Hello all. Okay, so I'm going to be totally honest here and say that I'm not really in a blogging mood right now, and my only goal of this post is to get the desired word count for this to go in the grade book. That being said, it's Sunday night, I'm completely overwhelmed by the pile of unfinished homework sitting on my desk, and I'm a little drousy from a lazy afternoon. My lights keep flickering on and off, which means that a.) there's a ghost in my house (very likely, tomorrow is Halloween) or b.) the light bulb needs changed (I'll go with option a, because who actually thinks logically about things?)
Whether it's rushing to complete my author study (Mary Wollstonecraft--quite an interesting lady) or speeding from show choir rehearsal to voice lessons, it seems that lately I've been behind on everything in my life. I feel as if I'm not giving my friends, schoolwork, and music the full 110% percent they deserve, and for that I apologize to them. This weekend, I brought my tenor saxophone home with full intentions of practicing my combo music for no less than two hours, and I haven't touched it yet. I'm sure by the time I finish my homework it will be very late, and everyone in my house will be sleepng, so scratch that idea.
But this isn't only about me; my lack of motivation and energy is hurting others too. I very rarely see my family anymore, and I have absolutely no idea what's going on in my parents' lives, nor do they know what's going on in mine. I haven't cleaned my room in over a month, and what a disaster that is. Moral of the story is that I need a break, and I need a break now. Luckily, Thanksgiving break is in three weeks, so I actually have something to look forward to. I'll be able to see my family finally, and it will be under better circumstances that the last time. :)
So anyway, I had a pretty scary weekend, haha. Friday night I watched the movie "The Shortcut" with some friends. It was very cliché at first, when it started off at a high school dance in the 1940's and at the end of the dance the boy walked the girl home and took a shortcut through the woods. By that time, I was practically screaming with laughter because it wasn't scary at all, but over the course of the plot the movie turned reaallly creepy. And then of course I came home to an empty house (it seems that whenever I don't want my parents at home, they're there, and whenever I do want them at home, they're gone) and I was too scared to even go in my own bedroom. Then, last night, a group of friends and I went to a haunted, uh, woods (for lack of a better term) and that was pretty scary, until the end. It included the typical trail walk through the forest in which people in costumes jump out at you and then follow you, but it also had a story behind it. We first watched a video, based on a true story, about an axe murder that took place in 1911. Then, the actors led us through the mock town, where the murder supposedly took place. There were various houses and buildings we were led through and we were supposed to use the given clues to solve the murder case. That part was pretty lame. I have to admit, it's a lot scarier to have things jump out at you on a trail than to be place in the middle of a murder story with bad actors.
So basically, I had an alright weekend, until now, because I'm boggled down with homework and trying to watch a movie on TV at the same time. It's all good though, cause Thanksgiving break is in three weeks. Also, I am aware that this post has nothing to do with music, and I apologize for that. Sincerely.
Take care, folks, and have a fantastic Halloween tomorrow. :)
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Friday, October 28, 2011
He Did The Mash
Pictured at left: Halloween Jack-o-lantern. Image provided by Google Images.
Hello all. We are approaching the weekend (Hooray!) which is very exciting, but this weekend is extra special because it's Halloween Weekend. Because Halloween is on a Monday this year, most of the Halloween festivities like haunted houses, parties, and trick-or-treating are scheduled to take place over the weekend, as opposed to Monday night (because let's be honest, nobody likes Monday's). As a music fanatic, I feel obligated to discuss Halloween music.
We'll start with a Halloween classic: Thriller by Michael Jackson. Everyone's seen the video, everyone's learned the classic "zombie" dance move. Thriller is meant to be creepy but over the years it's gained a lighter, more fun reputation. It's often played at school dances, parties, and even events like wedding receptions. Thriller is known more for the choreographed dance that goes along with it rather than the actual song. The dance was performed by Michael Jackson and all the zombies in the original music video, and ever since it's been a popular dance among the public. The dance is also for many flash mobs. (Click here to view my blog post about flash mobs). I personally have learned the dance and participated in flash mobs with it. It's fun stuff, really.
CPDRC inmates of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center in the Philippines doing the original Thriller dance.
Next we have the Monster Mash by Bobby "Boris" Pickett. This Halloween favorite topped the music charts in 1962, and it's been a Halloween favorite ever since. The Monster Mash isn't as popular as Thriller in the 21st century because of it's age, but it is nonetheless a fun song that will be remembered for a lifetime.
Bobby Pickett's Monster Mash. Video created in 1973 with footage from House on Haunted Hill.
Next there's the popular Ghostbusters Theme Song by Ray Parker, Jr. Besides letting the world know that "he ain't afraid of no ghosts", Ray Parker, Jr. topped the music charts in 1984 with this upbeat, techno Halloween song. It served as the theme song for the movie Ghostbusters.
Original Ghostbusters Theme Song by Ray Parker, Jr.
The list of Halloween songs could go on and on, but unfortunately this blog post can't. There's the Addams Family Theme Song, This is Halloween from The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Rocky Horror Picture Show theme, and so many more. Halloween music is really the icing on the cake when it comes to Halloween because it adds that eerie chill, or in some cases, a lighter feel to any Halloween gathering.
Well, that's all for now folks. Happy Halloween!
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Nice job, wise guy.
So it's time again, THAT time, the time of concert band auditions. Groan--one more thing added to my life. We're all ecstatic about the fact that marching season is FINALLY over, but now that audition time is here none of us are really prepared.
At my school, we have two concert bands: Symphonic Band and Wind Symphony. They say that it's really not bad to be in Symphonic Band, but it's an unspoken understanding that being in Wind Symphony is waaay better than Symphonic Band. So what exactly does it take?
The audition process consists of two parts: scales and a prepared etude. It used to include sight reading as well, but that was taken off the list this year. The scales are chosen at random, and everyone is expected to know all of their scales. Personally, I find scales really easy, but for some it doesn't come as naturally. The prepared etude is where I struggle the most; it's never an easy key signature. I practice and practice, yet I still can't get it up to desired speed. I guess we can't all be perfect at everything.
So it's the day of the audition, and just when you think you're prepared enough, you get that nervous feeling in the pit of your stomach. As you head down to the band hall to play for the director, you're thinking to yourself "B flat, C, D, E flat, F, G, A, B flat" in the form of your most forgotten scale. Not to mention your fear of skipping an entire three notes in your chromatic, and missing one of the 6 sharps in the key of your prepared etude. You finally reach the band room, and you stand in front of the director, barely able to hold your instrument because you are so nervous. There's no more time to practice, no more time to fix that one measure that screws you up every time, no more time to polish up your E flat scale or fix that screeching sound your sax makes when you try to play a high F. You now wish you had spent that extra hour last night practicing for your audition instead of watching the newest episode of Modern Family. You now silently scold yourself for not being the best you can be.
But hey, fourth chair isn't really that bad.
At my school, we have two concert bands: Symphonic Band and Wind Symphony. They say that it's really not bad to be in Symphonic Band, but it's an unspoken understanding that being in Wind Symphony is waaay better than Symphonic Band. So what exactly does it take?
The audition process consists of two parts: scales and a prepared etude. It used to include sight reading as well, but that was taken off the list this year. The scales are chosen at random, and everyone is expected to know all of their scales. Personally, I find scales really easy, but for some it doesn't come as naturally. The prepared etude is where I struggle the most; it's never an easy key signature. I practice and practice, yet I still can't get it up to desired speed. I guess we can't all be perfect at everything.
So it's the day of the audition, and just when you think you're prepared enough, you get that nervous feeling in the pit of your stomach. As you head down to the band hall to play for the director, you're thinking to yourself "B flat, C, D, E flat, F, G, A, B flat" in the form of your most forgotten scale. Not to mention your fear of skipping an entire three notes in your chromatic, and missing one of the 6 sharps in the key of your prepared etude. You finally reach the band room, and you stand in front of the director, barely able to hold your instrument because you are so nervous. There's no more time to practice, no more time to fix that one measure that screws you up every time, no more time to polish up your E flat scale or fix that screeching sound your sax makes when you try to play a high F. You now wish you had spent that extra hour last night practicing for your audition instead of watching the newest episode of Modern Family. You now silently scold yourself for not being the best you can be.
