Fun Fact: when aqueous fluid falls from the sky, the objects touched by said fluid become dampened. That's right, kids. You heard it here first.
On saturday, it rained. The rain fell at varying intensities throughout the day, but it still rained more or less continually.
Following breakfast with the Boosters, we had a music rehearsal, during which the extent to which some sections hadn't been practising their ANZAC Day music over the holidays became apparent. Luckily, after a few runthroughs, everyone had the music more or less memorised, which meant we could practice parade marching.
So we all put on the marvellously stylish Bunnungs Warehouse ponchos provided for us by the Boosters, and headed down to the (completely sodden) field, where we formed up and then marched around and around and around until Katrina was happy with us. Everyone's shoes were soaked before they'd reached the first wheel.
But we soldiered on through the fundamentals which followed, and then we moved onto the fieldshow. During this time, Shane discovered that if he rubbed his fingers against the rain-covered heads of his drums, he would create a weird squeaking sound. Which he then proceeded to make whenever possible. Then certain members of the sousaphone section (namely myself) realised they could do the same thing using the water which collected on the surface of the bell. Much fun was had.
Then followed lunch, which itself was followed by more rehearsing of the fieldshow. It rained less in the afternoon, to such an extent that by the end of the afternoon rehearsal session, we could actually take off the ponchos. There was much rejoicing, followed by much formationing (I understand that 'formationing' is not a valid participle. Just go with it).
Sunday was drier than saturday (although let's be honest, that isn't saying much). It didn't rain for the whole day, which was marvellously pleasant for us because it meant we didn't have to wear the ponchos. Sunday also marked the end of people being sized for rehearsal shirts, and the beginning of the Easter themed fun the Boosters planned (it was Easter sunday, after all).
At the morning rehearsal we were joined by the alumni who would be marching with us on ANZAC day for some marvellously fun parade marching. Luckily the field wasn't as sodden, so everyone's shoes managed to stay if not dry, at least not soaked.
Two hours later, the alumni left, and we went back to practicing the fieldshow. Then came the Easter egg hunt, which was greatly enjoyed by all. There was also a dress-up competition and a 'guess the number of eggs in the container' competition, all of which were organised by the marvellous Boosters.
Following lunch, there was yet more fieldshowing (also probably not a legit participle), to the extent where we technically had all of the opening production learned, and its connection with Battlefield. Although the last move before battlefield started tended to be a touch exciting...
We then packed the drums and big instruments onto the truck in preparation for the ANZAC Day march.
Fun Fact Pertaining to Monday: Waiting is boring.
Monday dawned to copious rain. The sheer extent to which liquid fell from the sky was staggering. Everyone met at the truck at 7.30, with the exception of Katrina who was drum majoring for another band, and thus couldn't march with us.
Instruments were removed from the truck and set up, cases were put back on the truck, capes were pinned and ponchos were distributed, and finally we were ready to march off to the starting point of the parade. Where we waited. And waited. And then waited some more. Eventually, we moved undercover into the MLC centre, where we could continue to wait without the irritation of being rained on.
At this point Lachie (or Lockie, I am yet to work out which is the correct spelling) had a nap, still in harness, the photos of which should be floating about Facebook soon enough if you can be bothered finding them.
In due course, we were told that we'd actually be marching, so we all went back outside and formed up. And then we waited. It wasn't raining, so we took of our ponchos, and then waited. Finally, a while after 10.30 we actually started marching. And then the rain began afresh. Suffice to say that much dampness was experienced.
After the completion of our first pass we returned to the truck for ANZAC biscuits and water - we had fifteen minutes before we needed to form up again for our second pass. We said hello to some of the alumni who weren't marching with us, and then formed up and once again marched to the start point of the parade.
Where we waited.
And waited.
And finally started marching, at which point it started raining. Again.
After another damp lap, we returned to the truck and were dismissed, leaving us to pack up and then go home to dry out.
Reminders for May
There will be a dress-ups theme of 'M'. Get creative.
Because of the Arts Unit Showcase, the date has been changed (it's now the 28th/29th), and the format of the rehearsal has also been changed.
Saturday will be lengthened, with the rehearsal ending at 5.30 followed by a movie night. Sunday will then begin at midday at the Seymour Centre. More information will find its way to your inbox in the interim, filling you in on all the details.
Remember to fill in the tinyurl survey regarding your attendance at rehearsals and the like. The url is www.tinyurl.com/MMB(insert month here).
The tinyurl for the Arts Unit Showcase is www.tinyurl.com/artsunitshowcase
Those of you who were in attendance on Saturday will be in possession of one or more boxes of fundraising chocolates. These are to raise money for a band tour either up or down the coast after Spec. Which will be awesome to the extreme, so make sure you sell the chocolates and then bring in the money at the May rehearsal.
In the meantime, practice walking up and down flights of stairs whilst playing your instrument. It'll make the performance for the showcase so much easier.
Also, a reminder that I graduate this year, so anyone interested in taking over the reigns of the blog ought to contact me so that I can walk them through how it all works.
Until the next, stay keen, learn your music, and don't get injured. And play loud and proud.
