Competition Season is here!

As the season starts I will start posting about our up and coming competition season. This year’s show is very creative and you will see some very interesting things going on throughout it.  We have a crowd pleaser here and hopefully a “judge pleaser” as well.

I just posted the “Brentwood Show Sheet.”  I do this for every single event.  I will also blog about each show before and after so you can come right here if you want to know what is going on.

Twitter - I give twitter updates.  You can have every one sent to your cell phone as a text, or simply bookmark our twitter site to see what is going on throughout the season.  I will be tweeting more on competition days this year so put your phone on vibrate.  I will tweet out the score from the back judges room as well if I know before it is announced.  Just don't cheer and/or boo and get me in trouble.

As a director I am tremendously proud of how far the Marching Bulldogs have come in terms of their development. The students have worked so hard, from the first step at band camp through the night rehearsals and the competitions.  As most of you know, I treat band as a leadership training, character development, and goal setting class in addition to the marching and music instruction.

Many bands choose not to compete. They choose to perform a less involved and simpler show at only the Newsday festival and their home games. We, the “Roslyn Marching Bulldogs” compete. We are better for it and will accomplish great things by being a competitive band.  Short and long term goals are an important part of life and through this great activity, we will “shoot for the stars.” 

Our scores have risen and we have been beating more and more bands each year at the dome.  And at the dome “ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN.”  When we received 2nd out of 12 we were ranked dead last all season in the competitions.  The dome brings in the best judges and doubles the slate to minimize the impact one judge can have.  Judges from outside our area are more likely to make the call and lead the local judges to do the right thing when we are at the dome.

And now a paragraph about all the band shifts this season. We are in Small School 2, which is a higher class than Small School 3 or Large School 3.  We get an automatic bump up for being in that class, or at least that’s what should happen.    The Field Band Conference did a spreadsheet of average scores over the past 5 years and adjusted, moving some bands into our class and some bands up a class.  Mineola got moved up to Small School 1 and Malverne got moved to Small School 2, our class.  Copiague moved out of the National Class and are competing in Large School 2 which is why Mineola, in Small School 1 will be performing last in the local shows, unless there is a National Class Band there which is the most prestigious class. We usually go on later in the local shows because of our more prestigious Small School 2 class.  We go on after all Small School 3 and Large School 3 bands, which is most of the bands who compete on Long Island.

The order within classes is done by a draw upstate.  This year, for instance, we are going after Malverne at the Mineola, Brentwood and Phoenix Shows.  Phoenix is going on after us at their show but before Copiague and Brentwood, which pretty much means that they are competing.  Some bands compete in their home show.  If they are scheduled with their class they compete. If they are at the end, then they are just doing an exhibition.  We drew a great spot at the dome, which is why we are checking out in the morning on October 30th.  We are towards the end of the class with just Corning East and Johnson City after us, both new bands which were moved to our class.

You need to be competetive but remember, this is totally subjective, like figure skating.  People who are sports people and are new to our idiom may have some trouble with this.  You may see our band, hear the score and wonder what happened.  Yes, the judges TOTALLY make the call, in fact, they decide everything, total subjectivity.  

Remember, we are great, look at how far we have come and everybody in the Marching Band community, judges, other band directors, audiences, and the public fully knows Roslyn as a “powerhouse” marching band.  We are proud as ever and I as director feel truly privileged to run such a great group of kids and great parents.  We had parents who bring out our equipment, parents running band camp, and the largest contingent of spectators go to the dome from Roslyn each year.  Our parents even cheer for our neighbor competitor when they win the class over us!  We are the greatest people anywhere!  Total team players.  The kids are perfect!  They give up part of themselves for the team every single day! Hard working, fun, smart, bubbly, and love band!  What more could I ask as a director?  A fair read from the judges?  YES, I want it all!  I want our kids to get the score they deserve!  I am very positive, a “glass half full” kind of guy!  It will happen, at some point, and you will know when my post simply says “YES, HERE WE GO.” It may be this year, next year, or 10 years from now, but it will happen.  It is inevitable. We are on the right track!

