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Post by spacermase on Sept 14, 2007 17:55:19 GMT -5
....So, apparently I bombed the Genetics quiz today (seriously, we're talking below a 50 here)....and every single person who I've asked about maybe doing something this weekend has turned me down or has a pre-existing conflict...and the girl I thought who might just possibly be interested in me in my Astro class apparently isn't (although, it could be she's just extremely shy- she's a First Year, after all- but I'm doubting it)
Yeah, today was definitely not one of my better days.
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Post by Duel of the Flutes on Sept 14, 2007 22:23:26 GMT -5
I've honestly considered putting this in the Venting Room, but I think I'm more sad about this than needing to vent about it, since there's not really much to say. so, recently, I've been having problems with my wrists after playing snare (especially rock beats), and today it got to be the worst it's been yet. I've told my mom about it, and she said that if it continued, to tell her... and that was a couple weeks ago. and it's definitely continued, and gotten worse. she says she thinks it might be carpal tunnel. she had it and she said that's what it feels like. well... the thing is, to make carpal tunnel go away, you have to let your wrists rest for a bit. um, I couldn't take a break from percussion, for two reasons: 1) I love it so much, that I'd be more upset about that than not being able to play flute and 2) I'm 2nd snare! if the 1st snare isn't there, I'm 1st. and we need all the upperclassmen snares we can get anyway, because we have so many freshmen. but anyway, I'm going to the doctor's tomorrow to get them looked at, so we'll know what's up tomorrow morning, but I'm still extremely worried about this, because whether I have carpal tunnel or not, there's something wrong with my wrists, and that's not good.
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Post by bariclaribob on Sept 15, 2007 17:09:47 GMT -5
I'm so sorry to hear that, Duel. I hope everything turns out all right for you. It seems like every time something good happens to me in the musical world, something bad happens. Last year, I made honor band as a freshman. The day of the concert, for the first time ever, I lost a pad on my clarinet. Luckily, they fixed it there. So, yesterday I made section leader. Two bad things resulted: over half my section hates me and wants me to die and/or has been saying some really mean/nasty things about me behind my back. The other is that at the football game last night, I lost some cork off my clarinet. It's on the Ab key, so it's not a major crisis, but I still am going to have to send my clarinet in to be fixed-- at the same time as a bunch of vicious juniors and seniors will be practicing music that will be used to challenge me. [edit]-- And I thought I had my jazz band audition music all ready for tomorrow. I've never had to improv before (I play bari, and the one time my bd offered me an improv solo, I turned it down), so I've been working out some little semblance of a tune for the twelve bar section. I was feeling as confident about it as I ever would-- and then I saw the notation on my music "Solo section 4x on CD." Since the audition is with the CD, I have to make a 48 bar solo. Usually, when a section repeats that many times, aren't there different soloists each time? None of them baris, I might add? I mean, I've heard the occasional bari solo, but it's usually an alto, a tenor, a trumpet, a bone, maybe guitar or bass, and drums. So my whole notion that I've got a good shot at the upper band again this year went kaput. I can't solo. Not for that long.
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Post by carahtheodd on Sept 17, 2007 16:24:44 GMT -5
I am regretting everything I have ever siad to one certain guy in question. I used to, and kind of still do like him and on sturday he told me that if i had told him that i liked him he would have asked me out instead of his current GF. Um.....well break up with her and go out with me then!!
Oh, and he said he wouldn't have asked me out if I hadn't told him i liked him because he didn't want to ask me and then have me say no.
HELLO?? Isn't that the point of ASKING? YOU DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER!!!
sorry but that has really been bugging me
hugs to BCB but she is amazing and will always beat me
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Post by lightningflute2010 on Sept 17, 2007 17:35:27 GMT -5
Everytime my section leader schedules a sectional for a wednesday, I get sick. And my BD decided that we're going to have an outside practice during classes on Wed. and Fridays. Wed. is uniform wear for JROTC. God help me.
