A Camp Director’s Proposed Camp Schedule

2009 Drill Design
Valiant Marching Concepts

Monday, August 3

8:00a – Meet and Greet; Discussion: Schedule and Expectations & Assign Field Numbers
8:30a – Stretching Routine (Full Band in Attendance Circle)
9:00a – Basic Marching Fundamentals (Full Band)

  • Attention (Points of Attention)
  • Mark Time
  • Forward March (8-5)

10:00a – Instrumental Warm-Up and Playing Fundamentals

  • Woodwinds – Pam Potter
  • Brass – Chris Walls
  • Percussion – Juan Arenas

11:00a – Marching Fundamentals Review (Full Band)

  • Review Above Fundamentals
  • Add Step-Size Variations
    16-5
    12-5
    6-5
    4-5

12:00p – LUNCH (sack lunch on campus)
12:30p – Instrumental Playing Fundamentals

  • Scales
  • Rhythm Exercises
  • Intonation Exercises

2:00p – Marching Fundamentals

  • Review Above Fundamentals
  • Backward March (8-5)
  • Slide Movements

3:30p – Instrumental Practice

  • ‘Opener’ Exercises (Designed by Valiant)
  • Introduce Opener
  • Memorization Techniques

4:30p – Marching Fundamentals (w/ instruments)

  • Review Fundamentals
  • Include Horn Carriage/Playing Position
  • Instrumental Warm‐Up/Scales & Mark Time

5:00p – DISMISS
6:30p – Student Leaders Meet for Dinner with Chris Walls

  • Discuss Platoon Competition/Certification Drill
  • Rehearsal Techniques
  • Motivational Strategies
  • Prepare Students for Tomorrow’s Opening Discussion
Tuesday, August 4

8:00a – Group Discussion: What do you want to get out of this camp?
8:30a – Stretching Routine
8:45a – Marching Fundamentals (Students in Platoons)

  • Review & Refine Yesterday’s Fundamental

10:00a – Instrumental Warm‐Up and Playing Fundamentals (Sectionals)

  • Breathing Exercises
  • Long-Tones (Intonation)
  • Scales
  • ‘Opener’ Exercises
  • Rehearse ‘Opener’ (Memorize)

11:00a – Marching Fundamentals

  • Follow-the-Leader ( Attendance Circle)
  • Explain Drill Chart Reading
  • Position Set’s one and two

12:00p – LUNCH (sack lunch on campus)
12:30p – Instrumental Rehearsal (Sectionals)

  • Playing Fundamentals (Shortened Version)
  • ‘Second Musical Selection’ Exercises (designed by Valiant)
  • Rehearse ‘Second Musical Selection’
  • Review ‘Opener’ & Play from Memory

2:00p – Marching Rehearsal

  • Review Follow-the-Leader (Attendance Circle)
  • Review Set’s One & Two
  • Set Remainder of the ‘Opener’

3:30p – Instrumental Practice (Full Band)

  • Warm-Up (Focus on Intonation, Articulation, & Balance)
  • Rehearse ‘Opener’
    – Chunk by Drill Sets & Memorize
    – Mark Time Throughout
  • Read-Through ‘Second Selection’

4:30p – Marching Fundamentals (w/ instruments)

  • Set ‘Opener to Music’ in Chunks
  • Play through ‘Opener’ w/o Music in Set One (Marking Time)

5:00p – DISMISS
6:30p – Student Leaders Meet for Dinner (w/o instructor’s)

  • What can we do to help the band improve?
  • What were the difficulties about teaching our peers?
  • How can I become more aware?
Wednesday, August 5

8:00a – Leaders: Meet w/ Chris Walls for Marching Fundamentals Review
8:30a – Stretching Routine (Full Band)
8:45a – Marching Fundamentals (Students in Platoons)

  • Review & Refine Current Fundamentals
  • Teach X‐Box

10:00a – Instrumental Warm-Up and Playing Fundamentals (Sectionals)

  • Breathing Exercises
  • Long-Tones (Intonation)
  • Scales
  • ‘Second Selection’ Exercises
  • Rehearse & Memorize ‘Second Selection’
  • Review ‘Opener’

11:00a – Marching Rehearsal (w/o instruments)

  • Set Second Drill
  • Review First Drill

12:00p – LUNCH (sack lunch on campus)
12:30p – Instrumental Rehearsal (Sectionals)

