Before I kick off this month's post, I must apologise for the delay. Moral of the story: don't get injured.
Also as a bit of a precursor, I feel the need to put forth a few caveats/friendly bits of advice.
1 - If you play valved brass, always hold knives in your right hand. Thus if you do any damage, it's to the hand not directly responsible for being in pitch.
If you play clarinet (of any pitch), flute (of any pitch) or sax (of any pitch); just don't use knives. Ever. Because you need all of your fingers at peak functionality.
This is because
Fun [injury] Fact: when you cut out half of your nail, that finger becomes nigh useless until the nail grows back. You heard it here first.
2 - When you're in pain, stop and think a moment. Is it (a): the happy, good, constructive pain of working your muscles in a wholesome activity such as Marching Band; (b): the happy, good, constructive pain stemming from stretching so that (a) does not lead to (d) [see below]; (c): the happy, good, constructive pain of lactic acid buildup resulting from engaging in (a) without sufficient (b); or is it (d): the angry, bad, unconstructive, painful pain of injury?
Golly that was a long question.
Back to the advice: if your pain in (a), (b) or (c) - MAN UP. It's good for you. CHaracter building. If you have a problem with sucking it up, talk to one of the old guard who were in the band back in the days of pushups as punishment. Their war stories are bound to be better than whatever your issue is. Unless of course, your pain is in fact (d) - in which case you really ought to tell someone as opposed to just toughing it out. Because toughing it out (whilst marvellously stoic, not to mention rather admirable in a faintly masochistic manner) is what leads to major nasties such as injuries and heat stroke.
Neither of which are enjoyable.
So if your pain is (d), tell one of the Boosters and don't injure yourself. Because you're of no use to the band if you're non-functional.
So: this month (surprise surprise) it rained.
The inclement weather in fact makes this the sixth rehearsal of eight wherein substance more corporeal than a gas, yet less rigid than a solid has been pulled to earth by gravitational force (guess who figured out another way to say 'it rained' without actually saying 'it rained'... this kid).
As Katrina noted in a reasonably unimpressed manner: the best way to break a drought is to schedule a Marching Band rehearsal.
So true.
Following breakfast with the Boosters, there was a tour/spec music rehearsal in the COLA, which brings me to this question: why do people still need music for Opening Production?
I mean seriously, it was meant to be memorised ages ago, adn the great thing about memorisation is the fact that it's committed to MEMORY. And if you're practicing as you all ought to be, you're not going to forget it betwixt each rehearsal.
Honestly, have a little professionalism.
Speaking of practicing and professionalism; learn the music you were given. You've got a month, which is ages. Unless of course you weren't there this rehearsal to get the music in the first place, in which case your excuse ought to be pretty impressive (i,e, exams/debilitating illness/other performance/pressing family related other). N.B.: injury is not a valid excuse. Larissa was there with a leg injury; Holly was there with an ankle injury. If you're injured, you still turn up, you just don't march if you're unable. Also note: the sniffles are not debilitating. Tonsilitis (unless in conjunction with a respiratory infection) is not debilitating. Any disease with which you are still able to function does not qualify as debilitating. With (of course) the exception of contagious viruses along the lines of gastroenteritis or chickenpox, in which case nobody cares how functional you are, do everyone a favour and stay home. The last thing anyone wants is a figurative Typhoid Mary floating about.
Golly that was a long digression, even by my standards. Back to the story now...
We toddled off to the field for some fun training in about faces whilst marching. Because we're hardcore like that. This was interspersed with some marching with eyes closed, so that when it came to practising the passthrough no-one would be colliding in a mass of pain, agony and maiming. Hurrah.
Then it came time to start actually practicing passthroughs. That was some trippy stuff. Then followed some chroreography (just for the fun of it); music and then everyone was sent home.
Sunday was like saturday... on steroids.
Morning music rehearsal gave way to more FUNdamentals (insert weak enthusiasm here). When Katrina was confident no maiming would take place, we reiterated our two directional passthrough, and then added a third direction, much to everyone's stress. Or at least the stress of everyone not protected by a giant fibreglass instrument (i.e. me). Such fun.
After lunch came the choreography with music. Harder than it looks. Or maybe that's the sousaphone talking. I don't know. All I know is it's good I reiterated the Battlefield choreography in between the Arts Unit showcase and the rehearsal (the state music camp girls know what I'm talking about), because that was one fewer set of moves I had to learn.
Then came a drilldown, won by Hamish, who has broken his usual habit of getting out in the final three.
So: our next rehearsal begins with the Red Bull Xtreme whatever at Cockatoo Island (I actually have no idea exactly what it is).
Remember to: turn up at Cumberland at 0800; wear your blacks and bring a jumper and something to do in the inevitable waiting time; BRING SOME DRUM STICKS.
And practice your music.
Tata for now...
