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[22 Jan 2007|12:08am] |
Just got back from Florida for my first Boston Crusaders camp. This corps is definitly on a different level than Crossmen. It made me realize why we didn't make finals. The staff is hard, very very hard. And they know what they're doing too. Everyone there is extremely good at what they do. I've never played with such a talented group of musicians in my life. The show is already sounding amazing. This may be one of those years people talk about twenty years from now. Its all coming together like that.
Oh and Jeremy, you told me that the reason Phantom's drumline won is because their book was really easy. According to the Boston drum line and one staff member for the drumline, their book was actually very difficult and complicated. Boo yah.
This morning I got sunburnt in 90 degree weather. About an hour ago I feel like i got frostbite.
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[01 Jan 2007|05:28pm] |
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2006 was my favorite year so far. Not because of national and international events, but because of my personal strides. My life changed this year and I have to attribute it to drum corps. What so many people don't know about drum corps, is that, sure it teaches you to be the best player you can be and to perfect a show, put it out there, and compete it to world finals, but it gives you something more. It taught me what it means to work harder than I've ever worked in my life for something that is so well worth it. It showed me what real passion means. It affirmed what I want to do with my life. It taught me how to live on my own, to be responsible for all of my actions. With drum corps I saw the country, grew and appreciation for the way other people live and in turn grew a stronger appreciation for the way we live. I found places I never want to go back to, places I could see myself in ten years. It even taught me a little about the geography of our country. Before this summer, I hardly knew where most of the midwestern and southern states were. Who knew that Ohio is right next to Pennyslvania? Apparantly everyone but me. I got to Chicago and saw water thinking, we couldn't have possibly crossed the country by now. I saw the effects of a tornado in Kansas. Drum corps changed me as a person and I couldn't be more grateful.
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[26 Dec 2006|08:00pm] |
I always love the holidays. Even though I'm jewish and society observes Christmas foremost past all of the politcally correct changes they claim they've made, I still really enjoy this time of year. And even though presents are what it is all about for so many more people, it still feels good. I don't really understand that. Everyone is so excited to post entries and tell their friends about the gifts they've gotten. Nobody talks about what their family is doing anymore, its just, presents. But still, you can't get rid of that good mood everyone seems to be in. Maybe its the thought of getting presents that drives everyone to be so nice which in turn brings families closer together. Maybe its not as bad as it seems that presents are the heart of our holidays.
That aside, Hannukka has been relaxing. We had our usual family get together on Saturday. That night a bunch of us played what seems to be becoming a new family tradition of poker, but not just Texas Holdem where anyone can bet however much they want. Playing with family, adults, is so much nicer than playing with friends because no one makes rediculous bets that serve no other purpose other than to piss of other people. Everyone knows how to play and no one plays like an asshole. But.... sometimes it is nice to play with friends, as long as people are committed and don't just get up and leave at their convenience. Venting aside, I'm really starting to like my family, as apposed to the awkardness I used to feel around them.
This week so far I've been kind of bored. I wrote some music, practiced a lot, and now I just want to get out of the house. Amanda, Jeremy, we should get together and watch shows, I haven't seen yours yet and for Hanukkah I got, in addition to the DCI finals shows you have Jeremy, the semi finals for division 1 and both classic countdowns.
Remeber: 9:00 on New Year's Eve at my house. We're not serving dinner because its later but there will be the usual snacks and junk. I plan on kicking everyone out no later than 1:30 - 2:00am and even thats a stretch. By they way, don't bring people I wouldn't know. Everyone is invited, but that doesn't mean I will let in certain people.
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[08 Dec 2006|09:08pm] |
Today I went to Montclair's instant decision day. I got in as expected, but as an undeclared major. It will officially be a music major when I get accepted after an audtion.
Barnes and Noble gig was nice. Got a lot of compliments.
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[06 Dec 2006|07:11pm] |
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I got an official spot with the 2007 Boston Crusaders! I can't wait to get to the first camp. The theme this year is apparently latin which is a relief considering I wasn't fans of the 2006 and 2005 shows. Even though I'm excited about this new chapter in my drum corps experience, I feel like I'm abandoning my home with the Crossmen. I've always planned to return there the summer of my freshman year in college. I guess we'll see where this road takes me.
I'm having problems with my chemistry and spanish teachers. My double lab period for chem conflicts with my spanish class so on lab days I have to miss spanish. However, the deal that we worked out was that if there were simple labs that I've done before or a lecture that I can just copy from someone else's notes, I would go to spanish. This unfortunately isn't working out as nicely as I thought it would. I keep getting pressured by my chem teacher to stay for all double lab periods and when I leave she makes me feel guilty, where if I do go to spanish, she makes me feel guilty. I know I know I'm going to have to compromise one class a week, I just feel as if chem is pulling me more towards it and its not fair to spanish.
