Fun fact: Heatstroke is unpleasant.
Secondary fun fact: Reverse mullets are a questionable choice of haircut.
This month was hot. And humid. And overall, generally icky.
We began in the air-conditioned hall with a music rehearsal before moving onto the field to begin learning the drill for Opening Production.
Following lunch, there was more field rehearsing, at which point heatstroke began to hit, thus resulting in the rehearsal being moved back to the air-conditioned hall.
After the rehearsal ended for the day there was the Marching Band family picnic and dance night with much dancing and such, as well as the musical talents of band members and staff Alix Coffa, Tom McCracken, Mark Slegers, Malcolm Ramsay (Normo), Belinda and Katrina Smith, Greg Hebblewhite, Dane and some members of the band 'Superstitious'.
We also said farewell to Lindsay Frost, conductor extraordinaire, who has resigned from the Band. His awesomeness will be missed.
Then came sunday. In order to prevent as much heatstroke as possible, we started with field rehearsal during the least hot part of the day (I refrain from saying coolest because it just...wasn't). The drill for Opening Production was finalised and following a few run-throughs of Battlefield we formed into a parade block and marched around the school practicing the ANZAC day music. Props must go to Liam for turning up in the penguin suit we first saw at Spec.
At this point it should be noted that there are yet more new members in the band: Eamonn, another bass clarinet; Sam the fire twirler, the second boy in colouguard; as well as Brandon, the new Sousa, and Imogen, spec ring in now made full member.
Sadly however, we must farewell Gabe, our cameraman turned drummer who has moved to Queensland and is thus out of the purvey of the DET and resultingly the Arts Unit and its affiliates.
Once the heat became too disgusting, the band split into student executive groups with those not involved having a drilldown.
Then came lunch and the 'Penguin Sunday' dress-up competition. The winners were Liz Arthur from colourguard who penguin suited up, and Keevers who was black and white and red all over... because he was dressed as a penguin in a blender. Tasty.
Finishing off the rehearsal,there was a music rehearsal in the hall, wherein we discovered just how loud we could play. As it turns out, very. And we will have to harness that loudness next rehearsal when we're recorded and filmed to show the NRL what it is we're capable of and thus hopefully perform at a game some time in the future.
Numerous points were awarded as Dane recognised the extra mile students have been going this rehearsal. Unfortunately I didn't have access to a piece of paper so if you know who got points and for what, please comment because I'll be keeping a tally of which section contains the highest proportion of band zealots.
As it stood from last rehearsal:
Flutes: 1
Alto Sax: 2
Low brass and wind: 2
I'll update as soon as I have info as to who got the points today.
The dress-up theme for next month's rehearsal will apparently be Circus, in lieu of the fact that the Ka music was taken from Cirque du Soleil.
Remember to memorise your music for Ka and ANZAC day, remember to stay hydrated and generally just stay pumped. See you in a month!
