RidgeBridgeVol6_Issu.. - Ridge PTO

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center update
The Home Access Center system was
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First marking period grades will be
posted on Home Access during the
week of November 17, 2009.
The new band director, Mr. Daniel Zugale,
conducts the marching band during warm ups for
the October 20th competition at Giants Stadium.
MARKET DAY
Next Order Date
November 12
Next Pick-Up Date
November 18
Order online at
www.marketday.com
or phone your order to:
Brenda Miller at 908-903-9355 or
Christine Marston at 908-647-0599
Introducing Mr. Daniel Zugale . . .
Ridge’s New Band Director
Mr. Daniel Zugale
joined the Ridge
faculty this year as
the director of the
Marching Band,
Wind Ensemble
and Concert Band.
He came to Ridge
from the Westfield
school system where
he taught for 10 years. He is a graduate
of Rutgers University with a bachelor’s
degree in music education and a master’s
degree in wind band conducting.
In a recent interview, Mr. Zugale
provided some insight into his plans for
the music programs:
Q: What are your initial
impressions of Ridge HS?
Ridge is a great place to work.
So far everyone has been
extremely friendly and supportive
of what I am doing. Most
importantly, I feel like I’ve been
accepted by the students and I
enjoy working with them very
much. Michael Fackelman, the
supervisor for Fine and Practical
Arts, and Frank Howlett,
the high school principal, have been very
supportive of me and the band program.
Q: What is your vision for the Ridge
music programs and the Marching Band?
My goal is to continue to build the bands
both in terms of size and quality. A town
such as Basking Ridge can and should have
bands that are consistently large and thriving.
We already have outstanding bands,
but I think there is room to grow. One of
the most important aspects of having a
quality band program is having the correct
instrumentation. We are seriously lacking
in low brass (trombones, baritones, and
tubas) and these are among the most vital
instruments for achieving a quality sound.
Q: What can be done to increase
participation in the music programs?
The first priority is to stress the importance
of quality. People will naturally gravitate
to programs that are perceived as being
successful. Second, the public needs to
know the benefits of joining the marching
band. Here is a short list:
1. We support the team and entertain
the crowd at football games, working
with the cheerleading squad to enhance
the game day experience.
2. We honor America by participating
in the local Memorial Day parade and
performing the Star Spangled Banner
at home football games.
3. We work hard to achieve a creative,
exciting and precise half time show
for competition against other schools
in the tri-state area.
4. Marching band is a great way to
make friends. The relationships formed
during the marching season can last
for a lifetime.
5. Despite the rehearsal schedule
(which is actually less than most sports),
marching band members tend to be
among the best students.
6. Although marching band is an extracurricular
activity, the skills learned and
reinforced during marching band certainly
help the curricular band programs.
Q: What are the latest trends for
marching bands that you may
introduce for the Ridge band?
We are among a few bands to amplify the
mallet percussion and it has made a big
difference in our sound. It is very likely
that this trend will continue. I have seen
many bands use electronic keyboards,
something I would like to utilize in the
future.
Q: The selection of this year’s program
(music from Tommy by The Who) has
been well received. Why did you select
this program?
My first priority when picking a show is
to pick something that the students can
perform from a technical standpoint while
still leaving time to teach basic playing
skills. I also feel that any music that we
perform must have artistic merit. In this
case it is a happy coincidence that we are
celebrating the 40th anniversary of the
release of the Tommy album.