Diaries of a Band
Created and Written by members of the 2009 Marching Hornet Band
Directors: Roy Anderson and Wesley CollinsCaption Heads: Leanne Judson, Lester Marcus, Patch NelsonDrum Majors: David Steele, Katherine Snow
Show Title: "Band Is…"
First Day of Band Camp (Fundamentals Day)
Flute Player: Alaina: Junior
Today was okay for the first day back. I'm really really excited about the new freshies! They're so cuuute! I remember when I was a little freshman back in the day…It's very surreal thinking about it. But oh my god, my arms hurt so bad…Our flutes aren't that heavy, but it really takes a lot of strength to hold them up. And marching? I am totally not in shape to do this. Of course, no matter how hard it gets, there's that really hot snare drummer, Colin, who is next to me for like, 3 sets! That makes everything worth it! Our section leader, Rachel, seems okay…When she's not being a total The band seems okay this year. It's not gonna be as good as last year because JAKE (Hearts, hearts, love, kisses) isn't drum major, but I think it'll be alright. The trumpets are stupider than ever. I mean, they're cute but they're totally not my type. Besides, I've got my eye on Colin. And there's that one boy in the pit who I could be seen with without committing social suicide. And I might even go as far to say that there's a tuba guy who…Well…He's cute, but low brass? Ew…Not gonna happen. and the new guy, Marcus…They are always yelling at the trumpets. This doesn't surprise me, but they're getting annoying. I want to go over there and smack the trumpet section leader. If this keeps up all season, it won't be long before I go up to one of them and kick their butts…Hah, like that'll ever happen. I don't want to waste my time, anyway. Stupid brass…
Yeah, so everyone's really serious about this year because it's our BOA year. Our show is called "Band Is…" and…Well, nobody really knows what it's about. The directors won't tell us what the point of the show is. They keep telling anyone who asks that they need to figure it out on their own. Whatever…Anderson's just being a dork as usual. I got my music today and it's really complex. I think I have to compete with Rachel for the solo, too…Oh whatever. Anyway, I've written a lot. I'm so tired…And I have to drive like, fifteen people home. What am I, a taxi service?Whatever, okay, I'm done.
-Alaina Simmons
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Clarinet Player: Souji: Freshman
The girls in this section are a little bit scary…I cannot understand why they keep freaking out whenever I talk. I wonder if it is my accent? I am a little bit short than the normal freshman boy, but…I do not know…I have not been in the US long enough to understand the girls here. They seem very vain and I believe there is even this one girl who could kill me with a stick from a popsicle. The trumpet leader is nice. He offered to teach me his 'skillz'. I do not know what that means. I will have to talk him about it later. Actually, it can be better just to stay away from him. There is one girl in my section who is always talking to herself about death and destruction. She scares me. I do not want to be impolite and judge her based off of her death thinking, but I think I want to stay away from her too. She is the only one oboe player in the band.
This is a little bit scary. I do not know if I am going to fit in here. I do not know why the teachers have want to let me write in this…What do you say it? Journal? They seemed very excited about me writing. I wish I do not let them down.
I am doomed.
-Souji Minegawa
==Souji, welcome. Hope everything works out for you this season!==
-Mr. C
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Oboe Player: Samantha: Sophomore
Dear Diary, "Here lies Samantha, the oboe player that nobody loved."
Band this year is like the dark gaping abyss that is my life…It's like a consuming black hole that swallows me up with no remorse. I'm going to die here, I just know it. I can feel it in my blood…(I bleed black…) And it doesn't help that the blackness of my soul attracts the sun's penetrating rays…It burns so much…Once you're so far into the dark, even subtle things like fluorescent lighting in the band room can be like hot, burning, torturous flames that devour your body until you're nothing but a pile of despair labeled 'ash'.
Pieces…Shards of a shattered reality…So broken that my body leaked blackness from every pore. So broken that eye shadow, stage makeup, mascara, and torque pants couldn't even cover it up.
