The first home football game is upon us. If this is your first game with a band member, there are some things you need to understand. First, this performance is taken as seriously as any competitive performance. You can see it in the kid’s faces and you can see it in the faces of the parents in the stands. There are real people sitting in the stands so the performance has a very different feel than during rehearsal. Some people are watching, some are ignoring them and talking loudly, and some are walking around. It’s a tough crowd but the band knows where to look. Most band parents sit in the upper deck in front of the press box. It provides a good view of the field, which means you can see the band formations pretty good, too. It is also right next to where the band will sit during the rest of the game. So, let’s go over the general routine of game day.
 
PREGAME
After school, there will be rehearsal. They will warm up with their instruments, get some instruction and practice a bit. Each game, they play the National Anthem and the Jenison Fight Song.
 
FIRST HALF
After the National Anthem is played, they will file into the furthest section of the upper deck. Their bleachers are usually covered with a green pad to designate them as reserved. They will be required to remain in this section to be available to play the fight song when called upon. Parent interactions should be restricted to taking pictures from your own seats. Late in the second quarter, the band will file back down the stairs and begin warm-ups near the fence that separates the track from the residences nearby.
 
HALF TIME
As soon as the football team has cleared the field, the band is mobilized. They are timed as if it was a competition: prop setup, performance, clearing the field. They will be introduced and the performance will commence. They perform the same show each game because this band is focused on competition instead of creating a new halftime show for each week. What makes it exciting for the parents, is that we get to see what changes each week, what gets added, and witness how their skill levels increase. It’s never truly the same show each week.
 
SECOND HALF
After they finish and the parents wildly cheer like the crazy people we are, the band will take care of the props, some of the instruments, the flags and costumes, and finally retake their seats in the stands. However, the third quarter is a little different than the others. This is the quarter where they have some freedom and can greet their families, friends and the concession stand. Most of the band members have worked up an appetite and are more than happy to greet their families if it means they can get some cash for the concession stand. FYI: They don’t accept credit or debit. It’s cash only. Be advised that the third quarter goes pretty quick and your teen will not stick around long to chat.
 
END OF GAME
Just like at half time, the band will file back onto the track late in the fourth quarter. They will line up in formation and await the time to run out. After the game ends and the sidelines are mostly cleared, the Drum Majors will lead the band down the sideline and to the school. If you happen to be walking down the ramp to leave when they begin marching through, the band has the right-a-way and will probably march right over you. They will continue to march until they get to an area of grass by the “band’s back door entrance”. They will gather around the directors and listen to their feedback and instruction. Parents may gather nearby this group, but please do not interact with any students and try and keep noise to a minimum as it is very hard to hear the directors talk. Following their comments, the band will play Lobe Den Herrin before being dismissed. Again, as parents, it is important to stay out of the way as they hurriedly make their way back into the band room. At this point, it’s a waiting game. Sometimes they play back a recording of the half-time show, but not everyone stays to watch it. Your student may leave the school anywhere from a few minutes to nearly fifteen. The upside is that the parking lot is pretty empty by the time you get to leave.
 
I hope this information certainly helps you understand what to expect during game days. This is not a rigid schedule but you will find it holds pretty close to it. All I can say is, come to the stadium early to get good parking and good seats; come with cash, be prepared to leave after the crowds. This is a great time to talk to other band parents and get to know people.

Also, when at the game, please make an effort to speak only positive and uplifting words about the band members, cheerleaders, and football players. I know there is a great discussion about which activity is more difficult, but on game day, we are all on the same side. All of these students work hard to do their best. Let's not just talk the talk but do the walk.

There was an exhausted yet excited feel to the air this morning. The end was near! The community performance was in 12 hours. There was a lot to do to get ready. Since the morning dew had been pretty heavy on the grass the last several mornings, warm-ups were started indoors. Following the indoor warm-up called the Clap-Clap (if you attended the community performance you know what this is) the band walked to the field for their daily run around the track. During this time the chaperones were busy unloading the instruments off the trailers and while the students were running, we thought we’d have a little fun. The band was finished with the mine carts and they were about to be loaded onto the trailer. Before we did this, we linked them all together, hooked the train up to a Gator, climbed in one to a cart, and took a tour around the track. The band was still running at this point, so our intent was to encourage them, but it seemed to be more distracting. We probably should have seen that coming. One thing we know for sure is those mining carts are fantastically built. They are looking really good, too. For those of you who have been working on these: Thank you! These carts are so awesome that we cannot wait to see the finished product being used on the field.
 
