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!!!

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!!