CONSIDER THIS................................................................

WOLF WISDOM

One evening, an old Chreokee chief told his grandson a story about a battle that goes on inside people.

He said, "My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all.

One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, superiority and ego.

The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith"

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather:

"Which wolf wins?"

The old Cherokee simply replied "The one you feed."

No one's perfect - not even band directors. I find myself feeding my Evil wolf way too often. Lets face it - it's easier! Throw yourself a pity party and blame everyone else for your problems. Joy, peace, love, hope, etc., take work (ask any married couple) but are ultimately more fulfilling!
Hey JCHS band members - WHICH WOLF ARE YOU FEEDING?

Daddy V

SO YOU WANT TO MAJOR IN MUSIC................................

There has been much interest expressed by Patriot band members in the last couple of years about majoring in music in college. I won't pretend to speak for Mr. Smeltzer or Miss Guise, by I will say that if I had to do it all over again I would still major in music education. I would, however, make sure that I was better prepared before I went to college and understood more about what I was getting into! Its a tough major with no time for a minor! I was fortunate - I went to a small college where there was a lot of individualized attention. In the larger state schools its sometimes either sink or swim! We don't have a great track record for music majors at JCHS. I think that in the last 25 years we've had 3 or 4 kids major in music and actually get through all 4 years! My reason for posting this entry is to let you know that the band staff is anxious to see you succeed in whatever you choose to do, but we are particularly interested in talking with any of you considering a music major. Remember, music does not mean either performance or teaching. There are many career opportunities in music such as church music, music therapy, music business, and the list goes on! We've made great strides in the area of music theory training with the new theory class and computer lab at JCHS. Arts Place will be offering a follow-up class this Spring entitled "Music Major Boot Camp". This course will introduce students to music history and continue working on ear training, as well as discussions concerning auditions, applications, scholarships, and other things which need to be considered. (Incidentally, the course will be taught by Emilie Boyes - who better than someone fresh out of the music major arena)

Again, please consider your band staff to be a source of information concerning music major preparation. We really want you to succeed!

Talk to Me! As always, I'm your...

Daddy V

BAND DIRECTORS vs. SWIMMING POOL

OK, Patriot band members, you had your fun. Now its time to answer the age old question:

When band directors are thrown in a pool, do they:

A. Sink
B. Float
C. Get wet
D. All of the Above
E. None of the Above

I'm Daddy V (squish, squish) Talk to Me!

DRUM CORPS INFO......(and a quote)

For those of you interested in learning more about drum and bugle corps, you can go to DCI.org. Drum Corps International is the governing body of drum and bugle corps and their web site has a wealth of information about the activity.

Also, Laura and I were interviewed last week-end by a web reporter for Youth Education in the Arts (YEA). If you would like to see that interview go to YEA.org and look for the news article about "nurturing and supportive parents" - ahhh, that would be me!

Daddy V

"Without leaps of imagination or dreaming we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning!"

THE ADVENTURE ENDS............................

Laura and I arrived back in Jay County at 2:30 A.M. Although totally exhausted from the experience, Laura also said it was the most fun she's ever had. Lots of good rehearsal and playing tips from the boys who know. There was a "show and tell" on Sunday afternoon. The guard did about a 4 minute routine, the battery played LOUD (36 snares and 19 quads), the pit played a Scott Joplin rag, and finally the hornline played through "Simple Gifts", "Salvation is Created", "Shenandoah" and "Back to the Future" - interesting juxtaposition of songs. The sound was amazing - 75 horns including 19 tubas. After the program, the kids were given their ratings. As with most drum corps the Cadets don't "cut" people, but rate them and allow them to decide, according to thier rating, if they should continue. A 1 means "we want you", a 2means "we think we want you so please work hard over the next month and come back in December", a 3 means "we like what you do, but you might be too young or have too little experience". Laura got a 3 based on the age factor and her lack of corps experience. Win, lose, or draw, the camp was great and certainly cemented Laura's desire to march with a corps. Fortunately, there are many corps within driving distance (3-5 hours) from Portland and she'll try again next year.

How about some discussion? How many of you have seen a drum corps or would like to try to march with a corps?

I'm Daddy V - talk to me!

AND CONTINUES.............................

Laura called tonight (I'm visiting my mom who lives in NJ) and continues to be very excited about her experience. The instructors have had them playing and marching since 9:00 A.M. She says its much like our basics program, both playing and marching but X 100. Her shoulders, lips and arms ache but she's picking up a lot of good information from the guys who know! I'll return to camp tomorrow morning for "show and tell". All sections will perform for the parents at 1:00 P.M. and we should be on the road for IN by 3:00 P.M. which will make our Jay County ETA about 4:00 A.M. Probably won't even go to sleep before school! Daddy V will be stoked on caffeine. Remember me in your prayers tomorrow boys and girls!

