For whatever reason, the ...dary of legend...dary didn't end up in the post below where it should have ended up, because that's how I timed it with the posting and such. Oops.
I'm sure you all worked it out regardless.
Don't forget to use the tinyurl thingy for next rehearsal.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Marching in March (Gosh, I'm funny)
FUN FACT!!!!! (You can tell I'm excited about this) There's an actual contraption purpose built for removing the mouthpieces from brass instruments should they become jammed in permanently. HOW COOL IS THAT?!?!?!?!?
This post is dedicated to the memory of Shane's hair. Whilst we may not miss it as much as his pants, there was something to be said for the hair.
Anyway, here we go again.
This month it rained. A hell of a lot. It was actually faintly ridiculous just how much it rained. As a result, we didn't go onto the field at all for the entirety of the weekend, making do with a couple of passes around the school buildings when the weather was favourable enough. Which was seldom. Regardless, we soldiered on (I'm really on a roll with all these marching puns. Yes, I know. I also want to be me when I grow up.) for a marvellously productive, if somewhat damp weekend.
Saturday started with a rehearsal for a recording of our music for Ka, which showed us that just because our drumline is incredibly talented, it doesn't mean they are in any way able to use a rainstick. The sheer extent to which the humble rainstick seemed to mytstify them was somewhat humorous, leading to Greg needing to overdub onto the recording the sound of a rainstick in bar 3 of Battlefield.
After a few runthroughs of Opening Production and Battlefield, we recorded the tracks when the rain wasn't too noisy. Although we didn't end up hearing the end product of Opening Production, we did hear the Battlefield recording on sunday... but more on that later.
After that, we got to learn about the innumerable joys of 7/8 marching. 7/8 marching is the kind of thing which puts the Fun into Fundamentals. It's like marching in 3/4, but with occasional slo-mo sections. Fun times.
Moving on, once we had mastered the concept of 7/8 marching, we formed up under the COLA to work on the drill for the end of Battlefield, which as it turned out was to be the drill which was filmed to send off and get us performances. And so we spent an hour (and then another hour and a half after lunch) forming a big triangle, then splitting down the middle and spinning around to another triangle, then making a big square around what will eventually be the drumline, but in the case of this rehearsal was really just empty space, filled temporarily by colourguard for the course of the filming.
This then flowed on into sunday, which was exponentially more rainy than saturday. The sheer amount of fluid which descended from the heavens (and the ferocity with which the descension took place) was staggering. But being the tough cookies that we are, we managed to film our drill and run through some new music, all of us managing to memorise Pump It after playing it twice. Snaps for us.
We began by splitting into three groups and practising the fundamentals of parade marching under the close scrutiny of the Drum Majors and the teaching staff, before forming into a full parade block and gallivanting (And by gallivanting I in fact mean marching in formation) about the school grounds to the tunes of I Am Australian [Cadence] Road to Gundagai [Cadence] Great Escape [Cadence] and so on in endless progression.
Then followed more practice of the end of the Battlefield drill, a pursuit made all the more enjoyable by watching the Drumline playing whilst in flair. Special mention must go out to the basses, who really got into the spirit of things, and of course Shane, who was as always, violently enthusiastic.
After we'd been drilled to Katrina's satisfaction, we settled in for a look at Pursuit, another movement from Ka, and some new music: You Are The Sunshine Of My Life by Stevie Wonder, and something (the name of which escapes me) which was basically just little bits of Black Eyed Peas songs. These will apparently come in handy if (although judging by the level of awesome we brought to the filming, I probably ought to be saying when) we end up doing an NRL gig. Go figure.
Before the judging of the Circus themed dress-ups, the drumline, featuring Shane, came up the front to show what they were doing during battlefield. It was greatly entertaining. The dressing up was dominated by the trumpets, and was won by Mini Winnie (Kirsten) of the colourguard and Ben M of the trumpets. There was then lunch, during which we got changed into our Arts Unit Blacks in preparation for the filming.
This brings me to an important point: uniform. People were without belts, without shirts, in one case without shoes, and often those who had shoes hadn't polished them. We're bound to be lectured on the topic at the next rehearsal, but I'll start it off: make sure you have all the stuff you need for ANZAC day. Seriously. Anzac day is the day when we march around the city looking decidedly awesome, and part of that awesome is the fact that we're so neat and tidy. So if you do nothing else before the next rehearsal, at least polish your shoes. It's not that difficult. And if it turns out you lack a certain piece of the band uniform, email the boosters to organise them ordering it in for you in preparation for next month. mmbboosters@gmail.com
Back to the rehearsal, we filmed several times from differing angles, including Greg standing on a car; Dane walking through the band with a handcam after the final halt, filming our stillness and my personal favourite, Katrina conducting with such intensity that first we laughed, then she did, somewhat detracting from the intensity with which she was conducting.
