San Antonio Band Competition

"Action" San Antonio, 2018
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-T10, 55mm, f/4, 1/60 sec, ISO320
“Action” San Antonio, 2018

こんばんは。How’s it going?

Today Koa performed with his high school band in the Bands of America super-regional competition at the Alamodome in San Antonio. There were maybe 30 marching bands competing over two days, and Koa’s band did awesome – a 4th place finish! It was really an amazing performance, and the kids were so pumped and excited!

Mariko and I drove down for the finals portion of the competition which started at 6 pm, and ended at 12:30 am. (I’m actually writing this on Sunday) And Koa’s band’s preliminary performance was actually at 7:15 am earlier in the day. I can’t believe how much energy they still had for their 10 pm finals performance, but they brought their A-game for sure. I’m so happy for them!

"Finalists" San Antonio, 2018
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-T10, 18mm, f/2.8, 1/150 sec, ISO400
“Finalists” San Antonio, 2018
"Finals" San Antonio, 2018
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-T10, 55mm, f/4, 1/125 sec, ISO640
“Finals” San Antonio, 2018

Before we went to the finals performance, Mariko and I got some dinner at Rosario’s Mexican restaurant, which was pretty good. But what was really cool was the awesome makeup on the girl at the next table over. We just had to ask for a photo.

"Day of the Dead" San Antonio, 2018
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-T10, 48.4mm, f/4, 1/60 sec, ISO1250
“Day of the Dead” San Antonio, 2018

I hope you had a great day!

またね~

New Driver and Percussion Concert

"New Driver" Pflugerville, 2018
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/3.6, 1/3500 sec, ISO200
“New Driver” Pflugerville, 2018

こんばんは。How’s it going?

Today Bay took his driving test and passed! So now he has his provisional drivers license and can legally drive by himself and have one passenger with him. 🚗

Instead of using a driving school, I taught him myself using the “Aceable” parent-taught program. It was a lot cheaper than the regular driving schools, but you need to have some discipline (and nerves of steel at first) to go out and practice consistently and keep records. I used Google Calendar to keep track of all the hours we spent, so it wasn’t too difficult.

I’m not sure if Koa and I will do the same thing or if he’ll go to a driving school. We’ll see!

Speaking of Koa, he had a percussion concert in the evening. They sounded really good for their first live performance of the pieces, and they have another month to prepare for their show up in Indianapolis, so I think they will do awesome up there.

"Percussionists" Cedar Park, 2018
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/2.8, 1/125 sec, ISO1600
“Percussionists” Cedar Park, 2018

I hope you had a nice Monday!

またね~

Band Day

"Bands of America" Austin, 2018
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-T10, 55mm, f/9, 1/400 sec, ISO400
“Bands of America” Austin, 2018

こんばんは。How’s it going?

Today Koa’s high school marching band competed in the Bands of America program for the area. It was a pretty huge event at the nearby stadium, with maybe 20 bands performing, starting at 9 am, and concluding with the awards ceremony at about 11 pm. It ran later than usual because it rained in the middle of the day and some performances were delayed for an hour or so, but luckily, the event didn’t get rained out.

"Bands of America" Austin, 2018
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-T10, 18mm, f/11, 1/400 sec, ISO400
“Bands of America” Austin, 2018

Koa’s high school did great and finished 4th place overall, with a special award for Visual Achievement. I think they are very happy with the result, which is a huge improvement from last year’s 10th place finish. They worked so hard and that effort really paid off. 💪

All the performances were great, and it was so fun to see the kids really giving it their all. What an excellent event!

I hope you had a nice Saturday ☺

おやすみなさい

"Bands of America" Austin, 2018
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-T10, 55mm, f/6.4, 1/350 sec, ISO200
“Bands of America” Austin, 2018
"Bands of America" Austin, 2018
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/3.2, 1/125 sec, ISO1250
“Bands of America” Austin, 2018
"Bands of America" Austin, 2018
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/3.2, 1/55 sec, ISO3200
“Bands of America” Austin, 2018

First Marching Band Performance

"Marching Band" Leander, 2018
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-T10, 31.5mm, f/16, 1/10 sec, ISO1600
“Marching Band” Leander, 2018

こなばんは。How’s it going?

Tonight Koa performed at his first high school football game. He’s part of the Front Ensemble, which is part of the Drum Line. Since he plays the vibraphone, and those instruments are so large, he just stays at the front of the band with the rest of the front ensemble, and their marimbas, gongs, and other large percussion pieces.

After the game, I asked if Koa liked it and he said it was super-fun! I’m glad he enjoyed his first-ever high school band game. They sounded great, btw!

"Stadium" Leander, 2018
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-T10, 18mm, f/6.4, 1/420 sec, ISO200
“Stadium” Leander, 2018

I hope you had a nice day!

またね~

Neighborhood March

"Neighborhood March" Cedar Park, 2018
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-T10, 18mm, f/7.1, 1/900 sec, ISO400
“Neighborhood March” Cedar Park, 2018

こなばんは。How’s it going?

This morning Koa’s marching band had a “March-a-thon” through the neighborhood as a fund-raiser, practice, and to have fun. It was pretty cool! I think all the kids (especially the Freshmen like Koa) had a blast and it was really special because they had a police escort as they marched on the streets. I think the route was about 2 miles from the high school to the elementary school that both Bay and Koa attended, and it was under the hot sun so the Koa was pretty wiped out in the afternoon. But he had a great time, and it was awesome to see him marching with the band, even though he wasn’t playing an instrument. (Front ensemble percussion instruments are too big to march with).

I hope you had a nice day!

またね~