Wednesday without Field Rehearsal: I'm crying on the inside

Tonight is the first real Wednesday without a band field rehearsal since the football season ended. (The night before Thanksgiving doesn't count since no one's here anyway). And in some ways this is sad. As Vice President elect Michael Kettler said during his campaign speech on Monday "field rehearsal is great because the band comes together and plays some music, jokes around and has a good time" (definitely not a direct quote, but a very loose paraphrase.)

I couldn't agree more Mike. I'd say Field Rehearsal is one of the sweetest things about being in the band (besides free stuff all the time). For a hour or so we get to march on the field in the oldest two tiered college football stadium in the country, the same place where the Eagles played for 13 years from 1958-1971 , and home to the nation's largest and oldest track and field events . And the beauty is that we have the whole of Franklin Field to ourselves.

What's really cool is that unlike other colleges and probably most high schools, our field rehearsals are fun times. While we're serious about learning the formations and whatnot, we still joke around and enjoy ourselves on Franklin Field. Like during the one on Halloween when I threw a football right at Joe Coyne who was wearing a Newports cigarette box as a costume. Or the time when Greer tackled Joe.

But without a doubt the best part of Field Rehearsal is something we call Band Football League. After the rehearsal is "over" the real fun starts. Since we still have Franklin Field all to ourselves we play a little pickup game of football. And since it's the band, anyone can play, regardless of skill level. This year alone we had superior athletes like Handsome Hands Tom Tom, to old men like Greer to freshmen sensations like Lauren to our Drum Majoresident Becca and loads in between.

In fact one of my regrets about Basketball season is that we don't have something similar to BFL or to field rehearsal. I mean seriously, how sick would it be to play pick up basketball in the Palestra? Probably sicker than Greer was after playing BFL (just joking, Greer did awesome).

UPDATE: Today's the first Saturday since the start of the year (Thanksgiving weekend aside again) that didn't have a football game. Unlike last Wednesday, I'm glad about this since I got to sleep in to 2pm. Nice.

Elections Postmortem and Why I Love/Hate the New Media

I had to take a day off to heal from the harrowing (and borderline crippling...my wrists hurt) experience of live blogging a Penn Band election but I figured I should punch up a postmortem with some quick thoughts about the election.

• More than anything else this election appeared to be about two things: 1. Whether the band is too rambunctious. 2. Whether or not we communicate well as a band.
• The Board is made up of all guys.
• The Board is made up of only brass players.
• The Board is made up of 2 incumbents and 2 first time board members.

What does any of this mean? Well, maybe nothing. We're one of the only performing organizations on Penn's campus that has an actual adult leadership. The Board, at the end of the day, still has to answer to Greer, Koosh and Adam.

However, the election also interestingly displays the band's character. Mike Kettler, a rambunctious member of band who lost the Vice Presidency last year, won this year. Joe Coyne, often perceived to be one of the most rambunctious people at Penn, won this year. These two are tempered by Ben Gaines, who has been very even in his approach to just about everything this year as Vice President (he soothes like Tums), and Eamonn who is at his most rambunctious when requesting that we play Band March (not all the time, but close).

As for the new media: The Penn Band and the Daily Pennsylvania's Sports Section have had a rocky relationship in my 3 years here (despite several members of band being members of both groups.) The other day Buzz Blogger Josh Wheeling either took a shot at or complimented the Penn Band (ambiguous). This, as blogs are wont to do, started a comment war about the relative merits of the band (Some: Great! Others: Sucks!).

Obviously, I have no problems with those who hate the band (people have been wrong for generations and will continue to be wrong after I die). I do have a problem with this: commenter anonymity. If you're going to take a shot at an organization on your campus, don't be a coward, use your real name, or just admit that you're former Daily Pennsylvanian Sports Writer Jeff Shafer.

LIVE BLOG: Penn Band Elections

It's 5:57 PM and we are Live! in the Cheeseman Lab of Atonal Polyphony. That's right, I'm going to live blog the Penn Band elections.

First, we'll go through the candidate list as it stands at the moment:

President
Ben Gaines (Trumpet, Junior, Incumbent Vice President)
Zach Klitzman (Low Brass, Sophomore, BFL Captain/Blogger)

Vice President
Erik Hickman (Trumpet, Junior, From Oregon)
Mike Kettler (Trombone/Low Brass, Junior, Recruitment Chair, WENT TO GONZAGA!)

