Powell River, Day 3

There is a part called "Butt Kick" in the reality show "The Last 10 Pounds Bootcamp" (which is about weight-loss, obviously). This is what I have gone through today - some serious "butt-kicking".

Today started with a group lesson on timpani. Bill made us to really focus on our wrists when practicing our strokes. He gave us a bunch of exercises to work on. I managed most of them fine until he asked us to play fast paradiddles on the timpani. Playing normal paradiddles is still manageable for me, but playing "syncopated" (when you accent the second note of the paradiddles) paradiddles is when I feel I am stupid. I never made very good friends with paradiddles; it's probably time to get acquainted with them again. Hopefully, we will become good friends this time.

We also spent some time with Bill's cymbals. He brought his 20-inch Istabul and 21-inch Paiste (hopefully I got the spelling right) for Mahler 1. I played with the Istabuls yesterday because they were less heavy than the Paiste, and today Bill just handed me the 21s and they were monsters! I had to put them down after about 5 hits ... He did say they were huge and stiff. If we could get a good sound from them then we can get a good sound from any cymbals ... LOL.

After the coffee break (yes we went for coffee/tea again!) we had a triangle festival. It's interesting to hear how the sound of a triangle travels to different parts of the hall. It's also interesting to find out how each person has a different opinion on what they think is the most favourable sound (or like Bill said, sound with characteristics) to them.

After lunch we had orchestra rehearsal. Playing with a pair of 20-inch cymbals gives me a massive upper-body work out. Better still, we had to rehearse this piece for 2 hours straight this afternoon, and another hour in the evening at the open rehearsal. So that's a 3-hour upper-body workout for me. My arms and my back were sore at the end of the day. Well, think of it this way, Bill said playing cymbal crashes should involve your back (Vern, do you agree?). If my back is sore, that means I have involved my back effectively. At least I tried to ... LOL ...

Most of the percussionists (myself included) got a break when the Beethoven's 1st piano concerto was rehearsed. We did a little snare drum circle outside the building. That's when my butt is kicked again. The Spanish guys introduced us to some technical exercises that they do in their studies. We also did MORE paradiddles. (!!!) Nonetheless, it was so much fun, and I strongly suggest this kind of "bonding" practice to any ensembles.

I'm looking forward to more butt-kicking tomorrow ...