After filming, we changed back into our clothing and settled down in the hall to watch some footage from the DCI (Drum Corps International) competition, to show us just how amazing marching bands can be. I have nothing to say about it but for Wow. That was insane.
There was a final assembly, wherein we were taught how to operate the new online paperwork thingy, thus eliminating the usual papertrail of an MMB rehearsal. Huzzah. The theme for the dress-ups was also announced. Easter. Get planning.
We were then dismissed into the lack of rain, with instructions to memorise our music and keep fit so that we can be all perky and keen for the parade next rehearsal.
So practice, have fun and stay unmaimed, and get mad keen for Anzac day. Because like all parades we do, it's going to be legend...
...wait for it...
...wait for it...
This post is dedicated to the memory of Shane's hair. Whilst we may not miss it as much as his pants, there was something to be said for the hair.
Anyway, here we go again.
This month it rained. A hell of a lot. It was actually faintly ridiculous just how much it rained. As a result, we didn't go onto the field at all for the entirety of the weekend, making do with a couple of passes around the school buildings when the weather was favourable enough. Which was seldom. Regardless, we soldiered on (I'm really on a roll with all these marching puns. Yes, I know. I also want to be me when I grow up.) for a marvellously productive, if somewhat damp weekend.
Saturday started with a rehearsal for a recording of our music for Ka, which showed us that just because our drumline is incredibly talented, it doesn't mean they are in any way able to use a rainstick. The sheer extent to which the humble rainstick seemed to mytstify them was somewhat humorous, leading to Greg needing to overdub onto the recording the sound of a rainstick in bar 3 of Battlefield.
After a few runthroughs of Opening Production and Battlefield, we recorded the tracks when the rain wasn't too noisy. Although we didn't end up hearing the end product of Opening Production, we did hear the Battlefield recording on sunday... but more on that later.
After that, we got to learn about the innumerable joys of 7/8 marching. 7/8 marching is the kind of thing which puts the Fun into Fundamentals. It's like marching in 3/4, but with occasional slo-mo sections. Fun times.
Moving on, once we had mastered the concept of 7/8 marching, we formed up under the COLA to work on the drill for the end of Battlefield, which as it turned out was to be the drill which was filmed to send off and get us performances. And so we spent an hour (and then another hour and a half after lunch) forming a big triangle, then splitting down the middle and spinning around to another triangle, then making a big square around what will eventually be the drumline, but in the case of this rehearsal was really just empty space, filled temporarily by colourguard for the course of the filming.
This then flowed on into sunday, which was exponentially more rainy than saturday. The sheer amount of fluid which descended from the heavens (and the ferocity with which the descension took place) was staggering. But being the tough cookies that we are, we managed to film our drill and run through some new music, all of us managing to memorise Pump It after playing it twice. Snaps for us.
We began by splitting into three groups and practising the fundamentals of parade marching under the close scrutiny of the Drum Majors and the teaching staff, before forming into a full parade block and gallivanting (And by gallivanting I in fact mean marching in formation) about the school grounds to the tunes of I Am Australian [Cadence] Road to Gundagai [Cadence] Great Escape [Cadence] and so on in endless progression.
Then followed more practice of the end of the Battlefield drill, a pursuit made all the more enjoyable by watching the Drumline playing whilst in flair. Special mention must go out to the basses, who really got into the spirit of things, and of course Shane, who was as always, violently enthusiastic.
After we'd been drilled to Katrina's satisfaction, we settled in for a look at Pursuit, another movement from Ka, and some new music: You Are The Sunshine Of My Life by Stevie Wonder, and something (the name of which escapes me) which was basically just little bits of Black Eyed Peas songs. These will apparently come in handy if (although judging by the level of awesome we brought to the filming, I probably ought to be saying when) we end up doing an NRL gig. Go figure.
Before the judging of the Circus themed dress-ups, the drumline, featuring Shane, came up the front to show what they were doing during battlefield. It was greatly entertaining. The dressing up was dominated by the trumpets, and was won by Mini Winnie (Kirsten) of the colourguard and Ben M of the trumpets. There was then lunch, during which we got changed into our Arts Unit Blacks in preparation for the filming.
