vibegirl

I marched Capitolaires for 6 years (Cap sound for 2)

I didn't know there was a show there. We would love to play with you. I'll have to look into it. If anyone has a contact for that show, can you froward the info to me? We are going to be in the Chicago area for the week or so of July 4th. We will be in Dixon as well as Michigan City. As of right now we will only perform in the parades, not the shows. Shara

Yes we are still around and doing well. STB will be a parade corps again this year. We will have several weekend trips as well as a tour. Currently we have 22 members and the potential for some more comming in for April camp. We have our parade tune learned (Scotland the Brave) as well as our opener, "Make His Praise Glorious" and the ballad is being learned as well. The male members have a new uniform and the female members will be wearing the kilted skirts. The guard will be in new uniforms as well. We are currently looking for members (prefer ages 22 or under) to march in the horn line, guard, or snare line. If interested, or for more information contact me at: vibeplayer@hotmail.com Forever Plaid! Shara Barlow

STB is alive and well. Things are looking good so far this year. We just had camp in November and we are two weeks away from our December camp. We started learning our show. The horn line has worked their way through all of opener and started on the ballad. The drum line has started the opener. The guard has started learning work to the opener as well. With the prospect of several more members at the December camp we are almost to the 30 member mark, short by just a few. We are still looking for a guard and drum instructor who can teach at winter camps and tour in the summer. Anyone interested in a position please contact me directly at vibeplayer@hotmail.com Shara Barlow

SteelTown Brass is in need of a few more instructors. We are looking to expand our current winter and touring staff. We are looking for anyone interested in teaching at winter camps and traveling in the summer in the areas of guard, drums and brass. *This year we will have a shorter season than most drum corps. We will only travel for 3 to 4 weeks and have several weekend trips as well. This is the perfect opportunity for those who want to teach but have other commitments in the summer such as a job or band camp. *We will march a competitive season if the goal of 30 or more members is reached. As of right now we are two-thirds of the way to thirty and have several big recruiting events coming up. If we do not reach the goal of 30 we will perform in standstills, parades, and concerts or perform a mini-corps show. *The positions are paid positions. Travel expenses are paid as well, on a case by case basis. Ask for more specifics. *We have a show written and ready to learn. In fact, music will be distributed at the November camp for the entire show for brass, drums, and front ensemble! *We even have plans in the works for new uniforms as well. * Please submit a resume or letter of interest to Shara Barlow via e mail. If you need to send information by snail mail please let me know. Anyone interested or if you are in need of more information please contact Shara Barlow at 262-903-1869 or e mail vibeplayer@hotmail.com.

SteelTown Brass is proud to present… The first camp of the 2007 season! SteelTown Brass, from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., will meet November 17, 18 and 19 at the high school in East Jordan, Michigan for our first camp. We would like to invite anyone interested in joining to come and see what we have to offer. We will be accepting anyone (guys and gals) ages 10 to 21 to join the SteelTown Brass. Our camp fees are $35 in US or CDN which includes food, housing, equipment, and instruction. We offer one of the lowest overall dues and fees in the activity, with dues costing approximately $800 per year including camps and summer travel (exact amount not available until February).This year we will have a shorter season than most drum corps. We will only travel for 3 to 4 weeks and have several weekend trips as well. This is the perfect opportunity for those who want to march but have other commitments in the summer such as a job or band camp. We will march a competitive season if the goal of 30 or more members is reached. As of right now we are two-thirds of the way to thirty and have several big recruiting events coming up. If we do not reach the goal of 30 we will perform in standstills, parades, and concerts or perform a mini-corps show. We have a show written and ready to learn. In fact, music will be distributed at the November camp for the entire show for brass, drums, and front ensemble! We even have plans in the works for new uniforms as well. If you need more information feel free to contact Shara Barlow at 262-903-1869 (in Wisconsin) or e mail vibeplayer@hotmail.com.

We actually ended up not doing that parade.... they canceled us so, I took the corps to a well earned break at the Mall of America for the afternoon. Shara

Hey All, SteelTown Brass is doing good. We had a 2 week tour that was very good. We did lots of parades and even learned one of the field show tunes. The corps did the hometown parade which I was not able to go to. Also, the corps is doing 2 more local parades. The members all had a great time and all but 1 or 2 say that they will be back next year. I believe that we will get the kids to march if the ones we have now help out in the recruiting process. We need more support from volunteers and parents. One cook and one bus driver is not enough... plus staff. If we can get the parent support everything will fall into place. We need people to do the fund raising as well as on the road stuff. Next year we will also need a percussion and guard instructor that can travel in the summer as well as do the winter camps. The web site is still there but is not updated. Our webmaster has not taken the time to do so. We are currently in search of someone to volunteer some time to update the site. The forums are still there and working... that is the best place to find info on us right now, or to talk with us. Thanks, Shara

At one point I remember hearing about a small group of people getting older instruments together and selling them to groups that were just starting up. Does anyone know if that is still going on? If I remember right it was someone around the Chicago area or something like that. I want to start a drumming ensemble at the school I work at and I will be starting with no money (unless I get grants) and no instruments. I know that something will turn up but I thought that if I could find these guys it would help. Thanks for anyone that can give me info, Shara

We are not looking to join either DCI or DCA at this point. We first need to get everything in order and get this summer underway before we make any decissions like that. We are just not restricting ourselves at this point to an age limit because we need as many people marching as possiable. Just as so many other groups need as many people marching as they can find. It is funny how there never seems to be enough members to march no matter where a corps is from. Have a great day, Shara

