PARADE SEASON... continued

So our first parade of the season was cancelled, but there’s another one! Our 2nd parade will be Monday, May 31, on Main St. in Newport. It will begin at 10:00.

This is a fun parade because there's a BIG audience, and we get to play the song ("Stars & Stripes") a lot. We start up near the Family Dollar and march down to the Causeway bridge near Gardner Park. We don't march into the park, though, and we don't take part in the ceremonies there. I always hope that my more mature students will stay for them, but I don't force them to stay. There's one sharp corner, right at the beginning, but other than that it's a real easy route, too. After that, I walk back up to get my car. It's usually a really good day, and hopefully it doesn't rain - we don't march in the rain!

PARADE SEASON!

First parade of the season today! And it rained..... Parade cancelled. On the up side, though, kids were very disappointed. They really wanted to march. Love to see the enthusiasm. I'm not sure we were really ready for it, but at least the kids would have known what it was like and what they needed to work on (though it's pretty obvious, they need to memorize the music!)

CONCERTS

This was the first time in my career that 100% of my healthy students attended both concerts at my schools!  Kids were right into the concerts, and were really ready.

In Derby the Advanced Band had some trouble during the dress rehearsal- we actually had to stop briefly during Manchester March and regroup.  The Beginning Band had a student drop their instrument, and although it was still playable he was understandably upset.  In the evening, everyone from both groups really watched me well.  I missed a cue for the Jazz Band when I started enjoying playing my bass a bit too much!

In Newport we had a strange day that began with no dress rehearsal.  I do wish I had another chance to conduct the concert.  I missed several cues, and didn’t exaggerate the dynamics as I would have liked.  I felt like my head wasn’t in it 100%.

Next year I think I’d like both concerts to be before April vacation.  The Newport kids have one week to have Stars & Stripes memorized.  Of course, they’ve had the music for quite a while but very few have worked on memorizing.  Next year we should also play Stars & Stripes WAY WAY earlier.