Hello to all Marching Band Members! I would firstly like to apologize for the slight lateness of this blog since I did have a few troubles with actually finding something good to write for this month's blog.
Now, to start us off, this month's fun fact: It is generally a good idea to make sure that you know your drill when you have to step forward and there is a sousaphone standing right behind you. Especially if you're about the right size to get your own head swallowed up into the bell. Definitely not something that you want to happen. Trust me, it almost happened.
I would also like to welcome Francis Raciborski as our new sousaphonist. We hope you enjoyed your first weekend with us!
Saturday morning started off with a cool breeze, and the sky showed us the promising determination that it was definitely not going to rain this time. Which in truth, the weather forecast had just said no rain, just a lot of sun, and extremely warm weather.
With a brief introduction from Dane, we were sent off to prepare for a band rehearsal to practice Beethoven's 5th. This is when everyone noticed just how small our band really was without most of our year 12's. With several band members not being there, we trudged on, going through our music, making sure that we had our music fully memorised. For those who still haven't memorised their music, I suggest you start doing that now!
We were then sent off down to the field to meet with Normo for our warm-ups. Katrina put on some popular music for us to stretch along to. The stretching was just an intro into some seriously cool fun..... damentals! Fundamentals consisted of us walking forwards, backwards, and you guessed it, even sideways, while still managing to stay in straight lines AND even spacing.
That brings me to the tip of the day: Make sure you keep the upper half of your body facing towards the audience while your feet step sideways. It can be done!
Next up on the list was drill for Beethoven's 5th. It started with everyone reconfirming the numbers that they had been given earlier in the day, as well as double checking that the empty spaces next to them were actually supposed to be there. We blundered through the first half of the drill, and eventually we brought in a recording of the music. We could hardly keep up with the speed of the song, and no matter how many times Katrina told him to give us the somewhat slower version, Normo wasn't going to budge.
After lunch, to our mild horror, we were back out on to the field to finish off the drill where we tried to have a go with our instruments. Parents started to slowly trail in for our open rehearsal and watch us as we try to remember our music and drill at the same time.
Drill finished, leading on to the bingo night, but before that happened, we had to say goodbye and good luck to the year 12's that had been at the rehearsal for the day. Good luck guys, and band wasn't the same without any of you on Sunday! Unfortunately I was unable to attend the Bingo night, but thanks to our Jimmy Olsen of Marching Band (Hooray for Superman reference!), I was able to find out that Liam Willis' team won the trivia and that Dane tried to cheat twice I believe?
Sunday's weather forecast said sunny all day and an even hotter temperature compared to the day before. We went down to the field, warming up to some old fashioned 80's music and from there we jumped back into drill, expected to stay under the boiling sun for the next 3 or so hours. With numerous water breaks and much stopping and starting, we managed to get through the first half of the day.
After relaxing during lunch, we headed down into the hall that had what we really needed. Air conditioners. This is where we had another band rehearsal working on Beethoven's 5th, making sure that it is going to be perfect for the Schools Spectacular. With everyone having to have at least one go at singing their parts, it definitely left us in good spirits at the end of rehearsal.
And that ends this blog for the October rehearsal! Don't forget to hydrate yourself throughout this next month guys, Dane told us specially to do this!
Bye for now!
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Friday, September 30, 2011
Things which have happened of late
Imagine my mild horror, when whilst studying, I realised that I hadn't written up the last spate of band related activities.
So: Saturday.
We were contracted to do the opening ceremony for the Red Bull MotoX at Cockatoo Island.
And that was when things stopped running according to plan.
Arriving at King Street Wharf, it became apparent that it would not be possible to get the entire band to the island in one boatload. It took three. Once at the island, we changed into our performance shirts and were distributed with earpieces, at which point we spent a lengthy amount of time waiting for someone to explain what it was we were to be doing.
Eventually all was explained, and equipped with drums, we went to a warehouse to practice. It was wondered whether it would have been a better idea to let us practice on the actual field (or whatever it is it's called), but that didn't come to pass. The other main thing which didn't come to pass was (apparently) telling the riders that they would be working with children. But more on that later.
When it eventually came time to perform, we stood, with our quaint little approximations of drums, for a very long time as a lengthy (and somewhat unnecessary) storyline was explained to the audience. The one highpoint of this was when the crew radio frequency was merged momentarily with the audience speakers frequency, resulting in this conversational gem.