Syracuse Trip Return Time

Please note - Due to our performance time of 11am, we will be checking out of the hotel on Sunday, October 30th in thevearly morning, leaving after awards to stop at the Carousel Mall for lunch, then driving home to arrive at Roslyn between 7 and 8pm that night.

Attendance and the impact on missing anything on our schedule

This week I have had number of last minute absence notifications from events and/or rehearsals, more than in the past 4 years combined.  Perhaps people are thinking that my more relaxed approach to Marching Band equals a more relaxed approach to our attendance policy.  This could not be further from the truth. I am relaxing the Marching Band rehearsals and camp to make it more fun and to make it a better experience for all.  As always with our marching band, there are severe ramifications to missing anything on our schedule.  In a band like ours, attendance is just about 100%.  Please fully realize that missing any event or rehearsal - anything on this band schedule - will just about guarantee you not receiving any leadership position in the marching band.  People with one or more misses over their years in the band aren't even considered for these positions.  Any band members who are excused told me within a few days of the schedule going up in March that they had a major attendance problem and I worked the program around them and excused them or told them not to be in the band.  Major family issues are pretty cut and dry as to what we consider an excusable absence.  Weddings, Bar mitzvahs and Bat mitvahs, Communions, Baptisms (all of immediate family members) are usually told to me right after the schedule goes up since these are set up years in advance.  Obviously, deaths in the family are excusable.  Concert tickets, other concerts, tickets to sporting events, SAT prep classes, studying, etc are considered unexcused absences.  If you miss a rehearsal for any of these you will be pretty much out of the band if you come 5 minutes late to anything else that year.  This is like being in an RCP or Spotlight show.  It is your job to stay healthy, get plenty of sleep, and be there for everything on the schedule. People are depending upon you. It is also your job to do your academic work around our one weekly rehearsal each week. Anyone who is in this band already knows this. We have band members who work family events around our schedule.  We have about 20 people who are not in the band because they were unable to come to one of our events. This is a very special group where every single person has a very important position.  We only have 11 events and need every person at every one.  Here is it directly from our band booklet.

Marching Band Rehearsal Attendance

During the fall season, rehearsals are held on Wednesday nights from 6:30 to 9:00 pm, and on competition days for an hour or two prior to leaving for the competitions.  Attendance at rehearsals and performances is MANDATORY. Students who have a conflict with any rehearsal MUST SUBMIT a parental note at least TWO WEEKS in advance.   Students with ONE ABSENCE will be given a WARNING from the band director.  Any additional absences will result in removal from the Marching Band.

Marching Band Competition Attendance

Band members must attend all competitions and shows. As in a school musical, each position is crucial to the success of the entire unit.  The show is custom written for the exact number of people in the band, and even one hole effects each member’s drill, which must be modified at the competition, which is not acceptable.  Anyone who has a conflict with one of the shows may not be a part of the marching band. In a competitive marching band, every person has a leading role.  

Band Camp Blog 1

Day three of band camp.  I allotted some time to write a blog today.  I can now give you my impressions of the new camp.  It is great!  The cabins are clean and well kept, the grounds are manicured and everything is close.  The bugs are at a minimum.  The walk from the cabin to the field and rehearsal areas is a matter of a few minutes.  The parents have been great as usual.  We had some great activities, steal the bacon the first night and crazy hats last night.  We moved the curfew to 12 midnight this year and it is working out great.  The kids all made it to breakfast and were perky!  We do a lights out right away at 12.

We adjusted the schedule yesterday to try something different.  We loaded up the night rehearsal and are now giving a larger break in the afternoon.  This is a rehearsal schedule that a band director in the midwest told me works great.  We tried it yesterday and the kids are responding great.  We got through all rehearsals with no fatigue.  Water breaks every hour to refresh.

