Hello YMB Parents and Caretakers,
I am taking this opportunity to send a separate email to you from my weekly update in order to address some marching band-specific issues.
Last, (but in case you do not make it to the end) as we finalize production of Let it Be, our props are an important effect element. I am asking for adult support to lighten the load on the students and help get them home earlier on our turf rehearsal nights. We have no parents signed up to assist with prop take down after tonight’s rehearsal. Please sign up to help out if you are able; this does not require skill! We also need help at upcoming performances with on-field prop assistance. Check out the YBB sign-up genius for: prop setup & take down (rehearsals) and chaperone/prop/equipment help for performances.
First, I want to thank you for your ongoing commitment to supporting your students in this activity. I understand that it takes a considerable amount of time and effort, as do most things of great value. The ensemble is doing very well this season, and the staff and I are doing everything we can to keep the students focused and motivated until the end. We appreciate your support in keeping them engaged in these final competitive weeks.
I want to apologize to the families that traveled out to the USBands show in Annapolis. I missed some critical information regarding parking costs and ticket prices that you should have known before making the trip. The USBands circuit is generally a more expensive experience and the stadium controls their own parking and sets the prices. Normally I communicate this type of advanced knowledge with the Yorktown Band Boosters leadership to disseminate when I have it. I truly appreciate you for making the trip out there to support our students and regret not getting that information to you in advance. I will be sure to look out for items like this in the future. (You can buy tickets for VMBC Oakton Classic here; advance purchases are discounted through Friday).
I’d like to provide some insight to the scheduling of the season and the upcoming October 26 day in particular. Each season the YMB participates in 3 or 4 competitions, Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association (VBODA) assessment, and sometimes Virginia Marching Band Cooperatie (VMBC) Championships. I believe that considering the time, effort, and expense the organization puts into the activity, a minimum of 4 competitive/summative performances is warranted. This is in line with most marching ensembles in our region. I also do my best to schedule one of those competitions at a site that is in a university stadium (USBands Marine Corps Invitational this year).
This year, I had originally planned for the YMB to perform at VMBC Championships this season on November 5. This would have been our stadium show. When the football and school schedules were finalized, that date ended up being our last home football game and senior night. I did not want the students to miss that experience, so I reworked the schedule. VMBC Championships was going to be our final competitive performance. Since that was not happening, I added the VMBC Freedom Showcase after Assessment on October 26. Assessment is required for us, and an important non-competitive event. However, it is a little anticlimactic for the students. We perform, usually in the middle of the day, get a rating, pack up and go home. I did not want this to be the summative experience for our students this year, which is why I opted to attend the VMBC Freedom Showcase, resulting in the doubleheader. This allows us to have another competitive run of the show after assessment.
Many bands do doubleheaders as it allows for additional competitive performances without taking up additional Saturdays. Our competition days have been abnormally short this season. Normally we come in to rehearse around 10 a.m. and get home late in the evening. Due to our band size, competition start times, and separate class awards ceremonies, our days have been quite short and we have not been out past dark. Therefore, the doubleheader on Saturday the 26th will be quite a different experience. Considering these shorter days, our students have not seen many other bands perform, which is one of the great aspects of this activity–supporting fellow students out there giving it their all. On the 26th, the YMB will be able to see some of the best marching bands in Virginia perform under the lights at the Freedom Showcase.
I acknowledge that Saturday the 26th will be a long day, but I believe it will be an enjoyable and rewarding summative competitive day for our students.
JPW