#piccproblems #noughsaid

I, along with many others the same year as I am, have experienced band burn out.  After four seasons, I'm so done.  Seven more practices.  Hallelujah!  I can't wait never to hear, "3,2,1, you're in, set." I'm tired of being pushed and pushed and pushed.  The main guard director tried to give us a peptalk about can't vs. Won't because people have chose not to play.  Well, if I make a sound on the piccolo, I'm so happy. 

The piccolo section had a mini party at a local pizza restaurant.  We laughed so much and had so much fun.  As we attempted to eat the hot food, we had mishaps.  One girl turned the french fries so that the cheese would wrap around, I plopped a big glop of cheese in my mouth as I can't bite.  We made it a joke today to say #piccproblems #noughsaid That's because I'm better than you.  I'll miss laughing and cheering with the band.  I'll miss that and my friends.  Other than that, I'm so done with band. 

We rehearsed better than we usually have, although not disciplined at all compared to my first year.

We'll compete against two other bands, including one that beat us.  We'll see.

Post performance:

It made me laugh that a judge stupidly decided to walk into the middle of our circle set that we slide across the field.  That was the stupidest place he could have stood at that moment.  He quickly ran out before we slid.

Because we performed towards the end of the night, the stands held more people.  As we performed, I thought about how the audience understood and seemed to "get" our show as they clapped enthusiastically at our big moments.  Our big wood passing diagonal looked like a good diagonal.  Our company front was better than it was today.  Overall, it was my best performance to date.  I have tunnel vision and can only concentrate on how well I myself did.  

I won't be able to sing in church due to my sore voice.  We screamed and yelled, spirited. 

We got last place.  Ugh.  Oh well.  That was one of the best performances I could have done.  A local band that has imrpoved a lot since last year won first.  Frustrating, yes.  Oh well.

I'll remember laughing with the piccolo section and cheering with band at award ceremonies. 

Last Away Game

The football team lost its last away game today. We all shivered uncontrollably in the stands, although I wore five pairs of pants and five shirts.  I am the marching band snowman for a reason. 

I anticipate the last football game as I don't really enjoy the sport.  After 40 some games in my marching band career, I'm so done with football.  I remind myself that the season's coming to a close and that I must make the most of every moment instead of wishing it away.  Although it's hard. 

Nearing This Season's End

I always vow not to do something and then end up doing the very action I vowed not to.  At the end of last year's marching band season, the last year marching band members were so tired of marching band and just wanted it to end.  I had hoped to have a great, memorable season, marked by a close band and high ranking performances.  But placings and awards don't last: memories do.  In some ways, I feel exactly like they did.  I'm ready for marching band to end; however I know that my very last performance with this marching band is approaching very quickly.

I anticipate not having long rehearsals every single Tuesday and Thursday and having the stress of managing my time with band and school, not hearing, "3,2,1, set" and all the phrases to try to make us rehearse with more discipline, not being pushed and pushed and pushed beyond my limits.  Sorry I can't kneel on the ground or play: I sustained a substantial injury here.  I attend practices, unlike some other people who may very well have a legitimate excuse.

I'll miss the spirit of the marching band as well as the camaraderie I have with most of the marching band.

Life's Ironic Nature

I thought of the ironic nature of life, especially lately in marching band.  I started and may end my marching band career by marching and not playing: my first year because I didn't know how to process all of the show's components and my last year because I physically can't play.  

I held a piccolo to my lips because I can't march when I don't play as I process the show entirely by the music.  I couldn't form my lips right.  I then ran in during a drink break to try a flute because the bigger instrument doesn't require such tight, precise lips.  In vain I tried to play a note: an easy note at that. 

Our band director doesn't understand that I CAN"T play.  He thinks I just need to use my facial muscles.  Well, my teeth are essentially in a cast and my lips are still swollen.  I could play just as well as I could after I got my braces on/off, my wisdom teeth out, any other dental procedure.  Yes, my facial muscles didn't have as much endurance, but I could still play.  

Because this is my last year, I wanted to go on Fall Retreat with my youthgroup.  Surprisingly, our director let me out of the Friday game and rehearsal that Saturday for the competition.  I'm shocked that he didn't say that I had to be at the game and rehearsal.  He was surprisingly and fortunately (for me) gracious considering that I won't have this opportunity again. 

I have a month left in marching band.  In one month, I won't ever perform with my school's marching band again.  I'll miss marching band because it gives me common ground to discuss with my friends whom I've met and gotten to know in band and also because I've invested so much time, energy, stress in marching band.  My life will change next Summer and Fall when I won't have marching band.  After four years of having marching band constantly during the Summer and Fall, I'll feel like I'm skipping. 

Twists & Turns in the Road

It's been an interesting week to say nonethless: a good week, but still an interesting one at that.  I feel rollerblading, displaced four teeth, needed four stitches in my lip, severely re-bruised my knees; therefore, I can't march or play for a while.  What does that mean?

Well, I went with the band to the game yesterday.  I had to walk from the school to the stadium and then back after the game.  It was really weird to sit in the stands alone in full uniform not performing with the rest of the band, although hearing the band warm up and then watching them perform made me glad that I've done marching band for four years.

What frustrates me is the lack of communication: someone along the way has dropped the ball.  We originally had a competition on the 12th: we now don't have one that day and instead have one the 26th.  I made other plans on the 26th, assuming that we didn't have band that day.  That competition is in three weeks.  I don't have much time to change my plans.  Other band members have similar problems.