"The Best Way Around is Through" - Robert Frost

I thought I heard that quote, and that quote is so extremely true.  No one can gain marching band experience without making it through a season.  A couple of things to note, and since my posts don't ever transition well, I'm going to do bullet points.

-It was hot today, and we were outside the whole time.  Another band was rehearsing in the band room, so we were outside.  The heat got to the freshman piccolo.  She leaned over, and my section leader took her away.  Apparently she threw up and then she went home.  I feel bad for her, but heat is one major component of marching band.

-This year is so much easier than last year.  Even my marching band mentor noticed and told me.  We were doing basics, and she told me so.  I can mark time, and for the most part, use the correct foot and the correct time.  It's a visual thing for me.  When a drum major gives a down beat in 4/4 time, left foot.  Also, the piccolo seems to be easier with angles, probably since it's lighter and not as long.

-My music section leader, who was drill section leader last year, started playing piccolo today.  She
hadn't really played it before, but all you have to do to adjust is pick it up and play it.  The piccolos really need to tune, especially the freshman.  We were really out on the high E flats.

-One thing I've noticed is I take way too small step sizes when marching backwards.  I feel as if I can't control my upper body as my step size increases.  We were working on different step sizes, and I never made the larger ones.  Sometimes, I  can barely make the standard 8 to 5.

-I don't know why, but I got and wore new sneakers today, and I seem to march better in them, especially when we were marching backwards.  My old shoes were running sneakers, and now I have cross trainers.  The cross trainers are probably just lighter.  Plus, the cross trainers have arch support.  Towards the middle of the rehearsal, my feet started to swell.  I just took my shoes off.  My feet hurt by the end.

-Random things from today.  Today was huge on articulations.  Our articulations need to match.  One annoying part of the opener is the 18x repetition of the same 2 measure melody.  Ugh.  Also, we have these crazy 16th note runs, and I can get them, and some of the other flautists can't yet.  We started memorizing, or at least attempting to.  I need a lot of repetition.

So there's my disjointed post.  Basically, I'm glad this isn't my first year of marching band.