Music Director's Fall Newsletter
Dear Music Dept. Families,
As we enter the final stretch of our fall season, I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate the students on an incredibly rewarding journey thus far. Our staff has put together a show that is challenging and rewarding. The progress of the ensemble in these three seasons is remarkable. To put it into perspective, the ensemble's final show in the Fall of 2015 had an identical score for our first show out this season with a performance we were all less than satisfied with. In one week, they increased that score by more than 5 points, which is no small feat.
Fall Concert
Because our program is about more than just Marching Band, I must commend the students on their performance on Wednesday, Oct. 18 at the Rancho Campana High School Performing Arts Center. The performance featured Jazz I, String Orchestra and the Symphonic Band. The performance was the strongest top to bottom showing on that stage from our students from any time of the year since I have been at ACHS. To reach that level in a few short weeks was inspiring. Many programs do not do a fall concert because it is hard to put together a respectable performance, but it was clear that the students were ready to step up.
Program support
Beginning that Wednesday, I had to rely on my colleagues, administration, Booster parents, staff and the students to step up as I was needing to spend more time at home to deal with an urgent family matter. During our busiest weeklong stretch on the calendar for almost the entire year, I was able to be the father and husband I needed to be in this trying time without worrying about what would happen with all of our commitments and events. I was fortunate enough to have Assistant Principal, Ms. Chadwick fill in for me at the concert call time and our students, led by an incredible leadership team, did everything needed for our concert to be successful. I received nothing but compliments about their professionalism and maturity throughout the process without me being present. Thursday required staff to play a larger role as I could not attend the full rehearsal and it concluded an incredibly productive week of rehearsals. Friday included our normal routine with the addition of 41 eager middle school students who were in awe of our young performers. Saturday required several logistics to be taken care of and a more than 2-hour trip down South to Anaheim for a Field Competition, then the overnight portion of our trip with most of our Marching Band students at which Dr. Stephenson and her family filled in for me.
People behind the scenes are making the magic happen, day in and day out to keep our program functioning at its best, but this team of people felt more critical than ever this past week and a half. People like John Ponti, Jeff Betancourt and Rick Reese, who handle our equipment truck and trailer logistics and who do far more than just driving these to and from. The entire Booster Board, whot wear so many hats on top of steering the Booster organization in a direction that is best for our students and ensembles, which includes Ha Nguyen, Lauri Barcelona, Susan James, Alicia Hoffman, Tim Ward and Julie Rutherford.
In addition to these people, we had a slew of chaperones who ensured our students had a safe and enjoyable trip. This included Cindy Nigh, who made sure all students were checked out from the show before heading home. This also includes a huge thank you to Juliette Resor for all that she has done for two straight years to help organize the overnight trip. It is no small feat to do a trip like this, and the organization and follow-up from a head chaperone is critical. While I never want to have to step away from the group, it is relieving to know that we have such a strong group of student leaders and parent volunteers who do so much for the entire group.
Football games
I must take a moment to address the football game on Friday, Oct. 22. Despite my efforts to be extremely mindful of when and when not to play, some spillover does happen, and we never like that for the sake of our team and players. There have also been unfortunate circumstances like opposing team injuries that have caused some inopportune playing as well. At the last home game there was another miscommunication, and we were warned for our playing in the first quarter, about 15 seconds into our first pep tune of the entire game. The warning made its way to the band, and we adjusted. Aside from the buildup of frustration with varying interpretations of rules from previous conversations of what the rules state for CIF, I was also concerned about our 41 middle school guests and their experience.
It was unclear at the time, but it seems to have been a complaint initiated by the Oaks Christian sideline. While when we played was not at all a violation of the rules per the CIF rulebook, the referees at that particular game interpreted a “live ball” as including anything outside of the huddle. The Oaks Christian High School offense spent a majority of the game, including the beginning, in a no-huddle offense. Not much longer after this situation was made clear, and the referee interpretation of the rule, we scored a touchdown. When we did, the band did what they have always done: play the fight song all of the way through. I was then contacted by administration to let me know that due to the previous warning, the team would like me to not play anymore during extra points following touchdowns. On the following touchdown, we obliged, then had our extra point field goal blocked by the opposed team. It seemed very inappropriate to play after a blocked field goal, so the band was silent.
Once it was time for our ensemble to move down to the field to prepare for halftime, there was a lot of starting and stopping due to our team approaching the end zone to score where we warm up. We were incredibly mindful of this and then staged for our performance. Due to a variety of reasons, we did not get on the field or set in the time that would allow us to perform our complete show. I warned the kids of this and let them know they would need to run off of the field following their performance. I had hoped to get through two of our three movements, but it was pretty clear that would not be an option. Due to the previous warning and no time to collaborate on logistics, I decided to call the performance following the first movement. It is not safe to cut a performance in the middle of a movement, and I did not want to earn our team a penalty. There seemed to be confusion about this event as parents have expressed concern for the coaches putting a stop to our performance. They had not done that, nor did administration or the referees. I was the only one who made this decision for the safety and well-being of our performers.
I knew it could build to a tense situation had we performed up to the final seconds of the allotted halftime, and I chose to remove that variable. A combination of this moment and the clear lack of ability to play, combined with the extremely long first half due to penalties as well as our middle school pick-up time at 9 p.m., it was best for us to leave the game and load for our long weekend. I did not take this decision lightly, but knew it was what was best for our students considering all of the variables.
I am not happy with the situation at games and have become aware of many more situations like it all over Southern California. In all of my years of teaching, I have never observed so much disdain for the Marching Band during games. There is a larger movement at play that reaches far beyond the ACHS campus, and that is something that needs to be addressed at a separate time. What I do have an opportunity of addressing is how we are treated and respected on our campus and at our events. I keep a constant dialogue with our administration and athletic director regarding these matters and always am trying to adjust for the best for all involved.
Whenever you feel like you need to voice a concern about the atmosphere or dynamic at football games or anything else at all regarding the program or your child, please reach out to me first. This allows me to compile all of the parent concerns and present them at the most ideal time in a sit-down with those that make the decisions.
Thank you all for everything that you do for our students and allowing them to be a part of this remarkable activity.
Mr. Daniel Cook Music Director Adolfo Camarillo High School
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