All-West Recordings

Here is the link to where you can listen to and download the All-West recordings for this year.  http://www.wtsboa.com/members_only/detail_pages/all_west_band_music.php

History of the CD

Here is a link to not only a history of the CD, but also some information on the Technology behind how a CD works.

Synthesizers

Two songs in our field show - "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" and "Mr. Roboto", deal with the impact of synthesizers on pop music.  Here is a quick history of the RCA Electronic Music Synthesizer (notice in the pictures that the first synthesizers did not have keyboards, they looked like huge computers.)  Also, here is a history of the Moog synthesizer, one of first synthesizers with a keyboard and a name that has become synonymous with the synthesizer instrument.

Evolution of Records from 1900-1920

Here is a brief overview of some important dates in the history of Records.

Benny Goodman

One of the Jazz songs we are doing features the clarinets.  The song is "Let's Dance" by Benny Goodman - one of the greatest jazz clarinet players of all time.  Chances are, if you have ever heard an old recording of a clarinet player just tearing up a solo, it was Benny Goodman.  Found out more about him here.

History of the Electric Guitar

Here is a link for those who want to know about the origins and evolution of the Electric Guitar.

Audio Recording History

Here is a link if you want to find out more information about the technology involved in the History of Audio Recording. 

Food and Friday night

I still need lunch for the staff on Thursday and Friday.  Deanna Minton has offered to do it on Friday, but she will need some help.  If you are willing to help her out, please let her or myself know.

Also, on Friday night the Band will give a performance for Friends and Family.  We will show off the music and drill that we have learned during the summer rehearsals and band camp.  This will start at 6 pm and be over around 6:15.  Everyone is invited.  Weather permitting, it will be on the Band practice field; if there is rain or high heat, we will have it in the high school cafeteria.

Band Camp!!!

It is finally here. I know everyone has been looking forward to this moment all summer... Band Camp!!!
Band Camp is the time that we get a head start on the year. We learn marching fundamentals, start learning the drill and movement for the field show, start memorizing the music, start making friends, and start working toward goals together. We spend time learning the show in the blazing heat now so that we can perform in the freezing cold later on. We work to get rid of that "bathing suit" tan line with the more fashionable "T-shirt and shorts" tan line.
Such is Band Camp.
Here are a few tips for the freshman and some reminders for those who have done this before:
1. Get lots of sleep at night.
2. Eat a healthy breakfast in the mornings.
3. Wear light colored clothing. T-shirts,shorts, something on your head, and tennis shoes. No flip flops (these are not fit for marching), no short shorts, and ladies please be conservative in your dress.
4. Bring lots of cold water/gatorade. It is a good idea to have personal coolers and bottles with you outside to keep hydrated. (Put your name on everything)
5. Make sure you bring something for lunch the full week of band camp.
6. Cell phones, purses, and other valuables need to stay in the band room in a locked practice room. No cell phones on the practice field.
7. Use sunscreen!
8. Be on time. We start every day at 8:00 am, which means you need to get here a little early to get all your stuff in the right place before we start.
9. Bring a pencil every day to use during music sectionals.
10. Last but not least, bring your music and instruments. Yeah, you might need that!

I am looking forward to this year with an exciting field show, a great leadership team, and another great group of freshmen! See you Wednesday at 8 am in the Band room.

Final Summer Rehearsal

Whew! We are getting a break from the extreme heat just in time. Hopefully this will last through band camp. I hope everyone had a good 4th of July holiday and stayed safe in the heat.

Remember that this Wednesday, July 11, is our final summer rehearsal. Band is from 8-11 am, Percussion and Guard from 1-4 pm. This will be the last chance to get a head start on the music before band camp starts next Wednesday. I think we have achieved a lot in these compact rehearsals - just imagine what we can do if we keep this focus going in to band camp.

Rehearsal and DCI show

A reminder that our 3rd rehearsal is tomorrow, Wednesday June 20. Band from 8-11, Percussion and Guard from 1-4. We are already halfway through our summer rehearsals! Freshmen, you are doing a great job so far - keep it up!
Also, FYI, tomorrow evening (Wednesday, June 20) starting at 7 pm, UT Martin will host a competition of drum corps - including The Cadets, the Cavaliers, the Crossmen, Carolina Crown, and Spirit of Atlanta. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the gate. If you get there by 2 pm, the Cadets will be offering a free clinic on the UTM Football field. All of this is optional for SGC Band members, but it is an awesome show of some of the best Drum Corps out there.
For those of you who don't know, DCI is "Drum Corps International", commonly referred to as the Major Leagues of marching band. These are high school and college age students who get together to form what is basically the All-Stars of marching bands. For more info, you can visit DCI.org, or youtube any of the previously mentioned drum corps names to see them in action.

