My Say For Today

Some things change, somethings have new faces but still look the same.This past week I returned to Thomasville High School for the first time in many many moons. I went back to meet Mr. John Phillips the new band director for the Thomasville High and Middle School bands. The day we choose to show up was during band camp and Mr. Phillips was in a meeting but I got the chance to look around. Band camp has not changed at all. It’s all the same with new faces where the old ones use to be. What feels like a long time ago I was in the band.When I first started band we looked like this:


This year the band looks like this:


I did return to the school the next day and got the chance to meet Mr. Phillips, and watch as the 2006 Marching Tiger Band prepared for pictures. I remember the days when It was me up in the stands burning up in the August heat with a nice thick band uniform on. That is one thing I don’t miss at all. I also remember Band Camp, Percussion Camp, after school marching practice, uniform fitting and of course there is always uniforms that are missing and students that don’t have uniforms to fit them, bus drives to football games, marching competiton and all the fun things that come along with being a member in the band. I started band in the sixth grade and continued in till I graduated. I changed instruments from time to time so I could learn even more. I truly loved my high school band years. I do miss those days but wouldn’t want to go back to my teenage years. I have friends now with children in the band. Not just Thomasville but also other bands in the area. I still get the chance to go to football games and still go mainly just to support the bands. I know all the hard work and long hours it takes to be able to entertain for only a few minutes at a football game. Band is not just marching, we can’t forget concert band either. After football season is over the band is right back at it. Practicing and learning all new material for a whole new season, ”concert season” I can remeber several years when marching season wasn’t over but the band had to overlap marching season and concert season and work on two different programs at the same time. Band is a great activity for kids. It teaches children more than playing an instrument. It also teaches self disciple, independence, leadership, team work, time management and so much more. So, as we go into another marching season, I want to wish the Thomasville High School Marching Tiger Band and Mr. Phillips the best of luck this marching season.Also, as a reminder, Thomasville City Schools start back this week. So I would like to remind everyone to drive slow and watch for children in the school zones. Until next week God Bless.