aghs_guardies

04:54 pm: August 2nd at the HS:

Group #1:
630-730 - New Member marching for all new members and squad leaders.
730-900 - All guard members practice with me in front of the band room - usual spot.

Group #2:
630-730 - All other members NOT marching (i.e. vets, non-section leaders, and rifles) will mee me to clean up the guard closet. We need to tape poles/flags, lable bags, fix rifles, straighten up, count flags, etc. Please be there unless you have already told me about your absence already, which I do have a list of who is missing already (if any).
730-900 - All members with me for practice.

Please figure out which group you are in and be there on time. Squad leaders: don't forget your Leadership Day Event for August 2nd!!! I may not be there during the later afternoon activities, but please (all three of you) plan fun color guard stuff, organize game day stuff, etc. I will see you all (the entire guard) somewhere at the HS next Tuesday @ 630!

08:00 pm: TO: AGHS Color Guard 2005-2006

Please consider the commitment you will be making as a
member of the group. The nature of the activity
requires many hours of preparation. Performers must
learn marching, equipment, and dance skills in order
to memorize routines. Routines for parades and field
shows can only be learned in person. Strong attendance
at rehearsals is extremely important for the group to
be sucessful. Be sure that your work, community, and
school commitments will not prevent you from
fulfilling your obligation.

Be sure that your employer is willing to work around
your schedule. Work is NEVER an excuse for missing
rehearsal. If you will be missing a rehearsal, you
will be responsible for telling your instructor AND
catching up on what you’ve missed. *Just because you
have the ability to "catch up" does not mean you
should shrug off rehearsals. Practice is an important
process that comes with making such a commitment.*

You have a schedule for summer and fall rehearsals and
peformances. Please note that there are a variety of
rehearsal times and days, and that it sometimes
differs from the band. It is YOUR responsibility to
know YOUR schedule. Any updates or changes will be
sent to you by e-mail. **Please note that Band Camp is
mandatory for all members: 8/8 to 8/12.**

To participate in the band front, there are some
costs: gloves, shoes, black socks/tights, proper hair
bands/tools, and dry cleaning. More information on
this will be distributed later. Please note that
uniform fittings are for every member, new and old.

Thank you.



Please remember to comment to this entry before exiting the window.

Jax, Your Color Guard Director

11:17 am: Welcome, welcome to a new season of AGHS Marching Band! You should make sure you have the following:

* appropriate practice clothing (shorts, capris, pants rolled up) - NO JEANS!

* SNEAKERS AT ALL TIMES!!! NO EXCEPTIONS!

* water/sport drink - please bring something to drink.

* a ready and "go get 'em" attitude - be prepared to learn/work/have fun/be spontaneous!

* white electrical tape - it's not a choice, it's a necessity. you won't get any from me. BRING YOUR OWN!

* Remember that you auditioned; you wanted to march; you wanted to be part of this organization. You're part of something fantastic and fun - let's always remember that!

Please remember to comment to this entry before exiting the window.

Jax, Your Color Guard Director

11:18 am: PICTURES!!!!!
To see some new pics from today's Homecoming pre-game show as well as some parade and stands pictures, please go here: http://photobucket.com/albums/v207/sabrerb/Guard%20Stuff

Thanks and have a great one!!! :)

05:45 pm: Yay!
We have a great new icon thanks to Jenny!



PRACTICE STARTS AT 6 TOMORROW -- SO YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO DO SECRET BUDDIES @ 6PM TOMORROW. A PHONE CHAIN LIST WILL GO OUT TONIGHT. YOU MUST BE READY FOR REHEARSAL BY 6PM. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S AT THE FIELD OR THE HIGH SCHOOL, SO I WOULD GET THERE @ 550 PM TO SEE WHAT IS GOING ON. IF I FIND OUT MORE, I WILL LET YOU KNOW ASAP!!! (Weaver told me this in an email just today...I am assuming he means for tomorrow to start @ 6 PM. Please see Mr. Weaver if you need clarification or ask another band member. Thanks.)



Here are some updates:

*Tuesday is dedicated to the field show (pre-game) for Saturday's performance. We'll need to work on cleaning up all the songs (both parade and sierra).

*Flag line: if you have no idea what the fight song is, old members must teach it to you! Take time tomorrow and before practice on Wednesday to figure it out so everyone the same page. I don't what it is b/c I never spun flag in HS and I was never shown the routine. Vets, please set up and help out!

*Wednesday is parade night. We'll be doing all the parade stuff. Grandioso needs those 16 cts. back. If you remember them, please pass it along and help revive those 16 lost counts (the hand flip/toss over the head thing).

*America the Beautiful needs a salute with equipment (flags) and something for the rifles. I know what to do for that so just remind me to show you soon.

***Please get all your money in! If you do not have money in by Saturday, you could be risking your spot to perform on Saturday afternoon. Those who do not have payments in for shoes, gloves (that includs rifles), and uniform cleaning may not perform September 11th. Also, make sure your uniform FITS! You had your final chance. You can't go out on the field looking silly in pants that are too short for you. Hope it's figured out.

