johnf Posted March 15, 2008 Report Share Posted March 15, 2008 This is the first time in 12 years this HS band has been to contest. The best they did before I believe was a 2,2,3 Straight ones boys and girls. I've got my horn and I'm tootin' the heck out of it tonight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted March 15, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 15, 2008 Uh, can somebody move this to the lounge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aksheephuntress Posted March 15, 2008 Report Share Posted March 15, 2008 John....You are awesome: listen to my words..........the most influential person in my life was my high school band director. Hands down. He inspired, He demanded, He believed in us..... He was dedicated......... and, most people thought he was the biggest dork. ..but, he didn't listen to other people.......he got results; He methodically represented excellence to all , in everything he set out to do.. :This mindset and mold, he gave to so many of the band students he mentored , for years to come.( yeah, and it carried through to other parts of their(our) lives......) .......Yep; it doesn't take a class 5 A band to do it........(heck, Duncunville, that massive conglomerate....we felt overwhelmed by them,in numbers).... Remember, it only takes THREE to be an ensemble....it's cohesiveness as a group- all students getting to that level to want to listen to each other...that makes potential for excellence. .......That's what Tom Bennett taught us.and it was inspired to him by that guy that kept coming to our HS periodically, that ran the music program at University of Houston........can't remember his name...... Anyway.....YES...you did mention that this was the first time in 12 years this band has been to contest......... .........I can tell you, and I feel as a person qualified...that your accomplishment tonight with this new band ,is highly commendable........My God- you are making changes that you don't even realize, yet. ........Believe in yourself......believe even more in your students.(for God's sake...these are computor kids...they are capable of more than what was given to them, before you got there.....that prior director was probably just putting in his time.) For Heaven's sakes:!!- If I had just resigned myself to just "put in my time"........I would probably just be........ ....Well. God only knows...I just now put some thought into when I "jumped ship".....packed up, and headed for Alaska , not knowing a soul.......got off the ferry in petersburg...worked the cannery, asked every boat on each dock if they needed a deckhand for 3 weeks.......and that's all she wrote..... You are doing an AWESOME job, John.......... build on your ideals... endear that private instructor support..... build a rapport with the students...especially parents........ and just act like that's the way it's supposed to be. .....I have thought, at times , that you don't know Jack ^^^^ about ballistics.......but: I have an overwhelming feeling that you have the Gift and obligation of a band director worthy of creating excellence.!!!! Congradulations!!!!-and, you KNOW I mean it!! Gee, what a job well done. !!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted March 15, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 15, 2008 .....I have thought, at times , that you don't know Jack ^^^^ about ballistics.......but: I have an overwhelming feeling that you have the Gift and obligation of a band director worthy of creating excellence.!!!! Congradulations!!!!-and, you KNOW I mean it!! Gee, what a job well done. !!!! Hey there, I am on here trying to learn though . Only wish there was a decent band director sight where guys could learn from those with experience. We've got a good thing here. Thanks for the compliments. I took this job because it was 4 hours closer to my family. Should have heard the screams when I told them the results. The last time they had been to contest was marching this year. To tell you what kind of progress they've made. We got straight 3's at marching contest (first 3's I've ever seen:mad:) and that was their best run. Definitely moving in the right direction. Maybe next year we can play some music with a little more teeth to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted March 15, 2008 Report Share Posted March 15, 2008 Congratulations to you and your band John. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly Posted March 15, 2008 Report Share Posted March 15, 2008 Great news John. Congratulations! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Finn Posted March 15, 2008 Report Share Posted March 15, 2008 guess they did good, but what is the score? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Andrea Posted March 15, 2008 Report Share Posted March 15, 2008 guess they did good, but what is the score? Straight 1's means the scored SUPERIOR on everything. Highest score you can get. Way to go John. That's awesome!!!:cool: What did you guys play? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted March 15, 2008 Report Share Posted March 15, 2008 way to go, john. and toot away...lol. a big rt congrats to you and all the kids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted March 15, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 15, 2008 Straight 1's means the scored SUPERIOR on everything. Highest score you can get. Way to go John. That's awesome!!!:cool: What did you guys play? Really some pretty easy stuff. We played a Karl King March called "General Lee" a James Sweringen tune called "Ashton Overture" and an Anne McGinty tune called "Emeraldpoint Overture" We're a fairly small school, graduating about 85-100 which puts us in the Arkansas AAA category. We would be a small AA in Texas aksheephuntress. Our minimum required music is a concert march, a grade 1 and a grade 2, and that's what we did. For those of you who don't know, music is graded on level of difficulty. Some is not graded because it's too easy or is deemed "entertainment music" and can't is not on our contest list, which is very extensive. Grade 1 is the easiest graded music and it goes up to a Grade 5 in Arkansas which would be music most Colleges would perform, or JJ Pearce. The level of difficulty that you are required to play depends on the age how big the school is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OJR Posted March 15, 2008 Report Share Posted March 15, 2008 Congratulations to you and the kids! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aksheephuntress Posted March 16, 2008 Report Share Posted March 16, 2008 Hey there, I am on here trying to learn though . Only wish there was a decent band director sight where guys could learn from those with experience. We've got a good thing here. Thanks for the compliments. I took this job because it was 4 hours closer to my family. Should have heard the screams when I told them the results. The last time they had been to contest was marching this year. To tell you what kind of progress they've made. We got straight 3's at marching contest (first 3's I've ever seen:mad:) and that was their best run. Definitely moving in the right direction. Maybe next year we can play some music with a little more teeth to it. ....Don't feel ashamed about the level you guys are playing right now...as I said in one of our pm's to each other....it's not your fault those prior directors settled for mediocrity.. ...What you have done in just part of a school year at this new school sets the progress for the next few years....it is amazing...Keep up the good work, I know it can be discouraging, at times.... ....Yeah,I probably should have made myself put a smilie next to my comment about your ballistic knowledge, now that I think of it..:rolleyes:....I'm learning,too...and I love to rib!! .....and, most of my encouraging post to you was in response to your excited pm to me, after you got back......I was so excited for you guys, I just posted back on your thread when it was still in the deer forum!!:D:D:D ....You have a BIG road ahead with those guys, as you said...but, man, if only other people could see and realize the leaps and bounds you have made with your band, in this realitively short span of time!! ....You know what would be neat,if it were allowed...for you to have a "Daily Training Log ", here at RT, with you and your HS band progress!!...you could also sneak in daily firearm trivia to your students...now, wouldn't THAT be neat;- talk about multi-tasking!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted March 16, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2008 ....You know what would be neat,if it were allowed...for you to have a "Daily Training Log ", here at RT, with you and your HS band progress!!...you could also sneak in daily firearm trivia to your students...now, wouldn't THAT be neat;- talk about multi-tasking!! Strange you should say that. Right after marching season we had a little lesson on proper shot placement in class. A lot of the kids hunt including more than 1/2 of the girls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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