ECG Percussion

Championship itinerary

2009-03-26T16:05:00.003-04:00

PERCUSSION ITINERARY FOR CHAMPS WEEKEND.

PLAN A SATURDAY

4:45am Load Bus at EC Glass
5:00am depart (go back to sleep)
8:45 am arrive at Potomac Mills HS (3401 Four Year Trail, Dumfries, VA 22026)
We will register and drop off the VPE members at the event site.
9:30 am Breakfast at Fast Food
11:00am Practice at Potomac Middle School (3130 Panther Pride Drive, Dumfries, VA 22026)
2:00pm Lunch
3:00pm Check In at hotel
4:00pm Practice
7:00pm Dinner
8:30 pm Pick up guard at Potomac HS and return to hotel
10:30pm Lights out/in your room for the night!

PLAN B SATURDAY

4:45am Load Bus at EC Glass
5:00am depart (go back to sleep)
8:45 am arrive at Potomac Mills HS (3401 Four Year Trail, Dumfries, VA 22026)
We will register and drop off the VPE members at the event site.
9:00am Drive up to D.C. …. Stop on the way for Breakfast/Lunch
11:30pm At American History Museum.
Students will have to stay in groups with chaperones.
5:00pm Head Count and Dinner break . Cafeteria style at a Smithsonian.
7:30pm Back on Bus to pick up Guard at Potomac HS
8:30 pm Pick up guard at Potomac HS and return to hotel
10:30pm Lights out/in your room for the night!

SUNDAY
8:00am Breakfast at Hotel (included) and check out.
9:30 am Arrive at Potomac for Drumline show
11:40am Drumline Performance

2:15 potential Finals Time

Based on Both group’s performances we could be as early returning as 5pm and as late as 11:30pm.

Please expect phone calls Sunday afternoon with our definite arrival time.

If you need to contact Mr.Pawlas, my cell number is (434)221-4495

Championships INFO

2009-03-17T09:41:00.000-04:00

Dear Indoor Percussion Theatre Participants,

Please look over the following information regarding our championship competition. Especially for new parents, it can be confusing since this event takes place at 2 schools at the same time. Plus, we will share one charter bus with the ECG Visual Performance Ensemble as opposed to taking separate school buses. The schedule for the beginning of each day is pretty much set, but it will be flexible in the afternoons depending on our performances. We will watch other groups perform and try to fit in some time at Potomac Mills. Students are responsible for their own meals except for breakfast on Sunday morning.

We are asking each Indoor member to turn in $10 to off-set the cost of the hotel and charter bus. We underestimated the cost for these items when we calculated the membership fee. This can be paid by cash or check (made payable to LMS Band) and is due before March 28.
Parents who are interested in chaperoning and/or helping with props and watch the competition need to make travel arrangements. We have just enough room on the bus for all VPE and Drumline members and coaches. Carpooling is recommended, especially since we have such an early departure time and I know Mr. Fyffe would love to have company in Big Blue! Parents who would like to spend the night at the same hotel as the students on Saturday, should contact the Hampton Inn using the contact information below. A room with 2 double beds cost $92.40 including tax. Let them know you would like a room near the EC Glass group.

The following are locations we will be during the weekend:

The Hampton Inn-Stafford/Quantico 2925 Jefferson Davis HwyStafford, VA 22554(540) 657-0999Hotel Contact: Erika Medrano erika.medrano@hilton.com

Potomac Senior High School (VPE prelims and possibly finals here, drum line prelims here)3401 Panther Pride DriveDumfries, VA 22026(703) 441-4200

CD Hylton High School (possibly drumline finals here)14051 Spriggs RdWoodbridge, VA 22193(703) 580-4000

Potomac Mills Outlet Mall, Woodbridge, VA

Please contact Mr. Pawlas with any questions or concerns. (434) 221-4495

Thank you for your patience and support! We will also be able to answer any questions at the Friends and Family show on Thursday, March 26.

Championship Itinerary

Saturday, March 28, 2009
5am Depart from EC Glass. We will NOT stop for breakfast, so bring it with you. Donations of juice and breakfast food is welcome.
8am Drop off guard at Potomac Mills HS and go find Breakfast!
10:04am VPE Prelims performance. We will attend
10:30am Go find a place to practice!

