131 Days until "Dakota Lemonade" time!!

     That's right - only 131 more days until we will all fall under the spell of the best lemonade on the planet - the famous "Dakota Lemonade"!!  Sometimes I wonder if I only do Brigade because I know there is a magical beverage in store for me when I go to Dakota each year for their annual field show competition!  

     For those of you who have never experienced the joy and rapture of Dakota Lemonade - you will soon understand the longing and excitement that will be spreading through the Brigade ranks as we get closer to June 25th!  For those of you who know exactly what I am talking about......131 more days until we will be able to toast Brigade, Dakota, cows, the ever present smell of manure, and all that is good in the world!

     I'm looking forward to seeing everybody again for another Brigade camp this weekend!  Don't forget the dates and times:

Saturday, February 21st (9:00am - 5:00pm)

and

Sunday, February 22nd (1:00pm - 6:00pm)

(Gifford Elementary School)

Note:  For Parents - "Show-And-Tell" will be at 5:15 on Sunday!!

- Rex out

Know Your Brigade Staff

     My next "Know Your Staff" will focus on one of our percussion technicians - Meghan Christian.  I've known Meghan since she was my band student at Mitchell Middle School and it so much fun to now work with her as a staff member!  After two years in the Junior Brigade - Meghan began marching in the Lighthouse Brigade on bass drum in 2002 and then on snare 2003-2006 (ending her marching career with Brigade as drum line section leader during our championship season).  During her years in Brigade, our drum lines were among some of the best in our history and she was a big part of that.  So - here is how Meghan answered my questions:

Name: Meghan Christian

Position: Percussion Technician

Number of years on staff: second year

Marching Experience: Junior Brigade (2000-2001), Lighthouse Brigade (2002-2006)

College: University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Major: going for BFA

Main Instrument: Percussion

Home Town: Racine, WI

Birthday: May 18th, 1988

Favorite Food: fish and pasta

Top Five Favorite Movies: American Beauty, Lord of the Rings, Curse of the Golden Flower, Mulan and Gladiator

Favorite TV Shows: South Park, Scrubs, What Not To Wear

Book you are currently reading:  My Year of Meats

What is currently playing on your iPod: Radiohead

Favorite Sports: volley ball, badminton, horseback riding

Favorite games: FF, Risk, Chess, GTA, Fable, Portal, Civilization, The Sims.....

Favorite pig-out food: salted popcorn

Dream Vacation: Seoul, Korea

Worst Habit: nail biting

Hidden talent you have: random character impersonations

Famous person you have met: Johnny Yong Bosch (the original Black Ranger)

Famous person you would like to meet: Yoshitaka Amano, Alphonse Mucha, Gustave Klimt, Louis Sullivan and Giacomo Balla

Worst Fear: heights

Favorite Actor: Kevin Spacey

Favorite Actress: Meryl Streep

Favorite ride at Disney World: Mission Space

Add your own personal thoughts about the Lighthouse Brigade:  I can not seem to find the appropriate words to express my appreciation for what Brigade has done for me, but I will do my best.  Because of Brigade, I was able to meet interesting people and develop important character building skills that have proven useful as I go through my "post-adolescent idealistic phase".  Brigade is something I encourage for anyone interested in challenging themselves, making new friends, and creating powerful memories.  My years in the Lighthouse Brigade are something I will not easily forget and I am glad to be back on staff for this upcoming season!

First Camp of the Season!!!

     The first camp of the 2009 season was a huge success!  For the first time in a bunch of years - all sections of Brigade (horn line, battery, front ensemble and guard) have strong numbers.  It is so great to see a ton of former Junior Brigade members coming up this year and I really enjoyed the work ethic and attitudes on display all weekend!

     This camp is designed to give our old and new members a chance to get to know one another and start forming friendships that will not only last a summer - but often for a lifetime!  New members quickly started to learn how we do things the "Brigade Way" while the veteran members shook off the rust of winter and started to get back into "Brigade Mode".  Membership so far this year is almost up 50%!!  As I told the members - the numbers are looking great already, but we are always looking for just a few more people if possible to fill out our ranks even more.  I will accept new members until the middle of May, and then I will have to really start writing the actual drill with our final and confirmed numbers.