Band this year is like the contaminating pink paint splatter on my perfectly black heart. It's like the safety cap on my anti-depressants…It's like the hot sauce in my milkshake…It's like the sun behind my rain cloud…This is torture…And why doesn't he notice me? It kills me a little bit more every time I see him with that girl…She's everything I'm not…
I'm hopeless…
I hate my life…
-Sam Snow
==Sam, see me after practice. 7-23-09==
-Mr. A
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Saxophone Section Leader: Andrew: Senior
I'm finally section leader. It only cost me an arm and a ligature to get here, too. An arm and a ligature…*Sigh* I am such a nerd. But that's okay. At least I know what I'm doing. Not like that idiot Sean. I've never met such an arrogant incompetent trumpet section leader. The guy spends his sectional time talking about junk like Halo 3 and World of Warcraft. Hey, nothing on WoW, but band isn't the place to talk about it! He should be doing his job like the rest of us. My section looks promising. We got 6 new freshmen. Most of them are good, but they're shy. And there is this one kid who can't sit still for a minute. The guy is like…Wiggling. Wiggling at attention. When he's not talking or whispering, he's fidgeting. It's apparent that the kid needs some pills. Soon. I don't want to deal with another Carl. Speaking of Carl…He's a little quieter this year, but he never stops questioning my authority. He's somehow convinced himself that HE should be section leader. I'd like to give him a shot at it, just to prove a point, but I don't think he'd get it. He's a brilliant player. Nobody can argue with that. But he needs to work on his attitude. Aside from all this band stuff and leadership stuff, I want this year to FLY. I am SO ready to get the hell outta here. T his inter-band journal keeping thing is new. I wonder what Collins and Anderson are trying to accomplish by making us do it. I mean, if it were just the seniors, it would make sense…But they've even got freshmen writing in these things. Huh. Well, maybe they'll let us know later.
But enough about him…He's not worth my keystrokes.
-Drew Wilcox
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Trumpet Player: Bryan: Senior
PH34R! Heck yeah, our section is gonna PWN this year! FTW! I don't understand what Drew's problem is…And I don't get why the directors are always yelling at US…We do everything perfect! We PWNZ all teh noobz! We is the m4zt4z of the band! We play around all the time, but we know what we're doing. I also don't get why the guy in front of me keeps insisting that he's better than me. Maybe he can't accept the reality that he's just not up to my level. Poor idiot…I feel sorry for everyone who isn't me. *Sniff* A tear shed for those who are teh suxxorz. :[
I love playing my trumpet. It makes me automatically right…And I can show off my Skillz. I almost love playing trumpet more than I love playing my girlfriend! Almost! Haha.
I wish that creepy oboe girl would leave me alone…I frown upon the idiot who created woodwimps. This childishness has gone on long enough. Obviously the brass are superior. And I am the superiorest of everyone. I own j00, fool! But she scares me. I think she wants to die. Emo kid…Go cry in a corner. This is what the contamination of woodwinds has come to. I must make sure no brass player becomes contaminated by the zombie oboe player. From now on, I protect mai friendz.
Ph34r….
-Bryan Sykes
==Bryan, next time write something relevant and that makes sense to normal people! I would take this out if I hadn't signed that contract to keep everything unabridged!==
-Mr. A
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Mellophone Player: Josh: Sophomore
Okay…So pretty much everyone in the band knows that I'm gay now. Why the homophobia? None of the guys will talk to me or like, stand next to me. It's like they expect me to hit on every male I see. I won't deny that a hella lotta them are hot…Or that I have my fantasies about some of them shirtless, but it's not like I LIKE them. Everyone has fantasies, right? Band is great. I couldn't ask for better freshmen…But I'm afraid that if they find out, they'll like, hate me. I'm gay. What's the big deal? If I was a lesbian, all the guys would be thrilled to hang out with me. I'm not going to come on to everyone, so they've really got nothing to worry about!So anyway…This is strange. I'm not big on writing. Things are okay. Got my eye on a clarinet guy. Think there could be something between us…But…It just depends. He seems nice enough, but I don't know if he's gay too…And maybe I shouldn't write about him, just in case someone in band reads this…Just in case HE reads this.
I don't know what Collins and Anderson want us to write about. Meh. They need to choose someone else, I'm not very good at this.
-Josh Peters
==Josh, next time try to focus more on the band and less on your social life. We're pulling for you, though.==
-Mr. Collins : )
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Trombone Player: Amy: Freshman I don't think it's going to work out. The chemistry is great between the guys, but I'm not sure if I'm gonna make it. Maybe I'll switch to Euphonium…At least they don't seem like a fraternity. Although, there's this really nice kid named Brandon…He might be worth staying for. I think he's an upperclassmen, though. Not dating material for someone like me, but maybe we could become friends. There's an oboe girl that really caught my eye. I think she's the only one in her section. Rumor has it that she killed the other two…because they just disappeared halfway through the season…Creepy.
