Click Here - http://www.banddirector.com/productguide/Click Here - http://bands.banddirector.com/especials/Click Here - http://www.banddirector.com/contact

JHS Web News Link

A nice comment in the midst of scary news from the teachers' union president in the newspaper: A nice comment in the midst of scary news from the teachers' union president in the newspaper: http://www.magicvalley.com/news/local/article_f0caa7a8-547f-5963-91a4-157b7ac1a220.html

 

GOOD ARTICLE in the Times-News on the Ambush of Tigers:

Here's a photo from the Idaho Statesman with two of our flautists at the JTown - Nampa football game on November 7th:
And here's a link to the story and multi-media package from the Times-News on last year's TIGER INDOOR MARCHING EXTRAVAGANZA:

Finally, here's the link to the Times-News "Sports Blitz" on-line talk show, with an intro by the J-Town drum-line (Credited at the end!

 http://videos.magicvalley.com/p/video?id=2362176

Who has the most Band spirit?

Mallory Ordaz

Emily Black!

She’s a senior but doesn’t act like one, so everyone else says. She is funny and is always making everyone laugh. She’s really loud. Her favorite color is Yellow! She’s known as the queen of gossip, she says she just likes to be informed of what is going on. She loves taking pictures of herself. And she is also obsessed with Twilight.  “Um, I have been in band for seven years, I would have to say my sister encouraged me to do band. Uh my favorite band teacher is Mr. Smith.” says Black. “Mm having fun with friends and making fun of Mr. Smith’s T-Shirts are the most enjoyable part of band.” When asked if she is going to be in band when she goes to college she responds… “Uh…Duh...” “Uh in my spare time I hang out with Mallory at her house all the time and watch movies at my house”. Says Black.

 

 

By: Tyson Cornwell
CALDWELL- At the Caldwell USSBA Showcase, The Jerome Ambush of Tigers marching band unit came in 3rd place in their class.
The results are for the Ambush of Tigers:  
Music: 27.1
General Effect: 20.9
Visual performance: 16.3
Total: 64.3
Matt Grosshans said “We had better but we were all tired from the warm up and were stuck for 15min overall. We only had 80percent energy left at most. We were only 1-10th percent off of Burley.”
Grosshans thinks their lips were shot as they entered the end of the show. He also thinks they could have done better if there was no rain delay because they would have had more energy.
The Ambush marched without any tubas and still got 3rd.
Band director Gordon Smith said, “The biggest problem was the rain delays so we blasted our chops out but played the best of the year.”
The next marching band competition for the Ambush of Tigers is down in Pocatello for the ISU Marching Band Invitational on October 11, 2008. 

 

 

A very Mari band geek                              
By: Tyson Cornwell

This cheerful band geek will always make people smile even if they’re sad. Her name is Mari Espinoza.
Mari said “I’ve been in band for 7 years, and I’ve played the flute for about that long too.”
Espinoza enjoys playing pep band music at the football games and basketball games. She also likes to talk with her friends at the games.
Espinoza often hangs around the band room with her friends talking with or singing to the radio in the band room.
Espinoza said, “My favorite song to play is called “When there was me and you.”
The Biggest Band Geeks
By: Tyson Cornwell

This band geek has been teaching band for 25 years. His name is Mr. Gordon Smith.
Smith organized a band presentation on September 17 on Constitution Day. Three elementary schools from Jerome School District here invited to watch the band play. Smith had each section play a little song for the elementary kids.
“I chose this field show because I was looking for shows to do without conventional uniforms; the show is called Westside Story, and we improved it to make it our own,” said Smith.
Smith has been practicing this music since March and the marching and flag since July.
This show is about two gangs, The Sharks and Jets. A boy from the Jets falls in love with a girl from the Sharks, and their gangs are trying to keep them apart. In the end, love almost concurs all. 
This year there are 86 students marching in Band and ColorGuard.
Smith said, “It doesn’t matter how we do this year in competition; we will try our best but it all depends on what other schools are in the competition.”
Pete Barns said, “we showed lots of them what we are made of and what we represent.”
If you listen to Shane in drum line is if we bring stuff together we can come in first and we are also adding trick sticks to the show now to.
Pete also said, “If we put it in gear we should end up pretty good, and if I learn and everybody learns to.”
Pete said “People ask me why I don’t do football because I do band and I’m dedicated to it.”

