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TRADITION

While the band has been a tradition in and of itself for 40+ years, there is one tradition that band members look forward to each year, COMPETITION!

Each spring the band travels to 3 or 4 different competitions where they, along with many other bands from all over California, compete for trophies in one of several events. The 3 most common events are Marching Band, Jazz Band and Concert Band. In addition, the Color Guard is judged separately (tall flags, rifles & ID) but as part of the Marching Band event. Competitions are usually held in Hollister (marching, jazz and concert), Vallejo (marching, jazz and concert), Alameda (marching and concert) and San Jose (marching, jazz and concert).

Competitions are held on Saturdays in April and May and a typical schedule is as follows:

Friday afternoon before the competition: Load the equipment trailer at Rancho

Saturday Morning at 5:30 AM (yes AM), meet at Rancho to load the charter busses (with chaperones) for the 1-2 hour ride to the competition venue.

Once at the competition site, the R-M Band "City" goes up with tents, tables and uniform racks, set up for food, make up and uniform preparation. Everyone pitches in and helps chaperone the band members in the locker room, cleaning shoes and fitting hats. Then it's back to camp for final "fluff & buff" and instrument tuning.

R-M Band City

Once the uniforms are on and hair and make up is done, Mr. O. takes the band for a short meeting and a warm up session.

Pre-competition meeting and warm up.

Before the Marching Band competition, the band is inspected for uniformity and cleanliness

After the marching portion, it's back to the locker rooms to change into the concert or jazz uniform. Before the concert and jazz competition sessions, the band goes into a separate room to warm up. Then it's off to the competition venue where our volunteers hustle to set up chairs and instruments within the allotted time.

After competition, everyone attends the award ceremony which is usually held in the school's football stadium.

Once the ceremony is over, it's back on the busses for a short ride to dinner at a local restaurant. Where they are happy to see almost 100 customers come through their doors!

After dinner it's back on the busses for the ride home. The Color Guard takes great pleasure in coordinating the unofficial face painting competition on way back to Rancho. The busses arrive at about 9:30 PM and have to be unloaded followed by a short meeting in the classroom. Then it's home for everyone and preparation starts for the following competition.

Post-competition meeting in the classroom.

Bring your own folding chairs and a lunch and we'll see you at the next competition!