Here's what went on in December...
12-04-00
Today Mr. E called in sick, and it was a good thing he did. For one thing, poor Mrs. M had to take over the band and encourage us to play in tune. Which Marty did not unfortunatly do. Which made us cry. At least he played some right notes and rhythms. But I'm being nice when I say that it sounded horrible. And neither Pritchard nor Aaron are quitting band...I guess that talk the Mr. E had with them did some good. So don't worry. That's all for today!
12-05-00
Lessons alone again today. I really wonder how the rest of my section actually passes band...because they never show up. Anyways, I played my etude horribly b/c I only looked it over for about 2 days during band, and I was hoping that Mrs. Mageroni would come teach the lesson...But me and Mr. E had a good long discussion about almost everything musical...which has now inspired me a little bit more to practice. I just wish somebody would say something like that to my brother, because he never practices!!
12-08-00
Well, today was just a normal day. Except for the fact that Tiffany put her hot chocolate on the edge of a stand and Pat bumped it and it spilled ALL over. So Tiff just stands there. Then I'm just like, grr! and got up and seached for paper towels. Even though I had TONS of math to do. Sometimes Tiff is just plain dumb, and today she was. Everyone was helping cleaning it up and she turns and talks with Drew! Then she finally decides to help and takes a paper towel and wipes the floor with her foot, and then puts the wet paper towel on a stand. Then I have to pick it up and throw it away! Then Pat got all mad b/c pink neckstrap Pat didn't show up to set up the band room with him. So everyone was in a grumble today, all because I haven't invented the music stand with cup holder yet!
12-13-00
The Clarence students once again return back from another well-deserved snow day. It SOOO felt like a monday, it was not funny. But the trumpets were very good today...I think they're finally coming along! Darn, no more mean trumpet jokes! LOL. Today actually seemed like a rehearsal from last year...everyone was actually caring today and we got a lot of work done! And Barb actually got to set up the trumpet row..hehe. Not much else to say, b/c I have to go figure out my melodics! Oh yes, somehow that reminded me that Mr. E has started wearing his hair differently. He now has it somewhat parted on the side and combed over his forehead. ::sigh:: and I thought I had hair problems! LOL. Just kidding. And one more thing. Today I just realized that Lauren doesn't have to go to lessons with Mr. E! Not saying that she's bad or anything, but I think that's just plain dumb! Like my friend said - "You can always learn something, ALWAYS"
12-19-00
I have forgotten to add in the past entries that the small ensemble room got a chalkboard put up!! So now the room is much more interesting, with the newer gray tables, beige carpeted panels and new chalkboard....but it has no chalk!!! But still, it is very cool, because it has staves written on it! =) Sorry if you think that is dumb, but I think it is cool! We had a study hall today in band, so I practiced! So what's new? LOL. Oh yes, and one more thing....PRITCHARD QUIT! Yes, it's true, Brian Pritchard QUIT Wind Ensemble. I noticed he wasn't in band the past few days, but I still seen him in school. And one of the pianos in the blue room says F*** EICHER in red marker in block letters. (It's the piano with all the graffiti...like the I was practicing on 12-19-00) I wonder who did that one....
12-20-00
I don't really think I was very depressed these past few days, but Vitello thought I was. I heard from all my friends that he was "worried about me" and "thought I was mad at him"...which wasn't exactly true... So I go into the band room 6th period (as usual) and after Vitello came out of the women's bathroom (?!) He told me to come in his office b/c he wanted to talk to me. Squeamishly I proceeded. He closed the door and told me how he didn't want me to feel bad b/c I didn't make the musical...and that my audition wasn't the worst one, and how maybe I wasn't as talented in singing as I was at flute, and how that next year when I'm supposedly in Chorale that I'll make it and all this other babbling about stuff. I told him that I wasn't really that upset that I didn't make it; because A - I knew I wouldn't make it anyways, B - I wouldn't get a substantial role, C - I didn't have the time really to do the musical anyways. I was only kind of mad that I made a fool out of myself infront of all those people, especcially b/c my audition was after Andrea Mullen....! And Mark Rizzo had to go after me! =/ But anyways, I realized that Vitello's eyes are really far apart....In fact the longer I looked at him, the farther apart his eyes got! Hehe. Well at least Vitello has a somewhat serious/soft side to him...either that or he was very drunk today...and with Vitello it's hard to tell if he's drunk or sober....LOL! j/k!