7:30 - Wake Up
8:00 - Breakfast
9:00 to 11:30 - Rehearsal
12 noon - Lunch
1:00 to 3:30 - Rehearsal
3:30 - Pie Mafia activity
3:45 - Afternoon snack provided by Camp Taconic
4:00 to 6:00 - Pool time, break, shower, relax, do homework
6:00 - Dinner
7:00 to 9:00 - Rehearsal
9:15 - Ice Cream Snack provided by Camp Taconic
9:45 to 10:45 - Night Activity run by "Band Fans" parents group
10:45 to 12 midnight - Free time
12 midnight - curfew, lights out soon to follow

7 hours of rehearsing, breaks throughout all rehearsals.

This worked out great.  The kids now have more time to go to the pool, shower, and change before dinner, while keeping out of the hot sun in the middle of the day.

We have some pressure to learn the drill due to the rain the first one and a half days.  We are in no way passing that pressure onto the kids.  The staff will figure out what we need to do as the week progresses to finish the drill with the primary goal being to keep the kids happy and loving band.  We will be sticking to this schedule from today through Saturday and using Sunday exclusively as a run through day, running through the entire show.  The kids have learned all of the music and we will be working outdoors all day today in an attempt to catch up on the drill.

The last day of camp and our rehearsal hours

Many parents have asked me if we can all leave after breakfast the last day of camp.  I feel that I need to explain why the 7 day camp is crucial and why we have to stay the entire final day to rehearse.  We all need to see the big picture here.  We are a competitive band that must be at a certain level when we take the field in competition.  I will explain.

Just about every band we compete against rehearses 3 times as much as us.  They work all summer, two to three times a week, and put in around 200 to 300 hours.  We compete against them with a rehearsal schedule of 40 hours during the season and about 40 at camp, about 80 total hours. To drive this point home, bands that we compete against do basics for 80 hours. Considering the academic nature of our school we must keep these rehearsal hours down to minimize stress on the students.  We can compete, consistently scoring in the middle the prestigious Small School 2 class,  due to our maximizing rehearsal time, high level of concentration, and incredible planning prior to rehearsals.  Most bands show up to rehearsals and wing it, wasting the kids time.

For any band, every hour at camp is worth 3 hours at home.  The concentration level is higher, there are less distractions, and by rehearsing at camp we are getting more done because we are reinforcing our show every day, during three separate sessions.  Cutting out 4 or 5 hours of rehearsing on any day at camp equals six night rehearsals (15 hours) during the season. That last day is like adding a second night of rehearsals for six weeks. Although I realize that there will be traffic on Sunday night, that it would be so much more convenient to go home early on Sunday after breakfast, I must ask you to see the big picture here. Would you rather have them rehearse that last day, or add Thursday night rehearsals during the season. Cutting the rehearsal hours will have a major impact on our season.  In addition, the last day has to be a "band day" which is why I took out the relay.  I feel that doing activities the last day makes if a "fluff" day and lowers the concentration level of the kids, when they should be reinforcing all that they learned during the week.  We need that time.  We are at camp to learn the drill, learn the music, and reinforce running through the show over and over again so that we remember it two weeks later.  I truly believe that our kids have "fun" playing and doing the show.  That's why they are in band.  Although the activities are also "fun" and help with bonding, too much emphasis on them takes away from the real goal of band camp, to learn the show. Please realize that the really important "fun" is performing, making music, and doing these great shows. This is why I am slightly adjusting the band camp activities as well.  We need to get as much practice time in as possible, and still let the kids have enough free time to relax, take a nap, do some homework, or even practice their instruments by themselves to reinforce some of their music in the show.

