Blog Challenge *Day 19*

What is your biggest regret in life?

That I didn't take opportunities as a younger kid. 

I didn't do spelling bees.

I didn't go over to friends' houses.

I've never yet had or been to a sleepover.

I didn't like trying any sort of new things.

I ALMOST didn't do marching band until my mom insisted. I'm very grateful she did insist because goodness knows what would have happened if I hadn't done marching band.

The reason I regret not doing such things when I was younger is because I have to break out of my shell NOW. Rawr.

Random thing o' the day. Psychedelic, no?

My Favorite Field Shows

Since it's homecoming halftime field show season, I thought it's about time we all had some inspiration to get us through the after school practices until next week. So here are my favorite field shows by DCI corps. (Videos released from the official DCI YouTube channel)
Santa Clara Vanguard 2014:

Bluecoats 2014: The very best of them all! And why I want the 2014 DCI World Finals DVD for Christmas.

Cascades 2016: This one hasn't actually been published, because the season's not over yet! But it's an excellent show called 'O' and if you went to a western region DCI competition over the summer you probably saw it. I'll put it up on this post at the end of the season.

Yep, with the big orange hoops.
ddd000fff.blogspot.com

Cascades 2015: From the Cascades official YouTube channel.

Yep. Be inspired. Good luck. May you always be in step. :)

Cool Things that the Vanguard Did

What I do on Sunday/Monday nights: look at DCI pictures.
Now, I went to a DCI competition in July and saw 5 world class corps and it changed my marching life.
I learned some things.
Namely that the great people in California that are called the Santa Clara Vanguard are amazing.
In fact the Vanguard is so obscenely awesome that they can do things like all of these that I found on the Interwebs today. Exhibit A:

www.youtube.com

They can randomly stand on stacks of Arabian-style floor cushions all across the field.
Exhibit B:

www.pinterest.com

Things like this. No explanation needed.
Exhibit C:

www.dci.org

The 'V' of cymbals. Or this view:

lordsworkr.deviantart.com

Exhibit D:

dci271.dci.org

Complex forms. Hard to march to, still way cool-looking once they get there.
Exhibit E:

www.santaclaraweekly.com

Cymbal moves.
Exhibit F:

dimasmonde.blogspot.com

Cymbal suicide. Ah, them crazy cymbals... (HA look who's talking...trumpet girl...)
Yep. More cool stuff from other corps coming later!

Blog Challenge *Day 18*

What book could you read over and over again?
Up until about April I would have said the Harry Potter books- but recently I happened upon an excellent mystery series that begins with 'The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax', a series written over about 30 years about- well- the unexpected Mrs. Pollifax, who applies for work as a spy when life gets boring. They're excellent books, and there are a lot of them, too. To date I've read all but 2 of them. If you're a fan of mysteries you'll certainly like them.

www.amazon.com
The first book

The Band Camp Survival Post

One more time, from the top! One more time, from set 5! 
One more time! 
One more time!
One more time!
'One more time!' say people at band camp. And since pretty much ALL the 'one more time's that you'll hear at band camp are LIES, here's how to get through.
Before camp starts:
If your school's marching season is anything like ours, you'll have done the longest parade of the summer season on July 24th and then had a 3 or 4 week break before band camp in August. This means that you likely won't march for 3 weeks before jumping right back in when camp rolls around. So stay in shape. I did strength training and I ran a few miles a week in those three gap weeks. The weight training really helped me hold up the 2 pound weight that is my trumpet for hours on end.
Also, remind yourself why you're doing this.

