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Post by altoclarinets on Sept 7, 2008 15:04:15 GMT -5
Ok. This is a state year and all but this is getting ridiculous: 1. We start out with a "freeform set." We march to our next set with no particular rhyme or reason- off time, stepping off whenever, et cetera. 2. We start off the second movement with a giant CIRCLE with CHEVRONS in it 3. We then proceed to a 50 some odd count follow the leader 4. And then we HALF- TIME (think Scotland the Brave) for some 64 counts. But it's only the woodwinds doing that.
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Post by let1troll on Sept 8, 2008 20:16:29 GMT -5
We actually have a place in our drill that spacifially tells a member of the band, who participated last year, not to overdo a dance scene.
Our filler song, My Funny Valentine, has completely curvy drill. We don't make any straight lines until the end, and we march it different every game. I consider those weird moments.
During our closer, we have a scatter (right before we finish our Finale) that involves the guard and drums running through the band, who is running around screaming and running into each other. That's a weird moment, because, if you don't get hit with a flag or another instrument, you get hit with the four foot wide quints. And the snares yell at you to get out of the way.
It's kind of funny sometimes though.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 11, 2008 17:38:08 GMT -5
We do a bizarre wavy thing, and then we form the islands of Hawaii (to Hawaii Five-O). I'm pretty sure we are going to end up in a meatgrinder sometime this year.
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Post by Greenepony on Sept 11, 2008 23:05:17 GMT -5
For the west side story show for mambo we have a count percussion break and then doot-doot-do-do! "Mambo!" Well originally we march forward 4 steps and then halt INSTEAD my marching director decided for us to do a three-point 360 and then halt... did I mention I'm next to a very unsteady sousaphone the ENTIRE show? It's scary.
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tromboneking87
Band Nerd
The symbol of Chief Illiniwek embodies spirt, pride, and loyalty to this great university
Posts: 372
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Post by tromboneking87 on Sept 12, 2008 12:18:34 GMT -5
The weird part of this week's show is that we're doing a line dance. Yes, you heard me, A LINE DANCE. We're doing Lynyrd Skynyrd, and our middle tune, Gimmie Three Steps has a simple little line dance, along with 16 counts of "Freestyle" Choreography. One small problem, the trombones have melody during this line dance, so we have to figure out how to play a stinking loud part while doing a grapevine that really doesn't flow with the slide motions at all. And in case you're wondering, we're closing with Free Bird. It's just about one of the loudest things I've ever heard.
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Post by bluescalesdragon on Sept 12, 2008 21:17:37 GMT -5
There is a 20 measure section of our show in 3/4. It's a weird part because every section in the band plays something seemingly in a different time signature. The flutes and clarinets play an endless stream of eigth notes. They march the section in 3, the way it the music is written. 12 steps in 12 beats. The horns, alto saxes, and tenors play half notes. Essentially, they play this 3/4 in two rather than 3. So, they march the entire section in two. 6 steps in 12 beats. The low brass rests 12 beats, then comes in with the 8 measure melody, two dotted half notes, then two dotted quarters, dotted half, quarter rest, 5 quarters, 2 dotted quarters, dotted half. The thing is, we have to march in two as well, even though it doesn't really fit what we're playing. After our low brass melody, the trumpets come in and play 8 measures. At their entrance, they start marching in 2.
So, one half of the field is marching in 3, and the other half excluding the trumpets is marching in 2, and then the trumpets join them in marching in 2. It's really fun to march it in two because it feels like you're lunging to your spot. It's a japanese samurai show, so we're hoping to make our lunging steps some kind of special samurai step.
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Post by altoclarinets on Sept 14, 2008 19:34:06 GMT -5
Oh. A new one. We hit a spot... then... back 2 3 4... foward 4 in half time. I have got to find a vid of all this random.
