The wait is finally over :)

BAND CAMP... THIS WEDNESDAY! YES!!! :D


Oh, band memories... :)

Squad/Section/Captain leader people: we had a meeting today that went over some VERY important information... please make sure you're taking all of what was said to heart, contacting your squadlings, and making sure that EVERYTHING is taken care of before we get to camp on the very first day. We have some serious dedication in this band, which will make our upcoming season basically awesome. I CAN'T WAIT !

Things to Bring to the First Day of Band Camp:
1. a 1/2 gallon water jug (minimum... it may be larger if you like) you can buy these at target or at any sporting goods store... but it is a MUST.
2. Tennis Shoes: we will be running, marching, walking, moving equipment, and doing other physical activity that requires athletic footwear. PLEASE do not wear flip flops or anything of the sort... I promise it will not be fun.
3. Sunscreen: WE WILL BE OUTSIDE... so please take care of yourselves! Sunburn is not only painful, but dangerous, and we want band camp to be FUN in the sun :)
(baseball caps, sunglasses, sun visors, or other protective sun-wear is also encouraged.)
4. Your instruments. I know this is probably a given, but still. Don't be that guy :)
5. WEAR COMFORTABLE CLOTHES! I learned a long time ago that band is not a beauty contest. Athletic shorts, ponytails, and light colored t-shirts/ tank tops are not only recommended, but the preferred band camp style.
6. Squad Leaders should have taken care of dot books and drill books for your squads. These are so so important not only for band camp, but later on in the season as well. Take good care of these things!
7. PLEASE eat a good breakfast before you come to camp! I promise, you will need your energy even in the first 15 minutes of being outside. It's just really really hot! (Also, pack a healthy lunch!!)

What to Expect on the First Day of Band Camp:
1. Arrive at school between 7:30 and 8 am. (If you're driving, please park in the STUDENT parking lot. I know I miscommunicated that to some of you earlier, that was my fault.) If you're being dropped off, go through the normal carpool loop until you see the big long line of band kids standing outside. You can't miss it... there's 168 of us. :)
2. Stand in line for registration. This is prime socializing time! Get to know the person standing in front of you... could turn out to be your best friend!
3. Once you're all checked-in with our lovely band parents, you'll head into the school and go to the auditorium (second door on your left). There, you'll meet up with your squad leader, who will give you your dot/drill books and answer any questions.
4. After that, Mr. Robinson will talk for awhile, then we'll go outside for some intro to visual, then lunch, then music... then it's time to go home! (The exact schedule is posted on the Band website under DOCUMENTS AND FORMS). In any case, expect to go outside, expect to go over the music, and expect to have a GREAT time. I love band camp. :)

In other news, we are THRILLED to announce that we now have a new full-time assistant band director, Mr. Jon Swofford. He has been a leading force in this band program since my freshman year, and it's SO exciting to have him on staff full time. YAY!!

We also have a new staff member that will be working exclusively with the woodwinds! His name is Taylor Savage, he's a saxophone/ mello player, and I know he is going to do a WONDERFUL job making our section the best it can be. Now's our time to shine, woodwinds! :)

Finally, as a reminder, our WOODWIND PASTA PARTY is tomorrow (Tuesday) night!!!! I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone there. :)

See you very very soon!
Love, Sarah

Get Pumped...

because BAND CAMP IS IN ONE WEEK YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



(If you're not as excited as Harry looks in this picture, you should be.) :)

You should also be excited if you are a CLARINET PLAYER. Your next section meeting is at Buffalo Lanes on July 20th from 5-8 pm. That's right, ya'll are going bowling. I'm actually really jealous.

annnnd WHOOOHOOO! You should STILL be excited if you're a Section/Squad Leader! We have a "set up the band room and get marching band ready to move" meeting on MONDAY, JULY 25!!!! It's at PCHS in the band room at 9 am... I'll see you there! :)

But moving on...
Really, there's not much to report on because we've basically covered everything already! (that's a win for the woodwinds).
But, here's a basic overview of what we know up to this point:
-Woodwind Party is July 26th!!
(again, at Olivia Boorom's house, look on our facebook page for details!)
-Band Camp starts July 27th :)
(make sure you have at LEAST a 1/2 gallon water jug, tennis shoes, and your instruments!)
-DCI is on July 30th!
(be prepared for a loonnnggg day filled with wonderful marching bands and memories.)
-BE DRINKING WATER!
-START GETTING IN SHAPE!
-PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE!

Other than that, we're all set! I'm looking forward to seeing all of your bright and shining faces very very soon. <3

annnnndddddd last but not least....

♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫ MEET GEN!! ♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫



Name: Genevieve E. Levert
Section: Low WW!!
Favorite Color: it changes
Least Favorite Food: it changes
Favorite Harry Potter Character (or item I guess...): Harry's glasses
Interesting Fact: I have no friends...
(she's kidding. everyone loves her. and she REALLY REALLY REALLY likes BAND!)

