As we prepare to start the competitive portion of our marching band season, I would like to you some thoughts to keep in mind over the next few weeks. First, this time of year can prove to be challenging for our students. The changes and improvements we make can be small and, sometimes, difficult to comprehend from their perspective. However, from the listener’s perspective, these improvements are significant. The other thing to keep in mind is that the purpose of earning a score as competitions is to measure our improvement from week to week, it should never be how we compare with other bands. It is human nature to make comparisons with others, but ultimately the biggest challenge is always to work to be the best we can possibly be. Every band that performs works hard, and they all deserve to be recognized and honored for what they have accomplished. I have also learned through the years that the scores and the placements quickly fade from our memories, the feelings of how it felt to finish a performance knowing it was the absolute best it could be, is what you remember for the rest of your life. That is the magic of music and the intrinsic value of doing something to the absolute best of your ability. It takes a great amount of hard work, but the end result makes it all worthwhile.

We will perform the show again at the game Friday, which is senior night, and will perform at the BandBeat competition Saturday at 4:30 pm at District 3 Stadium. I still have a few reduced-price tickets for BandBeat available for $8.00. Tickets at the gate will be $12.00.

Updates for this week:

• BandBeat is this Saturday. A detailed itinerary is available by clicking here. Please note that rehearsal starts at 10:00 am at school!
• The first 9 week grading period ends on October 14. The last day to submit late work is Sunday, October 10th
  • At this time, we have assigned 4 playing assessments. Many have done a great job, but there are several students who have not turned in any work. Please check your student’s grades in Canvas and encourage them to submit any missing work before midnight on Sunday!
  • There are also a significant number of students in the Marching PE class that are missing the PE assignments. These too must be submitted by the end of the day on Sunday
• Furman University is hosting a high school band day on November 13th. A detailed flyer is available by clicking here. Please contact Ms. Carlson with any questions!
• The fruit sale has started. Information about the sale and how to order online is available by clicking HERE. Brochures and order forms are also available in the band room. All money and orders are due no later than Friday, November 5th
• Seniors, please be sure to get your senior night information submitted online as well as the completed cards that were due to Mr. Yost last week. Senior parents should have received a detailed message through Charms with information about where and when to report Friday evening. Please contact the band office if you did not receive this information.
• Deposits for the spring band trip are due Friday, October 15th. The trip is April 8-11 and will include visits to Colonial Williamsburg, Busch Gardens amusement park, and several other historic and educational locations throughout the weekend. Detailed information is available in the band room or on the website here.
• Juniors and Seniors who wish to be nominated for the Winthrop Invitational Honors Band Clinic must submit the nomination form by the end of the day on Friday, October 8th.
• Due to Career Day on Wednesday, October 13th, the band will be dismissed at the bell. We will have a regular rehearsal on Thursday but not on Friday, October 15th as it is a teacher workday. There will be a rehearsal on the morning of Saturday, October 16th, before we leave for Blythewood. A detailed itinerary for the Blythewood competition will be posted in Canvas over the weekend.

As always, please be sure to contact me if there are any questions or concerns, and hopefully you will be able to make it out to one of the performances this weekend. I greatly appreciate all your support and I hope to see you Monday evening.