Grayling Viking Bands
Independence Day Parade
Held on July 4 each year (unless it falls on Sunday, then the parade is held on Monday), the Fourth of July Parade is on Michigan Avenue, from Galen Street to Peninsular Street. The High School Band students perform while riding on trailers, as the incoming Freshman have not had any marching band practice prior to this activity. Students receive no grade for their performance, however, they do earn two community service hours toward graduation.
Au Sable River Festival Parade
The 120-mile Au Sable River Canoe Marathon is held the last full weekend of July. The main event is the exciting canoe race from Grayling to Oscoda. A week long celebration includes the Au Sable River Festival Parade at 3:00 pm the day of the race. The Grayling High School Viking Marching Band rehearses during Festival Week, from 8:30 am - 10:30 AM on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. They rehearse the music at Grayling Middle School and practice their marching skills on the side streets of Grayling during this time. The percussion section meet to work on their percussion cadences on Monday and Tuesday prior to the full band meeting. Students receive no grade for this activity, however, they do earn 2 community service hours for each rehearsal day, as well as the performance day. The students do learn (or review for the older kids) the fundamentals of marching skills during this event.
Band Camp at Lake Superior State University
The Monday after the Au Sable River Festival, the band loads the bus and heads to LSSU for their annual BAND CAMP! It is one of the major highlights for the HS Band student. The students review their parade skills at camp, but add these skills to the marching band field. We have been holding camp at LSSU since 2005. By the end of camp, students have learned their marching band show, with the assistance of their band director and instructors in the area of flute/clarinet, alto sax/French horn, trumpet, low brass, percussion. Students stay in the dorms, eat some great food provided by their outstanding food services team. BAND CAMP HANDBOOK is available for the upcoming summer! We practice our marching skills on the blacktop parking lot in front of the Norris Center Hockey Arena, and we practice our music skills throughout the campus. The band performs their completed show at 2:00 pm on the first Saturday in August, on "their" parking lot for the week.
Lovells Bridge Walk
Starting at High Noon, the third Saturday in August, in downtown scenic metropolitan Lovells, the famous Lovells Bridge Walk starts at the corner of County Road 612 and Lovells Road. The HS Band leads the parade, then stops just after crossing the famous bridge, to play for their audience as they walk by the band. After the last participant crosses the bridge, the band follows the end of the parade to the Lovells Township Park for the Pot Luck Lunch, sponsored by the Lovells Township Fire Department. This event is not to be confused with the Mackinaw Bridge Walk. The bus ride to the starting point of the parade is even free! Compare the two events! Students volunteer to perform at this activity, earning two community service hours for demonstrating their performance skills of marching while playing their instruments.
This is what we do, as the Grayling High School Band, during our vacation time! I can contribute to the community!
Located here, you will find a description of our annual summer Grayling High School Band activities. To find the current schedule information, select the CALENDAR button in the main menu located above this description. It will have the schedule of our events if you click on the event.