Wow, my section is perverted…I guess being the only girl AND the only freshman kind of alienates me a little, but…I guess as long as I can belch, scratch my balls, and play, I'll be okay. *Rolls eyes* I mean, even the older guys are a little immature. I'm not saying I don't like them…When they're not being disgusting, they seem cool. (In other words, when they have an instrument on their faces) And they all seem real close. I wonder if I can fit in with that kind of thing…
From what I've heard they have their section sleepovers and stuff. I really don't want to know what they do at those sleepovers…
Too much testosterone…Jeez.
_____________________________
Euphonium Co-Section Leader: Adam: Junior-----Skipped entry with the excuse that he was 'Sorting out a problem' with the flute section leader-----
(Confirmed by Mr. Anderson, 7-23-09)
==That's BS, and everyone knows it.==
- David Steele
==David, we all appreciate your concern, but we've already discussed the matter. This doesn't concern you. Please try to refrain from making unfounded accusations.==
=Anderson
==It's not unfounded! You all know perfectly well that he's my best friend and that I know exactly what's going on with him. This is ridiculous!==
-Steele
==Drop it, David.==
-Collins
==David, see me immediately.==
-Anderson
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Tuba Section Leader: Beth: Senior
Band this year better be incredible. I want us to totally kick ass at BOA. Just thinking about how close we were to winning two years ago makes me cringe. This year, we better win it! He's a good guy. I know he's in it for the right reasons. But the fact of the matter is, I made the position. It's my job to teach and his job to follow. But still …I can't help it. I think I'll still end up treating him like a co-section leader. Anyway, it looks as though we're going to have about three freshmen, which is exciting. Maybe Chris can take Jordan (I think that's his name) aside and work with him on his posture. That would be a leadershippy thing to do. 'Leadershippy'…Oh hell…
There's good chemistry in my section this year. It's not like the drumline, because God knows, there will NEVER be a section who is as tight as them, but it's good. I'm expecting a lot from the guys this year. They'd better damn well respect me, too.
I think Chris is a little bit mad that he didn't make section leader, because Chris and I have been in this together from the beginning and he was always more dedicated than I was, but I think that the directors are convinced that I can handle the job better than he can. Honestly, I think his ADHD might play into it a little bit as well. I almost felt bad when I made the position because I saw the look on his face…But he needs to understand that you don't need a position to be a leader. I told him that I'd give him opportunities to lead, but I hope that he leads mostly by example.
Beth Erickson
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Drumline Captain: Colin: Senior And now here I am, Colin Sanders, expected to uphold the legacy that my brother left behind. Not to sound whiny or anything, but I'm currently living in a pretty big shadow. My brother was incredible at a lot of things, I'll give him that, but…He wasn't as great as people thought he was.
"Andrew Sanders was the best drumline captain in history."
"Andrew Sanders left a legacy."
"Andrew Sanders was the epitome of a leader."
"Andrew Sanders could play sixteenth note diddles with his KNEES."
"Andrew Sanders made the tenor drums look incredibly easy."
"Andrew Sanders could break a drumhead just by staring at it.""
Andrew Sanders will never be replaced."
I wish Patch would lay off me a little bit. I know I can't tell him to chill out, because I'll come across as someone who's not up for the job…And I know that I AM the one who has to make all of these drummers into a clean line. Who else is gonna do it and do it the right way? Nah. I'll just kick some peoples' asses if they don't get up to snuff quickly. It's what my brother would've done. Nobody knew that side of him. Anyway, someone needs to go clean up the percussion cabinet. Stupid low brass thought they could hide their disgusting five-year-old sandwiches in there and get away with it. Again. ==Colin, if they do it again, tell me and I'll take care of it.==
Eh…It's just a lot to live up to with my brother and all. We've got a cool feature in the middle of the show. The snares have this crazy lick with a dittie-cheese-grid sort of feel. It looks kind of like corps stuff. Really complex.
Speaking of corps, I'm trying to march with Vanguard. I have auditions coming up in November. Should be interesting. I'm sure I'm good enough to make it on the line, but the money situation could be a problem. Ah, who knows? Whatever happens will happen, I guess. I really want to make it, though. I've been practicing all summer. Even at work. And even Patch says I've improved a lot since the beginning of last year.
