Towards the Splendid City - R. Danielpour

A quick post from the house of soup and bread.

Today was the first day of the 2006 marching season at KF: some leadership training and visual instruction. I think these kids might be able to march pretty well by the time contests start happening. At least, the twelve leaders we taught today will serve as good examples for the other students to reference along the way.

In all the preparation for the coming year, redefining the visual program and such, I have definitely re-discovered my technique-geek nature that I had in college, when I taught Lake Park and Wheaton South. Defining and cleaning the minutae of how a group moves is so complex and so much fun to do - just as fun as being a music fundamentals nerd. I really like when everything is perfect, or very close to - don't you?

At any rate, the food coma is about to hit. (From a bowl of soup and a baguette at that...) Nap time soon, then more planning, pick up the Berlioz CD (L'Enfance du Christ - excited) from the leasing office, and hopefully write some sketches for drill. Oh yeah, and hopefully the sun comes back out - much as we complain, we do thrive on it. Just a lot.

Another fun pic - just because.


The Daily Grind, but not in Houston - this one was discovered in Harrisonburg, VA near the campus of James Madison University. Definitely a pleasant shock after a day and half of driving.

Black Angels - Crumb

Well, day 2 is done - only 3 more this week and I get to enjoy the slivers of weekend that aren't taken up by graduation or the accompanying parties. (Not that I mind the parties, but the whole graduation schtick is a little over-rated - only because it's frowned upon to bring a book).

There are times I wonder about the world around me, its machinations, and the people it brings into your life, takes out of your life, and how those influences alter you. Mildly abstract for a Tuesday night at 9:18pm? Probably - but life is grand at changing while you are not looking, and introducing things to you that both enrich it and challenge you to hold true to your values. Obtuse reference? shrug

Well, I am getting sleepy, but I thought I would pass along some things I happened across today: One being an article on sleep needs and cycles I found interesting (and strangely fitting, given my current state of semi-sonambulism). Another regarding the Nintedo DS - definitely a purchase I see in my future (even over the PSP, uber-geek as it is, the DS is just fun and much more innovative in its gameplay) - and on a fortuitous note: my boss, Paul Worosello, found a lot of drill that Michael Gaines had written for KF in the mid to late 90s - what a goldmine of resources to see how he approaches writing for HS bands. Very excited to analyze and make use of that info.

Alright - off to bed. And yes, in case you are wondering - Black Angels has been on the headphones this entire time - what a cool piece, even if it makes you physically sick to listen to sometimes - eliciting a reaction is effective, even if not puppy dogs and candy canes...

Oh, and since this blog is as yet bereft of photos, thought I would throw one out here:


Sheetz, Gallikers, and a roadtrip - the ultimate trifecta (augmented by the MTO off camera on the hood of the car). Photo credits to the inestimable Holly Carlton.

Prayers of Kirkegaard: Final Prayer - S. Barber

Quite the eventful weekend - fewer things than I had intended got done, but an enjoyable diversion from the work-a-day drudgery that is the end of the school year. Ran Rice not once, but twice. First time I have had the chance to do run back to back days in... well, quite a while (at least since I was running with Holly). Felt very good - which is strange since I have never been one much for the whole physical exertion route... stranger things have happened, and the side-effects are quite pleasant... to say the least.

Friday's band banquet was fun - seeing the year in retrospect and watching the kids enjoy themselves is always rewarding. Watching last year's marching show definitely highlighted things that are going to be fixed this year, and things I really wish had not been laid out the way they were. But such is life. My students bought me several gag gifts (as is their way - I seem to attract gag gifts) a razor for my "Jesus" look which they don't appreciate - a plethora of kitten accessories (most of the comments I make to them are related to various sounds cats make in distress: e.g. "That sounds like a cat being shoved into a coke bottle...") - some smarties, because I sound like an SAT book - some pens to throw (as I sometimes do when I get excited - never in anger and never at people... except for my first clarinets when they pathologically ignore any conception of balance or texture... but they deserve it :D ) And a microphone, due to the fact that every time we are on a coach bus, I act as tour guide - mostly in Chicago on our Jazz Band trip in April, but also on our Corpus Christi trip ("On your left is water. It is composed of twice as much hydrogen as it is oxygen, with some Sodium-Chloride for good measure - it is wet.") Good times.

