First Game & Performance

Last night our football team had their first game and our band had their first halftime performance. I helped chaperone the band, so I was at the school at 3:30 with the Girls. The band kids got their uniforms and packed the three buses. It was an away game in the next town, so it was a very short ride over. The Band Director was a little nervous because the kids hadn't practiced as a unit for five days - he hoped that the kids had practiced themselves in the meantime.


They practiced when they got there. We Chaperones set out the seat covers - long strips on the bleachers to try and keep their uniforms cleaner - and the water coolers. Some helped unpack the band truck of the big drums and percussion carts (carrying the xylophones, etc.).

We handed out water after they practiced. They went over to the other side to watch the home band play before the game started (this is a courtesy that all high school band around here observe).

Then it was time for the halftime show. We have a dozen freshmen on the band this year, and all were nervous. But they and the rest of the band were great. Mr. Z said that they played with more confidence than was usual for a first season performance (they still have some "drill issues" to work out).

The game itself (which I normally don't pay much attention to) went back and forth with the scoring (there are alot of sophomores on the team this year after losing alot of seniors to graduating last spring). It was even throughout the game, scoring going back and fourth until it ended the fourth quarter in a tie. It was a triple-overtime game, with our team winning it 34-28. (We haven't played this school in 23 years, after 51 years of rivalry.)

Our band wasn't really prepared for such a long game - they hadn't learned all of their "stand" music yet and repeated some of the songs. However, the home band played the same four songs over and over again, so we weren't the only ones short on a playlist.