Passout Week
The week that the New Entries had been looking forward to and the week the rest
of us had been dreading had arrived! For my term it was the week before term
three exams and for some of us term five exams as well. All we needed was a
quiet week ... no such luck! With the arrival of our new Drum Major, a week
early, and an entire display to put together it was certainly never going to
be a quiet one...
Monday
A new week and what better way to start it than with a BFT? My sentiments exactly!
Thankfully most of us were prepared and got round the course with minutes to
spare and I may add rather quicker than the New Entries had been doing! I'm
lucky enough to be able to start each week with brass group, which warms me
up nicely for the week ahead, and gives me a chance to blow any cobwebs out
of my trombone helping me find my lip again. This set my day up nicely and I
had a surprisingly good Monday preparing my Term 5 trombone piece and my Term
3 cello piece, not to mention the scales!
Tuesday
As always Tuesdays are an early start and this was no exception. We were all
up early to make sure our beds were made properly and that our rooms were properly
hoovered and polished for rounds. I generally take the early get up and go as
a chance to get some breakfast as well. This was to prove a wise move as we
started our parade band rehearsals and it was slightly less than warm!
We had a good pack of music to play on the march, which is good, and bad, as
it sounds good but makes concentrating on marching slightly trickier! I was
on my favourite trombone, the bass trombone, and enjoyed the choice of music
especially Gibraltar, by the PDM, and The Midway March, by John Williams, as
they both have 'hoofing' bass parts. Anyway, to the display. It was to include
a tricky chevron formation and some good timing on Drummy's behalf. The plan
was to step off from the chevron playing The Midway March and to halt facing
Commandant General Royal Marines and the VIPs on the last beat of the march.
This gave us 87 bars (so I've been told!) to: step off, do an individual countermarch,
countermatch, march, wheel, countermarch, wheel, countermarch and halt on the
right spot both in the music and in the gym. No mean feat! I had the hardest
job of all - follow the bass drum... As you can see it was a most demanding
task!
We had a couple of hours to get the basics right and we'd polish it all up over
the next two days.
Wednesday
The morning began with a lie in! No, not really - it was up for breakfast at
0645 and on parade at 0755 - no rest for the wicked! Never mind, it all went
well and Drummy was becoming noticeably less tense, which is always a good sign.
There wasn't any let up in preparations for my exams as my instructors and even
brother were kind enough to pop in to my cell and give me a spot scale tests,
which was nice of them, thank you all! Even my cello piece was becoming more
musical and less like a bass/baritone tabby yelling for more food!
The afternoon brought RT and a badminton competition that we all enjoyed as
a break from the School of Music! Another day then came to an end... with some
Harmony homework! Oh the joy!
Thursday
After PT at early o'clock we carried on with rehearsals for the Pass Out but
this time we moved to the gym. This made quite a lot of difference in respect
to both marching and playing. The echo in the gym is legendary and makes everything
a lot louder. We therefore had to take all the playing down a notch or two.
It is also a lot warmer in the gym so the marching is pretty hot work but the
floor, at least, is a much better surface to march on. We had three or four
rehearsals, the last of which was in front of Lt Col Waterer. The heat was on
as we all wanted to get a good rehearsal in as this will be the PDMs last pass
out parade as he retires next year.
After some early problems with the chevron we ironed all the problems out and
turned in a good couple of rehearsals. The New Entries were happy with their
display and all was looking good for the big day!
Friday
So to the big day. After breakfast we were all able to get ready slow time as
we all had our instruments in the accommodation and didn't have to be anywhere
until we congregated in Portsmouth Band's band room in time for a quick word
from Drummy and a musical word from the Bandmaster.
It was then time to put all the practice into action and at 1000 we struck up
with 'Soldier and Sailor Too' and marched on the 'parade ground' for the ceremonies
to begin.
The highlight, for myself, was undoubtedly the display and it went extremely
well. In the finale position we played the last movement from 'Cry of the Celts'.
Extra percussion enhanced the performance: timpani, drum kit and two violins
made the whole display come to life even at the halt! Soon it was all over and
chuck ups all round. It was a good way for Drum Major Boorah to start as he
saw the School of Music Band at it's best.
After a quick shower and some lunch we all went back to work. The families and
friends of the New Entries came over to the school to see the school and to
attend a talk by Major Watson (DOM(T)). The talk was interspersed by small groups
and solos. I played in the brass quintet at the beginning of the talk as we
played a rousing and spirited rendition of Jingle Bells masterfully accompanied
by BdCpl Paul Hart on the sleigh bells!
After all the excitement we all went back to our practice and continued our
preparations for our exams. I won't say I was glad to hear the bugle at 1620
but I won't say I was particularly disappointed either!
An early night was in order and was exactly what I had!
Saturday & Sunday
My final Saturday morning in work - what a feeling! Three hours of practice,
a shower and change of clothes later I was on my way to Southampton to see my
girlfriend and partake in the consumption of one or two alcoholic beverages.
I think you can imagine the rest of the weekend away!