Over the Top of the Season

Hello everyone! What a great, however full, UCMB weekend we just had. It was our one most full and intense weekend of the whole season. Friday evening instead of rehearsal we went right to a football game, with the kickoff at 8 pm. It was a good game, and we ended up winning! For post-game we got a chance to run straight through all four parts of our exhibition show, sort of as a warm-up for Sunday, and to show off to our friends, family, and alumni. Things felt good! The snare line as well as the twirlers continue to literally light it up in our part 2, which is the Firework/Skrillex part. As I have likely mentioned, we light the batons and snare drumsticks on fire with real flames. Beforehand, all of the performers have to get sprayed down with fire-retardant liquid, as well as their drums. But, it is a really awesome effect!

We didn’t get back to campus until around 1 in the morning. Personally, Saturday was filled with studying and homework in anticipation of the very full day to come on Sunday. Call time wasn’t absurdly early on Sunday- 11 AM- so I got a good rest. On the way to the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, my bus of saxophones and clarinets watched Despicable Me and then The Big Lebowski. I know- they don’t go together to me, either. I remember last year on our longest bus ride, watching at least three different films over the day.

At the MetLife Stadium, we performed twice- once after each awards half of the US Bands (formerly USSBA) National Championships. High school marching bands from all around the country were competing for one last time of the season, in the huge stadium. There was a lot of energy from all of them, let alone us!

The strangest part about the performance for me was the difference in field markings. Usually we guide our forms, setting them up and so on, to the hash marks and the huge UConn C and the number markings, on the field (50, 40, 30). Here, on an NFL field, all of that was different. The NFL hash marks were there, which are 4 steps INSIDE our normal hashes, as well as vague remnants of high school hash marks in white tape, which are 4 steps OUTSIDE our normal hashes. So, basically, it was everything but what we needed. The numbers, like the “50″ mark, were also further infield than usual, which was distracting. After our first performance, people were telling me that they didn’t feel good about the drill (our forms), but everyone who had looked at the big screens showing our performance from above said that it was really great.

The second performance was late, at almost 11 pm. It was even better, I am sure! We were tired, but had the adrenaline rush in a good way. The only downside was that due to fire code regulations, we were not allowed to actually use fire inside the MetLife stadium. After the performance, though, we were all getting very emotional, especially after an inspiring address from Dr. Mills about how good our show was and about how we’ll miss the seniors, for who this was their last exhibition show ever. I definitely saw some crying, which was sad but not unexpected. We’ll all miss our seniors.

The bus ride back was pretty crazy for about an hour, with everyone’s energy high after such a long day and such a good time. We rolled out of New Jersey by about midnight, and I got a ride back to my dorm from someone in another section (thank you trumpets!) and was knocked out by 3 am. And yes, I did still attend my classes later on Monday morning. I just took a nap after it all.

After this, we only have one marching band performance left. It’s really sad in a lot of ways, at least for me. I have immensely enjoyed being a part of this year’s marching band. As we have our band council first round of nominations on Thursday, the reality of starting over is going to begin to set in. I’m not ready yet! But I’ll have to be, like us all.

Seriously On Fire

It has been a very busy past month! So many great things have been happening with the UCMB. Last time I blogged, we only barely had 3 of our 4 parts of the exhibition show learned. Now, we know all 4 parts backwards and forwards- literally- and have already played one exhibition!

Last weekend we found ourselves at NESBA Championships in Lawrence, MA to play two exhibition shows for all of the competing high school bands. I love to play at exhibition shows. Some of my friends make fun of me for that, saying that that only proves how little I care for sports, like football. And it’s true that I don’t really like football, or pay much attention to the games that we perform at. I admit easily that I’m there to be in the band! But all of that aside, exhibition shows are really one of the most rewarding things you can do as a UCMB member. It’s really great to play for the audience of high school band members, but also the most difficult, because these kids actually know what they are looking for in a marching band, and can and will watch our feet to be in step and watch our horn angles to be correct. They’re the toughest crowd we could have.