Morning rehearsal went smooth. As did lunch. As did the afternoon rehearsal. So, now it was time to pack up the trailers to return to Jenison. This is a big undertaking. There is a certain order and method to packing up the instruments. Those of you who have done this for competitions understand. Some of these items are heavy and have to be lifted pretty high to be stored properly. Immediately following this was checking the band’s rooms and loading their luggage and fans into other trailers. This is a busy time that feels pretty crazy. Each chaperone has about 16 rooms to inspect, including their own. When this is done, the band can load the buses and return to Jenison. Once back “home” we get to unload everything: luggage, fans, instruments, mining carts. There are a lot of helping hands for this part, which is a real blessing!
 
Show shirts were handed out to the band members and lunch was provided at school by our Feed the Band committee before rehearsal continued. It felt good to be on our own field. It pulled this week’s experiences all together and “brought it home”. The community performance was drawing near. The excitement continued to build. When 6:00 rolled around, the stands were already building an audience. The band continued to rehearse. By the time Mr. Zamborsky began introducing the marching band, the stands were very crowded. The band then performed two times. The first was done with the students standing in rows, more like a concert setting. This was to allow some of our students who have injuries that prevent them for marching right now. The second performance was to show the progress made from learning the drill. The performances sounded great and looked pretty good, too. Everyone in the band will tell you it needs work but, when the rest of us watch it, we see what they’ve accomplished. But, that’s the difference between our jobs as performers or supporters.
 
I am thankful for the opportunity to be able to share some of what camp is about. Hopefully you have gained a little insight into the mystery of this week. Thank you for reading this blog and a hearty thank you for your kind words in response. This entry concludes the dialog regarding this year’s band camp. More pictures will follow as I gather some of those taken by our crew of chaperones. Keep checking in for future entries. 

​The morning began with the threat of rain. It was supposed to be only during our scheduled breakfast hour. Despite the frequent incorrect weather predictions this week, we decided to take the “wait and see” approach. It turned out that the forecast was right. Most of us made it to breakfast before the rain began and it ended before we left. That was a great way to begin the day. Warm-ups were started in the indoor facility to give the weather a little extra time to move clear of the area. The routine used today is often part of the color guard’s stretching exercises. It has proven to be effective for the rest of the band as well. After they ran through it twice, the band moved to their morning locations to finish warm-ups. The morning rehearsals did not have any surprise visitors today. The lunch period came quickly.
 
Following lunch was a shortened section time of rehearsal. This was due to the need to prep a little bit for the upcoming performance of Lobe Den Herren, the official hymn of the marching band. The sections met on the grassy knoll in the middle of campus. This is a beautiful, shady area that provides a nice area for the band. After a little bit of practice, they formed lines and silently marched to the chapel. They circled the auditorium in single file, except for the front ensemble, battery and color guard, who lined up in the back in additional rows. The auditorium is a special place to play this song as it has wonderful acoustics for it. After an explanation by Mr. Zamborsky to the band as to why this hymn is important and has become a tradition, they were poised to begin. With a simple movement of his arms, he invited them to fill the room with melodious harmony. The beauty of this song was hard to ignore. Many students and spectators left with a tear in their eye. The band exited the chapel just as quietly as they entered. This was the last time the Seniors would perform this song at band camp. Although it happens only once a year, it leaves a lasting impression. The impact of this reality presented many moments between band members as they hugged and congratulated one another.
 