On top of the problem I'm having with those two classes, I'm missing more school. This friday I'm going to the Montclair Instant Decision Day. I don't really know why I'm going, I know I'll get in. I'm always doing things after school and lately my weekends have been jam packed. I just wish there would be a snow day, that was I could have a day off and not have to worry about missing school which will be a major issue in May and June when I AM apparantly traveling back and forth to spring training with the Crusaders.
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[03 Dec 2006|12:51am] |
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Just got back from the Boston camp. I did very well and I think I got a 1 because the guy circled 1's on his paper and said he doesn't see why I wouldn't get a spot. They'll let me know in a few days through email. The show, thank god, is latin. No more arches.
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[28 Nov 2006|10:47pm] |
Today was incredible. Driving to TCNJ was a lot easier than I had thought. I got there and was signed up to go to Musicianship 4, which is a combination of theory 4 among other things. Basically, I wouldn't understand anything. So I found Ali and went to her spanish class. I actually understood what was going on and what the professor was saying, plus, I participated. It was a lot of fun. After that we met up with Elaine, grabbed lunch, and hung out until Jazz Lab. I got to sit in on their jazz band. They sounded amazing, and they were only sightreading. After that more hanging out until my private lesson with the head trumpet guy. It went great. He pretty much said that I would have no problems getting through the audition at all and that I was absolutely ready. Then I went to go play with their concert band. At first it seemed awkward but then everyone was so nice and accepting to me. I was able to follow along with their music and it was nice to actually play realy band music since All Shore. Then Elaine and I caught dinner while Ali was in a class and I left. Over all, TCNJ secured its place at the top of my list.
The school isn't known well for its music performance program but it has an excellent music education program. That works out great because theres pretty much no way I'm going to double major in education and performance as an undergraduate. I wouldn't be done for 6 years and I am getting my music education degree in undergrad. Basically the school has everything I'm looking for and more.
Now, I need to write two lab reports. Thanks double science!!!
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[27 Nov 2006|05:27pm] |
Tomorow I'm going to TCNJ to spend a day learning about the music program. My schedule is as follows:
9:30 Arrival
10:00 ~ 11:50 AM
Musicianship 4 / Dr. Robert McMahan
Music Building (MB) 121
(Possible lunch with ali and elaine)
2:00 ~ 3:20 PM
Jazz Lab / Dr. Gary Fienberg
MB 019
4:15 ~ 5:00 PM
Sample Trumpet Lesson / Dr. Gary Fienberg
MB 218
5:30 ~ 6:50 PM
Concert Band / Mr. George Balog
MB 019
"(Mr. Balog said that you are welcome to play with them, so bring your horn.)"
So this will be very cool. Musicianship 4 is a combination of music theory 4 and aural skills 4. I will probably be lost in theory and amazed at what they're able to do with pitches in aural skills. I thought the coolest thing would be having the sample lesson, but apparantly they invited me to play with their concert band. I have to admit that it does feels a little awkward to play with them, but I'm not going to turn down the offer. The hardest part will be driving there on my own taking major high ways.
This weekend is all booked up too. I'm leaving period 7/8 on Friday to head up to Lynn,Mass. to audition for the Crusaders and then heading back late Saturday night only to leaving Sunday morning for Phili for the Crossmen Banquet. Its going to be hectic, but I can't wait for it.
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[26 Nov 2006|02:06pm] |
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Does anone 17 and older want to go see Borat today?
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[24 Nov 2006|06:12pm] |
After a while of thinking about it, I think I'm ready to get over Melissa. It didn't work out. We both had problems, she just didn't want to work them out as much as I did. Its foolish to get mad or jealous about a situation that I have no control over. I'm okay with everything now and I'm going to try to get over the awkwardness I feel with her now. I have to admit that I don't really know how she feels, we haven't really spoken since we broke up. I've learned from it.
I've also been thinking a lot about that entry I posted on the band community. Don't act surprised when I say that I still believe in a lot of what I said. Of course I learned a lot from it too. I think it was wrong to come across so forthright and cold, I feel it could have been said differently. Nor do I regret posting it on the community, the community was created to discuss certain issues. Its an issue that was on people's minds and it needed to be said. But apart from anything I did say, the one thing that disapoints me most about the reaction people had to me, is that someone else who has a radical idea separate from the general concensus of the band won't be as quick to talk about it. They don't want the same reaction that I received to be directed at them. My fear is that they won't make themselves heard. I hate that. It makes everything seem in a way totalitarian in that one idea dominates regardless of what another may think.
Thanksgiving this year was fulfilling. Normally getting together with the family just seems awkward for me, everyone is so different. But this year it just felt better. Perkins was nice as usual.
