I Hate You So Much, Bryan Croce

Despite the deceiving title, this is just a normal post about band concerts. I promise.

Yet again, it was concert week. First off, Little Big Band had a dress rehearsal. Then there was a
two-night band concert for jazz and classical. On the night of the Little Big Band concert, quite the surprising thing happened. It was all within one week that I had to learn over fifteen pieces of music, and improv in front of lots of people just when I recovered from being stupid.

Just look at how saucy this costume ensemble is

Thanks to Electrika

If you haven't noticed before, Little Big Band     wears the stupidest costumes ever. First off, we have to wear dress shoes, which are a killer to the stylish-in-sneakers people. Secondly, we have to wear black gangster fedoras. You might think that those hats are cool, but when it's so big it falls past your glasses... ugh. Thirdly.... no. Just- don't even- can't- no.

Yeah, that is one stylish potato sack, don't you think? Me, being the smallest in the band dressed like a masculine gangster with a slight sense of style, just didn't help my pride and dignity. Despite the fact that I just dissed my entire band's sense of style, I can't help the fact that I still have to wear it. However, I love wearing it. It's just a few nights every month that I sacrifice my tiny ego and barely-there sanity so I can put this on and become a jazz enthusiast with my bandmates without judgement, because let's face it, we all love people who perform in stupid costumes doing what they love and having the time of their lives while performing. The Zoot Suit is the best costume I've had to wear, and I enjoy every second even when I break my face tripping over the too-big pants.

During the dress rehearsal, we rehearsed the songs we would play at the concert. We ran through the music after fixing minor details like tuning and holes in the sound. Despite the fact that it was a dress rehearsal, it had to be perfect. We had less than a week for our performance, which wasn't unusual, but we were preforming new pieces. Croce had talked about how we should be prepared for this, but we were too excited to worry. 

Until. Croce. Ruined. It. After we played through everything, the director went through some hubjub with the rhythm section. I heard my name being called, but because of my hat, I couldn't see who was calling me. I decided that I was hallucinating, fixed my hat, and waited to play. It turns out I wasn't hallucinating, because Croce (bet you didn't see that coming) was calling my name. I gave him a puzzled face.

"Take a solo," He said. I shook my head and hat stubbornly.

"Do it," Came with a stern face. I gave him puppy eyes.

"Take a solo right now," I swear he was gonna kill me. 

So I raised my hand, very, very reluctantly, and asked for a solo. Of course, because the universe decided not to be on my side that day, the director gave me a solo. You know, soloing doesn't suck, except for that I suck at soloing. Jeez, you have to keep track of the the key changes, what scale you're supposed to play in, what notes you're not supposed to play, and time. Oh, and did I mention you actually have to play?

I hate you so much, Bryan Croce. I had to freaking struggle through a solo, thanks to you. And I was in a clown costume. So much for people taking me seriously. 

I actually don't hate you, I just want to have something to blame my poor solo on. Clown costumes are actually really cool, as shown above.

After the dress rehearsal came the school band concerts.  We had two nights of both classical and jazz music. Both concerts were pretty good, but I was as busy as an A student on finals week.  First off, the entire band played with other bands, only for one piece. Christmas Decloration was pretty good, but loud with everyone on the stage. Then, I rushed to another stage right after to preform some jazz. Satin Doll was up first, then Feliz Navidad. The lead alto pulled a pretty great solo on Feliz Navidad. After, the trombone quintet was up. We did. We played. No one died. Lastly, the band came back together for our concert pieces. We rocked Faeries and The Most Wonderful Time of the Year. Those pieces and more took place within two hours.

On the night of the Little Big Band concert I was called in to play with another band. I was filling in for the lead horn. No,  I didn't know the music, and it sucked. But even worse was the solo. The usual lead horn, who was absent, had a nice little 96 bar solo that he didn't tell me about. So I had to go play for what seemed like forever right in front of my directer who probably hates me now. Luckily, he liked the solo. 

The Little Big Band  concert went quite well, I must say.  We played tunes like Mr. Zoot Suit, of which my solo was on. It was a really great concert, which everyone in the room seemed to enjoy. I'm glad I've joined this band, because I know it will be a great experience for me musically and socially. Not to mention that it's really fun! 

Hey look, I'm not soloing on this one!

Little Big Band

Yes, Little Big Band is a small band. It also is a big band. Confused? If you don't know jazz, you might be.

Big band is a term for the type of band. A big band is a typical setup for a jazz ensemble. The "little" in Little Big Band is used as an adjective. We are little for we are are only high school students. Little we may be, but we make up for it with all-star quality. On a typical day, you might not see a big band just jamming around outside somewhere. This band, however, plays often. In the summer, we spend more time preforming than we do eating.

A big band setup consists of six saxophones, five trombones, and four trumpets. Added with the rhythm section of a drum set, bass, piano vibes,  guitar, and the occasional kongo. The point of the rhythm section is to, well, keep the rhythm. All of the instruments work together to create the swing, which are hits on beats 2 and 4.

To get into this band, you need to audition. Luckily, I did not go through the nerve-wracking,
gut-wrenching, mind-boggling chaos of playing by myself in front of other people who were assigned to judge me by everything I do wrong. Auditioning is good experience to have as a musician, but if they didn't want me in the band, without it I would be lacking the musical experience I need to audition for other opportunities. Besides, if you do get into a band that is audition-only, gloating rights forever.

Stylin', aren't they?

Courtesy of Green Light Booking

It's absolutely great to be in a band like this. In an environment where everyone takes music seriously, the musicians are able to thrive and grow with their talent as they're being pushed to the max with challenging charts. Plus, it's a great way to have fun when you know the ensemble is always performing at a top-notch level.

Also, the  contribution you're making to the ensemble makes it even more worth it! To know that the sound you make supports a band like this- wow! It's unfathomable to know all of the knowledge of music and the entire profession I could gain just from a band like this. I may sound stupid to you right now, but with all of the opportunities that have come so far from this band, my dreams might just come true.

Little Big Band was actually an opportunity within itself for me. I don't even know how I heard about it. One day, my mother and I were discussing extracurricular activities and she suggested a band, so I immediately told her about the Caleb Chapman Music Program. She told me to get more info, and that's exactly what I did.  I asked my friend Croce about the band, and he told me the ensemble wanted one more trombone.

Courtesy of Caleb Chapman Music (duh)

I knew, no matter what my parents said, that I was going to join that band. How often is it that you find something fits like a puzzle piece? I wanted a place, and they had one open, just for me. Driving an hour away to the SoundHouse every week after school has been completely worth it.

Plus, the band is going on a tour, which includes a nice little fourteen hour bus ride with other high school kids and a stop at DisneyLand. Yay! (I don't know I'm being sarcastic or not yet.)