*back of rider's jacket is pulled off to reveal name*
Organiser: Who is that? Will somebody tell me who that rider is?
Audience: IT'S TODD POTTER *assorted whooping*
And then it came time for us to "march up to the bikes, surround them, and then march off in an orderly fashion".
The only issue with that being the fact that no-one had told the riders that that was how it was going to go down. Imagine their surprise, when as they were kick-starting their bikes, they were suddenly surrounded by SCHOOL CHILDREN, thus constituting MASSIVE OH&S RISK, which they could only ameliorate by riding off AWAY from said children, AS FAST AS THEY POSSIBLY COULD. I use caps lock to give an idea of just how loud their exits were. Which is very.
Anyway, with our job done, we had nothing left to do but get our stuff together and head to the dock where we had been assured there would be a boat waiting to take us back to civilisation.
By now I probably don't need to state the obvious, but I will just for kicks. There was no boat.
And so we sat, for a good hour or so, on the dock, waiting for a boat. In time the boat came, and we returned home, confident in the knowledge that if we ever failed like the organisation of that gig failed, we would all be disembowelled by the conductors. And I say that in the nicest way possible.
Come sunday, much of the band were at Lewisham Public for Spec auditions. This did not deter Katrina from mandating that we would learn the passthrough. Which, for the record, we did. There was also much sectionals of music, which brings me to this:
you were all emailed your parts for Beethoven V. They are to be MEMORISED by the next rehearsal. That doesn't mean you can look at it a bit and then coast, that means you have the entire piece committed to memory, replete with time signature changes and ALL accents. Of which there are many. Learn them all.
In summary: learn your music, practice your 8:5, and whatever you do, stay away from men on large scary looking bikes.
That is all.
So: Saturday.
We were contracted to do the opening ceremony for the Red Bull MotoX at Cockatoo Island.
And that was when things stopped running according to plan.
Arriving at King Street Wharf, it became apparent that it would not be possible to get the entire band to the island in one boatload. It took three. Once at the island, we changed into our performance shirts and were distributed with earpieces, at which point we spent a lengthy amount of time waiting for someone to explain what it was we were to be doing.
Eventually all was explained, and equipped with drums, we went to a warehouse to practice. It was wondered whether it would have been a better idea to let us practice on the actual field (or whatever it is it's called), but that didn't come to pass. The other main thing which didn't come to pass was (apparently) telling the riders that they would be working with children. But more on that later.
When it eventually came time to perform, we stood, with our quaint little approximations of drums, for a very long time as a lengthy (and somewhat unnecessary) storyline was explained to the audience. The one highpoint of this was when the crew radio frequency was merged momentarily with the audience speakers frequency, resulting in this conversational gem.
*back of rider's jacket is pulled off to reveal name*
Organiser: Who is that? Will somebody tell me who that rider is?
Audience: IT'S TODD POTTER *assorted whooping*
And then it came time for us to "march up to the bikes, surround them, and then march off in an orderly fashion".
The only issue with that being the fact that no-one had told the riders that that was how it was going to go down. Imagine their surprise, when as they were kick-starting their bikes, they were suddenly surrounded by SCHOOL CHILDREN, thus constituting MASSIVE OH&S RISK, which they could only ameliorate by riding off AWAY from said children, AS FAST AS THEY POSSIBLY COULD. I use caps lock to give an idea of just how loud their exits were. Which is very.
Anyway, with our job done, we had nothing left to do but get our stuff together and head to the dock where we had been assured there would be a boat waiting to take us back to civilisation.
By now I probably don't need to state the obvious, but I will just for kicks. There was no boat.
And so we sat, for a good hour or so, on the dock, waiting for a boat. In time the boat came, and we returned home, confident in the knowledge that if we ever failed like the organisation of that gig failed, we would all be disembowelled by the conductors. And I say that in the nicest way possible.
Come sunday, much of the band were at Lewisham Public for Spec auditions. This did not deter Katrina from mandating that we would learn the passthrough. Which, for the record, we did. There was also much sectionals of music, which brings me to this:
you were all emailed your parts for Beethoven V. They are to be MEMORISED by the next rehearsal. That doesn't mean you can look at it a bit and then coast, that means you have the entire piece committed to memory, replete with time signature changes and ALL accents. Of which there are many. Learn them all.
