It's been a Minute

 Just fired off a couple e-mails to families.  1. celebrating great growth in 6/8 counting.  Been spending the day on Clerical work as well (invoices, busses).  2. surveying Students thoughts on Marching Classification.  

I've discussed with my indiana Band Director Friends and no one has a strong opinion.  The opporunity to progress all the way to ISSMA finals is way cool though.  I've brough Bands to perform in Lucas Oil previously and it's an experience of a lifetime.  Bringing BNI there would be a huge accomplishment I hope we can achieve together.

You're probably here to read about show design.  So, I found several Dies De los muertos (DDlM from here on out) arrangements.  Some are flat out boring.  I also want to add our own unique flavor to it. None of the shows include the traditional DDlM song, "La Llorona," but luckily for us i arrange music frequently, so I'm working on that currently, in addition to Steel Pan Music and a Snare drum trio my publisher requested..... just got tired.  The Snare drum trio is way cool though.  PerMus (my publisher), has a mission of creating ensembles for younger students from their favorite writers.  I've done a bell kit trio previously which was challenging to write when you're used to HS kids 4-6th Grade requires a different type of a  process. 

DDlM:  The basic "CoCo" type story line is what I'm envisioning. I want the Whole Band at somepoint on the ground like we're dead, running either a pullover or flags w/ Merigolds through the Band, then coming back to life.  our Uniform will change-called a transitional uniform; basically a velcro flap across the front, we'd go from traditional Villager attire/Huipil to Skeletons colored with Traditional decorations, Vibrant colors.  I want to use more Small group playing than we featured last season; trios, quartests, etc.


Currently Evans has a sale on Custom Bass Drum Heads, so I'm moving fast.  The DDlM skull is simply too Basic and predictable, I want the Colored Party banners or Ofrenda Candles (looking for High res images that fit our Color Scheme).


Someday we'll own a real PA system and can move our "Pit" onto the field.  I first want to make sure we have enough Percussionists to fill it out.  The way we're selling Chocolate, it won't take very long.


Bands are slowly getting prepared for Saturday.  We're Hamstrung by attendance: knowing our parts, how they fit together and endourance are all struggling from Attendance alone.  Still, we should have a good day of learning Saturday. Even more so on MwMF, as we will have 1 festival under our belts.    

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