RhythmArt Blog

So what does practice smell like? I’ve never really thought about it, but recently I had two smell-induced flashbacks to my high school band days, and it made me think about it!

Sound Offs In Action!

Flashback one: I opened up my binder full scores for the marching band I’ve been working with. Around this point in the season, the binder starts getting pretty rank, as it’s been alternately soaked and baked at rehearsals, and then left in the shoulder-bag over the weekend. So, when I opened it up, I was struck by the smell of baked, wet sheet protectors. Now, this is probably a terrible smell to the general population, but to me it took me back over the past 20 years that I’ve been involved with marching bands, and reminded me of all that I’ve learned over that time span.

Flashback Two: I just ordered some new HQ SoundOff drum mutes so I can do some technique work after 6:00 in the evening and on weekends (stupid neighbors)! When I opened up the packages, I was taken back to me bedroom when I was in High School. My drumset was then the main feature of my room, as all I could fit in there was that and a bed! SoundOffs have a very distinctive smell, which you quickly get used to and forget, but wow did it hit me over the head in my little studio! Again, how much have I learned over the past 20 years (or more, I probably got my first set of mutes very soon after I got my first kit in ‘87!)?

By the way, I have to mention that the new design of the HQ Sound Off cymbal mutes (yes, I’m keyword-loading, get over it) is quite awesome. The old version covered half the cymbal with a thick piece of foam. This worked ok, but you had to unscrew the top of the stand to put them on and take them off, and if you were playing very vigorously, they would flop around a lot and you end up not hitting them half the time! The new design fits all the way across the cymbal and wraps around the edge, so they’re pretty well locked in place, and you don’t have to take off the wing nut to do it! Much more convenient, thus much more likely to get used (I am, it seems, too lazy to remove wingnuts on a daily basis).