We will not check into the hotel until about 9:30pm . Lights out will be at 10:30pm. Students are suggested to bring a cell phone to use to check in with their parents.

Sunday, March 29, 2009
Our competition is all on Sunday with Prelims at one school and Finals at another. There are 22 groups in prelims and only 10 will perform at finals . Our scheduled Prelim time is 11:40 am if we make finals that could start as early as 2:15 depending on the placement. Since we are all on one charter bus, we cannot leave Woodbridge until the both groups are done. This would make our approximate return to EC Glass High School at about 9:00pm (stopping for dinner on the way home).

2009-03-02T14:16:00.006-05:00

DUE TO THE WEATHER CONDITIONS THERE IS NO PRACTICE TONIGHT.

Nice Job on Saturday!

The show got considerably better in the last 2 weeks .... thanks for all your hard work. We now have 3 weeks to fine tune this production before we go to Finals on the 28th! I will post some judge comments and hopefully a video before the end of the week.

I know a lot of you were pretty impressed with the Mean Green Machine from George Mason ... well me too! Since imitation is the highest form of flattery, i have placed some links to a few of their exercises over on the right ------------------>

Please give it a click , break out the practice pads and headphones and see what you can learn before I see you next (and who knows when that might be! snow grrrrrrr!)

Come on Glass it's time to step it up another notch.

see ya when I see ya!

Oh yeah i hope you are practicing your Rock Band .... your gonna need to LOL!

2009-02-22T21:51:00.002-05:00

Schedule for this week ...

We are tentatively scheduled for the Aux Gym on Monday , Thursday and Saturday Morning.

6-9pm Monday
6-9pm Thursday only battery and role players
9am-11pm Saturday

The show is at Deep Run HS (Richmond) and we are scheduled to play at 7:42 with awards around 9:30pm

2009-02-19T12:04:00.007-05:00

E.C. Glass Indoor Programs Presents:

COST:
$ 10 each Band Member to participate in the

Tournament. $12 if you sign up the day of

the event. $5 if you just want to watch

the festivities!

WHERE: At Linkhorne Middle School

WHO: Anybody can play!

WHEN: March 20th at 6pm

Basic Rules:

All participants will play 2 songs in order to be seeded in the bracket.

Tournament will be a single elimination Bracket until we have 2 finalists.

Songs will be chosen from the Rock Band 1 and 2 library. No DLC.

You can bring your own guitars …. We will supply everything else.

Score will be based on performance , stage presence , crowd appeal ,
And game score !

There will be a meeting to go over final rules and PRIZES closer to the event!

You can register online by copying and pasting to an email with your information to : pawlasrw@lcsedu.net

BAND NAME : Phone # :

CONTESTANT #1:

CONTESTANT #2:

CONTESTANT #3:

CONTESTANT #4:

Rockband Tournament

2009-02-19T11:59:00.000-05:00

Yes, Virginia, Drummers ARE Actors

2009-02-17T08:25:00.003-05:00

The Kindred is a big experiment and a bunch of risk. It is unlike anything that ECG has attempted before. As such, it might be hard to imagine we are on the right track, or if we are just...out of line with what 'everybody else is doing'.

Well, I was kicking around my notes today and I found this link hiding on my puter. After I hit myself with a frying pan, I realized this is EXACTLY the time for ya'll to be reading up on this stuff. And look--it's on Vic Furth...it's gotta be good!

http://www.vicfirth.com/education/articles/steinkoler_12-14-07.html

Now, I wouldn't want to get in hot water about stealing anyone's intellectual property, so be sure this is not my words, by the words of Mr. Steinkoler, an illustrious educator of drumming and such. However, I know how tedious it is to read a long article on a blog, so I have edited out some points that I think really apply to our work on The Kindred.

Here goes:

Excerpts from article, "Getting Into Character", by Jeremy Steinkoler

"I had a drum student for a number of years who went on to study acting at a prestigious program in England. He was an extremely bright and sensitive kid, whose enthusiasm for drums was second only to his passion for acting. We were talking one day about the similarities between acting and drumming, about the notion of “getting into character” both for different acting roles and for playing drums on tunes with different feels.

"pay attention to what the song is asking you to do..."

Indoor percussion is all about creating a visual expression of the music, right?

