"It's That Time of The Season"

Well, as the title says, it's that time of the season.  Rehearsals are more intense, the directors are on us to figure out what to do to improve, and it feels like we're getting frustrated with each other.  Wonderful.

Since we have Championships coming up on the 20th, the directors are presuring us to "beat the show" every single run through; making the run through we're about to do better than the one before it.  We're also told to make each run through a performance, and not to just lay it off.  It's a lot of work.

The directors won't/wouldn't tell us anything about how we did after a run.  We're supposed to think about how we did, and how to improve.

I feel/felt that all the upperclassmen were getting frustrated with me.  I still need A LOT of help with everything.  Sometimes, section leaders can seem mean.  One girl said to me,"I know you don't like me, but you're going to have to suck it up, and deal with it."  That was when she was trying to get me to even my intervals, and come closer to her.  It's very frustrating sometimes.

The woodwind section leaders are very hard.  Their personality for the most part are "This is what you need to work on."  There are a few exceptions, but for the most part, they're all criticism, and no praise.  The brass seem to be more of  a mix of personalities.  Some encouragers, some who are half and half, and some more like the woodwind leaders.

My drill section leader told me not to worry.  I told her that it seems like all the other freshmen have the marching.  She said,"Have you seen some of the freshmen brass?  Some of them can't march.  At least you try."  She also told me that I work really hard, and that marching comes at different times for people.  Her freshman year, she had a set that was really hard to make.  The directors would come over loud speaker, and tell her that she needed to make that set.  How embarrassing!

When I told her that I was told that this is an "easy" show, she said that in comparison to the old shows, yes, but compared with other bands, this is a very visually intense show.

When I conveyed these feelings to my other section leader, she asked me if I needed a hug, and I said yes.  She said that this is the first year she hasn't cried when someone yelled at her.  I told her that it's because she's a section leader, and now she does the yelling.  So true.

Some of the clarinet upperclassmen were helping me with the new visuals.  I told them that I still can't play and march in time on the field.  One said,"You're a flute, so they probably won't hear you."  So true, and definitely to my advantage.  I can play and march in time when there aren't any direction or speed changes, but that doesn't happen very often on the field.

It seems like my only two emotions in marching band are frustrations and excitement when they're about to announce awards.  It'll be sad after the show at championships.  We've all worked extremely hard this year on the show.  The seniors will graduate, and I'll miss some more than others.  Next year, we'll have a completely different band.