2004-08-01 - 7:03 p.m.
Okay, I will now tell you about the first week of band camp...
WONDERFUL!!!
I love this show. It is wonderful. I do not love the tempos. We Are the Champions is in 6/8 at 80, which isn't bad for me... but the band either wants to speed it up or slow it down, and I don't understand why. Bicycle Race is in 4/4 at 165... which is MURDER for EVERYONE. But the good news is I have stolen Mr. Purple's metronome. We haven't worked much on Bohemian Rhapsody. But I'm not sure how that will go over.
For the most part, I have good officers behind me. There are two great Colorguard Captains. And there has been a lot of communication between us. We have a great Band Captain. The other officers have also been a great help.
I think it's a little ridiculous that it has only been the first week of band camp and people (one of which is an officer) are already stabbing me in the back. Oh well. That's how it goes.
Friday was a sucky day. It started out really great. Band Director hadn't given me any instructions, so I decided to run through Bicycle Race. The band just wasn't getting one section that had a lot of off beat rhythms. So we worked on it for about 20 minutes, and they almost had it, and then Mr. Band Director came out and worked with them, and they got it. I felt like I had done something! And then I had to take the freshmen out and teach them how to march. I had no idea how to explain it, seeing as one of my biggest problems is that I expect people to know everything, so I was glad that Mr. Purple and Drum Major went out with me. Freshmen do funny things... but they figured it out. But what sucked about Friday was when we brought the full band together to run through the first two pieces. They turned on the evil Dr. Beat. I abhor Dr. Beat. But it was even worse because Band Director insisted on playing it the whole time, but I couldn't hear both the band and Dr. Beat, and that confused me. And also gave them reason to yell at me if I slowed down or sped up. I get very aggravated when I can't hear things. Plus, when I get tired or stop thinking, I have this weird little hitch. I rush the third beat. Grr. If only they had sent me to DM camp. Damn them.
This week we're taking everyone out to march. And we're setting drill. Should be very very fun. Also a little scary. But they won't know that now will they?
By the way, I am going to make sweet sweet love to the Madison Scouts. And the Blue Devils can kiss my ass. Woohoo NightBEAT. Also, Carolina Crown played the suckiest arrangement of Bohemian Rhapsody ever... but their show was otherwise cool.
