January 2013 Volume 11 Issue 9

All About Winter Break

Featured Musician of the Month Jared

Give the Drummers Some! Percussion Ensemble

With the approach of a new year, many make New Year’s resolutions to try and improve themselves from last year. If any of your resolutions were to learn a new instrument, then the Beavercreek Percussion Ensemble could help you! The ensemble, led by the percussion instructor Mr. Leytze, is a performing group that plays a variety of percussion instruments. This includes a myriad of drums and mallet instruments, including marimbas, snare drums, timpani, anything that you can hit (and that’s really not far from the truth)! Mr. Leytze is even open to the idea of letting in keyboards or guitars for some songs. In such an early stage, and since this is the first time that a performing percussion ensemble has been headed by Mr. Leytze, the group is in an experimental phase. Mr. Leytze is open to ideas about traditional percussion ensemble music, a marimba ensemble, eclectic music like Steve Reich’s “Clapping Music”, and even student compositions. Not only will there be the large, unified ensemble, there will also consist of smaller ensembles split from the members to go into pieces for smaller number of players. The ensembles will be led by Mr. Leytze and potentially a few select student leaders.

In the first rehearsal, Mr. Leytze reviewed and for a

few students taught the basics like the rebound stroke, the down-stroke, and the up-stroke. He told the students the fluid motion involved with the rebound and the uses of it on the mallet and the snare drum. Afterwards, the students grabbed various percussion instruments and performed a drum circle at the end of the rehearsal, performing solos and grooving along with fellow students. If you’ve never played in drum circle, it truly is a blast!

If you are interested in this unique opportunity and you

play a different instrument, there is a disclaimer to all of this: Mr. Leytze expects the performers in the ensemble to know the basics of drumming, like rebound stroke, down-stroke, and up-stroke. More time will be focused on the musical aspects of the songs instead of the technical and learning how to play. However, you can ask your fellow percussion students and they will be happy to help you out on the basics, and Mr. Leytze can help you outside of the ensemble if you need it. The ensemble is set to perform at the upcoming band concerts. It is a goal of Mr. Leytze to organize a Day of Percussion for the high school near the end of the year, where drum clinicians will come in and the percussion ensemble will perform and be critiqued. This ensemble will be loud, musical, and fun!

it. Bree, junior guard member, said she had fun “spending time with my

family, making memories, and finally getting some sleep!” Jesse,

sophomore clarinet player, said his “Christmas break was awesome! I got

a new phone, and got to hang out with my family out of state. This is my

favorite time of year!” While band members were enjoying their well-

deserved winter break from school and band, some might have been

worried about the Mayan Prophecy which predicted the world would end

on December 21, 2012. As you read this Januar, 2013 edition of The

Broken Drumhead we now know the outcome of this prediction. Social

websites such as Facebook, and Twitter blew up with comments of the

world ending causing winter break, 2012 to be a very memorable one. It

is a new year now, making many opportunities available to all students in

the music program at Beavercreek High School. Hope you all enjoyed

your snowy break!

Let’s all think back to the days of winter break. Ah,

wasn’t it great? Being able to ice skate, play in the snow,

relax, and drink hot chocolate? Winter time is

sometimes considered miserable and cold but there

were many fun things that fellow band kids participated

Sophomore baritone/euphonium

player, Jared, is a great kid! Jared is

a member of Symphonic Band, the

Beavercreek Marching Band, Pep

Band, and Low Brass Ensemble. He

is extremely involved with the

Beavercreek music program, and

really enjoys being in band.

Something Jared is very enthusiastic

about is going on the Spring Trip to

Florida with the Marching Band,

where the marching band and

color guard will be rocking out

to the music of Jethro Tull. Jared is an overall great student

and friend who always has a smile on his face and a great

sense of humor. When interviewing Jared, he answered some

fun questions;

Do you like breakfast, lunch, or dinner food more?

Dinner

What is your favorite childhood TV show/cartoon?

Tom and Jerry

What’s your favorite music genre?

