Reading H.S. band performs Tommy

[Brian Cady]

Remember, not all of the performers were born in time
for the 1989 Tommy tour...

>From The Reading Adovcate:
http://tinyurl.com/qfws6

Tommy, can you hear the band?
By Mac McEntire/ Staff Writer
Thursday, August 24, 2006 - Updated: 05:11 PM EST

Tommy doesn't know what day it is... 
 
No, it's not Christmas, it's back to school week, and
to get the excitement started, the Reading Memorial
High School Marching Band and Color Guard have been
practicing all week at band camp, rocking out to the
music of the Who's "Tommy." 
 
On Monday morning, the entire band set out onto the
new school field to practice just marching, without
their instruments. Then, later in the day, the band
members divided into groups based on the type of
instrument they play for some rehearsal, followed by a
group rehearsal all together. 
 
Music director Dave Bunten drove from group to group
in a golf cart, checking in on all the musicians'
progress. 
 
"Everyone's really excited to be here," he said. "We
couldn't have asked for a nice day for it." 
 
At one end of the field, the drummers worked to stay
in step with each other. In another, musicians got
used to taking steps while playing. There were laughs
coming from the seats, where the saxophone players
tossed a few jokes back and forth with their
instructor. In the center of it all, the Color Guard
went over their routines, with their large flags
blowing in the breeze. 
 
While practicing playing the trumpet, sophomore Dave
Fitzpatrick came dressed for success, wearing a chef's
hat with images of French fries all over it. 
 
"There's no real significance behind it," he said.
"It's just a hat." 
 
The double album "Tommy" was released in 1969 and
became a monumental mark in music, a first of its kind
called a "rock opera." Eventually, the album was
adapted into both a movie and a Broadway play. At an
upcoming show, the RMHS band will take excerpts from
the overture, "Pinball Wizard," the underture,
"Sensation," and "See Me, Feel Me." 
 
"With a complex set of rock arrangements and a classic
underscore, the show will be quite challenging for the
scholar musicians," said Tom Zefras, the band's
publicity director. "As always, the challenge makes
for a great stage to demonstrate their instrumental
richness and field presentation." 
 
After all the students' hard work this week, the Band
Camp will close on Friday with an evening cookout. 
 
"As you cruise the campus this week, stop and check
out what the highly-touted Marching Band is
displaying," Zefras said. "As always, the support of
the community keeps this program growing and the band
members thank all for their generosity."


-Brian in Atlanta
The Who This Month!
http://www.thewhothismonth.com

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