In summary: learn your music, practice your 8:5, and whatever you do, stay away from men on large scary looking bikes.
That is all.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
August (or) Way to Fail, AFL.
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...
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...
Thursday, July 28, 2011
An Addendum (because I like gerundives)
It has come to my attention that Leanne also won the memorisation competition. Apologies for not mentioning this earlier.
Also, your emails are now in possession of an email regarding Beauty and the Beast. Be champs and respond to it.
Finally, if you don't understand the title of this post, I will paraphrase a brotip:
Grammar is cool.
Peace out.
Also, your emails are now in possession of an email regarding Beauty and the Beast. Be champs and respond to it.
Finally, if you don't understand the title of this post, I will paraphrase a brotip:
Grammar is cool.
Peace out.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Squelch - The July Rehearsal
In the days leading up to the July rehearsal, it rained with much volume and determination. This meant that come the weekend, whilst it wasn't actively raining, the field was nonetheless a bit of a raging swamp.
As a result, I brought gumboots. We then proceeded to not go onto the field all day.
Saturday began (and ended) with a music rehearsal. As well as continuing to hone our Cirque du Soleil and ANZAC day music, we began (and continued) work on our tour music: Birdland and Beethoven's Fifth [themes therefrom], as well as that favourite from last year: I Want You Back. Birdland posed some difficulties for those of us in low brass due to the generally low range of the piece, combined with the fact that the score is quite small. Because
Fun Fact: when you're playing low notes on low brass, your vision goes blurry from the vibrations. Which makes reading small music quite difficult. Especially [as with the sousa part] when the majority of the score is ledger lines. Fun times.
On the plus side, Beethoven 5 involves the style marking 'Rage!'. One can't find fault in a piece which is just asking one to go nuts.
Then followed our learning of the Anzac Day drill, which comprised of a lot of walking backwards and forwards, with the odd passthrough. Not as impressive as this passthrough Katrina showed us, but still reasonably snazzy.
We also got to see for the first time the drill for the drum feature, replete with a foot kicking a ball through some goalposts. Apparently much fun was had in the writing of that particular drill.
Sunday involved going on the field. It was squelchy.
We began with an assembly wherein we were introduced to Alison's French exchange student, Jean; and Liam learned that Anthony could potentially incapacitate him. There was more music, and then onto the field to learn the drill from the drum feature.
All the drill learning done over the course of the weekend [and the speed with which it took place] prompted Katrina to comment on how easy it is to learn drill when your music is memorised. For those of you who either didn't pick up on that thinly veiled hint, or otherwise weren't there, that was her telling you to memorise your music. SO DO IT!
After the accomplishment of learning six minutes worth of drill in the space of two hours [and after bandying about the word 'schmick' - at least that's how I assume it would be spelt] there was the memorisation test. Congratulations go to Ben Gray (both of them), Ben Mills, Shane and Brendan (the cymbal player) for not getting anything wrong. Brendan also gets a special mention for being more entertaining than Shane. I don't think anyone saw that one coming.
The afternoon music rehearsal also saw the vocalist auditions for tour. As it turned out, no-one is going to be singing You are the Sunshine of my Life, but there will be singing in I Want You Back. Fun times for Paul and myself.
There was also the promise made of a recording of the drum feature so as to enable us to practice it at home. By now an mp3 file should be floating about the theoretical aether of your internet. Make use of it.
Our next rehearsal will be the weekend of the AFL performance. Make sure you know all your music, make sure you're uninjured, and above all else, make sure you know that the date has changed.
Stay keen, kids.
As a result, I brought gumboots. We then proceeded to not go onto the field all day.
Saturday began (and ended) with a music rehearsal. As well as continuing to hone our Cirque du Soleil and ANZAC day music, we began (and continued) work on our tour music: Birdland and Beethoven's Fifth [themes therefrom], as well as that favourite from last year: I Want You Back. Birdland posed some difficulties for those of us in low brass due to the generally low range of the piece, combined with the fact that the score is quite small. Because
Fun Fact: when you're playing low notes on low brass, your vision goes blurry from the vibrations. Which makes reading small music quite difficult. Especially [as with the sousa part] when the majority of the score is ledger lines. Fun times.
On the plus side, Beethoven 5 involves the style marking 'Rage!'. One can't find fault in a piece which is just asking one to go nuts.
