For a lot of us, this is where we stop learning music. However, this isn't even the entry level of the music. "What do you mean Ryan? I have the right notes, right rhythms, and the right tempo... what else is there?"

So why are we talking about standards right now? Because we are about to start band camp and this is where we can really set the standards for the entire season. Setting standards early is so very important because it really sets the tone for the entire season. You get to decide what is acceptable now and reinforce it during the most contact hours you will have.

As a student we can decide what our indivdiual standards are. I will be on time to everything. I will be attentive during rehearsal. I will give my best effort all the time. I will encourage the people around me. I will practice 15 minutes everyday. I will play that piece of music I have been working on for 2 year now. I will come to rehearsal prepared so I can be a great example for everyone else.

As we are getting prepped for summer rehearsals and band camp, or maybe we just finished up a "kick off" camp, I want to offer a thought for the new season for everyone.

The story is really about how a carrot, an egg, and coffee beans react to hot water (pressure). When you put a carrot into hot water it becomes soft and mushy. When you put an egg in hot water it hardens and becomes a hard boiled egg. When you put coffee beans in water, they change the water into coffee. The moral of the short story is how does pressure impact us and in turn how do we impact our environment.

Welcome to the other side of snowpocalypse 2026! We got roughly 12-14 inches here in Cincinnati (some areas even more) and are getting ready for snow day number 2 tomorrow. Since temperatures will be below freezing (and the feels like in the negative) the rest of week, we may end up with a few more snow days. While it is important to go play in the snow, build a snowman, drink hot chocolate, doomscroll, and everything this we do now-a-days, it is also important to practice

It's January, you have show music passed out and the first show is only weeks away. Maybe you did a short Holiday Camp, or you took that break off completely. Maybe you had some snow days in December like we did here in Cincinnati. Either way you are feeling the pressure of that first show. Are you behind? It probably feels like it. Should you be freaking out? It probably feels like it. So what should we do if we are in this situation?

Anyways, I just finished a book but I am going to call this my last review of 2025 since I read most of the book in '25.

It's that time of year where we review how the year went for us and start making plans for next year. I don't really know how to quantify this year as either good or bad. It was definitely challenging.

Been a while since I posted. There has been a lot going on this marching band season, and it has taken my full focus to get to this...

What do you want out of what you are doing? Is mediocrity enough? If not, what is great? What is acceptable? What is/are YOUR goal(s)?