twinmomma

Someone did Tonight in Southern Cal way back when SCSBOA still did winterguard. Fountain Valley HS did Walkin in Memphis and i've always wanted to re-do it. They did a great job it's just one of my all time faves.

FYI, wrist tattoos, if placed correctly, are EASILY covered by a watch or nice bracelet. Just sayin. That's where my next one will be. And I'm 34, work for the State I live in, and won't have any issue with covering it for work at all.

Whoa whoa. Nobody made any comments about anyone's character. FROM EXPERIENCE, schools more interested in competing are less interested in the lessons learned. As a coach, participant, and a judge, that is my observation. Are there exceptions, yes. Do kids in competitive groups learn valuable lessons? ABSOLUTELY. In the situation in the OP, it is clear that Margie's BD is more concerned about the competitiveness of the group rather than that her educational needs are being met. HE IS A TEACHER FIRST and neglecting her educational needs for the promotion of the competition is form over substance. I'm bowing out of this one, because, like the election, some discussions simply become academic when a meeting of the minds is not going to be achieved. As I have a lot riding on tomorrow, I'm going to focus there. I appreciate the new light and opinions I have been given through this discussion and bow out not with frustration, but because I don't think I offer anything new to the discussion anymore. Good luck to all in every endeavor and have a great rest of the season.

I was responding to Musical Spinner's last post about how I must be out of touch because I graduated so incredibly long ago I have no idea how competitive it is now. However, with regard to the OP, lack of interest in education and interest more in winning is why the OP'er is not being allowed on the guard.

I graduated in 1992 and coached until 1998, and I'm much prouder of the PEOPLE my students grew up to be, than the trophies hanging in the band room. It's bad enough arts funding in this country is in the toilet, but you have students who are willing participants, with good attitudes, wanting to participate and you turn them away? It's NOT football, where by the way, there are RULES as to how many you can have on the field, unlike band. Our most successful year we had 25 band members and were beating bands 4 times our size. No joke. I'm so sad to see so many people associated with this activity less concerned with educating the students and more concerned about trophies.

I just googled it and hit this: http://cgi.ebay.com/YELLOW-Lycra-Tank-Stir...2QQcmdZViewItem If nothing else, you might connect with them and find out who they get their supply from.

Born into it: Dad is a High School Marching Band director. Started twirling baton when I was 6. Twirled till I was 12 and KNEW that I wanted to be on the majorette team at my dad's school. By the time I got to high school, majorette teams in So Cal were out of fashion and since you had to be a sophomore to be on the team anyway, I tried out for guard "just for my freshman year." That was the last year of the majorette team, and by the first football game I wanted to be captain of my colorguard anyway. Did guard in the fall, played flute in concert band in the spring (we didn't have a winterguard :( ). Coached a rival high school my first year out of high school, then spent 5 years coaching for my dad. Moved away, spent 10 years watching, keeping up with the times, and now I'm a :gasp: judge. LOVE IT.

Just wondering if there's been an update or an explanation given by the BD....

The reason the BD gives is faulty. IF it is so important for Margie to play her instrument in the fall, then WHY LET HER AUDITION FOR CG? And his rules ENCOURAGE this behavior. If only band kids can try out for CG, then basically what he is saying is only crappy instrumentalists can be CG members. This makes no sense. As for the point from Musical Spinner about not being entitled to perform in band just because you want to - that's where your philosophies and mine diverge. My band history is based on the fact that ALL who wanted to were accepted in band (and often in CG we accepted all who auditioned). EVERYONE performed. Sure were some years more competitive than others? Absolutely. But the lessons learned in the organization I was with were about teamwork, common goals, supporting one another, and creating family for many kids who had no family. I wholeheartedly subscribe to the philosophy that building the team is the means to the competitive end. Cutthroat has NO PLACE in education.

ATX -- To me that's manipulative and again, anti-educational. Musical Spinner -- School Marching Bands are still SCHOOL. If you are on the softball team, and you decide to try out for Tennis, and your softball coach prevented you from doing so, or let you do so and then pulled you back on to the softball team when that wasn't where you wanted to be, then there would be heck to pay. This is ridiculous. Why should a marching band be any different? I have to say, given the attitudes I'm seeing here, I thank my lucky stars that our band and guard was a place that was welcoming and encouraging, not cutthroat and vindictive. What Margie is going through is not only discriminatory in my eyes (preventing from being on guard because she plays an instrument) but teaches her that she needs to accept her lot in life and doesn't get to change her own destiny. Great lessons from a TEACHER. Band Director or not, he is a teacher FIRST.

