Football Preview Union Recorder 2020 | Page 25

GMC Bulldog Brigade to present ‘2020: A Musical Vision of the Past Century’ Georgia Military College Prep’s Bulldog Brigade Marching Band has spent the summer months rehearsing for the upcoming marching season, and leaders say a team approach has been used to help them achieve their main priority of keeping the students healthy and safe. Clint Raburn, high school band director, said percussion and flag corps students began practicing on July 9, and then full band camp began on July 13. Students were able to work together during the three weeks that followed up until the start of school in early August. “Our original plan was to start back at that time and things worked out that we were able to stick to our original plan and do the camp,” Raburn said. “Of course, it didn’t look like it normally does because we hardly played indoors at all. We did everything outside.” Raburn said great weather and evening practices allowed practices to be held outside away from the heat of the day in a socially-distanced environment. He said upon arrival, students were screened with a series of questions and their temperatures were taken. “Our most important thing is the kids’ health and safety, so we wanted to make sure that we provided a safe place.” Raburn said multiple departments with the school have helped to make events like band camp continue to be possible. “Our engineering department at GMC is just phenomenal as well as our nursing department,” he says. “They’ve just provided us with so many resources in making sure that we’re staying healthy.” Raburn said the air purification in the band room with ionization units has also increased safety, as well as custodians who sanitize prior to practice. He said it is great to have such a large group of people who are all working together for the safety of the students. “That’s what helps us in being able to have a practice indoors and still socially distance,” he says. Raburn has done a great deal of research himself as well to determine safest measures. He says students wear masks when they are not playing their instruments, and they even have masks for the instruments. The masks fit over the bell of the instrument while still allowing sound to flow through the instrument. In addition, flutes have a plexiglass shield on their instruments. “It’s just kind of a shield to make sure that no aerosol is spread from the instrument,” he said. Raburn said the kids have really enjoyed being back together. The Bulldog Brigade Marching Band has 48 students in grades 8 through 12. He said the theme for this year will be “2020: A Musical Vision of the Past Century.” “We start off in 1920 and work up to 2020,” he says. “We highlight songs from each decade.” Despite things looking a bit different this year, Raburn says band camp was still a success. “It was a great outcome,” he says. “We actually picked up a few students who were not on the roster.” As far as the rest of the season goes, Raburn says they are playing it by ear. “We are tracking GHSA’s guidance and decisions, but hopefully By LEAH S. BETHEA we will be able to have a band season and a football season as normal,” he says. Raburn says contest season typically begins in late September and runs through October. He says many of the schools that host the events are waiting to get a read on how things are going with school starting to declare whether or not they will host a festival. “We are just kind of playing it by ear and watching to see what’s going to happen there, but all the time just keeping the health and safety of the students as our top priority and seeing what’s going to be best for them.” On a personal note, Raburn has two sons in the marching band this year, which makes the season even more special. He says he is very excited about the way the year is going so far. “I love the marching band getting together and being able to support the football team. It’s like its own family. Seeing the students succeed and come together and learn from each other and being able to perform together as one group is just always amazing to me.” Best Wishes for a Great Season Voted Best DJ & Recording Studio 2020 DJ for Special Occasions Recording • Mixing/Mastering • Track Leasing • Production • Songwriting • Lessons 478-456-9582 rafasanmusic.com • [email protected] Football Preview 2020 25 415758-1