Music Education Lays Foundation For Excellence
Music education lays the foundation for individual excellence in group settings, creative problem solving, and flexibility in work situations.
~ July 2014 Harris Poll
Music education lays the foundation for individual excellence in group settings, creative problem solving, and flexibility in work situations.
“The arts significantly boost student achievement, reduce discipline problems, and increase the odds students will go on to graduate from college. As First Lady Michelle Obama sums up, both she and the President believe ‘strongly that arts education is essential for building innovative thinkers who will be our nation’s leaders for tomorrow.”
Band camp is one of the most fun, difficult, and trying times during any musician’s career.
You will gain many great friends, make some great memories, and be pushed to achieve musical greatness as an individual and in an ensemble.
As an alumni of the Avon Marching Black & Gold, the Marian University Marching Band and as a staff member of the Greenfield-Central Cougar Pride, I have a plethora of tips to help not only survive band camp, but also to achieve at the highest possible level!
While you will achieve greatness, there is no way around band camp being an activity that is strenuous and will require more effort and dedication than almost anything else you will ever do! To help you through this, here is a checklist of things you can do to make sure you are prepared no matter where, when or how you are rehearsing:
Stay Hydrated
Being hydrated is the easiest thing you can do to achieve at band camp. This is Indiana, and as you already know, Indiana generally has very hot summers! You should fill a one-gallon jug with ice and water. Why one-gallon? This will be enough to get you through every minute of the day without having to refill it as well as keep it cold from sunrise to sunset. Hydrate often. Every time a staff member gives you a water break, drink!
You can also supplement with a sports drink such as Gatorade, Powerade, and etc., but remember, every time you take a sip of your sports drink, take a drink of water as well!
Stretch
Flexibility is one of the most important aspects of marching band, especially in trends where the shows are faster, more difficult, and more strenuous than ever before. Start off every day with a good stretch. Also stretch during water breaks and meal breaks. For a sample stretch routine, click here: http://www.builtlean.com/2011/05/25/basic-stretching-exercises-routine/
Take Care of Your Instrument
No matter how well an instrument is designed, harsh weather requires careful attention to the condition of your instrument.
Brass:
Woodwinds:
All Instruments:
One of the best things for you to do to preserve the finish of your instrument is to lay it on a towel. Throughout a typical band camp day, your instrument will spend a great deal of time on the ground, whether it be in sectionals, a drill block, and etc., instead of laying your instrument on the hot, rough concrete, place a towel under it to prevent the instrument from getting scratched.
Whether this is your first band camp or fourth band camp, you will have a great time, make new friends, and experience the beauty and passion of music making with great musicians around you. Remember, no matter how hard you work, enjoy yourself and choose to be great!
“The arts are central to who we are as a people, and they are central to the success of our kids. This is not an afterthought. This is not something you do because it’s nice to do. It is necessary for these young people to succeed that we promote the arts.”
“The Arts and Sciences, essential to the prosperity of the State and to the ornament of human life, have a primary claim to the encouragement of every lover of his country and mankind.”
First we take the instrument completely apart. All the tuning slides are pulled and all the valves are removed and disassembled.
Next, all the parts and the main body are immersed in one our four ultrasonic machines using different cleaning solutions and run through the process.
After they come out of the ultrasonic cleaner, all the parts are rinsed thoroughly and inspected to make sure they have come clean.
Next, the tuning slide tubes and valves are lightly scratch buffed to remove any oxidation that may still be on the pieces.
After that, the springs, water key gaskets, valve stem washers, cap washers, bumpers are all replaced as needed.
Finally, the instrument is reassembled with the proper lubricants and checked for proper airflow. Rotary valves are tied with new string and realigned. Any needed repair work is done outside this process.
That’s a quick overview of the brass cleaning process. If you haven’t had your instrument in for awhile, please contact us or simply drop by the store!
“Music is about communication, creativity, and cooperation, and by studying music in schools, students have the opportunity to build on these skills, enrich their lives, and experience the world from a new perspective.”
Our latest Staff Spotlight is on Jeff Malott. Jeff is our Director of Operations and has been with Paige’s since 1988. Please take a few minutes to get to know him.