Product Description
The Dynamic Marching Band is designed to provide information and stimulate thought and further study on the exciting world of the contemporary high school marching band. The target audience is the college music education major preparing to be a band director and the young director already "in the field." Veteran directors will likely find new information and new ways of thinking about the activity and perhaps get a dose of motivation and renewed vigor. "Author Wayne Markworth, former Director of Bands (Centerville High School, Centerville, Ohio) is the architect behind the nationally acclaimed Centerville band program.This text is filled with tried-and-true suggestions that are not only conceptual, but also proven.proven by a lifelong teacher who brings a wealth of personal knowledge to the forum. The history of the Centerville bands serves as positive proof of the immeasurable value of the thoughts-and-suggestions shared within this thoughtful and sequential blueprint. One can use this text as a resource guide, an idea library, an embellishment to the existing curriculum, but-most importantly-it offers the critical road signs to successfully traverse the pathway-of-quality. This is not a book to be read and then put on the shelf, but rather it is one that will serve as an ongoing reference to be tapped time-and-time again; keep it within close reach." Excerpt from the Foreword, by Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Awesome
Anyone who knows Mr Markworth knows that he is a master of his craft (running a high school band program).Growing up in Ohio and going to Miami University, I have seen his groups perform (as well as rehearse) numerous times and it is always an outstanding experience.Anyone who teaches high school band needs this book.If it helps you to become a fraction of the director that Mr Markworth is, then it's worth every penny.

Very comprehensive and timely!
First - full disclosure - I know Wayne and have seen his outstanding marching bands a number of times over the years. He certainly knows his topic extremely well and presents a detailed and comprehensive plan that will be of use to young marching band directors - in fact, directors with years of experience will probably learn a thing or two as well! This is an excellent resource for marching band directors and a book on the current state of the marching band art has been sorely needed for years! I recommend this book most highly! ... Read more

Product Description
Have you ever wanted to know the secrets to success of today's top marching bands and drumlines and how they achieve excellence? This extraordinary study takes you onto the practice field, inside the meeting room, and into the stadium including the; Five Factors Influencing Excellence; - valuable to any high school or college band program. The leaders of these outstanding organizations reveal their goals for success including: expectations, values, leadership styles, motivational techniques, practice habits, and recruiting strategies. A must-read for band directors, percussion educators, students and anyone pursuing excellence in leadership. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great insight
Paul Buyer does a fantastic job of providing the reader an in-depth look at some of the best collegiate marching band programs in the United States.His subjects represent many of the diverse approaches available to collegiate marching bands and drumlines.Paul not only includes his own insights from the experience but also direct quotes from some leaders in the field.If you don't have the time or resources, to spend a week with seven great organizations, then you should read this book.

A Must Read for Anyone Involved in Marching Band!
The subtitle of the book "Secrets of Success from the Best of the Best" really tells the story. This book is about how great organizations, in this case college marching bands, got that way and stay that way. It's really a handbook on how to achieve excellence, not only in band or drumline, but in life. The author spent a college football season traveling to different universities attending rehearsals, conducting interviews, and spending game day with 7 top marching bands. What a great idea, and what a great result: this book! Get it! ... Read more

Product Description

The Complete Marching Band Resource Manual provides the first serious guidebook for the intricate art of directing high school or college marching bands. Wayne Bailey presents both the fundamentals and the advanced techniques that are essential for successful leadership of a marching band: music instruction, choreography, and band management. In this second edition, Bailey provides band instructors with even more diagrams as well as information on computer charting techniques.

The book is divided into four units. The first provides the fundamentals of the marching band and its terminology, marching forms and movements, selection and arrangement of music, charting of formations, and ways to arrange a show. Unit two covers music instruction, improvement of marching and memorization skills, warmups, methods for building endurance and power, and ways to organize band rehearsals. The third unit provides instruction in choosing props and structuring auxiliary units, as well as guidance in tuning and staging the marching percussion line. The fourth unit is a collection of resource ideas, including one hundred and twenty drill charts and three musical arrangements for analysis.

Customer Reviews (2)

Great Resource for Newer Band Leadership
This is a very helpful resource to someone putting a marching band program together.The authors share positive philosophies such as setting things up so your band can continually succeed, breaking down the show into conquerable pieces, etc.They provide several field show diagrams and a master sheet that can be reproduced to draw one's own.Their expectation is that a band director would prepare one elaborate field show per year and spend the season learning and perfecting that field show.There is also guidance on parade participation.Especially good if the reader is new to marching band, but experienced leaders would also get good reminders.

