[blindkid] High School Marching Band

[Bonnie Lucas]

thanks for your thoughts. She is in the eighth grade, 13 years old.  she 
plays the flute and will mostly be marching but I think they will also have 
some formations. I know they will be doing a number of parades. there are a 
number of opportunities for the kids to learn the techniques before getting 
to high school, both at band camp and practice in the spring while still in 
middle school.  My guide dog comment was a poke at the discussion of the 
past several days and perhaps shouldn't have been said. Quite frankly, at 
this point, she doesn't seem much interested in a dog, and based on her 
somewhat relaxed personality, probably won't be interested in a dog in the 
near future. She is truly a cat person and getting out of bed on a Saturday 
to care for an animal is not her idea of fun.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Heather" <craney07 at rochester.rr.com>
To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)" 
<blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, January 25, 2010 10:52 AM
Subject: Re: [blindkid] High School Marching Band


> Couple of things.  What instrument does she play?  Does she intend to be 
> in pit band or in the actual marching portion?  Um, don't know what the 
> guide dog bit was about, but she couldn't use a guide dog and march. 
> Well, if she was old enough to have one, was marching in a strait line 
> like in a parade and she could get the dog to leash guide with the leash 
> over her wrist or in the crook of her arm, it might work.  She would have 
> to see how the dog did with all of the noise though.  It is not worth 
> traumatizing a perfectly good working guide for the sake of marching in a 
> band.  My first dog did fine sitting on the risers while I sang in choirs 
> of over a hundred people, and she did fine on stage with small ensambles, 
> but when we sang with the RPO, right in back of the full orchestra, the 
> gong and the simbols scared her and she flew out of there like a bat out 
> of hell.  I learned to have her on tie down back stage, as far from the 
> orchestra as possible and she did fine.  I think that if I had forced the 
> issue I would have lost a very compitant and steady stage dog.  How old is 
> she?  My best friend growing up was in marching band and although she is 
> sighted, she is both a marching band nut and very familiar with the 
> particular abilities and challenges that I as a blind teen faced and she 
> might be able to offer some suggestions.  But I would have to know the 
> instrument and the type of marching involved.  For instance, if they do a 
> lot of performance competitions she might have a bit harder time with the 
> formations, than if she is going to be in the pit band for the marching 
> band or in a parade.  Depending on her instrument she could link arms with 
> someone, use a short laniard between her arm and the arm of the person 
> next to her, or between their wastes, etc.  How much sight does she have? 
> If she is a partial, looking at the contrast of the uniforms and the 
> surface they will be marching on might prove helpful.  Also, how loud her 
> section is will be important.  For instance, if she is marching in a close 
> packed bunch on a parade route, and playing a brass instrument, it will be 
> harder for her to hear what is going on around her, but if she plays, say 
> a wood wind and will be in a part of a formation where she is mostly 
> surounded by woodwinds, then she will be more likely to hear what is going 
> on.  I think that having the drum major as well as the band director on 
> board will be important.  Perhaps she could talk to both ahead of time? I 
> hope this was helpful.
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Bonnie Lucas" <lucas.bonnie at gmail.com>
> To: <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, January 25, 2010 9:04 AM
> Subject: [blindkid] High School Marching Band
>
>
>> Hello all you Marching Band enthusiists,
>>
>> Aubrie has decided that she will participate in Marching Band next year 
>> when she starts high school. It will be a great experience as the 
>> Centinial High School Band from Roswell, GA will be performing at the 
>> White House in October. I would like to get as many hints and tips as 
>> possible for marching and playing an instrument at the same time. So, if 
>> any parents, teachers or students have suggestions, I'd love to hear what 
>> they are. We have already spoken with the band director and he seems 
>> excited to have her in the Band. He has been invited to her IEP. I have 
>> talked with him about the Goodfeel music translator and he is willing to 
>> try to come up with a grant for that as well.
>>
>> I know I shouldn't say this, but, the temptation is too great... Though I 
>> am very opposed to twelve year olds having guide dogs, I am very much in 
>> favor of young people participating in Marching Band!  Smile!
>>
>> I know many of you will have some great suggestions. Thanks a bunch.
>>
>> Bonnie Lucas
>> 770-992-0484
>> Cell: 678-480-0864
>> lucas.bonnie at gmail.com
>> Bonnie Lucas
>> 770-992-0484
>> Cell: 678-480-0864
>> lucas.bonnie at gmail.com
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