TOP OF THE ROCK - CHECK OUT THE VIEW!

CENTRAL PARK FROM THE TOP OF THE ROCK!


We will be visiting the "Top of the Rock" during our tour of NYC. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. (the guy was like a gazillionaire) first opened the Observation Deck atop 30 Rockefeller Plaza more than 70 years ago, to give something back to New Yorkers and their guests from around the world - a place to appreciate and celebrate the city. The Observation Deck's original design was inspired by the decks of the great ocean liners of the era - complete with deck chairs, gooseneck fixtures and vents inspired by a ship's stacks. A trip to the Observation Deck was like setting sail in the heart of the world's most dynamic city.


LOOKING NORTHWEST TOWARDS THE HUDSON RIVER AND NEW JERSEY!


THE "CANYONS" OF NEW YORK!


LOOKING NORTHEAST TOWARDS TRUMP AND BLOOMBERG TOWERS!


Now, for the first time in 20 years, this vantage point is being re-introduced to the people of New York and the world.

As the steward of John D. Rockefeller, Jr.'s dream, Tishman Speyer, current owner of 30 Rockefeller Center, is proud to present the new TOP OF THE ROCK Observation Deck, as envisioned by the architect Michael Gabellini. When Mr. Gabellini re-imagined the new Observation Deck that is now TOP OF THE ROCK, he envisioned the same simple elegance and beauty of the original - but using modern materials and engineering. TOP OF THE ROCK is a unique experience - with panels of fully transparent, non-reflective safety glass allowing completely unobstructed, open-air views of the entire city. Gabellini blended modern materials with the deck's original elements - like the custom "shot-sawn" limestone and cast-aluminum fleurs-de-lis that are signatures of the original design. The result is Art Deco grace combined with state-of-the-art technology and simplicity.

MAMMA MIA! ITSA MIGHTA FINA MUSICAL!

PATRIOT BAND MEMBERS WILL SEE MAMMA MIA! AT THE WINTER GARDEN THEATRE WHEN IN NEW YORK.

A mother. A daughter. 3 possible dads.
And a trip down the aisle you'll never forget!

I took my family to see this musical when it was in Indy several years ago and we took my 75 year old mother with us. Needless to say, we all loved the show, including my mom! The plot is pretty thin - the daughter is getting married and wants her real dad to give her away. The twist is - mom is not sure who the real dad is!(not exactly a lesson in morality) But they all live happily ever after while singing 22 songs from the 1970s rock group ABBA! ABBA, comprised of 2 females and 2 males, is a Swedish rock group. The name "ABBA" is the named of a Swedish canned fish company and also an acronym for the first names of the 4 singers in the group. Mamma Mia opened in London in 1999 and on Broadway 2 years later. After almost 5 years on Broadway the show continues to be a popular ticket in NYC.


THE CAST OF "MAMMA MIA" ENJOYS AN ENCORE!

Mamma Mia is currently running in the Winter Garden Theatre on Broadway. The Winter Garden is best known as the theatre that CATS played in during it's record run on Broadway from 1982 to 2000! Historically, the Winter Garden Theatre was first a horse sale barn back when Times Square was known as Longacre Square. The barn was remodeled for theatre use by Herbert Krapp (nice last name) in 1910-1911. Over the years, the Winter Garden has been home to the "Ziegfield Follies", "Mame", "Gypsy", "Funny Girl", "Once Upon a Mattress", and Leonard Bernstein's "Wonderful Town" and "West Side Story".

A POEM FOR SPRING.....

THE BOIDS IS ON THE WING...

SPRING: A POEM

SPRING HAS SPRUNG, DA GRASS HAS RIZZ,
I WONDER WHERE DA BOIDIES IS?

THE BOIDIES IS ON DA WING!

MY, MY, HOW ABSOID!
I THOUGHT DA WINGS WAS ON DA BOID!

WRITTEN BY:
ROBERT C. VOGLER, SR (1928-1998)
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION EXPERT
AND POET

TIMES SQUARE - THE HEART OF THE CITY

NEW AMSTERDAM THEATRE IN TIMES SQUARE. NEW AMSTERDAM WAS THE 17TH CENTURY DUTCH NAME FOR NEW YORK.


Times Square is probably the most popular spot for tourists to visit when in New York. Times Square was named after the New York Times, the #1 newspaper in NYC, followed by the Wall Street Journal and the New York Post. .


LOWES THEATRE AND CBS STUDIOS IN TIME SQUARE


The "Times" is filled with liberal drivel for the most part, the "Journal" much more conservative and business oriented and the "Post" is a tabloid paper with what is referred to as "sensational" journalism - the kind of paper that would appeal to 90% of Jay County.


MTV STUDIOS ARE LOCATED IN TIMES SQUARE.