June 13 Rehearsal - and Fees

Here is a reminder that our next Rehearsal will be Wednesday, June 13. The Band will rehearse from 8-11 am, and the Percussion and Guard will rehearse from 1-4 pm. Our first rehearsal went great, and I can't wait to see some of the new faces that couldn't make it to that first one!
Let me also remind you of the Marching Band fees. For Band members, the fee is $150; for all Percussion members, the fee is $175 (extra is for the sticks, mallets, and drumheads I have to buy), and for all Guard, the fee is $200 (extra is for the uniform and flags I will have to buy.
The fees help me pay the staff that I will bring in to help the students during band camp, to buy the field paint that I will need to paint the lines on the practice field, to buy the T-Shirts that all students will get, and to start buying materials for props and such for the field show.
The fee does not include reeds, gloves, or marching shoes. For incoming freshmen, we use the same marching shoes you had in middle school, so if you want to use the ones you had in 8th grades, that is fine. If anyone needs new shoes (lost or outgrew yours), I will be sizing you and ordering some at the beginning of August.
If you can start paying these fees now, that would be great, so that I can have the money ready to buy the field paint (it is not cheap!) Also, if you need to pay a little now, and a little later, that is also fine. I am asking that you have the full payment in by the end of Band Camp, so that all of the band's bills can be paid in a timely manner.
Thank you, and enjoy your summer!

Announcements 5/16

I have had to work diligently at deflating my ego this week, as the Band's performance on Friday at the Strawberry Festival had me bragging to everyone I work with and everyone I know, no doubt irritating them to no end. Also, I want to thank the parents who were responsible for the Band Banquet. What a beautiful way to spend an evening!

1) Graduation is this Friday night at 7 pm at the football stadium. Students need to report at 6:15 wearing concert attire.
2) I have handed out Student Information forms. I need all of these filled out by the students who are going to be in Marching Band next year. Even if you filled one out last year, I need an updated one.
3) We have a brand new Washing Machine! Now I need some volunteers to use it. Is there anybody (anybodies) out there that would volunteer to spend a little time at the school washing uniforms? If you can, please let me know. It will consist of spending a few minutes putting the uniforms in the washer, and then hanging them up a few minutes later. This can be done throughout the school day and/or in the afternoons.
--
Stephen Price
Director of Bands
South Gibson County High School

Announcements 5/8

1) The Band Banquet is this Saturday, May 12 at 6 pm in the Cafeteria. Please pay for any guests ($12 per guest) by Thursday.
2) This Friday at the Strawberry Festival, I am letting those Band members that can get to Bailey park in Humboldt on their own meet us there. We will still be taking a bus for those who wouldn't otherwise have a ride. If a band member wants to meet us at Bailey Park, they need to be there at 8:45 am. We will have their uniform and instrument on the trailer to get when they get there. They will need to remember their black socks and marching shoes. If a band member is riding the bus with us, they need to be at the school at 7:45 am. All Guard members need to meet at the Band room at 6 am for hair and make-up.

I am so proud of how this second semester Band class has performed! So many performances with so much music (and not easy music at that!) They have grown as musicians and as people this year. We are starting to reach that concept of positive performance that we have talked about the last couple of years at Leadership Camp. I can't wait for next year to continue starting these excellent traditions for this band. Here are the announcements for the week.
1) Make sure your child picks up a calendar for the summer/fall marching season. You can also download it from this website.

2) Make sure your child signs themselves and their guests up for the Band Banquet. The SGCHS Band members are free, all guests are $12 each. This will be a formal event in the SGCHS Cafeteria on May 12 at 6 pm.
3) The Teapot parade is this Saturday. Report time to the school is 8 am. We will not have a lot of room for people on the bus, but feel free to follow us to the parade, or meet us there. The parade begins at 10 am.
4) We have rehearsal this Thursday, and next Tuesday, May 8.
5) We will perform at the SGCHS graduation on May 18. I don't have any specifics about time or place, but will let you know when I find out.
6) Final Booster meeting of the year this Thursday, May 3 at 6:30. I want to ask some of you to stay after for a little while so we can help Jeff Delaney prepare the meat for the BBQ on Friday.
7) BBQ pickup on Friday. We will have a FEW extras for walk-ins if you know someone is interested. The meat will be ready by the time school lets out at 3:00.

