Renaissance Indoor Percussion is the TIA Chapter 6 IA Percussion Champion and the highest scoring IA Percussion group in the whole circuit! Way to go team!

If you would like to join the Champion Renaissance Indoor Percussion for next season, please email me by using the link on the site. We look forward to another great season which will include Wildwood! Rehearsals will start in November! Hope to see you there! Remember, Indoor doesn't have to end at 18! Pics to come soon! Peace, Chalet

Hope all of you had a nice Easter! Don't eat lots of chocolate at once!

Rehearsal is next weekend, then Chapters! If you want to march with the corps for the 4th of July parades, please email me using the link on the site! Lots of parades in one day! Fun! Fun!

The Harrisburg Parade was really cold, like freezing noses cold (you know what I mean) and WINDY. The stroller was pushing itself at times. There was a good crowd and the kids (+Kieran!!) had a blast making the crowd have fun. Pat's costume was classic, but he wouldn't dance for us. :(

I'm tired and stressed. Ready for school to be over. I'm doing well in the classes. Got an A on a test in my Rec class. It was actually pretty hard. Next, I have to go visit a rec program for 2 hours. Hopefully Bob Jacobs will let me make the drive to Jersey to view Surf. Why not make the class project enjoyable and practical. They have one of the most successful programs around.

Having a hard time truly defining what drum corps is for my grantwriting class. How do you explain that drum corps is more than just gathering together to make music? How do you evaluate the changes a person will encounter? I know the changes I made, but I don't know how I could adequately evaluate them. In grant writing, you have an evaluation section. You have to show how you will determine whether your program changed a behavior in the kid and what activities were changed. The activities side is easy. The behavior side is easy if it's something like kids will score higher on tests, or will spend less time in jail, etc. How do you test behavior change before and after drum corps? I'll have to ponder this some more. I have to determine besides musical abilities, what else changes. I'll post here what I came up with. If you have a suggestion, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Peace, Chalet

The parade went Excellent (York's this is). The crowd loved us. Some even said that we were their favorite. The kids really got into the music and did solos for the crowd. Jason decided that every pretty girl needed to be played to, even if her boyfriend was nearby. Matt would play to the older ladies (some of whom seemed a little tipsy...too much green beer?) and kids. I heard one father say that his kid was definitely awake after we passed. It was loads of fun. We had a man come tell us to stop playing. Brian just about told him off, but decided to be nice at the last minute.

Tomorrow is the Harrisburg St. Pat's parade. Longer parade by far (it's hard to be shorter than 6 blocks). I'm printing update stickers for the brochures right now. We're supposed to have a kid from McDevitt come dressed up as a Leprachaun (sp). It's going to be cold though. York's parade was like 70. Tomorrow 40s. Brr.

Grantwriting class ROCKS! I LOVE IT! We got to go to the big library in York and use their database of funders (private). I have 17 prospects for grants already. I still have to look at the whole state and some national programs. Not to mention that I've begun collecting the info needed for major drum corps supporters, such as Yamaha, etc. Not saying that anyone has offered to sponsor us yet. Just gathering. If you are by chance a executive in a company and you would like to support an up and coming corps, my email link is on the left side of the page. lol

These next few months are going to be very exciting for Renaissance. We will begin recruiting to the local Catholic high schools, local colleges without marching bands and good old regular high schools soon. If you've been considering marching corps, but didn't have the resources to go DIV 1, Renaissance just may be the place for you. We will be putting together a massive drumline that will travel to Maryland for 4th of July weekend to perform in the "Tour de Maryland" parade circuit. You only have to be under 21 to join. No other experience necessary, but it will help tremendously. Also look for some drum clinics to be held in the summer. Watch the site for specifics. Quality instructors for a VERY resonable price.

Brian and I just spent some of our tax return on turning our drum corps collection to DVD's. DCI is having an awesome sale on online orders through the end of the month. 20% off if you use the MADNESS code. Not available by phone. Good deals....Just look at my video wall!

Peace, Chalet