CONGRATULATION ST. ALBANS BAND!!!!!

(i promise i'll make sure to write more in this blog and make it less boring at some point)

CONGRATULATIONS HANNAH BOTT!!
CONGRATULATIONS FLAUTISTS!
AND I HEARD THOSE PICCOLOS! SOUNDING GOOD

=]

ALSO CONGRATULATIONS TO CIERRA FOR BEING A HOMECOMING ATTENDENT! THAT'S MY GIRL!

AND...
MY FAVE SONG IS "THE HYMN" IT WAS BEAUTIFUL!


GOOD JOB! LOVE YOU GUYS


sarah<3

=]

Hey, guys.

Haven't posted anything in a while and I'm a little to tired to write that great of an entry at the moment.

I just wanted to say:

I'm really glad I came today and hung out for a while

You guys sounded gooood. I do miss band but if I can just come visit and play along every now and then I'll be fine, lol.

I brought back that selected studies for flute book and it is in the hallway by the storage room where all that music is, it's on the top of the stack though and should not be hard to find. all of you flautists should go and look through and find a piece to learn =] for all state or all county.

If you want, do what Hannah and I did and go copy the whole book in the office, it took a while but was well worth it.

I just know you guys are going to have a great season this year and I can't wait to come to a competition or a football game and see all of the drill that goes along with the music.

And I'm in town until next wednesday if anyone wants to hang or just chill and play flute together. I need to get some more practice in before I go up and play with the people at college and it's much more fun to practice with another flautist than all by myself. =]

Love you guys. I realized I forgot to bring cookies like I was going to. Well, maybe next time. I saw where Brianna is renewing the "cookie chart" idea. lol.

It was nice seeing you!

<3>

p.s.- mrs.varney told me that attendence at sahs is gonna be really high this year. like 1100 people in the school. she said it's gonna be so crowded they're refusing to take any students who don't live in sa. geeez, that sucks. Have fun manuveuring your way through the halls and waiting in the insanely long lunch lines when school starts back next week. haha. <3

p.s.s.- next wednesday is Scarlet Garner's birthday. Even though she is annoying and she does play the clarinet (which we all know is wayyyy lame) you should be nice and wish her a happpy happy 17th.

Without marching band in my life....

I am going to turn into a pile of larvae due to no physical activity. My beautiful calves, shaped by 4 years of calve (sp?) presses are going to slowly weaken because without band I have no motivation to do calve presses. It's a lot harder to make yourself do things than it is when people are standing in front of you with a glock forcing you to do them and you do because you don't want your bandmates to think you're lazy.


However, my arms are getting slightly more in shape due to slapping pizza dough at Papa John's all summer long. (come see me! I'll hook you up with a discount!)


My college has a fitness center though, so maybe I'll go and run (lol, just kidding, what i meant to say is "walk at a slightly speedy pace") on the treadmill. and they have a pool so I can get some swimming in. (i decided not to be on their swim team because it's too competitive for me. i like to swim, i just don't excel at it) And of course whenever I feel nostalgic I can just practice marching around my house and do some "about faces" and "to the rears" or stand in parade rest for hours. (okayyy. i promise I am not that much of a nerd!) However... you guys really should practice marching at home in order to improve yourselves and thus improve the band as a whole!


I played my flute this morning. It was nice. "Ballad atop a Scottish More" is my fave, and I played psalm 42 (i always play it when i practice so i can keep it memorized and also because i just like it) and other stuff (i already freaking forgot "under the sea", hannah. ugggh! i have terrible memory). Which reminds me, I still have the Selected Studies for Flute book which I need to bring back (after I make copies of it, lol) so you guys can have it for All-County and All-State which I would advise EVERYONE to try out for this year!!! I'm pretty sure the 3 people who were the first 3 flute chairs graduated, so you guys could move in and there's enough of you that the entire all-county flute section could be SAHS! Brianna and Bell- try out on piccolo!!! I really regret that I didn't last year. And especially you Brianna because you've done all-county before and I know you'll be trying out again so you might as well try out on flute and picc.


So maybe I'll come drop that book off and visit tomorrow because it is..... (drumroll, puh-lease)

NIA'S BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

she'll be 17

isn't she sooo cute??? all grown up.

=]

love you NIDA!

Hope you have a SUPAAA Birthday!

I'll try to come. It just depends how early I can get out of babysitting.
I also need to see Lil Joe and tell him a belated happpy birthday.





