Passing Bells and Sculpted Angels
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 at 12:33AM Previously on Hi, I've Been Thinking About You for About a Year Now. It's Time We Met:
- When I come into the Band Center’s main rehearsal room each day, twice a day, I must first negotiate the Ohio State University Marching Band Obstacle Course.
- I tend to get lost on go-kart tracks
- Jason The Ridiculously Awesome Drum Major add some dents of his own to the Band's pre-game Three Knocks tradition
There is no possible comfortable way to hold this hat.
You can hold it under your arm, but, well-- the tassel. And the plastic interior, and the fur, and the fact that large to medium-sized cylindrical objects are rarely easily balanced against the average human hipbone. Upside down by the chin strap is a possibility, but that runs the risk of dragging the plume on the ground, and, as I am given to understand, it doesn't belong there unless under specific circumstances.
So D-Row holds the hat in the Drum Major's stead. Sometimes this becomes a group project.
The little rubber pellets which somewhat cushion the pounding spinal blows of strutting and the thuds of an arriving roundoff can fly back up into a Drum Major's face. They cling to the short white fur in scattered constellations which tell tales of effort, exertion, and potential dishevelment. This must not be.
So the rookies groom it.
It is an obstruction to high hand-over-hand twirling, both by plume placement and sheer weight. Alex Who Talks Real Pretty tells me that the constant pull of the tight chin strap holds the jaw in close and inhibits the ability to draw a deep breath-- the very thing marking the Drum Major as the Drum Major fighting him with each inhale, each swing of the arm as he hauls down ramp and upfield.
It can throw you off-balance, but never off-duty. During the backbend of ramp, the hat and the baton are in a constant slow counterbalance, warring icons with the incumbent Drum Major bridging the middle. Once I saw Jason The Ridiculously Awesome Drum Major pause at an opportune moment in a dress rehearsal, rip off his hat, frown into its depths, jam his hand inside to adjust something, return it to the top of his head, and resume twirling with a beatific halftime smile as though the two had never been separated. It happened in the space of a trumpet flash, and it happened because even now, with all his practice and all his composure and considerable resistance to physical discomfort, this is one damned awkward piece of headgear.
Like all things Drum Major, there is nothing inherently natural about having this... thing... on high. On the day before the first football game of the season, I occupied a seat just behind Jason and Kyle Who Owns, both in full busby; Jason sat serenely in his folding chair, but every time I looked at Kyle-- himself an accomplished high school drum major and experienced twirler-- he was sharply shaking his head side to side, taking his hat off, putting it back on, adjusting the lining, examining the exterior, grimacing, standing up, sitting down, and in general having a whale of a first date with a sleek and beautiful woman who also happened to have the personality of a particularly autocratic hall monitor. What was familiar but chafing equipment to Jason was, for his entirely capable but brand-new assistant, a metaphor with a chin strap. For by the same time the following week, Kyle and his hat had come to, if not an outright peace, a certain cessation of hostilities.
From the stands, you see the backbends with the entire band blasting, upside down for several seconds to one single person in Ohio Stadium. You see the name on the Jumbotron and the flashbulb meteor showers of the jump catches and the cell phone photo requests, but you do not see this business with the hat adjustment. And you don't see the administrative meetings, or the dense insulating layers of alumni expectations, or the paperwork, or the backtucks and the backtucks and the backtucks alone in the damp dusk on the practice field. You cannot see the light that flickers right out of Jason's eyes when he snaps an order or even so much as mentions the painful elimination process of Band tryouts.
There is no possible comfortable way to hold this hat.
But the very reason it's so tall and so conspicuous is so that the Band can find its Drum Major during parades or the constantly melting positions of the marching drills; if for some reason they cannot hear the whistle, they see the scarlet wave of the plume. He must, by virtue of his position, be set apart from the crowd. It is a duty which reaches far beyond smiling real big for the people in the twenty-second row.
And that is why, for some people, for a certain fleeting amount of time, the only possible place for this hat is right on the head.
Today's Tasting Room Musical Note is sponsored by the tip of the spear:
Reader Comments (46)
...soooooo....
I am at a total loss over what to gush over here the most-- the pics, the writing, or that AMAZING halftime extravaganza!
So I will just say Thank you MB, we are in awe of you Jason The Ridiculously Awesome, and goooo Baaaaaand.
Heartfelt, real, gorgeous, and altogether glorious: In short, your average Blonde Champagne TBDBITL post.
POWER.
Mary Beth, will you marry me?
Failing that, Jason The Awesome, will you marry me?
Oh what a beautiful world, that it has given us this Band, Our Jason, and the girl with laptop sitting in the back of the room. Amazing stuff.
Quite the finale, OUSMB! I so wish I could have seen that in person.
I. Am. Going to. Cry.
Oh MB, that picture of Jason is a thing of beauty. ALMOST as beautiful as the story you tell.
Love
This
Post
Lookin' good, DRow ;)
Yeeeeahhhhhh that is OUR DRUM MAJOR!!!!! and OUR BEST DAMN BAND IN THE LAND!!!!!!
OHIO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I may pass out from Awesome Poisoning.
Oh, so THIS is what you've been doing in Columbus!
I like it!
Lookin' good, DRow ;)
yeeeepp
yaaaaaaaaaaay, He Who Owns is in this one!
KYLE!
I think I read that stellar description of Kyle and his hat about five times and it just kept getting better. I can just see it. MB you really seem like and respect him, as when you discussed his teaching skills, and I hope to seemore of him growing into the role.
