Period 6 Band: Episode 1
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Episode 1. Scene 1. In the band room.
A few minutes before the bell rang, Mr. Hewitt pokes his head into the room. “Ok, set up everyone. We’re going to play ‘My Girl’. Let’s really swing it.”
In most classes, students time their entrance to be exactly when the bell rings. But here, they arrive several minutes early so that they can get everything ready- not
because they have to, but because they enjoy the class. Or maybe "enjoy" isn't
a strong enough word.
The students in this class range from 10th grade, or about 15 years old, to 12th grade,
where they are usually 17 years old.
Three drummers work together to set up their drum kit. One drummer, Bobby, is tall, skinny, and black. Another drummer, Charles, is short, with glasses, and dark hair. Amir is Indian, with long curly hair in a ponytail.
The piano player is playing a little jazz tune. His name is unknown- everyone calls him Rugrat. He is short, with blond hair, and an infectious smile.
When the bell rings, Mr. Hewitt strides back into the room.
He is about 55, with a reasonable protruding belly.
He has a relaxed atmosphere around him. He doesn’t want to lead the band, just to guide them. He strikes the stand with his stick. “Ok everybody. A one, A two, A one two three four!”
The saxophonist, Chet, plays a soulful introduction.
Chet is tall, with curly blond hair, and a serious mien.
Then, John starts to sing, and the trumpets join in.
Charles is playing the drums, and the other two drummers
are sitting on stools, watching.
Mr. Hewitt snaps his fingers as the band plays and walks around the
room, grinning. “Sounds good, sounds good,” he mumbles.
Mr Hewitt knows that
some of his students have remarkable musical talent,
while some of them are just enjoying
being there. It's a mixed bag, but he doesn't mind.
For the second part of the song,
Tranh takes her turn singing. She is Vietnamese,
quite serious and studious. Her voice is quite attractive and
soars above the music.
John grins as she sings and sways to the music. As the song ends, they sing together.
“All right!” says Mr. Hewitt. “Sounds great! Trumpets, I’d like to go over some things in the corner. Everyone else, get in some practice or whatever.”
Amir walks over to Tranh. “Hey, sounding good,” he says.
“Thanks,” says Tranh. “I was all right. Messed up a few notes though.” She
arranges her hair in a tight curl behind her head.
“Hey,” says Amir. “A song like this isn’t about notes. It’s about soul, about feeling. Right?” Amir and Tranh are total opposites. Amir is always outgoing, always on the move, a natural leader. Tranh, on the other hand, is quiet and reserved. Even in her singing, she never lets her smooth exterior crack.
Tranh shrugs. “To me…it’s about notes.”
“Check out my new shoes,” says Amir. “Pretty cool, eh?”
They are black with thin canvas and a thin sole, almost like ballet shoes.
“I don’t know,” says Tranh,
looking into her books. "I have to study for my test, ok?"
Mr. Hewitt comes walking over. "Hey Amir, shouldn't
you be practicing with the drummers?"
Amir walks away, looking a little hurt.
Rugrat hurries over to look at his shoes. “Oh,” he says. “Those are some sweet shoes!”
“Thanks,” says Amir. “I’m glad someone around here appreciates quality.”
“I don’t know,” says Bobby. “How functional are they? You can’t play sports in them. And what if someone drops something on your foot?”
“Bobby,” says Amir. “These puppies have their own functionality.”
Everyone nods sagely as they study the shoes.
Mr. Hewitt walks to the front of the room and taps his stick.
"Please don't forget, we are playing at the Senior Citizen's Center tommorrow.
Meet here before lunch, and we'll take the van over."
"Hey, our first gig of the year!" says Bobby.
"How much do we get for the gig, Mr. Hewitt?" Amir calls out.
"Oh we are getting paid big, guys. Big cash! See you tommorrow, ok?"
Episode 1. Scene 2. On the basketball
courts.
Tranh sat on the side of the basketball court, humming a melody
to herself.
"Hey, Tranh," Shanna said. Shanna had blond hair and an
easy smile, and she played the trumpet in the band. "You want to
get in on the next game? You can be on my team."
"No thanks," said Tranh. "I don't know how to play American
games."
"Come on," said Shanna. "You might like it."
Tranh grimaced, but followed Shanna onto the court. "I don't even
know how to play."
"Well, just pass the ball back when I pass it to you, okay?"
Shanna said. The game began, and Tranh ran back and forth across
the court. "See," said Shanna. "You're getting it!"
Tranh almost smiled, but nodded instead. Shanna passed the ball
to her. Tranh held onto the ball tightly. "Now pass it back," called
Shanna. A tall girl on the other team tried to steal the ball
from her. She missed the ball, and ended up hitting Tranh on the arm.
"Hey!" said Tranh. She dropped the ball and turned to the taller
girl angrily. "What are you doing? You hit me!"
The other girl backed away. "Sorry, it was a mistake, it's the
game."
Tranh shook her head and stalked off the court. Shanna followed
her, calling "Hey, Tranh. Calm down." Tranh continued walking away. "Not everything
has to be a battle," Shanna said. But she knew that Tranh was
too far away to hear her.
Episode 1. Scene 3.
At the senior citizen's center.
Everyone unpacked their instruments from the van,
and brought them
into the Jacobs Senior Citizen center. "Set up over there," directed Mr. Hewitt.
The senior citizens sat around watching the setup with interest.
To them, this would be the most interesting event of the week.
The Jacobs center was quite pleasant, with a nice blue carpet
and cheery paintings on the wall.
As the band set up, they looked curiously around the center.
"You ever played in a place like this?" Bobby asked Amir.
Amir grinned. "Nope, it's not your usual club."
Mr. Hewitt closed up the van and went over to talk to the band.
"Ok guys, just have a good time here. Also some of you can go
talk to these folks. I'm sure they would love to talk to you."
Bobby considered this. "Hey, I don't know any of these
people. I don't know what I'd talk to them about."
Mr. Hewitt nodded. "Well, just what you feel comfortable with."
The band members returned his look dubiously. "Anyways are we ready?"
Mr. Hewitt asked.
Everyone nodded. He tapped the microphone. "Mike's on."
Mr. Hewitt tapped his stick on a table. "Okay, everyone. 'Bad bad Leroy
Brown.' A one, a two, a one-two-three-four'".
The band started to play. Mr. Hewitt motioned to them
to play a little softer. Then Tranh starting to sing, in a smoky
voice. The song was simple, but upbeat and groovy. Some of the
seniors got up and started to dance. Amir grinned, and said to Bobby,
"Hey man, they are digging it."
Chet called out, "Hey Mr. Hewitt, can I do a solo here?"
"Sure," said Mr. Hewitt. "Nothing too wild though."
Tranh put her microphone down, and walked over to an older woman,
who was standing, listening to the beat. Tranh stood near her, and
started to dance herself, swaying slowly. The older woman's wizened
face broke into a grin, and she snapped her fingers.
Amir looked over at Bobby. "Hey, you see that, man."
Bobby looked at Tranh. "Amazing, man. Wonders never cease."