Secretary
Rebecca Aaberg (Clarinet, Sophomore, Blogger)
Joe Coyne (Trumpet, Sophomore, Big time Cusser/Mean Dude/WENT TO THE PREP!)

Treasurer
Eamonn O'Callaghan (Tuba, Junior, Incumbent Treasurer)

Usually, there's a couple of people who throw their names in the ring during elections. This year appears to be different, however, with a large number of incumbents and Juniors running for positions. I'll check back in with updates regarding speeches, victories, and the fashions they're wearing.

6:06 PM

All the candidates have arrived. The presidential candidates are both in polos with long pants with Gaines appearing more formal in a button-down and khakis and Klitzman in jeans. The outfit disparity is even greater in the Vice Presidential race. Kettler is wearing khakis and a t-shirt, while Hickman has shown up in a full technicolor dream suit (purple shirt, yellow tie). Joe Coyne, surprisingly, looks like a normal human being in a nice sweater and jeans with a haircut. Aaberg is in a red t-shirt with jeans, she also looks like a normal human being. This is much less remarkable than Joe looking normal. Eamonn looks Eamonn-licious (blue polo that has some vague and I imagine corporate logo, blue jeans).

In other news Good Times Carly Weiss (Drums/Keytar, Sophomore, Good Times) has gotten her braces off.

6:11 PM
The band, in general, is showing up late tonight. Either that or turnout is low. This is neither a free food nor practice rehearsal. Interestingly, flute turnout is very high. Maybe even higher than usual. I'm not suggesting Kennedy's Texas in 1960 high, but something to keep an eye on if a flute candidate throws his/her (just kidding, they're all hers) hat into the ring.

6:13 PM
I'm talking to RGCIII. He already has 6 proxy votes (voting while being away), though one of them may not have returned his parka, so there may only be 5.

A Brief Interview
Noah: Greer, how do you feel about the election process?
Greer: It works.
Noah: Have you ever seen an election for the band where you are really frustrated with the results?
Greer: The band always gets the board it deserves.

It seems like Greer is asserting that he has hated boards in years past. I'm looking at you Board of 2003 (Loth, Haddad, Kohl and Tsai).

6:18 PM
Cheeseman kicks things off by saying he's "missionary" position...nice.

Koosh and Greer do a very awkward and obvious plant question. The long and short of it is that you may abstain. Vote by writing down the full last name, otherwise your vote doesn't count.

The first "eat it" motion of the night comes out.

I am the number 7 registered voter.

Adam Sherr, one of the patron saints of Bonegiving is here.

6:21 PM
Presidential elections are up first. Ben Gaines and Zach Klitzman are the candidates. Hal is jokingly nominated. He respectfully declines.

Gaines steps up wearing a tie that I hadn't noticed before.

Gaines' Speech: He's been equipment manager and VP. Loves his time with the group has tried to be as involved as possible. He's helped plan Disney trip, wrote shows (with show writing committee), helps plan road trips with Joe. He's trying to get to know us. Wants to make band a great experience. Takes direct shot at the "rambunctious" members of band. Band has done more for him than he's done for the band. Grown as a leader, become more assertive, more social, these would help him as president. Has experience and skills necessary. Nothing would make him happier.

Klitzman's Speech: He's Zach Klitzman and he plays Euphonium. This is like his family, except not everyone has the last name of Klitzman. He's never missed a basketball game, no missed rehearsals this semester, never missed an overnight trip. Last year's Freshman of the Year (by a wide margin). Leading by example (someone's cell phone has gone off, it's Eamonn's). He wants to be a vocal leader (he writes for the blog, he's very loud at Penn games). Quotes, the band constitution wants to be official leader of this group. Could improve on the communication in the band to outside groups. President as issuing directive rather than dialogue (edit: This is the opposite of what he wants). More openness, like someone's weird uncle we need more inter-sectional unity/social events. There have been unfavorable DP quotes, he would work with DP to solve this, oversight committee for football scripts.

