Mother nature is not always the nicest to the Spirit of Tech. Blacksburg often comes with crazy conditions, and unfortunately it affects the Marching Virginians just like everyone else. The wind whips around and makes everyone cold to their core, and the rain makes everyone wet and miserable. But what is it actually like having to adjust what we do to these weather conditions?
The cold makes everything slower. Hands get chilly and fingers move very lethargically, making it difficult to play and do visuals. Drumsticks feel like frozen logs in the grasp of our bare, frigid fingers. We have to make sure to keep high spirits and think positive when our toes get inevitably numb. Snare rank captain, Tray Caines, often tells us snares that the cold is “mind over matter,” which to an extent is true. We do need to compartmentalize our mind to keep the performing ability separate from our discomfort. In fact, Tray often proves his point by wearing only a white tank-top during the cold rehearsals, and to the readers at home: I would not recommend doing this. However valid, the moral of the story is to maintain focus on your craft and not get too rattled by outside circumstances .
Tray, pictured here, has his umbrella with him during rehearsal before the game on Saturday; Source: Jack Perkins
The game against Pitt had the unfortunate one-two punch of being both cold and having absolute downpours. The rain was coming down in sheets for most of the second half as well as before the game while the band was out playing for tailgaters on behalf of Hokies for the Hungry. The good thing about rain, in my opinion, is that eventually you get wet enough that you cannot get wet anymore. The red MV rain jacket gets waterlogged and we end up standing in an inch of water in the bleachers, but you get used to it. The effect plateaus and you get content with being drenched.
But the instruments take a toll from the rain. When not dried off, the instruments and flags will start to mold, especially when instruments are left in their cases. Woodwind instruments can deform from the excessive moisture. Water collects on the drums, causing the water to get inside the shell and making a little pool on the rim. The drums start to sound a lot lower with all the water, and the cold temperatures also cause the wind instruments to sound flatter than at room temperature.
MVs getting pumped during “Enter Sandman” despite the conditions; Source: Alana Hassett
But playing in the conditions is lots of fun too! “Dancing in the rain” definitely applies to the MVs, especially if it is during a game with high stakes for our season. We psych ourselves up with our own intensity, and it helps when our teams plays dominantly in the rain. The game will definitely be all the more memorable for all the craziness that the rain caused. The best part is that it seems we play great football in the rain, and we always keep our heads up and our music passionate to lead the team to victory!