Coughlin - Percussion Caption Head
Steve Lange - Percussion Technician
Tony Holm - Percussion Technician
FYI - I have the dates of the first meeting and rehearsals for the 2009 Lighthouse Brigade:
Thursday, February 5th - Recruitment Night and Member/Parent Meeting
Gifford Elementary School - 7:00pm in the auditorium
(All current and prospective members are REQUIRED to attend this meeting!)
First Rehearsals
Saturday, February 7th - 9:00am - 5:00pm at Gifford Elementary School
Sunday, February 8th - 1:00pm - 6:00pm at Gifford Elementary School
I'll post another blog entry next week during the color guard "spin camp" number 2!
- Rex out