The band now had a couple of hours of free time. Students were able to walk freely around campus, use the indoor swimming pool, play games, or take a nap if they felt like it. This particular year saw a massive interest in the swimming pool. Out of approximately 160 band members, 86 of them decided to go swimming. It was very entertaining for the chaperones that accompanied them. The boys performed a few rounds of “wave diving”. They would line up along an edge and then dive in one at a time in consecutive order but quickly enough to have the appearance of a cresting wave. Then they decided to see how many of them the men’s sauna could hold. This cycle happened a couple of times. They ended up getting 41 boys into the sauna. To celebrate, they began a belly smacking contest. This eventually got the attention of the girls, who joined in. There was a lot of laughing, encouragement, and fun going on. The lifeguard on duty later complimented our group as exceptionally well behaved. Despite being loud and very active, they never caused any trouble. This is a prime example of what Mr. Zamborsky and our entire Jenison Fine Arts programs strive to instill in their students. You can have fun while remaining respectful and within the boundaries. This made us all very proud. As a further example of the responsibility these students are expected to exhibit, without any reminder from the chaperones, they abruptly left the pool as a whole to return to their rooms and get ready for dinner and the next scheduled rehearsal time.
 
The evening rehearsal was done on the football field. Many parents came to watch the latter part of this time. The band worked hard during this time and was really trying to make good progress. The run-through went very well and you could tell they were excited to perform it in the stadium.
 
After this performance, they quickly cleaned the equipment off the field and hustled back to the residence hall to shower and dress for the annual pizza and dance party. The building this is held in is air conditioned which is a welcome treat as well. The music was loud, like it’s supposed to be, and the room was filled with bodies. As happens with most dances, there are some who prefer to tune out completely, some who prefer to watch, and some who like to dance. A second room was provided for those who preferred to be in a quieter place. Some of the more popular songs were Dancing Queen and Bohemian Rhapsody. Most of the songs were more contemporary and all of them were student selected. The dance continued later into the evening and we finally headed back to the residence hall just after 11:00. Today was a long but satisfying day for all and it was time to rest.

Oh, what a beautiful morning. Oh, what beautiful day.
 
The Wednesday of band camp seems to be a transitionary day. Everyone is generally still feeling pretty good in the morning. They’re tired and sore, of course. Some have blisters and sunburn but no one has had to leave due to illness or injury. That’s always a welcome thing, but the third day of camp seems to impact the stamina of the students. The morning’s warm-ups get more challenging as the week continues due to the diminished energy level of everyone. The morning drill session was located across from the football stadium in the practice field area. The dew was heavy on the grass and the sky was lacking cloud cover and it had the feel of a great start to the day.
 
After some time was spent rehearsing, a guest stopped by. This particular guest was accompanied by a news cameraman. It was Teresa Weakley from Wood TV Channel 8 here to put together a piece for an upcoming spot on their Football Frenzy. Film was taken of the marching band as a whole and some close-up shots were taken of footwork and other techniques. Two of our drum majors, Kyle Bohlinger and Emily Rose, both seniors, were interviewed along with our band director, Mr. Zamborsky. They spent quite a bit of time with each of them and the band as a whole. The cameraman even climbed the scaffolding to take some footage from there. We look forward to seeing the final piece when it is presented during the Football Frenzy the week of our opening home football game (Aug 23). A reminder will be sent through the Jenison Bands email closer to that date. The remainder of the morning rehearsal was productive and we soon headed for the cafeteria for lunch. The cafeteria became a bit more crowded today as Hope’s football team moved in.
 
Sectionals again followed lunch. A lot of the pictures from yesterday were from sectionals. Soon after they returned to the practice field another visitor arrived. This one drove their vehicle along the side of the field to the edge of the first group of marchers. Then they got out of the vehicle, opened the trunk, and started handing out popsicles. Word spread quickly and the band rushed over to partake in this frozen refreshment. So, who was this very popular visitor? Ron Good of Meyer Music, one of our biggest supporters and important partners. He was very careful to include stops at the practice areas for the Battery and Color Guard so they, too, could enjoy this treat. He missed one group – the chaperones. We like treats, too. But, we hold no ill will. We are adults after all.
 
The dinner hour came and went as it tends to do every day. The evening rehearsal saw a large increase in the number of parents coming to watch the run through. There may have been 50-70 people lined up on the lawn. This audience was also witness to our first few injuries of the week. To this point in the week, we had some sore muscles, chaffing, headaches, dizziness, and mild dehydration symptoms. Nothing serious and stuff that is seen every year. These new injuries included some falls and bruising. Chaperoning is never scripted and always changing direction.
 
