St. Aug Symphonic Band Playing "For the Love of You" @ Band Concert 2011
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I really understand the loathing of the Alumni I really do, having some of the same issues with my high school and having the same issues with some of the older alumni at the school that I'm at.
the one thing that is so obvious is that Mr. Hampton for how great he was and all the things he did his time has come and gone.
It's now up to the current Band Director to craft his legacy using Mr. Hampton's instrument.
Let him breathe. A good alum should have an opinion but a constructive one.
and also to someone who sarcastically asked who else is putting on concerts in the city well to my knowledge...
NOCP...Walker...Karr already had theirs...Easton...35...Harte...Behrman...
Behrman and 35 went to LMEA and Southern Sinfonia...
please don't make it seem like people aren't doing this type of stuff just because it wasn't on band head doesn't mean it's not happening
Baryl you just made my point. Like I said you can't write high for a trumpet section that can't handle it. For ever high part that is written two things are happening. 1st is that you are cutting your section in half, because half can't play it. 2nd is the ones that can play it are waiting on certain parts to play resulting in a non-exsisting section. I am going to post a couple of clips from early in the year when thay were playing as a section opposed to waiting for high parts. Believe it or not more of those kids are playing than you think.
Can't Be Tamed
Tru
Lord You Are Good
Wow, I see it's getting heated on here. I'm not going to jump in the middle of the fire, but I will say this. For those of you who might question who I am, I am a graduate of St. Aug 2002, Rose Bowl Drum-Major. I played and still currently play the saxophone. I went on to march at Southern after I left the Aug. All that to say you now have my back ground. Now as far as the difference in the "Old School" St. Aug compared to the "New" I'm going to have to say, it's the leadership. I take fault in that because I played a roll with the staff this year and to me this year was one of the "Roughest" years ever. The reason I say that, the band really didn't have any true leadership. I know that being band is supposed to be FUN, but I do believe you have to deserve the FUN aspect of it. I feel like the kids that are a part of the band currently, did not deserve to wear the uniform. The reason why I say that is, if you go up to a kid and ask them what does that mean to you, they will give you that bullshit generic answer, this uniform gives me a sense of pride, of brotherhood, the shit they feel is the correct answer. But if you ask any old head that question, they gonna tell you cuz they worked their ass off for it. All the blood sweat and tears that was shed on the blacktop, all the rainy days practicing, all the 100+ degree days, fuck I earned my uniform, and I earned my spot in the band by executing everything that was demanded from me. Now the when the staff tried to demand something from the students this year, we dealt with attitudes, parents, different excuses, etc. Now when has that been acceptable. Everybody is saying that we want to go back to the "Old School" St. Aug, but we can want the Glory Days back, but if the kids don't have it and we don't get the support for the school or the parents what are we to do. One big issue to me was that the students were allowed to be apart of as many extra-curriculum activities as they wanted. Which meant they put the band last. They showed up to practice when they wanted to, and took their time coming to practice. Which means because they don't take the band seriously they make the Band suffer. We are as strong as our weakest link, so this band was weak. Don't feel like I'm saying this because I'm not over there or anything, I said this to the senior all year, you can ask them. We had over 100 students, now out of that how many students knew their parts and actually had pride enough to practice it. That being said brings me to your point Eddie about the arrangements being about the staff. You made a valid point about staying in the pocket, now that being said if we really drilled the songs twice a week, and worked on the kids playing ability it would be a different story. Example I believe we had 8 1st trumpets, and 2 of them had the range in the beginning of the season, but Herb drilled Sean Hunter and Devin Aguillard on their range and now they are nice. The issue is we never broke the band down into sectionals in order to help the kids ability to understand their instruments. You know JuggHead brought in at least 3 new kids a week that never touched a horn, so if we don't teach them how can we sound like the "Old School" Aug. Now back to the range issue the songs would sound good if the kids articulated the notes correctly. To me if all articulation is correct and notes are getting the full value it wouldn't make a difference if the note is above the staff or in the staff. Either way the note can sound bad.
But all that to say, in order for St. Aug to be St. Aug, we have to instill leadership within the organization, gain control of the organization, and not worry about what others have to say. Cool.
Now for you Alumni that always has something to say about the program, on how it's not St. Aug, and they don't look the same, What song that was, and Hamp must be turning in his grave.
I will say this to you. The majority of all the alu
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