Waiting for the Fat Lady

I'm sitting in the stands watching the last of the PIA groups on after out PSA class. The kids performed their best show in finals, the only job they had to do. Now we are waiting for the scores.

What an experience for the kids. How many times in their lives will they ever compete for a World Championship and actually be in contention? What an experience for us as parebts too. I say it often: how lucky we are to live vicariously through their experiences. Once they caught their wind after pushing the tons of equipment up hill and out of the arena after the show, their excitement and emotion boiled over. Tears, hugs, speaches, cheers, and more. The experience of coming out of the tunnel to cheers from the higher seeded groups, crowds of people we didn't know congratulating us, was very very cool.

The kids are off to put their uniforms back on for a full retreat. Scores and trophies start at 10 PM. They already earned a finals spot. So they have exceeded any goal we had. If they picked up a point or maybe more, they can pick up some places. I'm nervous.

Some pics and some short video will be posted soon.

I am so proud of my two kids, Emily and Danny. They both performed their best. I can't explain the feeling. Pride is too lame. Great job guys. I love you both.

Group Photo after Semis

Rehearsal Thursday

Half Way Through Day One

It is 5:30. The kids have been up for about 11 hours. They ate, rehearsed for 3 hours, 1/2 hour drive, warmed up for 2 hours, competed, more driving, more eating, more driving, and now they are setting up for 2 more hours of warm up and a competition.

The mood has been good to great. The performance and subsequent feedback led to a real big high. The score and placement, and the fact Hilton beat us with the same judging panel, led to a dip in morale.

A couple hour break and a private chat with Teddy has really shifted everyone back to competition mode.

So much of the first performance was simply experiencing the venue. We had to learn how to maneuver the props and gear dow the 2-story ramp, a very steep ramp. I was pushing the floor. It was more than I could control. The kids did all they could to get the gear down then up. Plus this was the first event where we had to take the floor out unfolded. 20 of us under it like a chinese dragon all the way up and out of the arena.

So we have made excuses, at least us overly competetive parents. Staff has listened to the feedback and is now going tp make the adjustments. The kids say they are now worlds experienced and that is not a valid excuse anymore.

Expectations are back high again. Hilton cannot beat us. 0.7 is an easy amount to pick up with all those excuses. Top four in the semi grouping is the goal.

Kids right now are getting uniforms on, checking out each others sunburns (80 degrees and sunny), taking on liquids, getting rid of liquids, and just hanging. Work starts in about 10 minutes.

Prelims

On our way to the first round. The bus is functional. The kids are in costume. The final run throughs are done.

Now, nobody except the parents seem to be nervous. The kids are acting normal, or as normal as drummers can be. I on the other hand have knots in my stomach.

Scores are already going up at www.wgi.org



Next post in a couple hours

It's All Good

The bus is fixed. Rehearsal started 30 minutes late but is going well.

We are outside Bellbrook High School on a beautifal day. VIPE took over a parking lot. We set up the whole thing with mirrors and floor. Only a couple issues. Taylor did a very girly freakout when she saw a worm. Ted Shawe did a girly freak out when he lost his coffee.

The cymbals have their color coordinated sunglasses. Sean and Nick are wearing black pantyhose. Most hats are on backwards. Typical drummers.

We are back on track.

Dead Bus

It's official. The bus is dead. The few parents with cars here are shuttling kids to rehearsal. Daryl thinks we will have a replacement within the hour if this bus is realy dead and not mostly dead. But if it is just mostly dead and not dead dead then maybe ....

Our star logistics team is all over it. All the gear under the bus is being shuttled with people to the school 5 minutes away. The real challenge is in a couple hour when we really need reliable transport to prelims half an hour away.

Back to sherpa duties.

Nervous Energy

The bus arrived at 11:45 last night. The kids went straight to bed. Lights out room checks were done by midnight.

Today started early with breakfast at 6:30. The kids ... Well let's say they seem to be well rested. In fact most are downright rambunctious. It must be nerves or adrenaline.

Three kids sat with me at breakfast. They were more hyper.

As I type I am hearing the bus won't start. We are building plans to shuttle people by car to the rehearsal site.

Off to work I go.

Travel Day Tomorrow

According to Facebook, the kids are all pretty psyched up for the trip.

Last night was the final rehearsal. I showed up early to take some pics. A few are here.

I have to give a big compliment to the staff. Imagine short attention span teenagers, drummers at that, working on the details of the show over and over again. Then throw in excitement and nerves, a general feeling that every rehearsal is Groundhog Day, too much homework to do with not enough time, a prom, Spring break, teenage hormones, and about a hundred other distractions, and simply getting this group of 30 kids all doing anything together is a real challenge. The discipline instilled early on in the season was all needed last night. I think it was rehearsal hour 200+ and progress was still being made.

There is only one reason Ted Mascarri does this. We know it's not because of the money. It is because of his passion. The man loves the art or percussion, loves to see the kids learn, loves them like a second family. I don't care if it sounds corney. My kids are two of those in the group. What they are getting from Teddy and the rest of the staff is not just some music lessons, some drill instruction, but more a lesson in work ethic, rewards for effort, learning that their limits are never attained but always one step further than they think. My kids see this staff more than me this time of year. And that is just fine with me.

Over the next 3 days they will test not only their performance skills, but their metal, their fortitude, their ability to concentrate and perform regardless of the spectacle. They will learn about the rewards of their 6000 kid-hours of time they put into this show. Those rewards may come in the form of medals and trophies, or in the form of some tough lessons on how single moments change lives. Regardless of outcome, it's all good.

The staff has brought these kids, many from the program's inception 5 years ago, to the point of being contenders in WGI Worlds. Imagine the shock on the faces of traditional favorite groups when this name from nowhere in NY beats them in Prelims. If, and it is a big "if," these kids can hold it together, and keep the 5 inches between their ears in the game, and make finals, then this could be quite a cinderella story.

No pressure.

About 75 people showed up to watch the last couple run throughs last night. Yes, spectators at rehearsal. It was a nice sendoff.

Next entry will be Thursday morning at rehearsal prior to prelims. Stop back.

Last Rehearsal

The show is ready. The kids are ready. The extra microphones are installed. There's nothing left to do but get on a bus and go to Dayton.

Day Off

Rehearsals were scheduled for 6 hours today. Yesterday the Director cancelled. So I asked Emily why:

Me: So Em. Why did Teddy cancel today?

Em: Because we are just that good.

Me: No seriously, why?

Em: We just can't get any better.


Wow. Dayton watch out.

state champions - check! World champions next?

The Victor indoor percussion ensemble (VIPE) finally succeeded in getting the state title in the top class this year. Wednesdaythe kids leave for WGI Worlds. Prelims are Thursday morning. Semi finals Thursday night. And if they make it thatfar, finals are Friday night.

I will update this blog as much as I can with the various goings on. I'm doing it through a blackberry though. So excuse the misspellings and such.

I saw rehearsals Thursday night. Three run throughs. They are working on such subtle improvements. It is amazing. But of course after about 200 hours of rehearsal the details are all that is left.

These kids are grade 7 through 12. I keep having to remind myself of that they are not juniors and seniors like the groups we compete against. Some of these kids are very young and in their first year. Amazing.

Ok so keep tuned in and I will keep blogging.