I'm excited to see the jackets that Stanbury has designed for us! Tonight we got to try on our compression gear and our pants. Putting on that uniform makes this whole experience feel real. I'm a Blue Star. The end crowns the work. We are going to rock this season!
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JSo my drum corp experience has been going pretty well. There are a lot of unknowns that I still don't even have an idea of how new and challenging they will be, but I have a learned a little while I have been here.
I have been doing great mentally. This is an extremely mental and stressful activity. Physically it's been challenging. I am trying to perfect my technique, and in the process an old injury of mine came up. I'm not hurt, but my ankle that I sprained in cross country hurts so bad every day. One block it got to the point where I felt like I needed to cry. I wrapped it up and took some medicine and felt significantly better. Every day I probably will wrap it to protect my ankle just until I feel like it's strong enough to take the demand that I am forcing it to do. Prayers would definitely be appreciated, but I'm not a quitter! There have been a good amount of people sitting out of rehearsal because of injuries. There is always going to be someone injured. The trick is figuring out which things you absolutely have to do, and when enough is enough. I haven't sat out any yet, but sitting out for one block is way better than being out the rest of the season. Lessons that I have quickly learned while I have been here: -Go to the bathroom whenever possible -Sunscreen is a necessity Don't forget your ears,lips, or the back of your legs. -Eat whenever possible. I take in around 3,000+ calories every day and am still hungry. -Sit down whenever you can Your legs will be happy. - Wash your mouthpiece Pimples are no fun -Showering with your instrument is a necessity I always thought it was weird when I heard about it, but your instrument needs to be clean and fresh about every five days so you don't get sick. Also just because your instrument will be shiny So there's a little update to how things are going. Weather in Iowa is still not great. Rainy and cold... We only have a week though until we move to LaCrosse, Wisconsin though so I'm pretty excited. That'll mean packing and cleaning, but it will be a change of schedule. I can't believe how quickly the season is going. 16 days until my first performance. Hope you all are doing well. Thinking of ya! So I told you guys I wouldn't be posting a lot... Well. This week I am.
Second day was harder and easier. The tasks were harder,but my knowledge of how rehearsal works.. Kinda now makes it a little easier. I didn't have any major errors in vis block, and my drill is pretty fun! The opener is on the field on Day 2. Whoa! That's like how many sets Rensselaer gets done in three weeks. Music was fun too! We got into the show music, and got to know our section a little better. Dance block is super fun and challenging. It reminds me how much I miss being in dance class. We did PT for the last ten minutes today. Near the end when people were getting tired everyone started chanting.. FCO. FCO. FCO. FCO. I love how we can motivate and push each othe Overall it was a great day, even though the rain and storms were worse. Carlton,our chef, is awesome! Yum. I will tell you more about him later. Just look at this yummy meal until then. See ya! Well I survived my first day of spring training. It was really cold and rainy today so a lot of the original plans were altered. We were flexible and changed around a few things, so we were at least productive. Even though I am so exhausted, what lies ahead is not even close to what we are doing now.
I'm excited to push through, but I feel a little lacking in my marching at this point. Learning things at a quick pace when in not even good at reading drill is tough. I just have to stick it out, look stupid for a little bit, and retain my sets. That's What I'm good with.. I just can't find them. We set 15 sets today and cleaned. We also did some ballet fundamentals where the guy complimented me on my turnout and point form. (Thanks Susanna. Justin noted you too). We have really just been focusing on fundamentals so far but I'm excited to see what's in store. :) Hopefully my hip won't act up. We shall see. Lots of stretching! I'm really tired so I'm gonna head to bed, but that y'all should know that I made it to Iowa and have started my adventure. God Bless! PS- I apologize in advance for autocorrect, grammar, and typos that might be in these entries! I'm just posting this throgh my phone. Thanks Blue Stars tour is almost here! Seven days until I move-in with the corp in Forest City, Iowa. For all of you anxious to keep up with me, you should notice my website has changed a little bit. Over the summer I will be posting here to keep you updated on how the drum corp life is. Beware though;I will have very little time for posting. Watch for a post two to three times a month though...if not more. I want to make sure to keep in contact with you all!