This brings me to an important point: uniform. People were without belts, without shirts, in one case without shoes, and often those who had shoes hadn't polished them. We're bound to be lectured on the topic at the next rehearsal, but I'll start it off: make sure you have all the stuff you need for ANZAC day. Seriously. Anzac day is the day when we march around the city looking decidedly awesome, and part of that awesome is the fact that we're so neat and tidy. So if you do nothing else before the next rehearsal, at least polish your shoes. It's not that difficult. And if it turns out you lack a certain piece of the band uniform, email the boosters to organise them ordering it in for you in preparation for next month. mmbboosters@gmail.com
Back to the rehearsal, we filmed several times from differing angles, including Greg standing on a car; Dane walking through the band with a handcam after the final halt, filming our stillness and my personal favourite, Katrina conducting with such intensity that first we laughed, then she did, somewhat detracting from the intensity with which she was conducting.
After filming, we changed back into our clothing and settled down in the hall to watch some footage from the DCI (Drum Corps International) competition, to show us just how amazing marching bands can be. I have nothing to say about it but for Wow. That was insane.
There was a final assembly, wherein we were taught how to operate the new online paperwork thingy, thus eliminating the usual papertrail of an MMB rehearsal. Huzzah. The theme for the dress-ups was also announced. Easter. Get planning.
We were then dismissed into the lack of rain, with instructions to memorise our music and keep fit so that we can be all perky and keen for the parade next rehearsal.
So practice, have fun and stay unmaimed, and get mad keen for Anzac day. Because like all parades we do, it's going to be legend...
...wait for it...
...wait for it...
Sunday, February 20, 2011
The February Rehearsal
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!
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!
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
A Quick Addendum
It should also be noted that the drum majors have made a facebook group to give you unofficial information regarding rehearsals and such.
If you're not yet a member of it, add Zoe Coffa; Scott Murphy or Belinda Smith (the drum majors) who will then add you. Your best bet is Zoe, as she is the only Zoe Coffa on facebook.
Add and go forth in internet related happiness.
If you're not yet a member of it, add Zoe Coffa; Scott Murphy or Belinda Smith (the drum majors) who will then add you. Your best bet is Zoe, as she is the only Zoe Coffa on facebook.
Add and go forth in internet related happiness.
JANUARY
At the request of Keevers, I'm beginning this post with a FUN FACT!!
Fun fact: according to the NSW department of Sport and Recreation, Marching band an extreme sport. That's right, a government body recognises the crazy stuff we have to do.
It's classed as an extreme sport due to the extremely high casualty rate associated with marching band, which brings me quite nicely to the following message form the Boosters: drink lots of water. Water is good. It stops your internal organs from going into thermal meltdown, and it keeps your brain from shrivelling up. Drink lots of it in the leadup to the February rehearsal because it will be in all likelihood another hot and humid rehearsal.
And onto the fun stuff.
Sunday's rehearsal started with the returning year 11 and 12 members, the section leaders and student executive members watching the fieldshow animation Katrina had written for Battlefield.
Immediately after that, we realised that during the holidays, Jake had decided it was a good idea to get his lip pierced, which in and of itself declared open season on Jake for this supreme lack of foresight, especially since he couldn't play for another three weeks. The fool.
Everyone then went into the hall for a brainstorming session about what marching band meant to us. The result was Penguin Sunday. The phrase which according to the band seniors best encapsulates the experience of marching band. If you think about it hard enough, it makes sense. Kind of...
There was then a runthrough of the music, which being Cirque du Soleil was rather awesome.
We found out the size of this years band (apparently upwards of 100 people) which just goes to show just how successful the Great Recruitment Drive of 2010 was. The band is big, and not only that, drumline now has enough members for a pit percussion section. Huzzah!
And there's now a boy in colourguard.
On sunday, everyone was bestowed with nametags because the fabled new members whom we had heard so much about were there in their multitudinous glory. The day started off with everyone splitting off into their sections to meet the new people, and in the case of low brass, the returning members who had been amalgamated into their sections. Thus low brass must henceforth be referred to low brass and winds with the addition of the tenor saxes and bass clarinet.
After a runthrough of the music, there was a drill rehearsal where much to the horror of returning members, the drill commands had changed, thus putting everyone on a level playing field with regard to learning the drill commands.
During lunch the seniors who hadn't been in attendance that mornign arrived, and the drill was run through again so as to allow them to learn the new commands. Then followed another music rehearsal with the whole band, in which everyone in the back row of the band (i.e. not drumline), and especially the sousas discovered just how loud the new drumline was. Namely incredibly.
During assembly, the Boosters talked to us about the importance of hydration and nutrition...and STRETCHING. If you stretch, you don't get injured and you find that you're less stiff after rehearsals. Stretching, like memorisation, requires daily work, so for five minutes after you practice your music, take the time to stretch. You'll find that come the next rehearsal you're more flexible, which means you'll be less likely to injure yourself during the rehearsal, and you'll be less sore after drillwork.