How can you use your body to create the world of the people and their story?
Costumes, set and prots help give the audience clues, but they don't convey the story.
And that was one of the most valuable comments we got this last go around: They were missing parts of the story...because the clues they had from music, costumes and sets weren't enough to let them really understand.

SO what we have to do is integrate, tie together the story AND the music by getting into character as individuals and as an ensemble.

THE BOTTOM LINE

"Remember, the drums are not always the main event, even though we drummers like to think so. You need to ask yourself what the song is asking of the drummer."

So...although this is a sacreligious statement... the STORY is the most important part of our show.
SO...what is the story asking of the drummer?
If you are a minion...how can you show us that in the way you play your instrument?
If you are one of the guard...the question is the same, but also has the issue of movement....why are you moving forward, turning, etc. and how does that movement help to communicate the story.

HERE ARE SOME OTHER INTERSTING TIDBITS TO CHEW UPON:

"Motivation: Similar to the way an actor needs to find motivation to portray a character, a drummer needs to know what motivates a drum part. "

we are talking about acting the role of the drums WITH YOUR BODY in addition to your sticks.
Isn't that the same as finding the right groove for a particular chart?

"Ask yourself what is the song about."

Or in our case, do you understand what your character's part is in the story we are trying to tell?

Consistency!
"Two of the most critical aspects to playing any song well are playing with a steady tempo and a consistent feel. In jazz you can take a different approach, with each note having its own color and character, almost like speaking. But with rock and dance music or anything with a repetitive groove, consistency of sound is paramount."

Now I am not trying to pretend to teach you how to play the drums, but playing consistency is important for getting into character
He says that each groove is like speaking... the parts of the story really reflect the changes in the music
Part of your character is expressed in HOW you play, not just WHAT you play...

Attitude, Presence, & Integrity
" Play every note like you mean it. Believe in your playing. There is nothing you are supposed to play – the only thing you’re supposed to do is sound good, and you don’t sound good when you don’t play with integrity."

Indoor Percussion THEATRE is different than Drumline or concert playing or small group...yup, it is
Maybe you don't feel comfortable being this far out of the box...out of your comfort zone.
Indoor skills that you may not possess now...not because you can't do it...just because you haven't aquired them yet! But there is only one way to do that...you gotta start by trying. You have to be willing to take a risk to learn anything. So, just jump into the deep water. You might really like it...

Learning by Example

Forget about that crazy potty mouth rodent video for a while and spend your precious YOUTUBE time looking at other Indoor shows. You soon see the difference between the good and the bad. The good ones communicate the story through music and story.

weekly update

2009-02-16T12:21:00.001-05:00

YES.... we have practice tonight at ECG from 6-9pm. Hope you enjoyed your President's Day , there will be a quiz tonight!

We also will listen to judges , watch video and get to polishing the show .... see ya tonight.

Schedule for Saturday 2/14

2009-02-09T17:32:00.002-05:00

9:00 am practice at EC Glass
11:00 am pack and load
11:45 am lunch on Memorial Ave
1:30 pm arrive at FCHS
2:54 pm PERFOMANCE
3:30 pm Awards
5:00 pm back at ECG

First judged perfomance so this is a big one .... bring your friends and family as the show is only an hour or so away in Rocky Mount , down by Smith Mountain Lake.

Franklin Co. Schedule

2009-02-04T08:18:00.003-05:00

This is the show Schedule for Saturday February 14th. We will practice in the morning and eat lunch and depart for Rocky Mount. Home before 5pm!!!

Franklin County
Saturday, February 14, 2009

PSA Bassett HS 2:00
East Forsyth Indoor Ensemble 2:09
Salem HS 2:18
Central HS 2:27
Franklin County 2:36
Jefferson Forest 2:45
EC Glass HS 2:54

Break 10

PSO Ledford Indoor Percussion Ensemble 3:13

AWARDS 3:30

YOU ROCK...now we make gravel...

2009-02-03T19:31:00.005-05:00

Hey, just a happy little epistle from "The Kindred" story director and resident dramaturg (yeah, that is a real word...look it up!)

I am proud to say you made quite a little splash with the judges on Saturday!

I am absolutely positive they have never seen blood spatter or entrails featured in drill before! The fact they stated how cool they thought it was is a bonus. If their reaction is a portent of things to come...well, I think we are in for a great showing this season.

