The Final Tour of a Musical Journey: Part 3- Band Camp Conclusion

I kind of had a moment of clarity today.  I am writing this on the final day of band camp as I don't think I can bring up these thoughts again.

 Leading up to my final years in the UC band, there are some things I just wanted to be able to remember.  One of them was my final band camp.  I suppose I had some thoughts as how it might go.  During my first few years, I figured it'd be somewhat typical of a college band student, go for 4 or 5 years, have a few good laughs, reminisce on the shenanigans that are par for the course of being part of such a group, and be done with it.

Most of the day ran like usual for a final day at band camp, our director nit picking the shows we were doing, lots of cleaning of music and marching drill sets, and, as a typical part of a UC band camp, give a show at the end.  With my first few years at the away camp we were sent to, it was more of a big thank you for the camp staff.  With camp on campus, it took kind of a different feel.  Having that feeling of knowing a lot of alumni in the audience and people who have supported me a ton through the tough parts felt empowering for lack of a better word.  That particular performance for this year's band camp felt a little bigger, had more meaning than even a lot of the performances I've done in front of bigger venues and audiences.  Its been a while since I've that much emotion into a marching show, at least since the 2 years I was still marching between and after my surgeries.  I will say that the downside to bringing that kind of energy and intensity to a marching show for me is that it is extremely draining on me, but its the kind of tired where you sit there and in the back of your mind, you come off very satisfied.  I know as musicians, we do push ourselves, even to the point of frustration, to get things perfect, but the flip side of that is seeing what that work does when its performed.   That moment of satisfaction is one of the main reasons I stuck to marching band.

And so, the 2014-2015 season beings for the University of Cincinnati Bearcat Bands.  More to come as things happen.

The Final Tour of a Musical Journey: Part 2- Band Camp prep and final thoughts

Today is the eve of the start of UC band camp.  Most of it was gathering all the things I'll be eating and drinking through the week.  Concerning drinks, other than breakfast, I stick to Gatorade and water.  I prefer Gatorade as I like getting the electrolytes and I like a little taste.  I feel like its more refreshing in that way.  Sometimes with water, it takes a while for me to feel hydrated again, and I tend to over-drink.   Speaking of hydration, I'll technically be in a state of dehydration the entire time in the heat.  When I'm out like that and sweating, my body just barely expels more than it takes in, so I have to have water nearly all the time, though not by chugging it.  Pro tip- when you're dehydrated (regardless of health), you want to take water in like an IV line, sipping it and gradually taking more in.

For food, some of what I'll be eating may surprise people, but do know that these choices come from things I've heard from nutritionists as well as other people with similar medical conditions as me.

First, I've recently learned I also don't absorb salt as well, so I do have a few snacks.  Some fruit as well, mostly citrus and watermelon.  Pretty much anything without skins, such as berries and apples which I don't feel like peeling.  As weird as this sounds, PBJ is also something I've been recommended to eat, much to my dismay and surprise.  Also some diet supplement drinks, I stick with Boost.  With that, I will be focusing on eating through the day instead of eating mainly at breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Heck, I may be eating a few things here and there in the middle of rehearsals.  I've learned that a constant flow of little things cuts down on air in the digestive tract, which is mainly what causes cramps for me.   Obviously this is a concern with me using my lungs all the time playing my sax, but having food in there helps with that, even a little bit.   I will be eating things like sandwiches with meats and similar things, mostly for dinner when my body is a little more open to things, so I have some source of protein.   Another interesting thing I've picked up is that one shouldn't drink too much during a meal.  The extra water nulls down the acid in your stomach, making it harder to digest things.  I think it goes without saying at this point that when you get something that affects your digestive tract, you really get to learn how to eat better.  

I have a bit of a separate thing I want to write about.  I have to admit, since I went in last week to fill out my band paperwork for the last time, its been feeling more surreal as its been inching closer to the start of the year in band and school.   I've been giving a lot of thought towards how I want this year to go.  Part of that does hinge on the football and basketball teams doing well, would love to go to a good bowl/tournament location when the time comes.  A bit out of my control, but I can dream, right?  I do feel a bit more prepared musically this year than in years past.  The UC Community Band's season and some of the more rigorous music certainly helped keep me at the top of my game, and I chose to get a head start on memorizing music, too.  I also somehow got myself playing all 12 major scales fluently and am starting to extend my range into the altissimo range on the alto sax, the stuff way high in the octave register with some pretty radical fingerings and such.  I'm really hoping to kick but in concert and jazz band this year.

The Final Tour of a Musical Journey: Part 1- A final new year

I was going to start a different blog in itself for this, but I'm not good with thinking up a good title and, well, I haven't been making many entries in this one, so might as well go with trying to maintain this one.

This post is the start of tracking my journey through my final year with the University of Cincinnati Bearcat Bands.  If you haven't seen previous blogs on this, I'll elaborate.  I've been in college for 10 years, 9 of which in the UC Band starting this year.   I've gone through a major medical dilemma in having been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and having 3 surgeries to remove the affected areas.  I think I've covered that enough in my previous blogs.   This blog serves as a stepping stone of sorts.  In my time involved with the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA), its occurred to me that there are a lot of younger folks that have to suffer though IBD.  I've only experienced the disease through college, and that in itself was a challenge to maintain the lifestyle I wanted.  I can't begin to imagine what its like to have those diseases in grade school or high school.  Long story short, I came to be inspired to stay in band for a while, not only because I love to play and that its helped in this major transition in my life, but I want this decision to be an example for those who have their future ahead of them to know that being diagnosed with IBD isn't the end of the road.

Overall, I hope this blog serves to express all the emotions and interpretations of all the things that transpire over my final year in the UC Band.  And it'll start this week as I embark on my final band camp ever.