Also during assembly, new members were introduced to the band by either section leaders or their alternates.
Monday's nametags were not of the same quality as sundays, with the majority of those with a surname beginning with L or M lacking a first name on their nametags.
Monday saw the beginning of our learning the field drill for Battlefield. It also saw the beginning of the extreme heat which returned on tuesday.
We were also introduced to the points which are to be bestowed on sections demonstrating marvellous dedication to the band. Like a military medal, points are only bestowed for exhibitions of whatever the band equivalent of extreme valour is. Who knows. Maybe there are points to be awarded for extreme valour. I'll be interested to find out in future rehearsals.
Monday afternoon after practice consisted of getting to know you games, in which we were reminded just how good at dancing Shane is. Thanks go to the social committee for organising the games night.
Tuesday was just as hot as monday, if not moreso. The nametags, were back up to scratch, with the exception of that belonging to new David, who for whatever reason didn't have his school written on his. At least his name was.
With the arrival of Katrina, we did lots and lots of drill, getting from set A to set K - a very good achievement when the time in which we'd had the music is taken into account.
There was a drilldown, which was filled with (once again) the hilarity of watching David K (Keevers) do about-faces with a very large drum. The hilarity was compounded by the fact that this year he's playing an even larger drum than last year: Big Bertha. Taking over Keevers' old drum is Gabe, formerly a mere groupie with a camera, now a fully fledged member of the band.
Winning drilldown, there was a 3-way tie between Kathryn (MiniRamsay), Michale Hoyle and Hamish, all of whom somehow managed to wrap their brains around the new drill commands and execution. Thus props to them.
The pointscore as it currently stands is:
Alto Saxes: 2 (One for extreme dedication to attention, one for Hamish winning drilldown)
Low brass and wind: 2 (One for sousas memorising their music on the first day, one for Michael Hoyle winning drilldown)
Flutes: 1 (Kathryn in Drilldown)
And there's another section on one point, but I cannot for the life of me remember which or for what. If anyone knows, it would be great if you could comment on this post and tell me.
For next rehearsal: memoriuse Battlefield, memorise the opening piece for Ka, memorise the Anzac Day music: I am Australian, Road to Gundagai, Great Escape.
Don't forget there's the family picnic on saturday 19 feb after rehearsal, and sunday is a dress up day, the theme of which is Penguin Sunday. Get creative, kids.
Remember to stretch, play lots, get keen.
Fun fact: according to the NSW department of Sport and Recreation, Marching band an extreme sport. That's right, a government body recognises the crazy stuff we have to do.
It's classed as an extreme sport due to the extremely high casualty rate associated with marching band, which brings me quite nicely to the following message form the Boosters: drink lots of water. Water is good. It stops your internal organs from going into thermal meltdown, and it keeps your brain from shrivelling up. Drink lots of it in the leadup to the February rehearsal because it will be in all likelihood another hot and humid rehearsal.
And onto the fun stuff.
Sunday's rehearsal started with the returning year 11 and 12 members, the section leaders and student executive members watching the fieldshow animation Katrina had written for Battlefield.
Immediately after that, we realised that during the holidays, Jake had decided it was a good idea to get his lip pierced, which in and of itself declared open season on Jake for this supreme lack of foresight, especially since he couldn't play for another three weeks. The fool.
Everyone then went into the hall for a brainstorming session about what marching band meant to us. The result was Penguin Sunday. The phrase which according to the band seniors best encapsulates the experience of marching band. If you think about it hard enough, it makes sense. Kind of...
There was then a runthrough of the music, which being Cirque du Soleil was rather awesome.
We found out the size of this years band (apparently upwards of 100 people) which just goes to show just how successful the Great Recruitment Drive of 2010 was. The band is big, and not only that, drumline now has enough members for a pit percussion section. Huzzah!
And there's now a boy in colourguard.
On sunday, everyone was bestowed with nametags because the fabled new members whom we had heard so much about were there in their multitudinous glory. The day started off with everyone splitting off into their sections to meet the new people, and in the case of low brass, the returning members who had been amalgamated into their sections. Thus low brass must henceforth be referred to low brass and winds with the addition of the tenor saxes and bass clarinet.
After a runthrough of the music, there was a drill rehearsal where much to the horror of returning members, the drill commands had changed, thus putting everyone on a level playing field with regard to learning the drill commands.
During lunch the seniors who hadn't been in attendance that mornign arrived, and the drill was run through again so as to allow them to learn the new commands. Then followed another music rehearsal with the whole band, in which everyone in the back row of the band (i.e. not drumline), and especially the sousas discovered just how loud the new drumline was. Namely incredibly.