Teaching Marching Band Techniques Book
This text covers all aspects of "how to" for teaching a successful marching band program.The examples are clear and the prose is easily understood.The information is very pragmatic.The text contains three selections as examples with accompanying drill charts.It lacks an index. ... Read more

Product Description
This third edition of The Marching Band Handbook updates information on all areas of the marching activity, including clinicians, clinics, directors and workshops; competitions; drum corps; fund raising; indoor guard; military bands; musicians, instruments and uniforms; music selection and sources; parades; publicity and public relations; travel arrangements; trophies, awards, gifts, medals and plaques; and twirling. It provides comprehensive lists for the director, drill designer, booster, musician, guard member and twirler—where to buy instruments or batons, the location of spring and fall competition sites, judging organizations, fund-raising organizations and ideas, clinic locations, marching band music publishers, magazines covering drum corps, twirling or band. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Marching
This book was awesome.It really does work.My band was very bad because we had so many rookies this year, but with the instruction of this book we won our Regional class.Thank you so much to the authors.Next year we will be going to the top as Grand National Champs! ... Read more

Product Description
Raxsdale ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Mr RAXSDALE IS THE SHIZNIT
YEAH HEY EVERYONE BUY THIS BOOK NOW PLEASE BECAUSE MR RAXSDALE IS THE BOMB . COM HE IS THE MAN, HE IS SOO COOL. HE IS THE BEST BAND DIRECTOR IN THE WORLD. HIS BOOK IS AWESOME. IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A GOOD BAND YOU BETTER READ THIS BOOK OR YOU WILL HAVE A BAD BAND. AND NO ONE WANTS A BAD BAND RIGHT? SO BUY THIS BOOK.

JARED S. ... Read more

Product Description
Ralph loves the tuba. Maureen fancies the flute. Betsy likes the glockenspiel, and for Calvin it's the drum. Belinda prefers the trombone, Harry craves a clarinet, and Sam longs for a saxophone. And then there's Mae McCall-a natural born leader with a baton.

What's a group like this to do? Form a marching band, of course. It's not all beautiful music at first-when the kids play, the grown-ups cringe and cover their ears. But these kids aren't giving up, and before long they have even the mayor convinced that practice does make perfect! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great musical learning book
Wonderful learning book that's FUN.Our 2 year old grandson has already learned the musical instruments in a marching band. The illustrations follow the band through the four seasons and the kids' final triumph of performing in the 4th of July parade.

Our Marching Band
March right out and get it! It's a delightful book. This is the second book by the author that my nieces and nephews have enjoyed. The book has made music come alive for them and given them an appreciation for the challenges and joys of making music. The text and illustrations work seamlessly! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A Marching Band for Bears
Excellent and beautiful book!Kids loved pictures and story.

Ballet for Bobcats and Marching Band for Bears by Eileen Benator
These books are delightful.They are beautifully written and illustrated with a "lesson learned" tucked in to each book.I can hardly wait for more books from this author.I have bought these books for each of my grandchildren and for my friends grandchildren.Keep the good books coming!

A wonderful book
This is a wonderful book. The story is great and the illustrations are playful and clever. A great book as a gift or for your own kids. Great!

A Perfect Book for Your Beginning Reader
In "A Marching Band for Bears" Eileen Benator tells a colorful, fanciful tale that will interest children from their "picture book" phase until they are well into their reading years.The story, about a group of animals assembling a marching band, is simple but presented intelligently.My own daughter, who was six years old and already reading when she got the book, still found three or four words challenging when she first read it.Now she knows those words, of course, and although she reads on her own daily now at age seven, she still still likes to pick up Ms. Benator's book and read it to herself. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Not surprised at the quality of this product
I am not surprised that a well-articulated work on the nuts and bolts of building a marching band program has been written by Dr. Bentley Shellahamer. As a former student, I witnessed first hand his gifts as an inspiring and articulate teacher of these principles and practices. I played the trombone in the Piper High Band in Sunrise, Fla. where he consistently produced top notch marching; concert and stage band programs during his time there. He was and continues to be a mentor for us and a teacher on how to do things right. Kudos to Dr. Shellahamer for producing a work that can further serve to guide and inspire new generations of upand coming musical performers-whether they be aspiring band directors or students.