For coverage of our CONSTITUTION DAY performance for 1800 elementary, middle school and home school students on September 17, click on the Times-News lead story at:

http://www.magicvalley.com/articles/2008/09/18/news/top_story/144696.txt

...and a nice thank you letter the next week at:

http://www.magicvalley.com/articles/2008/09/24/opinion/letters/145058_44.txt

 

For our article on the Dallas Brass coming to town, click on

 

http://www.d261.k12.id.us/OnlineNews/Band/JHS%20and%20Dallas%20Brass.htm .

 

Go to http://www.d261.k12.id.us/OnlineNews/Eye%20of%20the%20Tiger.htm   and check out the slide show from our Homecoming performance that the school newspaper staff has put together!
          The Jerome High School Symphonic Band is preparing to host the world-famous Dallas Brass on January 14 in a concert in the JHS auditorium. 

 

            Besides the unique opportunity to work and perform with one of the best instrumental ensembles on the planet, the Jerome band students are also using this as a fund-raising opportunity. 

           “Anything we make beyond the cost of bringing the Brass to Jerome will go towards the replacement of our marching uniforms over the next two years,” says director of bands Gordon P. Smith. “Besides the fact that we were sewing stripes on black pants to turn them into something resembling uniforms to get everyone on the field this fall, we had judges at two of the three contests noting our ‘outdated’ uniforms in their comments and scoring sheets this season. We want our students to make a visual impression that matches their musical and marching skills.” 

            Sophomore baritone player Jett Hall said, “New uniforms would be great because the pants we have don’t fit!” 

            “We’ve had quite a few donations already, and between those and ticket sales and the hard work of our music boosters in promoting this event, I’m fairly confident we’ll be able to put something towards those uniforms when all is said and done,” said Smith. 

           Tickets for the Dallas Brass concert are $10 to $15 depending on seat location, and are available through the North Side News, the Twin Falls Times-News, Welch Music, the Jerome Chamber of Commerce office, and the offices of Jerome High School, Jerome Middle School, and Jerome School District, or from any Jerome band student. 

            The hope of the music boosters is to phase in new uniforms over the next two seasons, purchasing pants for the 2008 season and new jackets by the 2009 show. The “Ambush of Tigers” marching unit plans to present “West Side Story” this fall with new pants and a temporary uniform that gives the impression of two warring gangs as in the original Broadway musical. 

            Sophomore Kelsey Ordaz, who plays clarinet, says “Knowing that the band’s growing makes it important to get the uniforms soon.” 

 

Cavalcade of Bands
by: Katie Sparks
10-15-07
 

 

            The Jerome High school “The Ambush of Tigers” Marching Unit went on a three day trip to a competition on October 5th-7th. The competition was held on Saturday, October 6, 2007 at the Neil F. Lampson Stadium in Kennewick, Washington. This was the first time "The Ambush Of Tigers" had traveled to Washington. It was also the farthest away that the band has traveled.  The Ambush left Friday, and arrived at Southridge High School, which was kind enough to allow them to stay in the gym of their school. 

    There were 27 bands at the competition, seven of them were in the same classification as the Ambush, the small band classification.

    The 27 bands competing were: Cheney High (Division AA), Royal High (Division AA), Auburn High (Division AAA-small), Hermiston High (Division Novice), Jerome High (Division AA), Highland High (Division AA), West Valley High {Spokane} (Division AA), Clarkston High (Division AAA-small), Naches Valley High (Division AA), Kennewick High (Host), Southridge High (Division AAA-small), Kamiakin High (Division AAA-small), Capital High (Division AAA-small), Meridian High (Division AAA-small), Richland High (Division AAA-small), Hanford High (Division AAA-large), Cenral Kitsap High (Division AAA-large), North Kitsap High (Division AAA-large), A.C. Davis High (Division AAA-large), Wentchee High (Division AAA-large), Pasco High (Host), University High (Division AAA-large), Mt. Spokane High (Division AAA-large), West Valley High {Yakima} (Division AAA-open), Vallivue High (Division AAA-open), Cascade High (Division AAA-open), Mead High (Division AAA-open).