Q&A Period:
Gupta asks a question first. It's very long, complaint about language at basketball game. Gaines answers first, he feels very strongly about it, cheering has gotten out of hand. Here's what he has that's inappropriate: "Engaging small Children, 'S#!%adel', @$$#0$3". Here's what is appropriate: "You suck/Eat It, Engaging Fans, Heckling". Klitzman says "Engaging athletes is part of the experience of being a fan, it's both cheering on your team and being creative in putting down the other team." "Slight cursing is okay." "Engaging small children is hilarious." We would have stopped taunting the children if their parents hadn't been such huge deadbeats.

Becca Goldman (Current Drum Major-esident), asks a question that again directly attacks "the rambunctious members of band". I exit my role as silent character and respond that I was the one who first had chanted the hilarious anti-Citadel chant.

Erik Hickman asks a question regarding "you suck/Rock and Roll Part II Chant". Gaines responds that it's an intrinsic part of the atmosphere. Ben, yet again, takes a shot at "the rambunctious members of band", from here on out I'm going to short hand that as Not Outwardly Appropriate Heathens or NOAHs.

Eamonn asks what other time commitments they have outside of Band and Class. Ben has an answer that he has real interests that involve things I barely understood. Klitzman responds that he's a liberal arts major and writes for the DP and that he would cut down even more for Band President.

Elaine asks why do you have the necessary experience to Klitzman. TR, JFK and Bill Clinton were all young presidents. Klitzman points out that 3/4 of the current board was elected as sophomores, also that Ben Gaines is only 4 months younger than him. He also discusses his role in BFL.

Mel asks, what's on your tie? (Ben: "Instruments!"). Also, what's your most important contribution to the band, one thing? Klitzman: Enthusiasm; Gaines: "Not to be the same but..." dedication.

Becca gets the last question, what do you think the president does? (Becca: "Because I didn't have much of an idea.") Gaines, who's on the board with Becca, responds with what I assume is a correct answer. Klitzman also responds in a sort of meaningless way.

Hickman again, what does SMAC stand for? Klitzman nails it.

Closing Statements: Klitzman: throws out bunch of words; Gaines: "I think you've heard everything we both have to say...Vote for me."

Analysis: Gaines had a clear and large advantage but Klitzman really brought the fight to him. I would imagine Gaines will win this. However, Zach did a very impressive job for a Sophomore running for his first position.

Interview:
Noah: How do you feel you did?
Klitzman: I feel I did pretty well, although obviously the big question mark, my lack of experience came up.
Noah: There were a lot of questions asked about the NOAHs, how did you feel about those questions being a referendum on other members of the band?
Klitzman: I felt it was somewhat legitimate as it came from Koosh since he personally is not against the said person. While it's not an unimportant issue, I felt they were making too big a deal out of it.

Results:
Gaines wins.

6:53 PM
The Vice Presidential race begins. This race holds a lot of personal import as Mike Kettler (close friend of mine) was violently kept out of this position last year, I assume by the GREAT BEARD OF PITTSBURGH (though Ben Gaines, our new fearless leader did an excellent job as Vice President. LONG LIVE CHAIRMAN GAINES!!!).

Kettler's Speech: "I'm here to ask you for your votes." Experience and dedication. I've had a ton of leadership positions. Council, equipment manager, recruitment chair. The speech is interrupted by Atone in the closet. I'm very creative, had a big hand in recruitment. Our recruitment this year has been pretty great. I'm also a part of Fanfare, joined as soon as I could. Helping to have more parties, doing the dirty work, willing to continue taking off my shirt as long as we need money. Been the voice of the band for the last two years. Unique perspective on the Vice President's Job. I'm passionate about the band and this job. I like it cause we get to write scripts and I like to do that. Greer tries to stop his speech. Kettler likes the job so much he's wearing band pants.

Hickman's Speech: He opens with jokes about Pirates. (An aside: I love Pirates.) I yell out jokes at basketball games. I did not create those, I read these on a website, the UVA Band website. I helped spawn the Wizard of Oz show. I have been to a lot of show writings. Show writing committee is responsible for a lot of it. But Vice President has to be leader when President isn't there. I feel like I can get along with anyone on The Board. I get along with anyone in the band, "I get along with you Noah."

Q&A
John Palusci's question is about retaining freshmen. Kettler responds that it's about enthusiasm, you don't have to be there. "You don't have to be here and listen to [jerks] like me discussing how awesome I am." Hickman responds that he thinks dedication is important.

