Sunday, September 27, 2009

Novi


The Oiler band, after a rough Friday night that included the Midland High football team running onto the field during the show, took the field at Novi Saturday - and earned a first-competition score nine points higher than last year's first time out.

The cerebral "Pachelbel's Journey" impressed the judges enough to award a 63.45.



Katherine and Robert await the judge's word after the show at Novi. The verdict: First place, , best music, best marching, best overall effect.


The mayor of Novi, right, prepares to hand the plaque to the Oiler command team as the host Novi command team salutes them.


But the Oiler band can't rest on its laurels. There was another competition Saturday, and in Flight III, Ferndale scored an incredible 73.05 - in September! Farmington Harrison checked in at 67.55, Redford Thurston at 66.8, and Trenton at 66.25. After the weekend, the Oilers are in fifth place statewide in Flight III.
And we have yet to hear from defending champion Stevensville Lakeshore, runnerup Grand Rapids Northview, or last year's other finalists, Byron Center or Linden. The two other 2008 Flight III finalists, Marysville and Allegan, are in Flight IV this year.
Thurston is on the schedule for a head-to-head competition Saturday at the Michigan Invitational Tournament in Flint, while Flight III bands Fruitport, South Lyon and Hazel Park take their shows to Livonia Franklin.
Either the judges are getting soft - which isn't likely - or there are going to be some intense, tight, stunning competitions on the way to Ford Field for the finals.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

The band gears up



The young Oiler band's ambitious show hits the road today at the Novi Fanfare.
It's still early in the season - Novi is a place to work out the rough spots, see what the judges think, and start making adjustments.
The Friday night halftime show was a little rough, but they'll get there.

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Mt. Pleasant's Mardi Gras



Mardi Gras in September? Of course. Even though it's on Friday.
It's a downtown Mt. Pleasant promotion - and it keeps getting bigger every year.
I don't think I've ever seen as many people downtown as I did Friday night, and the parade - well, it would do justice to a lot of much larger communities.
I was impressed not just with the size of the crowd, but the diversity of the people downtown.
And it was so, so cool to see the everyone - Katherine and Robert with the Oiler Marching Band (you see them in the video) - and Kissy Missy handing out Applefest fliers for the the Zonta Club. (She didn't make the video - not her fault nor mine.)
Not a bad celebration for our little town. Not bad at all.

Monday, September 7, 2009

I've had students like this ...



School's back in session.