 |
||||||||
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
Band keeps the beat, braving bugs, heat
By JULIANNE WU
© St. Petersburg Times, SEMINOLE -- Just before the Seminole High School Band hit the parking lot for practice late Monday afternoon, freshmen Stacy Mytnick and Danielle Townsel sprayed each other with insect repellent. It was the first day of band camp for the 110-member group. The camp, which lasts throughout this week, helps the kids hone their marching and playing skills. "This is to keep the bugs off," said Danielle, 13, as she sprayed Stacy. "But, it feels cool, too," said Stacy, 14. Both girls, who live in Largo, were in the Seminole Middle School band together. Stacy is the only girl drummer in Seminole High's band, along with nine boys. She's playing a bass drum. Danielle plays trombone. Besides marching in place and learning to hold their instruments just right on the newly asphalted parking lot, the kids had two other challenges Monday: to keep from getting bitten by insects, particularly mosquitoes, and to keep cool. "This year, we are making sure all the kids have been sprayed with insect repellent," said Suzan Mullins, the Seminole High Band Boosters president who takes personal days from her job as a district SLD curriculum specialist to be with the band. "Especially since the West Nile virus is around, we are being extra careful."
The other problem, how to cope with the heat, will be tackled in a variety of ways this week. First, the kids get a quick water break every 15 minutes or so. And many of the girls wear swimsuit tops and shorts, while the boys wear T-shirts and shorts. "We also have plenty of ice water handy," said Jane Strickland, a nurse and band parent who has volunteered for four years. "And we have a water mister and a towel bucket with ice." She is working alongside Anne Rockwood, also a nurse, and Roberta Dietel, a parent volunteer. "We also have an umbrella if kids need to come and sit for a while," said Strickland, who has two kids in the band: Jenna, 15, a sophomore who plays clarinet, and a son, Casey, 14, who plays the alto sax. "Also, the kids will get to swim in the school pool on their lunch breaks this week," said band director Daniel "Chip" Wood, in his third year at Seminole High. "Normally, when the kids practice their instruments inside, the band room is air-conditioned." Unfortunately, the air-conditioning was not working Monday, so the kids had to settle for huge sports fans (the kind football teams use on the sidelines). Although it was his first time playing the tuba, junior Aaron Bruckler, 16, of Seminole took the 90-degree heat in stride. "I played the baritone sax last year, but this year, we didn't have enough tuba players," he said. "So far, I'm not having any problems with the heat. We've practiced in the heat before." By the end of the week, Wood and his assistant and associate band directors will have gotten the students ready for the upcoming football and competition season. "This year, our theme will be water music," said Wood, 34. He mentioned two pieces in particular: Leonard Bernstein's On the Waterfront from the movie of the same name and Niagara Falls by a contemporary American composer Michael Daugherty. The band is also preparing for the 25th annual Sound Spectacular it will host on Oct. 6. At that event, the Seminole High band plays but doesn't compete. Usually about 20 bands from Florida participate.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 
|
From the Times South Pinellas desks |