Well...Everyone's been kind of tense at rehearsal. It's probably just everyone trying to get a feel for the new chemistry of the line. A lot of people don't understand that the drumline takes the hardest hit each year. We have to keep re-working our technique and adjusting everything about ourselves as the seniors leave and the freshmen and underclassmen move up from pit to the line. It takes a while for everyone to adjust mentally as well. The focus of everyone wavered a lot today and the basses weren't quite in time with the rest of the battery. That's to be expected, since we have two new freshmen on bass three and five. They're just going to have to step it up this season. We can't afford to let new people bring us down.
It might have just been a 'first-day-of-camp-trying-to-get-back-in-the-zone' sort of thing. I hope it was. Things will work out in the end. Hopefully.
I'm out.
Colin Sanders
Patch
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Pit Player: Lois Cox: FreshmanPatch is so weird…That noodle thing was just too much... Wow...Everything is so unorganized and hectic. And I don't think this is a recurring thing. We must be the first class to actually make Patch and Dennis BOTH yell on the first day. Well…We'll see how this all plays out. I'm shooting for the vibes, but Dennis says upperclassmen get first dibs. Oh well…Whatever I get, at least I'm not on battery. Those guys carry those huge drums around all day. No thank you! They must be completely beat by the end of the season…And probably completely ripped too. I bet they all look gorgeous without shirts … They expect me to write an entire page on this? Every week? It's gonna be a long year. I don't even have anything to say yet…I mean, I don't know anybody since I just moved here and everything…I don't know. Whatever. I'm just glad we don't have to march. That must suck. A/C is the best invention on the planet.
-Lois Cox
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Head Drum Major: David Steele: Senior
Well…I'm finally here. I'm drum major. After all of the years I spent attending leadership training and Dr. Tim workshops, it's finally all paid off. And it's a BOA year, too. That will NOT happen this year. This year is going to be the best damn year in Hornet history. Just watch. And I'm going to be the best damn leader I can. I have so many tools and so much experience. I just know I'm the right person. I just know that somehow, this year is going to be better than any other year thus far. I am SO ready to kick some BOA ass. (Sorry Anderson, I know we're not supposed to cuss) First day of band camp…Well…It went like any other first day. We had our problems, yeah, but everyone has problems on the first day back. Nothing major…Except for Adam... But nothing's going to help him if Anderson and Collins don't listen to me. It doesn't set a great tone, them not listening…Makes me wonder what's going to happen the next time I try to bring up an issue that needs to be addressed. If they don't trust me, they need to find a different drum major. Someone they DO trust. Because this can become a serious problem if it keeps up. Anyway…I guess that's all. Am I the last one to write in here? Huh.
We've never made it to Finals in BOA. Two years ago, we missed it by .3. Everyone was crushed. Let me tell you, I do NOT plan on letting that happen again. Nobody should have to experience such a fallout after working so hard. Especially not these new freshmen. It would crush them.
It almost crushed me.
He's been…Weird lately. I know exactly what's been going on with him, but the directors won't hear me out. Maybe they just don't want to believe the truth. Maybe they just don't want to deal with how serious the problem is…But I'm not the kind of person to let things like that slide. Even if he is my best friend…I'm still a leader. I'm still required to turn him in. And if I don't, I'm not being a good friend…Because it's just to help him.
-Steele
==David, we need to talk.==
-Collins __________________________ Roy Anderson: Head Band Director The freshmen seem to be getting along okay. Nobody's complained about bullying or anything to that extent, but I'm not really surprised about that. Last year's class is gone, so we shouldn't have too many problems with the upperclassmen and the freshmen. I might actually not have to deal with angry parents for a change. (Yeah right...They'll find SOME reason to be angry. Always do) Things are looking up. Our new uniforms came in last week and everyone's really excited about the new look. With so many new additions to the staff, what with Lester and Leanne and Mark (whom we don't see much of), the entire attitude of the band has been...well, changed. And I think that's a good thing. Tradition is important, don't get me wrong, but so is change. Ahhh...Reminds me of my corps days. New staff, new uni's, new show, new people, new group...New attitude. We'll see. Everyone's excited. And we're off to a good start.
Chemistry this year seems better than ever. Especially that drumline. Whew! Patch is drilling them harder than ever for the first day back. And good thing, too. It's good for them.
And hopefully this year, we'll be able to really do something with that new attitude!