Band last week (but not this week)
The beginning of last week seems so long ago, like a year ago in a way. Sunday was daylight savings, so naturally we were all off kilter a bit for rehearsal. This was also our first rehearsal after our last concert. For the first time all year, there wasn't a flute player from one of the high schools joining us, so I at least got my stand to myself. And actually, it sounded like the majority of the high school kids bailed this time around; it's musical season, and sports are starting up, so many of them didn't have time for something else in their schedules. It's not that they didn't want to do it, but they realized they couldn't make the commitment. AD2 did appreciate them being honest with her. We did have at least two people, though, and the little high school oboe player from the last concert stayed on, which kind of amazed me. This could be good for her, though.
I hadn't checked my email, but unbeknownst to me, the band president had contacted everyone and asked that if you were sick, please stay home. We sit in such close proximity that it could be easy to spread something, plus our band is mainly made up of older folk. We have at least two people in their 80s, for example. He commented, I know we're all dedicated and want to make all the rehearsals, but this isn't the time to do that--think of the others and please stay home and come back when you're well. However, between that and other absences, this meant that I had four chairs near me, two on either side, that were empty. My contrabass clarinet friend asked me, "Did you wash?" Yes! But I felt like doing the smell test anyway. Eventually the gal next to me showed up, but Two-chairs-down apparently was getting over the flu, and the lady next to her is still MIA (she's had her own health problems, including back problems that make it difficult for her to sit). I don't know about the Eb clarinet player, though she or one of her kids could've been sick; her husband was there, though. And I don't know about the clarinet player on her other side. The lead oboe player was gone on a trip to Hawaii, oh darn, so we had a floboe again; second chair flute went over to read through her music. Since we haven't played it before, or not in a while, we didn't know if there were solos that needed to be covered or what. Plus, knowing how the high school girl has played in the past, it was better to cover the part.
Our next concert is scheduled to be at an area high school; their band director plays in our band. They're to play a few pieces, we'll play about five, and then we'll do a couple together--at least, that's the plan. AD1 is back conducting; he explained that, due to a calendar fluke, his high school had a performance that same Sunday that we did. He has one big piece he's doing with us, an overture, and as is his M.O., it's got a bunch of meter changes. Oy. You know, sometimes it's okay, but sometimes I don't want to have to think when I play a song. It's mentally exhausting a lot of the time. This piece will go from, say, 2/4 or 3/4 into 3/8 or 5/8, and that can really mess with things. I was doing okay in rehearsal, but I was practicing a little bit ago and I had a hard time with it. I think I might look that piece up online to get a feel for it. I think this was also the song where there's a sort of brass fanfare, cascading through the various parts, and the second and third trumpets were told to play out to balance better with the others. One of those people, the brash girl, sits behind the contrabass player; she went, sorry, (contrabass player)! He replied, don't worry, I'm wearing my earplugs! The thing is, I know he's not kidding--he had to start wearing them so he wouldn't lose his hearing with her behind him.
There wasn't a whole lot of talk about other things, I don't think. Band was pretty straightforward. I do recall hearing AD2 talking to the couple high school kids who showed up to explain that she's here now, but she wouldn't be soon due to her surgery. (I wonder if it's still on...) I think she instructed them to talk to their respective section leaders if they had any questions. We didn't get a lot of music, and while we did work a bit on it, I think we still got out a few minutes early, which was nice.
...And now we don't know when we're going back. I do have all my new music, and have copied it, and can practice whatever, but as for rehearsals...who knows? Given that everything is closing up, the band figured it would be prudent to cancel rehearsal for tomorrow, and they'd keep us updated for future rehearsals. However, with schools closing by the governor's order after tomorrow through at least March 30th, this means that the high school will lose all that rehearsal time--and that's if it reopens on March 31st. We're at the mercy of the school district and what they decide since it's their facility and their students. Plus, gatherings of 1,000 people are banned through May 1st, I believe; our concert is supposed to be at the end of April. I don't know how big the facility is, but we could have a crowd of hundreds of people.