Joe's question is about mingling with the freshmen and making them want to be here, what have you done to keep freshmen specifically? Hickman, I've shown enthusiasm "to the chagrin of clarinets or saxaphones", I wasn't particularly social at the BBQ but that was the fault of the freshmen, not me. Kettler fires back that all he was trying to do for a while was mingle with freshmen, emphasize section leadership, emphasize roadtrips.

Mel's question, what have you done that you didn't have to do but you took the initiative to do it. They're both stunned momentarily silent. Hickman says he stays later and locks people in (gives it a real Silence of the Lambs vibe, gets a nice laught). Kettler says he's been to every football game with the exception of one because he was at OSU-UM in Ann Arbor but he goes above and beyond.

Becca's question reminds us they've both lost board positions before. Hickman says he changed positions because he looked deep inside. Kettler says he has a greater understanding of what is or isn't appropriate.

President Gaines asks how can you figure out where to draw the line. Kettler actively responds first that dying is less funny than teenage pregnancy. Also, he says people should be able to say anything they want that doesn't harm someone else. Takes a shot at Adam. On 2 occasions I've prevented us from forming phallic symbols on the field. Hickman tauts his friendship with Ty. Also, he can draw a strict line. Kettler rebuts that we shouldn't just self-censor ourselves totally, we should have alternatives that we know will get by. Hickman re-responds that not everything is something we should need to get by.

Klitzman asks is you have specific show ideas. Hickman wants to get a "Rowbottom" into a show. Kettler says that almost everything is current events.

Joe asks number of show writing meetings you were at this year. Kettler, all of them. Hickman, not all of them. Joe cuts him off when he tries to explain. Some people are offended by Joe.

Roger asks, should people who are really good friends and in the same section be both president and vice president and Kettler how could make sure this stays a collaborative process. Hickman, I have friends outside the chops. Kettler doesn't want to write all the shows by himself.

Analysis: I thought Kettler had a really nice advantage of having been to all the show writings but I'm concerned that Joe's question may have hurt Mike. As Roger pointed out, Ben and Erik are friends and Ben just won. Every race is tough tonight.

Interview
Noah: Has there ever been a board elected that you've disapproved of?
Koosh: Before the fact, no.
Noah: What makes an objectionable or good board?
Koosh: Before or after the fact. I guess their record in the end. How they handled the tasks that were placed before them.
John: Would you prefer a board that sort of prolongs the status quo as opposed to one that takes the band in new directions.
Koosh: I don't think they're mutually exclusive.
Noah: I was reading about "The General" one of the so called greatest leaders of the Red and Blue Crew.
Koosh: Yeah! The General, he was a really great guy.
Noah: This post was about the 2005 Brown-Penn Game at the Palestra. Notable for the way Penn killed Brown and also the fact that the crowd chanted at "@$$hole" at Forte for about 97 minutes.
Koosh: That pales in comparison to what we did to Princeton in 1999.
Noah: So why is that great and NOAHs are so appalling?
Koosh: Are you ascribing that chant to John Lubin?
Noah: No, the post suggests that the entire Palestra was doing it.
Koosh: Yeah probably the entire student section.
Noah: I was at that game. I was at that whole game. The band was also chanting @$#*!%. That made me want to join the band more. Do you want less of me in the band?
Koosh: A. I wouldn't replace you for the world. B. You're linking the two. The cause and effect. There's more substantive reasons to join the band than that.
Noah: I agree, however, what I said was it was a primary motivator and something that let me know that even an Ivy League band could be a cool group of people, rather than a bunch of introverted, anti-social band nerds.
Koosh: I prefer a larger view of what the band is. You're making it very specific. It's not an adequate view as to what the band is.

Results:
Kettler wins.

7:25 PM

Hickman after losing the Vice Presidency runs against 2 year incumbent treasurer Eamonn.

Eamonn's Speech: I think I'm a good fit for this position. I've done 2 SAC budget requests. Helped set up the new PayPal links. I'm dedicated to the band. Aside from Treasurer, I'm also in Fanfare. Been to both Relays for Life. Vote for Eamonn.

Hickman's Speech: He doesn't get one cause he already spoke.

Q&A

Anabelle asks what was your management project and what grade did you get? Eamonn helped kids set up a thrift shop at their school (B-). Hickman helped the elderly have a luncheon (B-).

