It should also be noted that the drum majors have made a facebook group to give you unofficial information regarding rehearsals and such.
If you're not yet a member of it, add Zoe Coffa; Scott Murphy or Belinda Smith (the drum majors) who will then add you. Your best bet is Zoe, as she is the only Zoe Coffa on facebook.
Add and go forth in internet related happiness.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
JANUARY
At the request of Keevers, I'm beginning this post with a FUN FACT!!
Fun fact: according to the NSW department of Sport and Recreation, Marching band an extreme sport. That's right, a government body recognises the crazy stuff we have to do.
It's classed as an extreme sport due to the extremely high casualty rate associated with marching band, which brings me quite nicely to the following message form the Boosters: drink lots of water. Water is good. It stops your internal organs from going into thermal meltdown, and it keeps your brain from shrivelling up. Drink lots of it in the leadup to the February rehearsal because it will be in all likelihood another hot and humid rehearsal.
And onto the fun stuff.
Sunday's rehearsal started with the returning year 11 and 12 members, the section leaders and student executive members watching the fieldshow animation Katrina had written for Battlefield.
Immediately after that, we realised that during the holidays, Jake had decided it was a good idea to get his lip pierced, which in and of itself declared open season on Jake for this supreme lack of foresight, especially since he couldn't play for another three weeks. The fool.
Everyone then went into the hall for a brainstorming session about what marching band meant to us. The result was Penguin Sunday. The phrase which according to the band seniors best encapsulates the experience of marching band. If you think about it hard enough, it makes sense. Kind of...
There was then a runthrough of the music, which being Cirque du Soleil was rather awesome.
We found out the size of this years band (apparently upwards of 100 people) which just goes to show just how successful the Great Recruitment Drive of 2010 was. The band is big, and not only that, drumline now has enough members for a pit percussion section. Huzzah!
And there's now a boy in colourguard.
On sunday, everyone was bestowed with nametags because the fabled new members whom we had heard so much about were there in their multitudinous glory. The day started off with everyone splitting off into their sections to meet the new people, and in the case of low brass, the returning members who had been amalgamated into their sections. Thus low brass must henceforth be referred to low brass and winds with the addition of the tenor saxes and bass clarinet.
After a runthrough of the music, there was a drill rehearsal where much to the horror of returning members, the drill commands had changed, thus putting everyone on a level playing field with regard to learning the drill commands.
During lunch the seniors who hadn't been in attendance that mornign arrived, and the drill was run through again so as to allow them to learn the new commands. Then followed another music rehearsal with the whole band, in which everyone in the back row of the band (i.e. not drumline), and especially the sousas discovered just how loud the new drumline was. Namely incredibly.
During assembly, the Boosters talked to us about the importance of hydration and nutrition...and STRETCHING. If you stretch, you don't get injured and you find that you're less stiff after rehearsals. Stretching, like memorisation, requires daily work, so for five minutes after you practice your music, take the time to stretch. You'll find that come the next rehearsal you're more flexible, which means you'll be less likely to injure yourself during the rehearsal, and you'll be less sore after drillwork.
Also during assembly, new members were introduced to the band by either section leaders or their alternates.
Monday's nametags were not of the same quality as sundays, with the majority of those with a surname beginning with L or M lacking a first name on their nametags.
Monday saw the beginning of our learning the field drill for Battlefield. It also saw the beginning of the extreme heat which returned on tuesday.
We were also introduced to the points which are to be bestowed on sections demonstrating marvellous dedication to the band. Like a military medal, points are only bestowed for exhibitions of whatever the band equivalent of extreme valour is. Who knows. Maybe there are points to be awarded for extreme valour. I'll be interested to find out in future rehearsals.
Monday afternoon after practice consisted of getting to know you games, in which we were reminded just how good at dancing Shane is. Thanks go to the social committee for organising the games night.
Tuesday was just as hot as monday, if not moreso. The nametags, were back up to scratch, with the exception of that belonging to new David, who for whatever reason didn't have his school written on his. At least his name was.
With the arrival of Katrina, we did lots and lots of drill, getting from set A to set K - a very good achievement when the time in which we'd had the music is taken into account.
There was a drilldown, which was filled with (once again) the hilarity of watching David K (Keevers) do about-faces with a very large drum. The hilarity was compounded by the fact that this year he's playing an even larger drum than last year: Big Bertha. Taking over Keevers' old drum is Gabe, formerly a mere groupie with a camera, now a fully fledged member of the band.
Winning drilldown, there was a 3-way tie between Kathryn (MiniRamsay), Michale Hoyle and Hamish, all of whom somehow managed to wrap their brains around the new drill commands and execution. Thus props to them.
The pointscore as it currently stands is:
Alto Saxes: 2 (One for extreme dedication to attention, one for Hamish winning drilldown)
Low brass and wind: 2 (One for sousas memorising their music on the first day, one for Michael Hoyle winning drilldown)
Flutes: 1 (Kathryn in Drilldown)
And there's another section on one point, but I cannot for the life of me remember which or for what. If anyone knows, it would be great if you could comment on this post and tell me.
For next rehearsal: memoriuse Battlefield, memorise the opening piece for Ka, memorise the Anzac Day music: I am Australian, Road to Gundagai, Great Escape.