But hey, fourth chair isn't really that bad.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
C-O-M-B-O
Whether you call it "show choir back up band", "glee band", or "combo", it's slowly creeping it's way into the lives of many band geeks all around the country. "Combo" is the band that plays the back up music for the show choir, and often it takes the place of marching band for a band geek.
This will be my second year in show choir combo, and I absolutely love it. Because let's face it, without the band, the show choir would be nothing. Even though the music is difficult and the key signatures are really disgusting (often containing five or more sharps or flats, ugh.), the fun you have in combo really makes up for it. Everyone loves "combo corner", which is where the combo kids hang out at the competitions, away from all the show choir kids, and you can't leave out the awesome feeling when you get the award for Best Band. You also can't leave out all the inside jokes, and the bus rides.
When it comes down to it, show choir combo isn't really about music. Yeah, we perform one or two (maybe even three!) shows at each competition, but the time in between is what matters most. Combo kids accept each other for who they are, inside and out. Okay, so that sounded really corny. But seriously, combo is fun, so all you band geeks out there, I seriously recommend you join.
Combo takes the place of marching band, but with a lot less people. I suggest making friends with the other combo members, because you spend like 18 or more hours with them each week. That could be a real problem if you don't like your fellow combo members.
Some show choir combos get to go on stage and perform. It usually happens at the end of the show, and the combo members will come play their instruments on stage. They usually are wearing the same costumes as the singers, too. In the past I've seen entire drum lines on stage for a show choir performance. My school doesn't really embrace the combo to that extent, but I've always secretly wished we got to go on stage too.
So what I'm basically trying to say is that show choir combo is really fun and I think everyone should join. Well, not everyone, but you get what I mean.
'Cause combo kids get each other.
This will be my second year in show choir combo, and I absolutely love it. Because let's face it, without the band, the show choir would be nothing. Even though the music is difficult and the key signatures are really disgusting (often containing five or more sharps or flats, ugh.), the fun you have in combo really makes up for it. Everyone loves "combo corner", which is where the combo kids hang out at the competitions, away from all the show choir kids, and you can't leave out the awesome feeling when you get the award for Best Band. You also can't leave out all the inside jokes, and the bus rides.
When it comes down to it, show choir combo isn't really about music. Yeah, we perform one or two (maybe even three!) shows at each competition, but the time in between is what matters most. Combo kids accept each other for who they are, inside and out. Okay, so that sounded really corny. But seriously, combo is fun, so all you band geeks out there, I seriously recommend you join.
Combo takes the place of marching band, but with a lot less people. I suggest making friends with the other combo members, because you spend like 18 or more hours with them each week. That could be a real problem if you don't like your fellow combo members.
Some show choir combos get to go on stage and perform. It usually happens at the end of the show, and the combo members will come play their instruments on stage. They usually are wearing the same costumes as the singers, too. In the past I've seen entire drum lines on stage for a show choir performance. My school doesn't really embrace the combo to that extent, but I've always secretly wished we got to go on stage too.
So what I'm basically trying to say is that show choir combo is really fun and I think everyone should join. Well, not everyone, but you get what I mean.
'Cause combo kids get each other.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
K@ra0Ke TiM3!
Alright, so it's only October, and I'm already running out of ideas for blog posts. I wish January was here so I could talk about show choir while it's in season! I'm not the biggest fan of snow though, so maybe not. Anyway, I'm going to talk about karaoke today, because it's fun so I figure why not?
So when I was eight, my parents got me a karaoke machine for Christmas. At the time I thought it was the coolest thing I'd ever laid eyes on, and I would sing with it every single day. I also took it everywhere with me: to friends' houses, to my grandma's house, when I would visit family, etc. My parents bought me tons of karaoke CD's with all my favorite songs on them, and then I would put on a little show for my family and friends. This karaoke machine became the most important thing in my life, and then it broke one day.
I was twelve, and I went to turn it on one day after school. To my surprise, the little red light didn't come on when I pressed the "ON" switch. I made sure the machine was plugged in and hooked up right, but it still wouldn't turn on. I asked my mom to come help me turn it on, but she didn't have any luck either. I was devastated. It was one of the most tragic things that had ever happened to me. If my karaoke machine didn't work anymore, that meant I couldn't sing anymore.
It never occurred to me to buy a new karaoke machine. To me there was only one, and that machine was dead. I now had nothing to do in my free time. I had grown so close to a machine that my friends didn't matter so much anymore, I just wanted to sing my karaoke.
Looking back on this, I laugh. To think that I was so caught up in a machine, and the fact that there are millions of others out there, makes it even more comical. I was a small part of my life that made a big impact, because now I sing all the time, whether it's karaoke or not.
Singing karaoke is fun, whether you can actually sing or not. Sometimes it's more fun if you are a terrible singer than if you're actually good. A lot of places like bars have karaoke stations where you can sing with your friends and just have a good time. There are also games like Singstar that you can sing with on your video game console whether you're alone or with friends.
I absolutely love singing karaoke, and it's a great way to have fun with friends. My experience as a child with karaoke made me into the singer I am today, and my love for my karaoke machine made me love karaoke in general. So here's my advice to you: just sing your heart out!
So when I was eight, my parents got me a karaoke machine for Christmas. At the time I thought it was the coolest thing I'd ever laid eyes on, and I would sing with it every single day. I also took it everywhere with me: to friends' houses, to my grandma's house, when I would visit family, etc. My parents bought me tons of karaoke CD's with all my favorite songs on them, and then I would put on a little show for my family and friends. This karaoke machine became the most important thing in my life, and then it broke one day.
I was twelve, and I went to turn it on one day after school. To my surprise, the little red light didn't come on when I pressed the "ON" switch. I made sure the machine was plugged in and hooked up right, but it still wouldn't turn on. I asked my mom to come help me turn it on, but she didn't have any luck either. I was devastated. It was one of the most tragic things that had ever happened to me. If my karaoke machine didn't work anymore, that meant I couldn't sing anymore.
It never occurred to me to buy a new karaoke machine. To me there was only one, and that machine was dead. I now had nothing to do in my free time. I had grown so close to a machine that my friends didn't matter so much anymore, I just wanted to sing my karaoke.
Looking back on this, I laugh. To think that I was so caught up in a machine, and the fact that there are millions of others out there, makes it even more comical. I was a small part of my life that made a big impact, because now I sing all the time, whether it's karaoke or not.
Singing karaoke is fun, whether you can actually sing or not. Sometimes it's more fun if you are a terrible singer than if you're actually good. A lot of places like bars have karaoke stations where you can sing with your friends and just have a good time. There are also games like Singstar that you can sing with on your video game console whether you're alone or with friends.
I absolutely love singing karaoke, and it's a great way to have fun with friends. My experience as a child with karaoke made me into the singer I am today, and my love for my karaoke machine made me love karaoke in general. So here's my advice to you: just sing your heart out!
Friday, October 21, 2011
Actually, the party started long before you walked in.
Hello all. It's been quite a long week, and now I'm going to slow down and relax over the weekend by blogging and just chillin' at home, you know.
One artist who I've been wanting to discuss for quite some time is Ke$ha. Regardless of your opinion of her, I think it's cool she's famous but perhaps for all the wrong reasons. If you ask anyone who Ke$ha is, they'll respond with "a famous singer". That's cool, but did you ever think that maybe she's not a famous singer, exactly. I wouldn't really call what she does singing, if you catch my drift. Perhaps screeching is a more accurate term. She's a screecher, and she's talented enough to screech on different pitches.
