A recap about the Fall season

This has been a crazy summer and fall. I wanted to write more about the progression of the Odessa group but things became very hectic very quickly. But it was good! I’ll go through a little bit of what happened this summer and fall and then we can start thinking about the upcoming winter season!

The summer started a little slow. It took some time for the guard staff to really lock into their rolls and get use to each other on an instruction level and not just friends. The girls also had a LOT of adjusting to do. A completely new staff with a director with a very different style and approach than they were use to. Practices were quiet and somewhat tense at first. I wanted to focus a TON on movement, which was something they were not use to and a part they didn't seem to like very much. By the end of June we had probably around 16 different across the floors for the girls to do every day. More than 1/3 of our time was focused on movement and there were some practices that we never even picked up equipment.

The weapon lines had a good start and I made sure to start slow to allow for girls who ever spun weapon to get the basics and try out. Doing that added a couple girls to the line who never would have made it if we had jumped right into triples and quads. The girls who had been on weapon for a year or two had to learn some patience, but I think they saw the benefits. We also had to really look at the technique of the rifle and saber line. Most of the sabers were spinning their sabers just like rifle. So, we broke down the difference between the 2 pieces of equipment which has been very beneficial to both lines. Our “A” lines didn't do anything higher than a triple for the first 2 months and the “B” line focused on doubles. Once we pushed it up a notch the girls were amazed how much easier it was then they originally thought it would be to do the “bigger tosses”. Now, our “B” line is doing pretty well on quads and they never thought they would be able to say that.

Near the end of the summer our band director got an offer at a different school and decided to take the job. The staff all knew it was the best choice for him and his family and we wished him the best of luck! The former assistant at Odessa applied for the new opening and ended up getting the job so there wasn’t much adjustment for that. We just had to push band camp back a week to allow for interviews and all that. But, the transition went really smooth and we headed on into the school year.

Once school started everything started flying by. The guard had Monday and Wednesday sectionals and the full band and guard had Tuesday and Thursday evening rehearsals. We were a little behind on music memorization and drill and we have been playing catch up the entire season. So practices had to move quickly…but luckily the guard was always right on top of things.

Our last competitive performance we were at UCM for the Festival of Champions. I was really looking forward to seeing how the girls would perform after months of practice and training. It was an exciting day and a little bit of a sad one as well. Fortunately I think the girls were very pumped up about the winter season so they weren't real sad to see the fall end. 

Now we are on our way with the Winter Season! The Middle School group has 22 girls on the team and the High School has 15 girls and 1 boy! Tomorrow will be our first camp so I will post more about the shows after that! 

From the other side.....

It is so weird when you get to the point in your life when you are working with one of your "idols" and not just learning choreography from them. That is what these past Kim Kamps have been like for me. A very surreal couple days.

While I was on guard down at MSU I always wanted to be just like Kim when it came to guard things. When I aged out, I dreamed of the day when I had a guard and could bring her in to work with them. Still trying to learn from her. Well, now at OHS I have the opportunity to bring her in to work with the girls. I think they learned a lot from her and I am having a wonderful time being around her on this side of things.

The guard has been able to learn the beginning skeleton of the Density Study. I really cant wait to see what it will end up looking like. The summer is progressing and going by fast....we still have a lot to learn but they are improving each week.

Kim Kamp

Kim Kamp was this Friday and I think the day went VERY well.

Our first session was from 9-12 and we spent the ENTIRE time on body. I told the girls we wouldn't do our work out Friday morning since Kim was there, so they were very excited about that; however, I don't think they expected to spend 3 hours on movement.

Movement is always a BIG focus for me with the guards I work with because most guard girls don't come in having a ton of dance background AND movement is super important in the guard activity. Our girls on the ODMOCG are just like very other guard....not a lot of dance background.....so the 3 hours on movement was very helpful! I think they had fun, worked hard, and improved a very noticeable amount.

For the second session, running from 3-6, we worked with the weapons. We spent some time on technique and then the girls learned a 16 count choreography phrase. By the end of the day we were able to pick the weapon lines and those lists will be posted before practice on Tuesday. I am very excited for our Rifle and Saber sections this season. I think they will be very impressive.

This summer is going to be hard work for the ODMOCG girls. They are still young, but eager to do some challenging things. Its not always "fun" to work and work on the little details, but it WILL make them more successful in the long run and I think they know that. I just cant wait to see what this team will look like when school starts. They have already improved so much in these first few weeks.

A new place...

Wow! It has been a WHILE!

