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Marching band teaches focus
Marching band teaches focus though unique elemental skills that must be simultaneously mastered during a performance. Getting started The foundation of marching band is learning to be still while maintaining excellent posture. This is the “attention” position. Every motion is detailed and dictated to the performer. Being still is like starting with a white canvas…
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Reinventing myself
I’ve been thinking a lot about reinventing myself. I’ve been running on a straight line since the late 70’s. But, the question for me is… what’s next? Dreams I spent the better part of three decades being driven by a dream. I wasn’t going to work in the morning, I was on a quest. That…
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Marching arts in decline?
Are the marching arts in decline? On April 2nd, DCI’s Cadets announced that they have filed for bankruptcy. 90 years of excellence could not save them from financial insolvency. The Cadets fall was hastened by the actions of their long time director, George Hopkins. There are stories online that you can read to get a…
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TKA 2012 and family
The King’s Academy (TKA) 2012 marching season was a high point for my family. I had moved my young family to this Florida school in 2000. Now my kids were in their teen years and part of the band program. Mom and Dad Dad was a payroll supervisor at Fisher Body outside of Pittsburgh. That’s…
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Band is old America
Band is old America. I’m a band director and I teach students to do something that used to be incredibly popular in America. But, how do I adjust to modern times? John Philip Sousa Nothing says band like, John Philips Sousa. He was a famous composer and band leader in the late 1800’s and early…