Best Marching Band book ever!
Although only 90 pages long, "Marching Band Program:Principles and Practices" is by far the best book on teaching marching band that I have ever seen.In a question and answer format, the book presents every problem the beginning director might possibly face and then gives severalsolutions.This book is a must for any band director or drum major, and Ihighly reccommend it. ... Read more

Product Description
Here comes Froggy’s marching band, led by the one and only Frogilina. Froggy and his pals are sure they can win the big prize in the Apple Blossom Parade, even though they haven’t been playing together very long. They just need to remember the rules: Don’t look left.Don’t look right. And DON’T STOP FOR ANYTHING!But when Froggy’s around, things never go quite as planned….Amazon.com Review
When Froggy hears about an upcoming marching band contest, he wastes no time in digging out his dad's old saxophone from the attic. Soon, along with his recorder-tooting, triangle-tinging, baton-flinging pals, Froggy has himself a bona fide marching band. As long as they can remember the rules--"Don't look left. Don't look right. And DON'T STOP FOR ANYTHING!"--they might even win the big prize. Of course, it's hard to take everything into account... Created by clever author-illustrator team Jonathan London and Frank Remkiewicz, Froggy has starred in many endearing picture books, including Froggy Eats Out, Froggy Gets Dressed, and Froggy Goes to School. With his earnest expressions and high personal standards, this amiable amphibian plays the perfect straight man to his own droll antics. Young readers will adore watching Froggy get into--and out of--yet another pickle. Rock on, Froggy! (Ages 3 to 6) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Poorly written with a lousy message
Peter's wife, Molly here.I am a music teacher and was naturally drawn to this book.I just read it to my daughter and it was horrible.I am so glad she is only 4 months old and can't understand it yet.In the book, Froggy starts a marching band at his school and the whole point is to win a prize, which might be admirable if he actually learned something along the way.Not so.The only thing his music teacher helps with is the marching ("Don't look right or left, Don't stop for anything").Froggy and his friends seem to just naturally become proficient on their instruments.Froggy smarts off to his father when asked to stop playing while he in on the phone and the father lets him have his way.The morals of the story seem to be: 1. prizes 2. marching, none on character, relationships, or music.That is not what I'd like my kids to read about and certainly not worth writing a book.If you are looking for musical books, may I recommend: John Lithgow's, The Remarkable Farkle McBride, and Vera B. Williams', Music, Music for Everyone.

Great
None of the books in the FROGGY series is a disappointment. My five year old daughter has fallen in love with all of the adventures of Froggy, his parents, and friends. The books are just the right length for you and your child to share a nice bedtime story--not too short where you have to supplement with another book or too long where you have to stop and pick up the story the next night. What I like most about the series is that even when Froggy might encounter one of life's little problems or when he gets nervous doing something new, he always learns for the better and knows that no matter what, Mom and Dad are there to help and support him. ... Read more

Product Description
Conversational in style and full of practical advice, this user-friendly book takes the reader step-by-step through the process of writing effective arrangements that will make any band sound better. Over 150 musical examples illustrate the dozens of practical tips and techniques presented.Chapters include Fundamentals, Notation Basics, Basic Scoring, Form, The Wind Section, The Percussion Section, Working Procedure, Special Effects, The Jazz Idiom, and Getting A Big Sound With Smaller Groups. An Appendix includes information on copyright issues, suggested reading, and three arrangements with annotations by the author.Pencil-and-paper procedures are outlined, along with tips and techniques for using MIDI and computer notation software to input, score, print, and record. Detailed without being too technical, "Marching Band Arranging" is an excellent reference for both aspiring writers and for directors searching for ways to improve their group. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Practical and Effective - a must have book for directors
Wow, I wish I could have had this book coming out of college. I was fortunate enough to have William Spencer Pierce as an arranger though. WSP helped us take our group to state numerous times and helped us win State in 1994 and the Class A BOA National Championship in 1992.

He has managed to create a book to guide any director or student through the same steps he used to create award winning arrangments. The book is straight forward. It is easy to understand and apply to any of your arranging needs.

I would urge directors, college students, and judges to read this bookand keep it as a reference. It would be an ideal supplemental book to any college course dealing with arranging, drill writing, or music education. This would be one of those books the music students would not sell back at the end of the semester.

A must read for anyone serious about the marching band activity.

An excellent resource
In Marching Band Arranging William Spencer-Pierce presents a concise and practical guide to arranging.For the young teacher or college student, there are sections covering basic theory, instruments, and formal considerations.Experienced teachers will benefit from Spencer-Pierce's suggestions on scoring, voicings, and stylistic issues (such as scoring for jazz charts).Spencer-Pierce explains each lesson clearly, and reinforces them with numerous examples and lists for further listening and reading.The book concludes with three complete scores representing different styles and instrumentations.