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nphsdm
Band Nerd
~NPHS Alliance Drum Major~
Posts: 147
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Post by nphsdm on Sept 28, 2008 21:28:34 GMT -5
There is a 20 measure section of our show in 3/4. It's a weird part because every section in the band plays something seemingly in a different time signature. The flutes and clarinets play an endless stream of eigth notes. They march the section in 3, the way it the music is written. 12 steps in 12 beats. The horns, alto saxes, and tenors play half notes. Essentially, they play this 3/4 in two rather than 3. So, they march the entire section in two. 6 steps in 12 beats. The low brass rests 12 beats, then comes in with the 8 measure melody, two dotted half notes, then two dotted quarters, dotted half, quarter rest, 5 quarters, 2 dotted quarters, dotted half. The thing is, we have to march in two as well, even though it doesn't really fit what we're playing. After our low brass melody, the trumpets come in and play 8 measures. At their entrance, they start marching in 2. So, one half of the field is marching in 3, and the other half excluding the trumpets is marching in 2, and then the trumpets join them in marching in 2. It's really fun to march it in two because it feels like you're lunging to your spot. It's a japanese samurai show, so we're hoping to make our lunging steps some kind of special samurai step. Our show has something like that this year... The mellos have constant 8th notes (at 168~172) and everyone else has dotted half notes or half notes tied to a whole note and it's in 4/4... but I conduct in 3/4 so everyone doesn't get lost... It's kinda similar. In the ballad... the other DM dances with guard member (our show is about dances... so... it makes sense I guess.) It's actually pretty good, because they can both really dance.
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Post by baritonechick123 on Oct 3, 2008 0:00:02 GMT -5
k well my band iz crazy!!!!!!! We break out into song for 24 counts singing James Brown I feel good, and let me tell u! They seperate band a choir for a reason, and a good one at that! We all play air guitar on our horns for 8 counts and it's very awkward cuz no one can really tell what we r doing, PLUS the drumline forms a thingy in the drill!!!!
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Post by altoclarinets on Oct 4, 2008 19:58:20 GMT -5
thingy??
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tromboneking87
Band Nerd
The symbol of Chief Illiniwek embodies spirt, pride, and loyalty to this great university
Posts: 372
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Post by tromboneking87 on Oct 7, 2008 9:46:01 GMT -5
Our Homecoming show this year is...odd...even more so than normal. We have the former director return and he picks the music/writes the drill/runs rehearsal/etc. He wrote the drill and the choreography. Here are some highlights from our drill instructions. 1. Drum Majors: There are spots for mace features. Make them unison with no risk of any drops. Use silver streamer ribbons on maces. 2. Trombones hold and "wail." 3. Illinettes prepare socks. 4. Tumblers into position. 5. Winds & percussion play loud and move lots. 6. Tumblers: Hold 16, tumble 24 pick up horn and fake high note to end. 7. Hot dog trumpets: Get on podium starting now. Yeah, we're all a little confused.
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Post by Greenepony on Oct 7, 2008 10:20:42 GMT -5
To move from the slower tempo of 'Also Sprach Therathrustra' to the quicker tempo of 'Robin Hood' we are doing this awkward (though it does look very drum corps-like, guess that what happens when your BD was on staff for the Vangaurd) bow thing. We cut on count 8. Freeze. On count 2 shoot your instrument in the carry out with a straight right arm (left for trombones), with left in a fist over your belly button. Bend at the waist, fold over till count 5. On count 6 start coming up. On Count 8 have your horn up, both hands on it. Considering how many near concussions we had practicing, this weekend (parents' weekend) will be interesting. We're also doing this for UIL...
Last week (the show is put at the end of this week's show) for 'ET' they took the head of bands' son (maybe 8) put him on a college student's bike (I'd be too small for it), in a red sweatshirt, took an ET doll wrapped in an a blanket, stuffed it in the basket, and sent him pedaling madly through the band. He could barely reach the pedals. We were terrified we were going to run over him (he had about 32 counts to make through safely.) The crowd loved it.
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Post by NinjaBaker on Oct 7, 2008 14:35:28 GMT -5
Well lets see here. We're playing Sing Sing Sing, and we have this crazy flag-passback/exchange. Basically I'm catching a toss that someone else throws, I have two counts to pass it to the next person before I have to catch the next toss that's thrown at me.
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Post by Greenepony on Oct 8, 2008 15:12:44 GMT -5
^we're playing that our last show!
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Post by bandgeek101 on Oct 28, 2008 1:58:02 GMT -5
As we march onto the field (Show is The Nightmare Before Christmas) we act. We dont have drill or specific instructions, but we do. Some people act really stupid but our BD loves it.
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