Band camp is already half over! That means our community performance is very soon, which is very exciting. Yesterday was the annual “Lobe den Herren” tradition when the origin of the song, as it relates to Jenison, is explained and then the song is played in a special venue. This year, it was played at the JCA, where the acoustics are fantastic. A very special guest and dedicated supporter of the Jenison Marching Band attended yesterday’s performance, Sue Jonker. It provided a good opportunity for many who know her to have a chance to talk and say hello. Our program wouldn’t be what it is today without the time she invested in it.
 
Last night was also Senior Night. This is a time for the seniors to spend time with the directors and support staff, exchanging stories and adventures from their years in band. These tales are usually shared over ice cream and this year Frosty Treat was the destination. If you happened to drive by while they were there, you probably noticed the unusually large crowd.
 
You may have heard from your student that the Jenison campus was swarming with police yesterday. Well, this is true. There were officers from Ottawa County, Grandville, Walker, and Grand Rapids! You see, they got a tip from an informant that the band had received a donation of hamburgers and hot dogs with no way to cook them. Clearly they cannot be served uncooked as that would be a crime against the health department. So these community members came to Jenison’s rescue. Not only did they bring the grill and fuel (courtesy of the Fraternal Order of Police), but they cooked them up right and served them to our students with a smile on their faces. Thank you to each one of those officers for taking time from their day to support the Jenison community!
 
Further investigation of our meal revealed a list of donations from many community businesses. The hamburgers, hot dogs, and buns were donated by Lewandowski Meat Market on Walker Avenue. Salads and all condiments were donated by Brann’s in Grandville. The sweet and savory tortilla chips were donated by Hippie’s Chippies, a growing business with sales in some Family Fare stores, Harding’s Markets, and others. Additional items were received with steep discounts. The donuts holes, which were said to be “soooo goood” came from Marge’s Donut Den on 28th Street. Not to be outdone, both Frosty Treat and Palermo Pizza extended discounted items to the band.
 
Once again, the outpouring of our community into the marching band has been generous. Year after year we have the support of area businesses. Each year brings different challenges and opportunities for different businesses to help. This year has been exceptionally challenging with band camp being held at home. Most of the donations and discounts we received would not have been possible without the determined efforts of our Feed the Band chairs, Amanda Moerdyk and Heather Cosgrove. Their desire to provide meals of high quality and variation while remaining on a tight budget required they reach out to our community. Through their friends, family, professional contacts, cold calls, and the responsiveness of our community, these two women have succeeded in their endeavor. Thank you for what you have done for our children!

Day two is in the books! Last night the band enjoyed ice cream as they watched some past performances, including 2011's Tempest's Fury. (https://vimeo.com/31869219) That show broke a long streak of placing second to Reeths-Puffer at State Finals. The purpose of watching these shows wasn't just for entertainment. It served as encouragement and incentive to keep working hard. Pressure to quickly learn drill and music doesn't just come from the staff. It comes from peers who are veterans of previous competitions. They understand what's involved and what the rewards can be. They put pressure on themselves nearly as much as others do, and they do it with pride and determination. After a long and hard day's effort, you could see the personal development and the team mentality that comes from working together taking hold. Looking around the room of students watching film and talking to one another, there were smiles and laughter. It was encouraging to see that this band season is off to a good start.

Yesterday's blog also referred to this season being unlike any other. A new and unique feature of this year's show was revealed after the videos were played. A special custom jacket was designed and modeled for all to see. This type of thing has been done by many bands over the years and it can be a powerful feature in a show. Since this year's show is about geometric and artistic shapes, the new jacket embodies this message. It is true to our school colors and our discipline as a band, yet holds a fun and energetic pattern. The jackets will not be worn for several weeks and no pictures of it will be posted here in order to keep it under wraps until it is time to reveal it to the public. The same is true for the color guard's uniforms, which have a definite hip-hop slant. Pulling elements from loose dance clothes, like "Hammer Pants", the guard will look very different from last year's selection. The band and guard seemed very excited to have these costume changes this year.

Stay tuned for this season's show to unfold week by week. There are some future surprises coming that you won't want to miss. This is going to be a fantastic year. Spread the word for the community performance on Friday. The bigger the audience, the more impact it will have on our hardworking students. That first performance is where the transition to having more fun and feeling less stress begins.

Band Camp 2019 has begun! If your student is anything like mine, they may have arrived home last night tired, hungry, and showing some symptoms from the intentional pressure our staff puts on them. Hopefully, a solid nights rest in their own bed at home helps prepare them for day number two.

Veteran parents will notice there are many things different about our band season this year. Having camp on our home field is a major difference from previous years. Even so, rehearsals will be just as intense and just as demanding as years passed. One other difference resulting from having camp at home is that this blog will not look anything like last years. Being a chaperone allowed access and exposure to what was going on. It allowed pictures to be taken and fun stories to be gathered. This year, this chaperone is working and unable to do the things that were so fun to do last year. All that can be done is to encourage you to go watch in the evenings. You can get a pretty good understanding of what these hard-working students are facing by spending a few hours watching them rehearse. But don’t stop there! Make sure they are encouraged and supported. Band camp requires grit and stamina. All members of this band must find inner strength and resolve to perform at a higher level. Frustration will happen. Exhaustion will happen. Sunburn, blisters, and bruises can happen, too. It is important they also hear compliments, encouragement, applause, and see some smiles.