Mel asks about their organizational skills. Eamonn uses excel, I'm on top of receipts that aren't Mel's. Hickman, I can also use excel.

Rebecca Aaberg aasks aabout aa girl in her section who never got her pants. They didn't have them ready till the day before the very last game. The only thing I could have done would be encourage her to go down with a group.

Elaine asks how many hours they work. Hickman, 9 but he works in Platt. Eamonn does 10-15 hours at the Video Vault, but he can do most of his work from his computer.

General Gaines asks why Eamonn's running for treasurer again and why Hickman dropped down. It's cause treasurer is what Eamonn wants to be. Hickman wants to give more by joining board and this is his last chance. Takes a shot at 5th years. Koosh disrupts.

Vice Provost Kettler asks about how Hickman can live up to the job that Eamonn has done. Also, do you have skills that set you apart from Eamonn.

Connie asks what areas could you improve to Eamonn. Eamonn thinks that he could give money back in a more timely manner. Hickman agrees that timeliness is important.

Erin: "What's your least favorite part of being treasurer?" Eamonn: "SAC Meetings."

Raimy asks what Eamonn contributes to the Board. He does a large number of the little things. Becca interjects that he's taken minutes.

Analysis:
Eamonn should be impossible to displace. Though Hickman is a great contender.

Results:
Eamonn wins.


7:44 PM
A male chop runs against a female clarinet player for Secretary. Joe v. Aaberg.

Joe's Speech: I don't have time to tell you how much I love the band. I'm always here. I get paid to do this job, I make collate and file attendance lists for money. The last three iterations of Penn Band Secretary have been quiet and introverted. Joe proceeds to name every person in the band.

Rebecca's Speech: Insults Joe's grammar, twice. She's section leader. She can communicate with a section. I can get things together. Works in the Harnwell house office, has secretarial experience. Won't name everyone in band.

Q&A
Noah asks will you please name everyone in band? She names them but slower.

Mel asks why don't you have good standing to Aaberg, slash what is the priority of the band? Joe answers, I've missed no Monday night rehearsals and I've missed 2 games, one for a funeral and one for my Mom's 50th. Are you organized? Rebecca yes, Joe not personally, but I am professionally.

Elaine asks will you have a 20 second dance off? They do.

Our Father Ben Gaines, how often do you check your email? Both check all the time.

Kettler asks can we have a smoke off? They don't.

Koosh asks what's your vision for the next 365 days. Joe responds, my major goal is getting people to women's games and for summer going to high school camps cause the girls are sweet, Joe had a 2K11 pow-wow with the Freshmen and they're devoted. Rebecca wants more social events outside of band and to play at games.

Klitzman asks Rebecca exactly what do you do for Harnwell House Office. She keeps communication between the house dean and the students. She's an organizational powerhouse.

The Almighty Gaines asks about working with the other people on the board. Rebecca can work with anyone. Joe likes the idea of working with Ben and Kettler because they bounce ideas off each other so often.

Mel asks why are you so abrasive Joe? Would you tone that down? "I'm kind of like sandpaper but with glass on it." "While I seem like a jerk, I do love ideas." Rebecca, I'm not abrasive (trombone section dissents).

Robert asks what's your favorite font. Joe responds wingdings. Rebecca, Geneva.

Joe asks if you can't read how can you be secretary? Mental imagery.

Analysis: Girls hold the secretary position, that's the way the Lord wanted it. Joe might win this though but this election has been hard to get a read on, I'll predict Rebecca.

Results:
Joe wins.

The board is a sausage fest. All guys.

Joe caps the night with an EAT IT!

Adaptive Traditions

Traditoinalize- (v.) to make traditional

“‘Tis better to Bone Give than to Bone Receive!”- Lawrence Musketfeathers (1898)

Tonight was the last rehearsal before Thanksgiving break. Therefore, it was time for the ritual celebration of Bonegiving. From the Challah of Bifurcation to the veal, all the symbols of the holiday were in place and the gluttonous celebration commenced.
Being in the band affords the opportunity to see something become tradition, something that was lost to time or something completely new. I.E.

• ARN, the Penn (and Stanford) Band’s victory song, features a trombone lick. After every Ivy League victory the Trombones traditionally play the fight song/alma mater of the other school, and by traditionally I mean this started during basketball season last year.
• Bonegiving, founded in 1898, lost in 1973 and returned to the Penn Band Low Brass Section in 2006. An event full of gluttony and fun that was, hopefully, traditionalized tonight.

