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I just finished the first week of band camp... one word for it, intense. our marching/brass staff member has decided that he wants to treat the band more like how he is treated in his corp (just not the schedule thank goodness). This includes actual cardio workout instead of just running, very picky marching basic along with learning drill, new weird stretches and balance practice, and doing crunches and planks to work our core muscles. I know alot of bands do this stuff already but for us this is like and infinite amount more than we used to do!

Pro: we already look and sound amazing, except percussion... it sad when the rhythm section can't keep rhythm...

Con: I'm afraid he is scaring the freshman they may get this idea that they hate it and I want them to continue advertising it to bring in more freshman but they won't if they don't like it.

anyway I may post again next week... if I survive. sweatdrop

Today was the first day of band camp. I'm gonna die.

First thing we did: A 20 minute non-stop exercise routine involving over 200 pushups, around 100 jumping jacks, multiple across the field relay runs, around 50 situps, and finally 3 laps one of which was in a block running in step.

Then straight into fundamental reviews. We changed a lot this year with our style, so we had to go over little details that had changed, like feet together instead of having a 90 degree angle. (By this point I felt lgihtheaded, like i was going to pass out, and had to sit out for nearly an hour while I recovered. Ugh. I hate sitting out, but they wouldn't let me back in cause I could barely stand!)

After fundamentals, we went into marching stations, one forward, one backward. We went from slightly bent leg style to full straight leg style. I liek it. A lot. It looks great, even if it is a bit harder. And I personally think it is more fun!

Then lunch, then we went inside for music rehearsal.

So far band camp has been amazing. We are working in an air-conditioned collosieum, which has it's pros and cons. For one thing our last day is on the field. >.< I am new to mellos but I am already adjusting to the new people really well. Also I didn't march last year, so I am glad to finally have a spot. Our show is southern (like us) and based on To Kill a Mockingbird, and I'm in love with it 100 percent. It has many french horn things. Counter-melody is my thing, more than melody, something I just learned. The mellophones say that a mellophone is a trumpet's weird-looking cousin. XD;; It kinda is, but I personally like it better.

Today was the last day...really bittersweet, being my senior year.

I'm really proud of my band. We went from one of the worst to potentially one of the best. we don't have any drill on the field yet, but I think had we actually received drill, we would have most of the opener done by now. Our drill writer is being forced to rewrite it because he tried to send us the same drill from a couple years ago when our school did the same show, which he wrote the drill for. Our bd threatened not to pay him for any drill sets that look the same or close to, so he is completely redoing it.

Band camp was one of the hardest and one of the best. We have a lot fo high level marchers as our staff, including a perc tech who marched with Santa Clara and someone else, i cant remember who, that marched with academy. It might be the other way around, I forgot. And there might be two from one of those corps. They are all also college age or just above, which I like having younger staff, because they know how far they can push us and how to make it more fun for us. (its also nice having staff, since last year we had our "bd" and our new bd, who served as our trumpet instructor)

I also noticed that this year the band is closer. we are one big family. Last year, we lost that, because our "bd" pitted us against each other. She would single people out and make everyone hate them for stupid reasons. her secret motto seemed to be "our weakest link is your worst enemy."
This year, the staff is stressing encouragement and encouraging friendship. For most of band camp, we were asked to eat lunch as sections. It was an awesome bonding experience, since we got to know our sections better.
During PT, or bonds were definitely shown. Occasionally we would do something like a relay, and if someone was struggling, people who had already gone would cheer them on or even go out and do it again with them to help them finish. It was awesome to see.
Even people who were normally jerks to other people are better this year. Our director is stressing lack of drama. She understands that drama is likely and highly possible, but she is very strict about keeping it to a personal minimum. No attitudes, no talking back, no arguing, etc. She heard someone c**k an attitude towards a staff member and we were sent to standing at attention hell.

And we actually have a woodwind tech! First time in my whole 4 years of high school! Its awesome, and we all really like her. She is sweet and funny but she knows a lot.

And according to one of our staff members, yesterday was a hundred and hell degrees outside.

15 days, eight hours a day in the hot sun, running fundamentals, learning the charts for our new show, memorizing the music, and conditioning. Thanks to all of that hard work, we get a 4 days off before the exhibition. Now the exhibition is two days away and I get hit by a ******** car!!! Broke my goddamn leg.

Just wanna say, We do the hindu exercise to!