Announcements 4/19

Hello Everyone
We made it back safely from a tiring, but fun, trip to New York! I think the Band students and chaperones did a remarkable job. And it seems like everyone had fun too. I look forward to the next trip with just the band! Unfortunately, there is no time to rest for the Band, as we have a number of performances coming up soon. Here is a list of the dates:
Tuesday, April 24 - Spring Concert 7 pm in Cafetorium, report time for students is 6:30 pm. Concert attire.
Friday, April 27 - Tickets and money due for the presold Spring BBQ tickets.
Thursday, May 3 - Afterschool rehearsal for the Parades
Thursday, May 3 - Band Booster Mtg, 6:30 pm in the Band room.
Friday, May 4 - pickup day for the Spring BBQ
Saturday, May 5 - Teapot parade
Tuesday, May 8 - Afterschool rehearsal for the Strawberry Festival
Friday, May 11 - Strawberry Festival
Saturday, May 12 - Band Banquet
Friday May 18 - SGCHS Graduation

Field Show 2012

The recording for the Field Show for 2012, "The Tech Effect", is located on the right hand side of this website under the "Music For Band Members" tab, along with the narration and outline of the show.

Announcements 3/27

1. Concert Festival This Friday. Students need to wear concert attire to school that morning. We will leave right after the first bell rings and be back by fourth block. They will need to bring money for lunch (fast food). If you want to come to Liberty High School in Jackson TN to watch us, feel free. Admission is free, and we perform in the Auditorium at 10:55. I suggest getting there by 10:30.
We will receive ratings (I- Superior, II - Excellent, III - Good, etc) from three judges. They will then average those scores for a composite. We will then move to a Sight-Reading room and receive a rating from a judge in there. Unfortunately, parents and audience members are not allowed into the sight-reading room (it is simply too small). We are going for straight I's (I, I, I, composite I, Sight-Reading I). Last year, we received a II, III, II for a composite of II, and received a II in sight-reading. I look to improve on that.
2. Beauty Pageant is Saturday. Workers need to be here at 9 am. I will have band students volunteer for at least one thing to bring: home baked goods, water, canned drinks, condiments, hot dogs/buns. Ask them what they volunteered for. Also, see the previous email with the booster minutes for more details about this event. We will take applications all the way up to the starting time. So it is not to late for someone to be in this pageant.
3. I have to add two rehearsals for the Parades since we have a few people that are not in class that are participating with us. Those two added rehearsals will be Thursday May 3 from 3:15 to 5:15, and Monday May 7 from 3:15 to 5:15.
4. The next Booster meeting will be next Thursday April 5. More information about that meeting will soon follow.

March 26 meeting info

For the meeting next Monday at 6:30, the students need to bring (if they haven't already turned in):
1. Medical Form (notarized, or if not, we will have a Notary there)
2. Release Form (the paper that says they read the rules and regulations. The student and a parent of the student have to sign this one. Chaperones do not get this form.)
3. Picture of themselves (we will have a camera there to take their picture if they don't have one).

Chaperones need to bring the Medical form.

I am pairing up a lot of the chaperones since we have so many on this trip (believe me, this is very good!). For each pairing of chaperones, there will be between 3-6 students. At the meeting, for each pairing chaperones, I plan on having a folder with the following included:
1. Copy of the Itinerary
2. Cell phone number list
3. Chaperone Responsibilities paper
4. Rules and Regulations paper
5. Room List
6. A copy of the Medical form (with attached picture) of the student(s) they are chaperoning. I will keep the original Medical Forms in another folder. *This will be added to the folders later.
7. I will add the bus list later.

Chaperones will also sign up for a seat on the bus. I only ask that you try to spread out over the buses - not everyone on the front, please. This will help us keep a good eye on all the students.

See you Monday at 6:30!