Band Camp 2011 Format

Band Camp Parent Volunteer Explanation

My Opening Remarks

When we started Band Camp for Roslyn High School, I asked Susan and Jed Schlacter and Bruce Goldman to work with me in organizing an away camp. The school district budget did not have funding for a week of chaperones, so we enlisted parent volunteers to serve in that capacity. Susan, Jed and Bruce ran the parent part of the camp in its entirety. Although I had run about 20 camps prior to joining Roslyn, they took on that part of the responsibility and were so successful at it that I was freed up to really focus on running rehearsals with the kids. 

The Schlacters and Bruce have done an incredible service, creating a culture which is ingrained in anyone who has been to band camp with us.  Our Band Camp is special – combining learning with team building; during this educational, social, and fun week, we all bond and truly become a tight knit family (BOTH student band members AND parents.) 

As much as we did not want to admit it, we knew that the Schlacters would be moving on at some point. Both of their children were former Marching Bulldogs for four + years, but their younger child is already a junior in college!  Susan, Jed and I have agreed to use my backup plan this year – they will advise our parents in Roslyn, before camp, who wish to  take on more responsibility. Knowing that people might be reluctant to take over this first year, I will run the entire camp - both the music and the team building aspects as I did the 20 years prior to coming to Roslyn.  

We are in a good position: the culture and expectations are set. Because the routines are established, new parents can step in easily and be a tremendous help to the students.  We will gain advantages from my 30 years of collected experience (I directed my first Band Camp in 1984); I will take the excellent culture we currently enjoy and hone/modify this year’s camp to make it a better experience for all.

Two major modifications that I made this year are to select a new camp, Camp Taconic, and to create a new contract that puts more responsibility on the camp staff rather than the parents (specifically supplying needed refreshment to our students twice a day). By shifting the snacks and water responsibilities to the Taconic Staff, I have reduced  the need for all the parents to stay at the camp the entire day.   The location of Camp Taconic, in the Berkshires, is a wonderful  locale for day trips, shopping, and the arts; there will be occasions, on a rotating basis, for parents to go into the surrounding areas during the day or evening to enjoy the area. We still need parents to help run and judge the afternoon and evening activities (and to participate in “Pie Mafia”), and we encourage the parents to watch the progress of our kids through the course of the week, but the required “on call” time should be less than in the past. I am also flexible with parents coming just before bedtime to take on a bunk, especially if they have been chaperones with us before.  

Meetings and Planning

I have also  built the band schedule to allow me  the time to take on a greater role with the parents.  Our band schedule starts out with basics, which Mr. Downey and Ms. Miller will be running,  while the parents and I meet  each morning after breakfast to discuss open items and plan out the day’s activities.  I will also have the opportunity after dinner, about 7 p.m., for a recap/touch base with everyone.  

I am establishing a structure in which the ”Parent-Director of the Day” will be the "go-to" person,  answering questions and being in charge between those two meetings and at night, so that I can fully devote the balance of my attention to running rehearsals with the band. 

Bunk Chaperone

One parent is needed in each bunk each night from 11pm through wake up at 7:30am.  The bunk chaperone’s job is to be a pair of eyes in the room, an adult to help watch over them in case there is an emergency. Bunk chaperones are not to be disciplinarians or the generals of your platoon.  The process is simple.  If there are any problems in the girls bunks, the chaperone notifies Ms. Miller; boys’ chaperones will notify me.  Ms. Miller and I can rectify any issues in a few minutes. Our kids are great, so bunk chaperoning is a piece of cake. Before signing up for a slot you can look to see who is in that room; the bunk list is listed below.  In the past, if parents asked to be in the bunk with their own children, we tried to accommodate that request, and we will try to do so again.  However, depending on which parents volunteer to be chaperones this summer, I cannot at this time commit that every parent will be in a bunk with his/her own child.

Extra Female or Male Chaperone at Camp

These are chaperones who are at camp, and will double up in two of the bunks. They are there in case we have an unsupervised bunk due to one of our bunk chaperones being suddenly called away on a personal issue (a child needs to go to the infirmary, for example).

