The Homecoming game
against Barringer will be at Paul Robeson Stadium in East Orange
on Thanksgiving Day (11/26/09). The band began work on the
half-time show in early November, beginning on their days off
while their teachers were (supposed to be) in Atlantic City at
the big NJEA convention. Mr. Goode and Ms Saez were not obligated
to attend the convention, so they spent their day off along with
the band students, working on the big halftime show for the
Thanksgiving Day game.
In the above photo, drum section leader David
Friday leads his drumline in a series of warm-up exercises while
they wait for access to the school so they can get their
instruments. Today they will be learning some new marching
formations designed especially for the Thanksgiving Day game.
Photo by Al-Quadir Marsh
This weekend, the band is back at it, putting
finishing touches on some of the pieces they will play during the
Thanksgiving Day half-time show. Above, the drumline works out
independantly of the rest of the band.
Still photos can't tell the whole story, so here
is a sneak preview of what the Drumline is working on in this YouTube
Video.
Photo by Al-Quadir Marsh
Meanwhile, the rest of the band is rehearsing
indoors on some new music that will be heard on Thanksgiving Day.
Section leader Darian Bravo is conducting the band.
Photo by Al-Quadir Marsh
Now the whole band gets together out in the
school parking lot to work on some new steps for the Thanksgiving Day half-time show.
The above Youtube Video
contains a sneak preview of what you will see on Thanksgiving
Day. The band will be working every day after school this week to
get ready for the big game show.
Wednesday, the day before
Thanksgiving. School let out at 12:45 PM, and the band
immediately assembled and started rehearsals. By 2:00 they
marched over to Paul Robeson stadium to have their final
rehearsals on the actual football field. At about 3:00, the
football team arrived and began football practice, but the band
was able to share half the field with them, so they were able
continue working together, ignoring the occasional football that
came bouncing through their lines. This is the view from the
visitors side.
Here is the view from the
home team side and the way they will be seen in tomorrow's
half-time show...except that they will be finally dressed up in
their new uniforms.
Meanwhile, back at the
school, Ms Saez and her crew of Band Parents and students were
still hard at work getting the uniforms ready for the big day. By
7:30 PM, when I left, all the uniforms had been cleaned and
pressed and were hanging in preparation for their caretakers to
arrive at 7:00 AM on Thanksgiving Day. Mr. Goode had just found
the last pair of pants for the last student to be fitted, and
clean-up from the day's work had begun. As usual, Mr. Goode and
Ms Saez are the last to leave, making sure that every band member
is accounted for.
Hickory Smoking Turkey
Drumsticks for the fund raiser. L-R: Mr. Goode, Elijah Goode,
David Friday, Denzel Thnompson.
However... it's still not
over for Mr. Goode. Late into the night, he and a group of
hard-working band members are hickory smoking turkey drumsticks
that will be sold at tomorrow's game to raise money for the band.
So if you go to the game, be sure to cheer like crazy for both
your team and your band, and buy a hot hickory-smoked turkey
drumstick to help fund the band!
The final football game of
the season will be against Barringer High School at Paul Robeson
Stadium in East Orange on Thanksgiving Day (11/26/09). Click HERE to see
the BIG DAY!
Text, videography and still photography by Jim
Gerrish. Some photos by Al-Quadir Marsh.
