Trumbull High School Band

In less than one week we will be starting band camp – two weeks, Monday through Friday from 9am to 9pm, of a lot of hard work. I am going to be a junior this year so I have some experience with this. If we work together and efficiently like we have in years past, then all will go well. The weather is usually hot, which is why it is vital to drink a lot of water to stay hydrated so we that we are all performing at our full potential. It is also important to get a good night’s rest during the week, so that we are attentive and better able to perform the tasks that will be assigned to us by the instructors. Don’t forget to bring sunscreen for protection from the sun as well as sunglasses and a hat.

At times it might seem like Band Camp is an impossible task, but as long as you have the energy and the desire, then band camp will go smoothly and efficiently. There will be a lot of ground to cover and a lot of music and drill to memorize, so be alert and try to keep a positive attitude. It is always fun to look forward to the first parent’s show, as well as the band camp dance.

Another fun thing is in the weekend between Band Camp weeks, the band hosts a Fire and Ice fundraiser at the SportsCenter of Connecticut in Shelton.  This year it will be on Saturday, August 22nd from 7 to 9:30 pm.  For $20 you get two and a half hours of unlimited Lazer Tag and Ice Skating.  It’s a great time for bandos to blow off some steam and for anyone who wants to come its a great deal!  Go to the bands website for more information www.thsgembcorp.com. 

Miles
Alto Sax

Last night I went to my first full band practice. I was on vacation and at camp so I missed some of the preliminary things. It was great to be back with almost everyone – some kids are still on vacation and away. It was also little sad not seeing the seniors who just graduated, they were really helpful and nice to me last season. But the good news is that I was going to be considered a “real” freshmen this year and not an 8th grade freshmen. I officially start high school in a few weeks. There will be a lot more kids in my age group this year, many of them I haven’t seen in three years as they went to our towns other middle school. It will be good to reconnect with them and see how they handle being in band.

When I got my music I was unsure of how it would all work but I think it will come together great even though haven’t heard all of it. Believe it or not I can’t wait for band camp – all 12 hours a day of it for two straight weeks and the season to start!

(Tuba) Tyler M

Hello everyone, my name is Emma, and I am going to be a senior at Trumbull High School. This will be my fourth and final year in the marching band. I can’t believe it’s already that time! The first full band practice starts in just two days. I’ve been looking forward to band all summer, as I do every summer. I can’t wait to hear what our show is going to sound like with the whole band performing! I miss band an awful lot this month. I don’t get to see most of the people in band with the exception of my section, the alto saxophones.. There are many changes in our band this season. Everything will be different, especially since I’ll be a senior. Seniors get to lead other bands onto the field at the Classic (our home show), decorate the band room at the Classic and Championships, and more. Most importantly, before Championships, (which will be the last field show for many of us), each of the seniors get to make a speech in front of the band by candlelight in the dark of the chorus room. It’s all very emotional. There are always tears during the speeches and on Championship day in general. I’ve been thinking for a long time about what I’m going to say. Unfortunately, with the anticipation for the coming season, also comes worry. There is going to be construction at our school this year, so our plans for band camp and practices will have to weave around it. Also, I’m naturally worried about how we will do in general. I’m sure the hours of basic marching and playing on the first week of band camp will get everyone into shape. I expect this year to be filled with even more effort and motivation than the last. I’m looking forward to the new as well as the familiar, and to a great senior year.

Emma

We played at the Trumbull High School graduation on June 23^rd. It was pretty fun. It was my first time.  I play the tuba and got the chance to join the band as an 8^th grader because of it.  I picked a great year to be able to do that because we played in Hollywood, CA in November and the Presidential Inauguration in January.  That was something I will always remember but back to the graduation.

We warmed up for the last time in M- 17 the THSGEMB band room. Trumbull High School will begin a major renovation soon and the band room is one of the first parts to be effected by it.  The graduation was outside which was interesting because the weather has been really rainy in June.  As we walked over, we thought the rain would hold out for another few hours. Not really. As soon as we walked over and got set up, we started playing Pomp and Circumstance. How I hated playing those last 30 measures like 20 times. We had to because there were like 500 plus seniors graduating and the song isn’t that long.   In the middle of us playing the never- ending song, it started to rain. It didn’t pour, but it got us pretty wet. After playing Pomp and Circumstance, we played the National Anthem. After that, some people made some speeches. Then the class president, valedictorian and salutatorian made some speeches about what they have accomplished over the past four years. Finally, the house principals called each student’s name. We cheered for all the seniors who were in the band.  My older brother was a senior and he WAS graduating but I never heard his name called.  Even though I missed it, it was pretty cool to think that the first high school graduation I played was my brothers.

A couple of days after the graduation we played the Barnum Parade in Bridgeport.  The parade was long and lots of little strange things happened. It started off like every other parade, but pretty quickly, with every step I took it was like “must stop and rest now.” About half way through, my thigh started to really hurt. I thought I pulled one of my quad muscles. It hurt a lot and I wanted to drop back but before we stepped off, another tuba player, who wasn’t there, had two mouth pieces; one of them was for the tuba I was using, so another tuba player switched to baritone so I could use his.  I was thinking about how the other tuba player let me play his tuba so I marched on through the pain.   It hurt but I survived.  When we finished the parade, everyone was hot and tired. There was an ice cream man near the band equipment trucks. One problem, I didn’t have any money. Then, my bus got stuck in traffic and we have to wait in the sun for an extra 10 minutes. Then, the people on my bus tried to squeeze on the other bus. As we finally got settled on the other bus, my bus came and we went home. What a parade!

Tyler M

The hope is to soon have some pictures from this fall of all of the hard work and fun the the kids are having up at the High School, or Hillcrest where ever they might be on any given hot summer day.

So keep checking back and we will post what we can when we can, and hope that the weather cooperates.

If you want to see a lot of pictures of this year’s camp then click here, you’ll see Hard Work, Fun, The Sun and even some smiles!

You may even find pictures of your friends and family that you never even knew existed, how cool would that be.

But first total credit has to go to the Band’s official phototgraphers for anything related to pictures of the band. We are lucky enough to have a team of unbelieveable talent when it comes to the taking of pictures of the Band, and every parent of the band knows that as do most local papers who are also lucky enough to be the recipient of their generosity. Being the band photographer for Trumbull could be a full time job with the Band’s schedule and all of the events they are lucky enough to participate in, and that also means the band photographers get to take time away from their day jobs to follow “the band” but this team always manages to fit these events in between their day jobs, so enjoy the pix, take nothing for granted, and be grateful for their generosity.  I know we all are.

Here are a few random samples for you to enjoy

The Boss, more Pix 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and some cardio

Trumbull High School Band › “Wow, Is that Fairchild?” – Well not exactly, but it is my recollection of a course after some rain.

The THSGEMB annual Golf Tournament scheduled for Monday, June 29th is really coming along! We found out last night that Stormin Norman from WEBE 108 will be the MC for our event. He is also signed on as a player and is looking for three more to join his foursome. We have a $10,000 hole in one contest that every player is automatically entered into. I would really like to see someone win this prize. Speaking of prizes we have Jets tickets, Mets tickets, golf clubs, golf luggage and so much more. For you food lovers Vazzy’s 19th hole with be providing both lunch and dinner. See you on the green.