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Post by bariclaribob on Sept 17, 2007 18:04:11 GMT -5
Yeah, I pretty much just came here to hug everyone. But since I'm here... Yeah, I think I really screwed up my jazz band audition majorly. I get incredibly stressed before auditions. It didn't help that I had a block of gym right before my audition. I was out of spit, too, but every time I got a drink of something, I felt nauseous. So I went into my audition, breathless and shaking. Dang it, whenever I audition my hands start to twitch. Plus, I had my neckstrap all set for how it should be when I stand and play. Well, I realized about two seconds before I was supposed to start playing that I was sitting, and that my bari was way too far from my mouth. That sucked. The bd told me to start playing my Bb scale in half notes, and I had gotten to the third one when he stopped me. "Breathe!" he told me. "You're playing like 'nahahahahah nahahahaha nahahahaha.' Start over." So, I had to breathe too much, but at least I didn't crack on any of the notes. Then came the audition piece. We played along with a CD, and it went way faster than I expected. I know I messed up one of the only real rhythms in it, but I think I recovered. As for the improv section, the solo I had prepared ran out before my time did, so I got flustered and really screwed up the part I totally made up. I knew he was about to stop me, so I tried to end it and it sounded really awkward. Someone told me it sounded really good, but my relief was short-lived; a former bari rival who was playing soprano this year has to play bari for jazz. So that makes 5 baris trying out for 2 slots. I think I'm getting cut.
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Post by NinjaBaker on Sept 18, 2007 20:28:34 GMT -5
I need a hug. No particular reason that I care to explain. Just a hug would be nice.
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Post by Trumpeting4life on Sept 19, 2007 0:10:13 GMT -5
I tried out for my university marching band (yes... the one i've been so psyched to join) and I didn't make it... (i auditioned for drumline) Also, when I came to university i wasn't able to bring my trumpet OR my violin... and i'm missing both sooo much Anyways, hugs to everyone
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Post by bariclaribob on Sept 19, 2007 17:40:52 GMT -5
^ And one for Ninja Baker: And here's one for everyone in general: And I need a hug because I just found out that yet another person is trying out for jazz band on bari. She told me she doesn't even want to be in jazz band this year, but she's trying out for the heck of it. Well, I want to be in gold this year, and she couldn't care less, so why not just not audition? That spot practically had my name on it-- until she decided to casually audition for a single slot that she doesn't want. Now I'm almost certain to be cut from gold to blue. I know blue is fine, but I made gold as a freshman, and all of my friends expect me to make it for the duration of high school. Now, I'm stuck.
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Post by SaxGirl on Sept 19, 2007 19:53:02 GMT -5
^ :hug:s to you, BCB.
Long rant warning.
Band practice last night ended up with me in tears of faithlessness on the ride home because of me being so overwhelmed. The trombones did so well yesterday, but they started talking and chatting in between commands near the end of practice, so I got fed up. So I made a proposal. If I heard one of them talk after the DM called "Set," "Attention," or "Parade Rest," the entire section would do push ups after practice - along with me. I was not exempt from my own punishment. If one person fails as an individual, they make the section, and consequently the band, look bad. Surprisingly they took it seriously and I hardly heard a murmur throughout the entire duration of the show. We had a second runthrough immediately after, so I reminded them that the same rules would apply. Anyone talks, we're doing push ups.
Mind you, I've experimented with nearly every technique this year in order to get my section to listen and do their best. I know they're capable, but sometimes they don't focus and apply themselves. (That was my point in doing the push up experiment - I know they were capable of doing a show well without talking because they did... so do it that way all the time.) I've yelled, I've complimented, and I've flipped out, but my method that I use most often is asking nicely. "Trombones, please be quiet. Trombones, [DM] said set! That means stop talking!" and et cetera. It is rare for me to yell shut up because you can't receive respect if you don't give any.
Back to the push ups. People talked a bit throughout the second (and final) runthrough, so I figured I've been very forgiving all year despite my relentless criticism/encouragement, depending on the situation, and I figured I would make them do push ups with me just to make up for all the times I've let them get away with behavior that was uncalled for.
Finally, I congratulated them on a great show after closing set but then asked just like this: "Trombones, would you please put your horns down on the 50? Let's just do 20 push ups together. I'll do them with you." And you know what? One, they wouldn't look at me as I said it, two, they surely didn't care, and three, two of them just said, "No, we aren't," and completely walked away.
Adrenaline just took over at that point, so I ran over to them said, "What? You two, the athletes here, aren't manly enough to listen to a girl and do 20 push ups? You sure like to talk in between sets, though." They brushed me off, didn't even look at me or give me the time of day, and just walked away.
Needless to say, no one did push ups last night. I was too fuming mad to waste any energy on the trombone section. Even the yard markers hated me; one fell on my head and another leaked sand into my eye as I threw it on top of the drum major's podium.
I have literally tried everything. I pride myself on being logical and humble, and though I without a doubt have the most experience and right to be section leader within my section, I wouldn't dare shove it in peoples' faces and make them feel like they aren't worth living. I may think that a lot, but I never insult anyone beyond sarcastic jabs which I feel are well-earned. It's just that I don't know what to do at this point. I know it's "just" high school marching band, not drum corps, but please, some people just have no respect for anyone, including themselves.
