January 27, 2004 at 6:07 AM

I just heard from some high school students who were in that "marching orchestra" from Odessa, Texas, for the New Year's Rose Parade. They did march in the parade! Just not with their violins and violas and cellos. Here is what one of the members wrote:

Hello!
I am a cellist from Odessa Texas. I am one of the members of Satin
Strings. I have known many people who are confused about the way that we
carry our cellos. Basically we tune the C string peg so that is flat, and
then hang the instrument on our neck by the peg. At first it's very
painful, but after awhile we get used to it. Plus the next year we get
to laugh at the faces that the new members make the first time they put the
cello on their necks.

We did march in the parade, we were just part of the Permian Odessa High
combined band. We had to learn how to march with the band in November. I
have a new appreciation for band members now ^_^. It's harder than it
looks!

Denisha Porter

This entry has been archived and is no longer accepting comments.