Okay, so that's a little harsh. But I certainly wouldn't call that nassally, high pitched voice of hers the voice of a singer. Can we get real please? Just because she can yelp in three octaves does not mean she possesses a talent that's worth something.
Again, I'm being too harsh. Let's praise Ke$ha for what she can do. First, she can dance, and I give her props for that. Dancing doesn't come naturally at all for me, instead it just feels awkward and tense, thus, I praise her for being a good dancer. She's also confident, and confidence is key. She clearly struts her stuff like it's nobody's business, and I respect her for that.
Alright, now on to the bad and the ugly. First, Ke$ha has no class. Ugh, there's nothing I dislike more than seeing famous people who aren't classy! I've never understood why celebrities find it acceptable to leave their houses wearing almost nothing, and they flaunt it like they're the hottest sh*t to ever graze the planet. Can we please be at least a little conservative here? Celebrities are supposed to be the ones that us "normal" people look up to, the ones that set the model example for what we strive to be. I don't know about you, but I certainly don't want to be Ke$ha.
And lastly, Ke$ha, I have absolutely no respect for you because you flaunt your personal life on the air. If you really wake up in the morning and brush your teeth with a bottle of jack, then I don't think we'll be getting along very well. And put some clothes on, please, because it'd be nice to see you on television and say, "Wow, I really like her clothes" than to say "Where on earth are her clothes?".
One artist who I've been wanting to discuss for quite some time is Ke$ha. Regardless of your opinion of her, I think it's cool she's famous but perhaps for all the wrong reasons. If you ask anyone who Ke$ha is, they'll respond with "a famous singer". That's cool, but did you ever think that maybe she's not a famous singer, exactly. I wouldn't really call what she does singing, if you catch my drift. Perhaps screeching is a more accurate term. She's a screecher, and she's talented enough to screech on different pitches.
Okay, so that's a little harsh. But I certainly wouldn't call that nassally, high pitched voice of hers the voice of a singer. Can we get real please? Just because she can yelp in three octaves does not mean she possesses a talent that's worth something.
Again, I'm being too harsh. Let's praise Ke$ha for what she can do. First, she can dance, and I give her props for that. Dancing doesn't come naturally at all for me, instead it just feels awkward and tense, thus, I praise her for being a good dancer. She's also confident, and confidence is key. She clearly struts her stuff like it's nobody's business, and I respect her for that.
Alright, now on to the bad and the ugly. First, Ke$ha has no class. Ugh, there's nothing I dislike more than seeing famous people who aren't classy! I've never understood why celebrities find it acceptable to leave their houses wearing almost nothing, and they flaunt it like they're the hottest sh*t to ever graze the planet. Can we please be at least a little conservative here? Celebrities are supposed to be the ones that us "normal" people look up to, the ones that set the model example for what we strive to be. I don't know about you, but I certainly don't want to be Ke$ha.
And lastly, Ke$ha, I have absolutely no respect for you because you flaunt your personal life on the air. If you really wake up in the morning and brush your teeth with a bottle of jack, then I don't think we'll be getting along very well. And put some clothes on, please, because it'd be nice to see you on television and say, "Wow, I really like her clothes" than to say "Where on earth are her clothes?".
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Well Hey There
Hello all you blog readers out there! Happy Sunday. You know, I really dislike Sundays. Don't get me wrong, I like the whole easy-going, relaxing day thing, but I hate the fact that because I have a life during the week, I'm forced to spend every Sunday doing homework from the moment I wake up to the moment I go to bed. It's quite unfortunate. Anyway, since I'm already over the word count for this week, I'll just go ahead and share some songs from my favorite musicals with you for this post. :)
"For Good" from Wicked
"You Can't Stop the Beat" from Hairspray
"Seasons of Love" from Rent
"Goodnight My Someone" from The Music Man
"Honey, Honey" from Mamma Mia!
"The Phantom of the Opera" and "Music of the Knight" from Phantom of the Opera
Enjoy! Have a great week :)
"For Good" from Wicked
"You Can't Stop the Beat" from Hairspray
"Seasons of Love" from Rent
"Goodnight My Someone" from The Music Man
"Honey, Honey" from Mamma Mia!
"The Phantom of the Opera" and "Music of the Knight" from Phantom of the Opera
Enjoy! Have a great week :)
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Why I Love to Sing
Voice recitals--you either love them or you don't. I certainly don't assume that the majority of you have sung in a voice recital, but I'm sure some of you have. Basically, if you take voice lessons you have or will sing in a recital at some point. Anyway, voice recitals can be very scary for some people and I'm here to tell you to relax, because they really aren't all that bad.
I used to be so afraid of singing alone in a voice recital that I refused to take voice lessons. My parents tried to coax me into it by telling me that if I took voice lessons, they would give me this or that. My fear overpowered them--it overpowered everything. My realization for the need of voice lessons came to me at the end of my freshman year, when I tried out for show choir and didn't make it in.
This was the turning point of my singing career (not that I actually have a career in singing--not yet at least). Not being in show choir for a year really opened my eyes and made me realize that I wasn't as good as I thought I was. My parents probably would have given me the whole "I told you so" attitude, had I not been so upset. But instead they talked to me about it, and it was decided that I would take voice lessons from then on. I was willing to do anything to better myself, even if that meant I would have to sing alone in front of a live audience.
I spent nearly a year taking voice lessons before my first recital. In that year, my voice went through a series of cracks, creaks, squeals, sore throats, and much more. There were days when I sounded like a dying hyena. But the days when my voice sounded pretty--full, clear, and in tune, made up for the bad days. The good days gradually began to outnumber the bad days, and I actually started to like my singing. I would sing everywhere--at home, in the shower, and at school, under my breath. Singing became the thing I loved to do most, now that I was actually decent at it. When my teacher started talking about the recital coming up, I didn't shutter at the very thought anymore. I was almost excited...almost. And I only panicked a little when she told me that I would be closing the show, instead of having a total meltdown as I would have had a year before.
I was very nervous the night of my recital. My whole family and a few friends had come to hear me sing, and I wasn't totally sure of myself. I had worked so hard in the past year, and I knew in my heart I was ready for people to hear my beautiful singing voice, but my nerves took over everything. As I went up to the stage to begin my song, my legs shook and I thought I might faint. I couldn't bear to look at anyone in the audience, instead I just stared at the wall and began my song. The first few bars were a little shaky, but as the song went on I got more and more comfortable with what I was doing. Before I knew it, my song was over, and the audience was clapping and cheering for me. Many people, most of whom I had never met before, came up to me after the show and told me how well I did. I was proud of myself, mainly for accomplishing something that I had once swore I'd never do. I guess they mean it when they say "never say never".
I later watched a video of my performance at the recital. It was shocking to me--I actually sounded very good. I had never really taken the time to listen to myself sing before. Show choir auditions were coming up again, and this time I was confident that I would make it in. I went into the audition and gave it my all, and to everyone's surprise but my own, I was accepted into the group.
Singing in front of an audience may seem like a terrifying thing now, but once you do it you realize that it's not so bad. Looking back on my own experience I regret nothing, except perhaps doing it sooner. Maybe if I had I wouldn't have missed out on a year of show choir. Then again, I could be wrong. I guess we'll never really know.
I used to be so afraid of singing alone in a voice recital that I refused to take voice lessons. My parents tried to coax me into it by telling me that if I took voice lessons, they would give me this or that. My fear overpowered them--it overpowered everything. My realization for the need of voice lessons came to me at the end of my freshman year, when I tried out for show choir and didn't make it in.
This was the turning point of my singing career (not that I actually have a career in singing--not yet at least). Not being in show choir for a year really opened my eyes and made me realize that I wasn't as good as I thought I was. My parents probably would have given me the whole "I told you so" attitude, had I not been so upset. But instead they talked to me about it, and it was decided that I would take voice lessons from then on. I was willing to do anything to better myself, even if that meant I would have to sing alone in front of a live audience.