Old rock “like Aerosmith and ACDC!”

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Jazz Two

January’s Practice Tip

Well it’s that time of the year again for the jazz season to be up and running. This year Jazz Two

From jazz try-outs to honor bands, people have been stressing out left and right about auditions. Playing your instrument in front of a judge, especially if you are performing alone, can be a nerve-wracking experience. A little bit of stage fright shouldn't be enough to keep you from auditioning entirely. One of the best ways to settle your nerves before and get used to playing for unfamiliar crowds is to play it for other people first. Once you've worked out all of the complicated rhythms and weird accidentals, start showing off! Practice in front of your parents or friends or via Skype with your aunt in Canada. After you are confidant performing solo for people you know, doing it for judges in auditions doesn't seem nearly as daunting. And who knows? Maybe they'll have some ideas to improve your performance, too!

Jazz One is an esteemed part of the

Beavercreek Music Program. It is made up of

nineteen members on various instruments

such as sax, trumpet, trombone, piano, bass,

auxiliary percussion, guitar and the good old

drum set. While this group has just started

practicing, here is a preview for Jazz One:

“Backburner” by Carl Strommen is a

darker-toned song that has sort of a New

York downtown feel, featuring a somewhat

call and response and the lower saxes.

“Critical Mass” by Jeff Jarvis makes you want

to tap your foot to the beat, with a nice blend

of all the jazz instruments. “The Heat’s On”

by Sammy Nestico has a saxophone solo and

is very bright and lively with high trumpet

and drum parts. “City” by Jeff Lorber lives up

to its name with a much more techno feel, as

well as fast licks and consistent tempo.

“Cherokee” by Ray Noble starts off with an

explosion, and then settles out into a crazy

ride of music, featuring two saxophone

soloists. The jazz group will perform on

February 19th at the Winter Concert. Hope to

see you there!

has set up for a spectacular kick off with four great tunes like “Bad Ol Blues” which is a standard blues tune. It has a sweet low sax start

with a big band sound splashed out and features the sax line. “Fables of Faubus” starts out with a great bari sax intro and slowly other instruments copy its style until all the saxophones join in. It has a sort of Latin style and a swing feel to it. “Libertango” is a classic Latin jazz tune with its tango argentine feel. High voices are placed on top with alto one and first trumpet as features. Lastly there is “Spud.” With its New Orleans feel, it’s a great tune to play. It

has some tricky sax lines and some

low features which is a great piece for

Jazz Two. This year’s Jazz Two has a

sprinkle of returning members from

past years but a lot of brand new

smiling faces with Mr. Bisig returning

as the director. Jazz Two is starting

this year in full gear and ready to

rock.

Winter Guard Color guard waves the starting flag on January 17th 2013 with

winter clinics perfecting technique on flags and rifles. Led by

instructors Rachelle Navarro, Kaity Jones, and Mr. and Mrs.

McCullough, members will work on marching and dance

basics and gradually move up to equipment during the two

two hour rehearsals per month. This year, membership is

completely free and all equipment provided including rifles,

and practice flags. For anyone who has ever wanted to learn

to spin color guard equipment, this is the perfect time and

place to learn. Although the focus of this year’s ensemble is to

learn rather than perform and the guard will not compete, it is

a great environment to work on skills to use in the upcoming

fall or winter season 2013. Come to the band room a few

minutes before 6:00pm on January 17th wearing gym clothes

and get ready to spin!

The Ophicleide Next in the lineup of predecessors is a cross between the serpent, a sax, and a cornet. It is from a group of instruments called Brasswinds. This particular one is made of brass, featuring a bell similar to a euphonium, but having keys to be played like a sax. This ancestor of the tuba is called the Ophicleide; some of the variants of this distant relative are able to be played with three types of mouthpieces: the tuba mouthpiece, a single reed mouthpiece (from a bari or tenor Sax.) and last but certainly the most odd a double reed, such as a bassoon or contrabassoon reed.

