Keith Brown

I want to say "Thank You" to those of you who continue to work hard and learn! I am proud of how you are doing in Jazz and Concert Band. It is that time of the year - when we start thinking about the Fall Show - who our leaders will be - what the back drops will look like - how we will pay for it all.
There is always a point in which I stop and reflect on how the past Fall has gone - what did we do well - what did we not do as well. This past fall was a great year over all - we over achieved in many different areas. I am proud of Hannah, and our Guard for the hard work they put in.
Does this mean I was disappointed in the horn line and percussion? NO!! What it means is that I want to bring all the group up to the level of excellence they achieved! We need to be encouragers for each other - we need to be the biggest cheerleaders for the Band. If we act as though we are not proud of what we do - why would anyone else be proud of us?
Stay focused on the reason you are here - maybe it was because your friends were in in band - maybe you are thinking "my friends are seniors and they will be gone" I want to challenge you to look at the people around you and realize that those people will be the ones you remember 20 years from now!  
keep up the good work!!!  See you in the Band Room KB

   I want to say "Thank You" to all who attended the Christmas Concert this past Thursday night - thanks to those who performed as well as those who helped in other areas! I was impressed with the number of people who came out on a cold and rainy night. I hope that your Christmas Break is wonderful - and filled with the happiness of the holidays. I look forward to seeing you in Janaury - and getting back to work. Congrats to all those who were selected for the UTM Honor Band - we will be sending in that information as soon as we get back in class. 
   It is an honor to work with such a great group of students and parents. 
Thanks for all that you do - KB
   

Wow - what a fun filled and exciting ride this year has been!!! We have finished the Marching Competition part of the year - but are still turning out to support our FB Team as they go to win a State Gold Ball!!

The Parades will be upon us in just a few days - the Milan Parade is December 8th, and the Lexington Parade is December 12th.

We will have the Christmas Concert on December 15th at 6:30 in the MHS Band Room.

I am very proud of what you accomplished this year - in the face of many saying it could not be done!!!

The true test is how hard we work in the year ahead - we cannot slide back and have to start all over again next Fall - we have to press on - and build on what we already have!!!

See You on the Parade Route and in the Concert Hall!! KB

Hello and welcome to the 2nd Trimester - we have lots of things ahead before the end of this year!!! The Parades and concerts will be here before we can even turn around. I am pleased with the efforc you gace this Fall - now the real work starts. We have to improve in every area - we have to play better - read better - march better - and if you try we will be even more ready next Fall.

Jazz and Concert band - you have to encourage each other to be a part - not to drop out until next Fall rolls a round. the only way that we can get better is if we ALL step up and try our very best everyday!

Guard - we need to be recruiting new members - we are loosing three members - and we need to make sure we replace them with good people who are willing to do what it takes to be the best!!

Thank You to parents who worked so hard this year - please if you have not yet paid fees and cost s associated with marching Season - we are in the red at the HS and need those fees to continue to exist!!

See You In The Band Room - and on the Parade route and at the Honor Band and so on and so forth! KB

By the time you read this we will have finished state - I am typing this on Friday before state. I do not know how we will do - but I know I am proud of you! Now - the real test starts! We have to get ready to be the best we can be - for the rest of the year. This and this alone will determine how we will do NEXT FALL. I challenge you as Seniors to step up and be leaders!!!

Do not decide that marching is over and you are finished with band - decide that you are going to lead from the front - not sit back and watch from behind.

I will always be your biggest Cheerleader!! I know who you are. I know what you are capable of! I challenge you to work harder than ever before.
 
I will see you in the Band Room Monday morning!! KB

Good morning - I hope that you have recovered from a late night ( or early morning) after the Jonesboro Trip!! We had a pretty good day - some things that I am still trying to figure out as far as judging swings from one to the other. Congrats for a good run - and I think you deserved a little higher placement that you received - but that is because you are my kids.
The next two weeks have to be ones where we have everyone present all the time - the Practice on Saturday is mandatory from 8-12!! Please do not tell me you have a prior committment - because you were supposed to be with me all day (and night) We will be working the next two weeks harder than ever before - to fix, change, and clean parts that continue to cause us problems.

See You On The Field!!!! KB

Good morning - I want to say Thank You to all of you for the heard work you have given over the past months. It is hard to believe that we are this far into the season. I remember 110 heat index - and now outside it is 50 degrees. Here is the question - are you a better musician and performer than you were 15 weeks ago? If you can answer "yes" then we (and I) have achieved our (my) goals. I want you to understand that the ture value of Band is not in how many awards we can pile up - but in what effect the experience has had on us. There are those who will tell "when I was in band" we were bigger, better, faster, stronger, won more, achieved more - and if that is all they remember then they missed the most important thing of all. They missed knowing that in the end all that matters is "am I better for having been a part of something greater than myself?"
So many times we concentrate on "what can I get out of this - instead of what can I contribute to this!" Dop not be that person - instead remember that we are only as strong as the person beside and if they fall we fail with them.
We have two contests ahead of us - I have (as you will already be aware) taken Cookeville off of the list. We need to give everything possible over the next weeks - work not for yourself - but for the person to your left and right.
I believe in you - will we make Finals at State - I truly do not know - I do believe that we will give everything that we have and then we will respect the opinion of the judging panel.
See You On The Field!! KB

Ok here we are starting the home stretch - the 4 biggest and hardest contest are at our doorstep!! We have had a pretty good week so far - but we are dealing with people being sick, people leaving early, and all the other issues of "I am mad at this one, and I don't like that one, and so on and so forth!!!"
So "what are you going to do about it?"
 The thing (again) that you have to realize is that without each other we are NOT a Band - we are just a group of people who spend a lot of time together. We have to reach a point where everyone is a prt of the whole - not just a part of my own little section.
Get off the sidelines and decide that we can do this - decide that no matter what anyone thinks about our chances to excell - we can do anything together. The truth is I have no idea what will happen at the next competitions - we may win - we may not - But - regardless - we HAVE to decide we will go out on the field with heads held high, doing our very best everytime and every place we find ourselves. The true winner is not measured by Awards won - but by how much of yourself you give to each other. You can be self centered and decide it is all about you - be immature - act childish OR You can see the true worth of band is not a trophy - but the fellowship and memories that you make each and everyday!
It is up to you!!!!

SEE YOU ON THE FIELD!!!! KB