Day 2: Ferndale Golden Eagle Marching Band at Interlochen for Band Camp

Day 2 (Tuesday):

We just finished our first full day of band camp… and we’re a little tired! We learned 13 pages of drill total today, which equals maybe about a minute of music. So there’s a little bit more to go yet!

Our day started at 6:15 a.m. with some trumpets playing Reveille and the kids doing calisthenics. Thankfully the big box fan I put next to my head last night worked, because I didn’t wake up! Then they were off to breakfast and cabin inspections. Typically there is bribery involved in winning cabin inspections. This morning Elon and Ben came back with some great candies and fruit snacks. There’s not really a prize for cabin inspection, other than winning cabin inspection.

Rehearsal started at 8:30 a.m. with an hour of more basics and guard stretching. The goal of this time is to make sure everybody’s technique is correct and work on staying in lines with each other. We will do this all year as technique is never perfect and is always demanding. At 9:30 a.m. we started learning our very first page of drill. It was pretty tough as there are lines of kids that “unfold” like an accordion. This took some careful choreographing, and will be even more complicated when we add the bands that will “attach” the band together. Once we got through this first confusing chunk, we were on a roll.

After lunch we had a scheduled fire drill and the kids (and adults) got some rest time. Most kids do actually rest, but there are some who will still socialize, play ping-pong, or take showers.

The afternoon was music rehearsal while the guard worked on the field. While the band marches and plays at the same time, the guard marches and does work (choreographed movements with flags, rifles and dancing) at the same time. There was a surprise rain shower that got all the kids soaked – it just came out of nowhere. But they recovered and kept going. Plus it was so hot this morning with no clouds; they were welcome of the cool-down.

Dinner was next, and the dining hall was more full that the last 24 hours. Groups from Ann Arbor high schools are here, and they greatly outnumber us. The only time we really see them is at meals since we each have our own section of camp.

Tuesday evening we finished learning the drill to the 13 pages. The sun was much less intense and shade started coming over the field, thank goodness. Around 8 p.m., we combined the winds, battery, pit, and guard to start playing while marching to the drill we had learned. It was pretty successful – at the end of the hour they could play those 13 pages without stopping. It’s not finals quality yet, but it’s a start!

Tuesday night the seniors had their traditional fire, set apart from the camp. I’ve never actually been to this fire, but I know it’s a special time for the seniors. They talk about some real intimate and personal experiences about band and life in general. The rest of the cabins are working on brainteasers, and the winners get out of cabin inspection tomorrow morning.

I haven’t seen my mouse in a while. He was scurrying back and forth right after rehearsal. We have the food in bins, but he’s a very determined little critter! The baby is asleep, the men are at the fire, and I’m ready to sleep. We’ll do it all again tomorrow!