Chaos in Alpharetta (pt.3)

Usual morning routine -- a little breakfast (the cinnamon rolls are still fantastic), and then Randall comes by to pick me up. First order of business -- music theory class. I meet the theory and chorus teacher, Beth Gibbs. She helps me crank up the recording of Chaos Theory, and then I show the class a few of the rock and classical elements that make up the piece. The highlight of the morning seems to be when I drop the F-bomb on the entire class... nice one Jim, very nice. But otherwise things go smoothly, and nobody falls asleep, which I take as a very good sign.

Randall and I have some free time, so he shares the piece he commissioned from Sam Hazo for his grandson, called "Diamond Fanfare". Very lovely piece. He also plays a piece called "Harrison's Dream" by Peter Graham, and I am totally blown away. This is a very difficult piece, and his ensemble handles it beautifully. Randall is even kind enough to give me a score and one of the band recordings of the piece -- I'm definitely going to be spending some time with this one.

We head to rehearsal and disaster strikes -- no amplifier. The band rehearses their other material, and then Randall asks me "what do you want to do?". I suggest we bite the bullet -- patch directly into the PA system and see what we get. The results are actually pretty good -- my tone is a little raw and undercooked, but the coverage over the hall and the balance with the ensemble is excellent! We decide to go with it, and with Beth Gibbs help on the levels, we complete our rehearsal and soundcheck with no problems. I do manage to royally screw up a few of my solo runs, so I realize I will have some woodshedding to do before the performance tonight...

Rehearsal is over, Randall heads to a meeting, and I catch up on the blog. Then I head back to the hotel, rest, relax, and do some mental practice -- I close my eyes and run through the entire piece, hearing the entire ensemble as clearly as possible, hearing my part, visualizing every fingering, every technical nuance... noticing where there is tension, where there are holes in my visualization... I manage to make it through the entire piece without falling asleep. Again, a very good sign.

I change clothes for the performance and as I'm putting on my "stage pants", I realize they're alot more snug than the last time I wore them. Note to self: take it easy on the cinnamon rolls tomorrow morning.

Bruce, the color-guard director, is cool enough to pick me up, and after a stop a convenience store for an energy bar and a bottle of water, I'm ready to go. I leave my gear backstage, and head out into the audience to join Bruce, Lindy, Kim, and Anne Coleman and her mother -- who is 92 year old and a pistol! I hear the first band, led by Rhianna Franklin, and they sound really good. For alot of these students, this is their first high school concert, and this is definitely Rhianna's -- she does a great job leading this ensemble through a very tight, solid performance. Next is the Dennis Naughton's ensemble -- very polished music-making from this ensemble, and I find myself studying Dennis' conducting technique -- VERY expressive and interpretive, but NEVER straying too far from a clear, rock-solid beat pattern. The curtain closes and I dash backstage to get set up.

Tegan (the bass guitarist) and I set up in front of the curtain, while the band gets set up in back. Soon everything is set and has been double-checked, and I head off to the wings to listen to the band. They sound great -- I can't wait to get out there and play with them! Finally Randall steps up to the mic and introduces me with some very, very kind words. The band kicks off and the sound is HUGE -- it's like having this giant sonic wave coming over me, and I'm starting to wonder if I'm gonna be loud enough to compete! Near the end of my cadenza, I toss my pick into the ensemble -- I've never done this before, and it shows. Evidently, you have to toss a pick like a frizbee, or they just flutter about stupidly and fall straight to the floor. And that's exactly what happens -- nobody catches it and it looks completely ridiculous. (after the performance, one of the flute players who'd been sitting nearby gave me the pick BACK. I tell her she can keep it, but she's not interested. I bet this never happened to Eddie Van Halen!)

But that doesn't matter at all -- the performance is really dynamic, and the audience is already clapping and cheering before we've even finished. We're a smash hit in Alpharetta!

Sincerest thanks to the musicians: Tegan (you rock, girl!), Daniel (thanks SO much for the amp), Grant (dude -- so sorry I lost your pen), Grant (what is this, a comedy routine?), Joey (next time, up an octave!!!), Justin & Andrew and the whole percussion section, John (enjoy the score!), Michelle, Josie, Josh, Chris, Matt (next time YOU play the guitar part!), and all the other talented players whose names did not deserve the ill-fate of my pea-sized brain! Thank you all for a great performance!!! Also sincerest thanks to Beth, Rhianna, Dennis, Bruce, Lindy, Kim and Anne for making my visit so enjoyable and easy -- I really enjoyed getting to know you all. Extra special thanks to Randall Coleman for making this whole experience possible -- it was an excellent time for me, and I thank you for making it happen.

MILTON H.S. ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!