|
|
|
As temperatures neared 90 degrees outside, Maryville High School band members were turning up the heat on this year's performance set inside.
Sure they'd paid their dues and spent a few hours braving the heat for marching rehearsal first, but with current tunes by hit recording artists Fallout Boy, Aerosmith and Katy Perry, things were heating up inside during rehearsal.
The nearly 50 MHS band members kicked off the final week of their annual two-week long summer camp on Monday.
With the majority of this year's ensemble made up of newcomers to the high school, director Burke Shouse has focused on the basics: marching, counting and more counting.
"We've spent about two hours of each day marching and another two hours on music," he said. "I'm really trying to focus on the playing basics. We've got about two and a half months until our first competition."
The Marching Spoofhounds missed out on a bit of their usual competitions last season when the changeover in directors left little to no time to prepare.
This year, Shouse has hit the ground running. Not only will the band, which has grown in members, participate in four different competitions but they will also take a band-wide trip to Florida to perform at Disney World.
"We've got a lot going on this year and my hope is that at competitions we can be a bigger contender for top spots," Shouse said. "With a few more members, I'm really wanting to work on our band's sound. The goal is to sound like a band of 60 kids with our 47 kids."
Once their competition and marching seasons are over, the band will travel by bus to Florida for their Disney debut as well as some vacation/bonding time.
Currently, band members are well into the process of fundraising for their trip, which Shouse said will cost each member about $900.
Members have already sold more than 1,000 of the band's discount cards. The wallet-sized cards are good for discounts at area businesses.
This year's card includes discounts for the usually listed businesses as well as newly added Maid Rite, Mr. Goodcents and Rapid Refill.
This year's card also comes with the option of additional savings when activated online.
Band members are currently painting Spoofhound paw prints on driveways and parking lots for a contribution of $20. Additional graphics cost $5 each.
As temperatures neared 90 degrees outside, Maryville High School band members were turning up the heat on this year's performance set inside.
Sure they'd paid their dues and spent a few hours braving the heat for marching rehearsal first, but with current tunes by hit recording artists Fallout Boy, Aerosmith and Katy Perry, things were heating up inside during rehearsal.
The nearly 50 MHS band members kicked off the final week of their annual two-week long summer camp on Monday.
With the majority of this year's ensemble made up of newcomers to the high school, director Burke Shouse has focused on the basics: marching, counting and more counting.
"We've spent about two hours of each day marching and another two hours on music," he said. "I'm really trying to focus on the playing basics. We've got about two and a half months until our first competition."
The Marching Spoofhounds missed out on a bit of their usual competitions last season when the changeover in directors left little to no time to prepare.
This year, Shouse has hit the ground running. Not only will the band, which has grown in members, participate in four different competitions but they will also take a band-wide trip to Florida to perform at Disney World.
"We've got a lot going on this year and my hope is that at competitions we can be a bigger contender for top spots," Shouse said. "With a few more members, I'm really wanting to work on our band's sound. The goal is to sound like a band of 60 kids with our 47 kids."
Once their competition and marching seasons are over, the band will travel by bus to Florida for their Disney debut as well as some vacation/bonding time.
Currently, band members are well into the process of fundraising for their trip, which Shouse said will cost each member about $900.
Members have already sold more than 1,000 of the band's discount cards. The wallet-sized cards are good for discounts at area businesses.
This year's card includes discounts for the usually listed businesses as well as newly added Maid Rite, Mr. Goodcents and Rapid Refill.
This year's card also comes with the option of additional savings when activated online.
Band members are currently painting Spoofhound paw prints on driveways and parking lots for a contribution of $20. Additional graphics cost $5 each.
The paws are painted in Spoofhound green with oil-based paint that will adhere to pavement or cement for about a year.
To request a print, call band parent Kara Puche at (660) 582-2228.
A portion of the proceeds from all fundraisers will go back to individual band members to help fund their trip to Florida in April.
"I don't want to leave and kids behind due to money," Shouse said. "My hope is that every band member will be able to go and we will do what we can to make sure that happens."
This Friday, band members will hold a free-will donation car wash in the parking lot of Walgreens to also help raise funds. The car wash will take place from 1 to 5 p.m.
