UCI Band: Commentary - 10/30/99
Reflections
Robert C. Carden IV
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It's been a month now since the quarter started and we
now have a sense of what this year is going to be like. So far so
good...things are going better than I expected. Usually, the band's
fortunes follow the basketball team's fortunes with a one year
delay. Last year's team (and I'm talking Men's Basketball here) had
an abysmal year, particularly bad considering that most pundits, including
myself, expected them to improve. Usually, the band would pay for
that a year later. It was particularly unnerving since our director,
Mike Odello, was leaving.
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Anyway, Mark Hamamura has token over as Music Director and is
doing quite well. The band seems to like him fine. Eric Sanchez has
retitled his role to Administrative Director, thus putting himself on par with
Mark. Things are very well organized, and among other things, we should be
getting shirts soon. The band even has a new official website at www.pepband.uci.edu.
Also, at the beginning of the year, we started out with 40 people at the first
rehearsal, but since then our numbers have dwindled. The Legacy Band
members are still showing up here and there, and the band is giving extra credit
to those enrolled who attend Legacy Band gigs.
The Athletic Department took the initiative to collect names
of people who are interesting in joining the band. Mark is considering
contacting those people. In addition, we should hold a recruiting drive at
the beginning of Winter quarter, similar to the one we have every year during
O-Week. By doing that, we might be able to replace the losses we suffer
due to attrition. (Each year we start out with about 40 and drop to
20...this year is no different.)
ASAR funding is still a year away, but even so, it was nice to
see the band get free food after (and at) the two volleyball games we played at
last week. The Athletic Department even brought pizzas and soft drinks
into the Saturday volleyball game. Also, speaking of volleyball, the
women's team really appreciated our presence those two nights. As I
entered the gym on Saturday night, one of the women players gave me a high-five,
thanking us for Friday night.
It may be a bit early to start thinking of such things, but
one of these years we are going to have to deal with it - an NCAA
appearance. If the basketball team (either one) makes it into post-season
play, the Athletic Department will send the band and cheer squad along with it,
anywhere! However, there is a catch. First, in basketball, the NCAA
playoffs (first week) are in the 10th week, and the regionals (Sweet 16) occur
during finals week. Secondly, we are only allowed to send 30 members,
including director. (We can also send 12 cheerleaders.) Okay, if that happens this year (not likely!), we
would be lucky to find 30 members who are willing to go. However, in the
future, we may find ourselves with a 60+ piece band and 40 people who want to
go. We need to think about selection criteria, and the best, probably
fairest approach is to use the point system that is used for grading, but apply
it to everybody, including those not enrolled.
Robert C. Carden IV.
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Revised: November 24, 2006.