What is made of wood, copper, has six holes (or later keys), and originates from France circa 1590? Your first guess may be some archaic woodwind instrument that only medieval music buffs and studious music majors may know, but a better place to look would be in the family tree of your local low brass section. Think heavy and loud; this instrument has come a very long way in its 422 year evolution. Did you guess it? Well if not, tubad it’s the tuba!

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C

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N

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How the Tuba was Born!

“Feed the Creek” Update

Holiday Concert Success!

The Serpent The instrument that started the bass craze is called the serpent and was originally used to compliment Gregorian chants used within the church at that time. Recently it has had a sort of revival with new age composers who incorporates its unique sound.

The Helicon / Early Tuba Now for the moment you have all been waiting for. In 1835 the Tuba Proper was patented by Prussian, Wilhelm Wieprecht. While this is a “Tuba” it resembles more of a Sousaphone with a bell that points straight up it predates the “Sousa” horn by about 58 years. It was played with the bell either facing up or out depending on the venue and the acoustics, or the performer’s preference. Also, unlike modern tubas it used a non-compensating valve system. What this means to the player is that the music had to be read and played in a concert pitch. Little known Fact: the sousaphone is said to have originated in 1895 by Conn, under Sousa’s direction. However the first sousaphone was produced in 1893 by J.W Pepper and was suggested to Sousa.

Other than the sousaphone, the last improvements made to the tuba were taken from the bass saxhorn. They made the tubing fit the way we see today, and added a compensating valve system, thus allowing the player the ability of playing non concert keys. There you have it, the brief history of how the tuba was born!

For the band, the start of the holiday

season meant it was time to switch gears

and put away the marching shoes and

Jethro Tull in favor of dress pants and

Christmas tunes. At 7 PM on December

17th, students from Varsity Band filed

onstage to kick off the annual Holiday

concert. One after another, all four bands

played winter-themed selections like Polar

Express and It Came Upon a Midnight

Clear. Wind Symphony ended the concert

with Sleigh Ride and were met with the final

round of applause. As parents and

grandparents shuffled back outside to face

the cold and another long night of last

minute shopping, the students were happy

to know that their concert was a success

and people were able to forget their

stresses for a few minutes to enjoy some

good holiday music.

Over the past month, Beavercreek musicians from both middle schools and the high school have been participating in the “Feed the Creek” program to fill the empty stomachs of Beavercreek's children. Band members rushed to sign up to volunteer by filling up paper bags with food, donating money, or even volunteering their time to help out. In the end, Beavercreek had 47 people volunteer their time, 45 people donate money, and 217 contribute food. The total result, our donations filled up 6 vans! Thanks to all who helped make this “Feed the Creek” event fill up the stomachs for those who needed help!

Why Point Sheets?

As second quarter is wrapping up, ask anyone: grades are on their minds. Most teachers have a point system based on past test and homework assignments to assign their students their proper letter grade. So, how does the band grade work? We don’t have “tests” or “assignments,” and Mr. McCullough can’t, for the sake of time, listen to us all individually and assign grades. He also can’t give every band the same grade, because while someone is in Wind Symphony, the poor kid in Varsity Band has worked just as hard, and doesn’t deserve an F while the Wind Symphony kid gets an A. Thus, the point sheet.

Point sheets form can be found on the Beavercreek band website. On the left, under “Extra-Curricular”, there is a link for “forms.” The second from the top provides a link that brings up an easily-printable sheet. The point sheet tracks your musical activity and gives you points. 100% equals 50 points, and fewer points equal a lower grade. This way, everyone has equal opportunity to get the best grade. The top two sections are reserved for students who take private lessons, 25 points for a band instrument, and 15 for a non-band instrument like the violin. The next four are for other performing groups, whether you are performing in one or simply listening to a concert live or on video. School groups, like Jazz band and Winter guard, as well as non-school performing groups take the next two blocks. Jazz band is worth varying amount of points, Winter guard is a good solid 20, and a pre-approved music group is 10 points. The next two blocks are for concerts, worth 10 points, and other things such as a music video, which are 10 points with a review. Lastly is a section where points are awarded by the time practicing. More practicing = more points. Simple.