A lot has happened since I started the winter guard season with Park Hill South. The group did a wonderful job and I had a great time working with them. Around the end of the season I had a decision to make....a guard position had opened up and I needed to decide if I wanted to "throw my hat in the ring" for the job or not. I ended up applying for the job and was selected for the position.

I am now the new Color Guard Director at Odessa High School!!!

ODMOCG has already had their auditions for fall and have been working hard during their twice a week rehearsals. It is an adjustment period right now...the girls are learning about me and I am learning about them! First, I am (obviously) evaluating who can do what....picking out the rifle and saber lines. Also, the girls are starting to learn the technique that I am wanting to group to use....as well as starting to understand what I hold to me most important! MOVEMENT!!!

We have also started our Work Out. The girls were really excited at first, but that excitement wore off when they realized how intense the work out was actually going to be. Once they do it for a couple weeks I think it will get easier and they will enjoy it more. And they will enjoy it when they start to see their strength with equipment and endurance grow.

I will be posting more on here, because another exciting thing going on is our photographer and webmaster at Odessa is creating a NEW color guard website for the groups. My blog will be linked to that so the girls can read additional information. It is going to look awesome I just know it!

The thing that I think I am the most excited about right now is my staff. I get to work with 2 wonderful women! We have so much fun together and they are teaching the girls amazing things! I am looking forward to seeing our relationships grow as well as our team.
 

That's about all for my update. Check back for more later!

A New Season!!!

A couple weeks ago the Park Hill South guard opened up auditions for the winter guard season. We were looking to grown in numbers of course.....but I was also looking forward to finding some new talent.

We had 10 girls return from the fall...the same girls to marched with us in our competitive shows and we ended up having 10 new students audition. It was very exciting to think that we might have a chance to DOUBLE the group in the course of 5 days...very exciting!

When auditions were over we ended up taking 17 into the winter guard...10 returning members and 7 new! We even have 1 boy on the guard, which the girls were very excited about.

Since auditions we have had 3 rehearsals, focusing on training and giving all the members a good foundations before we start in on the show. The first night we literally stayed in the dance room for the full 3 hours! : )

Last night we taught a 16 count phrase that will be in the show and this Thursday we start on staging! I am super excited about this season...I look forward to seeing how the kids grow and improve. I have seen so much come out of them already. I cant wait to see what they look like on March 3rd!

Ill keep posting on our progress....and even post some videos of our new exercises we are doing. Should be FUN!

PHS Eye Make Up

Ok girls....found a video on how I want your eye make up to look. I have the eye shadow to make this happen but if you have eye shadow colors that are VERY close to the ones the girls uses in the video than you can use them. It needs to be dark remember, because we are performing far away from our audience!

First, here is the eye shadows I have that you will be using.

This color we will put all over the lid. It needs to be a light (maybe even with time shimmer to it) shade of purple.

The second color is the middle one your see in the picture below. It needs to be a dark purple and will be applied to the outside half of the lid and the crease. The third color needs to be a super dark purple or a midnight blue like the bottom color you see in the picture below. This will be applied to the outside triangle. The last color is the High Light color...the top color you see in the picture below. We will put this in this inside corners of the eye and right below the eye brow.

Again, if you have (very) similar colors then use them. But watch the video a couple times and practice it on your self before Friday. Hopefully we will have a few of you who can do this VERY well and can help the others. Here is the video....



I am also adding one more video! Something I thought you might like for the eye liner!



Its simple but cute.

Oh! And don't forget your lip stick! I needs to be darker than what you would usually wear!!!

Eventually I think Id like for everyone to start wearing fake eye lashes! So, Ill get you a video on that soon!

PHS Sock Bun

Hey girls! Hope this helps since I wont be able to be there for your game on Friday! I know my blog has music and it might make it hard to hear the video...so just scroll all the way down to the bottom of my blog and pause the music.

Both girls use tube socks for their buns.....and since a lot of you have LONG hair and had a lot of hair to wrap around the bun last time, maybe a longer sock would help. So, if you have darker hair get a pair of black tube socks and if you have blonde hair get a pair of white tube socks. Those of you who have really long hair you might want to double up the sock like the one girls does in the video....those who have more of a medium length can probably just use one.

If you didn't have a lot of hair to wrap around your bun the last time then you can probably just use the sock you did last time.

Ok, here are the 2 videos. Remember! For our guard hair we are doing a LOW SIDE BUN. The part must be on the left and the bun must be on the right. As low as possible and as much to the right as possible. It should be very close to your right ear.

Notice how smooth their pony tails are before they even do the bun. we will have NO bangs out and everything should be smooth and pulled back. It is important that we all look the same and the hair is as clean and neat as possible. We will not braid the hair....looks like it might cause more bumps and we don't want that.