The Sewing Mom

Marching Band Season, that is!

Yesterday was an invitational competition. Our band did a wonderful job and came in 7th place overall, one of their best finishes ever! They have an incredible program this year and I feel that they have a great chance of moving up in the rankings before the end of the season. Keep in mind, there are about 500 band members on the field during the performance, this is the largest marching band in the country. It takes 21 buses and 2 box trucks to move all the members, staff and equipment. Imagine 500 kids trying to be precise in every move they make!

The first picture is of the band in their warm up position. The second is after they’ve taken their starting position and the music is starting. My daughter is highlighted by the yellow arrow, her boyfriend is to her right.

Our high school band succeeded in getting a ranking of 1 in the Regional marching contest last Saturday, so today, we are off to watch them at the Area contest. My daughter is all ready at the practice field and where they have been rehearsing for over an hour. They’ll be boarding the 23 school buses that it takes to transport 650 students and heading out for the 40 minute drive to the site of the contest today. My husband and I won’t be too far behind them. This could turn out to be an extremely long day because there are scattered thunderstorms in the area. Anytime there is even a hint of lightning, the performances will be delayed. Right now they are scheduled to perform at 2:30 and will wait to hear results scheduled for 5:30. Top finalists will move on to the State competition in San Antonio, so this is very important. With a band this size though, while they are really good and amazing to watch, it is difficult to maneuver and get everything perfect. I am hoping they do really well, but it has been a very long time since they’ve moved on to the State contest.

Here are a few photos I took from last week’s contest.

What happens when 700+ band kids want to spell? They run like mad around the field until they form the perfect letters to spell out the team mascot, EAGLES!

Personally, I thought they did a great job, especially since it was the first performance and the first football game of the season. By the way, the football team won, 33-27 in a real nail biter of a game!

In case you’re wondering (I know you are!), my daughter is somewhere near the top of the L.

This is week 2 of the high school marching band camp. Last week was just the freshman (my daughter included) and this week the upperclassmen, drill team and color guard have all joined in. The temperatures remain in the 100’s, today it is supposed to be 105. It’s been absolutely crazy! My daughter is doing really well with the marching and is only freaking out about having to memorize the music. I know she will get done what she needs to get done, but she is a perfectionist and puts a lot of pressure on herself. Next week should be easier, they do the camp in the evenings instead, giving her the entire day to work on her music.

By the way, there are over 600 kids out on this field. Sorry about the photo quality, it’s taken with my phone and looking into the sun.

Last week was my daughter’s introduction to marching band. She will be a freshman next near (OMG!)

All incoming freshman met on the high school practice field for 2 hours of instruction from the high school band director. Keep in mind, this is THE larges marching band in the continental U.S.! The pictures here are only the incoming freshman and there were so many, even though I was sitting up high in the bleachers, I couldn’t capture them all in my photo.