Marching Band Camp

This past week, I have been going to school every day for band camp.  This is a camp my school has every year for the kids in band.  We learn to march some of our show and we also memorize our show music.  As a drum major, I had to help plan our band camp.  Joe and Maria, the other two drum majors, and I all had a big say in what games we played at camp and the overall schedule for the week.  We put a lot of time into planning the whole camp and it went quite smoothly.
On Monday, I arrived at 7:30. Everyone arrived at camp and we soon got busy reviewing marching with the people returning to band and teaching the freshmen and newbies how to march.

Freshmen and new people learning marching basics.

We had a jello eating contest, too.  After learning some of our show, practicing our music, and playing games, we all went to CJ Barymores.  This is a really fun place where there are many activities to be played such as mini-golf, rock climbing, go carts, dance dance revolution, and laser tag. It was fun catching up with some of the people I haven't seen all summer. We got back to the school at 9:30 and needless to say, everyone was tired.

On Tuesday we had a pin the tail on the donkey.

On Wednesday, we had a movie night.  We all watched the movie Drumline. 

Everyone had to do many pushups this week
as a punishment for forgetting their instument, folder, music, etc.

On Thursday, we did a pinata.  Everyone stood 40 yards away.
It was really funny to watch the whole band rush to the candy;
it was basically a free-for-all on the football field.

On Friday, we had a dance off, played Just Dance, took pictures in our uniform, and also gave a performance for the parents demonstrating to them how much we accomplished this week. For the dance off, each section (ex. flute seciton, clarinet section, low brass section, etc) picked a song and also had to make up a dance to go along with it. It was really fun to watch.

We all did Just Dance.

Me conducting. Our slip 'n' slide is in the background.

Another picture of me conducting.

One of the things I do as a drum major - make sure everyone stays hydrated.

At the end of the week we gave a performance to the parents
showing what we had accomplished in the week.  I am on the top riser in the right of the picture.
Joe is at the very right of the picture on the smaller riser.

Our color guard practicing. 

The 2012 marching band in our uniforms.  I am in the white at the bottom.
Drum major names left to right: Me, Maria, Joe

Left to right: me, Maria, and Joe.  The 2012 drum majors.

Many people asked me a certain question this week.  I will now answer it.  Yes, it DOES feel really weird to not be marching on the field and YES, I really do miss playing my bass drum in the drum line.  However, I love being drum major.  I am really glad I tried out and made it.  It has been a great experience for me to help take charge of the band.  I love helping the band out and I love conducting. Band camp this year was challenging but was a really big adventure.

FJM Drum Major Camp

A couple of weeks ago, I went away to a camp in Whitewater, Wisconsin.  I flew there by myself which was the first time I have done so. It was really hot the whole time and there was no air conditioning; my parents ended up ordering me a fan for me and my roommate! This camp was mandatory for me to go to because I am one of the drum majors for the marching band at my school (for everyone who doesn't know what a drum major is, I'm the one standing in front of the band conducting everyone). Honestly it was a little strange for me to go to a camp which everyone isn't talking about cycling every single second of the day! It was still really fun getting in touch with that musical side of me again.
Every day at camp we learned a new piece of music in the morning, then had to perform it in the evening.  It is actually quite hard to conduct and it takes a lot of coordination.  While one hand is doing a crescendo, the other hand has to conduct in a pattern indicating where beats 1,2,3, and 4 are.
I think that this camp was an amazing experience.  I went from not being able to conduct, to having the confidence and enough skill to be able to lead and conduct my marching band this year.  I learned a lot about leadership which is something I honestly didn't know much about.  I've never been the captain of a team or in Girl Scouts so I have never had much experience being a leader. However, I think that this camp has given me the tools I need to be a successful drum major this upcoming year.