Are you ready for some Marching Band?!?!
I hope the brass and woodwind musicians have enjoyed their time off, but are anxious to get back to work. The colorguard and percussion have been working very hard the past few weeks in anticipation of the entire group getting together again.
If you are riding the metro, please note you will need to arrive early. Once you exit the Congress Heights Metro Stop, you will enter St. E’s through the security gate, take a left and walk about 5 minutes to the chapel. If you are driving, please enter at the gate just north of Malcolm X on MLK Blvd. Maps are located on the DCDD Calendar and in the Lambda Room.
The schedule for tomorrow will be a bit different from the remainder of the season. I ask that you arrive as soon as possible after 6:30PM so that we may hand out music, get settled in and use as much daylight as we can for running music. At some point after dark, we may move into the chapel, so if you prefer, please bring ear plugs. Remember, if you’re on-time, you’re late.
I plan to start warm-ups right at 7PM, so please make sure you are on-site and ready to play at that time. We will do little marching tomorrow, but mainly sightreading the music for this year. Rehearsal will end around 8:45PM and we will head to a location as yet to be determined for post-rehearsal refreshments.
Even though we will not be marching, you may be standing for an extended period of time, so make sure you wear comfortable clothing (changing facilities are available) and come prepared to work.
I can’t say how excited I am to officially start our full-ensemble rehearsals from this year and I expect and anticipate great things from the group!
From David H. (Percussion Caption Head)
Again, great consistency in the momentum! Try not to get frustrated with Battery Jam, it is really coming together quite nicely, you really can hear the progress. Don't forget to access me for individual or small sectional rehearsals, open and available time is my friend right now. For Monday, be prepared to perform Battery Jam for the full ensemble to show off all your hard work. Also be prepared to play through the Roll-of and Halt cadence. Begin looking for music lyres. We do have a few, but if you have any tucked away somewhere, please dig them out and we'll assess how many are needed. The new sticks/mallets/cymbal pads will be there Monday.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Friday, April 17, 2009
Weekly Rehearsal Notes
For those of you Brass and Woodwind players out there, the percussion and colorguard sectionals have been amazing the past few weeks. Their individual features are coming along wonderfully and we cannot wait for you to join them on Monday, April 27th.
Before I post the comments from this year’s caption heads about this week’s rehearsal, I want to extend a special welcome to Derrick Johnson. Derrick will be this year’s Drum Major and will have many duties with the group this year, including conducting during the parades and some stand & blow performances, conducting warm-ups, and various organizational, logistic and administrative duties for the group. Derrick served as the lead Drum Major for the University of Florida Gator Band for 3 years and has a BS in Music Education. Please join me in welcoming Derrick to the DCDD Marching Band family.
Caption Head Notes
From David H. (Percussion Caption Head)
The last rehearsal was great. We had excellent momentum on Battery Jam. Everyone’s dedication is much appreciated. For next Monday, be prepared to start right at 7. new mallets and Cymbal accessories have arrived. We will start outside with marching fundamentals while playing through DC 8’s. We will continue to focus on Battery Jam. We will spend time together and then split into sections for further “jamming of the battery!” We will conclude by reading through the full band Warm-Up and perhaps some of the new tunes that were passed out on Monday. We will end by 8:45. Be well & practice.
From Jason G. (Colorguard Caption Head)
Thanks for all your hard work this past week at rehearsal. We are definitely getting a lot done. In my absence this week, please keep your focus on cleaning what we already know, and focusing on angles, counts, and the tosses. This rehearsal on your own will show me how much you guys are really ready to work for this season. Stay on top of it. I can't wait to get back and see how much you've all accomplished. This week will be a chance for you all to come together as a group and work together to accomplish great things. Visualize perfection and it will become reality.
Before I post the comments from this year’s caption heads about this week’s rehearsal, I want to extend a special welcome to Derrick Johnson. Derrick will be this year’s Drum Major and will have many duties with the group this year, including conducting during the parades and some stand & blow performances, conducting warm-ups, and various organizational, logistic and administrative duties for the group. Derrick served as the lead Drum Major for the University of Florida Gator Band for 3 years and has a BS in Music Education. Please join me in welcoming Derrick to the DCDD Marching Band family.
Caption Head Notes
From David H. (Percussion Caption Head)
The last rehearsal was great. We had excellent momentum on Battery Jam. Everyone’s dedication is much appreciated. For next Monday, be prepared to start right at 7. new mallets and Cymbal accessories have arrived. We will start outside with marching fundamentals while playing through DC 8’s. We will continue to focus on Battery Jam. We will spend time together and then split into sections for further “jamming of the battery!” We will conclude by reading through the full band Warm-Up and perhaps some of the new tunes that were passed out on Monday. We will end by 8:45. Be well & practice.
From Jason G. (Colorguard Caption Head)
Thanks for all your hard work this past week at rehearsal. We are definitely getting a lot done. In my absence this week, please keep your focus on cleaning what we already know, and focusing on angles, counts, and the tosses. This rehearsal on your own will show me how much you guys are really ready to work for this season. Stay on top of it. I can't wait to get back and see how much you've all accomplished. This week will be a chance for you all to come together as a group and work together to accomplish great things. Visualize perfection and it will become reality.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Upcoming Rehearsal Notes
I am very excited to kick-off marching band next week. Remember, rehearsals on Monday, April 6 are only for Percussion and Colorguard members and will start at 7:00PM at St. E’s (directions and maps are located on the DCDD calendar on the website). Our time is limited, so please be sure to arrive early, if possible. Brass/Woodwinds will start on Monday, April 27.
Don’t forget, you can go to dcdd.org under “Box Office” and pre-pay your uniform charge of $25 as well as pay your $50 dues if you did not participate in CPSB this spring. Finally, I have uploaded the 2009 Marching Band Intent Form and Marching Band Participant Guide into the Lambda Room, so please download the forms and email the Intent Form ASAP to me at marching (at) dcdd.org. -Z
Caption Head Notes
Percussion from David H.:
It is going to be a great year and we are very much looking forward to showing off our percussion section – both the 15 members strong and the new equipment! Below are some notes for rehearsal on Monday.
- Ear plugs are strongly encouraged, but not required.
- We will have enough bass drum mallets for Monday and we are ordering all new mallets which should arrive by the second rehearsal. We are also researching snare and quint lyres.
For rehearsal on Monday, bring:
- Enthusiasm & patience
- Screwdrivers and ratchets, if possible
- Music stands
- Tape
- Don’t panic about the battery feature. We will practice and modify areas as needed.
Colorguard from Jason G.:
I'm so very excited to see a great beginning for this year. The turnout is wonderful. If any of you have any friends that are interested, please bring them along. I plan on making some challenging routines, but will definitely make modifications for those of us that are not as advanced so we can still look great, feel great about our performances, and have fun learning and growing with each other.
For rehearsal on Monday please always try to wear comfortable clothing and shoes that allow you to move well. Some things that I like to see, but don't require, are clothes that aren't too baggy and pants or shorts that allow me to see the ankles. This doesn't mean go buy a new wardrobe. It is most important that you are comfortable and not going to create an injury by wearing non-guard clothing.
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