The point sheets are required to be turned in during exams, with a guardian’s signature as well as your own, a tally of all your points, and any papers that go with any of your reports. The entire sheet is worth a beefy 33% of your entire grade, so don’t forget it! Always go for the A!

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Horns and Hoops Pep Band

Student’s Experiences at Ohio University Honor Band

The winter season brings about very special and unique traditions for a variety of people. Some people get pumped for the new basketball season’s begining and start grabbing their new TVs in preparation for the big games. Some, however, get to realize their excitement in playing rock songs and cheering the team in the Pep Band. The Pep Band is an ensemble that plays at select home men’s and women’s varsity basketball games. The songs played range from rock hits as diverse as Cream’s signature “Sunshine of Your Love” and Shinedown’s popular hit “Bully”. Pep band reflects on marching band football songs past and present by playing Thomas Wallace (the one enthusiastic and lively narrator from the sky) arrangements like Bruno Mars’ “Runaway Baby” and Fall Out Boy’s “I Don’t Care”. Besides well-known rock songs, the pep band also plays classic songs like the Chris Kenner composition “Land of 1000 Dances” and the well-known “Hang on Sloopy” from The McCoys. With 28 songs in the set list, a player can really hone in their sight-reading skills and improve the ability to play songs musically without much preparation. Plus, you get to cheer on your fellow students as they shoot hoops!

The first rehearsal, on December 14th

, started off this new season for the pep band. Players were handed their large packet of music, while drummers were given one sheet with a brief description of the feel of each song, and ran through as many as possible. Mr. McCullough informed us the important position that drum set players make in the band’s cohesiveness, and how to try and sight read these new songs as best as you can. With such a gloss over of the tunes, Mr. McCullough had another rehearsal on Friday, January 4 to focus on weak areas. By being at either rehearsal, a student can sign up in the boards in the band room to play in any game. The more there is to play the merrier especially brass players. To get a feel of the how the games are, we’ll take an instance from the women’s basketball game against Vandalia-Butler on December 12th. With the band in their stands, they hit it off on a pre-show where the band performed a variety of the songs, such as the funky beats of Jimi Hendrix’s “Them Changes” and the exciting and enthusiastic Donna Summer song “Hot Stuff”. The band also cheered on for our girls’ team as they played their best out there. Playing in timeouts, ends of quarters, and the halftime when the Dance Team wasn’t performing, the pep band greatly improved their performance skills by playing in a ton of opportunities. In the end, our women’s team scored a win against Vandalia-Butler with the score ending 62-33. The next five games will be played on Friday January 11

th, Tuesday January 15

th, Wednesday January 16

th,

Saturday January 19th

, and Saturday February 2nd

. You can sign up for these dates right now on the band board. Join this wonderful group and cheer our teams to victory, one horn at a time.

“Every year Mr. McCullough hands out the

opportunity to participate in the OU Honor Band.

This year was different because the Marching 110,

OU’s marching band was newly featured in 2012.

Although there were long rehearsals, the kids had small breaks in

between to grab food from the dining hall and travel around campus

to find some great places to eat. After all the hours of practicing and

rehearsing, the students walked over to the Music Hall and got to

relax with a small party held in the basement where their band room is

located. Sadly, it had to be cut short as the fire alarm rang inside the

building, but luckily it was just a false alarm. The detectors had gone

off from the smoke from a nearby art studio which was filed with clay

kilns. It was quite an exciting addition to the end of the three day

adventure down in Athens. Honor bands are another way to meet

kids from all over the state and you get the chance to play with some

great players. Try to find your own to join and have fun.”