     As far as what was accomplished this weekend: Guard is learning all of the warm-ups and technique (body and flag) they will be needing for the season.  Battery worked on warm-ups, technique, the street beat and even started to look at the opener.  The Front Ensemble was without Patrick this weekend, but one of Patrick's friends - Alex - stepped right in and worked with the line.  He did a great job and we really appreciate him filling in for Patrick.  Patrick is expecting all of his front ensemble members to be able to play "four mallet" technique and they started working on that.  The Horn Line worked on a bunch of warm-ups and breathing exercises and also started work on the opener.  Brian Braatz is back as visual caption head and he started the long process of getting our members to march our style.  It is a long road ahead, but Brian and his visual staff are hyped!

     All I can say is: the staff and I are SOOOOO excited for this season - especially after seeing the talent level of the group; the full numbers and the behavior of the members.  It is going to be a fun AND competitive season for sure!!!  On a side note.....at the end of every rehearsal I do a final check of all of the rehearsal areas to make sure they are left clean.  Well - this weekend - each area was SPOTLESS!!  It was like we had never even entered the school - so a HUGE thank you to the staff and members for being responsible.

     Our next camp is right around the corner:  Saturday, February 21st (9-5) and Sunday, February 22nd (1-6).  There will be "Show-And-Tell" for parents on Sunday at around 5:15 (just follow the sign to see where it will start).  Come and see what amazing things your children are doing in this program.  Members - bring a friend!  I can't wait to see everyone in a couple of weeks!!

- Rex Out

Know Your Brigade Staff

     As another season gets underway - our many Brigade "rookies" will be learning how to do things the "Brigade Way".  This year we also have a "rookie" staff member - although he is certainly no stranger to Brigade.  I will be publishing posts every other week or so (in addition to my normal director blogs) about our amazing staff members.  This should prove to be a great way for members and parents to get to know our staff a little better.  I thought that starting out with our new staff member would be a terrific way to get the ball rolling!

Brigade Staff Member Q & A - Mike Kowbel

Name: Mike Kowbel

Staff Positions: Music and Visual Technician

Number of Years On Staff: First Year

Marching Experience: Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps (2008) and Lighthouse Brigade of Racine (2005-2007)

College: Freshman at UW-Stevens Point - Music Education

Main Instrument: Trumpet

Home Town: Racine

Birthday: October 7th, 1989

Favorite Food: Barbecue

Top Five Favorite Movies: (1) Braveheart  (2) Gladiator  (3) The Notebook (yes, I like "The Notebook"!!)  (4) Tommy Boy  (5) Land Before Time (the first one....the only good one!!)

Favorite TV Shows:  Planet Earth series, Family Guy, The Office

Book Currently Reading: The Bible

Currently playing on my iPod: DRUM CORPS!!

Favorite Sports Team:  Packers

Favorite Pig Out Food: Barbecue

Dream Vacation: Anywhere tropical

Worst Habit:  The Cricket Noise....if you don't know - just ask me!!

Hidden Talent: Able to make lots of weird noises

Famous Person I Have Met: Wynton Marsalis

Famous Person I would like to Meet:  Sean Connery

Favorite Quote: "Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified: do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."  Joshua 1:9

Favorite Actor: Mel Gibson

Favorite Actress: Angelina Jolie

Favorite Disney ride: Probably the safari....but after I go on the new Mountain roller coaster thing they just built - I bet it will be that!

My own personal thoughts on Brigade: Brigade shaped my life.  It gave me the chance to experience a whole new level of performance.  It is one of the main reasons why I want to be a music educator in the future.  I wouldn't have the deep passion for drum corps that I do if it weren't for Brigade.  It is an amazing organization that caters to all a student needs in a summer: friendship, performance, the sun, Disney World, air, water (lots of water!!), being active, and great food from the Boosters!!!  I love Brigade and that is why I'm so fired up to be teaching this summer!!

