First Rehearsal!

So, our first rehearsal has come and gone. We’ve got a great group, and we’re going to do amazing things. I can guarantee that all of you all will emerge from this experience like little butterflies that have improved their musical abilities! Remember, rehearsals are for rehearsing not practice. It is your duty to practice at home! There’s so much work to be done, balance and marching wise, that you need to have the music under control as soon as you show up to rehearsal. Mr. Slaughter will post a new planning sheet each Monday on the bulletin board, showing what we’re going to be working on so you know exactly what to practice. If the expectations are clear, there should be no reason why you can’t prepare ahead of time.

Also, remember that you’re going to be asked to move your body carriage in a way that you’ve probably never done before. Be open to the ideas that we have, and never opt out. This is a performance group, and as such we will be trying as hard as possible to get the highest G.E. (general effect) score possible. I’ve posted a couple of videos on Facebook, and will continue to do so. Watch them in their entirety and feel free to come to us with ideas! While its true we’ve done this before, we want it to be unlike anything else. Anything that stands out is going to be memorable!

Do work, son!

-Mr. Wolfe

And the results are in!

So, now the 2010-2011 season is officially under way. Get ready to work hard and perform well!

These pit members are also alternates, just in case someone in the battery cannot participate.

These results do not have the other people in the front ensemble listed, as there was no audition.

Auditions!

We’ve got battery auditions Friday, kiddies! Be ready to work and play more than one instrument. The bassess will be set up in the bandroom on stands, but snares and tenors will not. Please don’t get your feelings hurt if you don’t get the instrument you want. We’re going to place people based off of general technique, previous work ethic, and instrumentation needs. Results will be posted by Monday on the band room door and bulletin board.

Should you not make the cut, don’t give up! There are tons of needs In the front ensemble, and it will be just as cool! You will still get exposed to an entire season of percussion technique, and you will become a better musician! Regardless of your placement, it will be an amazing experience and you definitely don’t want to miss out!

Be ready to play 8 on a hand, paradiddles, chicken in a bowl, and stick control! Don’t worry if you don’t have music, they’re easy sticking patterns and they will be written on the whiteboard.

Do work, son!!!

On the topic of money…

Let’s take a second to talk about money.

I understand that all of you are reliant on your parents for most of everything, and that asking for the necessary funds for indoor is a daunting task. We have tried to cut back on as much as possible, and feel that our cost is more than reasonable when compared to other programs in the area. However, the cost covers EVERYTHING including the score, a new set of sticks and mallets, and getting you+equipment from point A to point B.

I understand that $3oo sounds like a huge investment. However, when combined with our multiple fundraising efforts, you should be able to easily raise half (if not more) quite easily. Fruit sales are a super easy way to get your fees down, and even a few boxes make a difference. I know there’s no “fun” in fundraising, but it is the best financial solution for everyone. Here are some other ideas for side jobs.

• If your parents smoke, ask them to “take a break” or “cut back”. (The average cost of a pack in Tennessee is $4.84. If one parent goes through a pack a day, that equates to $33.88 a week; then that goes up to $135.52 a month! If they were to stop for just 2 months, they would be able to free up $271.04 on that basis!)
• Rake yards! Fall time is here, and leaves are falling. Many people hire landscape people to get the leaves out of their yard. Just go around your neighborhood and tell people that you’re trying to raise money for band fees. Rather than charge a flat rate, it usually works out better if you just ask for a donation for the hard work you do. Some people might even have tools, and you could work faster if you took someone else from the percussion section with you!
• Take odd jobs from the paper, church bulletin, or Craigslist. People always need help doing stuff around the house. This might be helping someone move houses in the area, or it could be babysitting. Plus, its better than sitting home all weekend on Facebook!
• Sell stuff of eBay! Always get your parents permission! If you’ve got old stuff sitting around that you haven’t used in a long time, put it up for auction. People out there will buy pretty much anything, and its better than just giving it away to Goodwill or throwing it away.

I know Christmas time is tough for everybody. People feel they need to spend exuberant amounts of money on material things that won’t be used or remembered for the years to come. The time that you have with the people you are in school with is a lot shorter than you think it is.

Don’t let finances be an issue for you. Money will never just fall into your lap. Be proactive and excited about it!

-Mr. Wolfe

Hello world!

Alright, everything is set up and ready to rock!

I suppose that I should introduce myself. My name is Steve Wolfe, and I am the percussion director at William Blount High School in Maryville, Tennessee. I came up with this crazy idea of trying to bridge the gap between technology and students, and this is really more of an experiment than anything else. I’ve searched every other marching band website in the area, and I haven’t been able to find anything that comes close to what I’m hoping to achieve with project.

I’m really hoping that this will be an all access pass for not only parents to see the progress that their students are making, but also allow colleagues and other students across the country to be exposed to the program. We’re rather small in stature, as far as notable programs in the area, and my hope is that these technology gateways will allow us to improve quickly by getting input from outside sources.

And with that, the first post of many has come to an end. Please check out the above tabs, and eventually they will all have content of some sort.