SMB preseason (the third time around)

i’m back at school, loving the new apartment just like ashley and i knew we would. it’s on the small side, but much bigger than a dorm with all the perks of still living in the dorms…so i’m happy. we are still in the process of decorating and acquiring our TV, so after that process is complete our place will be even more kickass.

today was the second day of preseason. block auditions were held last night, and i was pretty satisfied with my performance. at first isaiah and jeff and dave were talking up a storm about my shield tattoo and about drum corps…all their talking and goofing around helped me feel more at ease. for once i wasn’t shaking like a leaf. my audition was pretty solid except for coming down from the high C in the etude and one missed note in state fanfare. somehow i pulled the sixteenth note C to E lip slur out of my ass….i couldn’t believe it actually came out of my bell because i have struggled with it every time i practiced the etude. after i played, dave said, “and there’s your summer chops.” haha.

i had planned to audition on first part for state fanfare…but while warming up i couldn’t hit ANY of the high-ish notes…so i played third instead. anyway. i left the auditions feeling happy and even called mike to tell him about my awesome lip slur. :)

i was hoping to make second part this year and even set my goal chair as 30. you can imagine my surprise when i arrived at the music building and discovered my chair placement: eighteenth. the last chair on first part. i had/have a lot of mixed feelings about it. part of me is ELATED because i am so glad there is noticeable improvement in my playing. part of me is CONFUSED because i’m not sure i improved that much. part of me is HAPPY because i get to sit/stand next to brian glasby all season when previously i have been stuck by really weird people for the duration of the season. and part of me feels GUILTY because i placed ahead of a couple people who i know are better players than me.

mostly i am really glad isaiah seems to believe in me….and that i have a chance to improve my chops even more. i think playing third part again i would have stagnated a little. i can hit all of the notes i need to for first part….just not all the time…and the true test will be if i can march and play any of it. good god.

so my squad is daza, john, and jake. SQUAD TWENTY-FOUR REPRESENT. being a D is interesting. so are minstrel turns. but our squad seems pretty good so far. even if my elbows are too wide. and my feet are too far apart. and my posture is funny.

also: yesterday during corps-style basics, dave had to tell me to bend my knees.

dear drum corps, i miss you.

Tagged as SMB