During assembly, the Boosters talked to us about the importance of hydration and nutrition...and STRETCHING. If you stretch, you don't get injured and you find that you're less stiff after rehearsals. Stretching, like memorisation, requires daily work, so for five minutes after you practice your music, take the time to stretch. You'll find that come the next rehearsal you're more flexible, which means you'll be less likely to injure yourself during the rehearsal, and you'll be less sore after drillwork.
Also during assembly, new members were introduced to the band by either section leaders or their alternates.
Monday's nametags were not of the same quality as sundays, with the majority of those with a surname beginning with L or M lacking a first name on their nametags.
Monday saw the beginning of our learning the field drill for Battlefield. It also saw the beginning of the extreme heat which returned on tuesday.
We were also introduced to the points which are to be bestowed on sections demonstrating marvellous dedication to the band. Like a military medal, points are only bestowed for exhibitions of whatever the band equivalent of extreme valour is. Who knows. Maybe there are points to be awarded for extreme valour. I'll be interested to find out in future rehearsals.
Monday afternoon after practice consisted of getting to know you games, in which we were reminded just how good at dancing Shane is. Thanks go to the social committee for organising the games night.
Tuesday was just as hot as monday, if not moreso. The nametags, were back up to scratch, with the exception of that belonging to new David, who for whatever reason didn't have his school written on his. At least his name was.
With the arrival of Katrina, we did lots and lots of drill, getting from set A to set K - a very good achievement when the time in which we'd had the music is taken into account.
There was a drilldown, which was filled with (once again) the hilarity of watching David K (Keevers) do about-faces with a very large drum. The hilarity was compounded by the fact that this year he's playing an even larger drum than last year: Big Bertha. Taking over Keevers' old drum is Gabe, formerly a mere groupie with a camera, now a fully fledged member of the band.
Winning drilldown, there was a 3-way tie between Kathryn (MiniRamsay), Michale Hoyle and Hamish, all of whom somehow managed to wrap their brains around the new drill commands and execution. Thus props to them.
The pointscore as it currently stands is:
Alto Saxes: 2 (One for extreme dedication to attention, one for Hamish winning drilldown)
Low brass and wind: 2 (One for sousas memorising their music on the first day, one for Michael Hoyle winning drilldown)
Flutes: 1 (Kathryn in Drilldown)
And there's another section on one point, but I cannot for the life of me remember which or for what. If anyone knows, it would be great if you could comment on this post and tell me.
For next rehearsal: memoriuse Battlefield, memorise the opening piece for Ka, memorise the Anzac Day music: I am Australian, Road to Gundagai, Great Escape.
Don't forget there's the family picnic on saturday 19 feb after rehearsal, and sunday is a dress up day, the theme of which is Penguin Sunday. Get creative, kids.
Remember to stretch, play lots, get keen.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
The Marvels of the Interweb
Fun fact!
Liam (aka the amazing Trombone playing penguin) has gone to the effort of creating a Facebook group devoted to the amazingness of marching band.
Unsurprisingly, it is thus entitled 'MMB 4 LIFE'.
It's a closed group, so in order to be able to access the videos of past performances, photos of the band and such, add Liam Willis as a friend and he will then invite you into the group.
Alternately, if you're already a member, add any and all of your MMB friends, and then in the tradition of all spam chain emails compel them to do the same.
Finally, if you've only just accessed this blog for the first time having seen the link on the Facebook group, click the button on the right hand side of the page that says 'follow this blog'. And then follow the blog.
And as a quick addendum, remember to play a little in the holidays so that when the January training camp comes along next January (surprise, surprise) your lips won't get wrecked.
Enjoy the holidays, have a merry Christmas and all the best for the new year.
And practice.
Liam (aka the amazing Trombone playing penguin) has gone to the effort of creating a Facebook group devoted to the amazingness of marching band.
Unsurprisingly, it is thus entitled 'MMB 4 LIFE'.
It's a closed group, so in order to be able to access the videos of past performances, photos of the band and such, add Liam Willis as a friend and he will then invite you into the group.
Alternately, if you're already a member, add any and all of your MMB friends, and then in the tradition of all spam chain emails compel them to do the same.
Finally, if you've only just accessed this blog for the first time having seen the link on the Facebook group, click the button on the right hand side of the page that says 'follow this blog'. And then follow the blog.
And as a quick addendum, remember to play a little in the holidays so that when the January training camp comes along next January (surprise, surprise) your lips won't get wrecked.
Enjoy the holidays, have a merry Christmas and all the best for the new year.
And practice.
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