2009 Brigade Season Set To Begin!!

     The start of the 2009 Lighthouse Brigade season is right around the corner!  Our recruitment night is Thursday, February 5th at 7:00pm in the Gifford Elementary School Auditorium.  Parents AND students are expected to attend!  There will be a lot of information given out at this meeting and it is also a great opportunity for veteran members to see everyone again.  For our new members, this is a great chance to start making new friends.  New parents will have a chance to ask some of the many questions I am sure many of them have about Brigade and what the season will bring.  I look forward to seeing a large turnout!

     The first camp is Saturday, February 7th (9:00am - 5:00pm) and Sunday, February 8th (1:00pm - 6:00pm).  For off-season camps - all members should bring:

- bag lunch for Saturday

- comfortable clothes (we will be marching - sweats/warm-ups and athletic shoes work best)

- water/snacks

- instrument (if you will be playing a Brigade instrument - don't forget your mouthpiece, valve oil, drum sticks, etc.)

- pencil

- binder w/plastic sheet protectors

- positive attitude (we are going to have lots of fun.....and we are going to work really hard!!)

     Please check out the Brigade website for more information and schedules.  Bring a friend to this camp!  Also - if you know in advance you will be unable to be at a camp - PLEASE contact Rex and let him know.  This season is going to be amazing!  The music is fantastic, the staff is going to be awesome to work with, our MACBDA tour should be very competitive and - best of all - we are going to Disney World!!  

- Rex out

     

     

Drum Line Camp Report and 2009 First Rehearsal Dates!!

     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

A Great Time!

     It was so much fun to see such a great turnout for the DVD party!  I really liked having it at Charcoal Grill.  No offense to Gifford - but all RUSD schools turn off the heat during the weekends to save money - so in past years the auditorium has always been freezing cold, the sound system is very muddled, and you can't have any food or beverages.  I was happy with the food choices and I thought the sound was pretty clear.  Maybe the actual screen could be a little bigger - but all in all I thought the night was a whole lot of fun!

     I would like to thank Paul Ruffolo for all of the work he did for this project.  There are a million little touches he adds to the DVD that most people won't even notice......but take it from someone who was there every step of the way - I notice all of them and I am so lucky to have someone like Paul to help me with this HUGE project.  I met Paul when I was a young (right out of drum corps) instructor and he was a senior marching member of the Band of the Black Watch from Kenosha.  He "gets" what marching band is all about and I really think that shows up time and time again on the season DVD's.

     It was also great to have my big brother, Gene, in attendance.  For those of you who may not know - he is the designer and webmaster of our Brigade website.  He lives in the L.A. area and usually visits in September so it was a real treat for him to be able to experience the DVD party in person.  Gene and I will be updating the Brigade website as well as adding some new features such as the alumni directory.  I count my lucky stars that I have Paul and Gene as resources for Lighthouse Brigade.  Much like my world class staff who bring the members to such high levels of performance each year, these creative people make the Brigade extra special.

     The 2009 Field show production is now up on the member's page and on the latest brigade news page and I will also put it here:

"Legacy - The Music of John Barnes Chance" 

Music selections:

Incantation And Dance

Variations On A Korean Folk Song

     This show will feature the music of one of the most important composers to ever write for school concert bands.  In the mid 1960's he was digging a trench in his back yard when he struck a live wire and was killed, leaving a legacy of some amazing music.  I have wanted to do this show for a number of years, now and our 30th anniversary year is a great time to do it.  The "Legacy" in the title of the show also references former marching member Matt LaBelle who passed away due to cancer in the 1980's.  Mr. Donald Young, band director at Horlick High School, was selected by the Lighthouse Brigade to compose a song dedicated to his memory and Mr. Young entitled it, "Legacy".

     Plans are well underway for the 2009 season.  I am looking at starting at the end of January.  I'll post more information as I go.

- Rex out