I spent nearly a year taking voice lessons before my first recital. In that year, my voice went through a series of cracks, creaks, squeals, sore throats, and much more. There were days when I sounded like a dying hyena. But the days when my voice sounded pretty--full, clear, and in tune, made up for the bad days. The good days gradually began to outnumber the bad days, and I actually started to like my singing. I would sing everywhere--at home, in the shower, and at school, under my breath. Singing became the thing I loved to do most, now that I was actually decent at it. When my teacher started talking about the recital coming up, I didn't shutter at the very thought anymore. I was almost excited...almost. And I only panicked a little when she told me that I would be closing the show, instead of having a total meltdown as I would have had a year before.
I was very nervous the night of my recital. My whole family and a few friends had come to hear me sing, and I wasn't totally sure of myself. I had worked so hard in the past year, and I knew in my heart I was ready for people to hear my beautiful singing voice, but my nerves took over everything. As I went up to the stage to begin my song, my legs shook and I thought I might faint. I couldn't bear to look at anyone in the audience, instead I just stared at the wall and began my song. The first few bars were a little shaky, but as the song went on I got more and more comfortable with what I was doing. Before I knew it, my song was over, and the audience was clapping and cheering for me. Many people, most of whom I had never met before, came up to me after the show and told me how well I did. I was proud of myself, mainly for accomplishing something that I had once swore I'd never do. I guess they mean it when they say "never say never".
I later watched a video of my performance at the recital. It was shocking to me--I actually sounded very good. I had never really taken the time to listen to myself sing before. Show choir auditions were coming up again, and this time I was confident that I would make it in. I went into the audition and gave it my all, and to everyone's surprise but my own, I was accepted into the group.
Singing in front of an audience may seem like a terrifying thing now, but once you do it you realize that it's not so bad. Looking back on my own experience I regret nothing, except perhaps doing it sooner. Maybe if I had I wouldn't have missed out on a year of show choir. Then again, I could be wrong. I guess we'll never really know.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Forget the Jazz Hands
Hello, blog readers, my sincere apologies are coming your way. Last week I had to unexpectedly leave town for a family issue, therefore my recent blog posts have just been kind of...meh. I know it's not an excuse, but I'm just now getting caught up on school work. In my case, it's a good thing marching season is over because now I actually have time to do my homework and get caught up on life.
Anyway, today I'm going to talk about something that's recently been added to my life--jazz choir. A couple months back, my show choir director pulled me out of practice one day and asked me to sing some jazz music for him. At the time, I thought nothing of it, it was whatever. When I asked him why I was doing this, he told me that he noticed my good ears and jazzy style of singing. Okay, I thought, so this is a compliment. He wants me to sing jazz music, I can probably do that.
A few days later, the list for my school's jazz choir, Moonlight Express, was posted. I hadn't noticed the list posted outside the choir room, nor had I cared, since I hadn't gone to the auditions and wasn't really worried about jazz choir. When multiple people came up to me that day, saying something along the lines of "Congratulations!" or "Wow, you're so lucky! Good for you." I smiled and nodded but I had no idea what they were talking about. Eventually I just asked one of them why they were congratulating me. "Uh, you made Moonlight," said my friend Robert. I stared at him for a moment. "Hello, you made Moonlight," he said, waving his hand in front of my face. It hit me then--when my director had asked me to sing jazz music, I was actually auditioning for jazz choir. Once I got over the initial shock of being one of sixteen singers chosen for this choir, I was seriously PUMPED. I couldn't wait to learn how to sing jazz music, though I quickly found out how new of a concept it really was.
For starters, jazz singing is nothing like choral singing. You have to sing with bright vowels, use less vibrato, and slide pitches around. So here I am, at my first Moonlight rehearsal, trying to sing beautifully with tall vowels and vibrato, as I had been taught all my life. Then, the director tells us we're singing jazz wrong--and we have to do it the exact opposite. Confusing? You bet.
After a few rehearsals, I find myself enjoying jazz singing very much. I like the way it's so free and you can improvise and do whatever you want with it. I also find singing jazz very natural. Instead of having to constantly think about tall vowels and diction and beautiful tone, you can focus more on the musicality of the piece and have fun with it. I wouldn't say it's easier, or uglier than choral singing, it's just very different. It's spontaneous and instinctive, much like a new relationship or the weather in Autumn.
I look forward to participating in Moonlight Express for the rest of the season, as well as increasing my knowledge about jazz music. I'll share my experience with you as time goes on, I promise!
Anyway, today I'm going to talk about something that's recently been added to my life--jazz choir. A couple months back, my show choir director pulled me out of practice one day and asked me to sing some jazz music for him. At the time, I thought nothing of it, it was whatever. When I asked him why I was doing this, he told me that he noticed my good ears and jazzy style of singing. Okay, I thought, so this is a compliment. He wants me to sing jazz music, I can probably do that.
A few days later, the list for my school's jazz choir, Moonlight Express, was posted. I hadn't noticed the list posted outside the choir room, nor had I cared, since I hadn't gone to the auditions and wasn't really worried about jazz choir. When multiple people came up to me that day, saying something along the lines of "Congratulations!" or "Wow, you're so lucky! Good for you." I smiled and nodded but I had no idea what they were talking about. Eventually I just asked one of them why they were congratulating me. "Uh, you made Moonlight," said my friend Robert. I stared at him for a moment. "Hello, you made Moonlight," he said, waving his hand in front of my face. It hit me then--when my director had asked me to sing jazz music, I was actually auditioning for jazz choir. Once I got over the initial shock of being one of sixteen singers chosen for this choir, I was seriously PUMPED. I couldn't wait to learn how to sing jazz music, though I quickly found out how new of a concept it really was.
For starters, jazz singing is nothing like choral singing. You have to sing with bright vowels, use less vibrato, and slide pitches around. So here I am, at my first Moonlight rehearsal, trying to sing beautifully with tall vowels and vibrato, as I had been taught all my life. Then, the director tells us we're singing jazz wrong--and we have to do it the exact opposite. Confusing? You bet.
After a few rehearsals, I find myself enjoying jazz singing very much. I like the way it's so free and you can improvise and do whatever you want with it. I also find singing jazz very natural. Instead of having to constantly think about tall vowels and diction and beautiful tone, you can focus more on the musicality of the piece and have fun with it. I wouldn't say it's easier, or uglier than choral singing, it's just very different. It's spontaneous and instinctive, much like a new relationship or the weather in Autumn.
I look forward to participating in Moonlight Express for the rest of the season, as well as increasing my knowledge about jazz music. I'll share my experience with you as time goes on, I promise!
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Glee...Phenomenon or Wannabe?
It's been over two years since the first episode of Fox's television series Glee was aired, and the show has been a huge success ever since. The show has received many awards including six Emmy Awards, five Satellite Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, and six Teen Choice Awards. Clearly, this series is very popular with the public, but the question remains: is Glee a phenomenon or just a wannabe?
Glee is a very controversial television show because the cast performs mostly covers of songs instead of original songs. Many people debate whether this is a good thing or not, and it's really about personal opinion. Some people like that Glee covers songs, some people don't.
"Misery" is a song originally sung by the band Maroon 5. The song was released in June 2010.
As you can see, Glee does covers of very modern, popular songs. But they also do covers of older songs from past generations.
"Don't Stop Believin'" is a song originally sung by the band Journey and was released in 1981.
Glee does a wide variety of songs ranging from Broadway to pop to hip hop to rock. So you would think it would please all audiences, right? Well, some people are less than enthused about the show, and the debate continues over whether or not Glee is a phenomenon or just a wannabe.
To learn more about Glee visit www.fox.com/glee.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
The Perks of Being a Drum Major
Alright, so marching band competition season has come and gone (I can't believe how fast it went!) and now I have the chance to reflect on my first season of being a drum major. I can honestly say that being a drum major is a lot of hard work, and it's a very large time commitment. Having said that, it's definitely worth it in the end.
