Production Value is a term that instructors will often hear from GE judges. It is the aggregate value of music/sound, floor/set design, costumes, color and props all working together to create an overall production value in a show. The key to production value is to marry all of the above elements together in a way [...]
How much time and money have you wasted digging through piles of CDs, hunting down copyright-questionable tracks on the Internet or buying individual tracks only to have them end up in the discard pile? In fact, you’ve probably resigned yourself to this reality when hunting down the ideal soundtrack for your guards. Well, waste no [...]
As I write this article it is mid November, and the Fall Field show season is quickly approaching its conclusion. However, as with all things in the color guard world, this is no time for rest & reflection. In actuality, this is the time when all instructors begin to frantically search for inspiration for their [...]
The Massachusetts Judges Association has an article posted on their website discussing factors in choosing music for beginning color guard programs. Check it out at the link below.
There is a FANTASTIC article posted on the BOA website regarding copyright law and requirements as it relates to marching organizations. While it is geared toward the fall season, the information is also directly applicable to winter guard units. It goes into great detail including defining the different types of licenses and when they would [...]
Your soundtrack is a very important part of your total show package. It is what your audience will hear when watching your visual performance. This article will discuss ways to create the perfect soundtrack for your indoor show. It will cover concepts including: why sound is important, tools for editing, audio concepts, starting with a [...]
A Music Map is a tool to help you break down your music into logical and manageable chunks in order to be able to clearly see the overview of the show, determine equipment and drill transitions, plan effects, control pacing and evaluate musical ideas and structure. If you are working with a staff of choreographers, [...]
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This has got to be the simplest Fun Friday craft project yet! It’ll only take you minutes (beyond gathering the supplies) but you’re sure to put smiles on the faces of your performers! ‘Flag’ Candy Canes Materials needed: Craft Felt Glue gun Sheet of paper Candy cane Instructions: Using the sheet of paper, cut a [...]
Remember in kindergarten everyone would gather around the teacher for story time? Everyone loves listening to stories, even high school kids! In our guard, we have ‘story time’ and it is connected to the development of our team core values. One of our values is to ‘Be good people’ and treat each other with respect. [...]
Materials needed: 20” x 50” fabric 2 x 80” pieces of cording Puffy paints, buttons, ribbon, bows, etc for decorating Cut 20” x 50” piece of fabric (you can alter the size to meet your needs). Fold in ½, right sides together. From top edge, mark 2” down. (Fig. 1) Using ½” seams, sew below [...]
This is a fun activity the entire band participates in! During marching season students create spirit bags for their own sections, for every performance. Spirit bags contain a few treats and some fun baubles from the dollar store (a glow stick, mardi gras beads, lip gloss, etc). Coaches and directors sometimes add a little note [...]
September is typically a tough month for kids since they have so many responsibilities, homework, the social scene of high school, and it can take some time to figure out the balance between life and marching band. It’s always the toughest time for my kids, even when they know the expectations of the guard. Once [...]
This has got to be the simplest Fun Friday craft project yet! It’ll only take you minutes (beyond gathering the supplies) but you’re sure to put smiles on the faces of your performers! ‘Flag’ Candy Canes Materials needed: Craft Felt Glue gun Sheet of paper Candy cane Instructions: Using the sheet of paper, cut a [...]
ON THE WEB: Band Saves Lives and Fundraises at the Same Time
We thought this was an interesting/unique approach to both service and fundraising – check out this New Jersey marching band that saves lives while also earning some money for their program. Win/Win!
ON THE WEB: Podcast about starting a brand new WG program
Episode 47 of the Marching Roundtable podcast series (posted December 12, 2011) is an interview with Tim LeBlanc – a guard instructor from TX who has also been a participant in the CGE community on Facebook – about his experience starting a brand new winter guard at a new school. Check it out! Episode 47: [...]
Remember in kindergarten everyone would gather around the teacher for story time? Everyone loves listening to stories, even high school kids! In our guard, we have ‘story time’ and it is connected to the development of our team core values. One of our values is to ‘Be good people’ and treat each other with respect. [...]
Budget-Conscious Costume Transformation
Being involved in the color guard world, we all know what it is like to be on a budget. Some of you are probably thinking, “What budget? I wish I had money to budget!” This year I needed to allocate more money for flag fabric since we purchased 2 shaded-silk swing flags for each member [...]
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