…And we’re diving back into the deep end this week!
We are rehearsing this week – Wednesday, August 14 at Bourkevale. Here is the link to our rehearsal plan.
Our gig at Victoria Beach is on Saturday! There are a lot of details to convey, so please bear with me!
Most importantly, please take good care of yourselves. It’s usually a scorcher, so sunscreen, bug repellent, HATS!!!, lots of water are all necessities. I really don’t want anyone to incur heat-related illnesses, so we all have to be vigilant of both ourselves and one another.
It’s especially critical to drink a LOT more water than you think you need – even if you don’t feel thirsty. We all exhale water vapour with every breath – and this is especially true while playing. Most people talk about “spit” in brass instruments, but it’s almost entirely water vapour. I read about a study where they measured how much water came out of a trombone after a 2-hour rehearsal and it was something ridiculous, like over 1 LITRE. We will all need to make sure we’re drinking enough. Please, please, please keep a bottle or three beside your chair, and make sure you’re drinking while I’m addressing the audience! Even if you don’t think you need it, you probably do.
Speaking of – I will be doing more talking than I usually do in order to help you rest your chops. Some other suggestions that may help you with stamina:
- Keep the dynamic level down – do not give in to the urge to overblow (which you will experience – playing outside rips the sound from the instruments so we can’t hear ourselves and think we need to play louder. We don’t).
- Work out some breaks with your sectionmates – play 1 to a part in quiet sections and trade off as needed (no judgement here!)
- Bring things down an octave where you can.
Concert dress is: Millennium Band t-shirts (or any forest green short-sleeve shirt. In a pinch, a black short-sleeved shirt) and black bottoms. This is not a formal concert – please feel free to wear shorts (or a skirt) and sandals. Really, it’s about keeping you as comfortable as possible in the heat while still identifying us as a group.
The shuttle runs (from the parking lot to the bandstand) will begin at 1:00 pm. Please aim to arrive as close to 1 pm as possible.
Please be at the bandstand, ready to settle (and perform the obligatory band shuffle) no later than 1:30 pm!!! It is possible that we will not be able to fit in the bandstand this year – we’ll try, but we may have to move to the grass, which take us some time to get organised. Make close friends with your neighbour, because we’ll have to cuddle up, regardless.
Concert Programme
22 – The
Stripper
70 – The
Maple Leaf Forever
69 – City of Dreams
65 –
Moana
30 – Funiculi, Funicula
7 – Swing
the Mood
INTERMISSION
44 – Glee Showstoppers
66 –
Arctic Fire
52 – 76 Trombones
71 – Garlandstone
42 – Northwind
72 – Where No Man Has Gone Before
17 – Eine Kleine Rockmusik
*25 – The Blue Orchid
Since we are playing outside, it’s going to be more critical than usual to watch me. We can’t trust our ears outside because of the way the sound travels. I will do my best to bring any balance concerns to your attention after the warm up, and as I’m able to throughout the concert. I’m certain that our pieces are not going to sound to you the way they normally do, but that doesn’t mean that the audience isn’t hearing things.
After the performance, we’ll load up the shuttles and return our gear to our vehicles. We’ll then head over to The Woolisons’ cottage (I’m not posting their address online but I will announce it). If you have a folding chair, I would encourage you to bring it with you, or you may want to bring a blanket to sit on. (The Woolisons are amazing hosts, but I know they don’t have enough seating to accommodate all of us! We are a sort of invading horde).
Cost for the meal is $5/person, payable to Dave Patrick (our treasurer-timpanist-mallet-whistle-insert more percussion titles here – extraordinaire). He usually does a walkaround to collect when we’ve mostly congregated at the cottage.
I know I don’t have to mention it, but please, if you are able, help us out with loading/unloading the shuttles – especially the percussion equipment. (When it comes to percussion, please follow the directions of Dave, William, and Christian. They will let you know if any special care/handling is required. They are also Tetris champions of the world – it’s part of their job description). This may include waiting with gear at the parking lot for people to collect it – we don’t want lost instruments/belongings. If, at the end of the day, we have lost/found belongings, please let me know and I will send out a call in our next blog entry.
One final thought: have an absolute riot of a time on Saturday. This is a really fun gig (though a long blow). Let’s make the most of the fun part! You’re all completely prepared for this – I think it’s going to be one of our best performances ever, and I’m really excited what we’re bringing this year!
