Jordan Independent - At ballgames, would you like to hear more of the pep band? - Comments

MiketheSkiBum, I guess I

Jason Allen — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 21:23:33 -0500

MiketheSkiBum,

I guess I might be blind and deaf, but except Homecoming, I have never seen the band stay past the National Anthem and I am at every football game.

And don't take me wrong, I am not bashing the Band. I played and loved being in the band. We did wear those Maroon uniforms, which I think ours weighed 30 pounds, and a "Beret" atleast the Tuba players did, and those were GAY! I also remember doing the "J" on the football field. We also had to move doing our songs, we did a routine, pinwheels, line marching.

And don't say your not allowed to play during the kickoff. Nowhere does it say you can't do that. We used to do it all the time. The drummers had a little thing they did and we all waved our instruments in the air. Sounds dumb, but looked and sounded cool.

Were all stating this because we all like the band and would love to hear more of it.

If you're talking about

JeffyB — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 16:53:10 -0500

If you're talking about Jason Allen's post, he did - JHS Class of 1991, and played tuba, along with wearing the old maroon wool uniforms...

I played trumpet, mellophone and French horn - JHS Class of 1987, and wore the old maroon wool uniforms. Not to mention MN State Fair parades, 2 Florida band trips, homecoming parades, fire department anniversary parade, Memorial Day observances, among others, all in the old maroon wool uniforms.

We've been there, done that, and got the letter.

I play in the pep band, and

miketheskibum — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 12:09:29 -0500

I play in the pep band, and i want to say that the guy who says that we don't play during timeouts and halftime and during the kickoff needs to do his homework. We aren't allowed to play during the kickoff, we do play during halftime, and we play everytime our team scores. He also says that we play the same songs in the same order, which is not true. And I don't appreciate being called boring, because we play hard whenever we can until our director makes us leave, and we try our hardest. Was the homecoming halftime show boring? Let's see you put on a 10 pound wool uniform and go stand out there and play a musical instrument!

When the pep band played in

goldengopher — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 10:02:48 -0500

When the pep band played in the state tournament last year, it is required by MSHL that they wear a uniform. They did look sharp with those shirts. It would be nice to have them wear that to all volleyball, basketball, etc. performances. Why don't they do that?

I apologize I think the correct spelling of the band director is Galstad. Anyhoo...

I agree with the more they

skruger — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 09:31:44 -0500

I agree with the more they play the more the younger kids will be interested in joining the band. As far as the uniforms go, I too believe they should be worn at least at the parades and football games. I think the "Jordan Pep Band" shirts they wore last year during the State VolleyBall Tournament were great. The uniforms would be very hot if they were worn inside, I believe they're wool.
Mr Galsted has done a great job and they sound great. I've always wondered why the band doesn't sit in the stands during the football games. They should be part of the student fan section.

I think that the more the

Ray Sandey — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 23:10:12 -0500

I think that the more the band is at games and playing loud and proud and in uniform that the younger kids will see that and maybe take an interest. It is the way you grow the band.

Band is both a class and an extra curricular that you can receive a letter in (I think you still can).

The uniforms maybe uncomfortable, it may be harder to play but no one said it would be easy.

None of this is against the kids, it is actually about seeing and hearing them more and dressed up at their best.

Rock on...

I do have to agree with you,

Jason Allen — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 16:46:28 -0500

I do have to agree with you, the band does sound pretty good. My question would be this....Is it not part of the "role of the band director" to play at these events, I wonder if its in his contract? I guess if its not, they can't make him, I would also like to know if Cliff got paid any extra to play at those events.

Of I also agree Mr. Galsted has brought the band back from the last 8 years or so.

I have a lot of respect for

goldengopher — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 14:27:23 -0500

I have a lot of respect for Mr. Galsted. I think he is great for the students. The band has never sounded better! Cliff Klehr did a lot of great things for the program, and when he retired perhaps some of the traditional things just weren't carried on. There's been some turnover in the director position since he retired, and that is probably partly to blame.

In some districts ie Shakopee, they don't even have a marching band, and many of the students involved in band are more into the concert band rather than pep band or marching. They don't even want to be in marching band - so maybe that's why you see Jordan kids wearing street clothes rather than in the uniform. It's a compromise.

In Jordan it's kinda expected that the director run the pep band, marching band, and concert band. In some districts if the program has a marching band, directors expect to get paid, similar to a coach, for directing said pep band and marching band. I think it's great that at least Mr. Galsted has tried to keep the tradition going - he's probably done so without any money above his regular paycheck.

These are just my speculations on the state of the Jordan band program. I can't 100% tell you how the decisions are made on what the band wears or for how long they play at varsity games. It's just a guess, but I'm probably close to the truth.

-1995 Jordan grad. and John Philip Sousa Winner

I was at a recent athletic

fatalbert — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 11:11:09 -0500

I was at a recent athletic event and had the chance to watch and listen to the pep band. I thought they were pretty good. Then I saw them at halftime of the homecoming football game. They were great! The "J" formation they made was fun to see and well done.
And you know what? It may not be like the "good old days" that I read people talk about all the time on here, but it doesn't mean they've changed for the worse.

They play pregame, however

Jason Allen — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 17:06:04 -0500

They play pregame, however its the same 4 songs every game and the same order everytime.

Does the band play any

JeffyB — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 07:59:27 -0500

Does the band play any pregame or just the National Anthem?

Jeff, nothing like it used

Jason Allen — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 16:50:58 -0500

Jeff, nothing like it used to be. As soon as the National Anthem is over they leave!

I remember the old Football kickoffs when they would get the drums a rockin', play at halftime, play during timeouts, nothing like that anymore.

Sure is boring!

Not having been at any

JeffyB — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 15:55:39 -0500

Not having been at any recent games, how long/what does the band play at football games or volleyball matches?

At ballgames, would you like to hear more of the pep band?

Mathias Baden — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 17:17:23 -0500

* yes\n* no\n* \n* \n* \n