Exciting NOTES News!!

Posted by erindionne in Uncategorized and tagged with , ,

A while back, I wrote about connecting with Vince DiFiore of CAKE over an article on marching bands that he published on CNN.com. Well, what I couldn’t say at the time–and what I can FINALLY share now!–is that Vince and CAKE put me in touch with the US Scholastic Bands Association, a huge organization that sponsors marching band events all across the country. And this is what came of THAT:

New Book Release for ‘Band Geeks’
USSBA Partners with Author to Celebrate Geekdom

The USSBA continues its campaign for students and parents to prove that marching band is more than just a class, it’s a lifestyle – by partnering with Penguin Books and author Erin Dionne on the release of “Notes from an Accidental Band Geek.”

In the book, Erin Dionne crafts a funny story about a young girl following in her family’s footsteps but marching to the beat of her own drum.

Author Dionne is a band geek at heart, having marched in her high school and college marching bands and recently attended the USSBA event at Blackstone-Millville High School near her home in Massachusetts.

Erin wrote about her experience at the USSBA event in Mass., “I had a *blast* on Saturday night. It brought back memories of competitions I did in high school. The bands were so proud of their achievements and worked really hard on their shows. I was impressed by their dedication–but also remembered feeling the exact same way when I was competing. There were some great music choices and a few really strong shows.”

Dionne continued, “I also did a giveaway and had BAND GEEK stickers made for instrument cases–and they went like hotcakes. I’ll be sure to have more at my next appearances.”

Erin Dionne will be on-site as a special guest of the USSBA signing books at MetLife Stadium and the Yamaha Cup on October 15 and at the USSBA National Championships in Annapolis, Md. on November 12-13.”

“Notes from an Accidental Band Geek” follows thirteen-year old Elsie Wyatt who plays the French horn just like her father and grandfather. When she learns that she can only qualify for the prestigious orchestra of her dreams by joining the high school marching band, all she can think of is an impending musical death in a polyester uniform. Will Elsie survive her first year of high school playing in the marching band, make it into the prestigious orchestra, and follow her dreams? The lessons learned along the way are more than Elsie bargains for, and definitely ones she will never forget.

To order your copy of “Notes of an Accidental Band Geek,” CLICK HERE where a portion of the proceeds will go to help support the USSBA and our activities.

“Notes from an Accidental Band Geek” author Erin Dionne (www.erindionne.com) is an assistant professor of Liberal Arts at a small college north of Boston, where she teaches freshman comp, lit classes, and some creative writing electives. When not actively promoting her writing with her great humor and enthusiastic understanding of the miseries and magic of middle school, Erin reminisces about her days in high school and college marching band. She lives with her husband and daughter in Framingham, Massachusetts.

EEEEEE!!! I’m so proud and excited to be affiliated with this awesome group, which celebrates the work and achievement of so many students. Band geeks rule!

What’s a Band Geek?

Posted by Kirsten Cappy, Curious City in Uncategorized and tagged with , ,

I get that question a lot these days. Can’t imagine why.

Firstly, band geeks are primarily found in marching bands–although many are proud members of concert/symphonic, jazz bands and orchestras–it’s the marching aspect that lends (ahem) street cred to your geekdom.

The second element of geekdom? Practice time. Marching bands are rigorous, (most of the time) competitive groups that perform on a bi-weekly basis for a whole sports season. And when not entertaining the crowd at halftime or in the stands, bands are also participating in competitions and marching in local/regional parades. Prepping for all of that takes LOADS of practice time. Practice that involves:
1. learning and (most of the time) memorizing your music
2. learning–and memorizing–your spot on the field show drill charts (those are the things that tell members exactly where they’re supposed to be at any given time on the field during halftime.) here’s a sample:

3. learning how to march to your spot while playing your instrument and not crashing into anyone else
4. practicing the “stands tunes” that get played during time outs/touchdowns/stoppages in play
5. learning–and memorizing– a WHOLE NEW SET OF MUSIC for parades
6. marching in straight lines for parade formation.
-and-
7. learning to love a rockin’ polyester uniform.

So band kids practice several times a week, and typically start at an intensive “camp” before school actually begins…and, in some parts of the country, the season begins swelteringly hot and ends at freezing. My practice sessions in high school began at 6:50 am and we also rehearsed after school. In college, it was Tues/Thurs, 6:45-10pm, and Saturday mornings anywhere from 3-5 hours before kickoff. Both my high school and college bands also had week long intensive band camps before school started, to help members get a jump on the season.

To do all that, you really have to love several things:
a. Music
b. Sustained discipline and goals
c. The people you’re spending all this time with.

That last one? That’s the last big part of where the “geek” in band geek comes from. You’re with the other members constantly, working together to achieve a goal (a perfect show) that’s much larger than the sum of any one person’s part. You travel on long bus rides together, stand out in the sun (or rain, or snow, or all three) for hours together, and endure grueling, repetitive practices together. Those people? They become your family. Band members develop inside jokes, slang, and their own language shortcuts out of their shared experience. (Yeah, sometimes we get a little obsessed with 70′s and 80′s epic sci-fi adventures…but how can you NOT love The Imperial March?!)

So the band geeks in your life? Respect them and the work they do.