Pantagraph.com | News | Marching bands’ hard work plays off

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

Comm'on people! wrote on Oct 23, 2007 12:32 PM:

" Can we please quit wining about who was mentioned and who was not? You know….U-High and Normal West and NCHS have traditionally had terrific and award winning Bands...I know...I am a NCHS Band alumni… this is the first time in a long time that Bloomington can really boast that they do too! They have a new director who has obviously turned it around for them! And some pretty talented Kids. I saw them perform on Saturday and they were fantastic! I saw U-High and they were great too! Instead of complaining about it, celebrate it! We are all Band people of this community who should support each other. And as for the comment about BHS “recruiting” Bloomington is a PUBLIC School…they serve the residents of Bloomington and don’t recruit kids…and they certainly don’t recruit Band members. Be real. The most recruiting is usually done by private schools….and do you know of any of those here in town? Hmmmmm….? "

Comm'on people! wrote on Oct 23, 2007 7:39 AM:

onoff wrote on Oct 22, 2007 10:48 PM:

" great job lwe. first time since 1999 you guys earned it "

To Pioneer wrote on Oct 22, 2007 10:29 AM:

" First I would like to say thank you to all the kids, band directors, staff and parents for the significant time and effort they put in for these 8-10 minute shows. It really is impressive what they are able to achieve as a team. Regarding teams playing outside their "assigned class". Is a team allowed to play outside the division they are ranked in by school size? If a school enrollment increases or decreases, shouldn't the be moved accordingly? Let's keep the focus on the positive hard work of these great bands and not try to make unfounded accusations. If a band did play up against larger schools instead of down against smaller schools, would it deminish the hard work of the kids? "

Former West parent wrote on Oct 22, 2007 5:46 AM:

" Way to go BHS! Now, this is front page news. Show something good about students that work HARD to achieve their goal. Congrats to West, U-High, & Olympia. Now, if the Pantagraph can complete the story and post the scores. . . "

Marching Band Fan wrote on Oct 22, 2007 12:39 AM:

" Hats off the all the Marching Bands at Saturday's event. The hard work and dedication is apparent, and it's very moving to see the students perform. Thanks to all the students, faculty, bus drivers, parents, organizers and folks who make it happen each year. It's my favorite event every fall! "

To Band Fan wrote on Oct 21, 2007 11:49 PM:

" NCHS did not participate in the competition because Saturday was their Homecoming. "

and one day at band camp wrote on Oct 21, 2007 11:48 PM:

" I left for Mahomet. Its just a smidgen past Mansfield, which is just a smidgen past Mr. Farmer city,which is just a smidgen past the French village of Le Roy, which is just a smidgen past the State Farm subdivision of Downs. "

West Band Parent wrote on Oct 21, 2007 11:47 PM:

" CONGRATULATIONS to all the hard working marching band students and their parents. We're proud of ALL of you: West, Blm., U-High, Olympia... and all the other bands too. You've all worked hard. You've given your best and gave it your all. Saturday's competition was an awesome display of talent, hard work, and dedication. Good job, everyone! "

Band Parent wrote on Oct 21, 2007 11:01 PM:

" Good job to all of the schools who worked hard all thru their summer and evenings (Saturdays too!)!!!! I hope they take the memories and other lessons with them in life. A big thank you to everyone who has helped support the locals bands throughout Central Illinois. This is to the busnineses, parents and other family members. Your efforts are appreciated. Anyone who has not and still wants to - I am sure any school would appreciate your help! "

U High? wrote on Oct 21, 2007 9:26 PM:

" Wow, good job u high, its obvious you guys have been recruiting again just like you do in every other sport. "

TO Mr. Farmer City wrote on Oct 21, 2007 7:54 PM:

" Let me guess it wasn't a sporting event so it was a "HUGE inconvenience". "

Just a thought wrote on Oct 21, 2007 7:45 PM:

" I do not think the issue was that the article was not about U-high. The issue was that The Pantagraph did not bother to find out how the earlier, smaller schools did. They mentioned that NCWHS won some awards even though the story was not specifically about West. It just would have been nice to see some mention of the fact that U-high also received some awards rather than just saying that they were there. It is obvious from this article and the pictures posted online that no reporter bothered to show up earlier enough to see the small local schools, which is understandable, but they obviously did not care enough about the rest of the local schools because they did not even bother to find out the results after the fact "

Mr Farmer City wrote on Oct 21, 2007 6:49 PM:

" This was a HUGE inconvenience. I am glad it is over with. This was almost as exciting as watching paint dry. "

To Pioneer... wrote on Oct 21, 2007 4:29 PM:

" they did a nice story on one school and it wasn't yours, so what? Try to keep your preppy panties out of a wad and let another school have some of the spotlight. Nobody complained about the articles covering U High's golf success. "

Band Fan wrote on Oct 21, 2007 3:58 PM:

" Does anyone know why NCHS's Marching Ironmen did not compete in Saturday's competition? "

To Olympia wrote on Oct 21, 2007 3:33 PM:

" The truth is that all the small schools had very early call times and they all put in a great deal of effort to be there and perform their best. It is just a shame that the Pantagraph staff wasn't out and about as early and didn't make an effort to check on the results of all the local schools before writing their report. "

Dear Pantagraph, wrote on Oct 21, 2007 12:54 PM:

" this is for all the U-High band members who are too good to be mentioned in this article. Congrats on a great season! "

Congrats Raiders!! wrote on Oct 21, 2007 12:24 PM:

" Your show was FANTASTIC yesterday - - Max Chernick and Gordon Warren have certainly done a wonderful job of teaching you, and your hard work through the season was very apparent. I'm so proud of all you have accomplished this year!! "

To:observation wrote on Oct 21, 2007 12:22 PM:

" They are still marching, but the marching style has changed in the past 25 years, that's all. When you were in school, it sounds like the "high-step" style was still used. That is sometimes still seen for effect in certain parts of a show, but the current marching style is the "roll-step." If you watch the kids feet, you'll notice that their heels hit the ground first and their toes are pointed WAY up, and they use their knees and ankles to help them roll from their heels to their toes. It provies a smoother feel when you're marching and makes it much easier to play!! Judges will actually look for how high you can get your toes up and how smoothly you are rolling your feet, and it actually is difficult and can become very tiring when you are marching. So they are definitely still marching. . .just in a different way now! "

MatthewPaulLyons wrote on Oct 21, 2007 11:24 AM:

" To Observation: What you are seeing is nothing more than a different style of marching. It should like your school used the high step method. There are still some bands that use that style in both college and high school but that style is not the best for the modern marching band show. With the speeds some of the drill and music requires it would not look good on the field and would affect the sound. The low step style used now is just as precise and allows more focus on the formations and the music. I am not saying one is better than the other, but competitive marching band has been gravitating to this style for the last 20 years or so. "

Olympia Supporter wrote on Oct 21, 2007 10:37 AM:

" I know that U-High had and early call time, but I am proud of each and every Olympia student, alumni, and parents who woke up so early to be at Olympia at 4 am for the last Circle of Pride for Mr. Abbott- Olympia was the first band to perform and set the bar for the rest of the day and did a GREAT job. Congrats to all the bands and we will miss Mr. Abbott, who is retiring after this school year. "

and one day at band camp wrote on Oct 21, 2007 9:14 AM:

" I left for Mahomet. Its just smidgen past Mansfield. "

Pioneer wrote on Oct 21, 2007 8:54 AM:

" Ummm...I believe the U High Marching Pioneers also brought home three trophies from this event. Best winds, best overall effect, and third in their class. They performed at 8:24 am after a Friday night football game and a 6:15 call time on Saturday when it was not yet an unusually warm October day? And they played in their assigned class rather than trying to avoid schools they didn't think they could beat. I think they deserve some congrats as well for nailing their show when it counted. "

just me wrote on Oct 21, 2007 8:01 AM:

" CONGRATS TO EVERYONE!!! I am a former BHS band member, it's an awesome feeling to know you're doing the best you can possibly do. Great memories from those bygone years. "

observation wrote on Oct 21, 2007 7:45 AM:

" I'm glad that these kids did well, and managed to have fun in the process. I will have to say however, that there doesn't seem to be such a thing as a "marching" band anymore. It appears that all bands, even the ISU marching machine, use a sedated walk of sorts. When I was in NCHS's marching band almost 25 years ago, we actually had to "MARCH", with legs up. This was in parades or on the field. While these kids are good, I think the lack of marching tends to lose something, at least for me, a traditionalist. "

Proud grandma wrote on Oct 21, 2007 7:44 AM:

" Even though our school didn't win in the competition I am proud of them as they do so much hard work trying to be winners.. Unfortunately they do not have the numbers so many other smaller schools have and that makes a difference in what they can perform. Congratulations to all the bands, they are all winners for competing. "

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