Green Thunder Percussion

Green Thunder Percussion continues to prepare for their home show appearance on Sunday, February 14, 2010 at Plainfield HS.  With their tarp painted and music completed, the group spent Saturday at Lyons Township High School learning the first half of the closer drill and setting it to music.  Drill designer, Pete Weber, attended the second part of the evening block with the group, offering his feedback and observations to visual instructor, Paul Wiercioch.  By the end of the evening, the members were moving and playing through the first 5 mins of the show production.  When asked how things are going, Brian Spicer, GTP tenor instructor, gave his impression on how the members have progressed. "The guys are working really hard every weekend to get the show on the floor, and everyone is very excited about how it's coming together.  It's a long pre-season, but all the hard work since last fall is starting to pay off.  It will be nice to get a public performance under our belts at the home show on February 14." 

This year's show, "Momentum," is comprised of three main movements:

Introduction: "3 Libras" by A Perfect Circle offers the initial push that begins the show in a 3/4 meter, rise and fall, where the Front Ensemble accelerates and builds momentum into the first Battery entrance.

Opener: "The Tallest Man, the Broadest Shoulders" by Sufjan Stevens continues the forward rolling motion through alternating 5/4 and 6/4 time signatures, as the battery keep their feet moving to some of the fastest drill many of the members have ever had to every march at 192 bpm!

Ballad: "The Luckiest" by Ben Folds showcases the Front Ensemble's fundamental technique and musicianship, winding the momentum down before the final push of the Closer.

Closer: "Fire Garden Suite: Angel Food" by Steve Vai is the driving conclusion to the program, with difficult syncopated patterns in the Front and fast paradiddle and drag passages from the Battery! 

The challenge for the members, as with any winter or drum corps program, is assimilating a great deal of information and music in one weekend, all over a rehearsal day much longer than the typical high school music program schedule.  The whole process requires an admirable amount of parental understanding and support, as well as a great deal of dedication and passion from these young musicians.  Front Ensemble instructor, Joe Roach, seems confident in their abilities.  "Each weekend, the staff raises the bar for the group and the guys are not only accepting the challenge they are killin' it.  The guys are starting to understand that together, they can accomplish anything we put in front of them."

In addition to the much anticipated performances of the 20 guards registered for the Plainfield HS Home Show, very exciting appearances  include Pioneer Indoor Drumline and Romeoville HS drumline, under the direction of Mr. Adam Hill.  For more information, please visit www.pioneerindoor.org and www.spartanband.com.