As a DM (designated marcher), I find out what I will be doing for the weekend a few days before- on Thursday’s rehearsal, usually. Then, I have a day to shadow the player (if holes in the drill don’t need to be filled elsewhere), and on Friday we DMs usually try to take the place of the person who’s going to be absent, while they shadow us or watch from nearby to give us some help. Their advice about how best to march any tricky parts of their own spots is really invaluable. Sometimes, though, it happens that the person whose spot you’re going to perform isn’t at rehearsal, either, so the people who often stand next to them in forms are the best resource. It’s more like a trial by fire, that way- there’s no one there to help you and march your spot for you, so you have to think of your feet and get it right! Now that I have had half a season’s experience being a DM, I’m actually beginning to prefer it that second way. I know all of the counts for the show, and I know the basic shape that each section is in for any given form (or at least the sections I usually march in, that being the saxophones, mellophones, baritones, and trombones).

This coming weekend, I’m actually playing at a basketball game in addition to Saturday’s US Bands (formerly USSBA) Bridgeport exhibition show. It seems so soon for games to be starting up again! It’ll be the first women’s team game, so I look forward to that. I also look forward to being an upperclassman there at a game to teach the new freshmen what we play and cheer! It’s great to be able to look back and see the people that, right know, are exactly where I was last year. It’s so surreal, sometimes. I feel old- and I’m still 18! On Saturday, my high school marching band (Putnam Clipper Marching Band from Putnam, CT- a very small town!) will be performing early in the afternoon, while the UCMB shows our stuff at the end. I can’t wait!

At any rate, our season is going along spectacularly. I’m really so proud of everything that we have done this year. I love being part of this band- for sure. To anyone considering coming to UConn and maybe the UCMB: Do it! And, as always, I am here at lee.prunier@uconn.edu if there are any questions that you don’t want to ask the official people. TUP!

A Call to All UCMB Alumni!

Calling all UCMB Alumni! Yes, that means you! More than half of my Facebook “friends” and so many of my real-life friends I met through my days in the band. Whether you remember me as the crazy enthusiastic freshmen, or as the Band Council President, I’m asking you to take some time and read this post all the way through.

There’s a line in the alma mater that reads “When time shall have severed us far, and the years there changes bring, the thought of the college we love, in our memories will cling.” We all remember the UCMB as being our family. During some of the most incredibly awesome years of our lives, with the ups and downs, the UCMB was a common bond that we all shared. We still hold true to that today. We all have our friends that we see on a regular basis, those that we still keep in touch with, and those that even though we might not have been “friends,” while in school, we can start up a conversation for old time sake.We all remember the band as it was. The way things used it be. But it changes. Its one of the most unique things about college. Its frozen in time the way we remember it. The band will always be there, but the people change. The music changes. But that is OK! Its Evolution. And while we may not be in one of my science classes right now, all I can say is that while you may not be happy with every single change the band has made since your time, everything has happened for a reason. The band is on such an incredible track. Each and every year they improve, pushing to the limit, and someday very soon, they will get the coveted Sudler Trophy. And when it happens, all of us can say that we had a small part in that historic day in UCMB History.

The band means so much to me, as I know it does with so many of you. So, I ask that you show your support for the organization that brought you so much, by registering for Alumni Day on Homecoming on October 13th. I know what you’re thinking. I think some of the same things too. My friends won’t go. I just want to tailgate at football games now. I’m so busy. While all of those things may or may not be true, take a moment and think about it. Its one day out of the whole year. Its a “rehearsal,” a tailgate, an impromptu pep band, and a chance to be on the field again and remember all those friendships and all those memories that we always sing about.

