New Web Site

After doing this blog for a year I have redesigned the concept and have a new improved site up and running. It also has an easier web address.

Start visiting the new site now.

uintahband.net

Junior High Concert

There will be a Junior High Band Concert on Wednesday December 5, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. It will include the bands from 7th - 9th grade. Hope to see you there.

Also two concerts at the HS coming up. Wed. Nov 14 and Wed Dec. 19. Both at 7 as well.

Media From Orem

I have put the judges comments and the video from saturday on the web. Feel free to go check it out. This will also give you a sneak peak at the new design for the band blog. It is not done yet, and may be redesigned several times, before I have it live and ready to go, but if you want to look at the alpha version of the site feel free to look around.

Excellent Day

We ended up 8th out of 9. Pretty good for our first competition. We were only 90 points (Out of 1000) behind the winner of our Class. Drum Line finished 7th and our "Color Guard" finished 5th.

I hope you all had a good time. I had a great day, and I am very pleased with our performance. Do we have room to grow, yes. However, I could not have asked for better results for a first year. It seems that a big hit on the score was the drill design. I will have to work on that for next year.

Thanks for a great time, and all your hard work.

I'll see you on the 1st. Check back early in the week for comments and video of the show today.

Updates on Kai

If you want to know what is going on with my son feel free to check out our family blog to keep up-to-date. Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers on his behalf.

Busy Week Ahead

I have been sitting here today thinking about next week. We have so much to do. Please keep in mind the following:

Tuesday 6:30 am (I will be coming from Ft. Duchesne so it could be 6:33)
Wednesday After School
Thursday 6:30 am
Friday Beginning of class until we are done.

Make sure your uniform is complete before Tuesday. See Nashelle if you need help, but be nice to her. If there are no pants that fit you make sure you have solid black pants. Everyone needs black shoes.

Thursday have you uniform, shoes, and hat at the school labeled and ready to go.

Last of all get plenty of rest this week. Saturday is a big day.

All the work: Is it worth it?

As I watch drum corps, jazz ensembles, orchestras, and other bands I often think back to when I was a performer in such a group. I remember the fun times and how enjoyed the experience more than any other. I often forget the hard work and stress that was needed to accomplish the task, but it was there.

As we work this year to strive to achieve greatness we will encounter road blocks, and lots of hard work. We will challenge our friendships and dedication to the art. We will find times unpleasant and difficult. We will also find joy in a completion of something great.

Jenkins Lloyd Jones wrote the following in the Deseret News back in 1973. It is still very true today and even true in our situation.

“Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he has been robbed.

“[The fact is] most putts don’t drop. Most beef is tough. Most children grow up to be just people. Most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration. Most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. …

“Life is like an old-time rail journey—delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed."

The answer to the question posited above is, in my opinion, a resounding yes!

Thank you for the hard work so far this year, and lets step it up a notch.

“ Stay committed to your decisions, but stay flexible in your approach. ”

Change in Marching Band Schedule. Since we have moved the gig to Monday night we are making a change in the schedule too:

Oct 2 - 4 After school 2:40 - 3:30 Thursday Oct 4 Mandatory Dress rehearsal. Please be there.

Mon Oct 8 6:00 call time dress. 6:30 warm-up 7:00 Move to Field 7:30 Performance starts.

Wed and Thur Oct 10 / 11 6:30 a.m. morning practice.

Oct 16 - 19 Tue 6:30 a.m. practice. Wed After School 2:40. Thur 6:30 a.m. practice
Friday Oct 19 Dress Rehearsal 2:40 (Absolutely Not Optional)

Saturday Oct 20 Call time 7:00 a.m. at the UHS band room.

October Plan

Attitude is Everything

“ Whether you think you can or think you can't - you are right. ”

- Henry Ford (1863-1947)

“ Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent. ”

- Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962)

We all need to get along and have fun together. Lets do it.

Homecoming

Thank you to all of you for a great Homecoming Day. I know it was not easy with me gone most of the day, but I appreciate you working so hard in my absence. The game went very well. We received many compliments and I was pleased with the result.

Next we need to fine tune the opener, and learn the closer. I would love to get a score over 80 for a first time marching competition. Thanks for the hard work, lets set to it again.

Homecoming Week

September 12 - 14 2007
Homecoming 2007 Wednesday through Friday schedule:
Wednesday
School classes: 7:45 - 11:41
MB class 11:41 - 12:29
BPSA Meeting 2:15 - 2:35
After School Practice on Stadium Field 2:40 - 3:30
Thursday
Normal Class time. Run Show start to finish as many times as class tie allows. Fix details each time through.
Friday
School classes: 7:45 - 11:41
MB class 11:41 - 12:15
Lunch and Move to Middle School 12:15 (Warm up @ 12:45)
Line Up 1:15
Parade 1:30 (Summer Band uniform)
Required Practice for all members of band and pit 3:00 - 4:30 (Practice Field)
Pizza Party 4:30 - 5:30 (See section leader for assignments)
Dress for game 5:30
Warm-up 6:00
Tailgate party performance 6:15 (Warpath in stadium parking lot)
Game Time 6:30 (Pep band / Half-time performance)

All-State Band Auditions

There are changes in the All-State Band rules this year. For full details go here. It looks like you will need to go to AFHS on Sat Sept. 22 or one of the stores on the Friday before. Make sure you get a copy of the music and application. There is a sight reading component this year, but you are still making recordings. You are just doing it on their site, not here. Questions see me and I'll walk you through.

Marching Band Gigs

I think I have us registered to compete in two shows. The first will be on Oct 9 (Tue) at BYU. THe second will be Oct 20 (Sat) in American Fork. Both shows are "New Band" friendly. I should have conformation in the next few days that we are in, but all looks good. Plan now to attend. I am planning to find an evening that we can do the show in our own stadium for parents and the community as well. I really want this to be a great opportunity for all, lets pull together and make it great.

DCI Finals

We are going to show the DCI finals at my house Wednesday Sept 5. The show starts at 8 p.m.

Since it is a school night you will need to have a ride at 10 p.m. when the show ends.

Hope to see your there.

1st Honor Band Info

Just got word about the USU Tri-State Honor Band. I can nominate 6 students. Let me know if you are interested in attending. Deadline is October 15. Learn more about it here.

Trip Update

We have an official answer to the proposed Holiday Bowl trip. That answer is no. We will not be going on that trip. When I asked about an in state trip in April or May I was told to write up a proposal and we would see. If any of you have an idea of a trip you would like to take in state give me the ideas. I have some, but want to hear yours as well.

Welcome Back

It is time to start a new year. I look forward to the opportunity to work with you all again as we start out on a new path of discovery together. Our goal this year is "Achieving Greatness Together." From Marching Band to Jazz Band and everything in between I wish us all to strive for this greatness as we make music and inspire others as well as ourselves.

Welcome back to school.

Park City Jazz Festival Clinics

On Saturday Aug 25 there are several free jazz clinics in Park City. If you check out their web site you can see what is offered and perhaps get tickets to the evening concerts.

Opening Assembly

We have been asked to play at the opening assembly. In order to pull this off we will be having a practice Tuesday @ 8:00 a.m. and then we will meet on Wednesday @ 7:00 a.m. Please plan to be there.