With my last post about music all the way back in August/September, there was a long gap in playing. Not motivated and not having any desire to pick up my trumpet after the passing of Eric was a natural reaction. Something that brought such joy was now bringing feelings of anxiety. Anxiety that if I played again, I may burst into tears, not like it or not want to play again. Because of that, the cases sat gathering dust more than ever.
So when I received a call from my old school, Rowville Secondary College, to be a part of their 21st birthday celebrations (with a reforming of a stage band made up of ex-students), I initially didn't decline. I did something worse; I ignored. Ignored the phone calls and simply hoped they wouldn't ask.
Nevertheless, I knew that soon, I would be receiving a phone call that I simply couldn't say no to and one day after school, it arrived. David Rowlands, an institution of the RSC music program for as long as I can remember gave my phone a call and it is simply a case of "you don't say no to David." The thought of playing back in a band under his direction was one that one who have been a part of the RSC music program would understand. Inspiring to so many musicians, he gave and still gives so much to his students. He is the kind of teacher that kids remember, whether it be from the dreaded recorded lessons in year 7 right through to the mentoring and teaching of complex military suites in year 12 music performance. The kind of teacher you want to be really!!! So when he called, I finally accepted. Of course, it didn't come without the rearing of the trumpeter's ego.
Mentioned in my previous blog, the trumpeter's ego is one that any trumpet understands. The desire to be heard, to be the loudest (not hard when you are in the upper registers screeching your head off). It was this trumpeter's ego that made me foolishly say, "I'll do it...only if I play 1st - my ego couldn't handle being 4th!!!"
So with just one rehearsal set, the crew assembled to have a solid bash through a couple of solid jazz charts we all knew well - "Sing Sing Sing" and "Golden Wedding". There were people there I knew very well and some I met for the first time (mostly because they were in more recent graduating years!) but the aim was the same - have some fun and play some music.
So with the first run through getting the cobwebs out, we were all buzzed by playing in an ensemble again. Most of us have let it go by the wayside as university, careers, location changes etc. have dominated. However, the excitement was palpable - we were all having a blast.
Rehearsal turned into nostaglia - pulling out old charts, trying new ones that were favourites of others to play and working as a group, the friendly banter occurring naturally between songs.
So with the day arriving, we all gathered in the VCE Centre of the old school and belted out a few tunes. Loyal supporters S. Haughey and K. Wilson tagged along to see a big part of my life - my 6 years of secondary schooling. The music went well (despite feeling like my lips had fallen off due to lack of practice and the ridiculously high nature of 1st trumpet charts!) and the audience seemed to enjoy themselves. Even afterwards, the embarrassing trip down memory lane showing the girls my high school photos and year 12 yearbook reminded me so strongly of the great fun we had - everything from Home Ec and an infamous K. Williams incident to what classes used to be where and when.
After the first jazz band, I sat in on the staff band on trumpet where my sightreading skills were definitely put to the test. A VERY rusty attempt was made but it was great to play another style of music - pop rock with horn section. It also reminded me so much of the many events we as a music group had. Presentation nights, end of year concerts, choir singing carols at Christmas and probably the most notable of nights for any RSC musician - Pub Night. A night where all the jazz and rock bands headed down to the Central Club in Richmond (later moved to Spencer's Live and the Night Cat amongst other venues) for a night of dinner, drinks, dancing and frivolity - the last event on the music calendar. This always featured the staff band and reminded me how much fun we used to have. It also reminded me of our own CHS staff band and the nature of it.
"Shit, we are meant to be playing tomorrow. What song? How about this? Rehearsal? Half an hour the night before sounds good!"
A true sign of musicians rather than musos is their ability to be able to work as a group and put things together by simply knowing they sound good rather than following notes on a page. This was what I was taught during my time (1994-2003) in the RSC music program and is something I am very grateful for.
As always, here are some photos of my first steps towards goal 9:
So when I received a call from my old school, Rowville Secondary College, to be a part of their 21st birthday celebrations (with a reforming of a stage band made up of ex-students), I initially didn't decline. I did something worse; I ignored. Ignored the phone calls and simply hoped they wouldn't ask.
