Tonight! Great, Great,Great Job!

Great job tonight! You know how you did! You focused and did exactly what we talked about all day in rehearsal. YOU WERE ON! BIG TIME! Everyone in that stadium knows how you did! EVERYONE! You took a major step in reaching the Dynasty level! Unfortunately, a few of the judges didn’t agree. They will, give them time!

One of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s famous quotes is important when we deal with the subjectivity of judging. “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

Building a dynasty is very difficult. We are clearly accomplishing our goals and doing it. Along the way there are speed bumps. Tonight was one of those. Whatever the reason, we are getting low scores. Perhaps it is our lack of precision, our lack of focus which is affecting our “getting it done”. Perhaps we are totally doing a great job and for whatever reasons, the numbers aren’t reflecting it. We have a ton of horn snaps, starts and stops, tempo changes, accellerandos, transitions, and very difficult music. We designed this show to win the class. It is a challenging show. Perhaps we just haven’t peaked yet. Perhaps we are a few inches from the gold in our marching band gold mine, and have to dig for another week to reach it. We have 3 big rehearsals left, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. We need to focus and get the most out of ourselves this week. We just need to max out our precision so that the judges see us for what we are, an incredible, championship band. Remember, the marching band season is a marathon which doesn’t end until the dome. Last year we were dumped 3 points below Division on this weekend, only to focus and beat them at the dome when they got 3rd place to our 2nd place! Stay focused! Stay the course!

Those speed bumps in life define us. How we handle things that come at us defines us. It is easy to be great when things are amazing. How we handle adversity defines us.

Here is one of my favorite quotes. Nobody knows who said this quote, but it is perfect with dealing with tonight’s result.

“Our lives are not determined by what happens to us but by how we react to what happens, not by what life brings to us, but by the attitude we bring to life. A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events, and outcomes. It is a catalyst, a spark that creates extraordinary results.”

We have a “positive attitude.” Let’s face it, we define it. Our results are “extraordinary.” We are the talk of the Island, the talk of Roslyn, and soon the talk of the state! Really, we are the talk of everyone who went to that show tonight, that's for sure! We are making big waves in this activity. We love what we do and are great at it! Don’t let 7 people’s decision about what we deserve influence our self-esteem and confidence. Tomorrow they will crown us champions. They will see the light!

Now about tomorrow’s show. We are doing this one USSBA show to try out this circuit. We did one other USSBA show last year at Hicksville and received some great scores. USSBA is part of YEA which is run by the Cadets drum corps. The circuit started in the early 1990s. All the Long Island bands did the USSBA (then called CMBC, cadets marching band cooperative). The Championships were at Giant’s Stadium. When the stadium went to regular grass turf they wouldn’t let the marching bands use it anymore and the CMBC switched their championships to other venues, in Allentown, Atlantic City, and other stadiums. What ensued was an immediate withdrawal of the Long Island bands. With the loss of Giant’s stadium, the Long Island bands all went to the NYSFBC which has the championship at the Carrier Dome. These bands felt that the final venue was crucial and that the dome was a better place to end the season, an indoor venue that ends at the end of October.

The USSBA and the NYSFBC are similar in scoring with one major exception. The NYSFBC puts bands into classes by school size. The USSBA puts bands in classes by the size of band. They then give credit to larger bands and the scores tend to go up as your band size/class goes up. In many parts of the country, if you have a bigger band the General Effect scores reflect it. In most cases, a 140 piece band looks and sounds more exciting than a 40 piece band. Most circuits recognize that. Most circuits put bands into their classes by band size, also feeling that it is unfair to have a 40 piece band perform immediately after a 140 piece band, for that same “General Effect” reason.

Unfortunately, the circuit we are in does not take into consideration the size of the band and actually ignores it in the general effect scores. In fact, Northwestern, the smallest band in our class, is scoring over everyone. They also won the SS2 class two years in a row and have not moved to SS1, a class they clearly belong in. That is another whole issue, bands winning classes and staying in that class for years, winning over and over. A few years ago in the NYSFBC I actually had a judge tell me to cut my band size down to make it more competitive. The NYSFBC seems to reward smaller groups. The Dome is an incredible venue, but I cannot help ponder if we are doing the best for our program by going into an arena that actually makes a point to ignore band size.

I am excited about our band size! A large part of the excitement within a band program is the number of kids in the band. Big bands are exciting. Big bands touch more lives. Isn’t that what it is all about, touching more lives? In addition, with the addition of Giant’s stadium back as a USSBA venue, we should probably think about the possibility of performing in that circuit. The USSBA also has no minimum show requirement and is a more relaxed in terms of timing and penalties which will take alot of stress off our pit parents. In the early 90s the CMBC had a dozen or so bands. Now they are called the USSBA and have over 700 bands in their circuit. Some Long Island bands do exclusively compete in the USSBA and you will see them at this weekend’s show.

Last Night's Rehearsal....Wow! and the Up and Coming Weekend!!!

Last night's rehearsal was incredible! In all my years of running marching bands I have never seen a group work so hard. You raised the bar with hard work and determination. The amount of ground we covered was amazing. We actually cleaned marching, intervals, and horn pops in one half of the show. You were silent, followed directions, and worked tirelessly. Thanks for working so hard! I really appreciate your hard work. Hopefully this weekend it will pay off!

