Can you believe the first semester is over? It flew by no doubt. The second will too with all that we have going on. Congratulations on the great start for winter guard, it looks like it is going to be a great year. Keep up the good work.

Have a very Merry Christmas! Get lots of rest and enjoy your friends and family.

By the way.. we will have rehearsal on Monday, January 5, 2009, from 3:30-5:00. I will announce the location as soon as I know.

Merry Christmas!

GREAT JOB!

What a great job you did today at practice. I am so proud of the work that you got done and the year that you are going to have. Keep up the good work!

Don't forget to check the calendar on www.degaband.com and the blog often for updates on times and such for rehearsals.

See you Monday at rehearsal.

Practice those tosses and rifles.... woo hoo!

Upcoming rehearsal dates!

Hello All!

I wanted to remind you to check the calendar on www.degaband.com for rehearsal updates and such.

We do have some scheduled for this month to do more winter guard preparation.

Brian will be here on Saturday, December 13, 2008. We will rehearse from 9:00am-1:00pm. Please eat before you come. The major focus will be choreography and staging for the show.

We will also have a rehearsal on the following Monday, December 15, 2008, from 3:30-5:00 to review the work learned on Saturday.

Notice that we will not have a practice this week. Please review the work that you learned during the mini-camp including any fundamentals that you need work on.

I hope you are doing well and look forward to hearing you at the Christmas Concert!

PICTURES!!!

I finally had time to put pictures on here... from camp... Enjoy!

and... MORE PICS... let the games begin!

Krispy Kreme...yum.

Sale those Doughnuts!

Don't forget that forms are Due on Monday, November 17, 2008.

Ask EVERYONE... teachers, friends, family, church members, etc.

Also, don't forget to tell them about the NEW! coupon option that you have to offer;

Pay for the doughnuts now, but keep the coupon to get them when you want them at any

Krispy Kreme location.... and... they NEVER expire!

Ballet

The Alabama Ballet performs the Nutcracker each year in Birmingham. Click here to see a video of them preparing. Ballet is awesome....enjoy!

Fundamentals Camp! (11/14- 11/15)

Friday: (when you arrive come straight to the bandroom)
-- We will begin rehearsal at 5:00 p.m.

--Eat before you come. We will have snacks and drinks after practice.
--Please be on time. In order to bring in your bags and such, you may have to arrive before

5:00. Walking through the door or the parking lot is considered late.
-- We will rehearse until 9:00 pm.
-- We will then have snacks and drinks, watch videos and play some fun-filled games.
-- What to wear:
--Each group will be assigned a color… you may wear anything this color. Please make the

majority of what you have on this color… particular shade doesn’t matter.
*Ellis Emeralds – Green
*Dega Darlins – Pink
*Dega Darlins Addition - Blue
Saturday:
--8:00 - Wake up/eat breakfast (provided)/shower

-- 9:30 – 12:00 – rehearsals.
--12:00 – lunch (provided)
--1:00-5:00 rehearsals
--What to wear:
o Ellis Emeralds: Ellis Emerald Shirt, red shorts, leggings are optional
o Dega Darlins: Purple Dega Darlins shirt, black shorts
o Dega Darlins Addition: Red Dega Darlin Addition Shirt, red shorts… (just because I am sure

most of you have that color….we will have to order a matching pair in the future.)


Things to remember:
--Sleeping bag, cot, or blow up mattress (whichever you prefer)
--Toiletries (shampoo, soap, etc.)
--Towel/Washcloth, etc.
-- P.J.’s
-- Clothes that are comfortable for rehearsal… check above for group colors.
-- Shoes you can point your toe in for rehearsals.
-- Great attitude and the desire to have fun!


Important!!!
Due to the fact that we want this to be a group bonding experience and you cannot do so if you are on your cell phone, we ask that you do not bring or turn on your cell phone during this camp. We will be in the bandroom, where there is a phone for the use of any student. Parents you are more than welcome to call the bandroom if you need something… 256-315-5677. We will check the messages often.

I am excited and looking forward to a great time with all of you. See you Friday!

Reminder!

Practice Tomorrow (11/4)... Talladega High School Lunchroom... 3:30-5:00 p.m.

This rehearsal will be with the Ellis Emeralds.

Wear comfortable clothes.

Mark your calendars!

