Hempfield Bands eNews > "Notes on Competition" Edition!

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL ON A FANTASTIC WEEKEND! This past Saturday, the Marching Knights placed first out of 13 units at the Lancaster Catholic Cavalcade of Bands! In addition to the overall high score of 82.85, HMK had the highest scores in Field Visual, Ensemble Visual, Effect Visual, Field Music, and Ensemble Music.

Not a bad way to start the regular season!

Weekend competitions are generally regarded as the most exciting portion of our marching season. As the weather gets colder, this show that we have spent HUNDREDS of hours learning begins to become more and more effective. Performing in football stadiums that are filled with folks who followed the caravan across state lines (in some cases, multiple state lines) to see what all of the HMK “buzz” is about is one of the great joys of this activity!

The important thing for all of us (staff included!) to remember as we enter our competitive season - NUMBERS REALLY DON’T MEAN ANYTHING! Competitive Marching Band is about a group of individuals coming together to become more than the sum of its parts and affect an audience. Going one step farther, being a Hempfield Marching Knight is about learning to push oneself beyond any perceived musical, physical, mental, and emotional limitations each and every day to achieve GREATNESS on and off of the football field!

We measure our success NOT by the numbers assigned to us by judges but by whether we have reached the goals that we have set as a group! As part of our pursuit of excellence, we use the feedback from adjudicators in order to push ourselves to be the best group that we can possibly be. We judge “us” against “us” show by show, practice by practice, and rep by rep!

Once again - view the various videos that are circulating online from our performance on Saturday. Watch once for enjoyment, once with the sound off, and once with your eyes closed. Write AT LEAST two SMART Goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Bound) in the back of your dot book that can be addressed this week. Your SMART Goals should be written by Tuesday and will be checked by your section leaders! The more goal-oriented you can become, the more success you will enjoy on and off of the field!

The Week… (REMINDER - schedule has been adjusted on Wednesday/Thursday)

Tuesday > Sectionals (Winds 3:15 - 5:30, Guard/Percussion 6:00 - 9:00)

Wednesday > ENSEMBLE (6:00 - 9:00 in the stadium!)

Thursday > Ensemble (3:15 - 5:30)

Friday > Home Football vs. Wilson

3:30 - 4:30 > Rehearse @ PAC Field

4:30 - 5:15 > Eat/Dress/Move to Stadium

5:30 - 6:15 > Eat @ Visitor's Concessions (or Pack)

6:15 - 6:30 > Warm-up

Perform Pre-Game

Perform FATE Post-Game

Saturday > Cavalcade @ Spring Grove HS

Guard/Percussion Sectionals > 10:00

Wind Sectional > 12:00

Ensemble Rehearsal > 1:00 - 4:00

Trucks/Eat/Dress > 4:00

Load Buses > 5:00

Leave HHS > 5:15

Arrive > 6:15

Perform > 8:15

Awards > 10:15

Return Load > 10:30

Home > around 11:30

BE GREAT!