Back in the Bixby days, I was captivated by classical, medieval, and renaissance art. I had books and books of paintings and sculptures and mosaics. I couldn't do it now, but I used to be able to identify all sorts of famous pieces. This made be a bit of a nerd, but it fueled my great passion towards all things Knightly. I would spend hours sketching the "perfect" suit of armor for king, or his champion defender of the realm. Keep in mind that this was all in elementary school - so I didn't think to much about how heavy it would be to walk around in or how much he would be able to see in battle ... or how the courageous knight would get in and out of the thing for that matter.
As we are in the "Season of the Lion", I'll go a bit off track here to recall just how wonderfully it was to see the 4 kings and queens back in their old hall in 'Prince Caspian'. I got so excited when Susan found the golden chess piece (a knight of course). By the time they had broken the wooden door and gone down into the old treasure hall full of suits of armor and mail and swords and helms .... oh it was heaven. Alright then - back on track.
My love of "sketching" went rather dormant in Jr. High School, but when I had a chance to pick my first elective in 9th grade, I of course took Art - thinking that all my hereto unheralded talents would spring forth fully formed like Athena from Zeus's open head! Alas, it was not so - I was horrible. And not just in sketching; I was equally as improficient in watercolors, clay, and natural material dioramas. The art teacher mercifully gave me a "C" and let me transfer to my next great conquest, music.
There was an especially tall (and very red-headed) Junior in the orchestra that year. She played percussion in the back - so cool - so .... errrrr, black dress-wearing. - Ok, back on track. Her name was Chrissy, I think. Anyway, I asked the director if I could join the orchestra. He asked me what I played and when I told him "nothing" but I wanted to be a percussionist, suggested that I take some private lessons. I did and by the time the semester ended, I was sitting next to Chrissy (who wasn't nearly as nice as I had hoped) counting my way through long symphonic pieces while waiting for my occasional triangle or tambourine part. You see Chrissy had all the experience and was therefore the only one in the school that was allowed to touch a drum during and orchestral piece. - I'm not bitter ... really, I'm not.
The next year, we moved to another part of Springfield and a different high school. The Orchestra at Kickapoo H.S. required all percussionists to play in marching band as well ... soooo there I was at Band Camp. They called themselves "The Line". Six snare drums, 4 bass drums, 2 quads, and 3 cymbals and they were most of my world for 3 years.
To call it hazing, would be an overstatement; but I almost wish that it would have been tougher. Finally, I was a part of an army - my bass drum before me like a mighty shield. Two sword-like mallets and swiveled between puffy and staccato tips were my weapons. I had a faceless uniform - and a hat with a plume .... oh, and a cape!
I followed orders, stood at attention for what seemed like days and walked around with sheet music taped everywhere. When you are a drummer in a marching band, you learn to "sing" the parts. This sounds a lot like Klingon Yodeling, but it's very effective. I can probably sing the bass drum part to 'Aztec Fire' and the Quad's part for 'West-Side" story even today. I'm also, pretty sure that I know every part (even the cymbals) of a Russian dance piece called "Tanz" that was our drum feature my senior year.
Sometimes, I wonder what it would have been like to go to one of the big state schools and play for a college marching band (Evangel never had one). As a drummer, field percussion is about as exciting as it gets. Still I wouldn't trade my life now - even for a few more years in "The Line".
9 comments:
It's sometimes fun to think what would have happened if you took a different path in life for a small advantage, but if it isn't what you were supposed to do with your life, it isn't what you were supposed to do with your life.
I found out recently that had I applied to Yale and been accepted, I would have gotten a free ride due to what my parents were making at the time. I was a little jealous of all those successful people who got free rides to an Ivy League school for a little bit, then I remembered that was not the path God had for me.
Ah, band camp (sigh). I don't think I would do it again. Looking back, I could have used the last 2 weeks of the summer to get my act together before enduring the social experimentation they called high school. Glad it turned out well for you.
what did you play in band taz.....I'm guesing trombone.
so this is it? the end to your vow? I enjoyed having something new to read from you. Maybe you can shoot for an everyother day blog.
Yeah, I enjoyed it too. I told him he should make another vow too. Maybe you could do a 7 day vow on your Pizza Delivery stories, we'd let you "imbellish"! Or you could always make a vow to talk about all your business trips and places you've been that "I wouldn't like!" :) :) :) :)
You could blog about your "time off" in Indiana, or all the different interviews you've been "flown too." Come on, you've got material to work with...make a vow...make a vow...make a vow! LOL
You know you want to! ;)
The more I post the more I realize there isn't a shortage of material out there. Maybe dash could make an easier vow like 7 posts over 14 days.
Dash,
I played the baritone, an instrument that only band members know what it is. Usually when I tell some non-musical person this, they tilt their head sideways and say "A what?" or they say "You sang along with the band." But, I enjoyed it enought to play it for 8 years and then I kissed band farewell and left baritoning to the professionals.
Taz
I always explained it as a "marching french horn". I'm glad to know that even if I did mistaken'y pick you as a trombone ... I came pretty close.
Dash,
The perfect opportunity has presented itself. You should start your book! You can blog out your rough draft ideas and start creating and forming the next Lord of the Rings for today's literature buff! I know you have some ideas. You'd never run out of blog material!:) And we'd all get some good reading in too. Just make sure you have enough romance to keep us "light" readers interested!
:):):)
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