From Caitlyn, senior bassoonist

“Stepping into the hotel lobby I was greeted by a very generous sized

line; instantly I realized that I had grossly underestimated the size of

the event. While the lobby of the OU inn isn’t exactly small it was jam

packed with band kids from all over the state; attempting to

maneuver through the crowd was very much like playing a human

version of Tetris. Still hearing the faint sounds of an 8 bit soundtrack I

filed my way into line for registration. When I got up to the table they

had set up, I was greeted very enthusiastically by one of the staff

working the even;, as soon as I said my name she found my room key

and nametag. She also said that she also was a tuba and that it is the

best instrument. After depositing our luggage at the room it was time

to make the journey to the music hall to do our auditions; once inside

the music hall we were directed to various floors based upon

instrument type where we would try out in front of the professors that

played the instrument. After auditions we were released to go get

food and have a look around the campus. In my opinion OU has one

of the best campuses in the state of Ohio, It is simply breathtaking with

all of the old buildings and trees, it also helped that the trip took place

at the tail end of autumn, allowing us a glimpse at colorful leaves

clinging onto the trees. The next morning we set up for rehearsal, while

the schedule seems daunting at first you quickly realize that it moves

by quickly, and is far more efficient than most high school rehearsals.

Before you know it, it is time for lunch and you are whisked off to

Nelson Hall where you are able to pick from a plethora of options

ranging from Americana to Asian cuisine. Then you go to more

rehearsal, dinner, a dance where they have Ohio University’s Jazz

One play. They sounded unbelievably fantastic! After all that

excitement you return to the hotel to get some rest before your final

day there. Once again you wake up in the morning and rehearse yet

again! It isn’t monotonous at all, you hardly even realize how much

time you are spending compared to what you get done. Finally yo

arrive at the big moment, and come out from under the stage to

warm up in front of a capacity crowd; the very anticipation of playing

causes a lot of goosebumps! The director steps on the podium and

tunes the band, looking around to announce the first piece to the

audience, After he turns to face the band and signals the start of the

first piece and you’re off to show off all the hard work you’d done.” From Austin, senior tuba player

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January’s Music Choice

Did You Survive Exams? Did You Try This?

Band of the Month: Kutless

Kutless is a gospel rock band originated from Portland, Oregon. Jon Micah Sumrall started the band when he arrived at Warner Pacific College in Portland with a soccer scholarship. During his free time, he and his friends played worship songs together and eventually they were offered to lead worship at a church nearby. During one of the practice sessions, one band member stated that he would love to be in a rock band and play original music. Each member there realized that that was their dream and a band was formed! Led by Sumrall, they started out calling themselves by the same name. Years later, they were offered a recording contract with BEC records. After signing with BEC records, they changed their name to Kutless in reference of the verse Romans 6:23. “God took our cuts for us...leaving us 'Kutless,'” claimed Jeffrey Gilbert, the drummer for the band. Kutless released their first self-titled album in 2002. Two years later, they released their second album Sea of Faces and took part in their first headlining tour. That same year, they nearly performed at the Summer Olympics in Greece, but could not make it due to their flight’s cancellation. In 2005, they released their first worship album Strong Tower and followed it with the releasing of Hearts of the Innocent in 2006 and It is Well in 2009. Kutless has just released their newest album Believer earlier this year with its hit song “Carry Me to the Cross.” Other popular singles include “Strong Tower,” “Sea of Faces,” “Run,” “Shut Me Out,” “Hearts of the Innocent,” and “Beyond the Surface.” Overall, Kutless has sold two million records during its ten year span. Come and check out this awesome band!

Suggested Listening: Big Band Jazz

Big Band jazz is a very popular form of American music that primarily features swing on typical jazz instruments such as saxophone, trumpet, trombone, piano, bass and regular guitar, drum set, and auxiliary percussion. With the jazz bands on a roll at BHS and the recently announced Weekend of Jazz artists, try taking a look at difference styles of jazz this month to get an understanding of some of the most diverse musical styles and the one type of music that is truly American. Here are some songs for this month’s listening! “In the Mood” – Glenn Miller “The 007 Theme” – Monty Norman “Sing, Sing, Sing “– Benny Goodman “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy” – Buddy Rich “Green Onions” – Harry James Specific Ensembles: The Duke Ellington Orchestra, Buddy Rich Big Band, Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band, Shasta College Jazz Big Band, The Woody Herman Orchestra, and the Count Basie Orchestra. Be sure to check out music by Weekend of Jazz’s weekend acts including Jeff Coffin and the MU’TET (Friday) and Ramsey Lewis and his electronic band (Saturday). Tickets are on sale now at www.weekendofjazz.org!

