From the Archives: 7-15-00
Volume 2, Issue 3
From the Editor
People have raised questions as to why The Horn Gazette doesn't include articles about the entire band. My answers to those questions are usually a little less than vague. I am (and always shall be) the section leader of the French horn section. The French horns are usually overlooked and under appreciated when looking at the big picture of the band. When people think of high school bands they think of trumpets, saxes and drums, but never really French horns. I wanted to create a publication that focused around the horn section. No trumpets, no saxes, and most definately no drums.
However, in the past few months, while racking my brain trying to come up with some material, I hit a proverbial brick wall that turned a light on in my head. Now, most of the time when you hit a brick wall the lights go out. I thought it was pretty amazing that it actually turned one on... okay...
The Horn Gazette now includes more articles about more sections. Bare in mind, I'm not trying to put The Band Beat out of business... I just don't like their articles (no offense to the writers; it's just not a very funny publication).
This may be the final issue of The Horn Gazette, as I will be leaving for college at the end of the summer. Unless I can be kept up-to-date on all the band's activities and have time to do it, I officially retire The Horn Gazette after the distribution of this issue. If you would like to keep the Gazette alive, please send all letters, requests, petitions, and pleas to the [email] address below.
Thank you; I wish it didn't have to end this way (I always wanted to say that).
The Horn Gazette
Casey Lee Pettitt
[email protected]
Straight I's for Symphonic Band
by Casey Lee Pettitt
And the score is... uh... it's kinda hard to tell... so we'll say straight I's.On Saturday, May 13, 2000, the Sumner High School Symphonic Band performed at the Mountain/Valley League (or something like that) Symphonic Band Contest in the Puyallup High School Gymnasium. They played "King Cotton" by John Philip Sousa (dumb) and "The Impresario" by W.A. Mozart (OK, but I like the orchestral arrangement a lot better). They received from three (count 'em, three) judges the scores of I, I, and I- ('He who giveth the band a I- be stricken from the earth'). That comes out to an overall rating of I (that would be a superior for those of you not familiar with the rating system). That's great considering the band hasn't gotten straight I's in director Joe Carl's career, if you can call it that (just kidding), at Sumner High School. All right, for those of you self-proclaimed math whizzes out there I, I, and I- don't make straight I's. The make a I, I, and I-. Hey smarty, give Joe a break. He's been waiting a long time for this. He can have a little pride. Anyway...
The seniors in the band were extremely pleased (OK, I'm taking a little creative liberty) because last year they received and overall rating of II.
"We've worked so hard over the past three years. It's nice to finally see the Symphonic Band do well. We can now be considered as a school with a 'well-rounded band program' with Jazz Ensemble, Marching Band, and the late arriver, Symphonic Band." That is probably a good synopsis of what Joe must be thinking right about now.
The Symphonic Band finished off the year with two more performances; their Spring Concert on May 31 and [humming "Pomp & Circumstance"] graduation on June 9. For their Spring Concert they performed their "award winning" Symphonic Band Contest set.
I hope I wasn't too sarcastic on some of the points mentioned in this article. Wait... nevermind... that's what it's all about.
Farewell to Fellow Musicians
by Casey Lee Pettitt
It is with my most heartfelt regret that I send a verbose farewell to my fellow colleagues of the art of playing the instrument formerly known as the French horn (as well as those playing saxophone, trumpet and choice rhythm instruments).
As graduation is at hand (actually it's long over), I am indubitably cocksure that we have had our final performance together as musicians. My only regret was that I was unable to lead them to the glorious paradise of... horndom. Yes, I will miss my comrades, my fellow musicians on this lump of gratuitous space debris that we like to call home. I wish you well my friends. Exist a lengthy amount of time and endure the hardships of life. I will, perhaps, be thinking of you. I do make exceptions, however. For instance, those of you who consider yourself the paradigm as far as band nerds are concerned (in the original publication, I put a person's name in parenthese; but online I am not going to say that the name is Sean).