Saturday began with some running, then made the poor choice of ordering a new Domino's XL Pizza. Even splitting it with my roommate Steve we both felt rather gorged afterwards – went and picked up my friend Mike, checked out the Klein Forest Jazz Concert with Freddy Mendoza – pretty good stuff. Then went to Hooter's on Kirby to hang with a guy I marched with in Cavaliers – Kevin.

Aside from the extremely disappointing wings at Hooters, a good time was had by all.

Today was more of the same – running, dinner at Katz's, and a little quality time in Cyberspace. Looking forward to a busy week – middle school auditions, band assignments, finalizing numbers for the KF marching show, finalizing numbers for the Carencro HS marching show, trying to scare up one more client for drill writing, and grade books (something I detest more than any other activity I have to perform – such a hassle for a little CYA – blech).

I am hoping that my evenings will be free this week, as I would like to continue this whole “every day work out” thing I have begun to start (hardly any consistency over the course of 48 hours, admittedly). Maybe some time to chill by the pool and plan more marching band stuff would be good, too. Visual curriculum for Vandebilt Catholic/Klein Forest HS/Carencro HS/anywhere else I teach, perhaps? Stages of Man show abstract? We shall see.

I also am anxiously awaiting the arrival of a CD I ordered - L'Enfance du Christ by Berlioz. It comes highly reccommended by Holly Carlton - and everything else she has ever said that I would like I have, in spades (Ben Folds, Blurred, Avishai Cohen, Rufus Wainwright, Antonio's Pizza, a mess of saxophone quartet literature) Girl's got some good taste. Should be good. Romanticism in and of itself usually is, and Berlioz was just a bit ridiculous. Wicked awesome, some might say... Something to look forward to, at least.

On a sad note – I learned from my friend Kevin that one of the people I started in the Cavaliers with was involved in a serious car accident late this last week. If you are religious or simply spiritual (as I am) please say a prayer or give a thought to the family, friends, and students of Scott Thompson. He was a great person, and I am thankful for knowing him as I did. He will be missed.

First Circle - P.Metheny/arr. R. Blades

So, this will be attempt no. 2 at my entries into the blogosphere – the last attempt petered away due to my own restrictions to what I would and would not publish... a rather myopic concept, admittedly. I just would like to stay away from the kind of blog that is grossly auto-biographical... all the people on MySpace and here on Blogger who air their dirty laundry for the world to read leave a bad taste in my mouth – so n'ere shall that tripe grace this chunk of electronic real-estate. Nope. Not ever. There are many better things to do with my time than be negative. Really.

So – fun this weekend: Band Banquet tonight, that should be an experience. Tomorrow is my one day to sleep in, and then running (Rice is the goal – Ruck Fice) and new tires for the jalopy. Dinner with some friends, and Jazz Band concert in the evening (thank goodness I don't have to conduct) – and then cleaning the house on Sunday (since it needs to be done... especially my room with the addition of the new bed – just a little bigger and waaaay more comfortable than the old one).

So, that is my weekend – probably going to design some drill when I get music from Marc Martin, arranger extraordinare. Looking forward to what we can do with this music – I am very excited about American Voices for KF in the fall. It's the first of my shows ever to be produced in full. It's exciting, because I think the strength of the design is very good, and it has the potential to be as multi-dimensional and nuanced as we can make it... (no peaking with this one, thankfully) Kinda excited... just a little.

Alright, time for more coffee here at “The Coffee Guy” on 2920 in Spring – free wifi, what a beautiful thing... One of my pet-peeves would be pay wifi... so silly. Just like Starbucks... but that's another post for another day.

By the way, the titles of these entries will more often than not what I am listening to as I type... being a musician, there should be some fun ones. Enjoy!