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!!!

RULE #9 - FIGURE IT OUT!

I had the opportunity to have lunch with Jason H and Mark G (the two geniuses behind this blog) during fall break. Jason was recounting some of the comments that were made on those surveys we did in September and one of them really got to me. Jason said that someone said that Rule #9 was just a way for staff to get out of work. Hello! I hope this was from one of our "fall freeloaders" and not a summer person. People - you have been "spoon fed" most of the knowledge you have by teachers who have been pressured by their "superiors" to improve test scores. You have become knowledge "regurgitators" but you do not have the capacity to use that knowledge. (Not all of you, but too many!) Rule #9 is all about using that knowledge in practical problem solving. In my 6th grade band, I have kids who will walk up to me in the middle of class and ask me a question - no hand, no asking permission! I usually send them back to their seat without an answer. Why? Because I'm to lazy to help? Nope! As I point out to these kids if I spent just 1 minute with each student answering a question we would have 3 minutes of band class every day. Now multiply that by 5 with the high school band and, well you get the idea! Beyond simple logistics, Rule #9 is all about having you, the student, learn to identify a problem, explore solutions and, ultimately solve the problem yourself or by committee (with your friends - ask three ask me)

What do you think? Right or wrong, yes or no, win, lose, or draw, TALK TO DADDY V!

TALK TO ME, JC!

Greetings Patriot band members and welcome to my blog. This blog is for me and the rest of the band staff to post thoughts, ideas and concerns regarding our band program and to get responses from you, the band members.

Your responses to any blog items will be sent to my personal e-mail where I will read them before posting. Anything considered in poor taste, inflammatory, slanderous, dirty, obscene, profane or just plain dumb (percussion?) will not be posted! Its my blog and I'll post if I want to!

The future of this blog will depend on how it is used. This is uncharted territory for me and I hope that you, the JC band members will step up to the plate and help me develop this blog to fit your needs as well as the needs of the staff.

So, as Jackie Gleason used to say...and away we go!

Coming soon...

The meandering thoughts of our own Daddy V, Pete Vogler!!


The one and only!!

Football Game...

So Friday night saw me at my 3rd (i think) JCHS football game of the season. It ended up lightning and they postponed the game for 30 minutes and the band all left. I still don't know if they actually finished the game (enlighten me if you can).

Band Day

Last wednesday was the State Fair Band Day. Jay County finished an impressive 2nd out of 44 bands this year, 2 places better than last years 4th place finish. It's sad to have another track season over and done with but I'm glad at the same time. The kids this year did just awesome considering some of the temperatures we dealt with. I really enjoyed working with the staff so with the good kids it was a great summer from the staffing perspective. I hope to be back next year, and bring back a certain guard instructor as well, to do it all again.

Lotsa' Craziness!!!

So in the last couple weeks I've been super busy. Lots of things going down at work at the moment, mainly all good. The band season has pretty much came and went. Once the contests start it goes by in a FLASH. We got lots of 2nd's behind southside and a 3rd behind southside and richmond (i think). Last week was band camp which was defintely the roughtest to date. It was like having one full time job on top of another full time job where the second full time job is conducted 24 hours a day and in ungodly heat and humidity!!!

Yesterday was the ice cream social (minus the ice cream though me, Emilie, and Hart stopped by Dairy Dream) where the band put on its usual bad run through for the parents. Definitely not the best representation of what was produced by band camp. If you want the real deal show up Wednesday at state fair!

Summer 2006 on Film