Unspecified seniors are lugubrious to retire from their sections to enter life anew in the indisputably real world. I, however, am exhaustively ardent to travel to a higher education at the great institution known to a handful of people as Whitworth College. On the other hand, I have more fingers.
Farewell, my friends. I crave to take you along side of me... well, not particularly, but it's the consideration that counts, correct? I adulate each and every one of you fine individuals.
Low Schmooze Count
by Casey Lee PettittLast year (1998-99), I counted every occurence of the word "schmooze" in "Joe's" vocabulary in the course of Jazz Ensemble 'A.' "Joe" used the word "schmooze" a total of 56 times on 26 (I think) separate days.
This year, the Official Schmooze Meter 2000, that's me, counted just over half last year's amount. People wonder if "Joe" has caught himself and avoided saying it of if it was "just a one year thing."
"I think it's both," says senior alto sax player (and my girlfriend!) Marilee Searles. "Or maybe we just haven't had as many performances that required us to play at a 'schmooze' level."
Very interesting. That raises a good point: where have all the "schmooze performances" gone? "Joe" had a very long response when I asked him about the count and the number of "schmooze performances." I didn't have enough room or time to get the entire response, but basically he told me that he thought it was really funny trying to avoid the word all year.
Prank, I Mean, Contact the Director
Due to the fact that I don't have Joe's permission to post his email address and phone number online, I have left those out.
Do You Get Pissed, 'Cause I Sure Do
by Casey Lee PettittThere are some aspects of band that really piss me off. Here's a little list; I tried to keep it short. And I do have people to back me up on this, so don't get me wrong.
Poor Leadership - The leadership of this band really sucks (and I don't mean like a vacuum cleaner, although it does sometimes...). The sophomores talk back to the seniors and think they can get away with it and the seniors don't like that, but they don't realize they do the same thing to Mr. Carl and... aaaaaaaagh!... okay... [deep breath]... I'm alright (how's that for a run-on sentence?). There are some really bad people in leadership roles in the band, too. Like our magnificent president who will remain nameless (again, in the original publication, I put a person's name in parenthese; but online I am not going to say that the name is Sean). He's got a head just slightly smaller than the size of the Band Room. He thinks he's so good on drums (he's good but not that good) and people tell him he's good that he thinks he can get away with anything. Mr. Carl tells us not to do something, and, what do you know, our wonderful president is off doing it. But, oh, I must have forgotten, [in a sarcastic and mocking fashion] "he's the Band President." It makes me sick.
Okay... I'm done on that part.
Poor Marching - What can I say about this? How hard is it to march? Why is it so hard to walk in a straight line, turn corners, stay in line front to back and side to side, and play memorized music all at the same time? (...............) Memorizing the music is harder than marching, for goodness sakes, and we get more points for music in parades than the Sweepstakes band! Sheesh! Is it really that hard? C'mon people, I mean... geez.
Stupid People - I touched on this one a little earlier, but let me reiterate very slowly for those who had trouble getting it the first time:
s o m e p e o p l e a r e i n c r e d i b l y s t u p i d.
Some people are just fine, but when you get the idiots (as Mr. Carl likes to call them) taking up most of the picture, it's hard to tell who's doing a good job and actually trying to do their best.Okay, I'd better stop before I get really upset. Just know that the SHS band isn't somewhere you want to be for an extended amount of time. Take it from someone who's been in it for an extended amount of time.
I'm Outta Here
by Casey Lee PettittI'm really glad I'm not going to be in band next year. First, I was listening to the band play after the seniors left to go do something and (no offense to those of you still there and you good players out there) it sounded really bad. Second, most of the juniors and sophomores who are good are quitting. Third, there is going to be a band fee next year. How lame is that? Fourth, there are going to be a lot of changes to the Band program in the future.
With all the factors in mind, I have come to the conclusion that I am very glad I won't be in high school band any longer.