I really appreciate all the overwhelming support I have received. Thank you to everyone who has helped me reach this goal. I reached all of my financial needs, but it's not about the money. Even you reading this blog means the world that you care to see how I am doing. So thank you! It's insane to think that in a week I will be away from all of my family and friends, and be thrown in the world of unknowns and unfamiliar. I'll learn. This is definitely a good test run for college; maybe even harder than that. I will be ready. As my school year comes to a close, I am finishing classes early and completing 4H projects. (Make sure to look for them at the fair!) This weekend I will finish buying the last minute items I need like sunscreen and aloe. I am so excited, anxious, and motivated to be starting my first season with the Blue Stars. Remember the End Crowns the Work. FCO Talk to you all soon! Updates: For my projects- Jasper County Fair Schedule Family- Fendig Summer Theatre (It's my brother's last year, and Fendig always appreciates help) Helen's Facebook Updates Helen's Instagram Updates: Please email me at helen.heinig@gmail.com saying you are interested in following my pictures for my journey with Blue Stars so I can approve you! Of course on here I will be updating as well. I am feeling extremely thankful for all the people who support me! I hope this video project will be successful and informative for those who watch and vote for it. I am so thankful for the generosity of everyone, and grace in this world.
So if you voted for my video promoting technology, or have supported me or are supporting me in Blue Stars, thank you. Really just in general thanks for being there everybody! You are awesome. Don't forget it! Above is a picture from "dcinspiration" blog. This is one of the many that stood out to me. It's a really simple blog, but the simplicity is motivating. Her blog contains images like the one above and below for aspiring DCI members, that each contain music inspiring quotes, not band memes. Check it out. I heard she is also looking for funds for marching Boston Crusaders, so maybe you could help her out.
http://dcinspiration.tumblr.com/post/28104606396 Audition number two for Blue Stars will be progressing in a couple of days so this week is crunch time. January camp begins Friday and ends Sunday. There will be many new and exciting things coming to Blue Stars this camp, and I can't wait. Hopefully after this camp I will know what my status is with the corp. Wish me luck!
Happy New Year! We made it! Wishing everyone a great new year filled with family, friends, blessings, and grace. My brother and I went to our friends house to celebrate and participated in an ugly sweater contest. Mine made it in the top five! Anyway, thanks again for visiting my website. Let me know what you think. Happy New Year. Hey there! In the last month I have stumbled into another interesting oppurtunity. I currently am working for a picker who travels Indiana looking for unique things to sell. It's really interesting. If you have seen the showAmerican Pickers, then you have some idea of what I'm talking about. My job is similiar to that.
Right now I am the manager for my picker. (Picker Bob) I manage his Craig's List and might be making a website for him to post on. Anyway, Picker Bob is in the process of picking the old elementary school in our town. This past summer we built a new primary school, and the old building won't be in use any more. It will be demolished. Picker Bob went to our school auction and paid a flat fee to find anything useful left in the school and resell it. So the things he finds aren't really as cool as like vintage Coca-Cola machines or anything, but the things he finds are pretty unique. He has all of the glass windows, the letters from the outside of the building, boiler pieces; all things that are from the '50s. I went to that elementary school when I was younger, and he was nice enough to let me keep something from the building. I'm not sure what I'll keep yet. As of right now, I am waiting for him to take inventory of everything he has so I can post on Craig's List, but a couple of weeks ago he offered me some extra work. I went in during the weekend and tore down copper wires from the electric units, and collected aluminium in the first grade hallway (around six classrooms). My parents helped me collect everything and also made sure I was safe while doing the demolition work. It was really cold, messy, and different, but I collected around $200 in aluminum and copper. It was a fun experience. Picker Bob has lots of interesting stories to tell, and he was happy to have me work for him since I am saving my money for a good cause. All my money will be going to my Blue Stars fund, and it's adding up fast. Check out more pictures on my Flickr page. Drum Corp and Marching band is a sport! There are a ton of activites that you do in marching band that require you to mulit-task, and be very physical, much like an athlete. Watch this video to see some really cool research for the amount of physicality it really takes to be in a drum corp. Really interesting.
