Schedule for this week ...

We are tentatively scheduled for the Aux Gym on Monday , Thursday and Saturday Morning.

6-9pm Monday
6-9pm Thursday only battery and role players
9am-11pm Saturday

The show is at Deep Run HS (Richmond) and we are scheduled to play at 7:42 with awards around 9:30pm

E.C. Glass Indoor Programs Presents:


COST:
$ 10 each Band Member to participate in the

Tournament. $12 if you sign up the day of

the event. $5 if you just want to watch

the festivities!

WHERE: At Linkhorne Middle School

WHO: Anybody can play!

WHEN: March 20th at 6pm


Basic Rules:

All participants will play 2 songs in order to be seeded in the bracket.

Tournament will be a single elimination Bracket until we have 2 finalists.

Songs will be chosen from the Rock Band 1 and 2 library. No DLC.

You can bring your own guitars …. We will supply everything else.

Score will be based on performance , stage presence , crowd appeal ,
And game score !


There will be a meeting to go over final rules and PRIZES closer to the event!


You can register online by copying and pasting to an email with your information to : pawlasrw@lcsedu.net


BAND NAME : Phone # :


CONTESTANT #1:


CONTESTANT #2:


CONTESTANT #3:


CONTESTANT #4:

Rockband Tournament

Yes, Virginia, Drummers ARE Actors

The Kindred is a big experiment and a bunch of risk. It is unlike anything that ECG has attempted before. As such, it might be hard to imagine we are on the right track, or if we are just...out of line with what 'everybody else is doing'.

Well, I was kicking around my notes today and I found this link hiding on my puter. After I hit myself with a frying pan, I realized this is EXACTLY the time for ya'll to be reading up on this stuff. And look--it's on Vic Furth...it's gotta be good!

http://www.vicfirth.com/education/articles/steinkoler_12-14-07.html

Now, I wouldn't want to get in hot water about stealing anyone's intellectual property, so be sure this is not my words, by the words of Mr. Steinkoler, an illustrious educator of drumming and such. However, I know how tedious it is to read a long article on a blog, so I have edited out some points that I think really apply to our work on The Kindred.

Here goes:

Excerpts from article, "Getting Into Character", by Jeremy Steinkoler

"I had a drum student for a number of years who went on to study acting at a prestigious program in England. He was an extremely bright and sensitive kid, whose enthusiasm for drums was second only to his passion for acting. We were talking one day about the similarities between acting and drumming, about the notion of “getting into character” both for different acting roles and for playing drums on tunes with different feels.

"pay attention to what the song is asking you to do..."

• Indoor percussion is all about creating a visual expression of the music, right?
• How can you use your body to create the world of the people and their story?
• Costumes, set and prots help give the audience clues, but they don't convey the story.
• And that was one of the most valuable comments we got this last go around: They were missing parts of the story...because the clues they had from music, costumes and sets weren't enough to let them really understand.

SO what we have to do is integrate, tie together the story AND the music by getting into character as individuals and as an ensemble.

THE BOTTOM LINE

"Remember, the drums are not always the main event, even though we drummers like to think so. You need to ask yourself what the song is asking of the drummer."

• So...although this is a sacreligious statement... the STORY is the most important part of our show.
• SO...what is the story asking of the drummer?
• If you are a minion...how can you show us that in the way you play your instrument?
• If you are one of the guard...the question is the same, but also has the issue of movement....why are you moving forward, turning, etc. and how does that movement help to communicate the story.

HERE ARE SOME OTHER INTERSTING TIDBITS TO CHEW UPON:

"Motivation: Similar to the way an actor needs to find motivation to portray a character, a drummer needs to know what motivates a drum part. "

• we are talking about acting the role of the drums WITH YOUR BODY in addition to your sticks.
• Isn't that the same as finding the right groove for a particular chart?

"Ask yourself what is the song about."

• Or in our case, do you understand what your character's part is in the story we are trying to tell?

Consistency!
"Two of the most critical aspects to playing any song well are playing with a steady tempo and a consistent feel. In jazz you can take a different approach, with each note having its own color and character, almost like speaking. But with rock and dance music or anything with a repetitive groove, consistency of sound is paramount."

• Now I am not trying to pretend to teach you how to play the drums, but playing consistency is important for getting into character
• He says that each groove is like speaking... the parts of the story really reflect the changes in the music
• Part of your character is expressed in HOW you play, not just WHAT you play...
  

