Homecoming

 If you have read the news quip to the right of this page, you will have noticed that I have spent my teaching career as a H.S. Band Director (note the Uppercase Caps - shows respect). I have not been in the biz since about 2004 when I retired (graduated, if you will).  I did spend a semester in a different small school where I learned that returning to teaching was not going to be fun.  Many of the students were just little jerks.  They took the fun out of teaching.   Another time I spent about 2 months as a long-term sub while the school looked for a permanent director.  Those kids were good.  I liked being there.

So in my retirement, I attend some band concerts and contests.  I go to an occasional football game to watch the halftime.  My Facebook has me connected  a group called  Band Director Jokes.   And I visit certain websites sponsored by folks with connections to bands.  One of these is something called the Yellow Pages.  It is for directors.  They do not seem to appreciate when non-director types get on and make comments.  I understand that.

Some of the subjects brought up by some directors are very educational and good.  They ask some very fine questions.  Then, sometimes, the whine gets out of control.  I feel sorry for those folks.  They should quit and go work at Buc-cees.   

Recently, a young director (I would guess he is young), ask what bands play for Homecoming.

Let me explain.  Every H.S. / College has Homecoming.  Everyone has his own traditions.  Some schools get carried away while others just do something before the game - wham, bam, it's over.  Let's play football.  You've got the Homecoming Queen - and court.  Some schools will have a King.  Some involve parents in the mix - Why?  I don't know.  It just complicates it.

At the ceremony, the band and cheerleaders are pretty much a backdrop to the festivities.  For years, I would march onto the field while playing the Fight Song - park the band - not move - and play some slow song as the the Court was introduced over the P.A.   When the girl was crowned, my girl band students would get all excited & the music would go down hill.

It hit me one year.  I asked the administration if we could just stand and watch.  I told them our music was so loud it covered the P.A. announcements - which it usually did.  They bought it.  So, we marched out - stood  -  girls got excited without messing up the song - and marched off.  DONE.  LET'S MOVE ON. NOTHING TO SEE HERE.  A few times one of my band girls got crowned.  That really upset the music delivery.

Moving on.  On the yellow page band director "page" this week, some guy as what song to play.  I answered with my story.  Some of the others started listing songs.  This got out of hand to a certain degree.  Band Directors are rarely known as lovers of Homecoming.  It gets into our way.

Songs of the nice songs listed were:  (I hope this was not copywrited)(There is a word the spell check doesn't like - copywrited)

You are so beautiful;  Only Time;  Ice Castles; My heart will go on;  Mahogany theme; Bellavia;  Can't help falling in love; Muskat Love,  my girl;  shadow of your smile; I'll be there...

Keeping in mind a director's attitude:  other songs were:   Fat bottom Girls;  Send in the Clowns;  Land of 1000 dances played really slow;  hang dog;  Cruella De vill;  If I only had a brain;  The evil clown;  Price is Right theme song played in a loop;  I like my women just a little on the Trashy side;  and I got friends in low places.

Another person suggested playing the Alma Mater.  Now come on, if you play that, everyone stands at attention and nothing gets done - that would be similar to playing The Star Spangled Banner.  As an aside here, I noticed over the years that different schools call their Alma Mater - the School Song.  Others call the fight song - the School Song.   You never really know what  school prefers until you join in their festivities.  

Once had a school band which "HAD" to play the Theme from "Rocky" as the team entered the field.  At that time, this band had trouble playing any song with 8th notes.  

To me the School Song and the Alma Mater are the same song.  That's what it use to be in Levelland - it must be right.  The fight song is the rabble rouser.  Forget Rocky.

Schools have so many little traditions.  You have to be careful or they will run you out of town on a rail.

Y'all take care now, y'hear? 

m