After my master class last night I borrowed my friend Tyler's Bari, got a mouthpiece and a reed, and hopped in this freshman trombone player's car with my friends Heather and Travis (my favorite Tenor and Flute players!)
Adventure One: The Drive To Blackfoot
Upon getting on the highway, we quickly learned that TB (Trombone Boy), is a madman driver. I spent most of the hour drive holding Heather's hand or pretending I was on a roller coaster. It was great.
Adventure Two: The Gig
We drove to Snake River High School's football game in Blackfoot, Idaho. Their mascot? The PANTHERS!
I was almost terrified by the idea of the ferocious Snake River Panther, but then noticed their mascot looked like a fuzzy purple dog, was named Pandora, and danced with the cheerleaders-- clearly a girl panther. We arrived in the middle of the second quarter and the Panthers were looking pretty good. The band?
Not lookin' so good.
Snake River HS has around 600 students and obviously 585 of those students don't appreciate band as much as I do. Their band basically consisted of one trombone, three flutes, one alto sax player (appalling, I know), some drummers (about three), and two trumpets. There was also an older man playing the tuba. I did not catch his name, but from his numerous stories I concluded he is related to about half of Blackfoot Idaho.
Great.
Heather and I situated ourselves at the back of the band and whipped our instruments out. The Bari sax weighs about 20 pounds. My alto probably weighs about five. Awesome.
I felt powerful.
So, I strapped myself into my harness and hooked up! It was SO difference hearing such a deep tone come out of the Bari. I couldn't help myself, I exploded into laughter. That didn't really help my playing much because it takes SO MUCH air to play the Bari! I was dying! Heather and I also had the same part a lot of the time, which sent us into more convulsions of laughter. Who knows why it was hilarious, but I promise that somehow, it was. It was great.
In fact, it seems we were constantly laughing last night, despite the cold. There was deep Bari laughter, same part playing laughter, and then there was the BEST LAUGHTER OF ALL!! TB was getting his flirt on with a high school blond!!!! Needless to say this supplied us with endless reasons to laugh. We laughed at TB, we laughed at the college-0bsessed high school child, and we laughed at the commentary we were creating of their conversation. Here's a peek: (B=blond, just for clarification. Also, as a disclaimer, I am sure that is not how the conversation went, it was probably much more normal, but it was more fun to think of it like this)
B: Oh my gosh, you are in COLLEGE?! *while playing with hair*
TB: Yeah, I'm pretty much hot stuff..
B: I always wanted to play an instrument, but I couldn't figure out all the buttons....
TB: Yeah, only a real man can play trombone...
B: I also always wanted to put my mouth on the metal mouthpiece...I guess kissing you would be like playing the trombone right?
TB: Yup, that sounds about right.
It was basically hilarious.
Maybe you had to be there? :)
Looking around I realized how different I am since I graduated. I remember getting all dressed up in my school colors (Purple and Gold) to rep my Sentinel Spartans for all the football games!
On nights we played halftime gigs for band I always rushed one out of my marching band uniform and into purple spandex, face paint, and colorful beads!
Example: This is Cody and I my senior year in our Drum Major get-ups.I also remember participating in the cheerleader chants and ridiculous taunts to the other team.
I saw the same cocky boys that will always exist as long as high school exists. I also saw some of THOSE girls. You know, THOSE girls. Yeah. Don't miss that!
I loved high school sports. Now, I'm content to watch the game and people-watch the students and people around the stadium.
Ahhhh, growing up. IT'S HAPPENING!
After the gig we packed up our stuff, walked back to TB's car, and headed back to the Burg! If I thought the ride back was going to be a smoother drive, I was disappointed.
Not only was TB still a madman, he turned on Irish rock/funk music, blasted it, and sang. It was enjoyable for a while, then I thought my ears were going to bleed. Heather and Travis both took mini naps (Heaven knows how they fell asleep during that racket) and we arrived safely at the Snow.
What an adventure.
We had planned on watching How To Train Your Dragon (MY ALL TIME FAVORITE MOVIE) after we got back at my apartment, but that didn't happen due to a miscommunication, I guess. It has been rain-checked (yes it is a verb) and will be continued at a later date.
To end: Please go watch How To Train Your Dragon. It is the best.
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