I highly recommend Marching Band Arranging to anyone interested in arranging or composing.Spencer-Pierce has written a valuable guide appropriate for all teachers and musicians.

Highly Recommended !
I used William Spencer-Pierce's marching band arrangements in my high school marching band for many years. They were always well received by the audience and judging community. My students and I were never dissapointed.
I recognize many of the techniques in the book because Bill explained many of the " hows and whys " of his philosophy when I was his client. This book is full of thesegreat nuggets of information on marching band arranging.
I especially like the book because it is practical rather than purely theoretical. The widespread use of musical examples really does a nice job of illustrating the text.
The book belongs in the personal library of every high school marching band director. It would also be a valuable resource for high school or college students considering a career in instrumental music education.
Experienced band directors can also benefit becausearrangements might need to be tweaked during during the marching season to adapt to personnel changes or judges' suggestions.
Based on forty years of teaching marching band, I hardily recommend this book!

I wish I'd had this when I was Teaching!
Marching Band Arranging has all the basics of the "for dummies" series of books, but it takes several giant steps beyond those basics. This is a great "how to" manual not only for those that want to learn the art of arranging, but gives any band director some great ideas and short-cuts to "tweak" either stock or custom arrangements. If I'd had this earlier in my career I could have saved a lot of time and money for my students and myself. If used for only a quick reference of transpositions, instrument ranges and basic music theory, it is well worth the price.
Bill Spencer-Pierce has done a great job of presenting this subject in a clear, easy-to-understand format. It would be equally valuable for the experienced director or even those special students that we've all had that want to try their hand at musical composition. Spencer-Pierce covers the entire spectrum of musical arranging for the genre of marching/pep band and has included many samples to illustrate his points. Of special interest is the treatment of the percussion instruments, all-too-often neglected by some arrangers.Many times I've had to get my percussion parts written by someone other than the arranger that wrote for the horn line. This book solves that problem.
For those who have no intention of arranging on their own, this book will be a great asset in helping communicate your needs to your arranger. I suspect Mr. Spencer-Pierce has wished his clients had a bit more savvy in this area during his tenure as an arranger! It will also help to solve those problems that often show up in rehearsals as the marching show develops. There are always those glitches that are caused by unexpected instrumentation and personnel changes. The ability to make these "fixes" is a great stress reliever for both directors and students.
In short, this book has something for everyone involved in marching band. Seasoned directors, new directors and even students will find many pearls that will make your band experience much more enjoyable.
... Read more

Product Description

All band, all the time. That's how trumpet goddess Ellie Snow has made it to senior year. No drama, no dating. Just keeping lock-step within the safe precision of the Winslow Marching Band. She's a fierce section leader now, and so over the heart-crushing social disaster of her freshman year. No boy is going to ruin Ellie's shining moment-her senior solo performance at the homecoming game.

And then Connor Higgins shows up. Not even Ellie can resist the trumpet player who could be a model for Abercrombie & Fitch. It's a hook-up made in band-geek heaven! But Ellie's not ready to publicize their romance, not even to her best friends. After all, Connor's just a sophomore. What would everyone say? Breaking formation and revealing her true self would be like . . . marching on the field completely naked!

Then Ellie discovers the flipside of secrets and how it feels to be shut out by the ones she loves.

Customer Reviews (5)

Much Better Beginning Than Ending
WARNING: this review contains spoilers!

In a nutshell: it has some interesting and unique aspects (like Connor), the main character has very limited emotional control, the ending felt short and kind of like a cop out, and what at first promised to be a new kind of love story ended up falling back into the timeless rut of generic puppy love, tears and drama - it just had a new cover.

I bought this book because the beginning was so quirky and fun-sounding. A band girl who falls for a cute, pretty awesome guy who is only a sophomore. The book has a quick pace, due to its short length. Sometimes it feels rushed. The beginning promised something different than the endless rounds of socialite drama and obsessive vampire love than is normally offered in books for people my age.

While the beginning grabbed my interest, the end left me wishing the book was about a hundred pages shorter than its approx. 270 pages. The main character, who at first seems a bit intense and different, turns out to be a rather stereotypical high school girl in a rather stereotypical high school book. The only difference is the band setting rather than cheer leading or sports or something.

The end wraps everything up in a bow so neat and easy that I was left wondering, "What just happened here?" She cheated on her boyfriend - he's basically fine with it after 25 pages and she barely feels any regret. Her friends are secretive and sleep-deprived and avoiding her - turns out it's really no big deal. In the end, everything is happy sunshine unicorns and rainbow ponies. And there is SO much crying. Some of it was appropriate, some of it made me want to roll my eyes and walk away from the book.

