The kids march a few nights this week and then they begin full days of marching through the dry grass of the rehearsal field, sweating like pigs to the tink-tink of the metronome perched high on the band director's scaffolding. It is not something the kids look forward to each year, and I'm sure Mr. P feels the same way. The sun is blazing, the kids are crabby, and the week is long. Very long. Us parents just ignore the complaints of exhausted kids, driving them home in silence as they beef about how hot they were and how much their feet hurt. We provide cool drinks and relaxing showers, only to get them ready for the next day and the day after that.
We don't talk much about band camp. It is something we dread in the future, deal with in the present, and laugh about in the past. In its own way, marching season is the metronome of our lives, marking time as the kids move through high school all too quickly.
20 comments:
Oh, you're talking about BAND CAMP! I thought perhaps the greater Chicago area had an abbreviated summer vacation, in which case, I'd have put my house on the market and moved to weirdville.
"its own way, marching season is the metronome of our lives, marking time as the kids move through high school all too quickly."
Indeed! Live in the moment!
Goodness! Practice starting already? When does school go back in? Nothing starts for school here until almost the end of August. Still plenty of bored kids around! :)
xo Catherine
we live right across the street from the high school so i get to listen to the band too. hehehe. they haven't started here yet, but i'm sure it will be soon.
i have noticed a lot more butterflies this year. i don't know what kind they are, but i have seen a couple that are almost as big as a baby bird. kind of freaked me out when it almost landed on me. lol
have a great day lin!
hugz!
The signs are all around us. Summer is indeed coming to an end just as quickly as it graced us with it's presence.
I think the band kids are really dedicated. In HS our Steve had to choose between football and band, and went with football. Doing that in the heat of August was brutal too.
Wow. I didn't know public schools even HAD band anymore! How old is that tradition?!
My kids went to sleep away band camp so I never heard a word about it! lol
But yep, August is the kick-off!
Hard to believe that this is my last marching season unless the Diva decides to join band in 8 years or so! LOL!
That's a pretty photo...
As a former Twirler (shut up), I can say the non-playing members are miserable too.
Got you beat pallie. Here Color Guard started way back in early June, when we left on vacation it was the district's two week mandated black out period and we came home to bounce right back to guard every day but Friday (only b/c the district has closed campuses and offices on Fridays to save money). Full band starts next week, 7am-6pm :-)
Oh ya, and Maddi had Color Guard over Friday and Saturday for girls who missed practices and needed to make up their summer hours. Spinning flags blocked thru-traffic on our street.
Is there really ever a break from band? The answer is:no!
DG--As the kids get older, it seems every summer is abbreviated--we never stop running. I guess it is the final flurry before it ends all too quickly.
Princess--I do, I do. I have learned HS goes wayyyy too fast for the kids AND the parents.
Catherine--Band starts in July and school starts in August. Once band starts, it's like the end of summer. It's a huge commitment to be in band.
PJ--Oh, I would think all that band music would drive me mad! I always feel sorry for the people who live near our school as that metronome is really loud and annoying. I think it is a good year for butterflies. That's a good thing, right?
Roschelle--How come summers aren't long and boring like when we were kids?? Oh, I long to be bored again.
Sharky--Band and sports are equally as hard, I believe. I can't believe what our kids go through with marching season. And football in August--Ugh! I can almost smell those kids. :)
Rebecca--Really??! Band in Illinois is HUGE. I don't know a school that has cut it. We have contests all through Sept, Oct. and Nov. with schools from all over competing. I'm not sure how long schools have been marching and competing, but I know they did it back when I was in HS over 30 years ago.
Violet--I would think it would be nice for them to camp out the whole week but the band director probably thinks otherwise. :)
Jo--Oh, it's hard to have that last season. I felt so bad with Colin last year, but thank goodness Em is still in for another 3 years! Then I don't know what I am going to do.
Grace--Thanks, pally. Em took that one.
Highway--Baton twirler???! (snicker) Now the girls spin flags and rifles. Em does that, and yes, she is miserable too. Just ask her.
Jodi--That is KILLER. yes, your band program is far ahead of us. There are some bands here who practice year round, but I would think that would be overkill. I like the balance we have. I can't wait for it all to begin!!
Well, summer is half over now. Sad as that may be for the kiddoes
I'm sure for them it's just the reminder of time flying too quickly and the freedom of summer going away on the wings of your butterflies
Wow, I can't believe they start so soon. It sounds really intense. I wish them luck this season.
"One time, in band camp..."...lol My daughter was a band person (band manager and then color guard her senior year) They do work them hard that's for sure.
That was a short summer with band camp starting already! Those kids are truly dedicated. Until I starting reading your blog, I totally underappreciated all the band kids went through to entertain us!
Pricilla--Sigh. Summers fly by faster and faster as you get older. That's the bad part about growing up.
Anne--It is intense. Hot and intense. Everyone hates/loves it at the same time.
Ann--Band has been the best things my kids have belonged to and I think they'd agree. What fun memories they have. I like that your daughter did it too. :)
Beaded Tail--I don't think most people know that this world of marching band competitions exist. I didn't either. Oh, what work it is, but how fun it is too. I can't wait for the season to begin.
I was just talking to someone at the office today about how I couldn't believe it was already almost August. Where did summer go?!
Cute--Do you remember when we were kids how long summer felt??? I want those days back again.
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