Fun Fact to start us off for today: Dancers serve no discernible purpose. Maybe they have some kind of function integral to the smooth running of the planet, but if today's experiences are anything to go by, it's probably not a very important or complicated role. But more on that later...
Aaaaanyway, when the weather forecasts are taken into account, the rehearsal weekend had some pretty spectacular weather. Not only did it not rain, there weren't gale force winds (something those of us who play giant wind traps - namely sousas and the larger bass drums - rather enjoy the lack of), and it wasn't even that cold. All in all, when the weather of previous rehearsals is taken into account, it was a good omen.
After much stretching and warm-up games at the hands of the drum majors and Normo, we spent the morning practising the drill for Tuesday, using a quasi-Seymour centre built using some chairs from the hall and some strategically placed cones, an arrangement which meant that whenever we were asked to reset to a certain point in the music, the imaginary audience were constantly being trampled by the lower brass, and that the stage was constantly being invaded by the brass and wind players during the 7/8.
Saturday also saw the appearance of Greg's teaching prac student... or at least that's who the trombone section said the member of the teaching staff whom no-one had seen before was...
Following lunch, we rehearsed in the imaginary Seymour centre for a while longer before we headed onto the field for some fieldshow practice. The first run was... questionable, but by the time it was dark (which happened really fast, might I add), we were actually making the forms correctly, which according to Katrina was a great improvement. This was success even lacking a reasonably large chunk of the band. which leads me to a quick request to everyone to TURN UP TO REHEARSALS! IT MAKES EVERYONE MUCHLY HAPPYFUL! It also makes working on the fieldshow easier, because there aren't vast chunks missing from forms. Think about it.
Following the packing of the 'truck' (pronounced: Greg's car), all were dismissed for the movie/bingo night organised by the social committee. Following dinner (the third meal of the day provided by the Boosters), the band and their families went into the hall to watch Monsters Inc., interspersed with some bingo. All in all, a marvellously enjoyable night, and thus I bestow congratulations upon the social committee for organising it.
On sunday, at noon and clad in our new blue rehearsal shirts, replete with section label on the arm (because we truly are that cool), we assembled outside the Seymour centre and had another rehearsal in another imaginary theatre, one of different dimensions to that of saturday. That was a learning experience. It was also free entertainment for the uni students/hipsters/dog walkers who happened to be in the general vicinity at the time.
In due course we actually entered the theatre in which we were to perform... only to discover that most of our drill just wouldn't work in the space provided. So true to form, we learned almost everything from scratch to suit the venue. In about 45 minutes. Respect unto us.
We were doing our final runthrough when the incident which prompted the primary Fun Fact took place. Following a large amount of shrieking at Keevers and Galuzzi playing at regular volume in an incredibly enclosed space (have you ever tried carrying a sousa in a tunnel which is about 6 feet high? It's incredibly difficult. Especially when there are things hanging off/out of the ceiling to make it harder... but I digress), the clump of dancers behind those of us in door 1 proceeded to faff about in our walkway AS WE WERE ACTUALLY DOING THE SHOW. Thus actively getting in the way. The boosters managed to scream at them enough to get them out of the way before anyone ended up with sousaphone or trombone shaped injuries, but honestly. Surely they realised that the scary people with giant instruments (i.e. us) weren't exactly likely to make way for the faffers about (i.e. them) when they were faffing in the middle of our rehearsal. This in turn made Keevers fondly remember the days of Spec last year when if any dancer was fool enough to get too close they'd get hit... but back on topic.
After an impressive hour long runthrough, we packed ourselves up, put larger instruments into the dressing room (which was not in any way shape or form built to withstand an entire marching band) and were in due course let out to rejoin our parents and go home to practice our horn angles. Because golly there were a lot of them.
And let's not forget that this rehearsal was but the beginning of a tale of epicness (and we're talking epicness of Classical proportions...) which will culminate in the Arts Unit Showcase 2011, which will in fact be the first time the marching band have performed at it. Excitement.
Remember, practice the choreography, make sure your horn angles are nice and high, and whatever you do, don't get injured and don't blow your lips out before Tuesday.
Until then...
No comments:
Post a Comment