The Crusaders audition is this weekend up in Lynn, Massachusetts. I've been looking a lot in to their history. It seems that what I said about disliking their shows only holds true for the past few years. They've come out with shows that I like as recent as 2000.
So, the cover of the Crossmen 2006 tour DVD: Me?
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[19 Nov 2006|03:20pm] |
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Allentown pictures are up....I just don't understand some things anymore.
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[18 Nov 2006|09:38pm] |
1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc)
2. Put it on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For every question, type the song that's playing
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button
6. Don't lie.
Opening Credits: Something Bad-Wicked
Waking Up: Super Mario World 1 - Intro Theme, Donut PLains Theme, Yoshi;s Island Theme. Vanilla Done Theme, Forest of Illusions Theme, Star Road Theme, andValley of Bowser Theme
First Day At School: Bohemia-Carolina Crown
Falling In Love: Living in America-Rent
Fight Song: Fortress-Frank Ticheli
Breaking Up: God Bless America-Crossmen
Prom: The Simpsons-Cadets
Life: La Resistance Medley-South Park
Mental Breakdown: The Water Is Wide-James Taylor
Driving: No One Would Listen-Gerard Butler
Flashback: What Are Friends For-Reel Big Fish
Wedding: The Way Up:Opening/Part One-Pat Metheny Group
Final Battle: Last Show-Reel Big Fish
Death Scene: Six Dialouges for Trumpet&Trombone-IV Con giorralita
Funeral Song: The Phantom of the Opera-Santa Clara Vanguard
End Credit: Crusin' I-Pat Metheny
Some of it doesn't make any sense and some of it is a little frightening.
Things have been going pretty good. The application process is probably a little bit over half way done.
I have gained a huge amount of respect for Will Farrell. It used to be that I hated his acting and his stupid humor which really isn't humor, its just stupid. But all of that changed when I saw Stranger Than Fiction last night. The movie was fantastic, plain and simple. The humor was real humor, the seriousness didn't seem fake, and I learned that Will Farrell has dimensions to his acting. I also felt completely sorry that I made a big deal out of nto wanting to see a stupid Will Farrell movie and would have rathered seen Happy Feet, which I still want to see. Stranger Than Fiction, go see it.
The first Crossmen/Cadet camp is this weekend. I decided not to go. I'm not going to march Crossmen this year, I just don't see how its going to work out. Even if money wasn't an issue with regard to flying, spring training is just not feasable. Last year I traveled back and forth to spring training which was three hours into New York. That was hard enough, but I did it. So I've decided that this year I'm going to go out for Boston Crusaders. Well, I'm going to try out for them hoping that I make it. Their spring training is in the New England area, which could be good or it could suck. At least its not in San Antonio. The camps however are in Florida. So I'd have to miss Fridays and the occasional Monday's depending on what time my flight gets in late Sunday or Monday morning. But I know that it will all be worth it and pay off in the end. Why you ask do I not try to work out flying to San Antonio if I'm just going to fly to Florida for Boston camps? Flights get in to Tampa, which are significantly cheaper than flights to San Antonio. Most flights in fact don't even get in to San Antonio, they all either go to Dallas or somewhere else making flights to San Antonio that much more expensive. I plan on returning to the Crossmen my freshman year in college provided that I have enough money.
My teachers are going to freak out at me when I tell them I plan on doing this. They hate when I miss their class. I didn't even going on a trip because of the pressure I got from them. Its understandable too, they are all tough classes. But they can hate me all they want, this is my passion.
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[01 Oct 2006|09:15pm] |
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EDIT: For those of you who hang on my every word
So the first competition is out of the way. I have to say I was impressed with the band. I DID NOT expect to do nearly that well going into the competition. Although, the other bands suck. The guard came as no shock. They need work, big time. They've been working hard up to now but they've got a long way to go. We ALL have a long way to go. But it was a PLEASANTway to start off the season. I don't anticipate we will do nearly as well this weekend becase of the closer. Having learned it the day before and the closer being what it is now, I'm not so sure we can pull that kind of show off again. We shall see. It all depends on how hard people are willing to work these next few practices. I had forgotten how much fun it was to perform with our band; how much fun it is to cheer with our band. It feels great. And Jackson definitly knows how to write a show. Their members we really no better than any of us except for their general effect and music effect. I know some drum corps who aren't that loud.
Took my sister to the mall today because it was her birthday.
I want to get out of the house and do something tomorrow.
The soundtrack from The Notebook kicks ass.
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[27 Sep 2006|06:13pm] |
Added Moravian to the list. Going for an interview there. I actually was looking for an arbitrary college that I really didn't care about but that does have features I would want in a school for interview experience and I found this one. We'll see, maybe it will replace Dickinson, which I really don't know much about other than what I've read. I'm almost positive I'll be applying early decision to Muhlenburg. It was either there or TCNJ. Both are top schools I'm going for, other than UPENN and Cornell, but I'm not getting into UPENN and have a fraction of a chance at Cornell. I'm going to ask Srinivas and Jose for recomendations.
