DHS MB Road Trip to Nazareth Academy

Yesterday, the Warrior Marching Band accompanied the football team to Nazareth Academy in La Grange Park for their first-round playoff game. While the final score wasn't what we hoped for (a 35-6 loss), we had a great time playing in the stands and watching the Nazareth band, playing back and forth with them across the turf.

We were set up in portable bleachers on the visitors' side of the field around the 20-yard line. A number of band parents made the trip to help us cheer the team on. We did a number of our fun stands activities, like our multiple variations on the wave. The Nazareth students did everyone of our variations back at us, including the slow motion version! They were a great, spirited group of students (although I could have done without the kids in full hunter's garb, brandishing a stuffed deer...). Every time the Warriors had the ball, we played for them, and the Naz band did the same. It turns out that we have the same taste in music: classic rock. They played "Iron Man," "Don't Stop Believing," and "Crazy Train" to go with our renditions of "Smoke on the Water," "Smells Like Teen Spirit," and "I Got You." They also had some more recent numbers, like "Bad Romance," while we countered with "Dynamite."

One of the more amusing moments came when they announced that rock star Jim Peterik was at the game (his wife is an alumna of the school, and he's made this an annual tradition). If you don't know, Peterik wrote two of our band's all-time favorites, "Vehicle" when he was with the Ides of March, and "Eye of the Tiger" when he was with Survivor, so he's pretty famous. Anyway, he came out with his guitar, ready to play "Eye of the Tiger" with the Naz band, but his amp didn't work. So, he sang along with them, but the band was playing in a totally different key than the original recording, and it wasn't really in his range. We were treated to a half-sung, half-shouted version in which he got the crowd to shout "Blue, blue-blue-blue!" along with the opening punches. When they finished and left the field, we answered back with our rock-solid version of "Vehicle." I hope that Mr. Peterik heard us and smiled.

Another great moment was when an older couple came up to me on the sideline. The husband, wearing a Nazareth sweatshirt, told me his son was my drum major many years ago. I immediately recognized Mr. and Mrs. Berry, parents of Jim Berry, who was my very first drum major during the 1988 season at DHS. He led a band of 35 students on the field, back when we debuted such favorites as "Peter Gunn" and "Day Tripper." It was great to see them and remember the old days when I was a fresh-faced young band director just three years out of Northwestern. Now, many years wiser and grayer, I still love hanging out with the Warrior Marching Band, especially on a picture-perfect day like we had this past weekend!

You can see more pictures here, courtesy of Caryn Zull.

Marching Band Photos

Here's a nice gallery of pictures from our last few football games taken by sideline photographer/band parent Caryn Zull. Enjoy!

Congrats to our IMEA Honorees!

Seven Deerfield High School band students were recently named to the Illinois Music Educators Association District VII Music Festivals. These students auditioned with hundreds of other high school musicians from Northeastern Illinois and were chosen based on their tone, technique, and reading skills. They will perform in the district festivals in November where they will work with professional conductors and clinicians. Our DHS students will join their peers from 50 other high schools in a day of intensive rehearsals culminating in a festival performance. Competition for these groups is very keen, and it is a great honor to be selected. Congratulations to the following musicians:

Band: Will Barkalow, clarinet; Colin Davis, oboe; Avery DeMaria, trumpet; Aidan Epstein, bassoon; Mitchell Steindler, trumpet. Jazz Band: Joey Rosin, alto sax. Jazz Choir: Jordan Barhydt, bass.

A Great End to the Marching Season

Our final home game of the regular season saw the Warriors defeat the Vikings of Niles North in convincing fashion. The band finished their season on the field in similar manner, with a reprise performance of the "Drive My Car" drill, complete with "flip-flops" and "stupid bass drum tricks." Okay, so this would make more sense with a video, but imagine one trombone player twisting to the right while the next trombone player bows underneath the slide. Then imagine this going back and forth. Then imagine this going back and forth very quickly. Then imagine this going back and forth very quickly while playing a tricky call and response section. Then imagine this going back and forth very quickly while playing a tricky call and response section multiplied by about 50 musicians, including sousaphones, and you get the idea. Now, imagine bass drummers leaning forward so their drums are on the ground, and they're standing on their heads with their feet in the air. It was quite the show!

My favorite part of the evening, however, was before the game. We have a very old tradition that dates back to the late 1980s. Each year, a senior is chosen to recite the band poem, which is our "psych up" chant for every performance. It's a position of great honor that is passed down from one person to the next over the years. This year, Hudy is the official reciter, and he has performed this task with great verve. However, for the last game, instead of beginning with the first line, "Marching Band is cool," he counted to three. Then every senior said the poem along with him. This was his way of sharing the spotlight with his peers and allowing everyone the opportunity to carry on the tradition. It was such a cool, unselfish act--I got choked up just watching them.

Later in the game, Josh passed on his role as official M&M catcher to Jacob. Again, this is quite an honor, especially since Josh is the all-time record holder. At one game, he caught 20+ M&M's in row. Note that the candy is placed on a bass drum head and launched into the air with a mighty stroke of the beater, and that it must be caught in the mouth. Pretty impressive! It was great seeing another torch passed.

So, a special "thank you" to all my seniors, who have acted with great class all year. I hope all of you juniors were paying attention, because it will be up to you to continue with the same leadership and pride in 2012!

Bandorama

Don't miss the 24th annual Bandorama concert, featuring the DHS Warrior Marching Band, on Tuesday, October 18, at 7:30 pm in the DHS auditorium. We'll be playing all of our pregame and halftime music, including our four featured shows: Soul Music, Superheroes, The Good Ol' Days Homecoming, and Road Trip. There will be lots of fun and pageantry, and the winners of this year's Rookie of the Year, Spirit Award, Director's Award, and the coveted Most Valuable Marcher Award will be announced. This concert is always a lot of fun, so please join us!

A Marching Band with Serious Moves

The Warrior Marching Band has, from time to time, added in some fancy footwork or a dance step or two. But we can't hold a candle to the Ohio University Marching 110:

Truth be told, college marching bands have done wild dance routines for years, especially at HBCU's (Historically Black Colleges and Universities). Just watch the movie Drumline or check out any of the videos at Marchingsport.com to see the real thing. I just really enjoyed seeing the Ohio U band go through their paces. And my uncle is an alum. So, yeah.

Happy October

Every three years, I program Eric Whitacre's lovely band piece, October, for the Wind Ensemble to play on the Fall Concert. Every time I do so, it quickly becomes one of the students' all-time favorite works. I feel like it truly captures the essence of the season as the colors change, the light becomes a little more muted, and nature prepares for the quiet rest of winter. So to celebrate the first day of October, enjoy this recording.

October by ericwhitacre