November 14th and 15th will be our fundamentals camp. This will help kick start our winter guard season. Brian will come and work with us on Friday night and then again on Saturday.

Friday we will meet in the Bandroom at 5:00pm to begin. We will spend the night in the bandroom... bring sleeping bags, blow up mattresses, shower items, etc. We will have snacks, drinks, etc. On Saturday Brian will return, we will work throughout the day on fundamentals and begin the individual shows. Practice will conclude at 5:00 p.m on Saturday.

I look forward to such a group bonding experience with such wonderful young ladies. The Dega Darlins, Dega Darlins Addition and Ellis Emeralds will all be in attendance.

More details will be given as they are added. We will need some parent volunteers for meals.

Good News!

Keith Taylor, sports producer at ABC 33/40 sent an email stating, "I'm currently putting together tomorrow night's Friday Night Blitz show, and would love to make your band our "Blitz Band of the Week." "

How GREAT you guys! So set your VCR's or TiVo or whatever for ABC 33/40 at 10:30, so that you can see the show. You know we will probably still be on a bus somewhere. They are using clips from the Pell City vs Dega game.

Congrats everyone!

Meeting

We will have an informational meeting for the Dega Darlins addition on Thursday, October 24, 2008, following band practice, in the high school lunchroom.

Parents and members please make every effort to attend. We will issue the fee list and contest schedule at this meeting.

Winter Guard season is getting close. We will begin practices very soon. The first practice will be on Tuesday, October 28, 2008. Those of you that have percussion chair auditions that day should do those first then come to rehearsal.

Winter Guard information is here!

I am looking forward to a great winter guard season, filled with lots of fun and musical excitement. We will begin having a few fundamental rehearsals soon.

Also, we will hold a winter guard meeting soon... stay tuned for the date! We are still confirming the best time.

Winter Guard Rocks!

Just to let everyone know where we are..... the SCGC Winter Guard schedule has been published and is listed on http://www.scgconline.org/. We are in the process of securing a show idea and have considered several.

VERY soon we will have a parent meeting to answer any questions, as well, as give additional information to both the parents and the young ladies.

I will say that as far as the schedule is concerned, we are very fortunate that the contests that we are able to attend this year are all fairly close(Pell City, Oak Grove, Hoover). Yea! Championships will be held in Nashville again this year.

I am excited and I know that some of you are too! Each day gets a little closer!

Patience....

Anticipation has filled the air as the newly chosen Dega Darlin Addition members attend school and band practice daily. Many questions have been asked and inquiries made.

I am just as excited as you are about this great Addition to our program. I just wanted to let you guys know that even though it appears as if nothing is being done; scheduling and planning is well underway. We will have a meeting and get the information to you as soon as it is complete.

I also want to encourage you to do well in band class and progress musically. Musicianship is the essence of performing and being GREAT! Work hard in class to play your instrument and learn as much as possible so that when we do start practicing dance and flag, we will be a step ahead.

Just a reminder that this semester is mainly about you gaining as much musical knowledge as possible. We will have a few dance/flag fundamental rehearsals this semester, but no performances. I will send a note home and post the rehearsal times on the blog as soon as they are finalized.

Congratulations!

Saturday turned out to be a very positive and exciting experience for all of the young ladies who auditioned for the Dega Darlins Addition. Thank you for your cooperation and great attitudes. Things went very smooth and quick.

I want to welcome each girl who auditioned and secured a spot on the JV Danceline, Dega Darlins Addition. With the group of young ladies that we have, this year looks like it is going to be a great one.

Results: (in no particular order)

Ingram, Lexie Gates, Shonquita, Riley, Kayla M., Angelic, LaTeriya, Kayla L., Chelcia

Welcome!

The process is underway as we speak! Clinic for the 9th grade JV auxiliary unit has been in full force this week and will end with the creation of the "Dega Darlins Addition".

After long hours of school work and hot, yet productive, band rehearsals, several 9th grade young ladies have found the desire and time to audition for the first time group, Dega Darlins Addition.

Try-outs will be held tomorrow morning at THS, providing the opportunity for our 9th grade girls to enhance themselves and our band program visually. The effort and ability of these ladies must be commended.

What a great start to this new addition!

Check back often for updates, schedules, tips and highlights from this outstanding group of young ladies!