Percussion Post

If you didn't already know, I'm a percussionist. 

That means I play all things percussion. 

Let's get this clear: A drummer and a percussionist are not the same thing

A drummer plays only the drums. A percussionist plays all things percussion, including the drums. 

Also, during the marching season I am snare captain of my school's drumline. 

This post will revolve around drums. 

Rock on.

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First, I have this totally rational fear of being decapitated by a cymbal.

Why is that rational?

Look at this...

Scary. 

Earlier this year I did a report on drummers and during wars, the drummer was extremely important because depending on their cadence, the soldiers would know what to do, or what has happened. 

You always have those people who say, "Drumming is just hitting stuff. Anyone can do it!"

Everyone percussionist has had something like this: 

Quite the opposite, I recently played the crash cymbals (in concert band) and had a crash at exactly fffffffff. 

Many percussionists in concert band name their drums. 

During marching season, my snare's name is "Hobson." 

My old bass drum's name is "Angel Dumott Schunard" 

We also had the other two basses named, "Edna Turnblad," and "Sassiest Drum."

We have four bass drums. I can't remember the fourth one's name. 

While I was in pit percussion for the musical, "Camelot" at my high school, the actors were doing a warm up thing in the practice area where they were all silent and were crying because the show was so flippen emotional for them. Then...I come waltzing through carrying this lovely instrument and you can imagine how awkward it was. 

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THINK PERCUSSION IS EASY?

Once, I rolled on the suspended cymbal for ONE beat too long. Biggest mistake of my life. 

This is the worst because as a percussionist, we only get rhythms and random notes stuck in our head. 

I have a rule. Unless you can play the DRUMS better than ME, you cannot tap your pencil. 

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To all of you who think percussion is easy...

TAKE THAT. 

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These are a shout-out to my drumline. 

We have two tenor players at my school. One is this buff, tall guy who is a Life Guard.  

The other asks me to carry her drums back to the school for her. 

But they're both pretty amazing. 

 DONE. 

We played the Beatles show and added some...visuals...at the end. Went pretty well. 

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ROCK ON

Cups Song 2.0 Bloopers!

So you remember this...

Cups Song 2.0!

^^^Click on it!^^^

Well now we have this...

Cups 2.0 Bloopers!

^^^Click on it!^^^

Here's a tip:

For extra awesomeness, make it pink!

Dinosaurs Make Everything Better

When I'm bored I say...

                                   

So then I start flipping through channels...

Meh.

Then I see THIS:

And I'm like:

Dinosaurs make everything better. 

Making Dreams Come True

Alright, so if you haven't noticed... I'm a Disney freak.

The thing is, Disney just keeps amazing me! Here's a secret: I don't like to exercise.
Well, except for push ups. I like those!
Anyway...I was on Disney's website today when I saw this:

Disney on Ice!  

^^^click on it for the magic!^^^

This will totally get me pumped to go ice skating. 

Maybe.

MOVING ON...

Sometimes Disney does things without getting my "Okay" first, and that really bothers me. When they do this, they end up with things like this...

Mulan and Pocahontas are beautiful!  

BUT

Mulan spent her entire movie trying to prove that she doesn't have to look perfect and act perfect to be incredible. Her look in this picture is exactly what she was trying to avoid in the movie. In her second movie, she does her best to teach younger girls that being strong is more important than their looks. And yet...

Pocahontas is stunning! But blush? Earrings? Sorry...but no. When she's all dolled up with these things in her second movie, she can't stand it and they really are not practical for such an adventurous spirit. Can she feel the colors of the wind under all that makeup? I don't think so. 

So as I was getting upset over this I was creating a fairy on the Disney website when I saw this: 

I am a Princess

^^^Click for da video^^^

Seriously, if you never watch a video again in your life, watch this one. It's strictly magical. 

For those of you who are still too stubborn, here are the words: 

I am a Princess

I am brave sometimes

I am scared sometimes

Sometimes I am brave even when I am scared

I believe in loyalty

and trust

I believe loyalty is built on trust

I try to be kind

I try to be generous

I am kind even when others are not so generous

I am a Princess

I think standing up for myself is important

I think standing up for others is more important

But standing with others is most important

I am a Princess

I believe compassion makes me strong

Kindness is power

And family is the tightest bond of all

I have heard I am beautiful

I know I am strong

I am a Princess

Long may I reign

Rock on.

Food For Thought

What animal do you most look like?

 Do you believe? I do!

What would your name be if you could choose your name?

Do people ever not see what you see? 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

The Little Mermaid

Another friend's favorite princess:

The Little Mermaid

1. I am a firm believer in mermaids but the idea of one becoming human just for a boy is not exactly in the typical mermaid's nature. 

2. Flounder is one of the most adorable sidekicks a princess can have. 

3. Ariel was supposed to be blonde and now I keep looking at her with blonde hair.

4. Ursula has the coolest voice of any princess villain. 

5. I feel so bad for Sebastian! He works too hard and totally deserves a vacation. Then again, he is sort of a fun sucker.

6. "Part of Your World" has to be the most overplayed princess song. I like it, but compared to songs like "Whistle While You Work," or "Hail to the Princess" it is way too played. 

