QACHS’s Band Blog

Monday – Pops Concert Dress Rehearsal during 4th Perod

Tuesday – 8th Annual Pops Concert, 7:30 PM in the Jon F. Andrews Performing Arts Center.  Students should report to get dressed in tuxes and gowns at 6:45 and ready for warm-up at 7:00.

Friday – Musical Theather Workshop (2nd – 4th Period)

Saturday – William Penn HS Competition at Frawley Stadium in Wilmington, DE.  Frawley Stadium is home to the Wilmington Blue Rocks Baseball team.  The show will start with QA’s performance at 6:00 PM.  Awards will be at 10:45 PM.  Complete details will be posted tomorrow morning.

We have begun a new year and a new edition of the podcasts being produced by the band program at Queen Anne’s County High School.  We are changing the format from the solo hosted show that I did to the new fomat in which students will be involved.  We are also going to add a couple new segments to the show and regularly spotlight one of our various ensembles.  So, check it out at www.qachsband.org/podcasts/Podcast01100209.mp3

This week the Marching Lions Band will participate in various Homecoming activities.  Below is the schedule for the various events.

Friday, October 2 – Pep Ralley, 4th Period (Report at 12:50PM)

- Massed Band Rehearsal, 6-7PM (Report at 5:45PM)

Saturday, October 3 – Homecoming Parade, 11:30 AM (Report at 10:00AM)

- Homcoming Pre-Game, 1:15PM (Report at 12:30AM)

- Homcoming Game, 1:30 – 4:30PM (Halftime approx. 2:30 – 3:00PM)
*All Personal Appointments should be scheduled after 5:00PM

Last night, the Marching Lions Band traveled to Lake Forest High School, in Felton Delaware for their first competition of the season. This was a very exciting time for all of the new members.  We ended up being the only Group 1 Championship Band to perform, so we were awarded first place by default.  However, we got a start on our season with a 71.65.

This week the band will participate in the various Homecoming activities.

Rehearsal: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

LUNCH: 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM

Rehearsal: 12:30 PM – 2:45 PM

Dress/Load: 2:45 PM – 3:30 PM

Leave QACHS: 3:30 PM

Arrive LFHS: 4:30 PM

Gate Time: 6:09 PM

Perform: 6:14 PM

Awards: 8:50 PM

Leave LFHS: 9:30 PM

Return QACHS: 10:30 PM

ADMISSION: $5.00/Children under 12 FREE!

*PLEASE SEE MR. WRIGHT FOR PRE-PURCHASE TICKETS SO THAT WE CAN KEEP THE PROFIT FROM THE TICKET SALES IN OUR OWN BAND PROGRAM.*

**Students are strongly encouraged to bring a snack to be eaten after getting ready and loaded or while traveling to LFHS since there will be no dinner break until after we perform.**

As we begin the 5th week of school, we are looking at a very busy week.  Listed below are the various activites of the week:

Wednesday – Performance by the American Spiritual Ensemble during 3rd period.  All performing arts students will be in attendance.

Friday – Varsity Football Game 7:00PM, All students are to report back from dinner to get dressed at 5:45PM.

Saturday – Rehearsal 9AM – ?  Competition at Lake Forest HS, Felton, Delaware 6:00PM.  (I will post the information regarding Saturday’s Schedule as soon as it is made available to me.  We will take a break for lunch during our rehearsal time.  Dinner will need to be purchased at Lake Forest HS.

Many thanks to Michelle Thompson for her help in beginning the process of fitting the Symphonic Band in tuxes and gowns for the upcoming Pops Concert.  We still have students that need to be fitted and any assistance that can be given in this process would be greatly appreciated.  Please e-mail me if interested.

Letter went out this past week reguarding the possibility of traveling to Orlando over Spring Break to participate in the Disney Magic Music Days for our annual spring trip.  So, please keep an eye for that to arrive to your mailbox very soon.

Our regular After School Rehearsals will begin this week with the first to be tomorrow (8-24-09) for the Woodwinds and Brass.

The weekly schedule will be as follows:

Monday – Woodwinds and Brass

Tuesday – Percussion and Color Guard

Thursday – Full Rehearsal

Friday – Full Rehearsal

All rehearsals will begin at 2:30 PM and end at 4:45 PM.  The late buses will begin running tomorrow as well and will leave at 5:00 PM each day.

It is the responsibility of all upperclassmen to make sure that they are at school and ready to begin rehearsal promptly at 2:30 PM tomorrow even though it is only a Freshman Day at school.

The Marching Lions Band will be presenting a stand still music performance of their 2009 Field Show “Video Games Experience” in the Horse Ring at the 4-H Park.  Following the Conclusion of the Opening Ceremonies, the band will then lead the Fair Parade around the park.

Report: 4:45PM

Rehearsal: 5:00-5:30PM

Pack & Load: 5:30PM

Leave: 6:00PM

Perform: 6:45PM

Return: 8:00PM

*The students are to wear their Green Band Shirt, a nice pair of Blue Jeans, and Sneakers.  (All new members will receive their Green Band Shirt on Monday evening before we leave.  Any returning member needing a new shirt needs to bring $10 for the cost of the shirt.)

This past week was an amazing week of band camp.  We have accomplished so much and have instituted so many new things that will allow us to be better musicians and marchers.  On Monday we took time to view and study a video on marching fundamental drills as well as the Breathing Gym.  The kids have had such great attitudes about the new implementations.  We accomplished putting the drill and music on the field for Halo and most of the drill for Bounty Hunter complete.  Our staff of experienced Alumni have been such a great help in sharing their knowledge and experience with the band.  This week we will finish putting the drill for Bounty Hunter on the field as well as the music as well as the same for Kingdom Hearts.  The band is also working on Olympic Spirit for the Fair Parade.  Anyone that is available to come out on Friday, is invited to do so as the band will be giving their first public performance of their 2009 Field Show.  B&B Music will also be visiting us to take shoe orders as well.  Michelle Thompson and Kelly Palmer have been busy taking care of uniform fittings this past week and we are most grateful for their time in the uniform room.

Band Camp will begin this week on Monday, July 27.  It will run from 9AM – 3:30PM each day.  Camp will run through Friday, August 7.   Our daily schedule will be as follows:

9AM – Noon: Field Work

Noon-1PM: LUNCH

1PM – 2:30PM: Sectionals

2:30PM – 2:45PM: Break

2:45PM-3:30PM: Full Rehearsal

Be sure to bring a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and water each day.  A cooler with water will be supplied to refill you water as necessary.