Burger King Discussions

[Xero]

I'll talk to Mote tomorrow either before school or before/after class.

[Duke Nukem]

How did it go?

[Xero]

Meh. He wants me to come in during study hall and/or lunch to pass the trumpets off. He let us have sectionals after practice, but it wasn't enough time. So, if I feel prepared enough for the Awakening test tomorrow, I'll try to get a pass and go pass off the trumpets. lol Mr. Mote actually said it's okay for me to pull the trumpets out of class individually to pass them off. It'll be a lot more productive than the actual class, that's for sure.

[Duke Nukem]

Is he going to let you keep having the trumpets stay after on Wednesdays?

[Xero]

Wut? Well, if we keep having sectionals, then obviously, yeah. If we continue with our pointless practices that are only neglecting the first three songs that need to be perfected and only focusing on the closer, I'll have to ask again, but I'm always going to have the trumpets stay for sectionals on Wednesdays.

JONATHAN SKIPPED OUR AFTER-PRACTICE SECTIONALS TODAY!!!!! I told everyone about it yesterday, and Jonathan was "unable to find a ride." He had a ride with Afton and she had to leave "right now," so apparently, Jonathan couldn't find any other ride... HE NEVER ASKED ANYONE!!! If it comes to either getting a ride with a friend and missing sectionals or getting a ride with someone else and going to sectionals, TAKE THE SECOND OPTION!!! Especially in Jonathan's case: he still hasn't passed anything off yet.

[Anthony G]

Michael, expect us to have full band rehearsals every Wednesday for now on. Remember today... Mr. Mote said we were only a third of the way to getting a superior, and we only have 2.5 weeks left. I like Geoff's suggestion and having (perhaps a shorter) sectional on Mondays. If you won't be able to go, then me or Geoff can go. Geoff dropped WHAPs so he'll have more time in his schedule.

I think the whole situation about Jonathan should be forgotten. Jonathan has no drive to get better, he won't listen to any of our suggestions, he has skipped five[/b][/u] of our sectionals, he doesn't have the music memorized, he can't even play the music correctly with it in front of his face, he can't tongue notes, he still doesn't know his fingerings, he doesn't know how to do like 60% of basic marching, he isn't showing any signs of improving, and he doesn't show any sign of positive attitude. This kid was simply forced to march by his parents and he's hated every single bit of it. I think he takes out all of his anger and just slops around during practice so he can prove to his parents that they made the mistake of signing him up. The worst part is he thinks we are offending him by trying to help him or when Mote tries to tell him something.
Mr. Mote thinks we should "keep our fingers cross", but he is only saying this because he knows if he doesn't let Jonathan march then he will hear crap from band students and probably Jonathan's parents. Mote needs to realize that if leadership is suggesting to remove Jonathan, then he should just go with it. I will be so pissed if we all do our part in this marching band, work our asses off, and then bring our best to competition and then our score suffers because Mote allowed Jonathan to march. Jonathan is no doubt the worst marcher out there, and he will individually affect our score greatly. Today during rehearsals, he only got the horns up twice on the right beat (like when Beth activates Dr. Beat and we do horns up on count 4), AND THEN he would still step off on the wrong foot. This is just ridiculous! There is absolutely no excuse for him missing the horns up and step off SO MANY TIMES.

We need to realize that if we remove Jonathan and it "offends" him, we should not feel any guilt because he has offended me and the rest of the band for everything he's done.

That's my rant.

[Xero]

Okay, I didn't say this earlier because I was rushed to get working on music during our half-hour sectional, but Mote, along with saying "keep your fingers crossed," also said that, if Jonathan couldn't get his music passed off in time, he would only destroy the band's score and we would be forced to remove him... at least during competition. And I agree with most of what you said, except for this:

Sept 24, 2008 18:44:05 GMT -5 Anthony G said:

he doesn't know how to do like 60% of basic marching

I'd say 80%. And I'd also like to add that, not only does he not listen to our instructions, he doesn't even pay attention. Sometimes I don't listen, but I'll still end up finding out what instructions were given in some way. He doesn't even attempt to improve and won't pay attention and thinks we're all against him any time we try to help. I was trying to explain the third position thing earlier, and he wouldn't even look to see what I was doing. Like you said, HE DOESN'T CARE. If he doesn't care about band, we shouldn't care about him.... It's harsh, but it's the reality of this marching band. He's only bringing us down and he needs to be kicked out. Mote's philosophy of drawing out the troublemakers/weakest links and eliminating them needs to be considered here.