These “traditions”, despite their relative newness hold important places in the hearts and minds of the section. In his blog post, Dr. Gupta discusses the institutional memory of undergraduate groups. He’s right, kind of. The role of the upperclassmen is not solely to teach and maintain long term memory, it’s to adapt to the strengths of the group. A tradition should not necessarily look the same year after year, it should continue to shift and change until it’s something that conveys the feeling the tradition originally intended, which, on Bonegiving, is stuffed to a point of nearly vomiting every time you stand up, walk, sit down or lay down. I’m feeling Bonegiving-y right now.

Commentary on this weekend

Rebecca did a really good job of explaining the busy weekend the Penn Band had, so I won't repeat what she said. However, I'd like to give my thoughts on the experience on the whole.

With three sporting events, one outdoor film session and a couple of "social gatherings," I estimated that I spent at least 20 hours with the band in a 40 hour span. Yeah, that's a lot of bandos.

But even though I never want to hear our drum cadence again, or play land of 1,000 dances (seriously Becca, three times yesterday, not to mention a lot for CBS today?!) I'm glad I spent as much time as I did. The band is really like a family away from home, or whatever lame cliché you want to use, and spending that much time with the band makes you realize how awesome it is.

By doing all the things we did this weekend, we really lived up to our purpose as stated in our Band Constitution:

The purpose of this organization shall be to serve the entire community of the University of Pennsylvania through its support of the University's athletic teams... Its purpose is, moreover, to provide a social atmosphere in which the individual band member's experience at the University is made more meaningful and complete.

While it was a lot of fun supporting the Quakers (even if we can't seem to win a game on the hardwood), equally important is the bond that we create when we come together and play music, cheer, or just hang out at the "band house" on a Saturday night.

So while standing in the rain today for 2 hours sucked, it's the experience that matters.

Of course the downside to all of that is that now I only have Sunday night to do my homework. Oh well.

Proof that all flutes think alike

Saturday was my last football game as an undergraduate (yes, I am completely aware that it will never be my "last" game, but in terms of my undergraduate career at Penn, this was my last game). I have to admit that it was really exciting to hear my name read over the speakers of Franklin Field. My non-band friends in attendance thought that the show was really entertaining.

Pictured above: Most of the Penn Band Class of 2008 with the Quaker
(From l-r, front: Connie, Melanie, Brooke, Janelle. back: Shannon, Megan, Sofie, Raimy, the Quaker, Annabelle)

My favorite moment of the game, though, had nothing to do with football - hey, I still don't understand the sport, after four years in the band. To set the story up for those of you that are not currently in the band or have somehow stumbled upon this blog, Joe, a sophomore trumpet player, has a tendency to shout "Eat It!" whenever Penn does something good, the opposing team does something stupid or wrong, or just about any other context you could possibly imagine. At a flute section dinner on Friday night, a few of us decided that we should make signs that say "Eat it" and hold them up to the trumpets every time Joe says the phrase - we cut out each letter in pink construction paper, mounted it on a white or black background, and glued it to cardboard. The exclamation point was dotted with a heart and covered in glitter, and since there were 7 of us and only six letters/punctuation marks, we also cut a larger heart out of construction paper and used that as the space between the two words. There was obviously no other way to make the statement flute-ish or feminine than by making it pink and glittery.

Little did we expect that when we got to the game, two of the freshman flutes that had not been with us the previous night and were not aware of the signs, had done something similar on their own! Cindy, whose uncle made the shirts, and Andrea were wearing bright red t-shirts, one that said "EAT" and the other which said "IT". Proof that all flutes think alike.

The flutes sit in the second row, behind the drummers, so most of the band got a good view of the signs/shirts when we held them up behind us after Joe had screamed his signature phrase. After the signs and shirts had been unveiled, everyone started laughing, and most of the band chanted "Flutes! Flutes! Flutes!" Never in my life did I imagine that the chops and low brass would be cheering for the flutes at a football game... or ever, for that matter.

