10/12/2025
Now is when the hard work begins …
Well well here we are … the final 3 weeks of this marching band season and year 17 for me with allegany, year 11 with fort hill, and year 8 with southern Garrett
Proud is an understatement!
Last night all 3 bands (some in different classes) competed at the autumn glory festival at southern Garrett hs in Oakland Md. it was a stunning evening with perfect fall weather and a desire to be great.
Here’s what I saw:
I saw parents volunteering time and energy and a relentless spirit to help not only their kid but the many kids that accompany a group like a marching and colorguard. I saw and heard fans reacting to the many emotions of the marching band shows throughout the evening. I saw people spending their hard earned money to buy food at concessions, buy a gate admission, and buy those random chances at winning a basket or raffle. I saw staff members of these bands getting their kids ready to go give a great show, not knowing the outcome… and above all I saw students learning to push thru obstacles in their way whether physical or mental. Most of all I saw love, respect, teamwork, and drive to be the best they can be.
That love is what made me be the person I am today… while flawed… I keep doing this activity. For the love of the kids, for the sport, for the applause, for the score, for the feeling that maybe just maybe… I impacted a persons life to help them be better adults… maybe they will take our lessons and relay them to their future children. Maybe they will come back after they graduate and say they were able to overcome a hard time because of the program(s).
Last night I asked my students to go out there and have fun, to do it for me, to do it for themselves and to do it for their teammates. I know from what I watched and the feedback given by not just judges but also audience members that the teams did not disappoint. So much talent here in little Western MD.
I can’t say enough that I absolutely love my kids… every single one of them…. It’s a type of love that as a staff member…. U know is real because u want to be there with the team because u know that every day the team is going to grow bigger and get better and keep on learning
So with all of this said…. Remember why we volunteer, why we chaperone, why we teach, why we keep coming back, why we threaten to throw a shoe at the kids(hehehe) , why we sometimes have to be hard on them and snap them back into reality, why we have rules and ways of how we do things…. It’s all for the kids. The students. OUR KIDS!
Im super proud of how every single student represented the programs I work with last night. Every year I am amazed at their resiliance, their tenacity, and the way they help me to be a better designer and director without even knowing it.
Couldnt be more proud… in little ole’ Western MD
Shoutout to the amazing administrations of Allegany, Fort Hill, and Southern Garrett High Schools. I have and continue to see support from all of them and it Is an understatement to say thank you.
To the many staff members who work tirelessly to craft the programs and students…. Thank you
To the many parents and boosters who work tirelessly in concessions, chaperone, fix stuff, haul trailers, fix uniforms, and deal with staff members like me(sometimes I’m not the easiest to work with). Thank you !!!!
And to my direct staff members…. You hold a very special place in my heart and I could not see myself working without all of you ! You may not always understand my processes but it is clear we all have the same vision… help Our kids be amazing!
Signing off in hopes of an amazing 3 weeks left
Matt