While the students of Beavercreek were on winter break, they were lucky enough to get hit by a snowstorm. Whether they built a snowman, tasted an icicle, or just had a good ole’ fashioned snowball fight, the shadow of exams loomed over all the students, even seniors. An exam is a semester test that is twenty percent of your semester grade. This means that your first quarter grade is combined to your second quarter grade to make up eighty percent of your semester grade. The other twenty percent comes from your exams in each of your classes.

Now, how does one prepare for this super test? First off, chill. The exams are not super scary, but they can be if you didn’t study! In each of your classes, your teacher may supply an exam study guide. When a study guide is received, check over it and look over the different terms, vocabulary words, formulas, expressions, things you know and don’t know. Always do the study guide and try highlighting the terms you do NOT understand. One possible

suggestion is to take these terms and create a list of them or even create some flashcards so you can easily remember them. Another simple tool for studying is working with a friend. Just be sure to stay on the task that is at hand. Here’s some answers to those pressing questions! What if my teacher doesn’t give me a study guide? What will I do to study? If they don’t give a study guide, why not ask them what you should study for the exam? Most teachers are very willing to help students when they are looking for some help when studying. What if I lose my study guide? Not all teachers are willing to lend out second helpings of those study guides, but be sure to ask. Also, check the teacher’s website!

What if I don’t want to study? Cramming sessions are yet another thing that should be avoided. Procrastination is not a positive thing in school. Exams usually take the full time provided. If you cram, chances are you may not remember what you cram, which will probably hurt you in the long run. What should I do to study for an AP class’s exam? Advanced placement classes often rely on your ability to know what to study and when for the exam. The semester exams usually cover things you will need for the AP test in May rather than a review of the entire class thus far. Be sure to ask questions about things that you don’t understand and review all the notes and notecards you’ve made so far. Don’t leave anything out; if you had a hard time understanding how a process works or why something is the way it is, find the answer and create a written way to explain it for the actual AP test so you can refer to it later. Personally ask your teacher or refer to the textbook about what you don’t understand to be sure you’ll get the correct answer and ace both your semester exam and college-level test. What to always bring Your brain A Few #2 Pencils (some exams are Scantron and require only pencil!) An eraser Bottle of water and snacks for after the exam Something quiet to do after taking the test (examples below)

A good reading book

Homework for third quarter

Doodling pad with art supplies

Sudoku or crossword puzzles

A creative writing journal

Study materials for the next exam A stress-free and positive attitude Finally, be sure to get a lot of sleep and a healthy breakfast before an exam begins. This will help you stay focused and will definitely benefit you in the end.

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You Had To Be There! In the Beavercreek Instrumental

Department, there are tons of things

that give students the best of

memories from silly jokes, finally having

the best show, and having a great

time with friends. There are a lot of

laughs all over the music organization

and its students. This issue, The Broken

Drumhead features a memory from

Jonah, a sophomore trombone player

in concert band.

“When I was a freshman, I participated in the

percussion ensemble in the winter and spring.

Mr. Letzye, our instructor, mentioned that he has

lived Japan in the past and remembers a few

phrases in Japan. Later, I messed up a piece of

music and my friend Dylan asked Mr. Letzye how

to say stupid in Japanese. He responded

“baca”, and me and Dylan kept saying that to

each other. Then one day, I said it to Dylan for I

cannot remember, and Mr. Letzye said a whole

phrase in Japanese in comment of mine. All of

us stood there clueless and laughed. It was

hilarious!”

