Spring Break
Joys Of Band Spread In Band Day 2006
Timothy Bleasdale
Issue date: 10/9/06 Section: News
Band Day moved to Rentschler Field four years ago.
"It was a big deal to be in the big stadium with all the people again," Mills said. "We did Band Day there two times and both were very successful."
Unfortunately, on the third year, it was decided that the seats normally reserved for the high schoolers were needed for season ticket holders and Band Day could no longer include the half time show at a football game.
This year's event was a revival of Band Day as the program was in the late 1990s. The program consisted of a concentration on clinics for the high school students followed a combined UCMB-high school bands performance and concluded with a performance of UCMB's classic rock medley show, "Rock Your World."
The high school band students broke off into clusters all around Rentchler Field by section with UCMB members. Music professionals then conducted clinics on producing the best sound. Saxophonists learned a few exercises to strengthen their face muscles while flautists learned new tongue techniques.
"It's been great so far," said Paul Efthymiou, a sophomore alto-saxophonist from Ansonia High, during a break. "I really like UConn's band."
But the positive feelings were not limited to the saxophone section.
"It's cold, but great. We're having a lot of fun," said Justin Lafountain, a sophomore clarinetist at East Hampton High School.
Band Day is an important part of the UCMB program. It is a chance for the older and more experienced UCMB members to bond with the high schoolers and impart to them an intense enthusiasm for marching music and a sense of pride.
"Some [high school students] 'go through the motions' of having a band," Mills said. "When they see the college students taking things seriously, they learn that it's cool to care about their bands."
Part of the function of Band Day is to recruit high school band students to UConn. Many current UCMB members attended Band Day as high schoolers.
"It was a big deal to be in the big stadium with all the people again," Mills said. "We did Band Day there two times and both were very successful."
Unfortunately, on the third year, it was decided that the seats normally reserved for the high schoolers were needed for season ticket holders and Band Day could no longer include the half time show at a football game.
This year's event was a revival of Band Day as the program was in the late 1990s. The program consisted of a concentration on clinics for the high school students followed a combined UCMB-high school bands performance and concluded with a performance of UCMB's classic rock medley show, "Rock Your World."
The high school band students broke off into clusters all around Rentchler Field by section with UCMB members. Music professionals then conducted clinics on producing the best sound. Saxophonists learned a few exercises to strengthen their face muscles while flautists learned new tongue techniques.
"It's been great so far," said Paul Efthymiou, a sophomore alto-saxophonist from Ansonia High, during a break. "I really like UConn's band."
But the positive feelings were not limited to the saxophone section.
"It's cold, but great. We're having a lot of fun," said Justin Lafountain, a sophomore clarinetist at East Hampton High School.
Band Day is an important part of the UCMB program. It is a chance for the older and more experienced UCMB members to bond with the high schoolers and impart to them an intense enthusiasm for marching music and a sense of pride.
"Some [high school students] 'go through the motions' of having a band," Mills said. "When they see the college students taking things seriously, they learn that it's cool to care about their bands."
Part of the function of Band Day is to recruit high school band students to UConn. Many current UCMB members attended Band Day as high schoolers.
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