Oct 6
Posted in News by Eric Knutson
Borrowed Items: – must be returned or paid for.
Many items are borrowed from this season; some items remain borrowed from the 2008 season. Please check the most recent Band Parent email for a list of students and items.
All items need to be returned to Kathy Waters or Kelly Tollefson for proper credit. DO NOT lay them on the Carlson’s desk, in the band room or on the steps to the attic or you will not be credited.
A list for any items or money still owed at the end of the band season will go to the office and you will be unable to get final transcripts or diplomas until it is paid off.
Thanks for your assistance
-Chaperones
Oct 6
Posted in News by Eric Knutson
On a rainy day, following a rainy weekend, it seems like a good time to remind band members and families about uniform care. Everything you do to take proper care of your uniform enhances your band’s appearance, and demonstrates pride in your band’s impression and colors.
- Always remove your uniform from the garment bag following a performance, whether wet or dry.
- Hang all uniform parts separately on hangers–allow to air out/air dry completely.
- Turn the garment bag inside-out and also hang to air out/air dry.
- If wet, remove plume from the tube to air dry. You may attach the metal clip of the plume to a hanger with a clothes peg, to allow the plume to dry upside-down. When the plume and tube are dry, put the plume back into the tube, metal cup-end first.
- Remember to store hats upside-down in the hat box to avoid wear on the silver brim.
- Check that buttons and snaps are sewn on securely, and repair as required.
Jim Pundmann, our representative with Stanbury Uniforms, confirmed this month that the replacement cost for an LHS uniform is $573.50. The breakdown of cost per individual uniform piece is as follows: Coat= $323.50; Bibbed trouser= $157.00; Sash= $32.75; Sequined Vestee= $60.25. These costs are assessed to student ISA’s for uniform parts that need to be replaced. A $15.00 charge is also assessed to ISA’s for pants that are returned frayed at the hem.
One student had a sash that was too loose on her shoulder. The button holes had become stretched and were too large for the buttons, causing her sash to fall off. She resolved this by using white thread to sew the sash button hole sizes to be smaller. Also, some students have made adjustments to their pant hems to avoid fraying at the bottom of the pants. These are good things to check for when looking over your uniform in preparation for a performance.
The uniform that you take care of this year might be your uniform again next season; if you move into a different uniform next year, it is good to know that it has also been well taken care of. Everything you do as a band member reflects on your band.
Thank you for your help with uniform care!
-The Uniform Committee
It certainly wasn’t the weather we’ve had the past two weekends, but we were able to work through the rain and the cold and put on another great performance. The season continues to wind down ever so quickly. The hours of remaining rehearsals continue to dwindle, and the rain days continue to shave even more time off of our rehearsal time outside. Right now we’re looking at 21 rehearsal hours left for the season! This is time of year where we have to push very hard to maintain what we have produced, and push even harder to make the product better. We are going to make this product better. This has been quite the journey thus far this season and we can’t wait to see it these last three weekends.
Our “on field – off field” race against the clock that we have to deal with when we perform in Des Moines will be one of the main rehearsal points this week. They have very stringent rules regarding time, and we will be doing a modified field entrance and exit so as to avoid getting penalized for going over time. The weather looks to be very similar to what we experienced this past weekend at FOB, so in that regard we had a good dress run through. Hopefully it holds, the wind stays calm, and MAYBE the temperature will be a few degrees warmer than what they’re predicting. Regardless, we’ll continue to put our best foot forward. The weather conditions look to be tough this week for rehearsals, but we’re coming off of a year during which we rehearsed in SNOW getting ready for the Macy’s parade, so this weather should be no tough feat to work though for these students. We’re looking forward to ending this season strong, so students, bundle up and come ready to work. We have no doubt you will!
Finding shade on Saturday afternoon was like finding a cold drink of water as we warmed up with our uniform jackets off. The sun and heat always make for a challenging performance, but in spite of that, the LHS marching band capitalized on a strong afternoon performance scoring a 90.8 in prelims.
Following the performance, we asked the band “How many of you think you can perform a better show tonight?” Every hand went up. We knew we had a much better show in us. The afternoon was good, but the evening was going to be great.
The weather conditions were stellar. The students were determined to have a better outing the second time around. The stage was set, once again, for another magnificent performance of ”The Heist”. As the band marched over to the stadium, you could feel the energy radiating from the students. There was a silent intensity – a focus that told us the band was indeed going to perform a great show.
The band performed what turned out to be a spectacular, energetic show that was visually and musically cleaner than Marshall – all except for about 15 seconds in the second tune during which the band had a music tear that made all of the instructors in the stands hold their breaths. However, the band quickly recovered and cashed in on the rest of the show, nailing things better than they have ever nailed them before. It was an emotional performance with drive, passion, and intensity – and the best part about it – it was obvious the students were loving every minute of it.
I think this will be a show that everyone will be sad to see come to an end. There are only four weeks left of rehearsal and performances and it has been a thrill ride putting this thing together. I sense the students feel the same. It’s so rewarding to see them not just tolerate, but love the work of putting this together, and I’m anxious to further fix things in the show that will make it sparkle even more. We’re just so proud of the kids and the energy they put into this week after week. What a thrill! And to all the parents that make this all possible – we’re continually humbled by your commitment. This band is like the workings of a small country. Everyone has to pitch in to make it successful and to make the experience better, and that’s exactly what this band accomplishes so well!
We could feel it in the air on Saturday night – that calm, collected confidence before the show. The students were going to do something special. The excitement of exposing the show to the general public for the first time was thick.
And then the performance…
Yes it was our first show out, but we don’t think we’ve EVER seen a first show out quite like that one. The connection between the band and the audience was electric – it was impossible to not be drawn in. The students were focused and on fire. There was not an ounce of flatness to the show – just controlled, focused energy aimed at the audience in front of them, and if you were there, you truly experienced something magical.
We are so proud of the students and could not have asked any more out of them. Everything worked. At that point it comes down to subjectivity, and we make no apologies for who we are and what we do. We aim to entertain, and if you walked away from that show and weren’t entertained, well…you need to search for a pulse. The thrill of performance is what it’s all about, and we think the students experienced something Saturday night that they will never forget. It’s not every day that you go and spend 160+ hours with 250 other people your age to attempt to make complete magic – and that’s exactly what happened Saturday night. We want to congratulate all of the other bands on their outstanding performances and for making this activity such an exciting one. Everybody is out there working hard and putting in the countless hours to experience that thrill of performance, and we love seeing it on a broad scale. Thank you to ALL who made this outing a COMPLETE success. Let’s all look forward to doing it five more weekends!
Dan Carlson and Bob Carlson