Note to self: sarcasm does NOT come accross on the internet...
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[25 Sep 2006|03:57pm] |
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Its been a while since a real update.
Classes aren't nearly as bad as people had warned me. There's just a lot of work. But I'm sure they'll toughen up later in the year. I got in a classic teacher/Jordan fight with Shullman today. We were giving a presentation and it was terrible. So while she was bashing our presentation, she made a claim that I totally disagreed with. Obviously I went crazy on her and ended up proving my point. I'm not sure if I really got through to her or if she just wanted me to shut up. I think she just wanted me to shut up. She's the sweetest woman, but she grades harder than she teaches.
Band is going alright. Tempo is starting to go from problematic, to disastrous. It hasn't happened in a show yet, but I fear for my life during some run throughs in rehearsal. And just so everyone knows, its not Stephanie's fault. Her problem, no offense Steph, is she starts the song slow and slows down. But, when no one bothers to watch her, thats when her slowing down begins to create tears. So its all our faults really. I finally took my test today in class, after a two week delay. Jose did a great job on the closer. But I disagree with the second half of the opener. Its supposed to sound scary and frightening, but instead it just sounds happy and jolly.
I went and visited Amanda in the city yesterday and ended up seeing RENT. We entered and won the RENT lottary. You go two-ish hours before show time and put your name down on a card with either one or two tickets. The card gets mixed with others in a bin and they pick up to 34 tickets. Amanda won it four times in a row and seeing it with me was her sixth time, seventh time later than night when she won again. So yeah, the seats you win are in the first and second rows. They're $200 ticket seats, that you only have to pay $20 for and entering the lottary is free. The show over all was very good and it was very different from the movie, but thats a good thing. Although the understudy for Roger was terrible. He had great voice and was a good actor, he just didn't open his mouth to sing. His tone became tense and un-projected because his mouth looked like he was a ventriloquist. He even screamed with his mouth almost closed. It created balance problems just sounded bad. He runied some songs. Amanda will disagree, but he still sucked.
What to do about Crossmen... Well, I've sort of made a decision, and you're not gonna like it, I don't even like it. I see Raiders in my future. Obviously my priority is to get back to Crossmen. The only way thats going to happen is if I get enough money from alumni association and sponsors. I don't have the money, especially with college coming, to fly back and forth that much. I looked into closer corps, like Bluecoats out of Canton, Ohio. The only flights that head to Ohio go to Cleaveland, but not before heading to Chicago or Dallas and hitting Cleaveland on the way back. So either way, the price to fly remains the same. I thought about driving six to eight hours, which would totally suck but if its what I have to do than I'll do it. Then I thought about the Cadets. Although I hate Hopkins, I'd find a way to deal with him and still march with a corps I, usually, really like. The problem though is that the school won't let me off two to three weeks early for spring training. They wouldn't last year either, but last year with the Crossmen, spring training was only about 3 hours away and I could travel to and from, which was a pain as it was. The Raiders don't even have a spring training. They have camps every weekend in the spring leading up to move-in which is after school ends. Marching anywhere else besides Crossmen just doesn't feel right. Its my home, my freaking obsession. Crossmen changed my life and no corps could ever replace what Crossmen has given me. I don't know. I've got to march somewhere or I'll go insane...
Crossmen'ettes
Picture taken from DCE (drum corps europe) Finals
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[18 Sep 2006|05:28pm] |
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2 hours in a dentist's office. I can't feel anything on my face.
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[16 Sep 2006|12:20am] |
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Things have been going really well. We've "learned" the first two songs. Its so frustrating when people don't remember something we went over five minutes ago. And when people don't go to their spot. And when dot books become pointless. And when people don't know their music. And when we have to waste reps because people weren't listening the first time and don't know what we're doing. Its very frustrating. But at least we don't have to run or something as punishment. Some people in band aren't there because they love performing. They're there to have fun with kids doing the same thing as them. So its alright. Really. I'm still searching for the right style for my solo. Wish it was on trumpet instead of flugle. Anyway, its kinda late. Better get to bed. Oh yeah, and school is good too. I haven't died yet, and believe it or not, I'm more worried about physics than AP chem.
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[08 Sep 2006|12:25am] |
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Here it is:
period 1: AP Chemistry-Srinivas
period 2: AP Spanish - Dunphy
period 3: Honors English IV - Soback
period 4/5: AP Calc BC
period 6: lunch
period 7/8: Honors Physics - Schulman
period 9/10: gym
period 11: honors band IV\
Say what you want, I'll be fine.
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