    The Ambush had to be up and ready the next morning to leave for the competition at 7:30am Pacific time. The Ambush would perform at 9:30am at Kennewick High School Stadium. The Preliminary Competition Round started at 8:30am(pacific time) with Cheney High. "The Ambush Of Tigers" performed at 9:30am (pacific time), the Ambush performed their centennial show "September 30th, 1907".

    With Drum Majors, Faith Peters and Shelby Walters, the Ambush took the field for competition.

    "I think we did really good. It seamed like they had a little trouble watching the drum majors. This is the best we have done performing. They put a lot of energy into it. I am really proud of all of them," said Shelby Walters. 

    Our marching unit left a memorable impression on its audience, said band director, Gordon P. Smith.

    "The Ambush Of Tigers" placed 4th in the Preliminary Round, 5 points behind 3rd place, Cheney High (WA), and 4 points ahead of 5th place, Hermiston (OR).

    " It was great to do the show in front of an audience that really knows marching band. The kids heard reaction today in spots they'd never gotten them before," said Smith.

     The bands form Idaho, Capital High, Meridian High, and Jerome High, represented Idaho very well. Not only on the field but off too. Smith was approached by several different people saying how well his band performed and how well they were behaving. The Ambush was invited to come back next year. Jerome was also invited to two more competition while they were there, because of their show and the way they Handled themselves. Smith doesn't think he is going to take the band in that direction next because year he really wants to take them down to Northern California.

    " The one really memorable show at the finals was from Richland High School. A small band, smaller then ours, but they were third in the entire contest and they won their class," said Smith, "Their 'Fiddler On The Roof' show was memorable, outstanding, and every member was absolutely sure of their part."

    "We did awesome. I'm really proud of everyone. When I look back on my high school experience, this is going to be one of my favorite memories," said, drum major, Faith Peters.

    "It was a great first big trip, and it set the stage for more to come," said Smith. Next year, I hope to go even farther."   

Ambush of Tigers at home
By: Megan Wayment
1 October 2007

Ambush of Tigers at home

 

Ambush of Tigers at home

 

Ambush of Tigers at home

 

Ambush of Tigers at home

 

Ambush of Tigers at home

 

Ambush of Tigers at home

 

Ambush of Tigers at home

 

Ambush of Tigers at home

 

Ambush of Tigers at home

 

Ambush of Tigers at home

 

Ambush of Tigers at home

 

Ambush of Tigers at home

 

Multiple hours of practice have paid off for the JHS marching band, the Ambush of Tigers.

They pulled off a dramatic performance early Friday evening before the Homecoming Varsity football game.

Jerome band led the annual Homecoming parade as well. The color guard added their own flare of escitement to the performance. Their march in the parade was a success.

The Ambush of Tigers completed their new Centennial performance artfully and nearly flawlessly.

The band's show this year expounded several highlights of Jerome’s history with musical accents to emphasize specific parts. It featured dialogue about Jerome’s origins, industry, and influential people in Jerome’s past hundred years.  There were six main musical pieces performed by the entire band during the presentation.

 “This is the first time I’ve done a show that had as much meaning as this,” stated band director, Gordon Smith.  “It’s the deepest show I’ve ever written.”

Smith has taught band for twenty-four years in both California and Idaho. He is involved with several musical festivals and associations. His music arrangements and compositions have been used by multiple bands in the western United States. Three of the pieces performed by the JHS band are original songs Smith wrote. The others are arrangements from various existing songs.

Smith began working in Jerome one year ago. He teaches the sixth, seventh, eighth and high school bands.

“It’s been a wonderful, wonderful group to work with,” Smith said. He feels that the Ambush of Tigers has already progressed far beyond the skill level they attained at the end of last year.

He feels that the Ambush of Tigers has already progressed far beyond the skill level they attained at the end of last year.

The JHS band is now focusing on their upcoming competitions. They will be performing in Pocatello, ID; Washington and Oregon.

“It’s a fun routine, but at the same time, a challenging one,” said senior trumpet player, Logan Nelson.
Click Here - http://www.wwbw.com/Click Here - http://www.amismusicalcircle.com/band/wb-046.htmClick Here - http://www.wengercorp.com/web/main.htmlClick Here - http://www.bransononstagelive.com/Click Here - http://www.fruhauf.com/