drillwriter

I found guidance: https://www.nfhs.org/media/3812337/2020-nfhs-guidance-for-returning-to-high-school-marching-band-activities.pdf?fbclid=IwAR1-d9ZDD0R5METT7GiGUX8021XRAh-iJWdsY-1Py34TQNiSMS23Fv6hDaw "...Students should be spaced at a minimum of 3 step intervals (22.5” per step) for all drill and on field formations."

For anyone involved in trying to design "safe" drill for bands this Fall, I'm torn between using a minimum of 3 step intervals (5.6 feet) or 4 step intervals (7.5 feet) in the winds. What are other bands doing, especially larger bands (100+ winds), where a minimum 4 step interval presents some challenges?

If I had to bet, there will be no HS football this year - and probably no HS sports at all in the Fall, at the bare minimum. There shouldn't be if common sense prevails. The virus isn't going away any time soon, and PRO team sports in the US are struggling with outbreaks even when they are isolated in "bubbles" and being tested on a regular basis.

This is very realistic and common sense. With U of I, ISU and EIU cancelled, and Illinois not allowing gatherings of more than 50 until a vaccine, how can anyone expect there to be any competitions in Illinois this fall? I'll say NO. I don't know the guidelines in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio or Missouri, but is it realistic that any Illinois band can SAFELY learn & rehearse some type of competitive show (yes, I know BOA has shortened the minimum show time) and then SAFELY make LONGER bus trips to other states (and surely, overnight lodging is off the table) for competitions? I have a really hard time seeing this. While we all love the marching arts, we're seeing directors placing safety as the #1 priority, and that's the way it should be. IMO, the most realistic for this year: learn your music and guard work virtually (wind players could learn choreography as well), get together in safe groups to rehears as possible, and hopefully put together a standstill concert with guard performance for safe-sized audiences - maybe multiple performances to accommodate any who wants to see a performance. The only thing I've heard about the possibility of safe "drill", and I think it was from the U of Michigan director, was always keeping the winds at 4 step intervals (not sure about percussion). This might be something to try if directors really want to get freshman marching & playing experience. One other crazy thought: I know a high school year has a template and timeline for Fall, Winter and Spring, but could marching band be shifted to the Spring? Just a thought.

Not trying to be overly negative, but I just don't see how bands, especially larger bands, are going to be able to safely rehearse, learn a show, travel and perform. It's not even clear that all Illinois students will be going physically to schools come August, nor is it clear that there will be PRO sports this Fall, let alone HS football , or that people would be allowed in the stands if there is. Trust me, i WANT there to be marching band this Fall (very sad that drum corps was cancelled this year), but I think the odds are against it. Even if bands can somehow put shows together, would people be allowed in the stands? If not, is it really worth it?

Is anyone else tired of all the ramps, scaffolds, platforms and backdrops?

Woa. Can High Schools have individual school marching bands AND a co-op band? A co-op LW band would have the potential to be a big, impressive group.

I guess that depends on you definition of "poorly"

Do you really think a band is going to do anything very different whether they get 18's across the board at a show, versus 14's across the board?

...but I wish groups made my heart stop with their power. I think you need to go to Indiana for that

That's the part that concerns me. MANY pieces of music have some sort of tie to hymns. Stuff like this can, and eventually will go to court as some point, since we live in such a litigious society. And the definition of "religious" is subjective - who knows what a court would say? Question: can A Christmas Festival (with choir) be performed or is it too religious? Is it less religious if a band plays it without a choir?? I just see a slippery slope here.

I must say that I'm disappointed in the lack of responses to this topic. Did anyone read the article? Any concerns?

This isnt good: http://wreg.com/2015/08/21/brandon-hs-marching-band-pulled-for-violating-federal-court-order/

Um, anyone else think that this could be a very dangerous (in a good way) show? Glad to see Mr Snoeck back!

Wow - closing a school that was built only 8 years ago is a shocker. I always thought that the LW district had their act together, with purchasing land and planning for growth. The growth hasn't happened as fast as planned, but I assume it'll only be a matter of time before there are homes on all of that undeveloped land.