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Post by Tunes on Apr 12, 2009 16:25:35 GMT -5
So I'm new. I feel rather obliged to make an intro, so here it is! I obviously play the saxophone. (alto) I get the name saxchick because out of our 7 saxophones (5 altos, 2 tenors) I'm the only girl. (Well, there is this one guy, whom we all kind of question his saxuality, but that's not important.) We've got a really small band: 4 Flutes (one is really good, one is good, two are okay) 8 Clarinets (two are bass) (two are really good, the rest are so-so, and the basses are super sucky) 2 Tenor Saxes (both are good) 5 Alto Saxes (three are good [me!], and two are crappy) 2 French Horns (one is good, one can't get a note out) 1 Trombone (sucks on ice) 1 Trumpet (really, really good) 1 Euphonium (average) 1 Tuba (average) 7 Percussion (I think I've missed someone. Our band has 33 people in it.) We are just the 9th grade band though. In my school the freshmen are with the eight graders, not at the high school. So next year (sophmore year) will be the first year for us at the "real band". Luckily, next year the 9th graders move up with the high school so it's going to be 9-12. Which should be good for the band. We've been invited several times to the HS to play with them at the football games. (And we've been thrown blindly onto the field, amongst the HS kids who know what they're doing.) I think next year I'm switching to Tenor. I've got a lot of friends in the tenor section and it's usually smaller. (Which means closer knit) And there are a few other girls in the alto section at the HS, so I wouldn't feel as special. So any advice on Tenor vs. Alto. [I've got big hands] Also, we've got our first band camp coming up (it's the lame day camp from like 6-5, instead of the much cooler overnight camp) this summer. Any advice for surviving? This is really long.... I tend to ramble. ;D So.. yep. That's SaxChick and her many thoughts.
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Post by altoclarinets on Apr 12, 2009 16:48:28 GMT -5
Oela. Goodness. Your band *is* small. As far as going down... I would try one of the other tenor's horns before permanently switching, to decide if I liked it. Surviving band camp: First, if you live above the Mason- Dixon line, you have NO right to complain. Just saying. I'm from south Texas- we get 110- 120 degree weather for our band camps. Anyway... Make sure you are in good shape before camp starts. The more efficiently your body is operating, the less energy you will use. Wear light colored clothing, shorts and T or tank- sweat absorbtive material is good if it's jersey fabric... underarmour isn't as advised. Wear comfy shoes. I know you know you need to wear tennies, but if faced with a choice between Converse and walking shoes, take the walkers! Your feet will thank you. Drink. Water. I can't repeat this enough. Don't drink soda or sugary stuff, and have a glass of water with every meal and anytime you feel thirsty. You can drink milk with b-fst- just have a glass of H 20 before you leave the house.
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Post by Tunes on Apr 12, 2009 17:13:56 GMT -5
I think I have every reason to complain about the heat. I live in South Mississippi. It's easily 110 on a cool day in the summer. The heat is terrible, but here, the heat is WET. It's horrible. Our school is right on the Gulf Coast of Mexico, so it is H-U-M-I-D. Your clothes stick to you, it's hot, and your hair stands NO chance. My sister says that Band Camp was NOT fun. It doesn't take very long at all to become sopping wet in weather like that. Some of it's the humidity, some of it's sweat. (And in some cases, tears. Lmao)
I would take another 15 degrees added to the heat, if it was dry heat. The wet heat is the worse. It's nasty.
And next year, with the band being 9-12 grades, it's supposed to be like 170 people+. The band directors don't have a definite number yet.
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Post by SaxGirl on Apr 12, 2009 19:48:47 GMT -5
Ah, nice username, I might have a protege in the near future! Haha. (I just took the 1010 off my username since everyone here seems to call me 'SaxGirl' anyway.) Anyhow, welcome, saxchick! Advice, advice, advice... I've had 5 years of band camp now, and all I can say is DRINK A CRAPLOAD OF WATER. A member on these boards also gave me some unforgettable advice a few years back: if you drink a small container of Gatorade/Powerade/something with fluid electrolytes the night before you go to band camp, your body will absorb them and help you through the strenuous work the next day. I tried it and it works very well. 6-5 is a long day. Bring a cooler or something to keep your water cold! Also, though I'm sure your band directors (or even colorguard instructors) will conduct stretching exercises, if they don't, STRETCH. In high school, I marched corps style, which is hard, but still a cakewalk compared to the extended high step my college band does. Either way, you will be sorry if you don't stretch. Switching saxes? Well, I've never marched tenor (I marched alto sax for my 9th-10th grade years, then learned trombone and played that in 11th, 12th, and my freshman year of college). I know those buggers can be heavy. Also, I'd imagine it would be a lot harder to march tenor if you're short (5'0"-5'3" I'd say, simply because of finger placement and the size of the sax's body in relation to your torso). So, yeah, that's my advice. You'll survive band camp! Everyone on these boards has! And since you're new, you get a lick. Just tradition. *LICK!*
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Post by stickshifty on Apr 12, 2009 20:25:42 GMT -5
Yeah I'm from Memphis and had band camps on a parking lot so I can sympathize when the air is so thick it's lick breathing water. So, to reiterate what SaxGirl said, drink lots of water. Even when you think you don't need to. Also, a lot of us kept a change of clothes with us, so if things got too nasty we could switch them out. Especially on days with any chance of rain.
Anyways, welcome welcome. Enjoy your stay on the boards! And I'm sorry, but I don't lick. You'll get enough of those without me.