Then there’s the people aspect. We have the memories that we have because of the people that were there. And while some may have the argument that their friends won’t go, I present you with these thoughts. I have a picture of the Lorax in my room at school with the quote “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better; its not.” Unless YOU stand up and make the commitment, you’re right, none of your friends will go. But all it takes is a start. Be the spark. Be the change. Once you register, get somebody else too. Have them register someone else. Pay it forward. Make it happen. Students today, HUSKIES FOREVER.Frank’s 40th is this year, and so many generations of UCMB alums know him as the voice of the UCMB. Dr. David Mills has done so much for each and everyone of us, and one of the ways to say a small thank you is to show up.

Here is the link:
CLICK HERE!

Thanks for listening. See you all next week!

Edward Sarisley

UCMB 2005-2009

2008 UCMB President

2007 UCMB Historian

Into the Weekend

Hi, all!
The UCMB is getting into our season at this point. We have exhibition show parts 1, 2, and 3 (out of 4) on the field and memorized, in addition to a host of “B tunes” that we play at halftime in order to supplement a movement or two of our “real” exhibition show that we’ll be playing later in the season when we go to show off for high school bands at their larger competitions.

This week, we re-learned a B tune that we have already played once at halftime, Disco Inferno. We put the drill sets in a different order, so that we one, have a place and time to add in some sweet dance moves, and two so that the last set ends up going straight into the first set of exhibition show’s part 2, so we can have a nice, easy transition during halftime. No running in between and getting all messed up and out of breath!

So, like I said, this week (Thursday to be precise, as we knew it was going to rain on Friday and therefore there would be no time to learn/clean drill or moves) we added our first dancing into our field show! Over the past few weeks, a video of Ohio State’s band dancing to the now-popular song “Gangnam Style” has been going around our band, so I think this is a good time for us to be adding our first moves- even if it is only for a B tune.

Basically, what we are doing is putting down our instruments and dancing for 64 counts. all of our moves are really simply, and mostly joke dance moves that people our age do for a laugh. They have names like the “lawn mower”, where you make like you’re trying to start an old fashioned lawn mower, and the “sprinkler”, where you move your arms like an automated sprinkler head one might find in a lawn. Notably missing (in my opinion!) is a move that my old high school band director taught me. We call it “good tomato, no.” Basucally, the move consists of miming looking at a tomato in your hand, then pushing that hand out away from you while covering your eyes with your other hand. I swear, it is a lot funnier than this bad description is making it sound.

At any rate, back to talking about band! This weekend is about to be a full one for at least half of the UCMB. We’re all going to the football game vs. Buffalo tomorrow morning (call time 7:45, later than normal for a noon game because it has been raining so we won’t get to rehearse beforehand so they can re-paint the field!). After that, half of us, myself included, are going to Hartford straight from Rentschler field. We’re going to be playing with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, continuing a tradition from last year. It should be fun, and short!

On Sunday is UConn’s official Fall Open House for prospective freshmen. A small pep band is needed, so I decided to volunteer. I live close to Gampel Stadium where the opening ceremony is, anyway, plus I’m starting to miss pep band in the spring! It has definitely taken adjustment to get back into marching band again. The large ensemble is so different from playing two or so to a part like we do in the travel pep bands during spring semester.

I’m looking forward to a full weekend with the UCMB, even in the thick of my first round of midterms for my academic classes- ugh! Here and there, we’ll all find time to study. Sometime. Just not between 7:45 AM and 8:00 PM on Saturday, or anytime Sunday morning! Here’s to an entertaining, exciting weekend.

Family Weekend and Mansfield Parade

Hi everyone! It’s been awhile since I last wrote, so there’s plenty that’s been going on in marching-band-world, for me to talk about. This weekend was a double performance weekend for about half of the band, including me.