Next year I'm headed off to Whitworth College. There I will major in Music with an emphasis in Church Music and minor in Bible Studies [I am currently neither; after my first year I changed my mind and I am now majoring in Psychology]. I will be rooming with my good friend Bryan. This guy is awesome! I've known him all my life.
Yes, graduation was good. Except for the fact that my girlfriend, Marilee, will be in Sumner next year while I'm at college. I am very sad to have to leave her. I'll be sure to visit a lot.
I GRADUATED!!! YEAH!!!
Sumner Band in Step
by Casey Lee Pettitt
On the weekend of May 20 through May 22, 2000, we, the Sumner High School Marching Band, performed a triple header.
We started our journey performing in the Bremerton Armed Forces Day Parade. We did pretty well considering we received first place band in AAAA Division and our Drum Majors received first place in their category.
Next, we made our way up to Poulsbo to march in the Poulsbo Viking Fest Parade. I think we did okay in this one, as well. We received first place AAAA Division and our Color Guard received first place Civilian Color Guard (or something like that).
Our trip ended with the Victoria Queen's Day Celebration Parade in Victoria, B.C. We... uh... didn't do so good in this one...
We got back to SHS at about 1:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 23, 2000; the first day of Senior Project Boards. Luckily all the band seniors were all scheduled for the Wednesday boards.
It was a fun trip; among the best. Maybe I'll be able to go back to Victoria sometime to see the parade.
Toronto Bound
by Casey Lee PettittIn May 1999 our Jazz Ensembles took a trip to Toronto, Ontario to participate in MusicFest Canada 1999. Jazz Ensemble 'A' came away with a silver award (equivalent to an excellent rating of II) and Jazz Ensemble 'B' came away with a gold award (equivalent to a superior rating of I).
Now, the Jazz Ensembles have been invited to perform next year in Ottawa, Ontario for MusicFest Canada 2001. Great job Sumner Jazz Ensembles!!
Well... that's all I have to say about that...
What!? Something Not Band Related!?
You Jest!! In The Horn Gazette? You Have Got to Be Out of Your Freakin' Mind!!!
by Casey Lee PettittThis is the part where I allow myself to introduce... myself. However, as I'm sure you are very bored of hearing about me I'll keep it short.
........................................................................................... [yawn]..................................................................................... and that's my life.
It Was NOT a Bon Fire
by Casey Lee Pettitt
"What's the frickin' deal? Huh? How did Joe not know about the fire? For Pete's sake!Okay, this has been a long standing tradition. Well, okay, not so long, but it is a tradition. After the last concert seniors burn their gloves on the sidewalk. That's all there is to it. But this year the juniors and sophomores wanted in on the action. Sure the fire got a little bigger than expected . But we put it out. Sure we should have cleaded up the mess, but we got to do eight hours of cleaning later. What's the frickin' deal? Huh? How did Joe not know about the fire? For Pete's sake! There's a gigantor black mark on the pavement every year where the fire was. We talked about it almost every day in front of Joe. Argh! That pisses me off.
And what's the big deal anyway? We were at least safe about it... sort of. We contained the fire in a brake drum and we put it out didn't we? Sure, we didn't clean it up, but the janitors need something to do, don't they? No? OK... well... uh...
But I think they were out of line with the punishment. Eight hours? What a rip off! Of course, almost everyone didn't finish all eight. Only a couple did, but they must not have much to do in the real world.
I don't know. Call me old fashioned, but when did a good fire turn into a bad thing? I'm not a pyro... I just like fire. Don't get the wrong impression of me. It's not like I set everything on fire; just some things. Bugs, gloves, pretty much anything that burns. I mean - no - that came out wrong - I - uh... What would the world come to if fire didn't exist? Let's see... The world would be a pretty cold place to live in the winter (except for in Washington...), glass would never have been invented, and, worst of all, Fahrenheit 451 would never have been written... uh... yeah...
OK... I'm a geek... I'm crazy... whatever...
A Very (Very) Few of Joseph Carl's Most Famous Lectures
As Compiled by Casey "Schmooze Meter" Pettitt & Ryan "Brother" Johnson