The Writer’s Block The Broken Drumhead is the official student-run, written, and designed newsletter featuring all Beavercreek ensembles, musical opportunities and events, and many first-hand accounts of participation in Beavercreek’s musically performing groups. This newsletter does not necessarily reflect the views of various staff members involved with mentioned ensembles and is entirely written as an educational and entertaining monthly newsletter for the student body as well as those affiliated with Beavercreek’s Instrumental Department. Any questions or concerns can be addressed at thebrokendrumhead@gmail.com. Thanks for Reading! This edition was written by the 2013 Spring Writing Team including Caitlyn, Alex, Jonah, Steven, Austin, Autumn, Alyssa, Evan and Stephanie. The writers would like to thank Mrs. Nartker for her editing that goes to make The Broken Drumhead fantastic each month. Special thanks to the exceptional directors of Beavercreek jazz for additional editing this month. Images for this month’s edition are courtesy of Google.com, Microsoft Office, the official Weekend of Jazz website, from the individual writers of The Broken Drumhead as well as the hand-drawn images by its writers.

“Because I’m currently in my final year of high school and trying to find ways to continue band after high school, I thought I would try to play with University of Dayton’s Pep Band. The cool thing about it is that it’s

Student Experiences with The University of Dayton Pep Band

free like our pep band at Beavercreek and they actually play several similar songs like

“Dynamite,” “Hang On Sloopy,” and a few other charts. Before we got to the game,

everyone there had to rehearse through all the songs. While I was there, there were a

lot of students from West Carrolton, St. Mary’s, Fairmont High School, and a few other

local schools with a few college kids actually in the band mixed in. I have done honor

band once in the past and I recommend to other people who can’t get to the honor

band opportunities for whatever reason to try to go down to UD and play next year

with the pep band. It’s very fun, relaxed, and really no pressure at all. Rehearsal runs

very similarly to Beavercreek’s pep band rehearsal, but the biggest difference is that the

band never takes stands; you have to hold up whatever song you’re playing and play

with you valve hand on brass instruments. There’s also their basic fanfare “Go Dayton

Flyers” that you memorize before you leave. I actually ended up getting stuck in the

middle of bunch of college kids who were there and we had a good time. UD has their

own assortment of horn moves, dance moves, cheers and chants they do during the

game and for someone who doesn’t know anything about that it’s truly monkey-see-

monkey-do. I did my best and I did mess up several times in the beginning, but the

college students there just laughed and said something along the lines of “No-no, it

goes like this silly!” In the end of the second half I had it down and they were pretty

amused how I went from knowing nothing to being pretty comfortable for each

basketball play or tune. The songs are called off very quickly so it is a trick to pick up the

horn, grab the song and be set to play when you’re not familiar with all the music, but

you get better at it as you go. UD’s fight song was the only one they don’t give you time

to grab but by the end of the night I almost had half of it memorized and pretended I

was playing the rest. Like our band a lot of people from the marching band also do pep

band so most of them have it memorized from the football season and at this point

they could play it in their sleep forwards and backwards. After the game everyone rides

a bus back to the UD’s band room to reclaim cases and anything else they left behind.

Everyone went home after getting their things and a lot of people exchanged

information to find each other again in the 2013 fall semester at UD. After I’d been

there I really wished I could have gone back for the other two games after the first

because I had such a great time. It’s definitely worth checking out and I recommend it

to anyone who likes pep band at Beavercreek. It sounds intimidating because of the

college kids there and the sight-reading challenge, but it’s not hard or scary and it’s a

great way to go and play with other people outside of Beavercreek. Everyone I met was

very kind and helped me “learn the ropes” of college pep band. It was so much fun and

I wish I could do it again.” From Stephanie, senior mellophone player

Be sure to stay tuned for our next edition, coming in February 2013

featuring everything there is to know about the 2013-2014 marching band show,

the Winter Concert, Beavercreek ensembles, Weekend of Jazz, and so

much more! Don’t forget to Guest-Write and see your articles in February! Check

the band website under “The Broken Drumhead” for

instructions.