Well, things are busy here - and they don't appear to be slowing up any in the coming weeks. A small update, for the few that read this blog.
Spent last week in Houma, Louisiana teaching the Vandebilt Catholic HS band camp. This is the third year I have spent with them, primarily running their visual program. I love teaching this camp: the kids and the parents both are incredible. Without getting too maudlin, I can honestly say that teaching at Vandebilt has become one of the highlights of my summer. The students work their tails off at anything you ask them to do, and the parents go way beyond to take care of the staff. The other staff members are hilarious and great fun to teach with, and working with Steve Brown and Megan Knox is always a blast. My thanks to Marc Martin and Steve Wilson for inviting me to teach their students - always a great time.
Outside of that, and getting ready for Waller's summer band, I have been writing drill and going to several drum corps shows (Houston and San Antonio, namely). San Antonio was a blast, especially since I got to see the show from the press box, thanks to my friend Tim Miller. As I suspected, the shows I really enjoyed were Bluecoats and Cavaliers.
Cadets do have one nice phrase in their show (the sequential sabre work in the ballad)... but that's it. Blue Devils are very good at performing, something I have always credited them with... but the show doesn't doesn't do it for me. Sometimes too literal, sometimes too predictable... doesn't have the depth of design I would want from that concept. Catchy name, though.
Suffice it to say that Cavaliers have a clear shot at the title again this year, provided people (i.e. judges) keep the right perspective on what they are evaluating.
Well, back to the drill writing... my brain is slowly turning into pattern manipulated goulash. Joy.
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