Wandering Where We’ll Be

Well, January 20th (Inauguration Day) is now within the 10-day weather forecasting window, so I just checked the forecast for D.C.  It’s looking good with a high of 38 degrees, sunny and 0% chance of precipitation.  I sure hope that holds; that’s downright balmy compared to our current 14 degrees in Minnesota.  But, any forecast 10 days out is bound to change, so I’m not getting my hopes up too high.  In any case, we’re packing many layers and warm gear to be ready for any weather scenario.

Am I bringing a drum to play?  Silly question, maybe.  But, I am NOT bringing a drum to play.  New York City’s GLBT band (Big Apple Corps) has awesome marching percussion (as well as being a FINE marching ensemble), so they are providing most of the percussion instruments that we’ll be playing.  The drum I’ll be playing is a Pearl Championship series FFX snare drum with a Remo White Max high-tension head. Photo  NY’s BAC will also be providing the carrier.  I’ll bring drum sticks, spare sticks, stick bag, drummer’s gloves, snap-on lyre, flip folder and my music.  While I have the tunes memorized, I still want to have my music available at least for rehearsals for situations where the director says, “Let’s take it from measure 33.”  Plus, who knows, my nerves might kick in, and I’ll blank out.  I hope not, but I’d rather be prepared for anything!

OK, on another topic, Dan will be formally assisting the band during our practices and performance in D.C.  On January 28th, LGBA put out the call for volunteers — often referred to as “Band Aides” — and Dan signed up.  Along with carrying a rainbow flag as part of our field shows in Chicago for the 2006 Gay Games VII, he also was a Band Aide.  According to LGBA, in this role, he will be providing all types of assistance, including registration, uniform distribution, taking attendance, guiding folks to rehearsal locations, lunch distribution, marking the rehearsal line up, carrying equipment, loading equipment, moving supplies, rehearsal room set-up, picking up lunches, errands, etc.  We’re not certain, yet, what this means in terms of where Dan will be during the actual parade, but we are expecting to receive more details early this week via email from LGBA.

Then, I need to clarify a reference I made in an earlier post about tempo changes during the parade and, specifically, in the arrangement of Ode to Joy that we’ll be playing.  I found out the other day that we will NOT be making any tempo changes in any song or while marching to a cadence.  We are required to keep a consistent tempo of 112 beats per minute at all times.  This is per parade organizers.  And, this tempo is actually slower than the 132 and 148 at which I’ve been practicing the sped up sections of Ode to Joy.  So, I’ll have to do some practicing of Ode.. with just a metronome instead of the sound file.  I was telling Dan yesterday that playing and marching to Ode.. to the sound file several times never fails to cause me to break a sweat!

Peace,
Tim

This post will be a bit of a grab bag of stuff related to preparations for our trip to D.C. to march in the Inaugural Parade.

Our parade uniform will consist of silver baseball jackets — under which I will likely have many layers for warmth, black pants, black shoes, black socks black gloves and blue berets.  I purchased my jacket when I registered online to play with the LGBA.  I have black pants and socks, but am buying black Keens from REI.  They’re being sent to my local store.  I got a deal on them because it seems that REI is discontinuing the style.  I wore a pair of Keens while we were traveling in North America and Europe and loved them, so I know how they fit and what size I needed.  I have a pair of black shoes, but they are not completely black, which was stressed.  Plus, I think the occasion warrants a new pair of shoes, right?  Oh, and gloves, I ordered and just received today a pair of black, leather drummer’s gloves by Zildjian (a cymbal maker).  I don’t think they’ll be very warm if it’s really cold, but they have great grip for holding my drum sticks.  If it IS really cold, I’ll probably bring some mittens to wear while I’m waiting in the lineup for our unit to step off, and then just tuck them into a pocket or into my stick bag.  This was another purchase that I made, and one that I can use for future parades as well.  I currently only have a stick bag for concert playing.  The stick bag I’ve ordered is one that can attach to the lugs of the snare drum I’ll be playing.  That way, if I happen to drop a stick, which I did in a Holidazzle parade once — I can stay in-step and just grab another one from my bag.

I have all five tunes that we’ll be playing memorized, plus the drum cadence.  Now, I just need to run them each day to keep them in my head.  I’ve downloaded the tunes to my MP3 player so I can play along.  I go to the basement, put on a marching snare, put one song on repeat, play through it with the written music, then without the music, then while marching in place — until I am comfortable with it.  Then, I do the same with the next song, etc.  The arrangement of Ode to Joy that we’re playing has two tempo changes — faster each time — and the ending really cooks!  And, I guess it’s a good thing that it’s fast because we’ll be covering the 1.6 miles of the parade route in 25 minutes, so we’ll be moving!  Yes, the parade is timed to the minute!  However, we’ll walk at least 4 miles, start to finish, when you factor in our starting location and where we are allowed to stop after we have entirely completed the route.

Also, Dan and I decided not to make the trips out and back each in one long drive.  I have a five-hour rehearsal on Sunday that I’d rather not do on little sleep.  So, we’ll leave early Saturday, put in a long day’s drive to get us to Roaring Spring, Pennsylvania, where we’ll stay at an inexpensive bed & breakfast.  Then, we’ll drive the last few hours on Sunday morning.  On the way back, we’ll drive most of the day Wednesday, stay over at the Hostelling International Hostel in Madison and finish the trip home on Thursday.

Here’s a YouTube video of the LGBA band, including snippets from the previous inaugural and other performances.  It’s kind of cool: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNiTsf5E-oY

And, finally, the local band that I’m a member of, the Minnesota Freedom Band, will be presenting it’s annual dance concert in February.  We began rehearsing again on Monday after the holiday break.  The theme of this dance concert will be USO Tour and will feature music selections from the WW II era.  For more information and tickets, check out the band’s website: http://mnfreedomband.org/home/

Tim