Now onto this weekend. We will be competing against Mineola, who is currently ahead of us by .6 which really means that the spread is gone. We all know they scored an 78.4 at Huntington. We all know they are a great band, a dynasty in fact. But really, who knows what would have happened if we went to Huntington, perhaps we would have been closer, or even over them! We could have scored a 79! Who knows. Anyway, we need to show the judges that we are great so that they reward us!Hopefully they will! We need to be precise, sharp, together with great horn pops, marching and style. Remember, in order for the judges to "make the call", popping us over bands we traditionally haven't beat, it has to be a big spread. Not by a point or two, but by 5 points or more. In the mid 90's, when I was building the Mineola dynasty, we were blowing bands off the field and the scores didn't reflect it. We were not one of the "Big Boys" yet. We were patient! Soon the scores came and now they are a powerhouse! Grant it, the judges have a right to their opinions, we have to totally respect that. I don't ever want to criticize the judging, in fact, the judges have been the best this year. They will one day crown us champions. We just need to really show them what we have! Also remember, building a program is hard. Building a Dynasty is even harder. We have to dig down and get it done. It won't be easy. Aim High....Be Patient!

Lets perform the shows of our lives this weekend at the Mineola Show and at the USSBA Championships. And remember, if someone beats us, shake their hands and congratulate them, they beat a great band! Roslyn! Future Dynasty!

Homecoming & Walt Whitman Wrap Up, Finally!!

So here we go, two nights to think about it, what to write. Sorry I didn't put the blog up until now. I needed to digest the weekend, as you would a gourmet meal, before I wrote about it. I had to reflect on some of my own, shall I say, shortcomings, or maybe a better way to put it would be, my ego. There, I said it, I have one. Actually, we all do.

I am very competetive, big time. I hate losing, at anything. Whether its fishing on a party boat, to playing chess, or even a video game, I hate to lose, to anyone, at any time. Sorry, I am being honest with you. But sometimes I have to compose my thoughts, and look at the big picture. Here with the Roslyn Band, the big picture is one of the most beautiful, incredible, and breathtaking pictures I have ever seen. That is what I realized after digesting this past weekend. Watching that huge and precise band marching down the street, taking up 3 blocks, with parents and groupies following the band like they were celebrities was heart wrenching to say the least. Seeing the huge crowd at the homecoming, the whole community coming together to watch our teams and students celebrate our school's homecoming, was an incredible thing to watch. The passion, the love, the rise of Roslyn in so many ways- what a great picture to take in. We all need to take a step back and look at the "Big Picture."

Now back to the reality of life. Sometimes it is difficult to deal with the subjectivity of judges, of a person or persons totally deciding if you "got it done" or not. Actually, it is always difficult dealing with it! After homecoming, at the Walt Whitman Show, it hit us like a ton of bricks. Fun to watch, but a little scary because you don't know what is coming. With subjective judging there are so many variables that are involved, you have to be very intelligent and patient when dealing with it. You have to constantly adjust your goals. You have to have unwavering resiliency. It is very similar to getting into the best colleges. A person or persons on an admission team will decide if you are worthy of their school. It is totally subjective when it comes right down to it. Of course, you need the great grades and SAT's, the great essay and brilliant interview technique, but when you come right down to it.........someone is going to decide if you "got it done." Pretty scary!

Now back to the band (sorry about the rant).

The band was incredible, clearly one of the best on Long Island. We have gotten better every year. We have gotten bigger every year. Everyone is talking about the growth of the Roslyn Band. "Where did they come from" is a frequent line around the marching band scene on Long Island. In addition, we are more organized and have an incredible support system from our school, community, and parents! We have the hardest working band I have ever seen. I am proud to direct such a great group of human beings. Wow, I really mean it!!

We have a goal, we are building a dynasty. We are doing it. Big Time!!!!

Do the judges realize it yet? Maybe........and maybe not. It doesn't matter. They will. I'll say it again. THEY WILL. Maybe this year, maybe next year, and maybe 10 years down the road. The bottom line is that WE realize what we are doing here. We need to take it all in. We need to Pat (ha) ourselves on the back. We need to realize how great it is going, how much we have all done here. Sit back and think about it, ponder it, watch old tapes, you will be mezmerized by the incredible growth of the Roslyn Marching Band Program. Feel it, internalize it, then press on.

The energy, from the parents pouring onto the field to set the band up, to the new shakos and plumes, to the 7 tubas, to the incredible drum line, to the huge and hard working low brass section, to the incredible clarinets, the great flutes, the crazy, nutty alto saxes (who play great!) to the great bass clarinets, and the great colorguard. We have it all! The pit rocks! Remember a few years ago when there wasn't even a pit or colorguard! Our colorguard was right on this week! They were incredible. The trumpets are one of the best sections on Long Island! The mellophones march like pros and sound like it too!

Remember the word......Dynasty! We are building a marching band dynasty! It's fun! It's more fun than anything to win! Hopefully we will! But have fun in the process, don't miss out the fun it is building this thing!

Now, if we get a low score, that is when you are really put to the test. Anyone can handle a great score. It is a very special group that can get a low score, dust themselves off, work hard, and take the championship by storm. We are that group! We did it before! Remember, we did some of our best work when we are in last place last year! We ended up beating 11 bands, winning a Silver Plaque, and moving up a class. We are that special group. Roslyn is a very rare place, hard workers, very competetive, and we love marching band. Let's dig down, get psyched, and tear down the dome! (not literally). Our goal is still to win the dome! Stay the course! Aim High.......Be Patient!

P.S........from the bottom of my heart......I love all of you and appreciate how hard you are working!

Rest day!

We all need a day off, to not think about marching band. I will write on the blog tomorrow, Monday, about the weekend and the up and coming last two weeks! Great job Saturday, it was an incredible day!