So, CUDOS to all for coming so far so fast. You really have done a great job getting the show up and running...we were among the few corps that actually marched their whole drill on Saturday, which is amazing...but THERE IS MUCH WORK TO BE DONE!

Just as the Judge said to us...your 'Real Feel' practice pad has to been your BFF...it has to play itself...the sets must be as effortless as breathing...you need be able to run the drill in your head, backwards and forward until you can do it in your sleep...while riding on a crowded train....to Calcutta!

When you can do that...effortlessly play and march with precision...we will have the freedom to really nail the unique story elements of our show...

THEN we will be rocking and THAT my little minions is what will separate us from the pack!

So, BOTTOM LINE--this is not the time for lazybone slackers!

We got miles to go before we sleep...and that means some really good work lies ahead for us all...and that is work that doesn't only happen on at our rehearsals. It is work that can only be done by YOU...put down that Guitar Hero controller and spend a little time everyday making friends with your sticks until your part is smooth and clean.

If you are 'good', great, get better. If you need help, ask for it. When I am out gigging with my band or performing in a play, I know I can always get better no matter how good I am.... It's the right attitude for an artist to have...keeps ya humble AND constantly improving.

FINALLY Get to rehearsal on time and be ready to work at 110% for the whole session. Trust me, I'll invite you to dial back if you are working too hard.

Okay, maybe this message sounds like what is called "an Irish compliment"...a complement that lifts you up on one side and knocks you down on the other...but both sides in this case are important.

You did a great job on Saturday and all the days before that got us there...but there is much work to do...so, fasten your seatbelts, folks.

We are working to rock the show each time we do it from here on out!

Stay focused and dedicated to your craft and we will do great things.

Long Live The Kindred!

Peace--
ms. patti finn

AIA show at Powhatan HS 1/31

2009-02-03T16:23:00.001-05:00

Good job Everybody. Thanks to one of our great band Moms we have video to share ... enjoy!

Coming Soon....

2009-02-01T21:18:00.000-05:00

First weekend!

2009-01-31T20:36:00.002-05:00

Hey Folks ... thanks for making our first trip out really a pleasant time. Following directions and being responsible really will pay off for everyone in the long run. A great first performance ... I hope after seeing other schools you are starting to realize WHY the staff folks are so excited and determined to keep pushing this ensemble forward!

SO ..... We will practice Mondays until 9pm . I hope this allows you a break from school , time to do some homework (bring it with ya if you must!) and maybe even choke down some food at home. For us , hopefully we can spend 30 minutes or so moving equipment each way and still get 2 hours in a gym!

Again , thanks for a great Saturday .... see ya Monday night!

Next show .... Saturday February 14th at Franklin County HS (Rocky Mount , VA ... down by Smith Mountain Lake!)

2009-01-27T13:58:00.001-05:00

All the games have been postponed for tomorrow. I am going to go ahead and say YES we are playing Wednesday night. We will meet at the same time 6pm in the ECG Band Room
.... If that is an issue let me know ASAP!

oh yeah... All the shirts are in , we will distribute during channel one the next day we are in school.

I love snowdays !

2009-01-27T11:09:00.000-05:00

OK Folks ... game for tonight has already been postponed. We will decide later if we will play on the new date (when we find out!). Either way great practices yesterday and make sure you thank all those parents that have been helping us out so far ... we wouldn't be where we are without them!

2009-01-21T10:59:00.000-05:00

Schedule for the next week or so :

Monday , 1/26 Battery Percussion (Snares, Tenors, Bass, Cymbals, & Annie)
@LMS from 3-5.

Pit Percussion
@ECG from 6-8

Tuesday , 1/27 BASKETBALL PERFORMANCE .... meet at ECG @6:00 pm
Varsity Boys starts at 7:00 we will play halftime.

Saturday , 1/31 POWHATTAN COMPETITION .... we will meet at ECG @ 8:00am
and return to ECG around 8:00 pm. Bring $ for lunch and dinner!

Monday , 2/2 Regular Practice @ECG from 6:00-8:30 pm.

Big Week Coming .... strap in!

WELCOME

2009-01-21T10:47:00.000-05:00

Hey Folks.... Welcome to our own little Blogspot. Check here for updates in schedules and assorted other cool things from the world of percussion!