Afternoon and Night Activity, and Pie Mafia

These parents will run the afternoon activities, the Pie Mafia for the day, and the night activities, as listed.  Once again, since these activities are already established; it is pretty simple to coordinate.  If you enjoy leading students and have done this before, it would be a perfect place for you to join in.  Other parents, who are also Bunk Chaperones on those nights, will be there to help you.  On the last night, I need a parent to help run the Senior Ceremony, which is a huge part of our Band Camp.

Parent Director of the Day

This is a parent who has done at least two band camps with us, has a rapport with me, and can be in charge for the day, an overseer of the parents.  Do not feel intimidated - if you have previously volunteered as one of our band camp chaperones, you are well qualified to take on this role!  As I stated, the camp staff is providing all snacks and water during the day, and a night snack of ice cream each night. This Parent Director would help to organize/coordinate the afternoon and night activities and the Pie Mafia,  and any other little things we decide on each day.  This parent must also be a Bunk Chaperone on the nights for which he/she signs up.

Please sign up

In the coming weeks, Susan and Jed plan to meet with the parent volunteers to review the afternoon and night activities, the Pie Mafia, explaining how these activities have been run in the past.  I would like the parents to sign up as soon as possible, so that we can organize these informal meetings and be fully prepared for a great band camp.  I will be updating the schedule daily, so you can look right here to see who is on it. 

We need you!  We want you!  And we are sure that this will be an incredibly rewarding and satisfying experience for the parent volunteers!  Thank you for helping to make this such a memorable experience for your kids.

Rehearsal Cancelled

Due to the weather forecast for the evening, the rehearsal tonight, June 1st, is cancelled.

Possible Show Change during 2011 Season

I just received an invitation from Randy Knudson, the band director at Manhasset High School to compete in their competition.  I am contemplating doing this competition on Saturday, October 15th instead of the Huntington Show on Sunday, October 16th.  The Huntington Show is on our schedule. Manhasset has a marching band that competes in the USSBA conference.  USSBA allows new bands in their conference to compete in one show for free, without having to join the conference.

The benefit of going to the Manhasset show is that we get another set of judges to see us, it is closer to Roslyn, we are exposing ourselves to a new audience, and it is a night show, which are more fun to do.

In terms of the NYSFBC (the conference we compete in), we still have 3 shows, Brentwood, Mineola, and Phoenix which is the required number of shows to compete at the Carrier Dome so that would not be a problem.

Many bands compete in two conferences.  Manhasset runs a great show and it might be time for us to compete since the date works out great for us.

Let me know if there are any conflicts with the date change, if you would like to make the change or stick with the Huntington Show.

Disney Trip Deadline is Monday

Right now I have 28 people who have brought in deposits and are definitely going on next year's February Disney Trip.  I need 60 by Monday or the trip will not happen.  If you are on the list on the Website with a question mark next to your name please let us know your status.  If you do not bring in a check to Mr. Gazzo or myself by Monday we will take you off the list. Please get the word out!

Student Leaders List Up Tomorrow

The student leaders for 2011 will be posted tomorrow.  All people on the top 20 service point list will be receiving positions.  This is really the top 28 if you put the 8 seniors back in.  So if you were in the top 20% of the service point earners for the 2010 marching band season, you definitely have a position (we had 100 in the band last year). The service points are a significant part of this process now.

While most band members get to rehearsals right on time, and leave right after the rehearsal, approximately a quarter of the band comes early, stays late, and spends many hours helping out whenever they can.  These top 20 people have ALL gotten positions.

If you didn't get a position, you didn't get into the top 20 percentage of the service point earners which means you didn't do enough extra things while others did.  Translated, you did not come early, stay late, or volunteer doing extra things enough to break into that top group, which would have secured you a position on the leadership team.

This was clearly stated at Band Camp last year and the point and attendance sheet was updated after every single event and rehearsal.  It is always on roslynband.com.