  • Playing Fundamentals (Shortened Version)
  • ‘Third Musical Selection’ Exercises (designed by Valiant)
  • Rehearse & Memorize ‘Third Musical Selection’
  • Review ‘Second Selection’ & Play from Memory

2:00p – Marching Rehearsal (w/ Instruments)

  • Review Second Drill (Marking Time)
  • Review First Drill (playing and moving)

3:30p – Instrumental Practice (Full Band)

  • Warm-Up (Focus on Intonation, Articulation, & Balance)
  • Rehearse ‘Third Selection’
    – Chunk by Drill Sets & Memorize
    – Mark Time Throughout
  • Read-Through ‘Second Selection’

4:30p – Marching Fundamentals (w/ instruments)

  • Set ‘Second Selection to Music’ in Chunks
  • Play through ‘Opener and Second Selection’ with Movement

5:00p – DISMISS

Thursday, August 6

8:00a – Stretching Routine (Full Band)
8:15a – Drum Majors Review Certification Drill w/ Full Band
8:45a – Marching Fundamentals (Students in Platoons)

  • Review & Refine Current Fundamentals
  • Refine Certification Drill

10:00a – Instrumental Warm‐Up and Playing Fundamentals (Sectionals)

  • Breathing Exercises
  • Long-Tones (Intonation)
  • Scales
  • ‘Second Selection’ Exercises
  • Rehearse & Memorize ‘Second Selection’
  • Review ‘Opener’

11:00a – Marching Rehearsal (w/o instruments)

  • Set Third Drill
  • Review First & Second Drill

12:00p – LUNCH (sack lunch on campus)
12:30p – Instrumental Rehearsal (Sectionals)

  • Playing Fundamentals (Shortened Version)
  • Review ‘Third Musical Selection’ Exercises
  • Rehearse & Memorize ‘Third Musical Selection’
  • Review ‘Second Musical Selection’ Exercises
  • Rehearse ‘Second Musical Selection’
  • Review ‘First Musical Selection’ Exercises
  • Rehearse ‘First Musical Selection’

2:00p – Marching Rehearsal (w/ Instruments)

  • Review Third Drill in Chunks & Run Through
  • Review Second Drill in Chunks & Run Through
  • Review First Drill in Chunks & Run Through

3:30p – Instrumental Practice (Full Band)

  • Warm-Up (Focus on Intonation, Articulation, & Balance)
  • Rehearse All Musical Selections, Chunk & Memorize (Marking Time)

4:30p – Marching Fundamentals (w/ instruments)

  • Run Through All Sets with Counts
  • Run Through All Sets with Music

5:00p – DISMISS
6:30p – Band Dinner/Activity (with parents & community leaders)

Friday, August 7

8:00a – Stretching Routine (Full Band)
8:15a – Drum Majors Review Certification Drill w/ Full Band
8:45a – Marching Rehearsal (w/o instruments)

  • Review & Refine Drill (w/ counts)

10:00a – Instrumental Warm-Up and Playing Fundamentals (Sectionals)

  • Breathing Exercises
  • Long‐Tones (Intonation)
  • Scales
  • Review & Refine All Music (marking time & drill visualization)

11:00a – Marching Rehearsal (w/ instruments)

  • Review & Refine Weak Areas

12:00p – LUNCH (sack lunch on campus)
12:30p – Instrumental Rehearsal (Sectionals)

  • Playing Fundamentals (Shortened Version)
  • Review ‘Third Musical Selection’ Exercises
  • Rehearse & Memorize ‘Third Musical Selection’
  • Review ‘Second Musical Selection’ Exercises
  • Rehearse ‘Second Musical Selection’
  • Review ‘First Musical Selection’ Exercises
  • Rehearse ‘First Musical Selection’

2:00p – Marching Rehearsal (w/ Instruments)

  • Review & Refine Weak Areas
  • Run-Through Show
  • Review & Refine Weak Areas
  • Run-Through Show
  • Etc.

3:15p – Platoon Rehearsal

  • Last Chance for Platoons to Refine Certification Drill

4:00p – Platoon Competition & Cook-Out (Organized by Student Leaders)
4:45p – Show Execution for Parents
5:00p – DISMISS

*Schedule subject to change.