I stuck with it and hoped vainly that it would improve. It was two hours of my life that I'm not sure were worth spending on it.

And Another Book Read Reviews
Ellie is your ultimate band geek. She spends hours of her time practicing and he ultimate high school dream is to become the trumpet section leader. Now it's Ellie's senior year and she knows it will be her best. She is the trumpet section leader and even has a killer solo that begins the whole show. Hopefully she will even be able to finally forget about the traumatic crush she had her freshman year. Yes, that's right, Ellie hasn't been able to trust or like anyone since 9th grade when her crush on the current section leader got announced.

When the last day of band camp arrives Ellie is anxious to debut her solo. She's been anticipating this moment for forever and knows that it will rock. That is until her eyes fall on a particular boy in the audience. One she's never me before but who's looking at her as is he's known her his entire life. After that look Ellie is doomed. She proceeds to flub her first note and make mistake after mistake throughout her solo. Little does she know that this won't be the last time she sees this guy and he will end up messing up more than just her solo. Is it possible tough that the will change Ellie for the better, or will she just retreat more into herself?

This is definitely a fun, light summer read. It has just the right amount of sass, humor and romance to peak anyone's interest. Overall it was a good read with cute characters and a good plot. But I felt that the story was too rushed. It zoomed from one dilemma to the next without much reasoning. I also felt the book was very predictable and didn't really keep me guessing. What I did really enjoy was Ellie's character. She had a great (and very funny) attitude that kept me laughing throughout the book. I only wish she had spent more time making wise remarks and dealing with her feelings, than holding them up inside her an moping about them. While there was one unexpected twist there wasn't much else there that I hadn't read before. Despite these things I think that band geeks as well as non band geeks will find an entertaining read in Josie Bloss' debut novel.

Band Geek or Not, You'll Definitely Enjoy This Book
All band, all the time. That's how trumpet goddess Ellie Snow has made it to senior year. No drama, no dating. Just keeping lock-step within the safe precision of the Winslow Marching Band. She's a fierce section leader now, and so over the heart-crushing social disaster of her freshman year. No boy is going to ruin Ellie's shining moment--her senior solo performance at the homecoming game.

And then Connor Higgins shows up. Not even Ellie can resist the trumpet player who could be a model for Abercrombie & Fitch. It's a hook-up made in band-geek heaven! But Ellie's not ready to publicize their romance, not even to her best friends. After all, Connor's just a sophomore. What would everyone say? Breaking formation and revealing her true self would be like . . . marching on the field completely naked!

Then Ellie discovers the flipside of secrets and how it feels to be shut out by the ones she loves.

(Summary taken from website)

Band Geek Love is a fun, quirky, summer read that everyone, whether they're a band geek or not, will enjoy. The characters are easy to relate to and very entertaining. The only complaint I have is that while the plot moved forward quickly, it seemed that more time was spent on the smaller, less important events, instead of the big ones that held the plot together. Other than that, the plot will keep you surprised and entertained.

Band Geek or not, I recommend picking this up today!

Courtesy of Teens Read Too
Ellie Snow is a band geek.She lives and breathes for band and has finally made it to her senior year where she's the best section leader in band for the most important section -- the trumpets.Ellie has worked hard and cannot wait until her solo at the end of band camp performance.This was going to be her shining moment and she was going to rock.Just as she was about to start playing, Ellie caught site of a gorgeous guy in the stands, staring right at her, and flubbed her first note.

Turns out the very cute and distracting boy, Conner, is a new student and will be joining the trumpet section -- after band camp.If Ellie was a normal high school girl, she might know how to deal with Conner.But ever since Ellie's heart was broken her freshman year by a cruel senior, Ellie has given up on boys and built walls around herself so that it can't happen again.She likes things to be in control, but when Conner is around, Ellie finds herself flustered by her growing attraction.

When Ellie's former crush returns, Ellie finds her perfectly constructed life suddenly spinning out of control.Who knew being a band geek had this much drama?

Being a music geek myself, I immediately loved this book.Instead of the popular crowd being the focus, the band geeks get to rule and it's so much fun.Ellie is a relatable and refreshing main character.She is a control freak, and a band geek, but she also develops a softer girly side.Conner is charming and makes you swoon.Even if you've never been in band, this is a fun romantic comedy.