I don't get it. I was the colorguard coach at my alma mater for 6 years (with my father as band director). NEVER once did we tell an instrumentalist that they were more needed in the band than on guard. If they weren't good enough to make the team, they got cut. If they were, they were a guard member. PERIOD. It seems to me the BD has lost sight of the fact that Margie can simply quit band altogether and go to a drum corps or independent guard and then he loses her altogether. Why would you risk losing talent? Sure, my dad didn't like when he lost a good instrumentalist to guard, but EDUCATION is about teaching kids to persue their interests and becoming successful at WHAT THEY CHOOSE TO DO not what we choose for them. While I agree the BD gets the last word, pulling someone from guard who is clearly talented enough to make the cut is ridiculous, counter-productive (results in a crappy attitude) and is the antithesis of what education is all about. Competitive marching band is still EDUCATION. If a BD wants to have full control like that, then he needs to look at getting involved with a drum corps. Education is not the place for a BD who pulls this kind of crap - destroying a teenager's dream. Great teacher.

Sounds like you need a sit down with the BD, the principal, and you and your parents. Ask specifically why you can't be in CG when the argument seems arbitrarily applied (since the DM plays the same instrument). While the BD always has the final say, it seems to me someone is a bit lost in their role. The BD is still a TEACHER and supposed to encourage students to follow the pursuit of their dreams. I've never met a BD who prevents a student from being in CG if he/she makes the team based on the process to audition.

Total Traditionalist here. From an education perspective, I like to see improvement every time I see a guard, no matter what level they are at. I don't care about 10 years of dance training but think it's more important for the work to be challenging to their level and that they can continually find something to achieve each performance. Truth? I completely dislike shows that "forget" about the flag. No matter how good you are on rifle and sabre, flags make the visual impact that the weapons just can't (my opinion). I want to see BIG unison/ensemble flag work AT THE APPROPRIATE POINT IN THE MUSIC. Which brings me to another must: MUSICALITY. I want to see a show that doesn't look like the routine was choregraphed in a vacuum and the music added later. Music preference: I'm not sure what is up with all the guards making big esoteric statements with their shows. Honestly to me it doesn't even look like the students are having fun anymore. I like when a director remembers that the show has to not only speak to the crowd but to the students as well. If you don't understand it, you won't be able to perform it or enjoy watching it. I like accessible music that isn't necessarily what's popular at the moment. I like when directors research beyond the presets on the radio to find something that has layers and lends itself to the activity. Fast, slow, doesn't matter. What matters is whether the director LISTENS to it when choreographing and whether he/she has taught the members to listen when they perform. Why do I go? Well, I used to go because I was coaching. But now I just love watching the activity continually evolve.

Perspective please: San Francisco to Rochester: 2721.04 miles, 40+ hours in travel. No offense, but 6 1/2 hours to a show...doesn't impress. You guys throwing times for travel out there simply make the point for us West Coasters that the travel is excessive to get to finals. Now, when you start a corps on the West coast, you are right, we KNOW that to get to finals travel will be AT LEAST twice the cost and time what it is for closer corps. I think the idea of cost-sharing across the organization is a fair one. Why not? It ensures an equal playing field. Nobody has to fundraise above and beyond to make it to finals. Maybe a travel subsidy (for finals only) relative to the distance from the event?

Are there any SENIOR guards in Northern California? I've looked but not really come up with anything . There seem to be plenty of independent guards, but they all have age-outs...am I missing any?

Everyone out in the West gets that the NE has had a hold on the DCA activity since inception. I really don't believe I've seen anyone actually debate that point. However, throwing words out like "absolute" and "never" only serves to show those of us "geographically challenged" folks that we aren't welcome in your little "sandbox" in the NE. Does anyone actually believe at this point in time that DCA Nationals in CA would pull 10,000? No way. HOWEVER, to dismiss the non-NE corps with a wave of the hand is arrogant and means only one thing - at some point, maybe not this year, maybe not next, hell maybe not 10 years from now, but at some point, you will eat those words. West Coast corps are growing - and one day we'll see Nationals in CA. It may be my children or my grandchildren, but it WILL happen.

Cool!!!! Should I bring anything (equipment?) or just show up with a notebook?

I'm ready for Freelancers to field a colorguard. More than ready. I'd love to get in on the ground floor of rebuilding the organization into a competitive corps.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for the Renegades, but as a full time mom of toddlers and being employed full-time, it's impossible for me to be able to travel for not only Renegades rehearsals, but for shows that are all out of state. We need more Corps in the Northern and Central CA areas to encourage more of a West Coast presence. Is there something DCA does to promote new corps? I was a River City Regiment member and I'm still waiting for something to come back. Anyone know any news on that front. I MISS MARCHING. I know the Freelancers are getting some stuff up and running, but I'm a colorguard performer, so sit down rehearsals don't do much for me. Ok, vent over. Thanks! Kim

Please keep me in the loop...I'd love to jump on board for a guard...

Any chance this resurgence of the Freelancers will include guard??? I was in RCR until I got hurt (prior to all the drama) and am really missing it. SF is too far for this mom of toddlers...