12-22-00
Ahh....Christmas time in the band room...Secretly, V didn't make us practice today, but Mr. E is not supposed to know! =) So the majority of my rehearsal time today was either spent doing math homework (MATH HOMEWORK!! LOL), giving people Christmas cards, practicing, filling the vending machine somewhat, and just sitting there in the band room. I don't know what it is, but I just really enjoy being in the band room. So amidst the Christmas songs being plunked out on the piano, people talking, people beating Vitello at chess and Robida playing the euphonium, I took a look at everyone in the band room and realized that this year's Wind Ensemble isn't as bad as I think it is. And Kreher showed up today to say hello...it makes me happy when the "old seniors" do that...it's like they actually cared about band as much as to stop in and visit. =) Also today I had to do my "demo speech" for English today, and my topic was "making balloon animals", so when I was blowing up the balloons this morning to use 5th period with Katie K., she *accidentally* (yeah right) broke the air pump! So I was like, screaming b/c it wouldn't work. But then Courtney C. came in (in case you don't know her she's a freshie that plays flute and piccolo in concert band) and she suggested that I just blow the balloons up with....oh, I can't exactly tell you w/out showing you, but likewise she totally saved my speech. =) THANK YOU COURTNEY! So my speech turned out great...thanks to my lovely bandie friends! =D Ok, so this will probably be it on the journal until we have to go back to school, unless I do something dumb while practicing or anything like that. So sleep in, eat cookies, and open presents! LOL. Happy Holidays to everyone even remotely involved with Clarence's music program!!
12-28-00
I could help but to write another entry. Today I practiced with my beloved Dr. Beat 88, and I used the pitch function on it and matched pitches. Then I tuned intervals. I think that Mr. E should tell everyone in WE to do that, especcially the poor trumpets, who try to play in tune (I think) and don't succeed 9 times out of 10. I sorta forgot about doing that, and I think it's a good idea. Anyways that's not the point. The point is is that I watched some old home movies today and I came across tapes of old band concerts....including a memorial day marching band parade of the high school....when I wasn't in it! They had white shirts and khakies! Ahh!! =) And I also seen every concert last year that my dad taped. Boy, they sure brought back good memories...like the flute trio in the chamber concert that went for 9 and a half minutes (!!!) and From a Dark Millenium, and Cartoon....awww...when symphonic band was good. And the wonderful tapes of Summer Band, with Barber of Seville, and On the Mall (the singing and whistling!) and good old Stars and Stripes. The whole reason I actually bought a piccolo. The poor kid conducting us (Mr. E always picks a kid from the audience to "conduct" it) didn't know what to do when the piccolos (all 5!) did their little thing, so he turned around and watched us, and half way through he starts to conduct us, even though we couldn't see. It was so cute and everyone was laughing, and we had no idea what was going on. I loved that concert...Blue Goose Rag with the 5 piccolos...aww man we were amazing, even though that sounded horrible. We should have got up front and stood there like Stars and Stripes. =) I sure miss the days where we could pull off a level 4 with just one rehearsal. I miss the days where we didn't need a dress rehearsal for NYSSMA. I miss Firebird and Postcard and the Schwantner and even Grainger, Mr. E's FAVORITE composer (because of the damned soprano sax! I swear I will break each and every one of those instruments on the earth! Except James'!). I hope that somehow the WE gets better so we don't make a fool of ourselves @ Kleinhans or the WE festival or the chamber concert.
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