Next week we will be adding a rehearsal to finalize the first song for both sections and try to work out song #3. I may have material to hand out then as well for cutting/sewing of swing flags.

Thanks!
Jax

07:54 pm: Pictures!!!
Here are a few photos from band camp (Friday before the preview show and cookout).

Stetch w/ the band.


Warm up on equipment.


Pre-game show stuff.


More pre-game show stuff.

09:49 pm: SCHEDULE INFO!
SUMMER FUN IN THE SUN!!!


To help members of the color guard with technique, basics, and learning routines, I have decided to schedule additional rehearsals. I understand that this was not planned far in advance, and any difficulties in coming to practice is understandable. Please speak with me directly if you are unable to participate.

REMEMBER: It would be in your best interest to attend these rehearsals! Attendance throughout the summer months will benefit you greatly and help move things along. We have a lot to learn and less time to do it in.



Thank you in advance for all your hard work. We have a lot to do!!!



SCHEDULE:
Tuesday - August 3, 2004 (6-8 PM)
Wednesday - August 4, 2004 (6-8 PM)

ADDITIONAL PRACTICE TIME:
August 17: Rifles = 5–6 PM BOTH = 6-930 PM
August 18: Flags = 5-6 PM BOTH = 6-930 PM
August 24: Rifles = 5-6 PM BOTH = 6-930 PM
August 25: Flags = 5-6 PM BOTH = 6-930 PM

09:39 pm: To keep you updated with out printing thousands of pages or sending eight million emails, I decided to post some ideas up here to keep me organized and you involved.

First, flags for the Cirque show. Here are my options:

1. spice colored flags (middle column at the top), poly china silk, $8.95 - 10.95 each depending on shape.


2. Same size (pretty much), one shape, royal blue flags for $5.00 each.


Second, I've decided to make your swing flags out of shaded chiffon. The Band Shoppe website has it for less (about $0.75 less). I'm going with either a blue (if we don't use the other blue flags) or yellow.



Third, I saw these uniforms for sale at the same website; $20.00 each and in many sizes. Tell me what you think of them.

08:49 pm: Flag Designs and Possibilities
We have some great choices for flags. First, go to this site and let me know what colors you like best for a fun show based on Cirque du Soleil. http://www.bandshoppe.com/html/nylonbudget.html

You can go the Cirque website to see what it's about: http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/CirqueDuSoleil/en/default.htm

The show is fun and has lots of percussion. It's loud and has many moments for great color. But I also want to make the colors go with what you're wearing on the field. There is one slow song, but we'll use swing flags for that so don't look there for flags. Go to: http://www.colorguardfabrics.com/prices.html

There's tons of fabric colors there. I've requested a sample that will be sent asap. Maybe at the next practice we can take some time and see what colors look best with the music.

We may just ordered fabric to make all the flags with the help of parents or we could buy some ready to use flags and make swing flags. I was also thinking of having a FLAG PARTY where we can cut out material and have snacks at my house. We'll see about that.

The other option is maybe buying used flags online. Go here: http://www.guardcloset.com/Standard%20Flags.html for more info. The ones I liked I put as images below. Make your vote on the ones you like the best for a Cirque show and a song called Sierra Sister (kind of a golden/orange/firey type color of show).

Flag A


Flag B


Flag C


Flag D


Let me know by making a comment on this entry; click "leave comment". Do it as an anonymously and type your name at the end.

That's it for now. More updates to come tomorrow on gloves and rehearsals! Spread the word!!!

Jaclyn

11:50 pm: Updates! Updates!
Tonight we had rehearsal with the rifle line. Things are looking great as they double it up and learn their second parade routine. We have about half of song #2 complete. There may be some additional changes, but nothing has been decided yet.

As you probably figured out, rehearsal was cancelled on Wednesday because of the thunderstorm. We lost some much needed time to practice our basics and work on finishing song #1. Please go over what you have learned so far so that next week we'll be ready to finish it up and clean clean clean!!!

The goal for the entire group is to have two parade songs complete before band camp begins with the possibility that the rifles may start the third song: la nuba (or however it's spelled) from field show #2. All in all, we have 6 songs to learn and not much time to do it in. I encourage you all to find time to practice every day, even if it's just for 20 minutes, and catch up on work you've missed. So far, the rifles have been doing a great job making rehearsals. I know there are more flags, but please try to be there. I'm thinking about implementing a competition: whoever has the best attendance at the end of the summer or the end of the fall marching season may win a pizza party provided by me at my house.

Think about it!

Jax

06:59 pm: Rain and Rides 101
If it is ever raining right around the time that practice is
about to start, there are plans to follow. You must
give practice a 30 minute chance. That is, if it's 6
PM and it's raining, we have another 30 minutes to see
if the rain will stop and conditions are safe. So if
it stops within the half-hour time period, practice
continues and there is no reason to miss.

Also, if you need rides, etc try callng/emailing your
fellow guard memebers to see how you can get to
practice. It's important o be there, no matter what!

06:43 pm: This is a Live Journal used solely for the purpose of updating the members of the Avon Grove High School Color Guard. I'll be adding a few friends to the page that have to deal with color guard, people who march, spinning, etc. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Check out our Friends page!

Jaclyn