From the Road - Halfway

Narrowing in on the last month of tour! 
They say that the last 15 percent of any goal is the hardest to accomplish.  It's true!!!!
We just learned a major change to the middle movement of the show, scherzo. Its going to work really well in the context of the show. I'm learning how to quickly implement and perform changes, which will be so helpful for this upcoming indoor season! We get so many changes, and learning to implement and perform them on the fly is definitely a good skill to have!
On anther note, There's something really special about the bond that forms when you live, eat, breathe, and rehearse endless hours with 150 people for 3 months! There are definitely times we've had our disagreements, or felt we couldn't tolerate each other another minute. But more often then not we're supporting each other, working hard, laughing lots, and encouraging each other when it gets tough!
The closer we get to finals, the more I think about how much I should cherish each of the friends I've made and each of the members that makes up the Cadets. You always hear people say, "enjoy this season because there will never be another one like it". But this summer it has a very tangible meaning; there are people from everywhere- Japan, England, Ireland, and all over the US- who I may (literally) never see again. So my goal is to enjoy every moment that I have being with such a great group of individuals. A group that will make the best Cadets in history!
Tonight is our first time facing our toughest competition- Carolina Crown and the Blue Devils. Hop tells us the confidence that this years corps exudes is astounding. Our Barber show - "Side by Side" - has incredible potential, but it still will take every ounce from each of us to pull this off. 
If anyone can do it, this corps can. 
It's going to be amazing!

America the Beautiful

This has always been my favorite in our arsenal of patriotic songs. 

It doesn’t get the title of of “National Anthem”, open major sporting events, or fill a seventh-inning stretch. 

It’s a simple tune - easily sung be children.

But it’s words are powerful and it’s imagery vivid.  

Most only know the opening verse - but there are eight. (The third verse still sticks in my throat every time I try to sing it)

Happy Birthday, America.

Tis the season - take a few minutes and read the poem - let it inspire you.

America the Beautiful

O beautiful for spacious skies, 

For amber waves of grain, 

For purple mountain majesties 

Above the fruited plain! 

America! America! 

God shed his grace on thee 

And crown thy good with brotherhood 

From sea to shining sea! 

O beautiful for pilgrim feet 

Whose stern impassioned stress

A thoroughfare of freedom beat 

Across the wilderness! 

America! America! 

God mend thine every flaw, 

Confirm thy soul in self-control, 

Thy liberty in law! 

O beautiful for heroes proved 

In liberating strife. 

Who more than self their country loved

And mercy more than life! 

America! America! 

May God thy gold refine 

Till all success be nobleness 

And every gain divine! 

O beautiful for patriot dream 

That sees beyond the years 

Thine alabaster cities gleam 

Undimmed by human tears! 

America! America! 

God shed his grace on thee 

And crown thy good with brotherhood 

From sea to shining sea! 

O beautiful for halcyon skies, 

For amber waves of grain, 

For purple mountain majesties 

Above the enameled plain! 

America! America! 

God shed his grace on thee 

Till souls wax fair as earth and air 

And music-hearted sea! 

O beautiful for pilgrims feet, 

Whose stem impassioned stress 

A thoroughfare for freedom beat 

Across the wilderness! 

America! America! 

God shed his grace on thee 

Till paths be wrought through 

wilds of thought 

By pilgrim foot and knee! 

O beautiful for glory-tale 

Of liberating strife 

When once and twice, 

for man's avail 

Men lavished precious life! 

America! America! 

God shed his grace on thee 

Till selfish gain no longer stain 

The banner of the free! 

O beautiful for patriot dream 

That sees beyond the years 

Thine alabaster cities gleam 

Undimmed by human tears! 

America! America! 

God shed his grace on thee 

Till nobler men keep once again 

Thy whiter jubilee!

Attraction

There is something about the camaraderie of like-minded, similar-goaled people that is attractive. I don't mean beautiful (although it can be) - but magnetic. Yesterday, I had the privilege of welcoming the participants of this years Drill Design Retreat to our facility. I am not a drill guy, probably never will be. But as I spoke to these people I was almost envious of the invisible bonds that have formed between these music instructors. They don't even know each other - but the work they have done in the trenches of music education have linked them together in a palpable way.

Less is More

Due to a perfect storm of circumstances a smaller marching band will be hitting the street this 2013 season. At first that was a source of concern for me  - but as this season has progressed and we approach the threshold of our first parade I'm coming to the conclusion that bigger isn't always better. There certainly is a safety in the massive sound of 100+ players - but there is also a new excitement in the flexible sound of a smaller corps. Our marches - old favorites - have a new sound. A fresh face.

Notes from the Road

Today's been a rockin pit day! We met Neil Larrivee, one of the founding instructors and arrangers for the Cadets who revolutionized drum corps front ensemble playing and is now the director of education for Vic Firth!

We were filmed for the first Vic firth sneak peak promo video, which was super cool! (In the rain of course! )


This good day didn't come easily though because the past week has definitely been a challenging 'character building' one! It's definitely takes a little while to figure out how a group of almost all rookies can work, play and live together at the highest level of perfection possible! Pretty high standards, but nothing were not used to with Spirit! Being in Spirit has taught me so much more than just how to play - dedication, a positive attitude, leadership, and most importantly how to work as a team, care about the group, and keep on fighting when you feel it's impossible!


The 2013 Cadet pit is definitely gelling now and we're beginning to become a 'well oiled machine', as our instructor Br. Andrew would say:)


Lots more learning to do, but this shows going to be the best yet! Phenom! I feel so privileged to be part of such an amazing ensemble and am psyched to see what we will become in August.


PS - One day Starbucks donated some iced coffee... Enough said:)

A New Parade Season

I am pumped about the marching band season- our first parade is about two and half weeks away, and I am hopeful that we will present the most “musical” marches that we have done in a long time. Can we produce that warm symphonic sound which is out there while we march down the street? I say YES! And we are getting closer each week. Perhaps the biggest challenge is not playing our own parts, but listening to all the other parts first, then adding our balanced sound to that mix…  we shall see. 
Most of our street marches this year are John Philip Souza marches, and they are all fantastic. Soaring melodies, intricate harmonies and brassy fanfare sections, but my favorite is The Crusader march. This is  a lesser known march, that has a gorgeous trio section with flute and clarinet playing a very lyric melody. Come and hear it for yourself! The trumpets and low brass add in, but are NOT the feature!(Catch that trumpets??)

A Firm Foundation

SOA definitely prepared me to be a member of the Cadets. Work ethic, being able to take correction, rehearsal technique (following instruction...this can be attributed primarily to Ian Hale!) and even how to do a dot book, are huge skills that I have been crucial entry level skills at Cadets. These are the blocks that build a Championship Corps. The music this year is all Samuel Barber, and the show is coming together really well. We are 130 pages into about a 200 page show. It is so fun to play great music everyday, to have a single focus is very relaxing even if it is so hard, and I love hanging out with friends here who love hard work and the results it can achieve.