A sequel is in the works and I can't wait to read more about my new favorite band geeks!

Reviewed by:Sarah Bean the Green Bean Teen Queen

Music to My Ears
When practicing or performing with her high school's marching band, Ellie feels comfortable, happy, and respected. She cannot wait to perform the big trumpet solo at Homecoming. She's been waiting for this moment since freshman year. Now a senior, she's also the director of her section.

When a new kid named Conner waltzes onto the field and into her section, he throws the usual steady Ellie for a loop. She finds herself crushing on him, even though he's only a sophomore, and even though she's sworn off dating because of something that happened during her freshman year. Soon, though, the two start seeing each other outside of school.

Ellie asks Conner not to tell anyone that they're dating. She even keeps the relationship a secret from Jake and Kristen, her best friends, who are also in band. Jake is the drum major, while Kristen rocks the alto sax. Jake and Ellie have always been close, even after his older brother Nathan humiliated Ellie three years earlier. Now Nathan's back in town, and Ellie's feeling all jumbled up. Meanwhile, Conner wants to tell everyone that they're dating, but won't tell Ellie about his family or his home life. In order to clear her head and knock 'em dead at the big Homecoming performance, Ellie will have to play the different movements of her personal symphony very carefully.

A quick read, Band Geek Love hits all of the right notes. If you like clean romantic comedies, and if you liked the book Major Crush by Jennifer Echols, then Josie Bloss's debut novel will be music to your ears. The author is currently working on the sequel, which is tentatively titled Band Geeked Out. I look forward to reading that as well. ... Read more

Product Description

College Application

Name: Ellie Snow

Age: 18

Intended Major: ???

Why do you want to attend Covington?

Well, the truth is I don't really know what I want. My plan was to attend State, close to my family, friends, and (slightly clingy) boyfriend and become a high school band director like I always dreamed. But when I visited your campus, I liked everything about it—especially Alex, the cool girl who showed me around. So now I have to decide: stick with what I know? Or go to a school far away with zero marching bands . . . but one Alex and tons of new possibilities?

Sound-off praise for Band Geek Love:

"[Ellie is] refreshingly real and honest."—KLIATT

"Hits all of the right notes."—Little Willow, slayground.livejournal.com

"A memorable cast of characters that jump off the page."—SLJTeen

Product Description
Whenever He Saw A Marching Band is a love story about Kevin and Lou Ann, a boy and girl who meet in high school and fall in love. In college they drift apart and Kevin marries someone else. Years later, following his wife's death, Kevin receives a letter from Lou Ann, herself a widow. He visits her and they soon realize that their love has been given a second chance. After an old-fashioned courtship they marry. Both men and women, especially the mature reader, will enjoy this romance-filled story of both youthful and adult love. ... Read more

Product Description
"And now, taking the field for your halftime entertainment, please welcome the Power and Class of New England:the University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band!"

Seconds later, 320 brightly uniformed students race whooping and hollering across the football field to their starting positions. Sunlight reflects on brightly polished brass instruments, colorguard members toss sparkling flags, and the excitement that is the halftime show begins to fill the air. The director lifts his baton and the music swells and consumes the 10,000 member audience as the band plays and moves in ever changing patterns across the field. As the final electric chord hangs in the air, the crowd lifts to its feet with a thunder of applause:

"This group is THE Power and Class of New England!"

Although this scene is a common one at football games, the University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band is far from being an ordinary group. In 1998, the UMass Marching Band was awarded the coveted Sudler Trophy as the best collegiate marching band in the United States. In January of 2001, the band marched for President George W. Bush in Washington D.C. at the Presidential Inaugural Parade. And in November of 2001, the band traveled to the Bands of America Grand Nationals Championships and received five standing ovations in front of 60,000 highly knowledgeable marching band fans.The Minuteman Band is a beloved performer at New England Patriots and New York Giants halftime shows and has performed in three Presidential Inaugural Ceremonies. Indeed, the group is one of the most visible and effective ambassadors of the University of Massachusetts, and students come from all over the country and from across the world to be a part of the Minuteman Marching Band. But what is the proud history of this colorful and illustrious group? Have they always been this big, this intense, and this exciting? Readers will learn about the evolution of the band from its earliest beginnings in the 1870s as the Morris Drum Corps of the Massachusetts Agricultural College through to its current incarnation as "The Power and Class of New England" Minuteman Band of the University of Massachusetts. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

All band students and alums should read this book
Kerstin has compiled a wonderful book that is more than "just" the history of the UMMB.The book (especially the photos) captures the true experience of being a member of this amazing organization.Current members or alums of a high school or college marching band can relate to the stories.The book can easily hold the attention of anyone interested in history, education, and/or music (and anyone who has participated in a Drum Major Academy/Band Leadership Training seminar).The Power and Class of New England is a truly unique group defined by its history, with its excellence maintained and improved upon year after year by the band members and incredible staff.