The big long email we got this weekend also mentioned a possible performance in May at a historical society of sorts, outdoors. This was the first I'd heard of it, but then again, it's too soon to know if it'll even happen. It sounds interesting, and I've never been there, so while I typically skip the auxiliary performances I might be interested in this one. Then again...I may not want to get my hopes up.
Fingers crossed we'll get the band back together soon.
I hadn't checked my email, but unbeknownst to me, the band president had contacted everyone and asked that if you were sick, please stay home. We sit in such close proximity that it could be easy to spread something, plus our band is mainly made up of older folk. We have at least two people in their 80s, for example. He commented, I know we're all dedicated and want to make all the rehearsals, but this isn't the time to do that--think of the others and please stay home and come back when you're well. However, between that and other absences, this meant that I had four chairs near me, two on either side, that were empty. My contrabass clarinet friend asked me, "Did you wash?" Yes! But I felt like doing the smell test anyway. Eventually the gal next to me showed up, but Two-chairs-down apparently was getting over the flu, and the lady next to her is still MIA (she's had her own health problems, including back problems that make it difficult for her to sit). I don't know about the Eb clarinet player, though she or one of her kids could've been sick; her husband was there, though. And I don't know about the clarinet player on her other side. The lead oboe player was gone on a trip to Hawaii, oh darn, so we had a floboe again; second chair flute went over to read through her music. Since we haven't played it before, or not in a while, we didn't know if there were solos that needed to be covered or what. Plus, knowing how the high school girl has played in the past, it was better to cover the part.
Our next concert is scheduled to be at an area high school; their band director plays in our band. They're to play a few pieces, we'll play about five, and then we'll do a couple together--at least, that's the plan. AD1 is back conducting; he explained that, due to a calendar fluke, his high school had a performance that same Sunday that we did. He has one big piece he's doing with us, an overture, and as is his M.O., it's got a bunch of meter changes. Oy. You know, sometimes it's okay, but sometimes I don't want to have to think when I play a song. It's mentally exhausting a lot of the time. This piece will go from, say, 2/4 or 3/4 into 3/8 or 5/8, and that can really mess with things. I was doing okay in rehearsal, but I was practicing a little bit ago and I had a hard time with it. I think I might look that piece up online to get a feel for it. I think this was also the song where there's a sort of brass fanfare, cascading through the various parts, and the second and third trumpets were told to play out to balance better with the others. One of those people, the brash girl, sits behind the contrabass player; she went, sorry, (contrabass player)! He replied, don't worry, I'm wearing my earplugs! The thing is, I know he's not kidding--he had to start wearing them so he wouldn't lose his hearing with her behind him.
There wasn't a whole lot of talk about other things, I don't think. Band was pretty straightforward. I do recall hearing AD2 talking to the couple high school kids who showed up to explain that she's here now, but she wouldn't be soon due to her surgery. (I wonder if it's still on...) I think she instructed them to talk to their respective section leaders if they had any questions. We didn't get a lot of music, and while we did work a bit on it, I think we still got out a few minutes early, which was nice.
...And now we don't know when we're going back. I do have all my new music, and have copied it, and can practice whatever, but as for rehearsals...who knows? Given that everything is closing up, the band figured it would be prudent to cancel rehearsal for tomorrow, and they'd keep us updated for future rehearsals. However, with schools closing by the governor's order after tomorrow through at least March 30th, this means that the high school will lose all that rehearsal time--and that's if it reopens on March 31st. We're at the mercy of the school district and what they decide since it's their facility and their students. Plus, gatherings of 1,000 people are banned through May 1st, I believe; our concert is supposed to be at the end of April. I don't know how big the facility is, but we could have a crowd of hundreds of people.
The big long email we got this weekend also mentioned a possible performance in May at a historical society of sorts, outdoors. This was the first I'd heard of it, but then again, it's too soon to know if it'll even happen. It sounds interesting, and I've never been there, so while I typically skip the auxiliary performances I might be interested in this one. Then again...I may not want to get my hopes up.
Fingers crossed we'll get the band back together soon.