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Post by Tunes on Apr 12, 2009 20:28:01 GMT -5
Well, I'm like 5'11 and I've got (man hands, bleh) big hands. So I think I'm going to talk to my BD about it once Spring Break is over. Thanks for the advice! (all of y'all!)
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Post by Flutist Kes on Apr 12, 2009 21:19:03 GMT -5
Sax Girl AND Sax Chick? Oh the confusion! Just kidding. In regards to preparing for band camp... I suppose it depends on how hard core your band is. My high school was not hard core at all... neither is my college, actually, when I think about it. Anyways, the biggest tips I can give: water and sun screen. Trust me on the sun screen. When everyone else is fried and you are still able to move your face, you can say, "I told you so." Anyways, welcome to the boards, and *LICK!* we lick newbies!
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Post by Tunes on Apr 12, 2009 21:52:47 GMT -5
This WILL get confusing.... I swear I didn't know that there was a SaxGirl, lol. Maybe we can do rock, paper, scissors or something? Lol
Can someone explain the licking of newbies? Or is it a closely guarded secret?
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Post by NinjaBaker on Apr 12, 2009 23:21:55 GMT -5
first off... WHOA SaxGirl is... SaxGirl now. Secondly, welcome saxchick! I'm from a GIANT Texas band, so I'm not familiar with the small band thing... But my band was pretty hardcore, and I survived off of water and sunscreen for a LOOOONG time. I'm in an even larger college band in Virginia right now. *bakes cookies and gives to you* See ya around!
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Post by ~*Not~a~Stalker~* on Apr 12, 2009 23:36:15 GMT -5
Hello! You pretty much described my band to the tee. that was creepy. I'm glad I live in TN and not Mississippi.
Also, people keep saying to drink lots of water, and aside from reiterating that, I feel I should tell you that while you're in the process of drinking this craploud, be sure to not chug it. I know that when break time comes around it's all you can do to not, but trust me, it will make you feel sick at least for a minute. Sip for a minute. Then chug, if you think you can handle it.
Welcome!
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Post by piccolo + ADD = fun on Apr 13, 2009 15:06:17 GMT -5
Hey! Welcome to the boards. I come from a really big band (276) but my middle school band was about that size. And yes, the licking is a closely guarded secret lol *LICK*
We do band camp as night practice to avoid the nasty sunburns, lol. But water, comfortable shoes, light weight clothing and sunscreen are your best friends. =D
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$@M1K1N$!
Band Nerd
I'd rather be at band
Posts: 149
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Post by $@M1K1N$! on Apr 15, 2009 21:53:54 GMT -5
Hello! my band is really big compared to urs. (idk how many, probably around 300 or so) welcome! i'm a rare middle skooler and i play flute! *LICK* hi!!!!!!!! and welcome.
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Post by bluescalesdragon on Apr 16, 2009 9:53:12 GMT -5
Welcome, saxchick
Ah, so you want to switch to tenor? Good choice, good choice......I've never liked alto.
In marching band, depending on the music, the tenor either plays with the low brass, or acts as a bottom for the rest of the woodwinds. Either way, people will hear you in the stands.....in my marching tenor days I always got yelled at for playing too loud. But it was FUN. I always liked pretending I was in low brass....well, now I actually am because i switched to trombone (for mb only) to compensate for graduating players.
Ah, and you're tall, too. That's always helpful. Now that I think about it, having bigger hands would be an asset to holding tenor......it's kind of embarassing for me because all the good tenor players can hold their instrument in one hand if they need to.....I am a short kid with extremely small hands and I can't do that.
The taller you are, the less you will be made fun of by upperclassmen. Boy, I wish I was taller.....jk You will LOVE marching band, no matter how dehydrated you get.
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Post by altoclarinet123 on Apr 16, 2009 15:52:53 GMT -5
I think I have every reason to complain about the heat. I live in South Mississippi. It's easily 110 on a cool day in the summer. The heat is terrible, but here, the heat is WET. It's horrible. Our school is right on the Gulf Coast of Mexico, so it is H-U-M-I-D. Your clothes stick to you, it's hot, and your hair stands NO chance. My sister says that Band Camp was NOT fun. It doesn't take very long at all to become sopping wet in weather like that. Some of it's the humidity, some of it's sweat. (And in some cases, tears. Lmao) I would take another 15 degrees added to the heat, if it was dry heat. The wet heat is the worse. It's nasty. And next year, with the band being 9-12 grades, it's supposed to be like 170 people+. The band directors don't have a definite number yet. But then all you people from down south go complaining about 50 degrees... It's like 50 now in NJ and we're (meaning my brothers and the fifty million other little boys in my back yard) running around and gardening. Remember when we complain of the "heat" you complain of the "cold." And NJ is the special little state that is like 90 in the summer and 5 in the winter. So once you are used to the 5 degree weather, all of a sudden its 90 and humid and everyone's dying... Yeah drinking water is good - one kid went blind last band camp because he didn't drink enough water. He got better like 5 min later, but the BD's were mad that nobody had enough water...
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Post by Tunes on Apr 16, 2009 16:34:13 GMT -5
I actually deal with the cold wayyy better then the heat. I was born in England and lived in Europe for like half my life, so I'm good with the heat. It's easy to deal with being cold, because you can just put more clothes on. But, with the heat, it gets to a point where if you take anything else off, it becomes indecent. ;P But I like the South, so I'll put up with the heat. I DO miss the snow though.
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