oregoncrusaders.org

Why do we go to band camp? CUZ THE VANGUARD. Actually, though, it's because you love the spirit of band and you're volunteering your time and energy to be a good marcher in your show. 
1. Be prepared. For everything. Be ready for sun and extreme heat, rain and cold, and music and marching in general. That means have a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, jacket, and gloves. Also always have your music, just in case and for reference, and stuff like valve oil and slide grease. These are good things to have: if you need them, then you'll have them, and everyone will love you for always having some on hand to lend.
2. Always have your drill charts and dot sheet. The number 2 time waster at our band camp was trying to figure out various sets because people didn't have their drill charts. If everybody has the charts then time won't be wasted borrowing charts. 
3. The number 1 time waster was lack of focus. I know: Band camp is hard and you'd likely rather be elsewhere the whole week, but please do focus. Guaranteed that you'll get nowhere if you let your mind wander during camp. It will also make your directors angry and that isn't fun. Just focus. It's only 3 days.
3b. Pay attention. It isn't fun to be that one person who's trying to fix a drill set and suddenly the band gets called to attention and you're still talking and moving. Don't be that guy. Also pay attention to directions. It also sucks to be that one person who starts on the wrong set and marches a completely different move from the one that everyone else is doing. Don't be that guy either. Focus and pay attention.
4. Do what your director tells you to- and when they tell you to do it. Moving slowly, not listening to directions, or violating the general band camp code of conduct will also make directors angry and leads to drums corps-style discipline, namely running laps and doing pushups.
5. Listen also to your section leader. Be quiet when they're talking. And then, the next time you do whatever they were talking about, improve. Make it better. 
6. You can always be better. Instead of focusing on how tired you are and what drudgery band camp is, choose something to work on on every set, every time you go through the show. Your good technique and focus will spread to your fellow band members and make the show better.
7. Lastly... always put your best foot forward (that would be your LEFT foot... lol marching jokes). The show won't be perfect the first time, but trying to get better leads to improvement. 
Good luck on your field shows. You'll survive.

Blog Challenge *Day 17*

Day 17: list your highs and lows during this past year.
I've had quite the nice year, honestly. 
Good: I made it through the spring this school year. 
Bad: I had a REALLY BAD audition for the Wind Ensemble. It was BAD.
Good: I passed the AP test.
Good: I got perfect attendance the first month of summer band.
Good: I went to a music camp and learned things vital to my survival as a musician.
Good: I went to a DCI (Drum Corps International) competition.
Good: I survived band camp.
Bad: I now must go back to school.
Yep.

Another random photo I took, because I can.

Blog Challenge *Day 16*

16. What are your views on mainstream music?
Uhhh... what's mainstream? Is that pop? Yes? Ok.
Well I can tell you when it comes to music, I'm thoroughly stuck in the 80's. Really. 
Here's what my favorite Spotify playlist consists of (we'll do the Song [artist, album] thing again):
1. Owner of a Lonely Heart (Yes, 90125 Deluxe Version)
2. Hold On (Yes, 90125 Deluxe Version)
3. It Can Happen (Yes, 90125 Deluxe Version)
4. Pride/In The Name of Love (U2, 18 Singles)
5. Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of (U2, 18 Singles)
6. One (U2, 18 Singles)
7. Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own (U2, 18 Singles)
8. With or Without You (U2, The Joshua Tree)
9. Running to Stand Still (U2, The Joshua Tree)
10. Bullet the Blue Sky (U2, The Joshua Tree)
11. Everybody Wants To Rule The World (Tears for Fears, Songs from the Big Chair)
12. Driven To Tears (The Police, Zenyatta Mondatta)
13. Hungry For You (The Police, Ghost in the Machine)
14. Re-Humanise Yourself (The Police, Ghost in the Machine)
15. Darkness (The Police, Ghost in the Machine)
16. Spirits in the Material World (The Police, Ghost in the Machine)
17. Beat It (Michael Jackson, Thriller)
18. Thriller (Michael Jackson, Thriller)
19. Celebration (Kool & The Gang, Celebrate)
Now let's see the original release dates for all of those:
1. 1983
2. 1983
3. 1983
4. 1984
5. 2000
6. 1991
7. 2004
8. 1987
9. 1987
10. 1987
11. 1985
12. 1980
13. 1981
14. 1981
15. 1981
16. 1981
17. 1982
18. 1982
19. 1980
Now let's analyze those statistics...

I made you a fancy graph. You're welcome.

84% of my music is from the 80's!!! Which of course means I'm not a sucker for pop. I know a lot of/most of the songs on the Spotify current hits playlist, but I don't like most of them. The super trendy sort of music doesn't tend to hit the spot for my liking. It's usually junk. At least The Police sang about important issues and stuff. It was actually meaningful music back in the day, not just love songs. Not to say those didn't exist in the 80's, but back then they were actually sort of bearable. 
Yea. I generally don't like popular mainstream music. It's about weird stuff too. Love and junk. Some are ok, others aren't, a select few are good. Mostly I try to avoid it.
The one exception I'll make is for Coldplay. I LOVE LOVE LOVE nearly all of their albums, including the one that just came out in December, so I guess that's more popular than some stuff I listen to. 
But other than Coldplay- I am very stuck in the 80's when it comes to music.