Nevertheless, I knew that soon, I would be receiving a phone call that I simply couldn't say no to and one day after school, it arrived. David Rowlands, an institution of the RSC music program for as long as I can remember gave my phone a call and it is simply a case of "you don't say no to David." The thought of playing back in a band under his direction was one that one who have been a part of the RSC music program would understand. Inspiring to so many musicians, he gave and still gives so much to his students. He is the kind of teacher that kids remember, whether it be from the dreaded recorded lessons in year 7 right through to the mentoring and teaching of complex military suites in year 12 music performance. The kind of teacher you want to be really!!! So when he called, I finally accepted. Of course, it didn't come without the rearing of the trumpeter's ego.
Mentioned in my previous blog, the trumpeter's ego is one that any trumpet understands. The desire to be heard, to be the loudest (not hard when you are in the upper registers screeching your head off). It was this trumpeter's ego that made me foolishly say, "I'll do it...only if I play 1st - my ego couldn't handle being 4th!!!"
So with just one rehearsal set, the crew assembled to have a solid bash through a couple of solid jazz charts we all knew well - "Sing Sing Sing" and "Golden Wedding". There were people there I knew very well and some I met for the first time (mostly because they were in more recent graduating years!) but the aim was the same - have some fun and play some music.
So with the first run through getting the cobwebs out, we were all buzzed by playing in an ensemble again. Most of us have let it go by the wayside as university, careers, location changes etc. have dominated. However, the excitement was palpable - we were all having a blast.
Rehearsal turned into nostaglia - pulling out old charts, trying new ones that were favourites of others to play and working as a group, the friendly banter occurring naturally between songs.
So with the day arriving, we all gathered in the VCE Centre of the old school and belted out a few tunes. Loyal supporters S. Haughey and K. Wilson tagged along to see a big part of my life - my 6 years of secondary schooling. The music went well (despite feeling like my lips had fallen off due to lack of practice and the ridiculously high nature of 1st trumpet charts!) and the audience seemed to enjoy themselves. Even afterwards, the embarrassing trip down memory lane showing the girls my high school photos and year 12 yearbook reminded me so strongly of the great fun we had - everything from Home Ec and an infamous K. Williams incident to what classes used to be where and when.
After the first jazz band, I sat in on the staff band on trumpet where my sightreading skills were definitely put to the test. A VERY rusty attempt was made but it was great to play another style of music - pop rock with horn section. It also reminded me so much of the many events we as a music group had. Presentation nights, end of year concerts, choir singing carols at Christmas and probably the most notable of nights for any RSC musician - Pub Night. A night where all the jazz and rock bands headed down to the Central Club in Richmond (later moved to Spencer's Live and the Night Cat amongst other venues) for a night of dinner, drinks, dancing and frivolity - the last event on the music calendar. This always featured the staff band and reminded me how much fun we used to have. It also reminded me of our own CHS staff band and the nature of it.
"Shit, we are meant to be playing tomorrow. What song? How about this? Rehearsal? Half an hour the night before sounds good!"
A true sign of musicians rather than musos is their ability to be able to work as a group and put things together by simply knowing they sound good rather than following notes on a page. This was what I was taught during my time (1994-2003) in the RSC music program and is something I am very grateful for.
As always, here are some photos of my first steps towards goal 9:
Excited to play pre-performance!!!
"Sing Sing Sing" - early on so not looking like I am going to pop!
The full ensemble (including the dorky bomber jackets we all used to wear!)
Supporters S. Haughey and K. Wilson - real professional looking ladies...
Solo in "Golden Wedding" - hoping I don't stuff up too badly!!! Improvising - not my strong suit!!!
The ensemble in full swing... Nice pun ;)
So while I am not classing it as an achievement of goal 9: "Find a band to play trumpet in", it is certainly a step in the right direction and will be a priority for 2012. It has motivated me to find a band like this that I enjoy and get back into something that was and is such a big part of my life - music. Something I think I needed to be reminded of.
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