Thursday Interlude: When Months Collide

MENC's U.S. Army All-American Marching Band performed on Saturday January 5
at the All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas.
San Antonio Photos by Pierre Beelendorf

When you read this, I assume it will be January something. Maybe not January 10 as it is as I toss together my blog entry this week, but January something.

Here in my office here in Reston it is January, February and March. January because the 2008 serenity calendar on the wall opposite my desk tells me it is. February because I spent a good portion of the week sorting through photos from MENC's U.S. Army All-American Marching Band, which performed last Saturday at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas, (see EWL's post on Tuesday.) They will appear in the February TM, out in a few weeks.

March because I have been working on news stories for the March issue of Music Educators Journal, including interviews with high school seniors designated as marching All-Americans who talked about what a great experience they had at the Alamodome last week. They talked about several days of hard work with amazing instructors and how pleased they were to master an intricate marching routine and challenging music.

The U.S. Army All-American Bowl, produced by SportsLink, is the premier high school football game in the nation. It features the nation's top 80 high school senior football players and for the first time this year, the 91 finest high school senior marching musicians.

Bob Buckner currently in his seventeenth year as the Director of Athletic Bands at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC, directed the band operation, putting together a high respected staff of marching band experts for MENC.

Bob Buckner (center) on the Alamo Dome field during the halftime show.

One student I interviewed this week said it was the hardest he had ever worked in his life, but added. "It was so great being challenged like that. I learned so much, not only from the instructors, but also from the other musicians. It was great meeting kids from all over the country. I will never forget what a great experience it was."

If you will be a high school senior in January 2009, or if you have an excellent student who would benefit from a life-changing experience, not to mention an all-expenses paid trip, visit this MENC site to learn about the application process for the 2009 band.

Look for more USAAAMB interviews and photos in the in February Teaching Music and March Music Educators Journal.

MENC President Lynn M. Brinckmeyer addresses Marching All-Americans in San Antonio (above)

I talked to a lot of other people for March stories this week as well, including a college professor who is leading an educational trip with students to South Africa to bring the beginnings of a music program to a school beset by AIDs and poverty and a general music teacher whose students performed a video that will be part of the World's Largest Concert DVD.

I guess I need to get writing. Oh, right and reviewing those February news pages. Months colliding. I hope the new year is treating you well.

Til next Thursday
RF