Many colleges are developing winterguard programs based out of the university. If your college doesn’t currently have one, you might be just the person to make that happen. It takes hard work, creative use of resources, and the desire to continue what you love. Based on our experience building a competitive winterguard at James Madison [...]
In 2005, I took a job as the color guard director at Byron Center High School. As soon as I met the kids, I learned that the vets had no training in technique and execution. I overheard them talking about their experience in guard, and how “bad” they thought they were; they talked about placing [...]
Each year I provide my students and parents with a team handbook that is an all-in-one, everything-you’d-ever-want-to-know resource for our team. I thought it might be helpful to share what I include in my team handbook for those who are putting together their first handbooks this season, or for those looking to revamp an outdated [...]
We see questions on the forum every year from instructors who are holding their first winter guard interest meeting. So, I thought I would share my experience. Like all things guard, different things work for different people, but here’s what worked for me. I set the meeting for one week prior to winter auditions and [...]
Here we stand at the dawning of a new team. Auditions are over, the team has been selected. If you think about it, you have a clean slate in front of you! How exciting! Now is the perfect time to make decisions about the best way to build your team for the coming year. Considering [...]
“The reason most people never reach their goals is that they don’t define them, or ever seriously consider them as believable or achievable. Winners can tell you where they are going, what they plan to do along the way, and who will be sharing the adventure with them.” Denis Waitley I stumbled over this [...]
Register online for WGI’s free FOCUS publication to receive 3 issues a year with information articles about WGI and their participants! www.wgi.org
Invest in a handheld labelmaker! They’re great for labeling equipment with student names. You can even label with the field coordinates where equipment is set at the start of the show to calm early-season nerves and avoid misplaced flags!
“Create business cards you can have onhand with your name, cell phone and email address. These can be useful for handing out to bus drivers who may need to contact you during a trip, parents, or other coaches you meet at competitions!”
Before the first competition, gather all your important phone numbers on one sheet. Include numbers such as the transportation office, school administration, student cells, parent emergency contact and contest site coordinator. You’ll be glad to have this valuable resource if a problem arises!
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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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