Teal Sound: Memorial Day Camp
Well, we finaly wrapped up our pre-season camps!
The first two movements of the show are completely on the field, marching and playing, and we're pretty much done with the rest of the music and are waiting on drill.
This weekend really saw the group turn into a drum corps. It was quite exciting. I got goosebumps many times, both in arcs and on the field. I can't wait until that first show when we turn around in the opener and just blow the press box right off of the stands!
Our low brass tech recorded us on the field with his camera .... amazing how different it sounds from the spectator's position .... and how much better it was.
They finally announced leadership this weekend. I'm now the mellophone section leader, which is also exciting. The section gets to run my way now, and the immaturity of the two veterans who thought they owned the section doesn't get to reflect on us anymore. They were pretty pissed off that I got it. Not my problem. They can whine all they want about it with the rest of the vets that a rookie got a leadership position, but no one can deny that I'm all-around better than they are (playing, marching, responsibility, maturity, etc.). Besides, it wasn't my decision, I didn't ask for it, and we have a rookie euphonium section leader, too, anyway. That pair will be a challenge this summer, but it won't be the first time I have to deal with idiots in my section. Plus, I have the rest of them to stand behind me, along with the staff and student leadership, including those vets.
Never thought that politics would come into play like that, but I was wrong. Oh well. It's only 12 days until we move in for the summer. Then we're off to the races. I'm sure I'll have a positive impact on the students, much as I already have. I can't wait to see what this corps can do when we don't have weeks between rehearsals.
So, if I haven't been busy enough these past few weeks, it's going to be worse as I try to prepare for move-ins. My body aches from this weekend, but I'm going to the gym tonight to work out with one of the snare drummers so that we don't let that feeling allow us to quit. We need to get used to pushing ourselves physically. So, I'll do that after work today.
Additionally, I'm most likely going to be living from my parents' house this week. My grandmother passed away last Wednesday and my parents, along with Brooke, are in Pennsylvania right now to deal with that situation. Sara flew to New Hampshire on Saturday for her move-in with Boston, and it was too soon to get the dogs boarded. They're just completely booked now because of the holiday and start of the summer. So, I'm having to take care of them.
I have to feed them right after work, and they have to be let out to do their business before bed time, and I have to let them out in the morning before work. So, rather than driving over there two or three times a day, I decided to just sleep over there and save a trip or two. My family doesn't come back until this Saturday.
I don't work next week, although I will be preparing for my departure. I still have stuff to do around the apartment, as well as some shopping to do on top of orientations and my practice routine. I'll do my best to see those of you who have asked to hang out before I leave, and I think I'll get the chance once we've taken care of everything regarding my grandmother, but I ask you to please be patient as there are some things that take priority when they were unforseen. I'm sorry.
I'm working to see if I can end work on Thursday and have an extra day off on Friday, but we'll see how it works.
Thanks, guys.
The first two movements of the show are completely on the field, marching and playing, and we're pretty much done with the rest of the music and are waiting on drill.
This weekend really saw the group turn into a drum corps. It was quite exciting. I got goosebumps many times, both in arcs and on the field. I can't wait until that first show when we turn around in the opener and just blow the press box right off of the stands!
Our low brass tech recorded us on the field with his camera .... amazing how different it sounds from the spectator's position .... and how much better it was.
They finally announced leadership this weekend. I'm now the mellophone section leader, which is also exciting. The section gets to run my way now, and the immaturity of the two veterans who thought they owned the section doesn't get to reflect on us anymore. They were pretty pissed off that I got it. Not my problem. They can whine all they want about it with the rest of the vets that a rookie got a leadership position, but no one can deny that I'm all-around better than they are (playing, marching, responsibility, maturity, etc.). Besides, it wasn't my decision, I didn't ask for it, and we have a rookie euphonium section leader, too, anyway. That pair will be a challenge this summer, but it won't be the first time I have to deal with idiots in my section. Plus, I have the rest of them to stand behind me, along with the staff and student leadership, including those vets.
Never thought that politics would come into play like that, but I was wrong. Oh well. It's only 12 days until we move in for the summer. Then we're off to the races. I'm sure I'll have a positive impact on the students, much as I already have. I can't wait to see what this corps can do when we don't have weeks between rehearsals.
So, if I haven't been busy enough these past few weeks, it's going to be worse as I try to prepare for move-ins. My body aches from this weekend, but I'm going to the gym tonight to work out with one of the snare drummers so that we don't let that feeling allow us to quit. We need to get used to pushing ourselves physically. So, I'll do that after work today.
Additionally, I'm most likely going to be living from my parents' house this week. My grandmother passed away last Wednesday and my parents, along with Brooke, are in Pennsylvania right now to deal with that situation. Sara flew to New Hampshire on Saturday for her move-in with Boston, and it was too soon to get the dogs boarded. They're just completely booked now because of the holiday and start of the summer. So, I'm having to take care of them.
I have to feed them right after work, and they have to be let out to do their business before bed time, and I have to let them out in the morning before work. So, rather than driving over there two or three times a day, I decided to just sleep over there and save a trip or two. My family doesn't come back until this Saturday.
I don't work next week, although I will be preparing for my departure. I still have stuff to do around the apartment, as well as some shopping to do on top of orientations and my practice routine. I'll do my best to see those of you who have asked to hang out before I leave, and I think I'll get the chance once we've taken care of everything regarding my grandmother, but I ask you to please be patient as there are some things that take priority when they were unforseen. I'm sorry.
I'm working to see if I can end work on Thursday and have an extra day off on Friday, but we'll see how it works.
Thanks, guys.