Don't forget there's the family picnic on saturday 19 feb after rehearsal, and sunday is a dress up day, the theme of which is Penguin Sunday. Get creative, kids.
Remember to stretch, play lots, get keen.
Fun fact: according to the NSW department of Sport and Recreation, Marching band an extreme sport. That's right, a government body recognises the crazy stuff we have to do.
It's classed as an extreme sport due to the extremely high casualty rate associated with marching band, which brings me quite nicely to the following message form the Boosters: drink lots of water. Water is good. It stops your internal organs from going into thermal meltdown, and it keeps your brain from shrivelling up. Drink lots of it in the leadup to the February rehearsal because it will be in all likelihood another hot and humid rehearsal.
And onto the fun stuff.
Sunday's rehearsal started with the returning year 11 and 12 members, the section leaders and student executive members watching the fieldshow animation Katrina had written for Battlefield.
Immediately after that, we realised that during the holidays, Jake had decided it was a good idea to get his lip pierced, which in and of itself declared open season on Jake for this supreme lack of foresight, especially since he couldn't play for another three weeks. The fool.
Everyone then went into the hall for a brainstorming session about what marching band meant to us. The result was Penguin Sunday. The phrase which according to the band seniors best encapsulates the experience of marching band. If you think about it hard enough, it makes sense. Kind of...
There was then a runthrough of the music, which being Cirque du Soleil was rather awesome.
We found out the size of this years band (apparently upwards of 100 people) which just goes to show just how successful the Great Recruitment Drive of 2010 was. The band is big, and not only that, drumline now has enough members for a pit percussion section. Huzzah!
And there's now a boy in colourguard.
On sunday, everyone was bestowed with nametags because the fabled new members whom we had heard so much about were there in their multitudinous glory. The day started off with everyone splitting off into their sections to meet the new people, and in the case of low brass, the returning members who had been amalgamated into their sections. Thus low brass must henceforth be referred to low brass and winds with the addition of the tenor saxes and bass clarinet.
After a runthrough of the music, there was a drill rehearsal where much to the horror of returning members, the drill commands had changed, thus putting everyone on a level playing field with regard to learning the drill commands.
During lunch the seniors who hadn't been in attendance that mornign arrived, and the drill was run through again so as to allow them to learn the new commands. Then followed another music rehearsal with the whole band, in which everyone in the back row of the band (i.e. not drumline), and especially the sousas discovered just how loud the new drumline was. Namely incredibly.
During assembly, the Boosters talked to us about the importance of hydration and nutrition...and STRETCHING. If you stretch, you don't get injured and you find that you're less stiff after rehearsals. Stretching, like memorisation, requires daily work, so for five minutes after you practice your music, take the time to stretch. You'll find that come the next rehearsal you're more flexible, which means you'll be less likely to injure yourself during the rehearsal, and you'll be less sore after drillwork.
Also during assembly, new members were introduced to the band by either section leaders or their alternates.
Monday's nametags were not of the same quality as sundays, with the majority of those with a surname beginning with L or M lacking a first name on their nametags.
Monday saw the beginning of our learning the field drill for Battlefield. It also saw the beginning of the extreme heat which returned on tuesday.
We were also introduced to the points which are to be bestowed on sections demonstrating marvellous dedication to the band. Like a military medal, points are only bestowed for exhibitions of whatever the band equivalent of extreme valour is. Who knows. Maybe there are points to be awarded for extreme valour. I'll be interested to find out in future rehearsals.
Monday afternoon after practice consisted of getting to know you games, in which we were reminded just how good at dancing Shane is. Thanks go to the social committee for organising the games night.
Tuesday was just as hot as monday, if not moreso. The nametags, were back up to scratch, with the exception of that belonging to new David, who for whatever reason didn't have his school written on his. At least his name was.
With the arrival of Katrina, we did lots and lots of drill, getting from set A to set K - a very good achievement when the time in which we'd had the music is taken into account.
There was a drilldown, which was filled with (once again) the hilarity of watching David K (Keevers) do about-faces with a very large drum. The hilarity was compounded by the fact that this year he's playing an even larger drum than last year: Big Bertha. Taking over Keevers' old drum is Gabe, formerly a mere groupie with a camera, now a fully fledged member of the band.
Winning drilldown, there was a 3-way tie between Kathryn (MiniRamsay), Michale Hoyle and Hamish, all of whom somehow managed to wrap their brains around the new drill commands and execution. Thus props to them.
The pointscore as it currently stands is:
Alto Saxes: 2 (One for extreme dedication to attention, one for Hamish winning drilldown)
Low brass and wind: 2 (One for sousas memorising their music on the first day, one for Michael Hoyle winning drilldown)
Flutes: 1 (Kathryn in Drilldown)
And there's another section on one point, but I cannot for the life of me remember which or for what. If anyone knows, it would be great if you could comment on this post and tell me.
For next rehearsal: memoriuse Battlefield, memorise the opening piece for Ka, memorise the Anzac Day music: I am Australian, Road to Gundagai, Great Escape.
Don't forget there's the family picnic on saturday 19 feb after rehearsal, and sunday is a dress up day, the theme of which is Penguin Sunday. Get creative, kids.
Remember to stretch, play lots, get keen.
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