Yesterday
Now that I've updated myself, I can post about yesterday. I woke up early to substitute teach at Reed for the second time so far. It was also the day of the first pep assembly that the band has never been a part of. I had a note on my desk telling me what and when to perform, and the rest was up to me. I went back to my high school days to remember what we did, so I set them up in an arc on the end and we stood at parade rest during the assembly (with applause and cheering allowed, so a very loose parade rest). We played Can't Buy Me Love and the fight song. Besides the battery (drumline) being too loud, it went very well and I received numerous compliments. One funny moment was when one of the teachers asked me if I was the band director. ...not quite yet... That showed that we don't have much exposure outside of our own little bubble. So, my morning went well and I had my first real taste of being a true band director.
In the afternoon, after a 2 hour break, I had a gig with the UNR marching band for an arts night. After getting in uniform and walking the 2 blocks to the music building, we went into sectionals and rehearsed two new pieces, Everybody's Working for the Weekend (arranged by our own David Coyner) and Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap. I was running the rehearsal for the trombones and baritones, and after being with high schoolers all day, I realized the difference in focus and attention for the first time. Our kids at Reed are great for the most part, but I finally saw that people in the UNR band have and always will have an edge because of the maturity level. No longer will I take that for granted!
After a very fun and successful sectional, we played our first set on Virginia Street. We had some cars honk for us, and a few people park and check out the festivities. We totaled four sets between 5:30 and 7:30, and I had such a great time just hanging out with the band and playing all evening. We had a silent auction inside with video of the band from previous years playing in the background. It happened to be the band from fall 2004 (yes, my freshman year), and I became all nostalgic. Mr. Sullivan and I were the only two sitting in the room that were actually a part of that band (Greg Canfield was unfortunately working at Pizza Hut and unavailable to join us)... Days like this are what make band so worth it!
After band, I immediately went downstairs to rehearse with the Reno Wind Symphony. It was funny to be in full uniform, especially when everybody was astonished that I did both band and wind symphony. It's not a big deal for me because I don't consider it work. It's my recreational activity when I'm not skiing. It's a fun, relaxed group of very talented alumni that play and crack jokes all evening. My long day was finally over at 9, and I had a couple hours before bed to just relax and enjoy the afterglow of the day.
Today is a new day, and as I'm sitting in here observing my lead teacher rehearse band, I realize that this will end in 8 short weeks. After that, there will be no band, no more student teaching, and it will be something new and different. That's a bittersweet feeling for me, as I am enjoying this life, but need to move on once I have my career in place. I can see why parents tell their kids that college was one of the best times of their life.
In the afternoon, after a 2 hour break, I had a gig with the UNR marching band for an arts night. After getting in uniform and walking the 2 blocks to the music building, we went into sectionals and rehearsed two new pieces, Everybody's Working for the Weekend (arranged by our own David Coyner) and Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap. I was running the rehearsal for the trombones and baritones, and after being with high schoolers all day, I realized the difference in focus and attention for the first time. Our kids at Reed are great for the most part, but I finally saw that people in the UNR band have and always will have an edge because of the maturity level. No longer will I take that for granted!
After a very fun and successful sectional, we played our first set on Virginia Street. We had some cars honk for us, and a few people park and check out the festivities. We totaled four sets between 5:30 and 7:30, and I had such a great time just hanging out with the band and playing all evening. We had a silent auction inside with video of the band from previous years playing in the background. It happened to be the band from fall 2004 (yes, my freshman year), and I became all nostalgic. Mr. Sullivan and I were the only two sitting in the room that were actually a part of that band (Greg Canfield was unfortunately working at Pizza Hut and unavailable to join us)... Days like this are what make band so worth it!
After band, I immediately went downstairs to rehearse with the Reno Wind Symphony. It was funny to be in full uniform, especially when everybody was astonished that I did both band and wind symphony. It's not a big deal for me because I don't consider it work. It's my recreational activity when I'm not skiing. It's a fun, relaxed group of very talented alumni that play and crack jokes all evening. My long day was finally over at 9, and I had a couple hours before bed to just relax and enjoy the afterglow of the day.
Today is a new day, and as I'm sitting in here observing my lead teacher rehearse band, I realize that this will end in 8 short weeks. After that, there will be no band, no more student teaching, and it will be something new and different. That's a bittersweet feeling for me, as I am enjoying this life, but need to move on once I have my career in place. I can see why parents tell their kids that college was one of the best times of their life.