The Pros
When you're the drum major, you're the boss. You're the one who makes the rules, and your fellow band members will respect that. If you tell them to do something, they'll do it, no complaints. However, this can be a very dangerous thing. No one likes someone the same age as them telling them what to do--you have to use this power carefully.
The band director loves you. We all know there's nothing worse than being yelled at in the middle of practice by your band director. And let's face it, most band kids fear their band director, at least a little. When you're a drum major that fear completely disappears, and your band director treats you as an equal. You're spoken to by your band director with respect, and there's nothing better than being treated like an adult.
You get to accept awards. Before I was a drum major, I never got to hold a single trophy our band received. Once I became a drum major, I was ecstatic every time I got to go on the field to accept an award. You also get to do a fun salute when you accept an award--just don't mess up and embarrass yourself (that happened to me quite a bit this year, actually).
You don't have to march. This is most definitely the main, yet unspoken, reason why alot of drum major become drum majors--they don't have to march. Yes, we march on and off the field, but as far as practice goes, we're pretty much up on our podiums the entire time. Personally, this wasn't the main reason I became a drum major, but for a lot of people it is, whether they admit it or not.
You get to feel important. The best feeling in the world is feeling needed. Sure, everyone in the band is equally important and it takes each and every person to make a band, but the drum majors are crucial to the band's success.
Cons
First to arrive, last to leave. The thing about drum majoring that would make most people turn away is the time commitment--all the extra hours a drum major puts in to make their band successful. Many drum majors have extra practices or camps just for training, and they're expected to arrive early and stay late for regular band practices. I'm not complaining about this, because I love spending time helping out my band in any way possible, but it is listed under cons because we all know that time is a valuable thing.
If you mess up, everyone messes up. A drum major is expected to be perfect. I know, I know...nobody's perfect. But seriously, a drum major can't mess up during a show. If a drum major messes up, the whole band messes up. I've seen it happen--trust me. Drum majors cannot, under any circumstances, make a mistake.
As you can see, the pros seriously outweigh the cons of drum majoring. I'm so lucky I've had the opportunity to be a drum major--I wouldn't trade it for anything. Goodbye marching season, see you next year!
Monday, October 3, 2011
The worst thing you will ever hear...EVER.
Everyone has their forte. Some people are good at painting, others are good at sports. Some have a calling for language, others are more in tune with mathematics. Some people are singers, others are dancers. Whatever you choose to be, pick something you're good at, and stick to it.
Pictured above: Rebecca Black from her music video "Friday". Image courtesy of Google Images.
Nothing irritates me more than seeing someone doing something that they aren't good at. I don't mean that in the way you're probably thinking, because everyone knows there's always that one kid on the basketball team that sits out every game, or that one band kid who is told to "fake play" by the director. No, that doesn't bother me, it's when people are FAMOUS for something that they have absolutely no talent in that does.
One person who is an excellent example of this and has recently caught my attention is Rebecca Black. Let me just start by saying if you are a fan of Rebecca Black, that is fine by all means. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I'm not telling you that you shouldn't like her, I'm simply stating my honest opinion about her. So again, if you like Rebecca Black, and don't want to know my opinion about her, you might want to stop reading this blog now.
Excellent, you're still here. So I'm sure by now you've caught on to the fact that I'm not the biggest fan of Rebecca Black. It's not that she's a bad person or she did something to hurt me personally, it's just that she's famous for something that she's not good at. Yes, I said it, she's a bad singer. She has no talent for singing--take it from an actual singer. It just astounds me that there are so many people in the world who can sing very well, and yet someone like her, who can't sing a note, is a famous singer.
The other thing that bothers me is her use of auto-tune, which as suggested by it's name, automatically tunes her voice with the music. This to me is cheating, because it's just taking her words and changing the pitch of her voice. It also makes her sound like a robot, and there's really nothing pretty about that.
It's people like Rebecca Black who make me really question our society. Think about it: she creates a music video, she posts it on Youtube, she becomes famous, and almost everyone in the country hates her because she can't sing. She had to remove her video from Youtube after it was posted because she got so many negative comments. I know I'm not Rebecca Black, but if I was her and had to take my video off Youtube because it was so bad, I would probably get the hint that I should perhaps find a different hobby. Perhaps I would take up Frisbee, or painting, something in which I could only hurt myself. But that's just me.
*If you're interesting in seeing Rebecca's music video for the song Friday click here.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Flash Mobs...All the Rage
Flash mobs: they seem to be slowly creeping their way into society. Whether it's a flash mob on T.V., a flash mob on the streets, or a flash mob at school, they are continuously increasing in popularity. Dictionary.com defines a flash mob as "a large group of people mobilized by social media to meet in a public place for the purpose of doing an unusual or entertaining activity of short duration". But what does this mean, exactly? What is considered a flash mob?
It's a 21st century term, first used in 2003 in Manhattan, and it seems that it's all the rage nowadays. You can turn on the television to catch footage of a flash mob in New York City, or you can find a video of a flash mob on Youtube. You can create your own flash mob or you can be a part of someone else's flash mob. Either way, flash mobs are here, and they're taking over.
After watching this video, you might think to yourself, what's so appealing about a flash mob, anyway?
Well, my friend, here's one theory. Since the times of the ancient Greeks and Romans, humans have performed in musical theatre by entertaining others in song and dance. Singing and dancing have been a huge part of popular culture for hundreds of years. Of course, musical theatre has evolved over time and in modern times is a large part of Hollywood movies. Some current musicals include Wicked, Hairspray, and Burlesque.
Have you ever watched a musical and thought to yourself, when would this ever happen in real life? Well, folks, that's where the flash mob comes in. A flash mob is an opportunity to bring a musical to life. If you're involved in a flash mob, or if you're a witness of one, you feel like you're actually in a real-life musical. What's not appealing about that?
You can't tell me that if that happened to you in real life, you wouldn't think it was THE COOLEST THING EVER. It's like being in a real musical, where everyone just starts singing and people join in, singing harmony. Yup, that's legit.
So now that you've realized why a flash mob is such a great thing, you might ask yourself, how does a flash mob happen?
It can't be all that difficult to plan a flash mob, but then again, nobody says it's easy. The main reason flash mobbing is such a modern thing is because social media is an absolute necessity for a successful flash mob. The word of a flash mob is spread through social networking: Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, etc. Once you (or whoever is planning the flash mob) rounds up all the participants, you all have to agree on a synchronized act to perform. That's where Youtube comes in. Typically, there's a tutorial video of a song or dance the mob will be performing on said date. Everyone involved is expected to learn their part.
See, flash mobs are even televised.
So basically, a flash mob is a chance for musicals to come to life. They're becoming a part of society, and more and more people continue to participate. Most importantly, they're just awesome.
It's a 21st century term, first used in 2003 in Manhattan, and it seems that it's all the rage nowadays. You can turn on the television to catch footage of a flash mob in New York City, or you can find a video of a flash mob on Youtube. You can create your own flash mob or you can be a part of someone else's flash mob. Either way, flash mobs are here, and they're taking over.
After watching this video, you might think to yourself, what's so appealing about a flash mob, anyway?
Well, my friend, here's one theory. Since the times of the ancient Greeks and Romans, humans have performed in musical theatre by entertaining others in song and dance. Singing and dancing have been a huge part of popular culture for hundreds of years. Of course, musical theatre has evolved over time and in modern times is a large part of Hollywood movies. Some current musicals include Wicked, Hairspray, and Burlesque.
Have you ever watched a musical and thought to yourself, when would this ever happen in real life? Well, folks, that's where the flash mob comes in. A flash mob is an opportunity to bring a musical to life. If you're involved in a flash mob, or if you're a witness of one, you feel like you're actually in a real-life musical. What's not appealing about that?