Saturday morning was our Family Weekend Show. We all showed up at the Sherman Complex, behind the gym, at 9 in the morning to rehearse for an hour before our performance for family and friends at 10. The best (read: worst) part of this performance is the fact that we all have to get dressed in uniform at our dorms, then walk over in full uniform. It may have only been 10 in the morning but it was still pretty swelteringly hot all dressed up. I felt the most bad for the people walking from Buckley and Shippee dorms, where I lived last year- it is a fifteen minute walk, uphill. This year I live much closer to the center of campus and therefore to the Sherman Complex. And by the way, the Sherman Complex is NOT a football field, meaning that it does NOT have lines on the field. That’s right, no lines, hash marks, yard numbers, or anything else we are used to having. I think we did pretty well for ourselves, though- guiding to the form and all of that, as opposed to looking for landmarks.

As a designated marcher, I have been marching all sort of spots during rehearsal, in preparation for just in case someone gets sick, injured, or can’t show up. As I have noted before, I don’t have my own spot in the halftime show. Personally, I’ve found that I end up spending most of my time in the baritone, trumpet, trombone, and saxophone sections, which I think is a good spread given that we do have 6 DMs to cover everything. I do need to know generally what EVERY section does, but in my hopeful opinion, I’m doing alright at this point. And on Saturday, I got to march a saxophone spot, so it was all good.

It was nice to be back with my section. I miss them when I’m away for so long marching other spots, and don’t get the jokes and fun times that happen in their corner of the field. I was actually originally slated to march one saxophone spot, Logan’s spot, because she was going to be out of town. But two days before the show, another member of the saxophone section sprained (or did something else bad, I don’t know what exactly) to his toe, so he is on crutches and can’t possibly march for some time now. I volunteered to take his spot instead of Logan’s, because I was a bit more familiar with that area of the drill (our formations) than the part that Logan’s spots are in.

As of this weekend, we also had an improvement in that we finally got new UCMB garment bags! Until now, the freshmen and any returning members (like me) who had lost their garment bags for their uniforms, were using a trash bag to transport and contain the UCMB uniform. What sort of bad impression does THAT give, right? So, despite not needing them since it wasn’t a football game or away show, it’s good that that situation is finally sorted out. Garment bags are closed on the bottom, so you can’t accidentally drop your pants on the ground and forget them if they slip off the hanger while you’re walking.

Our work as sophomore representatives is also going well, as far as I can tell. Our first deadline for banquet payments is this coming Friday, the 28th. A lot of people have paid, and the clarinet section is even completely paid for when you don’t count the few people who know that they aren’t coming! That’s pretty thrilling, to me. On the other hand, the drumline still has at least 2/3 of their members yet to pay the $20, which is less thrilling.

Sunday was the day of the Mansfield Parade. I don’t think that any of us were really sure what the parade was for, except apparently to celebrate Mansfield? It was the shortest parade that I have been to in my life. We only had to go through the Fight Song and Fight On twice each. Only about half of the saxophone section was required to be there, so I volunteered. We did the parade, then formed up in front of the crowd at the end and played them a few songs. The gig in its entirety couldn’t have taken more than two hours. After we were done, myself and a few other sax players went back to our rooms to quickly change, then went out to breakfast-slash-lunch together at around 1:30 pm.Next week, we will be at a football game again (no parades) as UConn plays Buffalo!

UConn vs UMass. UCMB + UMMB.

Hi, and I hope everyone is having a good first weeks of school, or if you are out of school, then a good end of summertime! I know that I am ready for it to start getting colder, but then again I am definitely a “winter” person. The UCMB has gotten our season off to a great start, with the UConn vs. UMass game on Thursday in the first week of classes, and our preview show for family and friends on Saturday.

Thursday games are always hard. Many of us were coming straight from classes, and there was a huge last-minute scramble to call everyone who was getting to the buses at W-lot a little late (myself included, due to traffic). I had signed up for early crew for this game, which means that we leave a half hour or so before the other five buses (which are divided by section- two sections per bus, unless you are the trumpets who are huge enough to get their own bus). Early crew has just about the composition of a small pep band, with an average of three of each instrument along with one of each type of drum. Sometimes early crew helps to set up the field, which we did not this time, and then the crew will always go to play for the “Husky Walk” when the football team arrives. I had a good time, and my first experience NOT being a freshman and instead desperately trying to teach freshmen what the horn moves are, seconds before we play.

