There are times I worry about the future of the band. This weekend isn't one of those times.
For those of you not in the know, We faced our local basketball rival (UNA) for both a mens and womens game. The Charger women...didn't do so hot. Sorry ladies. The Men's game however...it was epic. We matched them point for point almost the entire game.
However, with about two minutes left in the game, we suddenly went down by as much as 6 points with about 5 minutes left and momentum definitely against us. From experience, I knew this could potentially be a spirit killer for the band, which is a shame because that's normally when we need to be the loudest.
This was not the case this past weekend. The band I saw then looked very much like the band cheering on the Charger's Hockey team in Iowa with a 4 point deficit a few years back. The amp didn't just go to 11, it went to 15. I don't think we stopped cheering until the buzzer sounded.
Sadly, the game ended with a dunk at the buzzer being missed and the Chargers losing by 2. However, watching the spirit of the band Saturday, I'll take the loss. It was a good day for the band.
Incidentally, we really should start working on nicknames. First we need to rebuild the darken cavern with spot lights for the Elders and the hooded robes. Oh Doug....
Monday, January 26, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
Inaugural Recordings
I heard a story that really got under my skin today. I'm honestly not sure exactly why it got to me so badly, or why I should care, but it did and I do. So please bear with my rantings and maybe I can figure it out for myself.
For those of us who watch the Inauguration last Tuesday (Jan 20, 2009), Right before President Obama's Oath of Office was a wonderful quartet composed by John Williams. On top of that, it was performed by some really outstanding artists, including Cello Virtuoso Yo-Yo Ma. I enjoyed the piece as it used a variation on one of my favorite themes (Simple Gifts, and old Shaker song).
Well, the story came out today that the version we heard had actually been recorded earlier in a studio, and that the quartet had rigged their instruments to play silently. The logic was that it was much to cold to be able to keep their instruments in tune.
This is where I have to call BS. I play for a Pep Band. We play at a Hockey Game. You know, that sport played on several thousand gallons of frozen water. And We don't get that badly out of tune. My instrument is shorter than my forearm and about as big around is a pencil, and I still keep it close to in tune!
I suppose the other part that bothered me is all the musicians were happy to essentially commit the sin of lip syncing. Singers have been all but executed for such a sin, but it's fine for us?
The reason they were happy to do so is because they viewed this performance as "too big to fail" (to borrow the words from the Bush Administration). But I say by recording ahead of time, they cheapened the experience. I happen to take the stance of Nina Perlove of the Real Flute project ( www.realfluteproject.com ). Music is meant to be an expression of art, and art is to be and expression of Humanity. And humans are an exclusively imperfect. With practice we can guarantee that we'll get a piece right 99.9% of the time, but sometimes we'll get careless and goof. These are as much a part of the art we do as is the flawless performances.
If flutes as a personality type (which I remind everyone I qualify as) are guilty of anything, it's our persistent habit of overachieving. We. have. to. be. perfect. Period. So for someone as practiced and talented as Miss Perlove to come out and say that it's perfectly alright, if not a bit preferred to be slightly imperfect, that my friends is quiet a statement. I really look up to her as a musician.
So to have such a blatantly opposite opinion come from some one else I look up to as a musician really does leave a bad taste in my mouth. Maybe that's what is really bothering me. That it goes against the very understanding I have of what it is to be a musician. I don't know, right now I think I'm going back to being a computer expert. Stuff makes sense there.
For those of us who watch the Inauguration last Tuesday (Jan 20, 2009), Right before President Obama's Oath of Office was a wonderful quartet composed by John Williams. On top of that, it was performed by some really outstanding artists, including Cello Virtuoso Yo-Yo Ma. I enjoyed the piece as it used a variation on one of my favorite themes (Simple Gifts, and old Shaker song).
Well, the story came out today that the version we heard had actually been recorded earlier in a studio, and that the quartet had rigged their instruments to play silently. The logic was that it was much to cold to be able to keep their instruments in tune.
This is where I have to call BS. I play for a Pep Band. We play at a Hockey Game. You know, that sport played on several thousand gallons of frozen water. And We don't get that badly out of tune. My instrument is shorter than my forearm and about as big around is a pencil, and I still keep it close to in tune!
I suppose the other part that bothered me is all the musicians were happy to essentially commit the sin of lip syncing. Singers have been all but executed for such a sin, but it's fine for us?
The reason they were happy to do so is because they viewed this performance as "too big to fail" (to borrow the words from the Bush Administration). But I say by recording ahead of time, they cheapened the experience. I happen to take the stance of Nina Perlove of the Real Flute project ( www.realfluteproject.com ). Music is meant to be an expression of art, and art is to be and expression of Humanity. And humans are an exclusively imperfect. With practice we can guarantee that we'll get a piece right 99.9% of the time, but sometimes we'll get careless and goof. These are as much a part of the art we do as is the flawless performances.
If flutes as a personality type (which I remind everyone I qualify as) are guilty of anything, it's our persistent habit of overachieving. We. have. to. be. perfect. Period. So for someone as practiced and talented as Miss Perlove to come out and say that it's perfectly alright, if not a bit preferred to be slightly imperfect, that my friends is quiet a statement. I really look up to her as a musician.
So to have such a blatantly opposite opinion come from some one else I look up to as a musician really does leave a bad taste in my mouth. Maybe that's what is really bothering me. That it goes against the very understanding I have of what it is to be a musician. I don't know, right now I think I'm going back to being a computer expert. Stuff makes sense there.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Game time....Almost
Yeah, band has more or less taken over most of the life I haven't already sold to Digium. Here we are in the busiest part of the season, and I'm getting antsy for the next game. This stuff is worse than crack. Maybe it's the scotchies...(Curse you Mouse, Cuuurse yoooou!)