Then followed our learning of the Anzac Day drill, which comprised of a lot of walking backwards and forwards, with the odd passthrough. Not as impressive as this passthrough Katrina showed us, but still reasonably snazzy.
We also got to see for the first time the drill for the drum feature, replete with a foot kicking a ball through some goalposts. Apparently much fun was had in the writing of that particular drill.
Sunday involved going on the field. It was squelchy.
We began with an assembly wherein we were introduced to Alison's French exchange student, Jean; and Liam learned that Anthony could potentially incapacitate him. There was more music, and then onto the field to learn the drill from the drum feature.
All the drill learning done over the course of the weekend [and the speed with which it took place] prompted Katrina to comment on how easy it is to learn drill when your music is memorised. For those of you who either didn't pick up on that thinly veiled hint, or otherwise weren't there, that was her telling you to memorise your music. SO DO IT!
After the accomplishment of learning six minutes worth of drill in the space of two hours [and after bandying about the word 'schmick' - at least that's how I assume it would be spelt] there was the memorisation test. Congratulations go to Ben Gray (both of them), Ben Mills, Shane and Brendan (the cymbal player) for not getting anything wrong. Brendan also gets a special mention for being more entertaining than Shane. I don't think anyone saw that one coming.
The afternoon music rehearsal also saw the vocalist auditions for tour. As it turned out, no-one is going to be singing You are the Sunshine of my Life, but there will be singing in I Want You Back. Fun times for Paul and myself.
There was also the promise made of a recording of the drum feature so as to enable us to practice it at home. By now an mp3 file should be floating about the theoretical aether of your internet. Make use of it.
Our next rehearsal will be the weekend of the AFL performance. Make sure you know all your music, make sure you're uninjured, and above all else, make sure you know that the date has changed.
Stay keen, kids.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Roosters vs. Raiders (or) That Awkward Moment When the Holiday-Care Kids Watch Your Rehearsals for Entertainment.
This post is dedicated to Sophie and Lucy Pugh-Sellers, who having hung with us for six months are returning to America, where they can no doubt brag to their friends about the fact that they were in (arguably) the best high school marching band in the country. We're going to miss you both.
Fun Fact: When you have three male choir billets staying at your house and you need to get your runners so that you can get to Marching band, and said footwear happens to be in the room they were given, things get faintly awkward. They then lead to statements like "I didn't know you had a brother" from the kids you're carpooling with.
Regardless, following the morning's faint awkwardness, I arrived at Cumberland at the bright and early time of 8.20. I was in for a long wait. As more and more people arrived, I became aware of the effects of last rehearsal's blog post. As well as eliciting numerous oblique references to the ranting exhibited on the facebook page, I discovered that Jordan had shaved just to ensure that no-one would have stabby-stabby murder faces brought on by unnecessary facial hair. This was of course more than counterbalanced by the fact that Jacob seems to be going for the 'lol jks, I'm actually in my mid-thirties' look. Not Ok. Shave.
At assembly, wherein we learned more about the post-spec tour (information will apparently be arriving in your inboxes at some point soonish... I can't be any more specific otherwise I lose plausible deniability), most notably the fact that not only will there be a piece played entirely on balloons (awkward if they pop like they did in warmup today), there will be a piece involving singing. Remember to inform Dane if you are interested in any of the above.
And now we reach the discussion of that awkward moment when the holiday care kids watch your rehearsals for entertainment. All morning, as we ran the show, filled in gaps and generally just polished drill, there was a whole contingent of little kids up at Carlingford West PS wearing [obscenely] fluorescent orange hats, screaming 'go trumpets' and 'go clarinets' alternately. On the plus side, they were an incredibly receptive audience.
The first few runthroughs were a touch questionable thanks to the fact that instead of the field being marked in a delightfully convenient 5m grid, we had vertical lines every ten metres and precious little else. This was perhaps a good thing as we were missing so many people (flutes, I'm judging your attendance) that we were marching more to keep the forms recognisable than to actually follow the drillbook to the step.
After we finally got it presentable, it was time to pack the 'truck' (pack the larger-than-average people-mover just doesn't have the same ring to it, even if it's true), get changed, eat lunch and then head onto the swivelly bus to get to the Sydney Football Stadium.