After that, I also opted to join one of the two tailgate bands and walk around playing music for the gathered UConn fans. We joined the rest of the UCMB playing for fans right outside the stadium before we marched in and went down onto the field for pregame. We could see UMass’ Minuteman Marching Band already seated in their part of the stands, directly opposite from where we stand during the game.

At halftime, UMMB performed their first song to open up the show. They were only four or five days into their preseason camp, I am told, but they still sounded fine. I hope I get the chance to see videos of their show later on, as it progressed and gets more polished. Next, we all (both bands) took the field to play America the Beautiful together, with conductors everywhere to make sure that each of the 700 or so of the combined band could see someone for the tempo.

To finish halftime, we played our first movement of our show for this year, “On Fire”. I had the opportunity to stay on the sideline and watch the show, and it really sounded fantastic already. Our part 1 includes the Firebird Suite, Burn it to the Ground, and That Fire. I can’t wait to get more of the show on the field.

At postgame, UMass performed again and ended with singing of their usual song, My Way. For me and at least a few other UConn musicians, that song is a very emotional piece to hear, especially sung by the UMMB. It reminds a lot of us of Georne N. Parks, who was an amazing man who passed very suddenly just a few years ago. Among other things, he was the UMass band director and founder of Drum Major Academy for aspiring high school band students. With that song in our ears, we all took to the field to perform our own post-game performance of Part 1 again, and then sing our alma mater.

On Saturday, we had a long day of rehearsal in the sun before getting rained out of a preview show. We still had the show, but we basically just stood in place in our end-of-pregame formation and ran through our entire known repertoire, including some well-known stand cheers along with parts 1 through 4 of On Fire. That’s the whole thing! It needs a lot of cleaning at this early date, of course, but we were still able to perform the music reasonably well.

With that, we got our first sequence of two days off from marching band since before preseason began more than two weeks ago. All of the band is getting Sunday and Monday (Labor Day) to ourselves. On Tuesday, we’ll be right back to rehearsal though- let’s go, On Fire parts 2 through 4!

New Member Weekend 2012!

Hi everyone! I am thrilled to be back at UConn again for my second season with the marching band. As a sophomore rep, I was able to move in with leadership so that I could set up at both freshman and returning member check-ins to collect payments for our band banquet. On Saturday morning with the first-year members (as well as drumline and colorguard) it was a steady stream of people from about 8 am to 12 noon, checking in. It was really pretty entertaining seeing the interaction between students and their parents, as well as having the company of the other check-in people around me like fellow sophomore rep Kyle Donelan. Whenever someone came by who played the saxophone (like me) or the trombone (like him), we got far too excited!

Just as a side blogging note, on our old platform I was able to add relevant images in the middle of text posts. I’m not sure that I can do that here, but I will do my best to find some way to spruce it up as I post more often!

On Saturday afternoon and evening, we got the new members settled in with their very first music and marching rehearsals. In the UCMB we take anyone, and usually 1/3 of or new members have never ever marched a marching band field show before. Everyone soon gets up to the same speed, though, which I have already seen this weekend. So many of the members, too, went to our mid-summer open house so they already knew what was going on, from marching then.

Saturday night, we had our Traditions Night where the freshmen learn their voice part for when we sing our alma mater, as well as some other cheers and chants that we do in the stands. We were all really tired after a day of moving in, so we went to bed right after that- probably at 10 or 11 pm.

Sunday, we had marching rehearsals in the morning and evening with a music rehearsal in the middle. The marching rehearsals showed GREAT progress. We got through our entire 7 or 8 minute “sequence” of every marching move we (almost) ever need to do on the field! Everyone was pleased with our progress, and once the new members get a chance to practice marching + playing at the same time, they will be totally ready to fit right in with everyone returning- and probably march better than them, since everyone else will be so out of practice!