Times Square is THE theatre district with Broadway running right through the middle of it. Times Square has not always been the best area to hang out in. Once nicknamed "The Devil's Playground", TS was know for years for it's adult bookstores and theatres and the illegal activities which go along with that type of commerce. (one of the local neighborhoods around TS is still called "Hell's Kitchen" - the east coast spelling for "Dunkirk") An effort by New York City officials, led by then-mayor Rudolf Giuliani, to clean up the area has returned Times Square to it's former glory.


TIMES SQUARE LOOKING SOUTH TOWARDS LOWER MANHATTAN


For those of you who stay up late on New Year's Eve, Times Square is where they "drop the ball" to signal the beginning of the new year.


ONE OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST NEON SIGNS - THE NASDAQ SIGN IN TIMES SQUARE


Times Square is also home to one of the world's largest neon sign. The NASDAQ (National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations) sign is 120 feet tall and cost $37 million to construct. In addition, NASDAQ pays $2 million a year to lease the space for the sign

WAKE-UP, PATRIOT BAND!

Daddy V - American

Ya know what makes me mad? Ya know what makes me so angry I could eat a entire porky pine and spit quills at the Goodyear Blimp? It's when you knuckleheads come up to your Daddy V and whine "but I didn't know how to get a hold of you." Well, let me say this about that - IT AIN'T ROCKET SURGERY, FOLKS! When Daddy V was a young pup educator there were only 3 ways to "com-une-i-cayt" with me - home phone, school phone or US Mail. But these days, with that there "information super highway" there are now more ways to get hold of Daddy V then there are Democratic candidates for president. As a matter of fact, as Daddy V was driving the V-mobile down the road the other day it occured to me that, by actual count, you can now irritate me by:

1. Home phone - with answering machine
2. School phone - EJ - including voice mail
3. School phone - JCHS - including voice mail
4. Arts Place phone - including voice mail
5. Cell phone - with call back feature and voice mail
6. Home e-mail
7. School e-mail
8. Arts Place e-mail
9. "Talk to Me, Daddy V" blog
10. Facebook - Yup, I'm on there!
11. "GOOGLE" me - Yup! I'm on there, too!
12. US Mail

And since Mrs. Daddy V got over the flu, she finally got out and shoveled our front sidewalk so you can walk right up to my flippin' door and ring the bell! So what's all this nonsense about "can't get hold of ya." Hey, ya ain't tryin' very hard, are ya?

Wake-up Patriot Band!

This is Daddy V!

V off!

MARCHING PATRIOTS ANNOUNCE 2007 SUMMER SHOW - REALLY!

"Skyline" of Moscow, the capital of Russia.


Symbol of Russia - The Two-Headed Eagle


The Patriot Band staff today announced the 2007 summer show entitled "THE COLORS OF RUSSIA:THE POWER, THE PEOPLE, THE CELEBRATION" The 180 degree turn in show theme was a staff decision with many different ideas regarding show music being tossed around. Once the Russian music idea was solidified, our newest staff member, former student teacher Emilie Boyes, developed the whole "Colors of Russia" concept. For the POWER segment, the prominant color will be purple - the color of royalty. The PEOPLE section will feature the color white - the color of innocence. The CELEBRATION finale will use red - the color of festivity. Throughout all three segments, the color of gold (gold lame) will also be used as a unifying theme. Musically, the show will begin with "Coronation Scene" from the Russian opera "Boris Godonuv" by Romantic era Russian composer Modeste Mussorgsky (1831-1891). Mussorgsky's opera is considered the masterpiece of Russian national opera. The story of "BG" involves Gudonov's murder of a young heir to the Russian throne and Godonov's subsequent rise to power in Tsarist Russia. Guilt eventually takes over Godonuv's mind and he goes mad. The "Coronation Scene" reveals the crowning of Godonov while a crowd of Russian citizens shout "Slava" (Hail).

American composer, Alfred Reed (1923-2005)


The next selection is Alfred Reeds arrangement of "Carol of the Russian Children". Alfred Reed is a 20th century American composer who is most well known for his concert band pieces. This section will feature a "boatload"of choreography by the guard and will show off some of the ballet they have been working on all year. The final selection will be another Alfred Reed composition entitled "Russian Christmas Music". This piece was commissioned in 1944 as part of a Russian-USA music festival meant to improve Russian/US relations - it didn't! Selections from RCM (Russian Christmas Music not Royal Canadian Mounties, genius!) will include "Antiphonal Chant" and the "Cathedral Chorus" - a big, brassy closer which will feature our pit percussion and some new guard effects, courtesy of Miss Boyes.

Band uniform changes will include removing the sequin sash from the uniform jacket and adding black gauntlets. Guard uniforms are still undecided, pending the arrival of the new guard uniforms later in March

From the 50 Yardline

Check out a new video all about band kids coming to theatres soon...
https://www.fromthe50yardline.com/

www.jcmarchingpatriots.com does not officially endorse this video. This organization is not responsible for links used beyond this site.

WHAT'S UP WITH COUNTRY MUSIC?