At this point, the sock puppet with whom I have monologues on facebook was revealed. Apparently it's a creepy looking sock puppet. Also apparently, most people thought I was just having a SPD moment (i.e. the sock puppet was merely a figment of my imagination).
I can't comment on anything else which went on during the bus trip as I was asleep most of the time. It was awesome.
Once we arrived at the stadium, we went to our holding room above the SCG and hung around until it was our time to practice. We only needed one runthrough. It was awesome. We then got off the field just in time to avoid being possibly maimed by the Canberra Raiders U21 team. Because that would have been somewhat awkward.
As it turned out, we were in fact restricted to the areas between the 30s, not an ideal restriction as at times the drill postulated that we were in fact meant to be heading past them towards the 20s. We improvised.
Following another wait at the SCG at which time we ate our prepacked dinners and got into our blacks and capes, it was time to perform. From the screams emanating from the dancers, out ten-hut was impressive in its volume. Our performance was valiant, if at times creative, and it seemed that the reasonably meagre crowd liked us.
An entertaining aspect was the ability to catch glimpses of the show on the JumboTron. As it turns out, the fact that I am significantly shorter than the rest of my section shows when photographed from above. Go figure.
Now, it is time for another Fun Fact: whilst high wind may be terribly visually dynamic when we're wearing capes, it is nonetheless not ideal when one plays a sousaphone. They're like giant fibreglass wind-socks.
After the performance, we were all dismissed from the SCG at which point some went to watch the game (the outcome of which I cannot comment on, having left to catch public transport home) and the rest went home.
I myself had a mild adventure on buses which leads me to
Fun Fact the Third: the eastern suburbs were not (a)well set out or (b)designed with logical public transportation in mind.
Moral of the story: if you have to get from Moore Park to the city, you're almost better off walking to Central. Almost.
Regardless, today served as a great learning experience for the AFL show, one which will be made all the more entertaining as THERE WILL BE NO LINES ON THE FIELD. OH YES, THEY WENT THERE. As a result, you should really practice your drill in the meantime. Also, those who didn't, really ought to shave.
We have a while until the next rehearsal, make the time count.
Finally, props go to Hayley Squires, who turned up to marching band still swollen (and mildly doped up) from dental surgery (five wisdom teeth... how does that even happen?). Follow her example and nut up. Whatever illness/injury you're nursing, statistically, it isn't that bad.
I'll see y'alls next rehearsal. Stay cool.
Fun Fact: When you have three male choir billets staying at your house and you need to get your runners so that you can get to Marching band, and said footwear happens to be in the room they were given, things get faintly awkward. They then lead to statements like "I didn't know you had a brother" from the kids you're carpooling with.
Regardless, following the morning's faint awkwardness, I arrived at Cumberland at the bright and early time of 8.20. I was in for a long wait. As more and more people arrived, I became aware of the effects of last rehearsal's blog post. As well as eliciting numerous oblique references to the ranting exhibited on the facebook page, I discovered that Jordan had shaved just to ensure that no-one would have stabby-stabby murder faces brought on by unnecessary facial hair. This was of course more than counterbalanced by the fact that Jacob seems to be going for the 'lol jks, I'm actually in my mid-thirties' look. Not Ok. Shave.
At assembly, wherein we learned more about the post-spec tour (information will apparently be arriving in your inboxes at some point soonish... I can't be any more specific otherwise I lose plausible deniability), most notably the fact that not only will there be a piece played entirely on balloons (awkward if they pop like they did in warmup today), there will be a piece involving singing. Remember to inform Dane if you are interested in any of the above.
And now we reach the discussion of that awkward moment when the holiday care kids watch your rehearsals for entertainment. All morning, as we ran the show, filled in gaps and generally just polished drill, there was a whole contingent of little kids up at Carlingford West PS wearing [obscenely] fluorescent orange hats, screaming 'go trumpets' and 'go clarinets' alternately. On the plus side, they were an incredibly receptive audience.
The first few runthroughs were a touch questionable thanks to the fact that instead of the field being marked in a delightfully convenient 5m grid, we had vertical lines every ten metres and precious little else. This was perhaps a good thing as we were missing so many people (flutes, I'm judging your attendance) that we were marching more to keep the forms recognisable than to actually follow the drillbook to the step.