After the long day, we had game night, which was well-attended and a lot of fun. We split into groups since there were so many of us. In my group, we played a circle game called “up, down, across” where the aim is basically not look at someone who is looking back at you, and the winner is whoever does that successfully for the longest. Then, we made a “human knot” and successfully untangled ourselves! It was the largest knot I have ever been in (about 20-30 people) and took a LOT of untangling and climbing over/under/between each other to get it done. But I think that some UCMB bonding happened, so that has to be good, right?

Tomorrow morning I will be at check-in again while the returning members arrive. I look forward to seeing a lot of my old friends and also seeing how our section’s awesome new members fit in with everyone else. I’m sure they will! C is for Saxophone!

Opened House

[Imported from tumblr blog]

Hello everyone! Summer is in full swing which means that the UCMB is… not. It’s the slow season for us but regardless, Saturday was our New Member Open House which I happily volunteered at. It was great to get back to campus and see some people I know as well as some new faces I will really get to know in the fall.

When I signed up to volunteer I was told that there would be two incoming saxophones coming. Well, it turns out there were six- three altos and three tenors! That was realy great since usually there are very few tenors and they get left by the wayside a bit. I liked the 1 to 1 ratio a lot better. All six were very friendly and cooperative- shout-out to them for that!

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(The difference between an alto (top) and tenor (bottom) sax. Some people don’t realize that there are actually different types of saxophones!)

In the morning we went up to the field and did marching basics. It was even good for us returning members to get a little refresher before preseason comes around. Around noon we had lunch- where we almost ran out of food for everyone, but pulled through! It was pizza as usual- not bad at all. After lunch we piled into the main rehearsal space for us, 102, and worked on music that is part of our Pregame performances. Everyone sounded good already, and again I was excited to get a little taste of being back to marching band season!

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(All of the Open House’s wind players rehearsing after lunch.)

After the open house was over, we had our third summer band council meeting. Things seem to be going well. The Coffee Break fundraiser that the senior reps did (taking donations and giving out coffee and food at a rest stop) did very well. As far as being a sophomore rep goes for me, we have successfully booked Rome Ballroom for band banquet and we have gotten confirmation from our DJ, who is a UCMB alumni of course.

Overall, things are just gearing up for the fall! Our show schedule as well asthis year’s theme (On Fire) have been announced, and it’s almost time for preseason!!

Off season? What’s that?

While the majority of the band members are enjoying their almost 4-month summer vacation from school, and their “off-season” from band, the UCMB office staff is hard at work. Current band members that are employed by the UCMB over the summer have been busy planning out every down-to-the-minute detail of preseason and the upcoming season.

This summer has been incredibly busy for me. I am working at the UConn Alumni Association as a web developer intern, and after that I head across campus to the band office to work into the night finishing up projects other office staff started during the day. So far this summer we have been recruiting, planning the New Member Open House, ordering merchandise, publishing newsletters, connecting with our alumni, and now we are finally working out the final details of our preseason week.

It seems like as soon as the last note of the pep band season is cut off, everyone begins to think about the fall marching band season – from planning our show to recruiting new members. Our recruiting process starts as soon as the spring semester begins. We get a list of about 5,000 students who have been accepted to UConn, but not necessarily decided on coming here yet. However, our recruiting team wastes no time! Recruiting representatives, leadership and other volunteers spend countless hours on their phones calling anyone who had an interest in music in high school and has been accepted to UConn. These conversations usually consist of a current band member talking to the prospect and informing them about our program. We are finally done with recruiting. Our membership form closed on Wednesday, and we have 305 members enrolled for the 2012 season!

Last Saturday we had our annual New Member Open House. This event was very successful! We had 40 new members attend with their families. We held an informational session in the morning, followed by a marching rehearsal at the band field for the rookies. The parents stayed in the music building for a Q & A session with current UCMB parents. After feeding the almost 150 attendees, we had a music rehearsal. Mr. McNeill and Dr. Mills worked on the UCMB warm-up and a bit of pregame music. I was able to meet a lot of new members and everyone seemed really excited for the season. We couldn’t have pulled off such a positive event without the help of our section leaders, brothers & sisters, and all the other current members who volunteered that day.

