Band Camp Day II

Nine hour day yesterday.  Our band director told the entire band where each absent member was; therefore, many people asked me how Germany was or thought me crazy or admirable for coming after getting back at 4 in the morning.

When I first walked into school, our band director's first comment was,"I knew you would come."  Not,"How was your trip?" or something like that.  Just,"I knew you would come."  Yeah, I'm not begrudging that I came and that she didn't, but one of my team members on the trip skipped band yesterday.

We didn't really spend that much time on the drill that everyone else learned yesterday.  I wouldn't have had time to learn that drill if I weren't jet lagged; therefore, I REALLY couldn't remember the opener drill.  I stumbled around trying to guess where my set was.  I'll hopefully remember the drill we learned yesterday today.  Lovely.

I wanted to leave at dinner because I practically fell asleep while marching because of exhaustion.  The directors essentially used guilt trap to make me stay, saying that it would be better for me to stay up and push myself and that I could sleep during dinner.  Not with all that noise and people walking around.

Well excuse me.  I came after a twelve day trip and getting back at 4:00 in the morning.  Couldn't you have shown me a little grace?  I came, my team member didn't.

After we ended for the day, our director told me that I showed dedication.  Dedication in deed.  I practically feel asleep during wrap up announcements and complained mentally the whole time.

Anticipating Band Camp

We had our first day of band camp yesterday; however, I was out of the country on a missions trip in a time zone 6 hours ahead of where we live.  My mom encouraged me to go today because I can force myself to stay awake today.  I'll warn my fellow band members that I'm tired and jet lagged and may leave early.

I hope that I can participate on the leadership team because I can have an official title for NHS and so that I have a little more authority with a tittle.

Last year members doing bios and pictures for the programs this week.  This is crazy.

I can't believe that my last year has already started...

Piccolo Party

We had a piccolo party today.  We are probably the first section to make T-Shirts: Band only started less than a week ago and we've already made our T-Shirts.  Our shirts are awesome: they're original and reflect parts of the themes of the show.

Aside from the T-Shirts, we had fun reminiscing about our first years in marching band and advised the first year piccolo players what to do and what not to do.

As I drove one of the first year piccolo players, I asked what she thought of marching band so far.  She replied that it is different from how she thought it would be.  Everyone's nice and welcoming.  At least she thinks so.  I think that the piccolo section will be a relatively close and fun section this year.  We have an eclectic variety of personalities that all interact in fun ways.

I like being one of the leaders/one of the older ones because I can plan these parties and activities and because people look up to me.

Soaking Up Every Moment

As the title suggests, I have to soak up every moment because I don't have a next season; therefore, the other flautist my age and I are trying to plan crazy and fun and silly and ridiculous events and activities to make this season memorable.  We planned a water war, a chalk war, and a tape war for band camp.  Gotta fill those 9 hours somehow.

We're going to be the loud, obnoxious, cheerful, boisterous section this year.  While our director worked with another section, we all made faces at one another and laughed.  Yeah, we were supposed to sit there quietly, but we weren't.

I enjoyed myself more than usual while we made faces at one another and planned crazy ideas.

Last First Band Practice

I cannot believe at all that this is my last year of marching band.  I feel as if I'm starting my second year of marching band instead of my fourth.  Time went way too fast.

I enjoyed "leading" the section.  I helped plan a piccolo party and T-Shirt making session.  We met the two new flautists.  

During basics block, our director told everyone to watch me as we marched for an example of excellent marching style because I stuck out to him.  I always can get the more difficult stuff but can't get the easy stuff: most people can march forward proficiently before they can march backwards.  

The last half hour drug; however, I reminded myself that I need to enjoy every minuted because I don't have much time left.