After we finally got it presentable, it was time to pack the 'truck' (pack the larger-than-average people-mover just doesn't have the same ring to it, even if it's true), get changed, eat lunch and then head onto the swivelly bus to get to the Sydney Football Stadium.
At this point, the sock puppet with whom I have monologues on facebook was revealed. Apparently it's a creepy looking sock puppet. Also apparently, most people thought I was just having a SPD moment (i.e. the sock puppet was merely a figment of my imagination).
I can't comment on anything else which went on during the bus trip as I was asleep most of the time. It was awesome.
Once we arrived at the stadium, we went to our holding room above the SCG and hung around until it was our time to practice. We only needed one runthrough. It was awesome. We then got off the field just in time to avoid being possibly maimed by the Canberra Raiders U21 team. Because that would have been somewhat awkward.
As it turned out, we were in fact restricted to the areas between the 30s, not an ideal restriction as at times the drill postulated that we were in fact meant to be heading past them towards the 20s. We improvised.
Following another wait at the SCG at which time we ate our prepacked dinners and got into our blacks and capes, it was time to perform. From the screams emanating from the dancers, out ten-hut was impressive in its volume. Our performance was valiant, if at times creative, and it seemed that the reasonably meagre crowd liked us.
An entertaining aspect was the ability to catch glimpses of the show on the JumboTron. As it turns out, the fact that I am significantly shorter than the rest of my section shows when photographed from above. Go figure.
Now, it is time for another Fun Fact: whilst high wind may be terribly visually dynamic when we're wearing capes, it is nonetheless not ideal when one plays a sousaphone. They're like giant fibreglass wind-socks.
After the performance, we were all dismissed from the SCG at which point some went to watch the game (the outcome of which I cannot comment on, having left to catch public transport home) and the rest went home.
I myself had a mild adventure on buses which leads me to
Fun Fact the Third: the eastern suburbs were not (a)well set out or (b)designed with logical public transportation in mind.
Moral of the story: if you have to get from Moore Park to the city, you're almost better off walking to Central. Almost.
Regardless, today served as a great learning experience for the AFL show, one which will be made all the more entertaining as THERE WILL BE NO LINES ON THE FIELD. OH YES, THEY WENT THERE. As a result, you should really practice your drill in the meantime. Also, those who didn't, really ought to shave.
We have a while until the next rehearsal, make the time count.
Finally, props go to Hayley Squires, who turned up to marching band still swollen (and mildly doped up) from dental surgery (five wisdom teeth... how does that even happen?). Follow her example and nut up. Whatever illness/injury you're nursing, statistically, it isn't that bad.
I'll see y'alls next rehearsal. Stay cool.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Shenannigans at State Music Camp, followed by Unseasonably Warm Weather: The June Rehearsal (or) That Awkward Moment When Half the Band Isn't There.
The title aside, this post won't be up to my regular standards. Apologies in advance. Moral of the story - DON'T GET TONSILITIS.
Fun Fact: the marching band just doesn't work when there's only six people.
At state music camp, there are evening concerts. Students audition for performance spots in them. A subset of the marching band members who were on the camp decided it might be an idea to audition for one of those spots playing Battlefield (mainly because we all knew it).
That day, there was a weather warning for high winds meaning that during afternoon rec time (i.e. rehearsal time) everyone was confined to the auditorium. after recieving permission to use the entrance area (which had glass doors separating it from the rest of the auditorium) for practice, we set to playing through Battlefield, adapting choreography and parts where necessary to make it work. This leads me to mention
Fun Fact the second: glass doors don't stop sound. They barely even muffle it.
This was discovered when we began to notice that everyone was looking at us. To test our theory that the doors really weren't working, it was decided that I would stand outside the doors and walk backwards until I could no longer hear playing. I was fifty metres away at the other end of the auditorium and I could still hear them clearly. Fun times.
Anyway, we got to the audition and had barely made it to the drum feature when we were cut off. Apparently when you're using a tuba (me), a trumpet (Holly), two alto saxes (Kayla and Christine), a clarinet (Bella) and a snare drummer (Emily) to play something written for a 100 piece marching band, you [and this is a direct quote] "don't have enough parts covered".
We did try though. Rock on, ladies.
One day of recovery later (but not if you had an exam the day after music camp ended - moral of the story, get your year 12 assessments done BEFORE you go on camp) we all assembled at Cumberland. And by all I in fact mean a subset thereof. Because attendance was reasonably pitiful. On the upside, the majority of us were wearing our blue performance shirts. Didn't we look snazzy.
