Temecula All-City
Community Band!
I have always wanted to be the director of a band. Last year the Temecula All-City Community Band was in danger of not having a director, so I volunteered to run the band this year. See Temecula All-City Community Band, 2002 for details of my first year as director.
With one year of experience as the director of the band under my belt; and with an experienced drum major in tow, I figured I could handle the band again this year. I have been a member of this band since Jerry Burdick-Rutz founded it in 1999. Jerry trusted me to take over, and I have never looked back. From 1999 to 2001 the band played “Trooper’s Battlehymn” as its marching song. When I took over in 2002 this song was getting old, but was traditional. So I decided to keep the song and add “America the Beautiful” as a second song to honor the victims of the September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center. It was quite an emotional parade year.
For 2003 I decided it was time to have some fun. So, we selected Meredith Willson’s “Seventy-Six Trombones” as our song. The band really enjoyed this song. Preparation for the piece was easy since it is such a well-known tune.
Well, as can be expected, my equipment gave me a start at the rehearsal before parade day. The post holding the upper stack on decided it had had enough since it was installed in 1926 and it popped loose. No time to get it repaired, so I got out some thin bailing wire and wired the top post back into position. This actually worked quite well. Unfortunately, the 1926 Buescher True-Tone baritone saxophone is simply worn out and needs a complete overhaul. I have not scheduled this as of yet because I did purchase a 1926 Buescher True-Tone BASS saxophone in August and will use the bass in the next parade.
About a week before the parade, the City of Temecula parade coordinator called me and asked if we could put a small group of musicians together to play the Star Spangled Banner to start the parade. It seems her singer had backed out of the performance. Half jokingly my daughter said she would do it. Without giving her a chance to reconsider, I told the parade coordinator that I had a singer and that she was my daughter. The parade coordinator was a bit reluctant as you can imagine. After all, all parents think their children are the greatest singers even if they are not. Well, on the Saturday before the parade I met the city sound technician and parade coordinator in old town Temecula. They had my daughter sing on a wireless microphone to test the sound system. Well, any doubts the parade coordinator had were put to rest as my daughter’s beautiful alto voice filled all of old town Temecula. Cars slowed down to here the sound check and listen to the singing. We were set for parade day.
Two days before the parade the parade coordinator again called and asked how long it took my daughter to sing the national anthem. I asked why and she said that an Aero Performing Group was going to do a fly-over in PT19 trainers at the end of the song.
Parade day arrived and we were entry number 13. My daughter and wife went to the center of the parade route where the National Anthem was to be performed. The two-minute warning was given. The television camera operator got right up in my daughter’s face and suddenly she was very nervous! It seemed the whole city was looking at her and whoever couldn’t see her directly would get a good look at her on television. Fifteen seconds later she began to sing the national anthem. Being nervous she sang a little faster than expected but sang well. The MC thanked her, the crowed applauded, and then three PT19 training aircraft flew down Main Street Temecula, just 150 feet overhead. This was the band’s cue to get lined up for the parade!
My wife and daughter quickly returned to the assembly area. My daughter changed outfits and took her position as drum major. My wife got behind the wheel of our F150 Super Crew pickup all decorated for the Fourth of July.
The band was ready. The F150 with the signs announcing the Temecula All-City Community Band started moving. The band followed, “It’s Showtime!” I always have the band start playing just before the official step-off point of the parade. This allows the people who are seated in the assembly area to hear the band. Then we step-off officially and play about ½ the time that we are marching. In the dry, warm air this means your chops get quite dry by the end of the parade. Thank goodness for synthetic reeds that can be played dry. However, this year we had people marching with us that would bring water bottles to the players between music sets. This works well and allows the non-musician members of our families to participate in a very meaningful way.
I always enjoy watching the spectators while marching. This year I noticed several people getting to their feet and dancing to 76 trombones! The crowds loved the performance, and the performers enjoyed playing. All had a good time.
Yes, God blessed the band for using their God given gift of musical performance to bring God’s gift of music to the people. I am happy that God allowed me to take a small part in this event.
Thank you for your support and may God Bless All of you!
Sincerely,
Wade E. Walker, Jr.
Director Pro-Temp
Temecula All-City Community Band
July 2002.