This past weekend began what has always been a dream for me. I was filled with anxiousness and excitement as I packed my things for my audition this past weekend. Friday through Saturday, I auditioned for Bluestars Drum and Bugle Corp. I had no clue what to expect,but it turned out great. I was really pleased with Blue Stars because of the friendliness of the people, and the incredible staff they have. I gained so much knowledge even though I was only there for three days. For those who don't know what drum corp is, drum corp is like an intense marching band full of only brass instruments (trumpets, mellophones, euphoniums, and tubas). Most groups have colorguards and compete from May to August. Starting in November corps hold audition camps and practice camps all throughout the year. Drum Corp is a really intense sport that takes a lot of work. Most of the summer you are outside twelve plus hours and are constantly doing something physical. To prepare for drum corp, you train like an athlete. You have to be able to hold your horn, march insane tempos, play your music, and adjust to forms as you go in a fifteen minute period. It's a lot of stress on your body,but the experience is great. People in drum corp are as young as 14 and as old (in certain cases) 22. You get a ton of experience musically, and so many other great life experiences on the way. In the spring, you move in with the corp and train for the summer tour, and pay to be a part of the corp. The cost is around $4,000. In the summer you travel the United States competing other corps and improving your show. In August, you compete in World Finals in Indianapolis at the Lucas Oil Stadium. I have been following drum corp ever since I have been involved in marching band. My family and I have gone to finals the last three years. It's been my dream to be a part of a corp, and now I am taking the first step to making it happen. When I first got to Indianapolis for my audition I was overwhelmed with how many people were there showing off their skill while people checked in. I registered and said goodbye to my parents and began to set up my camp for the weekend. We stayed on concrete floor, so I unrolled my sleeping bag and set up shop. I met a bunch of really nice people within the first hour and visited with veteran corp members. I caught up with one of my friends, and he was nice enough to introduce me to some people he knew. On Friday we arrived at 8 P.M., so no one expected to do much. At 8 we began visual block, and proceded to go to sectionals and warm up. We continued doing things and learned our expectations for the weekend until 11:30 P.M. Then we had our fourth meal of the day. It was great! After that I checked out a brand new mellophone and rehearsed my audition pieces for the next day. Exhaustion eventually took over me, and I fell asleep. The second day we all knew we were in for a long day so we had a big breakfast. I visited with the director and my new friends while we ate and started the day off well. We went to sectionals and began introductions and warm up. The brass director told us we would be pulled out from each section starting with rookies. The previous night I didn't want to be in the back with rookies who didn't know about things so I jumped in the front in between two veterans. The next morning I was the first to audition. I was so nervous and excited,but kind of scared to be the first to audition. I warmed up and walked in the room. My audition went great, and my tone was only a little shaky. The day went on and physically I was auditioning all day. We did an eight minute run, calisthenics,dance, and other activities to test our strength. In the afternoon we were introduced to the marching style and were in visual block for about five hours. I got frustrated at myself because I didn't feel like I was where I needed to be, but I wasn't bad. That was pretty much the end of the second day. We had other things after dinner, but nothing new. Four meals a day was something really new to me. The last day we found out our status and worked harder in sectionals. We had an interview with the director and worked hard musically for our show and tell performance in the afternoon. I met with my section staff head and he told me I received a call back. In my interview with the director he said he was really looking forward to me being with the corp for the summer,and to really consider a call back. I was so excited that he said he was looking forward to me being there. I thought I would be dissappointed that I didn't get contracted on the first camp, but considering my age I knew that wouldn't happen. I am so excited to be getting another chance to show them how I have improved. So, I will do the same thing in January and prove to them that I can do this, and I want to work with them to make this the best Blue Stars season so far. If you know someone who wants to do drum corp or you yourself want to... DO IT! Even one weekend audition will change the way you view the activity and yourself as a musician. I'm not saying that it's easy,but it's the best descision you will make. There's only improvement from there. {finis coronat opus} For more information check out these websites OR message me on Flickr.
http://www.bluestars.org/ http://www.facebook.com/bluestars?fref=ts http://instagram.com/hheinig14/
Other photography links ^^^ http://www.flickr.com/photos/helenham/ Flickr Photostream^^^ Yummy! I felt the need to cook something today, so today I made Inside-out Carmel Apples. They are super easy and really yummy. Here is a step by step process if you want to make some. Ingredients: 1 bag of Granny Smith Apples 1 bottle of carmel topping or 1 bag of carmel cubes This recipe would work better if you took carmel candy, and melted it down then poured it in, but this is a good, messy, easy snack. Enjoy.
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