Following morning assembly we played through the circus music which we will apparently be performing for spec. At which point the sousas experienced that awkward moment when you don't have any music for your entire section. It's not ideal.
It was then onto the field for warm-ups with Normo. It's surprising how much complaining is warranted by the order to run a lap around the field. We then proceeded to run drill until lunch. To be entirely honest, I can't remember anything which happened during saturday's field sessions - I'm reasonably sure I repressed the memory due to the overwhelming HORROR.
But I digress.
Just like Rebecca Black said it did, Sunday came afterwards.
Again in our classy blue rehearsal shirts (and for the record, I am for once not being bitterly cynical, I actually am a massive fan of the shirts), we reassembled at Cumberland, still numerous people short. Greggles (sousa), I'm judging you. No-one can be THAT diseased after band camp.
Following another music rehearsal, wherein we sightread Birdland (and while we're on the subject, nothing needs that many accidentals. Seriously. Not cool.), much to the general entertainment of everyone. Thankfully, we won't need to memorise the music we're playing for tour.
It was then onto the field for some more rehearsing so that we'd look all nice and polished for when the parents arrived. But first we practiced marching in slide. This in turn brings us to yet another
Fun Fact: When you're doing slide in a sousaphone, in order to keep bell to front, you actually have to rotate past 90 degrees when marching to the left. Not ideal.
But back to the story... That morning saw the appearance of what I call my 'stabby-stabby-murder-face': a rare occurrence, but nonetheless one which generally involves much hurling of abuse. This was brought on by the profusion of people who weren't running on the field. Not OK, kids. Make an effort.
Just before lunch, we made it from the start of Opening Production to the end of Battlefield without a single stop. Oh happy day.
There was then lunch with the parents, which featured a DVD of the 2010/11 MMB season highlights. It was full of entertaining things like Holly with long hair, Zac with long hair, and (of course) Dale with dreads.
It was then back onto the field for some more drill practice, wherein Sophie coined a term which I myself will be using quite a lot - WWJD: What Would Julian Do? Because he always invariably seems to know what he's meant to be doing/where he's meant to be going. Because he's a bit of a champ like that.
This was followed by a drilldown. Much to her surprise, Holly was victorious, with Hamish (as always) reaching the top three before failing in some way. During drilldown, I discovered that when at ease, flute players need to keep both hands on the flute. Because apparently they're just that heavy.
It was then time for a full runthrough of the show. It was awesome. Following the aftermath of our success, Dane proceeded to talk to the parents about the post-spec tour which is currently in the works. I know I'm excited.
It was then time to pack up and be dismissed.
This post isn't over however. Not by a long shot. Because I have spleen to vent regarding facial hair.
This month's rehearsal saw a lot of facial hair. From Julian's 'I just went on school music camp and didn't bring a razor' beard to Shane's somewhat surprising neck-beard (I didn't think it was possible until I saw it); spanning from sax Ben's 'It isn't movember?' to Jacob's 'I'm secretly a thirty-year-old man' beard, everyone seemed to be doing what university students do before exams: grow a beard of knowledge.
Fun Fact: Facial hair won't help you remember your drill. Remembering your drill will help you remember your drill.
So shave. Otherwise come post-spec tour, I will find you when you're sleeping and shave off one of your eyebrows. And you won't know which one.
In the interim, make sure you know your drill, stay un-diseased and I'll see you all on Monday, caped and awesome.
Until then, play loud and proud.
And shave.
Fun Fact: the marching band just doesn't work when there's only six people.
At state music camp, there are evening concerts. Students audition for performance spots in them. A subset of the marching band members who were on the camp decided it might be an idea to audition for one of those spots playing Battlefield (mainly because we all knew it).
That day, there was a weather warning for high winds meaning that during afternoon rec time (i.e. rehearsal time) everyone was confined to the auditorium. after recieving permission to use the entrance area (which had glass doors separating it from the rest of the auditorium) for practice, we set to playing through Battlefield, adapting choreography and parts where necessary to make it work. This leads me to mention
Fun Fact the second: glass doors don't stop sound. They barely even muffle it.