The flutes with our lovely signs
(From l-r, Brooke, Raimy, Becca, Shannon, Megan, Danielle, Sasha)

Cindy and Andrea with their amazing shirts

Three minutes of playtime

It's been quite a band-filled weekend! Yesterday started with the last football game of the season. The senior show was "Survivor: West Philadelphia" and included swimming across the Skullkyl (why is it that I still don't know how to spell that??) as one of the "challenges." I think it went pretty well, although the jokes were quite a bit longer, and I got dizzy from all the do-see-do-ing (yeah, I don't know how to spell that either) my section (the clarinets) was (were) doing for organized chaos. Right after the game, we all ran over to the Palestra to play back to back basketball games. Maybe it was 10 hours of band, but it was worth every minute (especially since it meant that I wasn't doing homework).

Part of the band has started quoting from Spiderman throughout any sporting, social, or other event possible. Right before Peter Parker fights in the cage match pretty near the beginning of his time as Spiderman (although I believe he attempts to go by the name "The Human Spider" at the time), his opponent warns him that Parker can't leave, tells him he has "three minutes of playtime," and makes this horrible frightening face. Those are the three or four lines that I think I've heard 20 times (at least) this weekend. Of course, every time it's said, it must be done with all kinds of gestures and facial expressions (most of which I'm convinced are going to give me nightmares). It's really pretty comical at first. I always laugh a little the first time I hear it, but by the fifth or sixth time during a game, it starts to lose something. Even so, it's just one of those band obsessions, much like the theme song to "The Office" that is perpetually stuck in my head--with lyrics sung by Joe, of course (argh). Gotta love it.

Today CBS filmed us at Franklin Field for a documentary of some kind that will be on at the end of the year. Other than the 40 degree weather (with rain!), extra 90 minutes of playing, and random dancing during the cadence, it wasn't so bad. Actually, I have to admit that it was kinda fun, and definitely nice to be (at least somewhat) recognized as a group. But really, I could have done without the fist thrusts. That was just a little too cheesy, in my opinion.

<3

Nah nah nah nah nah, it's the k-l-i-t-z.

So as my first post, I'll give some personal background. I'm a euphonium player in the band and currently a sophomore. I am also a part of Fab Five Gen X, which is pretty much five guys who try to keep the band entertaining (we're the ones who took our shirts off at rehearsal yesterday that Rebecca previously posted).

While I love the music of the band, I think equally important is just our participation in the crowds at the sporting events. That's why over the last few days we've had a discussion on our email listserv about cheering at the games. While I won't get into the stupid arguments going back and forth (which I know I started), I will say this. Chanting/cheering is a key aspect of the band, especially considering we're not allowed to play our instruments while the ball is in play. Thus, I think everyone in the the band that wants to, should be able to cheer however loudly they want, as long as the cheers are clean. (Although cursing in cheers is a whole separate issue.)

That's why I was slightly disappointed when I heard that a couple of people in the percussion section had "threatened" my boy Joe "I'm from NYC, don't mess" Catania if he continued chanting all the time. Come on guys, he's just trying to have fun and support our Quakers. And considering the bleak outlook of our teams this year, they can use all of the vocal support possible.

Clothing optional?

Tonight several members of the band decided to get something off their chests...their shirts. What began as a harmless ploy to get band money on Monday ("We'll put these shirts back on when you pay!") quickly turned into what I am hoping will not become a recurring theme. In the future, please please PLEASE wear clothes. This is definitely going down as one of my most memorable field rehearsals...

<3

Hello, World...

Greetings, all. Your resident alumni blogger here. Brian Greenberg, Class of '91. Trumpet player (That's "Chop" to those of us in the know...) There's more in terms of biography, but that'll come later.

But first, a quick note to Mel and Brooke - if you think Saturday is your last football game, you're crazy. I was at 38 football games as an undergrad (two of the forty were on Yom Kippur...), and I've been to 15-20 since (including an away game at Princeton!). It's only over when you say it's over (or when the Germans bomb Pearl Harbor, but that's another movie...) Or, you could make a career out of it and change your name to Greer, Koosh, or Adam. Like I said...options.

Anyway, I'll try to drop by here periodically and throw out an old war story or two. If it all works out, we can make this a place where band alums come to congregate, talk, share stories, etc. That would be awesome...

Greetings!

To write for an audience or not to write for an audience? Blogs beg the question, but I'll save my answer for a later time. For now, here's a brief summary of who I am and why I'm choosing to contribute to this blog.

