Well some times it seems pretty bare out at the rehearsal hall. A lot of people have gone back home. So sometimes it seems like there is an awful lot of orange going on. (The pan covers are orange). The kids from Toronto are back in school but they come up every weekend, so that’s pretty cool.

Not much else is going on…we have had some extra sectionals. See the orchestra has different types of pan instruments (sections). Starting from the highest range down to the lowest it goes like this; D Lead, C Lead, A Lead, Double Lead, Double Alto, Guitar, Quad, Cello, Tenor Bass, 6 Bass, 9 Bass. So normally in the winter every week your section gets together and practices different parts of songs. Well this week we had some extra joint sectionals where one section got together with other sections and worked on the new song. The part we went over is a tricky part, but I think it helped…at least I know it helped me. It always helps when you have a chance to play it with other people who are getting it. The strong helping the not so strong, you know.

I will try to keep you updated as things go along. It may not always be that exciting, but this is what it takes to make the summer performance season happen. PRACTICE! PRACTICE PRACTICE!

It was raining all the way on the drive to Dwight, but some how when we got there it had stopped. So we got down to business and set-up outside and started the process of a performance. Set-up the tent, set-up the pans, decorate. The same routine we have been through many many times. But interestingly enough each time it is different in some way. Sometimes the weather cooperates sometimes it doesn’t. Sometimes there is a tree or pole a little to close so it means shifting the tent. Sometimes (and this one seems to happen a lot) it feels like hurricane force winds are blowing, sometimes there isn’t even a ripple of a breeze. This time no breeze YEAH!!!

As the participants of the CIBC Walk/Run for the Cure were registering we played. Most of them weren’t brave enough to wander to far outside in the cold to watch us. But I know they could hear us inside. The local Council Woman, Nancy Tapley, was the emcee for the day. She had a lot of interesting facts about the history of the Muskoka area she shared with the crowd. She managed to intersperse them between our songs.

I think the best part of the day was watching all the walkers warm up before the walk started. The weather held out for most of the day. Not until the very end did it start to rain. By the awards time it was pouring. Most of us were huddled in the center of the tent trying to keep the pans dry. The fastest runner was a young guy who came in at 20 minutes and 50 seconds, pretty good for a 5k run, I sure make that time. The second runner to cross the finish lines was hot on his heels. A girl who made it in just over 21 minutes. We started the second set to welcome the runners/walkers back. Did you know anyone can participate in the walk? Yeah, I mean anyone. There was a team of what appeared to be mothers with their young daughters. You could tell the team because they all had on pink foam tiaras. There was dads with the kids, there was 20 somethings, there was 80 somethings. Serious looking athletes and couch potatoes. There were ladies pushing strollers and a few people who looked like they may have needed a push. There was even a large representation of dogs. Dogs in sweaters, dogs with pink bandanas, big dogs, small dogs, all kinds. 200 people in total did the walk. I’d say thats a pretty good turn out for a small community. Anyway they raised $47,000 ~ Can you believe it? ~ Huntsville Remax was the business who raised the most at $7,400. (Actually the local CIBC branch raised $7,500 but they can’t win the award since CIBC is the title sponsor of the event). There were some pretty impressive numbers put up by some individuals as well. The coolest part about the whole day was that everybody was happy. That’s one thing I really like about being a part of the orchestra. It is so refreshing to be able to perform and feel the energy of happy people and never fail, they always end up happy.