Well...at least on my part. The girls may be a little disgruntled.
My nieces's marching band came in third at State! Of course, they were hoping for second, or even better...first. They won third last year too, and expected to keep moving up the ladder. In fact, they did. Their score this year was even better than last.
It's really tough to convince teenagers that there is honor in placing anywhere other than first. I wish they could have seen the entire field of ten bands compete. They would have been so amazed at the competition, and they might have felt better about their standing.
We left the western suburbs of Chicago shortly after 5:00 a.m. The trip to Indianapolis took us less than five hours. With an early stop for lunch outside of town, and crossing a time zone, we were at the ticket booth of the RCA Dome by noon their time. The class C competition started at 1:05.
I was blown away by the performances! It's astonishing what 70 to 138 kids can accomplish in three and a half months. The uniforms were incredible, the music was thrilling. The pageantry of the flags and rifle work stirs your soul. Each performance was spectacular, and I feel blessed to have been able to see all of them, not just my nieces.
What a memory these kids will have.
Comments (9)
I suspect that parents and other relatives will remember more about the contest than the students will. I clearly remember when Dudette played clarinet in the solo part of the state contest, here. Eventually, Dudette even decided that she would like to have the tape of her playing, but I don't think that she clearly remembers it. Too many other things going on in their young lives.
The test: How clearly do you remember your own performances at that age? (Probably better than I would!)
Posted by Cop Car | October 23, 2006 5:29 PM
Posted on October 23, 2006 17:29
Marching bands are the best part of any parade. I love the pageantry and sound. It always stirs my soul. I can't imagine the grand feeling I would have to watch someone I knew and love be a part of it. I envy the opportunity you had to hear and watch your niece and the others compete. For sure it must have made you feel proud enough to bust!
Posted by Roberta S | October 23, 2006 7:42 PM
Posted on October 23, 2006 19:42
Many moons ago I went to a state competition for marching bands in Denver. My niece was a participant. I think they also placed 3rd. I also seem to recall they preformed late in the compition and it was much colder when it was their turn to preform giving them a slight disadvantage. I likewise was tickled for her school to place so high with all the schools and talent they competed with.
Posted by janet | October 23, 2006 10:42 PM
Posted on October 23, 2006 22:42
Congrats to the kids!
Posted by bogie | October 24, 2006 4:19 AM
Posted on October 24, 2006 04:19
Cop Car, I can't remember every concert or performance, but I can rememeber several of them very clearly. I don't have any tapes or records of my high school performances, but I have several from college.
I suspect that my memory about these activities is good because I chose to make it my vocation, but it may also be due to the fact that the high school band was taught by an amazing man who encouraged us to work above our individual abilities. My nieces have the same sort of director, and I'm sure they will remember going to State!
Posted by buffy | October 24, 2006 3:29 PM
Posted on October 24, 2006 15:29
Roberta, I agree with you! *G*
Before the first band took the field, the audience was invited to rise for the performance of the National Anthem. I always sing when it's played, and I started to sing the first few notes, and discovered this knot in my throat. I ended up whispering the words for a few lines, until I was back under control. There was just something that brought the reality of the moment to me, all the effort the kids had put in, the parents supporting their children, the beauty of the performance by the Indiana University Brass Ensemble. My heart was bursting with the emotion of the moment. I suspect the girls will feel a lump in their throats when they look back to that lovely day in October at the Dome.
Posted by Buffy | October 24, 2006 3:36 PM
Posted on October 24, 2006 15:36
Janet, my nieces were lucky. They were performing inside the RCA Dome, so temperature and wind were of little concern, Saturday.
YOur niece was at a disadvantage in the cold. Your fingers don't want to work as well, and it's almost impossible to play in tune when a musical instrument is shifting from cold to warm as it's being played. If it's REALLY cold out, the brass players lips will freeze to the mouth pieces!
On the other hand, playing in the second half of group of bands is infinitely preferable to being the first one to compete, so maybe there are trade-offs at every point.
I'm glad you went to watch your niece. She deserved the support, and I hope you had a good time!
Posted by Buffy | October 24, 2006 3:41 PM
Posted on October 24, 2006 15:41
Hi Buffy,
After our phone conference yesterday, I told myself I had to come visit your site and check it out. First of all, I LOVE the layout and colors....really cool. Here you are right in IL with me, and it took chatting on the phone with all those lovely ladies for me to find out about you. I'm very glad I did. I think I'll probably be a frequent visitor.
I LOVE MARCHING BANDS! There is something so inspiring and uplifting about listening...and watching them. They can blow you away...if they're good enough. And...even those that are considered fair...are pretty good in my eyes.
Congratulations to your nieces....3rd Place is nothing to sneeze at. These competitions can be pretty tough. Take care Buffy....
Posted by Joy | October 25, 2006 1:11 PM
Posted on October 25, 2006 13:11
Joy, how nice of you to visit! It was great to meet you yesterday on the Elderblogger PhoneCon. It's a small world, isn't it? We probably live within ten miles of each other, and we meet by phone, along with women from Texas, California, Maine and France!
I love band. I spent 11 years as a grade school band director, and although it's been more than 20 years since I last taught, it's still in my blood. I'm SO delighted that my nieces are both musicians!
You and I will have to meet up at one of the band competitions next year.
Posted by buffy | October 25, 2006 4:15 PM
Posted on October 25, 2006 16:15