We will be doing parades and standstill concerts this summer. The web site has been a slow work in progress because there are so many other aspects of the corps that need attention first, like cooks, drivers, and schedule, instructors and a million other small details. The new information is on the site if you look. The site will hopefully be changed within a week. We are Co-ed and we are accepting members ages 8 and up with no limit on age due to the fact that we put both of our groups together and we are not associated with DCI right now. We have 3 male members that are commited to marching we have two or three others who have been at rehersals and are still deciding. In total we have 23 members commited to marching the summer. Dispite the number of members the group is doing a wonderful job. We have had 2 camps and will have our first performance on Memorial Day Weekend. For only being together for 2 months it is amazing what they can do. Shara

For the latest details visit our web site at www.bandettes.org

As soon as the board votes. The staff unanimously choose a name to submit. However, I can't tell you just yet. Ha... the anticipation.... Anyhow, we had wonderful camp this weekend. We added in 12 new kids. We have leads to a bunch more kids that are interested, about 9 more. We just have to keep at it and things will work out. Shara

I know that you know why we are using that piece.... I was not sure if everyone else knew. But, I bet it was misleading a bunch of people. Shara

Miranda, you are originally from the Soo area aren't you? Anyway, we are playing "Scotland the Brave" not because the corps is scottish. It is because of a dear friend to all of us that was involved wih the corps for most of her life. She died in an accident last spring at the age of 16. We have been playing her favorite corps piece as our parade tune since, for Ricki. This year we had it re-written to update the older version that we played last year. The rest of the music we are learning, which would have been our field show, has nothing to do with any theam or specific type of music. We are planning on getting a few chances to perform it this year. Shara

It is helpful. I am writing all the ideas down and I will be taking them to camp along with all the ideas we have already and the members will help the staff to narrow down the choices. Then the recomendations will go to the Board of Directors which will meet after camp. The decission will come from them. It is funny... there has been a joke going around the members for a long time of several names that we could have if this exact situation ever happened... Bandoliers was one of them... a staff member even had a shirt made up with it on there. Anyhow, Have a great day and thanks! Shara

The plaid was designed for our uniforms. It is more of a scottish based pattern though. Our corps "theme" song so to speak is Scotland the Brave, which we play for parades and such.

Bandettes would like to extend an opportunity to the drum corps community. We are in search of a new name for the co-ed corps that we will be operating. We have many ideas about new names. But, lots of ideas are better! We would like your input and ideas about new names. There is one requirement. It must use a “B” as one letter in the name. We will continue to use the same logo (or a slightly modified version). All submissions will become property of the Bandettes organization when they are submitted. Please submit all ideas and suggestions to vibeplayer@hotmail.com. Thank you for your time, Shara Barlow Tour Director

Thank you all for your kind words. Although the decission was tough and not one that any of us wanted to make. We believe that it is in the best interest of the members and the organization as a whole. Although many of our traditions, so to speak, will have to change, our philosophy and expectations will remain. This group will still be in many ways the same just with a new twist. Forever Plaid! Shara

For more information please go to www.bandettes.org Forever Plaid! Shara Barlow Tour Director

These are all great ideas but ones that are currently successful for us. We have community visability and involvement, Canadian Tire, Station Mall, newspaper, parades and standstills, open rehersals, buses parked on a main highway, advertisements at schools... There is only so much the 15 members and their families that are from the Soo area can do though. There are few alumnae left in the area to pull from. Those that are, are involved. We have a successful community bingo as well. These things are all going great. As I said before it is the culture that has changed. Most of the canadian kids are not attracted to activities for reasons that I listed before as well as the fact that if they are old enough to have a job most of them have to work to help support the family. Getting paid to perform, although it is a small amount, is much more attractive than having to pay hundreds of dollars to be in corps. I will have more information for you after our board meeting in the middle of March. The information will be posted on our website as well as here. Thank you for you help and support! Shara Barlow

It is very hard for the corps to get members from the Soo and surrounding area. The band and music programs have all but vanished in the schools. There is little interest in paying for an activitiy that is "like boot camp," we have heard. Also, there are several groups in the Soo area that are connected to the armed forces that pay the kids a small amount to perform, and it is very much like corps but they do have woodwinds. Which leaves us with a very small population to recruit when you think about it... there are only the girls that are interested in music and are not interested in marching with one of the other groups. We have expanded our recruiting to Michigan but get little response because of being all-girl. I have to say it is and interesting situation. After the middle of March we will have many more answers for everyone and hopefully some solutions to the problems we face as well. We continue to need members, we are planning on marching parades, learning our field show, and doing some small tours with lots of fun activities too. This would be a great opportunity for those who want to march but need to stay home some of the summer for work or school or whatever reason. Our dues will depend on the trip/tour. We have openings in all sections. Feel free to contact me any time! Forever Plaid! Shara

Hello Everyone! Now that the holidays are past and the New Year is arriving soon it is time to think about the next Bandettes Camp. Camp will be January 13-15 in East Jordan, Michigan at the High School. Anyone who needs a ride or has a transportation question please feel free to ask. We are still looking for new members in all sections, including drum major. If you or someone you know is interested in coming to camp please let me know. Feel free to contact me anytime with questions. For the January camp everyone that was at December Camp should have the parade tune learned. The rest of the opener has been finished and horn line and pit will be receiving that at camp. www.bandettes.org Shara Barlow Bandettes Tour Director

It would have been great for us (Bandettes) last year to have another option other than be a parade corps. We were only a few members short and just couldn't find 3 or 4 more. We were ready and had a show almost learned. A Div 4 would have been perfect since we were just under 30. We could have had a quality show with the members we had. It would be wonderful if DCM could offer something like that for the many groups that are not yet big enough to make that 30 mark but can still compete. Shara

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