You can't tell me that if that happened to you in real life, you wouldn't think it was THE COOLEST THING EVER. It's like being in a real musical, where everyone just starts singing and people join in, singing harmony. Yup, that's legit.
So now that you've realized why a flash mob is such a great thing, you might ask yourself, how does a flash mob happen?
It can't be all that difficult to plan a flash mob, but then again, nobody says it's easy. The main reason flash mobbing is such a modern thing is because social media is an absolute necessity for a successful flash mob. The word of a flash mob is spread through social networking: Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, etc. Once you (or whoever is planning the flash mob) rounds up all the participants, you all have to agree on a synchronized act to perform. That's where Youtube comes in. Typically, there's a tutorial video of a song or dance the mob will be performing on said date. Everyone involved is expected to learn their part.
See, flash mobs are even televised.
So basically, a flash mob is a chance for musicals to come to life. They're becoming a part of society, and more and more people continue to participate. Most importantly, they're just awesome.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Watch Out Nation's Capital, Here Comes the JFK Marching Band
Let's go back in time, shall we? All the way back to May 2011, when the John F. Kennedy Marching Band marched in the National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, D.C. This was a picture perfect trip, that is, if you leave out the details of the 20 hour bus ride, the 108 degree heat index, and the sick roommate. Good times!
Oh, I'm kidding of course, it really was a fun trip. We got to visit pretty much every famous place you can think of in D.C., and then some. My personal favorite was the tour of the U.S. Capitol building, mainly because it was air-conditioned and an over-enthusiastic tour guide dressed in a red suit led us through the building and showed us statues of people whom we never cared to know about in the first place. We also went on a dinner-dance cruise along the Potomac River. That would have been nice, had it not been so humid. Either way, the cruise directors were very energetic and they let us dance and sing and it was a blast, plus the food was outstanding.
Oh yeah, I'm sure you're wondering about the parade. It just so happens that Memorial Day fell on the hottest day of the year, and we got the privilege to march in our brand new uniforms. On the plus side, I think there were only two members of our band who fainted, and only a few that got sick. Unfortunately, one was my roomate. Delicious.
But hey, we did get to be on national television. That's got to stand for something, right?
Oh, I'm kidding of course, it really was a fun trip. We got to visit pretty much every famous place you can think of in D.C., and then some. My personal favorite was the tour of the U.S. Capitol building, mainly because it was air-conditioned and an over-enthusiastic tour guide dressed in a red suit led us through the building and showed us statues of people whom we never cared to know about in the first place. We also went on a dinner-dance cruise along the Potomac River. That would have been nice, had it not been so humid. Either way, the cruise directors were very energetic and they let us dance and sing and it was a blast, plus the food was outstanding.
Oh yeah, I'm sure you're wondering about the parade. It just so happens that Memorial Day fell on the hottest day of the year, and we got the privilege to march in our brand new uniforms. On the plus side, I think there were only two members of our band who fainted, and only a few that got sick. Unfortunately, one was my roomate. Delicious.
But hey, we did get to be on national television. That's got to stand for something, right?
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Marching Band is Turning into Show Choir.
What comes to mind when you hear the word marching band? Most people think of band nerds marching around a football field at halftime with their strange uniforms and loud music. They think of the catchy tunes the band plays during pep band. What they don't think of is what is commonly associated with show choir: bright costumes, tons of props, and flashy choreography. In the past few years, these concepts have been slowly integrated into marching band shows throughout the country.
One band in particular that applies show choir concepts to their marching band is the Irondale Marching Knights* from Irondale High School in New Brighton, Minnesota. I've been to their hosted competition, Music of the Knight, for the past two years and our band has competed against them at Valley in West Des Moines. Last year their show's theme was the Seven Deadly Sins and this year their theme is How to Survive a Zombie Attack! Both shows included costume changes, choreography that extended traditional marching band choreography, and tons and tons of props.
So here's my question: what caused the change from traditional marching band to this new show choir marching band combination? Over the years, marching band has slowly but surely left its traditional military style. The purpose of the marching band has changed from leading a military to entertaining a crowd. And yet many traditions have been kept, such as uniform styles, commands, and formations. Another change that has influenced the modern style of marching band is the addition of a color guard during the time of the American Revolution. A color guard adds visual appeal to a marching band show by wearing colorful costumes (as opposed to military style marching uniforms) and incorporating choreography using flags, rifles, and other props. Because audiences love the color guard choreography so much, it has become a general practice to have the marching band members do choreography as well. Another factor in this change is the audience itself, as it has become more of the general public. Because the audience is becoming less and less marching-band associated, they are also becoming less interested in traditional marching band shows. To most marching bands it makes sense to add visual choreography and flashy costumes if they want the audience to enjoy their show.
Whether its flashy costumes, using props to create a story, or sychronized choreography, marching band is becoming less like marching band and more like show choir. This can be viewed as good or bad, but perhaps we should slow it down a little and save show choir for the winter season.
*To learn more about the Irondale High School Marching Knights visit their website.
One band in particular that applies show choir concepts to their marching band is the Irondale Marching Knights* from Irondale High School in New Brighton, Minnesota. I've been to their hosted competition, Music of the Knight, for the past two years and our band has competed against them at Valley in West Des Moines. Last year their show's theme was the Seven Deadly Sins and this year their theme is How to Survive a Zombie Attack! Both shows included costume changes, choreography that extended traditional marching band choreography, and tons and tons of props.
So here's my question: what caused the change from traditional marching band to this new show choir marching band combination? Over the years, marching band has slowly but surely left its traditional military style. The purpose of the marching band has changed from leading a military to entertaining a crowd. And yet many traditions have been kept, such as uniform styles, commands, and formations. Another change that has influenced the modern style of marching band is the addition of a color guard during the time of the American Revolution. A color guard adds visual appeal to a marching band show by wearing colorful costumes (as opposed to military style marching uniforms) and incorporating choreography using flags, rifles, and other props. Because audiences love the color guard choreography so much, it has become a general practice to have the marching band members do choreography as well. Another factor in this change is the audience itself, as it has become more of the general public. Because the audience is becoming less and less marching-band associated, they are also becoming less interested in traditional marching band shows. To most marching bands it makes sense to add visual choreography and flashy costumes if they want the audience to enjoy their show.
Whether its flashy costumes, using props to create a story, or sychronized choreography, marching band is becoming less like marching band and more like show choir. This can be viewed as good or bad, but perhaps we should slow it down a little and save show choir for the winter season.
*To learn more about the Irondale High School Marching Knights visit their website.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Homecoming Music: What Makes a Good Homecoming?
So homecoming is here and it's all everyone's talking about. The spirit days, the assembly, the parade, the game, and lastly, the dance. Everyone's into who's going with who and what they're wearing and who's in your picture group and where you're all going to dinner. Quite frankly, I don't think it's that big of a deal, all it does is add stress to our already busy lives.
So what's the most important element in the homecoming dance, anyway? If you ask a girl, she would probably say the dress that she spent $250+ on at Dillards. If you ask a guy, he might say borrowing his dad's Lexus to drive so he looks cool. If you ask me, I would say that the music is the most important part of the dance.
Think about it: if the DJ plays crappy music, then no one is going to want to dance. If the DJ plays all techno, or rap, or country, then only people that like those types of music are going to want to dance. The DJ has to play the perfect blend of upbeat and slow paced music to make the dance just right. They also need to throw in some classics like Thriller and YMCA. The most important thing is to play something that people can actually dance to. We all know that nothing is more awkward than just standing there, looking around the room because you don't know what to do and the music is impossible to dance to.
Then again, the DJ has to be careful about what music he or she plays. We all know that teenagers can get a little out of hand when it comes to dancing--yeah, you all know what I'm talking about. What I find really unpleasant is the heat and sweat that fills the room when things really get out of control, so keep it chill, okay?