Because of the numerous school delay and cancellation news reports on local radio during the past 2 weeks, I've probably listened to more country music than I normally do in a year. I'm no stranger to country music and I had these thoughts before but now, thanks to "Talk To Me Daddy V" I have a forum for my opinions. Now before I start to rant and rave, let me give you an idea of my music history. First, don't forget, I was raised in New Jersey - not exactly the cradle of country music. Secondly, I had a father who, although he couldn't carry a tune in a bucket, was a fan of operetta, especially Gilbert and Sullivan and raised all 3 of his kids to love operettas. I was introduced to other classical music by my association with drum and bugle corps. To this day, I feel I learned more classical music repetoire from d and b corps shows than from all my years of under-grad and master's degree study. But I digress! My point is, I don't have a whole lot of experience with country music but I've been struck, over the years, by how depressing the lyrics are! I listened to 3 songs in a row yesterday that dealt with some guy crying because his girl was leaving him, somebody who wanted a dime for half the times he screwed up, and some girl who got pregnant after a "date" with her boyfriend. These are just three examples, but I checked the top 10 country songs on the internet and they all seem to deal with some tragic circumstance, love gone bad, a screwed up life, etc., etc. Now I know life is not all sunshine and roses (hey - I've been married for 25 years), but doesn't listening to music such as this tend to depress even the perkiest among us? At least Rock and Roll songs are musically complex enough that even if the lyrics are depressing you probably can't hear them! Now, to be fair, a lot of classical opera is tragic in nature, and even broadway musicals have tended to be a little heavy in subject matter in the last several years but even operas and musicals have there lighter moments and if nothing else, they nomally have some musically redeeming qualities. I guess, for the most part, I've always sought out music and entertainment in general, that is a little lighter, up-lifting or more humerous than "She Stopped Loving Me Today" - something more like "A Boy Named Sue". I feel the same way about my taste in books and movies also. Yes, my favorite movies of all time are the LOTR trilogy, but there a certain heroic quality to these movies which attracts me - the "against all odds" kind of appeal!

So tell me - what is the appeal of country music? What are you listening to? Are there any "classical" music fans out there" How about jazz? Talk to me.....I'm

Daddy "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy" V

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY - COFFEE ANYONE?

It's Valentine's Day and a special one for me since it represents the 25th Valentine's Day with my best friend, my lovely wife. (Yeah, Jacques - I think she's hot, too!) For those of you who don't know, my wife was a flute player in the Patriot Band back when we were first attacking the State Fair monster. After she graduated, we started dating and were married in May of 1981. Since then, I could list a thousand occasions when she has done special things for me - special meals, unexpected cards and phone calls, special gifts, etc., etc., as well as a thousand times when I've had to leave her alone to take care of band business. Our house is always clean, clothes are washed and PTO and swim team money is counted (along with band $ on occasion). She amazes me with her computer knowledge ("flying by the seat of her pants" - no formal training), helps me organize my MusicWorks paperwork, drives a 2002 Honda CRV that still looks like it just left the showroom floor, and puts up with cranky teachers, cranky parents and cranky bosses at her full-time job for the Special Needs department in the Jay School Corporation. Did I mention that she's also a great mother? In addition to all of the above, one of the things that she has done for me every day for the last 25 years that I probably don't appreciate enough is fixing me coffee every morning. That's 25 years times 365 days per year (take away band camp week, band trip days - but add extra coffee on days like the last couple) well, you do the math! Those of you who know me know that I love my coffee - not that I'm a coffee gourmet or anything, but I do like my java - fresh and hot! It's funny how the big things that are done for us are always easy to recognize and appreciate but little things like fresh coffee everyday sometimes are overlooked. ☕

"Behind every successful man is a good woman!" Success is relative and I'm comfortable with letting others judge my personal success in life. But whether that judgement is pro or con, let it be known that the woman behind this man is not just good, not just great, but is probably as close to perfection as you will find on God's green earth!

Daddy "Eternal Romantic" V

CABIN FEVER!

Hmmm. I think everyone should try to help Daddy V!

Sorry, band fans, but it looks like we're in for a long haul. I have at least 2 bets riding on us not being in school for the rest of the week and I think I'm gonna win both bets!

First, some business. This Friday was the deadline for the first PATRIOT GUARD CLINIC but considering the weather, the deadline will be extended to next Tuesday. Past that, we can accept enrollments but we probably can't get a t-shirt in time.

Secondly, in regards to my post on a band song, there seems to be some support for the idea, so let's do some brain-storming and come up with some ideas. It should be a song that could be sung before a contest, not something that we would play. When I was at Haworth, it was a requirement for all freshmen to memorize the song and when we sang it, we circled up with the seniors in the center, then juniors, sophomores and finally the freshmen.

Also, I had at least one vote for "FINIS CORONAT OPUS" as a band motto. This is Latin for "the end crowns the work" which is a good motto for anything we do. The final product should always be a reflection of our work - remember, the final product not the final result. We can control our final product but not always the competitive result!

Talk to me, I'm

Daddy "I Need a Band Song Idea" V