More Details… 10 Days to Inaugural Parade
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
Tags: Dan, inaugural, instrument, lgba, Obama Inaugural Parade, parade, snare drum, tempo
timdan2
Leave a Reply