So now we can conclude that the DJ plays a crucial role in the success of a homecoming dance. Ladies, it's not about how you look and Gents, please, forget the car. The real solution is in the music played. That being said, don't put too much pressure on your DJ, either. Stop complaining about the music if they play one country song, and don't go up to the table and request them to play seven of your favorite songs, right now. Everyone just needs to calm down, stay cool, and relax. It's really just about having a good time.
So what's the most important element in the homecoming dance, anyway? If you ask a girl, she would probably say the dress that she spent $250+ on at Dillards. If you ask a guy, he might say borrowing his dad's Lexus to drive so he looks cool. If you ask me, I would say that the music is the most important part of the dance.
Think about it: if the DJ plays crappy music, then no one is going to want to dance. If the DJ plays all techno, or rap, or country, then only people that like those types of music are going to want to dance. The DJ has to play the perfect blend of upbeat and slow paced music to make the dance just right. They also need to throw in some classics like Thriller and YMCA. The most important thing is to play something that people can actually dance to. We all know that nothing is more awkward than just standing there, looking around the room because you don't know what to do and the music is impossible to dance to.
Then again, the DJ has to be careful about what music he or she plays. We all know that teenagers can get a little out of hand when it comes to dancing--yeah, you all know what I'm talking about. What I find really unpleasant is the heat and sweat that fills the room when things really get out of control, so keep it chill, okay?
So now we can conclude that the DJ plays a crucial role in the success of a homecoming dance. Ladies, it's not about how you look and Gents, please, forget the car. The real solution is in the music played. That being said, don't put too much pressure on your DJ, either. Stop complaining about the music if they play one country song, and don't go up to the table and request them to play seven of your favorite songs, right now. Everyone just needs to calm down, stay cool, and relax. It's really just about having a good time.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Who doesn't love a good parade?
Everyone knows there's a parade for just about every holiday. St. Patricks Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, etc. Parades are a fun way to feature organizations and to get tons of candy. Often times, marching bands are included in parades, playing upbeat, well-known music.
This afternoon was the Kennedy High School homecoming parade. It featured just about every school organization or club that you could think of, including the marching band. We were the first organization featured in the parade, and we played the fight song as well as our show music. It seemed odd to me...why were we playing our show music, anyway? Don't get me wrong, it's great music, but in my opinion it's just too dark for a parade. People want to hear peppy music with relaxing tempos, not classical music written by Mozart and Verdi.
The Cougar Marching Band has been featured in several other parades. We are featured annually in the Hog Wild Days parade in Hiawatha, Iowa. Typically we march and play the fight song, but this past summer we created a float instead. The marching band members rode on the float while playing the fight song and the drum majors walked alongside the float. That raised another question in me: if we're a MARCHING band, then why aren't we marching?
This past May, the band was also featured in the National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, D.C. I don't want to say too much about this experience because I'll be writing a seperate post about it at a later date, but it was an extreme honor to be the representative band from Iowa in this televised parade. It was also the first time our brand new uniforms were featured.
In conclusion, marching bands are a big part of parades. There are tons of options too: they can go the traditional route and play peppy music, or they can go the modern route and ride on floats, playing dark classical music. It's really all a matter of opinion.
Happy Homecoming!
This afternoon was the Kennedy High School homecoming parade. It featured just about every school organization or club that you could think of, including the marching band. We were the first organization featured in the parade, and we played the fight song as well as our show music. It seemed odd to me...why were we playing our show music, anyway? Don't get me wrong, it's great music, but in my opinion it's just too dark for a parade. People want to hear peppy music with relaxing tempos, not classical music written by Mozart and Verdi.
The Cougar Marching Band has been featured in several other parades. We are featured annually in the Hog Wild Days parade in Hiawatha, Iowa. Typically we march and play the fight song, but this past summer we created a float instead. The marching band members rode on the float while playing the fight song and the drum majors walked alongside the float. That raised another question in me: if we're a MARCHING band, then why aren't we marching?
This past May, the band was also featured in the National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, D.C. I don't want to say too much about this experience because I'll be writing a seperate post about it at a later date, but it was an extreme honor to be the representative band from Iowa in this televised parade. It was also the first time our brand new uniforms were featured.
In conclusion, marching bands are a big part of parades. There are tons of options too: they can go the traditional route and play peppy music, or they can go the modern route and ride on floats, playing dark classical music. It's really all a matter of opinion.
Happy Homecoming!
Monday, September 19, 2011
SYSTEM + SPIRIT = SUCCESS!
Pictured at left: 2011 Smith Walbridge Clinics. Image courtesy of Facebook.
Smith Walbridge is a week long camp held at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois. There are a lot of branches of this camp (director's camp, colorguard camp, etc.) but it is known specifically for it's drum major camp. The camp was established in 1949 and is the oldest drum major camp in the country. There were six campers in its first year, and since then it has grown to nearly two hundred each week. Campers travel from all over the country to attend this camp, and Smith Walbridge has seen campers representing all fifty states. Pretty impressive, right?
Not only has Smith Walbridge built up a great reputation, but the camp will change a camper for the better, guaranteed. Not only does this camp teach a student how to lead, march, and conduct, it also gives a student confidence. And no, I'm honestly not endorsing this camp, I just know because I've experienced it myself.
On the first day of camp, the staff makes each camper go in front of the entire band and give their commands. When I was first told I had to do this, I thought to myself, "Wait, what? I'm supposed to go up in front of two hundred people I don't know and give my commands? Out loud?!". Then I turned to the girl next to me, who was calm as ever. I asked her if they were serious. She looked at me a little strange, and just slowly nodded. It turns out she was an alumni of the camp, and had done it all before.
Each day of the camp is filled with rigorous activities including giving and executing commands, conducting classes, putting together drill for the final performance, leadership classes, and squad competitions between bands. The week is filled with lots of hard work, sweat, and minimal sleep. Each camper burns approximately 4000 calories a day.
An average person would think this was a prison, a place where they make you do hard work and don't give you long breaks and feed you crappy food. But to a drum major this is paradise, a place where you can work hard and learn a lot, a place where you can meet people who are as dedicated to marching band as you, a place where they force you to do things you don't want to do, thus bettering yourself in so many ways.
Many things can be taken from this camp: knowledge of marching band that will be useless for the rest of your life, perfect eight to fives, and a really great tan. And yet there's so much more, qualities you never knew you could gain in just a weeks time: lifelong friendships, leadership skills, and most importantly, confidence.
For me, Smith Walbridge Clinics drum major camp was the best and worse week of my life. It was hard to say goodbye to the self-concious, passive girl I was before. It was rigorous exercise that made me sore and tired. But it also allowed a new me to emerge, one that was confident and knowledgeable. One that was inspired and inspiring at the same time. Looking back, the time I spent at drum major camp was worth every second, and I've gained nearly a lifetime of experience in just a weeks time.
For more information about Smith Walbridge Clinics visit www.swclinics.com.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
When you try your best, but you don't succeed...
There are times when you feel as if everything that's going on in your life is completely out of your control. You have no way of stopping or changing what's happening. You feel weak as you are forced to follow the path of others instead of creating a path of your own.
Yesterday, the Cougar Marching Band traveled to Johnston, IA, and Mount Pleasant, IA, to perform in their first competitions of the season. The morning performance was in Johnston, and there were no actual band placements, just a critique. The Cougar Marching Band had about half an hour to fix some little things before they took the field, and then they were on their own. As they marched onto the field, fearful last minute thoughts rushed through each members' head. "Will I fall? Will the drum line stay with the drum majors? Will our band be able to hold it together and look good at the same time?"
After the performance, and successfully not falling apart and having minimal phasing issues, the band was critiqued by a peppy white-haired man who couldn't get the DVD player to work. The band was ecstatic when they saw their performance and realized that they had actually done quite well. The drum majors were thrilled too--their salute looked awesome. The band director praised them, and told them to perform that well in the evening.
