Welcome to the fall 2000 edition of TigerRag, the official online journal of The Santa Ana Winds.

If you have anything to say, email me and please state in the title that your letter in for TigerRag and whether you'd like you name under your article. The nice thing about an online journal is it can continually be updated.

If you don't see your article up here at first, watch for our Winter edition around January. Please, nothing profane, no mention of rivalries (school or otherwise), and nothing to totally embarrass other Winds members. As editor, I have final say over what is published. By no means does this replace the Guestbook, which is for smaller comments and hellos to Mr. Ward. TigerRag is meant to satisfy the informational needs of Winds members and increase the strong unity among the group.

Winds' 30th Anniversary is HERE

This year marks the Winds' 30th anniversary. Mr. Ward has many events planned to make this a wonderful reunion.

Could you make it?

If you were a member of the Santa Ana Winds at any time within the last 30 years, please email whether you would be at least interested in attending a reunion. Mr. Ward would also like as many alumni as possible to return and march once again in the Hollywood Christmas Parade. So far we have had numerous positive responses. Planning a date and location of the reunion and a possible alumni concert will begin in a few months. If you have emailed or snail mailed with your positive interest, you will receive a notice as soon as plans are in action. So please tell all your Winds buddies about this so they have plenty of advance notice to prepare for this special event, a chance to get together once again.

Hollywood Again!

Attention all alumni!!!

If you'd like to march in Hollywood again, you must come to a Winds practice before October 30th. This is so you can get music, remember how we march (like you can ever forget that first step!) and get fitted for a uniform. Please call Mr Ward if you are interested. If you don't have his number, email us and we will pass on your interest. Look at our Schedule for practices.

SA Winds on Parade

It's Sunday morning, and the city of Santa Ana sleeps. However, at 900 N. Broadway there is already much going on. Yes, the Santa Ana Winds are preparing for yet another parade. The sounds of tubas and percussion instruments being loaded on board a Stardust Tours bus can be heard.

Fellow band members greet each other as they run upstairs to the third floor to pick up their uniforms and equipment. Winds members board the bus and prepare to depart.

After all business is taken care of, Mr. Ward comes onboard and gives instructions for the day. As he does, off we go to catch the I-5 north.

The morning commute to the parade is quite enjoyable until Mr. Ward gets on the intercom and says "get dressed."

We arrive at our destination, check in, and prepare to do our usual thing before each parade. The bus is unloaded, Winds members get off and find their horns and begin to warm up. In a while, the drum major gathers the band and begins a warm up. Soon Mr. Ward takes over, and it's time for some serious business.

We practice our roll-off, our introduction, and our step-off for competition, and boy old boy! Mr. Ward gives us a good work out before the parade! So by the time we get ready to step off, we are more than ready for the parade.

Our turn to step off arrives, and we march gracefully towards the crowds swinging our arms to the sounds of the cadance. We play a couple of tunes for the crowds, and practice our competition march as well. The crowd cheers us on as we delight them with our wonderful music and graceful marching. As we near the competition zone, you can feel the excitement build up on the Winds. Everyone prepares to play, spin, march, and look good for the judges.

The sounds of cheering Winds members can be heard as we enter competition. Finally, we are at the halt line. The adrenaline is pumping and we are all excited and ready. The drum major does his flurish and gives the roll off. And just like that, the Winds are off. The first note of Ancient is accompanied by a graceful burst of confetti to add to our showmanship. The crowd loves it and the Winds feel good and march on proudly and gracefully.

As we approach the judges stand, we execute our waltz step with precision and accuracy. The letters salute, then the tall flags, then the drum major.

As we approach the end of competition, we repeat the march and play it again from the trio. The final rank passes the end of competition and we are through, but it's not the end. Oh no, not by a long shot, we still march on, for the parade is only about three quarters, or maybe even more done. Yet, as roll off after roll off after roll off is given, the Winds continue to play and entertain the crowd with the same spirit as in the beginning of the parde. After all, we are there to entertain the crowds, not just to entertain the judges!

As we near the homestretch of the parade and our bus is in sight, Mr. Ward gives that final roll off, and we play "Tiger Rag". Suddenly, the Winds become this really energetic and new band! Every single members plays that horn and spins that flag with a passion to show the other bands what we're about. It's the end of the parade, and the Winds blow right by with that dixieland tune, "Tiger Rag." Heads turn towards us, people watch and listen as we go by, and occasionally a drum major from another band salutes our drum major.

The mighty Santa Ana Winds have completed another memorable parade. The drum major dismisses the band, and then there is this sea of band members scrambling to put intruments and equipment away. There is cold water provided to us and a few minutes to relax after the parade. Then it's on to the awards ceremony where we stay as a group and wait and listen. Our efforts in competition zone are most of the time rewarded with that big six footer. It is then when the band cheers and jumps for joy, for we have won the parade!

All that practice on Monday nights pays off in these moments. The Santa Ana Winds bring home yet another six footer. May these Winds never die down and keep bringing the six footers home!

College of the Season

In order to help high school students choose a wise educational plan, we're continuing the tradition of the original TigerRag by having some of our college-attending Winds members write about their school. If you are attending a college or used to attend one, and would like to write a little about it, please send us your comments and we will post them with each new edition. Alumni are encouraged to write about their colleges also!

Enough said, now who wants to do this quarter's college? Send me a small write up, what you like, what you don't like, and try to add a little info on the music program if you can. Thanks!

Past featured colleges:

Orange Coast College

Upcoming Parades!!!

East LA
Hollywood Christmas Parade
Beverly Hills
Downey
South Gate...

Are YOU ready for the parades this fall? You can find them on the Schedule of Events.

What will you need?

MEMORIZED MUSIC!
Shoes (cleaned and polished)
Gloves (cleaned & bleached)
white shirt with sleeves
white shorts or bathing suit
white socks
money for lunch
smiles and pride!

What will we play?

Ancient & Honorable,
Parade of Carols,
Beer Barrel Polka,
Saints Go Marching In,
America the Beautiful,
Tiger Rag,
any other music from your memory packet.

Can I bring my family?

YES! We encourage parents to come and see their children in action and cheer them on. Plus, we oftenneed extra vehicles for when our buses become over-crowded.