Nutcracker

Last December I played the Nutcracker with the Allen Philharmonic and the Allen Civic Ballet.  The Nutcracker gets a bad rap among musicians because it is played every year and most people can do it in their sleep.  As I haven't played the complete ballet all that often I am not yet sick of it.  Check back with me in 10 years and we will see how that is going.

On a side note if I never play Sleigh Ride again I will die a happy man.

One of the challenges of playing in a regional (i.e. small) orchestra is they always want to save money by hiring less percussionists then they need. So instead of three percussionists and an timpanist, It was just me and a timpanist. (the joy of being principal)

Three is really ideal and two is very doable.  One percussionist is doable with the Timpanist playing some gong, but there really comes a time when you have to decide what you are leaving out or grow an extra arm.

I can play Bass Drum and Crash Cymbals at the same time, but I can't play Bass Drum, Crash Cymbals and a Triangle roll at the same time.

But lest it seem like I am complaining, the experience is really quite a lot of fun once you figure out what decisions you are going to make.
The other fun thing about playing the Nutcracker is that there are always a lot of kids coming to the matinees and they like to look into the pit during the intermission.

The main reason for pictures is so I remember where everything is next year

Since I was set up towards the front of the pit I took this opportunity to practice things I don't actually need to practice.

Every fast tambourine part (of which there are a few) all the Glockenspiel licks, the Bass Drum and Crash Cymbals together.  Even the ratchet got a few spins. All without ever looking up and acknowledging that I saw them.

It is the closest I get to being a rock star I get and I love it.