Most people call me Lisa. I graduated in May as a member of the Class of 2007 (our Facebook group asserts, "We're the best Class of 2007 ever"), and I'm currently living and working in Philadelphia as a clinical research specialist at an academic medical center, Thomas Jefferson University. The study that I'm working on is investigating the correlation between cardiovascular risk factors (like diabetes, hypertension, etc.) and cognitive decline (memory loss) in older adults. Day-to-day I enjoy what I do, although there are some days that are particularly rewarding/depressing. As a Penn Band member, I was a member of the clarinet section, served on the 2006 Bored as President, conducted at a fair number of women's basketball games, perfected the face painting art of 'quadrants', and lost my wallet at a Burger King in Connecticut on the Harvard/Dartmouth road trip (thanks for spotting me money for Subway once we got to Hanover, Greer).

Why do I choose to blog? When I was in high school, I desperately sought out any kind of personal accounts or experiences Internet strangers were offering to share about life at their respective universities, and, now that I have time to live a life devoid of homework, exams and paper deadlines, it's my turn to give back. That, and I certainly have had a memorable love affair with the Penn Band (no, not in the Humbert Humbert way)-- sometimes stories just need to be shared!

Next up: the Fab Five Gen X et al. take a roadtrip to Baltimore...

Retrospective on my first football game

I echo Rebecca's sentiments about how awkward it is to start this blog up - I guess once we've all signed up for it and posted a couple of times, it won't seem as strange. For those of you that don't know me, my name is Brooke and I'm a senior in the band - I play flute, piccolo and alto saxophone (I basically play whatever instrument I feel like playing at a particular game).

My last field rehearsal of my undergraduate career is tonight, which means that my last football game is this Saturday. It's bittersweet, I suppose, because on one hand, this really does mean that my time at Penn and in the band is ending soon, but on the other hand, it means I never have to wear band pants again! (I jest - girls just like to kvetch a lot, band pants really aren't all that terrible)

So, while my last game is quickly approaching, I have fond memories of my first home game as a bando. I joined the band late into the first semester freshman year; I'll talk about how I found out about the band and my first rehearsal at some other point in time. My first game at Franklin Field was the last home game of the year, the Penn-Harvard game. We had a field show planned, but for some reason or another (I was an uninformed freshman, I'm still not exactly sure what happened), our usual amount of time was cut to basically just enough time for us to get onto the field and play Red and Blue. The band scrambled into formation, and instead of reading the show as had been planned, the voice did a "human dial tone" for what seemed like an eternity - the human dial tone basically consisted of the voice saying "BEEEEP" for a considerably long amount of time. Since this was my first "real" field show ever (the previous week at Cornell, our show consisted of a game of musical chairs), I was extremely confused, but thought it was one of the funniest things I had ever heard - like most of the bandos on the field, I was laughing hysterically. If this was indicative of what was to come with the band, I was going to love this organization. A friend of mine was visiting that day and said, "That was one of the strangest, but funniest things I've ever seen... I wish my school had a group like the Penn Band! I would join instantly!"

Tonight's field rehearsal may be my last, but I still have plenty more band activities to look forward to this season and beyond.

Until next time,
Brooke

Is it just me or is starting this thing really really awkward? Maybe it is just me. Oooh italics! I know, fancy.

So let's see. Band. We had rehearsal Monday.

That was probably the worst post I have ever read/written/thought of, but it is better than the blank space that occupied the screen for ten minutes, and I must run to swing rehearsal.

<3

Penn Band Blog

hmmm... so this blog should be an interesting experiment. i personally wonder if anyone will read it. even if no one does, it will be a great procrastination tool! (hey, it's already working; i should be doing background reading for my thesis right now...) in any event, it will be a great way to track all the silly shenanigans that go on in the penn band. now everything can be recorded for posterity. you know, if koosh had one hair for every story/e-mail/picture he has archived... well, let's just say his head would look more like john palusci's chest.

but in all seriousness, if this blog does anything, i hope it evokes the love we all have for the penn band. having just went on my senior road trip for football, i can't believe that the journey for me at penn is almost over. it's comforting to know, though, that my journey with the penn band will never end. once a member, always a member. (if you don't believe me, just look at our director, greer. hell, he's been here forever!)

anyway, about that thesis... i really should be getting to it now...

The Penn Band Experience

More coming soon!