7. So many people think that Ariel is the prettiest Disney princess, not only do I disagree but c'mon...she's half fish and only 16. She looks like a kid but has the half body of a grown woman. Something's not right. 

8. I've played, "Under the Sea" on several instruments of percussion before including the melody on marimba, bells, and piano and even though the melody is very repetitive the added percussion and harmonies and random instruments make it such a fun song!

             -side note: My sister who is watching the movie with me sang this song in high school and she's singing every word perfectly, sometimes with an accent and it is one of the greatest things ever! 

9. If she's young enough to throw a temper tantrum then she's too young to get married. 

10. Jodi Benson was 28 when she did the voice of Ariel and it is a lovely voice, I just wonder how this almost 30 year old beat out all the younger people who auditioned for the mermaid's voice. 

11. Ursula makes it seem that Ariel only wants to be human just for Eric, but she wants to be human to try something new, to be in a whole different world! 

12. "Poor Unfortunate Souls," is one of my most favorite Disney songs ever. 

13. STOP PUTTING ARIEL IN PINK CLOTHING 

14. Anyone else think the whole "Kiss the Girl" scene is just creepy? 

15. It must be a requirement for all sea creatures to be amazing singers or play an instrument. 

16. Scuttle = best comic relief ever!

17. Giant Ursula must give kids nightmares.

18. Don't you just hate it when you get run into by a boat? 

19. How convenient  that the King changes his mind 180 degrees and lets Ariel rock out with a human. 

20. Another 16 year old getting married. Good job, Disney! 

Overall Thought: A mermaid wants a new life, and ends up falling for a human Prince. After trading her voice and betting her life she goes and hangs out with the Prince before getting cheated on by a witch. Everything works out though when Ariel's boyfriend rams into the witch with a broken up boat and marries the ex-mermaid. 

Rating: 3/5

Reason: Even though it's the most unrealistic princess movie so far, the movie has memorable songs and leaves the viewer constantly wondering how this whole thing is going to work out. The creativity is incredible and the plot is just so out there that it can't not be interesting! 

Sleeping Beauty

Next up, my friend's favorite princess:

Sleeping Beauty

1.  Two blonde princesses right in a row. It's a shame it'll be another movie before we get Belle, a brunette. 

2. This movie has more credits than any other princess movie so far. 

3. Also the third princess movie (and I've watched three so far) to start with an opening book. Good thing that stops here. 

4. The art in this movie is so different than any other disney movie! It's really stunning how it looks like a pop-up book the entire tie. Like any still frame would look like a painting from the renaissance. 

5. I'm sure we've all wanting them to sing, "Hail to the princess, *our name*" I know I've wanted it. "HAIL TO THE PRINCESS, CAROLINE!" 

6. Prince Phillip has blonde hair as a kid...when does it go brown? 

7. Admit it, the blue fairy, Merryweather, was your favorite. 

8. Gift of beauty from Flora- how will that help Aurora? And how do you know she won't be beautiful on her own? Gift of song form Fauna- k, she can always be taught how to sing when she grows up. How about something practical? 

               -side note: Maleficent can really make an entrance! 

  So Merryweather has to have a really good gift, right? Protection? No. Her gift is to have Aurora sleep, not die when she pricks her finger on the spinning wheel. Also, she can be awakened by true love's kiss. So very helpful. 

9. How can a princess be safer in the woods than in a castle full of guards? Pft. Crazy King. 

10. Maleficent reminds me of the Goblin King, Jareth. 

              -side note: she has a wonderful laugh!

11. NO 16 YEAR OLD LOOKS LIKE THAT. I MEAN THOSE ARE BARBIE PROPORTIONS!

12. "It looks awful!" -Merryweather "That's because it's on you, dear." -Flora

13. STRANGER DANGER. LEARN FROM SNOW WHITE.

14. Phillip looks like an older version of Peter Pan. 

15. You're 16. Not marrying a boy you "fell in love with" is not the end of the world. Plus, the boy you "fell in love with"is the prince you will end up marrying. 

16. The song when Aurora is being possessed and goes to the spinning wheel is one of the most beautiful songs ever. Also, that scene when she's green and possessed gave me nightmares as a child. 

17. So the fairies aren't powerful enough to take down Maleficent, so they send out a mortal to finish her off. Sure. 

18. How convenient all the bad stuff disappears once Maleficent goes down. 

19. Aurora spends ost of the movie with a blue dress, so how did she become famous in her pink dress? 

20. Time to dance into the clouds. 

Overall Thought: Aurora is a 16 year old girl who falls in love with a stranger and throws a tantrum when she's told she's a princess. The entire problem in the movie is created when a witch wasn't invited to a party.

Rating: 1/5

Reason: The fairies that were supposed to protect Aurora from Maleficent send out a mortal to kill her off. I also just can't get over how material the fairies gifts were in the beginning. And the kingdom really couldn't bare to live without a princess so everyone had to fall asleep for who knows how long? Aurora is spoiled and when she's denied a boy, she freaks out! Plus, everything just sort of worked out a little too conveniently for everyone. Also, stranger danger. 

Sorry, Katie.