I am off from work for the next two weeks. I’m heading up to the UMass Drum Major Academy this afternoon to join the IMPACT team. The camp starts tomorrow morning, but staff and IMPACT are moving in today to get everything ready. I attended DMA in 2008 & 2009, and fell in love with the camp. I am so excited to go back, represent UConn, and be able to teach the high school drum majors what I have learned. I am planning on posting some updates here, so make sure you check back!

Musically,
Jason Reider
Drum Major

Back to Football

[Imported from tumblr blog]

The spring semester is winding down for sure. Band events have been sadly sparse, hence my sporadic posting of these blogs. One of the most exciting things- for me, at least- has not been a performance, but has been seeing the high school students who are being UCMB Huskies for a Day. I have met at least seven or eight prospective saxophone players, and many other musicians and colorguard-ers (Yeah, I know that’s not a real word) as well. It’s refreshing to meet people who are in the same place I was barely a year ago- finishing up high school and starting to want to see what college band is all about. I did sign up to be a Husky for a Day mentor, but sadly, over the three weeks of the program, did not get to have a mentee despite the many saxophone players who wanted to come see UConn and the UCMB. Each Husky for a Day went to classes with their big buddy and came to out UCMB Leadership lecture with Dr. Mills. I hope that, however weird we all are, no one was scared off! We have a good time with each other, even if the baritone players do like to randomly break out in renditions of “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” from Mulan.

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(UCMB baritones.)

The day before the Spring Open House, we sent a band (myself included) to play at the opening for Relay for Life. We didn’t really feel appreciated there, seeing as even though we played for everyone for a half hour before the relay began, no one clapped after any song we played, let alone actually coming over to listen to us. It was a nice day out, though, and I liked getting an excuse to stand out in the sun and play good music with friends.

The morning of the Open House, call time was 8:30 AM at Gampel Pavillion. We (Blue and While band combined) set up and played to the crowd of incoming/prospective freshmen. They were eager to clap along to the fight song and Fight On, which was nice! I felt like we sounded awesome and really gave a good impression to everyone there. And yes, to further that horrible pun, we really did play The Impression that I Get.

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(UConn Open House 2010- You can see the pep band seated on the court in the center of the image.)

We four sopmohore reps have at long last gotten our binder of responsibilities. A funny touch that Emma, one of last year’s sophomore reps, put on it was that at the bottom of each page it says “Don’t Panic!”- Just as a reminder of course. We have done what the binder told us to for the spring semester, in meeting with Dr. Mills to set a prospective date and price for band banquet. We still have to reserve Rome Ballroom, though.

http://www.dining.uconn.edu/images/rome_ballroom.jpg

(Rome Ballroom is classy, just like band banquet.)

The Spring Game, where UConn plays UConn in a blue-vs-white scrimmage, was for once not a rainy day- unlike last year and the year before. I had the foresight to bring sunscreen, which got shared among most of the woodwinds. We had anticipated having two or three saxophone players coming to be a part of The Experience program and play with us, and we did have two- one tenor and one alto. From what I saw, the other sections looked like they had similar additional numbers. Standing near them, it was so weird to be the one teaching horn moves as opposed to learning them from upperclassmen, as a freshman myself. For someone like me who isn’t really interested in football, there game itself was pretty boring. What was enjoyable was being back in the stands with so many of my friends from the fall season, and being able to look forward to getting to do it all again this upcoming fall semester- minus our graduting seniors, who will be well-missed.

As of right now, there is one week of classes left and then the dreaded finals week. I feel like I’m really going to miss UConn this summer when I go back home to live with my parents again until UCMB preseason begins. Band council will be occasionally meeting over the summer, but this is really the end of band until August. I hope that you readers have enjoyed my blog entries, and until I see you- TUP!