New York Announcements

1) We are looking at getting Hoodies for all the students so that we are uniform when we play at the Statue of Liberty. Mrs. Hicks is working with a company she has used before, and it looks like the cost is going to be around $20. The students going to NY must get them, but the Adults going on the trip have the option. If you want one, send me your size by Thursday and when I get the final price from Mrs. Hicks, I will let you know.
2) I have started passing out medical forms for the trip. Everyone going needs to fill this out - students, adults, and teachers. They need to be returned to me, not Thomas Tours. Also, they need to be returned signed and Notarized! Don't worry, if you cannot find a Notary, I will have one there at the March 26 NY meeting at 6:30 pm in the Cafetorium.
3) At the March 26 meeting, I will have a list of behavior expectations for students and chaperones, and also a list of responsibilities for the chaperones. That way you will know what you need to do as a chaperone. Hopefully, by then I will also have a list of which students you will be chaperoning.

Announcements 3/6/12

The students who went to Solo and Ensemble this weekend did really well! Everyone who signed up for the event showed up, and everyone who showed up received a medal - meaning they received either a (I) superior rating or a (II) excellent rating. And there was more than one judges form that mentioned how polite and well-dressed the student was. I could not have asked for better representation from our band and school.
1) Butter Braid pastries will be delivered this Thursday around 1:30. I will be here all that afternoon for you to pick them up and get them delivered to the customers.
2) We will have a Booster meeting this Thursday at 6:30 to discuss the logistics of the Beauty pageant, among a few other things.
3) Remember that Parent/Teacher conferences have been changed to this Thursday from 3:30 to 6:30.

Band Camp Dates

I will let you know exact times later. They will pretty much be the same as last year, except I will change up the half week just a bit. I will also let you know details of the summer rehearsals later on. But here are the dates for band camp this summer:
July 18-20 (Wed. - Fri.)
July 23-27 (Mon. - Fri.)

Announcements 2/6

1) Since I was at the All-West Honor Band last Thursday, the booster meeting had been changed to tomorrow, Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 6:30. Don't forget, and I hope to see you there.
2) The Ensemble concert is coming up quick on Feb. 23. We are working on those ensembles now, and I think it will be another year of solid songs and players.
3) Remember, we have had to change the Solo and Ensemble date to Saturday, March 3. Solo and Ens is optional, costs $7 per ensemble, and the students will have to find their own ride to Northside High School. But it is a great event for them, and a rare time to showcase their individual skills.

Announcements 1/31

Things are starting to come together in class as we prepare for the numerous performances of the Spring. That's what makes this semester so exciting! We have more than a field show and a Christmas concert - we have the Ensemble concert, Solo and Ensemble, honor bands, Jazz Band, a performance in New York, the Spring Concert, Basketball games, parades, Concert Festival, and for the first time, the Graduation ceremony. It's going to be a busy, but productive, semester.
1) The Booster meeting has been pushed to next Tuesday, February 7 at 6:30 because I will be out of town for All-West Honor Band this Thursday.
2) The Butter Braid fundraiser will begin next week. This will be our last major fundraiser for a while, so please sell what you can even if you are not going to New York, because we need to start preparing for next year already.
3) If you are still on the fence about going to New York, please make your decision. We are coming up on some major cancellation deadlines, and we also need to finalize room assignments and bus assignments.
4) The ensemble concert will be February 23 at 7 pm in the Cafetorium. All students in class have at least one performance in this concert. This is a chance for them to play in smaller ensembles (and even solos) with music that they choose. It is a throwback to the Chamber music days of long ago....

Announcements 1/17

We had a good time at the Black Light Zumbathon this past Saturday night. The band students were there having a good time, and the people who showed up to Zumba got treated to some glow in the dark fun! I think it is a great event, and a great way to involve the community in our fundraising efforts.
1) Half of the band is playing in the Basketball game Tuesday night, January 17, and the other half of the band will play at the Jan. 31 game. I have a sign-up list, and the students got to choose which game they wanted to play at. They had the option of signing up for both games if they wantedReport time for both games will be 5:45. We will dismiss after halftime of the boy's game, which will be approximately 8:30 pm. Students need to wear school colored clothing.
2) Students are choosing solos and ensembles for the Ensemble concert on Feb. 23 at 7 pm in the cafeteria. Mark this date on your calender
3) Jazz Band will start next Monday, January 23. It will meet every Monday afternoon from 3:15 to 4:30. This is optional for anyone who wants to expand their horizon and play some good Jazz music. They will play in our Spring concert.