Rehearsal for the community orchestra started up again. Despite my techno awesomeness the geek in me plays the clarinet. I am pretty damn good too. I have been playing the clarinet since I was about nine and always signed up to play in the school or university band at school. Unfortunately this year I was unable to do so because NIU cut one of the bands from their lineup and the other fell right when I had a class. For the summers I play in my local community band, which is great fun. It is quite hectic too though. We have to perform about nine concerts in a twelve week period and there are literally thirty or more songs we play across this span. That is a lot of music to learn. Last night was my first rehearsal for the summer and our first concert is already on June 13th. Thankfully my skills did not fade too much over the year, but my chops sure did. My mouth was dead tired after only thirty minutes of playing. The calluses on my lower lip and right thumb have also worn away and I quickly developed a cut on my lip and a raw thumb too. It is sort of funny in band how you can tell who plays what almost by their calluses. The brass players are always walking around slathering chapstick on their lips. The percussion with their gloves and hand blisters and us clarinets with are rock hard thumbs and creased lower lips. I suppose the flutes have it easiest. Anyways band is one of those love hate things throughout the summer for me. It is beautiful outside and after a day at work the last thing you want to do is go to rehearsal for two hours, but once you get there is usually makes your day. Tags: summer band geek