Getting Ready for the Brentwood Show

I am so proud of how the band and parents here at Roslyn are so positive this season.  We all have an incredible healthy grasp of this whole subjectivity thing.  We love our marching band, love the activity, and realize that the judges have a right to their opinion.  Hopefully, this Sunday, the scores will reflect how great we have become as a band.  In looking at the Small School 2 scores, I feel that they are down from last year, all across the state.  Usually scoring in the mid 70s by the second week of the season, we are barely there, while Large School 3 groups are ahead of us.  Don't try to make sense of it all, it is simply a subjective medium.

Please, follow a few simple rules when we are going through the season.  I will recap what I told the band when I talked to them after the show at Copiague.  

1.  Be ready for anything.  Judging scores and slates can come up with totally different reads from week to week.  You can be down by 6 points one week and up by 6 the next.  Keep it all in perspective.

2.  Have great sportsmanship.  These bands are all our neighbors, we are all in this great activity together.  Compliment those other band members you come in contact with.  Don't put any other bands down, even amongst yourselves.  You never know who is right nearby and more importantly, it's not nice.  Watch the other band shows and be positive to everyone you see.  Make friends with the other band members.  

3.  Don't go crazy if you win, remember, somebody just lost to you.  Be nice.  Stay positive. Remember that next week you may be the one who is down in scoring.   If you really need to outwardly celebrate, do it when we get back to our school.

4.  Know how great you are, how much you have accomplished, and don't be dependent upon 6 people's impressions to make you feel good about yourself.  If they love the show, great.  If they don't, that's OK too.  One day they will crown us champions.

5.  Remember the long term goals for our program.  We have 3 shots (years) at winning this class to keep on track.  There is absolutely no rush.  Although our goal is to win the class at the dome, we are keeping it all in perspective.