Lisa M., Clarinet/T-bone UMMB, 1989-1993

Amazing
This book is about the most inspiring part of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, the Minuteman Marching Band.Unless you have attended a football game in the past you have not witnessed the Power and Class of New England.At my first football game I was astonished when I saw more people in the stands during the half time show than were present for the entire game.The history of the band is quite amazing and is a story to be enjoyed by all.From the 4:40 practices to sleeping on gym floors the dedication and pride shown by the members of this organization should be enjoyed by all.Two enthusiastic thumbs up, way to go Kerstin.

Must have book for folks that wonder how a band gets so good
This book covers the evolution of a marching band that, while hindered by being at Division 1AA Football School (Instead of the normal Division 1 School) still is able to wow audiences and become known wherever it goes as one of the most energetic, profesional, and downright best bands in the land.
The great work done here by Kerstin to chronicle all the ups and downs of how the band grew to become what it is today is a great read, and a great walk through the history of an amazing American Institution, The Marching Band.

The true story behind an acclaimed marching band
Through These Doors: The History Of The University Of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band 1863-2003 is the true story behind an acclaimed, award-winning marching band that has even earned the honor of marching for President George W. Bush in Washington, D.C. at the Presidential Inaugural Parade. Black & white photographs as well as a smattering of color plates enrich this chronicle of an organization grounded in excellence and musical celebration, which delves deeply into the personal efforts of the individuals who shaped, taught, and led the marching band as well as the broader history of the band and the school it served.
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Product Description
Everyone's favorite Caldecott Honor-winning porcine diva is back and with fanfare! There are going to be fireworks tonight, and Olivia can hardly wait to hear the band. But when she finds out that there isn't going to be a band, she can't understand why not. How can there be fireworks without a band?! And so Olivia sets to putting a band together herself...all by herself. Using pots, pans, her brother's toys, and even her father's suspenders, Olivia forms a band spectacular enough to startle any audience. Lavishly brought to life in Ian Falconer's signature style, and introducing an eye-catching shade of blue, here is Olivia doing what Olivia does best -- making noise.Amazon.com Review
Book Description:
Everyone's favorite Caldecott Honor-winning porcine diva is back and with fanfare! There are going to be fireworks tonight, and Olivia can hardly wait to hear the band. But when she finds out that there isn't going to be a band, she can't understand why not. How can there be fireworks without a band?! And so Olivia sets to putting a band together herself... all by herself. Using pots, pans, her brother's toys, and even her father's suspenders, Olivia forms a band spectacular enough to startle any audience. Lavishly brought to life in Ian Falconer's signature style, and introducing an eye-catching shade of blue, here is Olivia doing what Olivia does best--making noise

Exclusive Art from Ian Falconer's Olivia Forms a Band

Why wasn't this picture included in the book? Here's a look inside the creation of a blockbuster picture book. There were 60 images selected for Olivia Forms a Band out of over 70 pieces of art submitted by Olivia creator Ian Falconer. Sixty images may sound like a lot, but many pages are filled with multiple depictions of our porcine heroine. For instance, when you look at the page where Olivia is removing Daddy's suspenders, this page has nine separate drawings. On the other hand, the glorious fireworks scenes are all composed of one piece of art per page. For this particular image of Olivia provided exclusively for Amazon.com customers, Falconer didn't feel like this artwork captured Olivia's true character. However, many people in-house at Simon & Schuster loved the picture and thought it was typical of a 5-year-old playing with her mother's lipstick. While there's a lot to love in this picture, Ian Falconer after all is the man behind Olivia. He knows better than anyone what makes something up to "Olivia standards." Sometimes that is as simple as being able to know which image works best for a particular moment in the book. In this instance Falconer felt the drawings that were used in the final book served the scene better, and with that this one was left on the cutting room floor.

All About Olivia

Teatro Olivia	Olivia... and the Missing Toy	Olivia Saves the Circus	Olivia

Customer Reviews (38)

We just love Olivia!
We own a few of the Olivia books and love them all.The books are colorful and the drawings are interesting.Not only does my daughter love them but we love them also!!

