May Day 2019 - FAQs and Final Countdown

Happy, happy May Day!  

If you were at practice last night, you played with us on May Day!  (Which is technically May 1).   So everything from here on out is just a cherry on top.  You've got this!    But, if you still have questions, they should all be answered below.

 Here, presented as potential QUESTIONS you might have, is what to expect THIS SUNDAY, when we play at May Day:


1. Help!   I need more practice!   What are the details of our Saturday practice, again?

We're meeting

  • at 10:00am,  Saturday, May 4
  • in the Northeast corner of Powderhorn Park, or 
  • Click here for directions using Google Maps!  
  • Plan to meet close-ish to the playing fields.   While there might be a game going on, it'll at least get us all to the same level of the park, and will give us plenty of space to march (away from the games in progress)!
If you would like to practice before Saturday, you can access and use the videos on our private Batucada Do Norte playlist!   We're still working to get videos from last night uploaded, but keep checking -- they will be up before the morning is out!

For videos specific to what we'll be playing Sunday, you can also look here, at the May Day 2019 Playlist! 


2. Where do we meet?  How long is the parade on Sunday?
  • While we're still waiting to hear about which section we'll be in (and, consequently, what exactly we'll need to wear), plan to meet us along the "parade line up," which runs along 25th St. East.   So, we'll be meeting on 25th, somewhere between  Bloomington and 18th Ave S.  
HOBT MayDay Parade Route Map
From: https://hobt.org/mayday/parade/route/ 



3. Right, okay, so WHEN are we meeting?
  • We're going to meet at about 11:00am on Sunday, May 5!  The parade STARTS at 12pm, and while we're in the last section, we usually start to line up one hour before the parade begins.   So, we should be assembling and practicing around 11, and getting ready start marching a little after 12:00 noon!

4.   And what colors are we wearing?

So, that's a bit of a bummer: despite Corinne and Jeanie's best efforts, we still don't know which section of the parade we're in, nor what colors we should expect to wear.  If you're a planner, get your blue, green, and yellow (and white) clothes out -- we'll plan to go in Brazilian flag colors if nothing else!

5.  Great!   Got it!      I'll be there, on 25th Street at 11am, wearing brightly colored clothes on Sunday.   BUT WAIT, how am I getting my INSTRUMENT there?
  • Oh, that's important!!  Everyone is responsible for their own instruments!!!!!!!*  Pat and Tim can take A FEW back afterwards but mostly everyone is responsible NOT ONLY for getting their instrument to the parade but ALSO getting it back to us after the parade is over. We would like all instruments returned to us (Pat and Tim O'Keefe) within one week of the parade. We actually lose quite a few smaller instruments each year."
  • Let's make sure we don't lose ANY this year!   Figure out your plan for your instrument NOW (or at tomorrow's practice!)

*That is a direct quote from Pat, including all 7 exclamation points.   PLEASE make sure you're responsible with and for your instrument, including sticks and straps!


6. Wait, so WHAT are we PLAYING again?
  • We will be cycling through our FOUR songs -- which are made up of smaller parts:
    • The Hook and Sling
      • Imalê Intro: "T" hand signal
      • Top (horns intro): "top" hand signal (atop head)
      • Short breaks played with horns between alternating sections: Pat signals and all drums play with horns
      • "O" Drum Break: "O" hand signal
      • "E" Drum Break: sideways 3/"E" hand signal  (in a halting 3) -- ends with 5 beats and a "hey!"
        •
      • "C" Drum Break: "C" hand signal
      • QUARTER NOTES all played together to get us back to Imalê
      • Call out: "X" hand signal from Pat
    • Baiana
      • Called out and in with the call-and-response, played by Tim on the repinique
    • Iko Iko

7.  Fantastic!!   And, ah, what if I still want to practice?
 Great!!   Please feel free to use the videos on our private Batucada Do Norte playlist!


If you have any questions you don't see answered here, shoot me an email! mskatywilliams@gmail.com

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