Attitude, Presence, & Integrity
" Play every note like you mean it. Believe in your playing. There is nothing you are supposed to play – the only thing you’re supposed to do is sound good, and you don’t sound good when you don’t play with integrity."

• Indoor Percussion THEATRE is different than Drumline or concert playing or small group...yup, it is
• Maybe you don't feel comfortable being this far out of the box...out of your comfort zone.
• Indoor skills that you may not possess now...not because you can't do it...just because you haven't aquired them yet! But there is only one way to do that...you gotta start by trying. You have to be willing to take a risk to learn anything. So, just jump into the deep water. You might really like it...

Learning by Example

• Forget about that crazy potty mouth rodent video for a while and spend your precious YOUTUBE time looking at other Indoor shows. You soon see the difference between the good and the bad. The good ones communicate the story through music and story.
  

weekly update

YES.... we have practice tonight at ECG from 6-9pm. Hope you enjoyed your President's Day , there will be a quiz tonight!

We also will listen to judges , watch video and get to polishing the show .... see ya tonight.

Schedule for Saturday 2/14

9:00 am practice at EC Glass
11:00 am pack and load
11:45 am lunch on Memorial Ave
1:30 pm arrive at FCHS
2:54 pm PERFOMANCE
3:30 pm Awards
5:00 pm back at ECG

First judged perfomance so this is a big one .... bring your friends and family as the show is only an hour or so away in Rocky Mount , down by Smith Mountain Lake.

Franklin Co. Schedule

This is the show Schedule for Saturday February 14th. We will practice in the morning and eat lunch and depart for Rocky Mount. Home before 5pm!!!

Franklin County
Saturday, February 14, 2009

PSA Bassett HS 2:00
East Forsyth Indoor Ensemble 2:09
Salem HS 2:18
Central HS 2:27
Franklin County 2:36
Jefferson Forest 2:45
EC Glass HS 2:54

Break 10

PSO Ledford Indoor Percussion Ensemble 3:13

AWARDS 3:30

YOU ROCK...now we make gravel...

Hey, just a happy little epistle from "The Kindred" story director and resident dramaturg (yeah, that is a real word...look it up!)

I am proud to say you made quite a little splash with the judges on Saturday!

I am absolutely positive they have never seen blood spatter or entrails featured in drill before! The fact they stated how cool they thought it was is a bonus. If their reaction is a portent of things to come...well, I think we are in for a great showing this season.

So, CUDOS to all for coming so far so fast. You really have done a great job getting the show up and running...we were among the few corps that actually marched their whole drill on Saturday, which is amazing...but THERE IS MUCH WORK TO BE DONE!

Just as the Judge said to us...your 'Real Feel' practice pad has to been your BFF...it has to play itself...the sets must be as effortless as breathing...you need be able to run the drill in your head, backwards and forward until you can do it in your sleep...while riding on a crowded train....to Calcutta!

When you can do that...effortlessly play and march with precision...we will have the freedom to really nail the unique story elements of our show...

THEN we will be rocking and THAT my little minions is what will separate us from the pack!

So, BOTTOM LINE--this is not the time for lazybone slackers!

We got miles to go before we sleep...and that means some really good work lies ahead for us all...and that is work that doesn't only happen on at our rehearsals. It is work that can only be done by YOU...put down that Guitar Hero controller and spend a little time everyday making friends with your sticks until your part is smooth and clean.

If you are 'good', great, get better. If you need help, ask for it. When I am out gigging with my band or performing in a play, I know I can always get better no matter how good I am.... It's the right attitude for an artist to have...keeps ya humble AND constantly improving.

FINALLY Get to rehearsal on time and be ready to work at 110% for the whole session. Trust me, I'll invite you to dial back if you are working too hard.

Okay, maybe this message sounds like what is called "an Irish compliment"...a complement that lifts you up on one side and knocks you down on the other...but both sides in this case are important.

You did a great job on Saturday and all the days before that got us there...but there is much work to do...so, fasten your seatbelts, folks.

We are working to rock the show each time we do it from here on out!

Stay focused and dedicated to your craft and we will do great things.

Long Live The Kindred!

Peace--
ms. patti finn

AIA show at Powhatan HS 1/31

Coming Soon....