[Xero]

I'd elaborate and rant more, but I still have homework to finish.... Be back soon.

[Duke Nukem]

I understand your frustration with Jonathan. His refusal to improve is distressing and has the potential to wreck the band if left unadressed. Have you tried talking to him? He needs to understand that by not doing well, he's screwing everyone over. Confront him on his apathetic stance and try to change his viewpoint on band. I get the feeling he's trying not to enjoy band to spite his parents, and he's got to stop that. Talk him out of it. Try everything. If talking to him doesn't work, start punishing him for not trying or not doing well. Give him laps, push-ups, whatevers necessary to motivate him to work.

[Justice Bringer]

ill try to talk to him tommarrow "as a freind", he might take it better from me than leadership

[Xero]

We can only hope.

[Duke Nukem]

One thing you need to start doing is punishing Jonathan more. If he's going to be lazy and take the easier route of not working hard, punish him every time he slips up so it's easier on him to do the work. Also, tell him that you're doing that so he understands that unless he starts working he'll be running laps and doing push-ups a lot more often.

[Xero]

LOLZ Anthony and I had all the trumpets do push-ups for all the stuff they/we did wrong today at practice. Jonathan only did 10!!! Yeah, right!! I had to do 40! And that's including the leadership bonus. I'm willing to bet anything he had more than that.

[Anthony G]

Well, if we counted all the times he missed the horn shift, then he would have to do at least 500 push ups from that.

[Anthony G]

We need to decide if we're having a BK meeting tomorrow. I vote yes.

[Duke Nukem]

I'm going to the Etowah scooter thing for a while, but I'll probably be there. I also have to buy shit at Kroger.

HAHA MOTE THINKS I DETRACT FROM THE BAND WITH MY LAUGHTER. I APLOGIZE FOR MY INSUBORDINATION?

[Justice Bringer]

im going to booth, but i should make it there by 3:30

[Duke Nukem]

It's moments like Mote's "I'm detracting from the band" speech that almost make me rethink defying Mote and his flawed ideals. Almost. Then I remember all the terrible decisions he's made, all the kids he's harmed in some way, all his rants, and the feeling of satisfaction I get when I disagree with him to his face. He hates me for that. Unfortunately for him, he can't do anything to me. He played his "band politics" game with Cam, and won, but I know his game better than he does. I sincerely hope he comes after me like he did Cam. I want him to look me in the eye after I shame him.

[Calfrun]

Sept 25, 2008 18:00:37 GMT -5 Xero said:

LOLZ Anthony and I had all the trumpets do push-ups for all the stuff they/we did wrong today at practice. Jonathan only did 10!!! Yeah, right!! I had to do 40! And that's including the leadership bonus. I'm willing to bet anything he had more than that.

lol, i did them whether i made the mistake or not

[Duke Nukem]

Sept 25, 2008 21:03:42 GMT -5 Calfrun said:

Sept 25, 2008 18:00:37 GMT -5 Xero said:

LOLZ Anthony and I had all the trumpets do push-ups for all the stuff they/we did wrong today at practice. Jonathan only did 10!!! Yeah, right!! I had to do 40! And that's including the leadership bonus. I'm willing to bet anything he had more than that.

lol, i did them whether i made the mistake or not

That's not smart. It makes it look like you're making a lot of mistakes, which doesn't bode well for you in the eyes of Mote and your surrounding band members.

[Xero]

But it shows responsibility and leadership in taking punishment (sorry... Reminders) you don't deserve.

[Duke Nukem]

Not for Mote. He takes things the wrong way.

[Calfrun]

Sept 25, 2008 21:32:43 GMT -5 Xero said:

But it shows responsibility and leadership in taking punishment (sorry... Reminders) you don't deserve.

lol, i have about half of the first one- i just felt like doing push-ups

[Mizagium]

Boo pushups, Hooray beer!

[EagleXC13]

where did that come from? Kroger?