Daddy V

THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES...................

Cadet Camp 2007 started at 9:00 P.M. Friday night. Meeting with George Hopkins (corps director) talks and sounds like a band director, has a good sense of humor and many funny stories. As he talked a bout the summer tour and the requirements on the kids, I was amazed at how many time he mentioned Rule #9 without calling it that! He said that they expected a certain level of maturity from the members that allowed each of them to take care of themselves and their problems during the tour. Went to parent meeting. Marching a summer with the Cadets will run about $2500 (yikes!) excluding travel to and from camps and spending money. Took a tour of equipment truck and food truck. WOW! Saw Laura warming up with the horn line being led by Gino Cipriani! 70+ horns and no woodwinds! She gave me the thumbs up! Going back to help prepare lunch!

Daddy V

RULE #9 WRAP-UP! (AND A QUOTE)

Thanks to all who responded to the Rule #9 entry. Be assured that your entries (well, most anyway) were read with a sincere and open heart and mind. Some of your concerns are legitimate and will be discussed in staff meetings with the idea that Rule #9 will be more fairly administered.

As for me personally, I feel that each one of you will learn more in the 2 months of summer band than you will during the rest of the year - I mean truly learn! Not facts and figures but real life and how to cope with it! You guys are at the perfect age for this kind of learning. As a staff we believe in you enough to challenge you to take on life's intricacie's and affronts and I hope it's an ethic we can bring back to American society, which is, after all, based on the idea of plunging wildly into the unkown and making it up as you go along. At the very least we can retain the idea within our marching activity, which is perhaps even more so based on the idea of plunging wildly into the unknown and making yourself equal to the task.

People who have never experienced our activity ask me all the time, "How do you do it?" (200 kids, 2 months every summer, heat, equipment issues, heat, uniforms, heat, band camp, heat, show creation (and re-creation), heat, personel battles and personal battles)
I usually look at them, knowing they won't understand and tell them "Rule # 9 - You just figure it out!"

Quote of the Day

Risk! Risk anything! Care no more for the opinions of others, for those voices! Do the hardest thing on earth. Act for yourself! Face the truth!

Katherine Renner

THE ADVENTURE BEGINS....................................................

One week from tonight I start on the adventure of my life-time when I take Laura to the Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps audition camp in NJ. Why my adventure, you ask, when Laura is the one auditioning? Parents often enjoy experiences vicariously through their children, especially if the experience was not available to them when they were young. I have been a fan of drum and bugle corps (core, like apple core - not corpse like a dead body) when I went to my first show in 1971 (Smeltzer wasn't even potty trained then and Guise wasn't even alive!) Since that experience (I went with my band director) I have been hooked on drum corps.

What is a drum and bugle corps, you ask? Basically, its like marching band but without woodwinds (sorry guys!) and corps perform on a football field, 11 - 13 minute shows and they perform at a much higher level than marching band. Most corps practice once a month from November through April with "move-in" during May. The end of May and 3 weeks into June is when the corps learns their show. After this they compete from the end of June to the middle of August, usually about 30 - 35 contests per season all around the USA. Drum corps season is really like a 9 - 10 week band camp!

Please excuse the above meanderings - but they have brought me to my discussion question for the next couple of weeks which is: Summer Band - Take It or Leave It?

Obviously, a large majority of our band must enjoy the experience since most are involved. What do you like best about summer band and what do you like least? How about band camp? Should we go away (ie - Miami University) or stay at the high school? What about those who are not involved(my so-called "fall freeloaders)? Why do you not participate?

Come on Patriot Band - talk to your Daddy V!

RULE #9 - COMMENTS & CONTROVERSY

To my favorite bunch of kids in the school (if not the world!) -

You are doing exactly what I was hoping you would do - taking issue with my entry! Keep the comments coming! I will respond in total once I feel the entry has run it's course. A lot of what is in the entry is purposely inflammatory - give it to me on the chin! I can take it!!

Daddy V

Talk To Me, DaddyV!!!

Our own Mr. Vogler, a.k.a. Daddy V, is going to be posting things dealing with the band there to try and get a little discussion going on subjects as well.  He hopes to better inform the band on things so they have a clue  and also to get some discussion and a better "feel" for the mob.  The first post is up and waiting for ya'll to comment on it so check it out!!!