Not as good as the Original
While I love this little pig, this book does not flow nearly as well as the original Olivia, and did not hold my interest as much.It seems somewhat disconnected.I was disappointed as this second addition to our Olivia library, because the first book was so enjoyable.The pictures are certainly clever, but overall I hope the other books in the series are better.

Hilarious!!!
This book is sooo funny, great to read with the kids and laugh at all the wonderful pictures of Olivia getting into mischief!

Incomplete and disappointing
My sons and I loved the first Olivia.It is an introduction to a character, and not a story as such.I was expecting this to be a story, but it is really just (spoiler coming) about a spoiled girl-pig who wants to create a band to perform at a 4th of July Celebration.That is the premise, but then when it is time to go...she decides she doesn't want to perform.There is no reason behind this decision....she just wants to make a band, then doesn't.Pointless plot.Now I realize the books are about a capricious little girl, but there isn't really a story here.

Olivia forms a band
In this story, Olivia and her family are preparing for a night of watching fireworks. Olivia asks if there will be a band. When she is told there won't be, she decides to make the night perfect by forming a one pig band.

The book is divided into three parts. The first is Olivia's preparation for the night including making her uniform and her band. The second is the actual picnic. The final third is Olivia at home and the consequences of her earlier planning.

Ian Falconer captures perfectly the way in which children can get carried away with their own clever plans and how the parents are often stuck with the aftermath of these crazy schemes. ... Read more

Product Description
The University of Georgia Redcoat Marching Band has grown from 20 military cadets in 1905 to more than 350 musicians and auxiliary members performing complex and entertaining halftime shows all over the Southeast today. Throughout the past century the Redcoats have been invited to participate in every major bowl game in the country and in the inaugural parade of Jimmy Carter in 1977. The University of Georgia Redcoat Band: 1905–2005 covers the first 100 years of one of the finest musical organizations in America. ... Read more

Product Description
Flute in the Marching Band Gwen Simon Gain

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Customer Reviews (2)

Fascinating and timely personal account
I just finished reading this book, and can't stop thinking about it.It affected me on so many levels.

The author, who in 1965 was a secretary, college student, and mother of four children in New Jersey, describes how she heard Martin Luther King Jr.'s call for people to come to Selma, Alabama to march for the voting rights of African Americans, and how she decided to drop everything and go.It is a moving and beautifully detailed account, not only of her personal journey, but of a critical moment in our country's history.It is amazing, now that we have our first African-American president, to witness through the author's eyes just how bad things were in 1965.And not just in the South.One of the most shocking elements of the book is the reaction of friends and family in New Jersey when they heard about her participation in the march.

As the previous reviewer mentioned, she also takes you into her personal struggle as a woman who loves her children deeply, but is discontented with her marriage, and longing to fulfill her own dreams.She wrestles with guilt about these feelings, even though she has resolved not to feel guilty.And she worries about the criticism she will have to endure, as a woman, for leaving her family in order to take part in the march.

In spite of these feelings, and in spite of the very real risks of being beaten, trampled, gassed or shot, she has a fantastic time.She forms a close friendship with a prominent rabbi, who secures her a place in the march right behind Martin Luther King Jr. himself!She meets people of all ages, from all over the country.And she plays a small part in a very big historic event that helps her decide how she wants to lead the rest of her life.

This is a timely, rich, and wonderfully-written memoir that I will never forget.

Flute in the Marching Bank: (A White Woman's Non-Fiction Memoir of the 1965 Selma March For Voting Rights)
What does NOT getting to play the flute in her high school marching band(because she was a "girl") have to do with a young New Jersey mother's decision to leave her four children at home with her husband in l965, while she embarks on a more than 1000-mile bus journey toSelma, Alabama, in order to participate in a Civil Rights march?I just HAD to read this book over the weekend, from cover to cover, to find out the answer!

Ms. Gain, now an 80-year-old widow living in Florida, tells the riveting story of her own real-life (and dangerous) adventure forty-five years ago.At the same time, she manages to interweave two poignant themes effectively throughout the narrative.She makes us see how the plight of the "trapped housewife" in the era "before the pill" made a 35-year-old Caucasian woman identify with the conditions of the disenfranchised African-American community in the deep South.

Personally, I doubt if many American young people of today (of either race) can fully comprehend the real and psychological bondages of women two generations ago.After reading this book, I guarantee they will have a fresh understanding of how far our nation has come in preserving individual freedoms for women as well as for "persons of color."But as Ms. Gain shows us, it took thousands upon thousands of very brave and committed people to help us achieve these hard-earned privileges.

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