Later, after a long bus ride, a chilly rehearsal, and an unhealthy meal at McDonald's, the band was ready and knew, with false hope, that they would be the best at Mount Pleasant's competition. They lined up to take the field, and this time they weren't worried. They knew they had done an excellent job that morning, and that this performance would be the same if not better. Little did they know, they had a lot to worry about.
The first initial "hit" in the show was powerful, but it only went downhill from there. People couldn't march as well due to wet turf, and the drum line-drum major connection wasn't as solid as it was before. This show suddenly needed a lot of work and a lot of practice.
It was obvious that the band wasn't as good as they thought they were when they got their butt's kicked by the school across town. Disappointment was in everyone's eyes as they clapped their hands and pretended to be happy with where the placed. Tears were one blink away from the drum majors' eyes as they accepted their Third Place trophy.
This is the point when you feel out of control. You can't make the band march better or play better, it just has to happen. If eleven hours of practice a week isn't enough, then the entire band's doomed. Every person has to try that much harder to make it work. One person can't do all the work, can't fix everything, and it drives that person crazy. In this case, that person would be me.
I've had the song "Fix You" by Coldplay stuck in my head for nearly twenty four hours now. It reminds me of everything that could have been but wasn't. It reminds me that I've lost all control of the band and that I'm now dependent on them to better themselves. It reminds me that no matter how hard you try, you can't win if not everyone is completely dedicated.
Yesterday, the Cougar Marching Band traveled to Johnston, IA, and Mount Pleasant, IA, to perform in their first competitions of the season. The morning performance was in Johnston, and there were no actual band placements, just a critique. The Cougar Marching Band had about half an hour to fix some little things before they took the field, and then they were on their own. As they marched onto the field, fearful last minute thoughts rushed through each members' head. "Will I fall? Will the drum line stay with the drum majors? Will our band be able to hold it together and look good at the same time?"
After the performance, and successfully not falling apart and having minimal phasing issues, the band was critiqued by a peppy white-haired man who couldn't get the DVD player to work. The band was ecstatic when they saw their performance and realized that they had actually done quite well. The drum majors were thrilled too--their salute looked awesome. The band director praised them, and told them to perform that well in the evening.
Later, after a long bus ride, a chilly rehearsal, and an unhealthy meal at McDonald's, the band was ready and knew, with false hope, that they would be the best at Mount Pleasant's competition. They lined up to take the field, and this time they weren't worried. They knew they had done an excellent job that morning, and that this performance would be the same if not better. Little did they know, they had a lot to worry about.
The first initial "hit" in the show was powerful, but it only went downhill from there. People couldn't march as well due to wet turf, and the drum line-drum major connection wasn't as solid as it was before. This show suddenly needed a lot of work and a lot of practice.
It was obvious that the band wasn't as good as they thought they were when they got their butt's kicked by the school across town. Disappointment was in everyone's eyes as they clapped their hands and pretended to be happy with where the placed. Tears were one blink away from the drum majors' eyes as they accepted their Third Place trophy.
This is the point when you feel out of control. You can't make the band march better or play better, it just has to happen. If eleven hours of practice a week isn't enough, then the entire band's doomed. Every person has to try that much harder to make it work. One person can't do all the work, can't fix everything, and it drives that person crazy. In this case, that person would be me.
I've had the song "Fix You" by Coldplay stuck in my head for nearly twenty four hours now. It reminds me of everything that could have been but wasn't. It reminds me that I've lost all control of the band and that I'm now dependent on them to better themselves. It reminds me that no matter how hard you try, you can't win if not everyone is completely dedicated.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Wolfgang is Quite the Genius...
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, a well-known name in the classical music world, is easily one of the top composers to ever have lived. In modern music, light is particularly shed on his Requiem Mass in D Minor, composed in 1791. I'm here to discuss one movement from this requiem: the Lacrimosa.
Okay, so I promise not to bore you with all the musical details of this piece, I'll just give you the general information for now. The word "Lacrimosa" (can be spelled Lacrymosa) is Latin for "with tears of" or "having wept". Mozart's requiem is an arrangement of music having to do with death. In order for you to understand the true eeriness and powerfulness of this song, I'm going to post a video of it.
Hopefully you enjoyed that morbid piece of classical music. What I find most interesting about this piece is that it's about death, and ironically this was the last piece that Mozart ever wrote before he died. Perhaps he saw it coming?
A modified version of this piece was sung by "Evanescence" from the album The Open Door. I find this version even more haunting than the original because it's blended with a new melody that adds a modern twist to the madness. Here's a video of that version:
Alas, we've gotten to the part where I become acquainted with this song. It all began in January 2011, at Virterbo University in La Crosse, Wisconsin. I was at a show choir competition and I took my seat to watch Linn Mar's varsity show choir, "10th Street Edition". They opened their show with this piece, and I was completely mesmerized by it. Here's a video of that performance:
Fortunately, our band director was also at this show choir competition, and she too saw this song performed so well. She was so fascinated by it that she decided to have it arranged this year for our marching band to perform.
Okay, so I know what you're thinking, this is crazy. This song went from classical to hard rock to show choir and now to MARCHING BAND? What?!
The only way to describe it is that there's nothing better than standing up on my podium, listening to the band play this piece, and thinking to myself, "Laaaaaaacrymooooosaaa" as the music corresponds. When I listen to it, I think back to January at the show choir competition, where I first heard it sung by outstanding performers. Sometimes I even wish that I, too, could play this music, instead of just conducting it. The song has such a cold, mysterious feel that's very fitting to chilly marching band nights. It always leaves me walking off the field feeling as if I've done my duty by exposing the rest of the world (or the audience, at least) to this timeless epic.
The Lacrimosa has survived for more than two centuries now, and there's no doubt that it will survive for many more. The fact that it's still being performed and modified today allows us to conlude that Mozart was a pure genius. What could be more legitimate?
Okay, so I promise not to bore you with all the musical details of this piece, I'll just give you the general information for now. The word "Lacrimosa" (can be spelled Lacrymosa) is Latin for "with tears of" or "having wept". Mozart's requiem is an arrangement of music having to do with death. In order for you to understand the true eeriness and powerfulness of this song, I'm going to post a video of it.
Hopefully you enjoyed that morbid piece of classical music. What I find most interesting about this piece is that it's about death, and ironically this was the last piece that Mozart ever wrote before he died. Perhaps he saw it coming?
A modified version of this piece was sung by "Evanescence" from the album The Open Door. I find this version even more haunting than the original because it's blended with a new melody that adds a modern twist to the madness. Here's a video of that version:
Alas, we've gotten to the part where I become acquainted with this song. It all began in January 2011, at Virterbo University in La Crosse, Wisconsin. I was at a show choir competition and I took my seat to watch Linn Mar's varsity show choir, "10th Street Edition". They opened their show with this piece, and I was completely mesmerized by it. Here's a video of that performance:
Fortunately, our band director was also at this show choir competition, and she too saw this song performed so well. She was so fascinated by it that she decided to have it arranged this year for our marching band to perform.
Okay, so I know what you're thinking, this is crazy. This song went from classical to hard rock to show choir and now to MARCHING BAND? What?!
The only way to describe it is that there's nothing better than standing up on my podium, listening to the band play this piece, and thinking to myself, "Laaaaaaacrymooooosaaa" as the music corresponds. When I listen to it, I think back to January at the show choir competition, where I first heard it sung by outstanding performers. Sometimes I even wish that I, too, could play this music, instead of just conducting it. The song has such a cold, mysterious feel that's very fitting to chilly marching band nights. It always leaves me walking off the field feeling as if I've done my duty by exposing the rest of the world (or the audience, at least) to this timeless epic.
The Lacrimosa has survived for more than two centuries now, and there's no doubt that it will survive for many more. The fact that it's still being performed and modified today allows us to conlude that Mozart was a pure genius. What could be more legitimate?
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