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Post by dumb major on Sept 19, 2007 21:53:33 GMT -5
I made a really hard decision. I'm leaving the job I've been at for almost a year and a half. It's going to be the best for me, but I just feel so sad about it.
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Post by Greenepony on Sept 20, 2007 14:52:48 GMT -5
It feels like anyone I respected in authority has told in various wordings that I fail, I can't follow directions, etc. I don't think its just hormones misinterpeting this time, *sigh*
I am just so exhausted this year. I don't remmeber the last time I was so tired. I doesn't help today is the second in a row I nearly bawled in class, yesterday was over a letter I was presentng from this summer. Today multiple times when I was being yelled at.
I just don't know what to do about all this.
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Post by oboehorn77 on Sept 20, 2007 15:26:34 GMT -5
Saxgirl, all that just seems awful... and RUDE. I used to want to be section leader, but I'm kind of glad I never did. Greenpony, just the fact that you care so much means that you can do what you need/want to and will not fail. Don't give up! I'm rhythmically challenged today. I could just write that and be done if I wanted. Seriously in band... I just won the ever covetted first chair and now I'm failing at the one thing I like to call myself truly good at. >.<
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Post by bariclaribob on Sept 20, 2007 16:34:07 GMT -5
SaxGirl1010, you are a way better sl than any of the ones my school has. You just happen to be plagued with the most obnoxiously disrespectful section I can think of. But you're in a tough spot. My suggestion? Persistance. Get down and do the push-ups without them. Don't let them get to you. You are clearly level-headed, so I don't need to warn you to not blow up at them or anything. Maybe you could call a sectional-meeting type thing: sit them down, explain everything that you've just told us, and tell them that you don't expect them to do anything that you're not willing to do [cite your push-up routines]. Keep your cool, keep it up, and good luck.
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Post by SaxGirl on Sept 20, 2007 21:27:57 GMT -5
SaxGirl1010, you are a way better sl than any of the ones my school has. You just happen to be plagued with the most obnoxiously disrespectful section I can think of. But you're in a tough spot. My suggestion? Persistance. Get down and do the push-ups without them. Don't let them get to you. You are clearly level-headed, so I don't need to warn you to not blow up at them or anything. Maybe you could call a sectional-meeting type thing: sit them down, explain everything that you've just told us, and tell them that you don't expect them to do anything that you're not willing to do [cite your push-up routines]. Keep your cool, keep it up, and good luck. Firstly, thank you very much. That means a lot. I really think about you and a lot of TFBCers when I get into situations like this because I wish you could all be there for me in person to ask for help. You give wonderful advice. And I'd love to follow it (I will be more persistent), but maybe I am not clear enough when I say I really have tried everything. Sometimes I insult them when it gets really bad. Most of the time I ask them nicely. Screaming, pleading, begging, punishing, referring them to the BD, using examples, calling on friends for help, insulting their dignity, and giving leadership-based speeches all do not work as a whole. I even tried another method tonight (since I was tired and didn't want to be at practice) - just giving up. I barely marched at even half my potential during basics, I was in a crappy mood, talked to almost no one, and just let the problems try to solve themselves. Alas, my inner sense of band entropy was all messed up before long, so I just had to correct things... and they still didn't listen no matter how I approached them. They just do want they want; they're so childish. And it's not like it's just me. We had to restart an entire show because a clarinet player was somehow texting on her cell phone while marching at 190 BPM... You are completely right in that I should just call a meeting with them, and not like I know what will happen in the future, but based off of my experience with them, I can almost 100% guarantee you that even if I lay out my ground rules, even as orders from the BD, they still won't care. I tell them constantly that I am not exempt from anything that they must do. As Ninja Baker mentioned when I brought this up before, they should be pushing me, not vice versa. Some days it's like working with eight brick walls. There is absolutely no retention in any of them sometimes - or rather, they "selectively retain" things that I suggest to them, but then revert right back to their horrible habits. I know they can all march and play really well - but they just don't want to. My only hope is that I can experiment with something that one of the kind of disciplined trombonists suggested to me today: if they talk through run-throughs, I should add 5 push ups for every time they do so. I joked that my arms would break before I'd be able to do that many push ups with them... but seriously, it's like there is nothing else I can do. Maybe your persistence method might work, bariclaribob. If could just show them how tough I can be, hopefully they'll decide to stop talking at attention, taking forever to get to their sets, etc. They know I'm not kidding around, but I think I would need to literally beat sense into them for them to want to do things correctly on their own. Thank you again for the encouragement and kind words. I'll let you know how it goes.
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