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Yea – I Now Have All the Music for the Parade!

Wednesday, December 31st, 2008

This morning I received the link to download the cadence that we’ll be using for the parade.  For those not familiar with marching terms, this is what the drum line plays and what the band marches to between songs.  The cadence is very similar to the one we used in New York City for the Village Parade; drum line coordinators substituted the first four measures with four measures from DC Different Drummers’ cadence.  DCDD is Washington D.C.’s local lesbian and gay band.  So, now I can make sure I have the cadence down and can play it in my sleep!

I continue to work on the other music.  Both Ode to Joy and Hold On… have tricky sections that I’m working through.  And, I’ve started to play along with the sound files provided by LGBA.  I set our laptop on my music stand, plug in some earphones and set one of the songs to repeat over and over.  I play it with the music out and, then, put the music away and try to play it from memory.  I’ve already come a long way, but still have work to do.

Also, here’s a shameless plug for LGBA, the group I’ll be marching with.  While we each paid a registration fee and are paying for our own transportation and accommodations, it certainly doesn’t cover all our expenses.  Read on…

If you plan on donating to LGBA in support of our Inaugural performance, you might want to write that check today.  A check today counts for your 2008 tax deductions, so act now!

We are raising money for a number of things needed for our Inaugural Parade performance:

      

A new banner…$400.

Hand warmers…$200.

Lunch at rehearsal…$1800.

Busses for parade day…$7000.

LGBA is extremely honored to be part of this historic event, and we hope you will consider making a donation, while we make history together.  Donating is easy through paypal at www.gaybands.org .

Thank you for helping us march into history!

Judy Ames

LGBA Inaugural Event Co-chair

Thanks,

Tim

Is Dan Marching?

Sunday, December 28th, 2008

My partner, Dan, has become more and more involved with the Minnesota Freedom Band and the LGBA national group over the years that I’ve been a member.  The first time I recall him performing with us was when the MFB hosted the national group and we marched in Superior, Wisconsin for their Pride parade and, then, at the State Fair.  Dan was in the colorguard, which twirls colored flags in choreographed routines to the music being played by the band.  He has also marched with the MFB in Minneapolis Pride parades and Holidazzle parades, wearing a variety of “hats,” including colorguard, sleigh bell player and, recently, tri-tom player.  He marched with “Team Band” on Soldier and Wrigley fields for Gay Games VII in Chicago, carrying one of the rainbow flags.  And, this past October, Dan was in the colorguard for LGBA’s performance in NYC’s Halloween Village Parade.  This parade probably represented the most involved role he has played.  Colorguard organizers sent a training video that taught the routines to all five of the songs we would play in the parade.  Dan played the video on our laptop and learned and practiced the routines using a broom to simulate a flag — first, in our office/music room and, then, out in our back yard, where he had plenty of room to twirl and didn’t have to worry about knocking stuff over or off the walls!  Dan also helped out the MFB’s percussion section in November, playing tympani and accessories, when our numbers dwindled to just a couple for our most recent indoor concert.  The section could not have successfully pulled off the pieces we did without his help; THANKS, DAN!

So, we tried to register him to be a member of the colorguard but, alas, the available slots filled before we could get him in.  But, we’ll both still be traveling to DC.  Given the high cost of flights, we’ll be driving out to DC.  The 20th lands on a Tuesday, and I have Monday, the 19th off for MLK Day.  So, that gives us the weekend to drive out in time for my first rehearsal on Sunday, from 1 pm to 6 pm.  Then, I’ll take Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday off from work to allow time to travel home.   We’ll be staying in Fairfax, Virginia, at a hotel just 5 miles from a Metro train stop.  So, we’ll be able to park at the train station and take the train into DC for rehearsals and the parade.

Other Details

All participants in the parade will, not surprisingly, undergo a background check by the U.S. Secret Service.

The 2009 inaugural parade will begin at the steps of the U.S. Capitol Building and proceed along Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House.  The route is about 2 miles in length.

We will be marching using a 28″ stride, which is mandated by the government to allow as many bands as possible to pass the reviewing stand.  This stride is longer than most bands use.  Typically, a stride of “8 steps to 5 yards” is used.  When I do the calculation for comparison, this would be a stride of 22.5 inches.

Tim

I’m Marching in the Inaugural Parade!

Friday, December 26th, 2008
Well, Dan and I will be traveling again in January.  No, we won't be gone for five months again (although, that sounds like fun).  We'll actually only be gone for about five days.  But, the event I'll be participating in ... [Continue reading this entry]