Alright everyone! See you in a week <3
Love, Sarah

Countdowns, Countdowns

Whatup Woodwinds?
Hope you're all doing well this evening... or this afternoon, or morning, or whenever you happen to be reading this.
For this week, there's not really that much to report on... just kidding! GUESS WHAT?!?! IT'S ALMOST TIME FOR BAND !


yeah.. I really like cheesy pictures :)

But just for your excitement, enthusiasm, and enjoyment:
COUNTDOWN TO BAND CAMP: 16 DAYS
COUNTDOWN TO DCI: 19 DAYS
and, for your enlightenment (yes... another e word):
WE'RE HAVING A WOODWIND PAR-TAY. hey hey hey hey. The party will be hosted by our lovely and beautiful piccolo section leader, Olivia Boorom (whom you met in earlier posts), and will include, if I'm not mistaken, a very very very large amount of pasta. So,
COUNTDOWN TO PUMP-UP PARTY: 15 DAYS (and I better see all of you there.)
[check the woodwinds facebook page for details, and ask Olivia, your section/squad leader, or myself if you have questions!]

Now, moving on. As I was wandering around Staples today, it occurred to me that we need quite a lot of office supplies for band. Yes, office supplies. Vets know what I'm talking about... the drill books, the dot books, the page protectors, the highlighters... the list goes on and on. Rookies, if you don't know what I'm talking about, you will learn! :) :) :) Traditionally, it has been the SQUAD LEADER'S responsibility to provide these items for their squadlings, but I know some sections like to do it a little differently, which is perfectly fine. Just check in with your sections and section leaders to make sure that everyone is on the same page with this, and that all members of the section are covered. I'm not saying you need these items IMMEDIATELY, but, like I said, it was something I hadn't thought about until today and I thought might be helpful reminder for you all (shout-out to Paige Shaffer for making me think about all this logistical business while I was in Staples).

Other than that, here comes the typical DRINK WATER, GET MOVING, AND KEEP PRACTICING announcement!
By now, you could probably recite this little speech for me! But, nevertheless, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE start drinking water NOW! As Jon Swofford will tell you, your hydration during band camp depends on what you drink before you even show up to the school on July 27th! So please do yourself a favor and lay off the sugary drinks. :) Also, it's a super good idea to start getting used to the heat. I know I'm outside everyday at work, and even at 9 am (prime technique block time!) it's still really really hot!!! Get moving guys! You're hard working athletes now, ;) and, you're hard working musicians! So work on that CHAOS, and practice your scales, and just play some random stuff to get reacquainted with your instruments (they've missed you since school let out and you stopped playing them everyday ;).

Alrighty! Well I guess that's all... WAIT! Hah, you thought I forgot...

♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫ MEET MARY! ♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫



Name: Mary Mai Kasper
Section: Alto Saxes!
Favorite color: Depends on the day
Least favorite food: Chili:(
Favorite Harry Potter Character: Tom Felton (NOT Draco Malfoy)
Interesting fact: My clothes always have to match; that includes my jammies and slippers.

Okay, bye woodwinds! Enjoy the Harry Potter Premiere this week! :D
Love, Sarah

A Midsummer Night's Blog Post

Happy Fourth of July, Woodwinds!
I hope you're all at the beach or somewhere else lovely watching wonderful fireworks right now. YAY!


If you're not... here's a firework shaped like a music note. Bet you don't see that everyday :)
...and speaking of BAND:

MUSIC IS POSTED! WHOHOOO!
I know you all already know this (shout-out to Fariha for being the first one to find it... that's what I'm talking about) and I hope that you've all printed it out and have started working on it! (If you have not done so, it's posted on the band website under MUSIC). It is FAST... and will probably be the most challenging part of our show as far as marching and playing technique is concerned. With that being said, let's memorize this thing!!! :D
Also, continue work on your basic scales... just a helpful little hint: you'll be playing them a lot :)

DCI IS ALMOST HERE! The start of July means we're even CLOSER to this awesome experience I've been going on and on about for several posts now. It's not too late to sign up though! Get your tickets, get your tickets! It's going to be ridiculous, I pinky promise. :)

T-SHIRT RUMORS:
Alright... so I know that the brass section has been talking about making an overall brass section t-shirt, and I wanted to just let everyone know that this does not make them better than us. Yes, we do have a little healthy competition between the brass and the woodwinds, but, as we all know, woodwinds kick brass, every time. SO, for t-shirts, we have decided to make INDIVIDUAL section shirts, which will be headed by SECTION LEADERS, instead of an overall woodwind shirt. This will give us the opportunity to promote more section pride as well as overall woodwind spirit, and will be better than the brass' lame shirts. (Just kidding, theirs will be pretty cool too. :) Anyways, talk it up amongst your sections, bounce some ideas around, and let's get this thing going! Just remember that everything you chose to go on this shirt must be SCHOOL APPROPRIATE... and nice.
HAVE FUN!

OTHER REMINDERS:
Don't forget to start conditioning for band camp! Get outside and get used to the heat, and especially get used to moving in it. Drink LOTS of water, too! We don't want anyone on the sidelines this year!!
Also, enjoy a few freeze-pops if you'd like. Taste every flavor and find your favorite one (mine's yellow). It's crucial to band camp enjoyment :)

Oh, and I almost forgot...

♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫ MEET CHRISTIAN! ♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫



Name: Christian Thomas Sutherland
Section: Clarinets!
Favorite Color: Carolina Blue
Least Favorite Food: probably pork chops. gross.
Favorite Harry Potter Character: none of the above....i dont really like harry potter. Don't hate.
Interesting Fact: I'm always hungry.

Enjoy your holiday weekend everyone! See you here next week :)
Love, Sarah