Maybe I'll bring you flute players cookies because I'm so nice like that. (but don't get your hopes up yet, haha)





okay, well. I've written enough and none of it was really that flute-related or educational or anything like that but whatev.





miss you guys!





loveeeeeeee,





Sarah Anne





a msg for Mr.White or any band booster related person that may or may not happen to be reading this: I realized the other day that I never paid my band fee from last year (ooops!!!). I just want you to know that I have not forgotten and I WILL pay it as soon as I can. I have to get my fall tuition taken care of first or else I can't go to college (haha) but next on my list is that band fee, I promise)

Attitude is Everything

Marching Band is much more intense than most people realize. You will be around the same group of people for the majority of your time- band camp, practices, trips, football games, performances, pep rallies, etc... As we know not everybody is going to be best friends. But what is the point of arguing and starting fights and drama? Everyone does band because they enjoy it, therefore everyone just wants to have a good time and have fun. The best way to reach this goal is through patience and a positive attitude.

Remember:

• Upperclassmen; It is easy to get aggravated when freshman or others are unable to grasp concepts as well you do. Remember that they are just starting out and can't be expected to be the best marchers or have the best posture. Have patience. And while it is okay to be helpful and try to give others tips, you must realize that it is not your job to teach them. Which is why we don't have actual "section leaders". It is hard to see someone making mistakes and not trying to help them fix those mistakes, but if they are unwilling to hear your advice, you'll just have to keep your mouth shut and let someone else (Mr. White) deal with it.
  


• Newbies: Please don't get offended when an upperclassmen tries to help or fix you. They just want the band to have a good season and be the best that they can be. So try to listen to advice with an open ear. I know Brianna and Nia and whoever and I know that if they say something to you, they're not trying to be mean, just trying to be helpful. (Alex, on the other hand....lol)
  


• Just try your best. That's all you have to do. If you're going to do something, why do it halfway? If you're doing the best you can do, others will see it and appreciate it.

• Stop the negativity! Don't say "wow, we're going to suck at this competition" or "why is mr. white making us march the second movement when we only just learned it?" or "this is dumb. I can't believe we have to practice so early in the morning!". Basically just try to stop the whining. Yes, everyone complains and finding things to complain about is very easy. But there is always a bright side to a situation. And doing things that might be unenjoyable will help you get the oppurtunity to do something more enjoyable later on. That early practice will result in a lot of fun when you hear yourselves announced "Grand Champs"!
  


• Just be happy and have fun!!!
  

Charts and Tuning Tips

Some Guides that come in handy for Flautists:

http://www.wfg.woodwind.org/flute/

This site just has your basic flute fingerings on it

http://www.wfg.woodwind.org/flute/fl_tr2_1.html

This is a trill chart for flute and piccolo that covers all octaves and offers alternate ways to trill in order to find the one with the best sound.

There are also links for fingering charts and online metronomes on Marching Dragons that Mr. White has put there.

Tips for Getting in Tune:

(these are pretty basic, but I know that I get them mixed up sometimes, so I figured I should post them. Especially since flutes tend to be out of tune quite a bit and the effect is definately not pleasant, ie: horrible screeching sounds)

Sharp: When the pitch of what you are playing is a bit higher than the proper note.

How to Fix: Try pulling your headjoint out. Roll in while playing.

Flat: When the pitch of what you are playing is a bit lower than the proper note
How to Fix: Try pushing your headjoint in more. Roll out while playing.

Can't tell if you're sharp or flat? Just ask someone around you to help. Always listen to the other flutes/piccs when playing together and constantly adjust.

Band Season is About to Begin!

Hello! Hola! Aloha! Ciao!

Most of you SA Flautists haven't forgotten me yet (at least I hope not!). My name is Sarah Creamer and I graduated last May (class of '09). I still have friends and keep in touch with a lot of people in the band so I know that you guys are getting ready for band camp and for marching band season to begin! Of course, being the band geek that I am, I have really been sad that I can't be a part of what you guys do anymore (and also sad that I had relinquish my beloved piccolo). So I came up with this idea so that I am able to still annoy you guys even though I won't be around anymore. I am going to write in this blog about random flute-related things and whenever you guys get bored you can just come read it and check it out and leave me comments about how much you miss me, hahaaa.

Well, I don't have the time to write a real entry right now, I just figured I'd get things started and put in a little intro. More to come soon!!!!

LOVE YOU GUYS!!!

Sarah<3