228 - How to practice at home

We reflect on a great year of band and our memories of last season.  We look forward to the excitement of this fall!  See you then!

What can you do in the summer to prepare for band camp?  We agree that it is important that you not wait until Band Camp starts to get used to physical activity and the hot weather, so we discuss some ways that have worked for us in the past to be ready to go on Day 1 of Band Camp. We also say goodbye to our senior Podcast member - Addi.  She share some memories and give some advice to anyone out there considering joining the band. All this, and with more bloopers than ever before!

Does it start in the summer? In June, May?  January?!?  Just like any sport, Marching Band has elements that are pretty much year round.  When do you consider the beginning of Marching Season?

Some bands march Parades in the Spring, some don't.  What are these parades and why do some bands choose to march in them?  Also, there has been a foul odor across the West Tennessee Rural Area the last week or so.  What in the world is this smell?! With special guest host - South Gibson Student Natalie Curtis!

How does Concert Band fit into Marching Band, or vice versa?  Does your school charge admission to their Band concerts?  Why or why not?  We talk about these things and more!  

It's been a few weeks since our last episode.  Spring Break happened, and then the crazy weather happened!  Our thoughts go out to all those in the West Tennessee area who were affected by the storms, especially in McNairy County and the Obion County flood area.   We also talk about the Winter Guard Championships that just happened.  And we start our online stalking of bands as Show Reveals start to happen!  This part of the year really gets us hyped up for what's coming!

This week we try to wake up from losing an hour of sleep to daylight savings time.  Then we talk about Concert Performance Assessment, better known as Concert Festival.  We talk about some of the scores from Memphis and preview the bands and songs being played at the UT Martin Festival.  We also discuss the benefits of going to concert festival as it relates to the Marching Arts.  

We talk about how we use time in the Spring to get the fundamentals and lines set for Color Guard and Percussion.  What do they do at these camps and what is their purpose?  Do you do the same thing or something similar at your school?

There is only so much you can do in class.  Students need to practice at home.  But how often? For how long?  What exactly do you need to practice?  We discuss these things and wonder at our recent crazy weather in West Tennessee.

We are joined in studio by some students who made All West Honor Band.  They tell us what they are excited about and give us their favorite memories of previous years at All West We are also joined by Eli Lickey, who just signed with Music City Drum Corps.  He fills us in on his experience with the audition process and what it has been like so far in his first time as a Drum Corps member.