This was discovered when we began to notice that everyone was looking at us. To test our theory that the doors really weren't working, it was decided that I would stand outside the doors and walk backwards until I could no longer hear playing. I was fifty metres away at the other end of the auditorium and I could still hear them clearly. Fun times.
Anyway, we got to the audition and had barely made it to the drum feature when we were cut off. Apparently when you're using a tuba (me), a trumpet (Holly), two alto saxes (Kayla and Christine), a clarinet (Bella) and a snare drummer (Emily) to play something written for a 100 piece marching band, you [and this is a direct quote] "don't have enough parts covered".
We did try though. Rock on, ladies.
One day of recovery later (but not if you had an exam the day after music camp ended - moral of the story, get your year 12 assessments done BEFORE you go on camp) we all assembled at Cumberland. And by all I in fact mean a subset thereof. Because attendance was reasonably pitiful. On the upside, the majority of us were wearing our blue performance shirts. Didn't we look snazzy.
Following morning assembly we played through the circus music which we will apparently be performing for spec. At which point the sousas experienced that awkward moment when you don't have any music for your entire section. It's not ideal.
It was then onto the field for warm-ups with Normo. It's surprising how much complaining is warranted by the order to run a lap around the field. We then proceeded to run drill until lunch. To be entirely honest, I can't remember anything which happened during saturday's field sessions - I'm reasonably sure I repressed the memory due to the overwhelming HORROR.
But I digress.
Just like Rebecca Black said it did, Sunday came afterwards.
Again in our classy blue rehearsal shirts (and for the record, I am for once not being bitterly cynical, I actually am a massive fan of the shirts), we reassembled at Cumberland, still numerous people short. Greggles (sousa), I'm judging you. No-one can be THAT diseased after band camp.
Following another music rehearsal, wherein we sightread Birdland (and while we're on the subject, nothing needs that many accidentals. Seriously. Not cool.), much to the general entertainment of everyone. Thankfully, we won't need to memorise the music we're playing for tour.
It was then onto the field for some more rehearsing so that we'd look all nice and polished for when the parents arrived. But first we practiced marching in slide. This in turn brings us to yet another
Fun Fact: When you're doing slide in a sousaphone, in order to keep bell to front, you actually have to rotate past 90 degrees when marching to the left. Not ideal.
But back to the story... That morning saw the appearance of what I call my 'stabby-stabby-murder-face': a rare occurrence, but nonetheless one which generally involves much hurling of abuse. This was brought on by the profusion of people who weren't running on the field. Not OK, kids. Make an effort.
Just before lunch, we made it from the start of Opening Production to the end of Battlefield without a single stop. Oh happy day.
There was then lunch with the parents, which featured a DVD of the 2010/11 MMB season highlights. It was full of entertaining things like Holly with long hair, Zac with long hair, and (of course) Dale with dreads.
It was then back onto the field for some more drill practice, wherein Sophie coined a term which I myself will be using quite a lot - WWJD: What Would Julian Do? Because he always invariably seems to know what he's meant to be doing/where he's meant to be going. Because he's a bit of a champ like that.
This was followed by a drilldown. Much to her surprise, Holly was victorious, with Hamish (as always) reaching the top three before failing in some way. During drilldown, I discovered that when at ease, flute players need to keep both hands on the flute. Because apparently they're just that heavy.
It was then time for a full runthrough of the show. It was awesome. Following the aftermath of our success, Dane proceeded to talk to the parents about the post-spec tour which is currently in the works. I know I'm excited.
It was then time to pack up and be dismissed.
This post isn't over however. Not by a long shot. Because I have spleen to vent regarding facial hair.
This month's rehearsal saw a lot of facial hair. From Julian's 'I just went on school music camp and didn't bring a razor' beard to Shane's somewhat surprising neck-beard (I didn't think it was possible until I saw it); spanning from sax Ben's 'It isn't movember?' to Jacob's 'I'm secretly a thirty-year-old man' beard, everyone seemed to be doing what university students do before exams: grow a beard of knowledge.
Fun Fact: Facial hair won't help you remember your drill. Remembering your drill will help you remember your drill.
So shave. Otherwise come post-spec tour, I will find you when you're sleeping and shave off one of your eyebrows. And you won't know which one.
In the interim, make sure you know your drill, stay un-diseased and I'll see you all on Monday, caped and awesome.
Until then, play loud and proud.
And shave.
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