EOUMB/Wiz Kids August Band Camp
A New beginning
08/08/16
Monday, 08/08/16
We ended Wiz Kid lessons last
week with the beginning of leadership Training for the East
Orange Unified Marching Band component of the Wiz Kids.
We call this week a "New
Beginning" because we have some new band recruits that are
learning from scratch, and this is also a good time for the
experienced Band members to teach the beginners what they have
been learning and review the training themselves.
The new members are introduced to
the Band. L-R: Stacia, Jerimiah, Joshua, Jayden. Ms Jacqueline
Saez and Saied Beckford should need no introduction, nor Kassidie
at the far right.
Then Band formation procedures
are explained to the beginners with the Band demonstrating how
they respond to commands.
Then it is time to embed the
beginners in with the Band and practice some of the formation
drills. They will be working at this all morning. Each of the
experienced Band members gets an opportunity to give the commands
to the rest of the group and the new members have been told that
when they are deemed ready, they may also be asked to give the
commands in front of the entire Band.
After lunch, more Band members have arrived
and the formation and drills continue. We will soon need a larger
space for these drills, and we hope to have that space next week,
if all goes as planned.
The Band Camp Day ended after a
run around Orange Park. The ones with shorter legs sometimes
needed some encouragement, but everyone made it.
Tuesday, 08/09/16
Tuesday begins with everyone
learning to juggle (not eat) the juggling scarves. Morris
(center) has advanced to beanbags, but shows the beginners how to
juggle the scarves, which he just recently mastered.
Miriah (left) has been advanced
from beanbags to juggling rings, while Elijah (right) is
finishing up with the rings by teaching Miriah, and getting ready
to juggle clubs for his own advancement to the next stage.
The rest of the morning was
dedicated to practicing the drills and formations both as a Band,
and in sections. Alumnus Shalal Adolphe dropped by to visit and give a pep talk about the value
of joining the Band to the young members. After lunch there was
some RipStik riding and some unicycle attempts, but everyone was
too busy to take photos. There were also some acrobatic
challenges which, no doubt, will become a regular part of the
daily exercises.
Wednesday, 08/10/16
Today, after juggling practice
was over, Mr. Goode showed the Band the mathematics side of
marching in formations. Using a large sidewalk chalk, he and the
Band helpers drew a measured portion of a football field on the
asphalt. This was then used to position the marchers in various
geometrical patterns. As soon as he finished drawing the grid, it
began to rain, so the lesson was completed between rain showers
and having to draw and redraw the grid several times.
After lunch and with the ground
still damp, Ms Saez demonstrates how to march across the grid so
that her toes always land on one of the grid lines.
Then it's time for the marchers
to try it, first the experienced members and then the newcomers.
Thursday, 08/11/16
Morning Drill Practice Above
Afternoon Drill Practice Below
After showing the Band members
how to draw arcs using a piece of chalk and a rope as an
improvised compass, Mr. Goode then teaches them how to use the
arcs to perform a gate swing marching maneuver.
When the next rainstorm washes
away our chalk art gridlines, the Band should still be able to
visualize it as they march. Rain is predicted for tonight, so we
may find out what happens as early as tomorrow.
The last part of the afternoon is
taken up with current instrument inventory, repairs, and
reorganization so we will have room for the new instruments when
they are purchased and brought back to headquarters.
NOTE: The GOOD
NEWS is: because we are so close to reaching our GO FUND ME goal of $3,700 for buying the used
instruments shown HERE, we have extended the deadline a few more days! Thanks
to all who have donated so far and if you haven't already done
so, please give what you can. Every little bit helps and it is
most important that we reach our goal of $3,700.
* Note: The name "East Orange Unified Marching Band"
is registered with the State of New Jersey as the property of
Frederick Goode, as is "EOUMB" and
"E.O.U.M.B."
