Guard and Puppetry Combine

Winter guard has a big fan in the world of entertainment. Heather Henson, daughter of Muppets founder Jim Henson, prominently features flags and props in her hour-long stage show titled “Panther & Crane.”

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ESPN Battle of the Bands

College bands received a dose of action-adventure, thanks to ESPN and the makers of the hit summer film “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.”

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Book Excerpt From “Field Level”

Read an excerpt from “Field Level: The Ultimate Band Director’s Guide to Fielding the Ultimate Marching Percussion Section.”

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Hendrickson Wins CBS Challenge

CBS 42 KEYE-TV, a television station in central Texas, showcased 16 local high school drum lines with its fifth annual Marching Band Challenge. KEYE-TV aired the groups’ performances during halftime broadcasts of preseason Dallas Cowboys games, and then viewers voted online for their favorites.

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“Making the Blue Band”

High school musicians across Pennsylvania dream of one day marching into Beaver Stadium before 107,000 screaming fans. Each year about 200 freshmen audition for the Penn State Marching Blue Band; less than half make it.

Now a documentary titled “Making the Blue Band” by Penn State Public Broadcasting follows eight incoming freshmen through auditions, cuts and the grueling days of band camp as they pursue their goal of playing in this Big Ten college band.

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Bad Bands?

University marching bands have been in the national spotlight lately for bad conduct. The University of Wisconsin (UW) Marching Band was banned from performing at the Oct.4 nationally televised home game against Ohio State University due to allegations of hazing and inappropriate behavior.

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