Miss Belle, these later posts, while more focused outward and fewer, are so much more layered and textured. You are settling in, it sounds like, and finding a great groove. This is very moving, not the post in and of itself, but seeing how you've come from watching a YouTube video to being able to show us how great this band is and what the Drum Majors deal with.
I am beginning to see what MB meant a few weeks ago when she explained why she is not talking with Jason The Ridiculously Awesome nearly as much and just giving him room to be DM. Not only is she respecting his space she is learning a bunch just by watching him and the Band. Great job with this post MB, one of your best.
That video is tremendous. WOOOOOW what a show!
+infinity to everyone loving on the vid, as impressive as the ramp stuff is, this is a whole other side to what this band can do!!!!!! SO impressive.
Tink,
That picture of Our Jason is terrific. Is it from the couple who makes all those great TBDBITL albums?
Is it from the couple who makes all those great TBDBITL albums?
That's Ed and Karen Crockett, and good heavens, no, I am nowhere near their mad skeelz, but thank you for the massive compliment of thinking one of my point-and-shoots is anywhere near the art they churn out week after week.
I grabbed this shot of Jason as everyone was walking from the practice field back to the Band Center for lunch. I'd been on the phone and when I hung up I looked ahead to suddenly notice him several yards front of me (he's kind of hard to miss....). I had my camera over my arm and snapped the picture because I thought it was simultaneously odd and fantastic that he was strolling alone around campus on game day in full uniform, baton in hand, with no one bothering him. The juxtaposition of him all suited up and walking with purpose (to... lunch, but still) amidst the people milling around outside the stadium was striking. At the same time, it seemed to exemplify the loneliness and responsibility inherent in being the Drum Major. As always, it's little moments like this which I find the most compelling and emotionally resonant.
It's posts like these that make me fall in love with you all over again :)
Good, because I'm really expensive to have around.
"Not only is she respecting his space she is learning a bunch just by watching him and the Band."
This. I am more and more impressed Mary Beth by how you can pull so much out of one seemingly unimportant moment, like when you saw Our Jason stop to make a wardrobe adjustment.
These posts don't have the "rush" of the early days but it seems like the adrenaline is calmer and you are just open to seeing what TBDBITL and Jason and Kyle have to teach you.
You are a beautiful rare bird Mary Beth and and if I were Our Jason and his bandmates I would be very honored that you are lending your awesome talent to celebrating them.
Yea, for our fearless drill creating leader has wrought yet another on-field masterpiece.
SECDEF WATERS!!!!
It's posts like these that make me fall in love with you all over again :)
Us too.
Mr. Stuckert and any members of The Ohio State University Marching Band who may pass this way: Your dedication is inspiring. I am extremely proud that you represent me and all that I love about OSU.
Miss Ellis, you are to be commended for seeing it.
Hey Tink, I know there must have been times during all the driving and zero sleep when you've wondered if this is worth it.
It's worth it.
Alex Who Talks Real Pretty tells me that the constant pull of the tight chin strap holds the jaw in close and inhibits the ability to draw a deep breath-- the very thing marking the Drum Major as the Drum Major fighting him with each inhale, each swing of the arm as he hauls down ramp and upfield.
That's... incredible. I would have never thought this. It really is even harder than it looks, impressive as this band is.
So inspiring. Hooray for the guys (and gals) with the horns (and the drums!)
Dear Marybeth,
My buddy Nick and I met you on the day before the game. You very nicely took our picture in front of the Stadium (although to be honest I think Nick just wanted an excuse to flag you down, he hadn't noticed the ring, lol. Ohio sure can grow 'em, haha.) You gave us great advice about going to the pep rally and making sure to get in our seats early to see this band and told us to come to this site to learn more about your book. Really that concert/rally was our favorite thing the whole day. The drummajor was so sick and the music was great. We hope to come to another game soon. I will be back here because your writing is great too! Just wanted to say hi and thanks.
Aaron
I would be any amount of money that MB and Our Jason managed to have a sit-down before she left Columbus. This is the most tuned-in she's sounded in weeks. Someone's recalibrated.
Hi Aaron! Of course I remember you and Nick of the "Han Shot First" tee shirt! So glad you made the Skull Session-- thanks for letting everybody know how much you enjoyed this incredible Band :)
Ohio sure can grow 'em, haha
The Rack strikes again.
I'm new here... and I am THRILLED to be here... fascinating topic, terrific writer, keep them coming.
Congratulations band on this totally sweet performance, that was beastly.
It's worth it.
It surely is.
Miss Belle you also have quite the eye behind the camera!
GO BUCKS
BEAT SPARTANS
and in general having a whale of a first date with a sleek and beautiful woman who also happened to have the personality of a particularly autocratic hall monitor
I just wanted to congratulate Mary Beth on this sentence :) That is a work of art.
Alex Who Talks Real Pretty tells me that the constant pull of the tight chin strap holds the jaw in close and inhibits the ability to draw a deep breath-- the very thing marking the Drum Major as the Drum Major fighting him with each inhale, each swing of the arm as he hauls down ramp and upfield.
Once again 54 helps us appreciate the wonder that is 57!
Work it D Row!!!!!
Love it when those guys show up.
TAAAAA-BIIIIIIT-ALLLLLLLL!
Bengals + this Band tomorrow at Paul Brown Stadium! YEAH
Thank you for this. Looking forward to the next.
"...although to be honest I think Nick just wanted an excuse to flag you down, he hadn't noticed the ring, lol. Ohio sure can grow 'em..."
See, darlin', other guys agree with me about you :)
You're a good husband.