It storms the beginning of Thursday practice, so we rehearse indoors. The band room is muggy, and we’re showing signs of weeks of band camp. Everyone is tired, and Ms. Cortez is upset that we’re losing this opportunity to practice tomorrow night’s pregame show outdoors. Originally, she planned to spend the whole morning on the field.
Tomorrow’s pregame performance is only the first two songs of the larger field show program. The fourth piece in the lineup is a marching version of a jazz song. I didn’t even know you could do that.
Neither does most of the band. After a while, Ms. Cortez throws her hands up in frustration. "Drums, let me hear it from measure ten.”
The beats aren’t coming together; it sounds like a toddler banging on a toy.
"Can’t you just lengthen the second and fourth b