For the second week in a row, we haven't had an executive board meeting. Although we have much to talk about, and we are finally a recognized student group, stuff keeps coming up. This week our President is out of town, and without him it doesn't seem worth holding a meeting.
On a side note, I need to see what is in the bylaws about modifying our jerseys beyond what everyone will have done. I've had an awesome idea for a section patch, and the other piccolo player also thinks this is an awesome idea. I can even have them made for cheap. I'm just not sure if we can modify the jerseys as such, even if it isn't permanent.
Well, t-1 day, 1 hr and 45 minutes until report time. And I still need to get more noise makers. Oh Mouse, feel like a trip to Oriental Trading?
For the second week in a row, we haven't had an executive board meeting. Although we have much to talk about, and we are finally a recognized student group, stuff keeps coming up. This week our President is out of town, and without him it doesn't seem worth holding a meeting.
On a side note, I need to see what is in the bylaws about modifying our jerseys beyond what everyone will have done. I've had an awesome idea for a section patch, and the other piccolo player also thinks this is an awesome idea. I can even have them made for cheap. I'm just not sure if we can modify the jerseys as such, even if it isn't permanent.
Well, t-1 day, 1 hr and 45 minutes until report time. And I still need to get more noise makers. Oh Mouse, feel like a trip to Oriental Trading?
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Youtube's Symphony Orchestra
I'm not sure how many people have seen it, but I have been made aware of something incredibly unique to date. Youtube is commissioning a Symphony at Carnegie hall. Now they could have recruited any Orchestra around the world, and to help out they are partnering with the London Symphony. However, here's where things get interesting. They are holding auditions via Youtube videos. For more details, here's the link: Youtube Symphony Orchestra
So why do I mention this. Well, I've been thinking of auditioning. The question is, which instrument. My principle instrument of choice is the flute, but looking at the auditions already submitted, I have no chance. I'm good, but I'm no virtuoso, and as several have already submitted auditions, yeah. I'm not as strong on Piccolo (not to mention I severely dislike that accursed instrument), but it would be an easier competition, as few have auditioned for it already (and quiet honestly, I'm as good if not better than those who have auditioned already.)
I'm getting to a point where I either need to drop it or start practicing. Auditions go on for a little while longer, and I'm sure the better players are going to put in their auditions last minute, as to give them every chance to practice they can take. So, Should I, Shouldn't I? At this point, I figure what do I have to lose? I practice a fun piece, I submit a video, if I win yay for awesome experience time. If I don't, well it's not like I don't have opportunities to play with the UAH Pep band.
So why do I mention this. Well, I've been thinking of auditioning. The question is, which instrument. My principle instrument of choice is the flute, but looking at the auditions already submitted, I have no chance. I'm good, but I'm no virtuoso, and as several have already submitted auditions, yeah. I'm not as strong on Piccolo (not to mention I severely dislike that accursed instrument), but it would be an easier competition, as few have auditioned for it already (and quiet honestly, I'm as good if not better than those who have auditioned already.)
I'm getting to a point where I either need to drop it or start practicing. Auditions go on for a little while longer, and I'm sure the better players are going to put in their auditions last minute, as to give them every chance to practice they can take. So, Should I, Shouldn't I? At this point, I figure what do I have to lose? I practice a fun piece, I submit a video, if I win yay for awesome experience time. If I don't, well it's not like I don't have opportunities to play with the UAH Pep band.
Monday, January 12, 2009
F1r5t P05t!!111!!!eleven!1!!!!!
Wow. My first blog. Or blag. Or whatever.
So yeah, I've been mulling this over for a while. The main reason I'm doing this is to get the real story out there about the band. Not just what you've read in some newspaper, or what you've heard in some rumor, or what you see at the game. I've been in the middle of this since before it was a mess. And now I want to take you on the inside.
I decided to name this thing fighting entropy. Entropy, in the most simple of terms, is the tendency of things to change. Physics teaches us that entropy always increases, and as a consequence things tend to go from a more organized state to a more disorganized state. Buildings crumble, Mountains erode, living things die and decay. It's the order of the universe.
With the band, it feels like those of us still working to put things right are fighting change. We don't want to see the band die off, and have been fairly successful in preventing that, but sometimes it feels like we are fighting a losing battle, that things will never be as they were. So in many ways, we are fighting entropy.
But here's the caveat: The band, years and years ago, started from nothing. Entropy always increases in a closed environment, and only overall. Things can become more organized in the real world. So, I'll keep on fighting. And we'll see what will become of our fight against entropy.
So yeah, I've been mulling this over for a while. The main reason I'm doing this is to get the real story out there about the band. Not just what you've read in some newspaper, or what you've heard in some rumor, or what you see at the game. I've been in the middle of this since before it was a mess. And now I want to take you on the inside.
I decided to name this thing fighting entropy. Entropy, in the most simple of terms, is the tendency of things to change. Physics teaches us that entropy always increases, and as a consequence things tend to go from a more organized state to a more disorganized state. Buildings crumble, Mountains erode, living things die and decay. It's the order of the universe.
With the band, it feels like those of us still working to put things right are fighting change. We don't want to see the band die off, and have been fairly successful in preventing that, but sometimes it feels like we are fighting a losing battle, that things will never be as they were. So in many ways, we are fighting entropy.
But here's the caveat: The band, years and years ago, started from nothing. Entropy always increases in a closed environment, and only overall. Things can become more organized in the real world. So, I'll keep on fighting. And we'll see what will become of our fight against entropy.
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