After the run through, the marching band returned to the residence hall. This is the night where the seniors go out for ice cream and socialize with the directors and techs. It is an entertaining time as they recount stories and adventures from the previous four years of competition. (Sorry, there are no pictures posted from this event). The remaining students get to hang out in the hall, order pizza, have snacks, play games, and generally have a good time. And they really do. It is a great time for rest and relaxation and bonding. And then, it’s curfew. Everyone to their rooms and lights off soon after. Another day is done.

​Was it going to rain or was it not going to rain? That was the question early in the day. The many forecasts available to us couldn’t agree, so it was decided that it would not rain and we got started. The band spends quite a bit of time on conditioning. They stretch, perform warm-up routines to music, run some laps, and generally get all sweaty before even playing a note. Once today’s warm-ups were done, the band focused on adding drill. Following the lunch break they split into their sections and spread throughout campus to concentrate on their playing as a unit. These times are important because it helps them to hone their skills individually and as an ensemble. While wandering between groups taking some pictures for this blog, we noticed that there was a lot more foot traffic than yesterday. It appeared that there were many school tours happening and many international students were moving in. The nearby downtown area of Holland was also very busy with pedestrians enjoying the day. One joyful person was caught on film, right in the middle of several sectionals, enjoying the music while gently swaying in a hammock. It just goes to show that you never know who your going to play for. The morning was simply beautiful and everyone was in good spirits.
 
As we put instruments away for dinner, we also noticed that the radar was once again showing rain. So far, many of the promised periods of rain never occurred. Nevertheless, the instruments were packed safe and dry in our trailers. As luck would have it, a gentle rain began as we were returning to the field to continue rehearsals. It was time for a decision. Do we remain outdoors and get wet or do we only spend the next ninety minutes in it while we wait for our equipment crew (i.e. chaperones) to move the large instruments to an indoor facility. After a few minutes, the call came in. We were moving indoors. The move, although long and tiring, went smoothly. No one was injured and neither were any of the instruments. The band continued to rehearse for another hour or so. At the end of this time, they played through the first 2:30 minutes of the show. It sounded pretty good to those of us listening.
 
Tonight’s festivities included an ice cream social. This is a sweet selection of toppings with hot fudge and vanilla ice cream. The band members make their own sundae and then spend some time talking with friends. This year’s group was exceptionally well behaved and conversations were going on all over the room. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. A couple of groups stuck around to talk long after the majority of students returned to their residence hall.

Rain, Rain, Go Away
Come Again Another Day

That was our desire this morning as a group of dedicated parents and band supporters stood in the rain loading luggage and box fans into vehicles and trailers for the short drive to Hope College. The rain was never heavy, but it was steady. As the support vehicles left at 9:30 for Holland, there was a lot of focus on the forecast. Ever changing, it seemed today would be a difficult one to start a week intended to enjoy the beautiful campus during a steamy August. Fortunately, the weather stayed dry. It was a blessing to have cloud cover and cooler temperatures given the high humidity.

Our Jenison students checked into their rooms and headed to lunch before the fun began on the field. The day went smoothly from then on. They began with some basic moves to re-establish that special team coordination which is crucial to their success. By the end of the day, the music and drill was beginning to come together for the (approximately) first sixty seconds of the show. For those that haven't experienced marching band yet, the progress that was made was pretty good, but it isn't even close to the quality of the show at the end of a season. At this point, the drill is blocky and includes simply walking to different coordinates on the field. Later these movements will be "filled" with different body positions to increase the difficulty and entertainment factor all at once. Body positions can be something as simple as a crouch or as complicated as running in a crouch while playing an instrument. Even so, it doesn't diminish the accomplishments of today. If anything, it accentuates is. Without basics firmly in place, you can't achieve the finesse needed to win.

So, tonight, as they return to the dorm and try to relax in the super hot building, relationships are being forged. Games are being played, videos are being shared, conversations are being had. There is laughter to be heard in every part of the building. Band camp is hard work for these students, but it can be a lot of fun as well.

I am going to try to post a few pictures from each day of camp. I don't have very many today because of all of the work the chaperones have on day one. I will try to do more over the next few days. Please enjoy and know that we are already proud of your kids.